Time to think about closing the schools

[DolphinFC]

ONS survey finds that education staff are 37% more likely to catch Covid than other workers.

Previous data showed they were no more likely to catch covid than other workers and many people (especially MNetters) felt that this was all the proof needed to keep schools open.

Well, new data shows the reverse is now the case.

[quote Exhausteddog]@MarshaBradyo

MonkeyI think it’s meant to be fast - someone mentioned a BBC article suggesting by new year but I can’t find it

My DH heard a report on BBC radio earlier that at the current rate everyone could be affected by boxing day 😳[/quote]
Blimey!

Will we be getting silly numbers for daily confirmed cases.. I can’t quite imagine it

@codexa

Kids are very resilient. All this talk about their mental health is just becoming tiring now since sending them in to "socialise" has a high price for the teaching profession and the spread of disease.

In comparison to other workers, teachers really do have to run the gauntlet every day, and all we hear is "no way", "schools must stay open", "kids need to socialise", "what about their mental health" and so on.

Everyone suffers during a pandemic and as others have said, schools are a significant vector of spread, and teachers do not (cannot?) wear full PPE as those coming into close contact with others can and do.

If people had more respect for teachers, this conversation would not be happening I reckon. I am not a teacher, and do not know anyone who teaches either, but common sense would tell you that schools are dangerous places for the spread of any infection.

I read this thinking this can't be a teacher? Please tell me she's not a teacher. No one with such a callous attitude to children should be a teacher.

Then oh thank god she's not a teacher

Has anyone actually seen a projection graph with likely cases going into January? We seem to be seeing a lot fewer charts this time around.

Absolutely not. Why should our children be refused more education? Shut the football stadium’s and concert halls first

Codecs
I can’t believe anyone is even saying something as ignorant as ‘kids are very resilient…’
We are very clear of the damage caused by blanket school closures. What is wrong with you that you want to minimize / negate this?

Codexa

I don't think schools should be shut.

Teachers given adequate PPE, sure. On the same level as doctors/nurses if you like.

No other sector is being closed to protect staff and I don't think teaching staff should be the first.

Everybody knows school staff are immune to Covid - that's why the latest suggestion is that "Retired teachers should step up and help ease the shortages of staff"

No no no. I’m a teacher here and the damage done to children in so many ways in previous lockdowns is ongoing. Another would be catastrophic for many of them.

Unfortunately I think we are going to accept that individual schools may have to close for a period if so many staff are off. We’ve had to have a different year group off every day this week to maintain safe staffing levels. However, this shouldn’t be a blanket closure for all schools and it should be as short as possible.

They'll be shut for two weeks after tomorrow anyway.

Teaching online is absolute shit for everyone and schools should stay open. But that doesn't mean teachers deserve to get covid in school and should put up with no mitigations.

There's no reason why the government can't buy air filters, prioritise school staff for vaccines and provide extra funding. Many other countries have done this. Our government won't do any of it.

@TheVolturi

They'll be shut for two weeks after tomorrow anyway.

Apart from all the ones that don’t break up until next wed/thur you mean…

I'm in early years and I definitely don't want schools to close. I hate being at home and would much rather be at work. Our windows and doors are open (I'm permanently freezing!) and we have a CO2 monitor in the room. If I'm going to get it I'm going to get it but I'm happy to work away regardless.

Apart from all the ones that don’t break up until next wed/thur you mean…

Yep, that's us - don't break up till the 23rd but looking forward to not returning till the 10th.

Totally agree that online learning is complete shit - parents, pupils and staff all hate it. I think that individual classes will have to be sent home as there simply aren't teachers to cover. I work in a big primary school and we've had the HT. DHT, ASN teachers and nurture teacher all covering classes so that this doesn't happen.

Some of my GC are at a private school and they don't break up till the 23rd. The others are at state schools and break up tomorrow.

It is funny how people think that every school breaks up at the same time as their school.

