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Original poster

Don't 'save Christmas' instead save schools and keep them in person in January (Save Schools = YES)

208 replies

SoTiredNeedHoliday · 16/12/2021 10:04

I feel that our kids have suffered enough and missed out on significant important social and academic periods of their lives. It feels like the PM is 'keeping Christmas' because of fears about his popularity and also because of the 'party' sandal. He should be thinking of the greater good and our lives longer term.
I feel restrictions now for 2/3 weeks and enabling kids to go to school in January is far more important than 'keeping Christmas' and having a lockdown or home schooling in January

What do you think?

Save Schools = YES

OP posts:
lottiegarbanzo · 17/12/2021 06:49

I don't have kids. I am not willing to sacrifice time with my family that I can never get back for someone else's kids

I don't have grandparents. One could say the same about trying to keep other people's alive (for that little bit longer).

Barbie222 · 17/12/2021 06:53

We should have vaccinated kids - but it's too late now.

Agree with this, people here were far too slow to shift their thinking on this and we're going to pay for it now.

Angrymum22 · 17/12/2021 06:55

Yes
Having watched my DS lose 2 yrs of his life and hit rock bottom this time last year when closure was announced after Christmas I am worried that we will see an explosion of teenage suicides in the early part of 2022.
With no other measures likely to be implemented most parents will not be able to work. The knock in effect along with multiple infections and self isolation is going to bring the country to its knees.
I’m going to do my Xmas shop today because it will be chaos. I wonder how many people are smugly relying in their Tescos delivery. They will be the first thing to be cancelled as infection rates rise rapidly.

Bubblty · 17/12/2021 06:57

I think everyone has already done their best to save schools with the lockdowns etc. I think 1 month of home learning is a good compromise. And keyworker children or those who can't can go in. Same as the adults and their workspaces

canary1 · 17/12/2021 07:01

MrsHamlet
No - it is disgusting to sweep under the carpet the damage that blanket school closures promoted.
Thank you all those above who agree, it is encouraging and who feel as strongly about the young.
(Thank you Assssssssss , I do my best)

GoodnightGrandma · 17/12/2021 07:01

Personally, I’d rather do a two week lockdown at Christmas, than keep kids out of school after.
I know how much some kids suffer when being out of school, and we shouldn’t be doing that again if there’s another way.

itsgettingwierd · 17/12/2021 07:03

I don't think we at the point of cancelling anything.

Not easy and I really can't how how it would be implemented easily but I'd say everyone should LFT daily before entering anything - even supermarkets.

Locking down doesn't stop contacts as people still work, use public transport and use shops and schools.

And being fully open only means infectious people spread it. Those of us not aren't making any difference if we are isolating or not.

There were some test cases of large events with a native test and they were successful. So done properly for anything will work.

They've only just brought in need for proof of negative test for school children who are Ill. That should have been done a year and half ago.

FakeFruitShoot · 17/12/2021 07:04

I think 1 month of home learning is a good compromise. And keyworker children or those who can't can go in.

Ok I'll just quit my job then? Not a keyworker, but no furlough etc available.

rrhuth · 17/12/2021 07:05

@aSofaNearYou

No, YABU. Kids are important but they are only one part of society and not the only people who matter.
This is a really bad take. No one has ever said kids are the 'only' people who matter.

Educating the nation's young people is vital for the future health of the nation, as well as for their own mental health and development.

My personal preference as an adult would be that schools were shut so that the risk to me personally was reduced. However my preference as a sensible person is that the education of children is a huge national priority.

MarshaBradyo · 17/12/2021 07:06

I think 1 month of home learning is a good compromise. And keyworker children or those who can't can go in.

The KW numbers will be so high a few dc will have worse outcomes at home.

I think doing this to the same group of non KW dc is bad for them, and gets worse each time.

Bubblty · 17/12/2021 07:07

If they manage summer holidays a few weeks will be fine

Bubblty · 17/12/2021 07:07

@MarshaBradyo

I think 1 month of home learning is a good compromise. And keyworker children or those who can't can go in.

