Schools - why are they doing this?

[Scrooge89]

Why are the media preparing us for school closures? They simply can’t do this to us…

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-59673271

Not to my children. My youngest struggled so much at home and was one of the 25% who couldn’t go to school (although I saw how much some people fudged the key worker card I may have to do it).

@Whinge

Is this for real? Teenagers in the UK don't wear masks in class? I'm shocked at that tbh and that poster thinks wearing masks in a corridor counts as mask wearing?!

Yes it's true. There are no masks in the classroom, but students are asked wear them when travelling around school.

But mostly don’t- except around their chin.

I can't believe the amount of vile hatred directed at teacher's, quite shocking.

If schools are ordered by the state (rather than recommended by the state) to be closed then there will still be key workers' children in there. The definition is usually very broad indeed so they may find this time just as a teacher is a key worker so are many of the parents and almost all children may be in class anyway. We shall see.

@Xenia

If schools are ordered by the state (rather than recommended by the state) to be closed then there will still be key workers' children in there. The definition is usually very broad indeed so they may find this time just as a teacher is a key worker so are many of the parents and almost all children may be in class anyway. We shall see.

It may be that if so, individual schools will have to be flexible with their own criteria to limit numbers, we shall see

Yes it's true. There are no masks in the classroom, but students are asked wear them when travelling around school.

But mostly don’t- except around their chin.

Ha yes I can confirm this. Trying to get the 6th formers in my school to wear masks even in the corridors has been futile. We have to constantly give masks out because they’ve ‘forgotten it’. Or left it in their coat pocket in a classroom 3 floors down. Or wear it on their chin, pull it up when you ask them to, and pull it straight back down again after. Or just completely ignore you. Or my favourite, yelling ‘shut up’ up the stairs at me when I ask them all to make sure they have masks on before they walk around the school. We’ve sent out endless messages about masks, they just don’t take it seriously.

@5thHelena, Exactly.
Well said.
But only a teacher can truly understand the workload,
the no time for family, the politics and watching your back,
and the utter exhaustion that brings you close to tears at times.
And that was before Covid.
I really felt for my ex colleagues when schools 'closed' in March 2020 and they had to deliver online as well as in school.
Bravo to all teachers !

I know loads of people with Covid atm. Not sure where you are but we have 5 children 4 different schools and all four of my school age children have had multiple children from their actual classes off positive. My year one DD had 3 off and confirmed positive when they broke up yesterday. My eldest works and over the last few months has had several cases in that work place. I'm interested if this is just a South East thing and where you are that there has only been one case in the school. How we haven't caught it I don't know.
My interpretation of the situation its not the covid itself that's causing the closures but if enough teachers are off with it and in isolation for 10 days who is looking after the children in school?

My interpretation of the situation its not the covid itself that's causing the closures but if enough teachers are off with it and in isolation for 10 days who is looking after the children in school?

Maybe we should consider reducing the 10 day self isolation period, especially if symptoms are mild?

My uncle was partially sighted. He grew up in the good old days of 40+ in a class, during the 50s. He could see fuck all and could barely write.

The teachers used him to do jobs for them round the class.

@Christinatherabbit

I know loads of people with Covid atm. Not sure where you are but we have 5 children 4 different schools and all four of my school age children have had multiple children from their actual classes off positive. My year one DD had 3 off and confirmed positive when they broke up yesterday. My eldest works and over the last few months has had several cases in that work place. I'm interested if this is just a South East thing and where you are that there has only been one case in the school. How we haven't caught it I don't know. My interpretation of the situation its not the covid itself that's causing the closures but if enough teachers are off with it and in isolation for 10 days who is looking after the children in school?

In my children’s school Year 2 none off in their class the entire term. My eldest Year 5 two off at the beginning of the term (before they started school). I do know they have bubbled year 6

Maybe we should consider reducing the 10 day self isolation period, especially if symptoms are mild?

Sending a still infectious person back to school just means even more people infected. And it’s still a total lottery about what symptoms a person may suffer and what long term effects they may be left with.