Agree with others that this isn’t about education for the most part, as then you’d see some sort of outcry over funding cuts and absence of ventilation and prehistoric buildings and staff shortages and teaching qualifications.

It’s essentially about ensuring that kids are in a building where someone else is ostensibly educating them. The form of that education is less important than the fact that there’s a person standing at the front of the class.

One of my colleagues today was going on about how she doesn’t care what has to be done as long as schools stay open. She said that she’d be OK with the army coming in if need be as “schools can’t close”. Is this about the building itself or the actual education?!

The level of disdain for educators from the people to whom they should matter most, is just staggering. Why anyone would do the job is beyond me.

@MrsR87

No no no. I’m a teacher here and the damage done to children in so many ways in previous lockdowns is ongoing. Another would be catastrophic for many of them.

Unfortunately I think we are going to accept that individual schools may have to close for a period if so many staff are off. We’ve had to have a different year group off every day this week to maintain safe staffing levels. However, this shouldn’t be a blanket closure for all schools and it should be as short as possible.

100% this!

Comments such as 'I'm ok with educational workers catching covid' show how some people do not care at all about anything apart from their child being in school no matter the cost. I can not imagine saying 'I'm ok with nurses/ shop assistants/ bus drivers or anyone in fact catching covid'. Jesus. How horrible.

The level of disdain for educators from the people to whom they should matter most, is just staggering. Why anyone would do the job is beyond me.
I love it. I'm good at it. I make a difference.
But if some squaddie can "teach" Bob in y11 to pass his GCSEs, have at it.

@canary1

Healthcare workers are more likely to catch it too, so let’s close the hospital too while we’re at it please🙄🙄🙄

Data says no they aren't.

@MrsR87

No no no. I’m a teacher here and the damage done to children in so many ways in previous lockdowns is ongoing. Another would be catastrophic for many of them.

Unfortunately I think we are going to accept that individual schools may have to close for a period if so many staff are off. We’ve had to have a different year group off every day this week to maintain safe staffing levels. However, this shouldn’t be a blanket closure for all schools and it should be as short as possible.

Exactly right. This should be pinned to the top of every thread on the subject.

Completely agree with those posters who've stated that school is just a supervised building to some parents. So who cares about the teachers' viral load, because other random adults can be there instead. It's the same mindset that shows itself in kids not having read a book over lock down, or practiced numberbonds/times tables. It seems like a lot of parents will do absolutely anything to avoid taking responsibility for their children's development. It's seen as school's job and the government's problem. L

@Blubells

It's the sheer numbers of people (kids and adults) in poorly ventilated places that is the problem.

Why is that a problem?

Everyone is double vaxxed and vulnerable teachers hopefully boosted.

Omicron might be much milder than Delta, so really not a problem?!

My BIL, SIL and niece are all double vaxxed, my MIL has had her booster as well. All 4 have contracted Covid in the last fortnight.

MIL has been really strict and has scarcely been out for 2 years. In the fortnight before she got ill, she had only been out once - to get a bus to go Christmas shopping. Despite wearing a mask when she was in shops and on the bus, she still got ill. Thankfully, 5 days in she is starting to feel a little better.

Vaccines won't always work on new mutations of a virus. That's why new flu vaccines are developed regularly.

Over 800 people were admitted to hospital with Covid yesterday. That's 800 beds that could otherwise be used for people who need surgery that has been delayed for a year or more, while their conditions have worsened. Some of those with life-thratening conditions may well die before they get a chance of having surgery.

A balance has to be struck between protecting the mental health and education of children and preserving the physical health, and lives, of adults.

Oh heavens no - I just lol about all day so who knows earth would supervise my children! I mean yes, of course I can teach them! I've got no training whatsoever but it's so easy right? Especially when you are also working full time.

I'm a teacher. I caught Covid at school. I have seen the impact of lockdown on the mental health, well-being and education of the young people I teach. Schools MUST NOT close again.