The KW numbers will be so high a few dc will have worse outcomes at home.

I think doing this to the same group of non KW dc is bad for them, and gets worse each time.

Good point
Bubblty · 17/12/2021 07:09

@FakeFruitShoot

I think 1 month of home learning is a good compromise. And keyworker children or those who can't can go in.

Ok I'll just quit my job then? Not a keyworker, but no furlough etc available.

That would be "those who can't".

But yeah good point..there probably won't be many who would be able to do it unless they were a SAHP. I think you've all changed my mind a bit. Keep the schools open!

Bubblty · 17/12/2021 07:11

Would having the lock down after Christmas work? There's already 3 bank holidays (4 in scotland).

FakeFruitShoot · 17/12/2021 07:14

Given that 60% (!) of kids in our school were in last time, I reckon the number would be closer to 90% this time. And the 10% would NOT be the priveleged through - they would be those whose parents are disengaged with school at the best of times, or the kids who are reluctant to go to school (often with unlying reasons eg poor mental health, bullying etc).

Sherrystrull · 17/12/2021 07:15

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing

especially for years 11 and 13.

^^
I would say especially for those in years 2,3,4 who’ve had their entire early schooling disrupted - they’ve missed vital foundation stuff and are at risk of never catching up.

My Dd in year 8 has got the basics to build on and can happily work at home, there are little ones who haven’t properly learnt to read because of all this. And kids with SEN are a real worry too.

I teach this age. They absolutely need to be prioritised. They don't know what normal school is.
MarshaBradyo · 17/12/2021 07:18

I think every age is viral - each has own reasons but youngest no less than older

Pensieve · 17/12/2021 07:21

Keep schools open.

MarshaBradyo · 17/12/2021 07:23

Vital..

Pensieve · 17/12/2021 07:25

Some people have relatives that aren’t nearby (me included) but I’m struggling with the idea many people seem to only be seeing sick/elderly relatives at Christmas. We’re having a quiet but fun Christmas on our own like last year. I saw relatives during the 6+ months we were able to do so this year.

ChristmasRobins · 17/12/2021 07:34

@Srirachachacha Whether you personally have kids isn't really relevant to arguments about the huge harm being done to children as a group.

liveforsummer · 17/12/2021 08:31

The thing is surely you'd just be delaying the inevitable for 2-3 weeks? Having a shit Xmas. SendIng kids back then having to close (if they are indeed going to have to, that's not been said yet). Probably a more disruptive way to do it and plus who actually gets the most enjoyment out of Xmas ?? Yes that's right, kids.

VictoryLap · 17/12/2021 09:20

When I was a child, pretty much all my friends (and myself and my siblings) absolutely loved Christmas and excitedly counted down from the start of December. In fact I remember being so disappointed in January that the excitement was all over. We also loved the holidays, were not desperate to get back to school and would have been delighted at an extra few weeks off.

Can you honestly say hand on heart that your children would rather forego Christmas so that they could be at school in January?

(Before anyone says it, yes I know that for some vulnerable children they need to be in education, but they have always been prioritised to be in school, even in the strictest lockdown.)

Srirachachacha · 17/12/2021 09:33

@lottiegarbanzo

I don't have kids. I am not willing to sacrifice time with my family that I can never get back for someone else's kids

I don't have grandparents. One could say the same about trying to keep other people's alive (for that little bit longer).

Are we going with the "lockdown is only for old and vulnerable people" argument again? It's moot, lockdown is to stop the NHS being (more) overwhelmed. That doesn't just impact older people, it impacts people needing cancer treatment, people who need emergency surgery blah blah blah.
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 17/12/2021 09:41

Keep Xmas and put proper mitigations in schools, which unions pushed for and were then accused if being difficult.

I retired from teaching last year. I will not be going back into lots of different schools rife with Covid no matter what the education secretary thinks. No will any of my friends.