@Blubells

My interpretation of the situation its not the covid itself that's causing the closures but if enough teachers are off with it and in isolation for 10 days who is looking after the children in school?

Maybe we should consider reducing the 10 day self isolation period, especially if symptoms are mild?

But surely its 10 days for a reason and sending a person into a room of children when they are still infectious will make things 10xs worse.

When my child had covid a we did an experiment with daily LFT's which stayed positive for about 5 days then went negative, this was replicated by several other children in the same class who did the same.
Maybe instead of the mandatory 10 days it could be changed to "unless negative LFT two days running"

@Whatdidisay

When my child had covid a we did an experiment with daily LFT's which stayed positive for about 5 days then went negative, this was replicated by several other children in the same class who did the same. Maybe instead of the mandatory 10 days it could be changed to "unless negative LFT two days running"

They may be testing negative but still infectious though.

On the 40 children per class point my mother said children tended to do what they were told more in those days so she could control 40 (also her class was 6 year olds so not huge teenagers) without a teaching assistant in the class. She did etach well and in fact last year I was in touch with one of her pupils online who remembered my mother combing her fair even and bringing ribbons in to school for her (as no one at home ever combed her hair or gave her ribbons) plus my mother was very hot on grammar and spelling. I am not saying we need to combine classes like that now when too many teachers are away too sick to teach but it may be better than having all children at home as there are not enough teachers in school.

I read some research that said LFT show when infection present where as PCRs show for ages afterwards that you have been infected.

www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2021/oct/lateral-flow-tests-detect-most-people-risk-transmitting-covid-19

Do you think universities will close again?

"I am not saying we need to combine classes like that now when too many teachers are away too sick to teach but it may be better than having all children at home as there are not enough teachers in school."

Better for whom?

@Xenia

On the 40 children per class point my mother said children tended to do what they were told more in those days so she could control 40 (also her class was 6 year olds so not huge teenagers) without a teaching assistant in the class. She did etach well and in fact last year I was in touch with one of her pupils online who remembered my mother combing her fair even and bringing ribbons in to school for her (as no one at home ever combed her hair or gave her ribbons) plus my mother was very hot on grammar and spelling. I am not saying we need to combine classes like that now when too many teachers are away too sick to teach but it may be better than having all children at home as there are not enough teachers in school.

It sounds idyllic.

You clearly have absolutely no idea of the challenges facing teachers in 2021.

We now have a generation of screwed up children due to government scaremongering

And you know this how? Evidence?

@Xenia

I feel like you are commenting on something you have no idea about. Please stop. Thank you

Here are some interesting statistics from the 1950s:

c1950
In 1951 there were 27,700 public primary schools or departments in the UK. These were attended by 4.8 million pupils, there was an average of 171 pupils in each school and an average of 30 pupils per teacher.
In 1951 there were 5,900 public secondary schools in the UK. These were attended by 2.0 million pupils; there was an average of 342 pupils in each school and an average of 20.6 pupils per teacher.
7.7% of central government revenue was spend on education in 1949-50
In 1949-50 there were 2.4 million students who attended grant-aided establishments of further education (again mainly evening and part-time courses) in England and Wales.
In 1953-54 10.7% of the relevant age group passed five or more GCE O levels at schools in England and Wales. 5.5% of the relevant age group passed one or more GCE A level and public sector schools and further education establishments.
In 1950 17,300 students were awarded first degrees and 2,400 were awarded higher degrees at UK universities.
In 1950 30% of 15 year olds, 14% of 16 year olds and 7% of 17 year olds were in full-time education in England and Wales.

researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN04252/SN04252.pdf

How times have changed.

@Xenia

If schools are ordered by the state (rather than recommended by the state) to be closed then there will still be key workers' children in there. The definition is usually very broad indeed so they may find this time just as a teacher is a key worker so are many of the parents and almost all children may be in class anyway. We shall see.

Or that the government decide that both parents need to be key workers and specify NHS frontline staff as the only key workers that count! It is very, very easy to change the guidelines. If they close schools and classes are full, the government have made a pointless unpopular decision so I can guarantee they will change the definition of a key worker if they go down the school closures route. It has to have an impact on Covid cases.