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

[SoTiredNeedHoliday]

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

@Srirachachacha No. I am saying that political decisions are not about personal preferences. They are about societal needs.

@Pensieve

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.

I don't think it's about not seeing them the rest of the time, it's about the fact that Christmas can be very important to them and they may not have many, or any left to spend with their families.

@rrhuth

None of that makes what I said a bad take. I do think children's education is important, obviously, but I don't think possibly missing a few months is going to totally ruin that. It's just a set back.

And personally I would prioritise people getting to spend Christmas with their families above avoiding that one specific set back.

All the people talking about the consequences for kids and child abuse etc are only considering one side of the situation. Yes those things are happening due to lockdowns and of course they are awful, but so are people dying alone, relatives having to live with the guilt of feeling they weren't there, low MH, potentially suicides. None of it is good, but children are not the only people suffering and there is a balance to be struck.

[quote lottiegarbanzo]@Srirachachacha No. I am saying that political decisions are not about personal preferences. They are about societal needs.[/quote]
I've got some bad news about Boris for you...

Societal needs are about more than just kids though. NHS is needed by everyone and should be the top priority.

@Barbie222

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.

We participated in the vaccine clinical trial but I'm still reluctant to vaccinate our son. the booster were horrible yet when we signed up for the trial we were already antibody positive so likely he had it asymptomatically would assume our son was exposed at the same time as he lives with us.

Personally I would rather we just let omicron run and see where we are in a year or two when it comes to vaccinating kids. A

Going to chuck it out there but how many people know someone who wasn't vulnerable who was hospitalised with it, we know loads of cases only person seriously unwell was already end of life. Maybe it time even positive cases didn't isolate and we just got on with it

I'm just a stranger on the Internet but I know someone who wasn't vulnerable or old who died. I also have a friend who ended up in hospital despite having no underlying condition.

To be clear I’m not suggesting a lockdown over Xmas to keep schools open. My view is you don’t have to see a panto and unnecessary mixing with very extended groups to have a good time. As an earlier poster said, Christmas is the countdown on the advent calendar, putting the tree up and all the other traditions families have as well as the big day. Reducing some mixing is a trade off but certainly not anything like ‘cancelling’.

@Pensieve

To be clear I’m not suggesting a lockdown over Xmas to keep schools open. My view is you don’t have to see a panto and unnecessary mixing with very extended groups to have a good time. As an earlier poster said, Christmas is the countdown on the advent calendar, putting the tree up and all the other traditions families have as well as the big day. Reducing some mixing is a trade off but certainly not anything like ‘cancelling’.

I agree with that, but then I don't get why people have been doing those things anyway. I've always been of the opinion that we should temporarily let go of the big things, like travelling abroad and having big parties and events, in order for the smaller every day things to be normal.