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.

Teacher absence from schools is a huge problem though.

Sure, but that doesn't require all schools to be closed!!

@Veeveeoxox

Would the teachers still want to close schools if their salaries were reduced ?

They might not be bothered as job vacancies in other sectors are at a record high, and there’s a skills shortage.

The number of job vacancies in September to November 2021 continued to rise to a new record high of 1,219,000; this was an increase of 434,500 from its pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic level (January to March 2020), with 13 of the 18 industry sectors showing record highs.

www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/jobsandvacanciesintheuk/december2021

It’s hard enough to keep teachers in the profession as it is.

No, I didn't say it did. But it is getting very very bad. Just as well holidays soon I guess...

My headteacher seems fairly certain that we’ll be online come January.

I think a lot of the reason why people don’t care about the 37% is because they don’t care as long as schools aren’t shut. I know that the example I gave was ridiculous but it was deliberately chosen to be, because it reflects on the attitude that we have in this country towards the people responsible for education and socialisation of children.

The people who should be defending, lobbying for, and thanking teachers are the ones saying it doesn’t matter if they get sick, it doesn’t matter if they’re vulnerable, it doesn’t matter if they’re exposed beyond the average person. As long as someone is in front of my children it’s all good with me.

You can’t argue with a virus. You can scream and scream and scream that schools must stay open but you can’t conscript people to teach. If it’s so important to you, maybe try and do something useful like lobbying the government for extra protections rather than shrugging and going, well those teachers took the risk, nowt to do with me.

The holidays are useful right now

I think it’s other services that will struggle

FFS not this again. Blaming the evil little virus spreaders eh?

You appear to be the only person using this unpleasant terminology, @MrsArchchancellorRidcully.

Do you dislike children that much?

I dont understand how the stats work?
37% more likely to get covid that all or any other workers? I imagine there must be a sliding scale and also some crossover where people travel on public transport. I've been pinged multiple times within weeks, and I know its from being on the train.
Are they including nursery workers in this too? I imagine they too are pretty high risk but can't do online nursery.

I dont know what the answer is. I desperately dont want schools to close, but I do think more could have been done over various lockdowns and holidays to improve school environments. I don't think teachers should be put at undue risk but I also know how much DS struggled with online learning, and I don't know how he would get on without me there, while I go to work (I was fortunate -in a way- to be furloughed last time)

Also, the 37% refers to a two period week in November, a time when rates in children were particularly high.

Children should NOT be forced to make sacrifices in order to keep adults safe

So no child has needed the NHS to help them with covid? And no children will need hospitalising for anything at all when/if hospitals are full to bursting?

My child is type 1 - we were sent home by a busy hospital with a ‘just flu’ diagnosis. Fortunately, my mother’s instinct told me so,etching was dreadfully wrong and we went back - he would have been in a coma or dead by the morning if I’d put him to bed. What do you think would have happened to him in covid times at the peak of a wave? How can you be sure that next time it won’t be your child that is dismissed and dies of something he could have lived with?

This has never been about protecting adults. It’s about protecting all of us, children included.

Noone really wants anything to shut, but as a TA in the last week alone, I have been deliberately been coughed on by three 14 year olds, lent pens to kids who put them in mouths/up noses. 50 percent of kids refuse to wear masks while pushing/shouting in or at others faces. Watched a 13 year old pick nose and wipe on a resource.
Kids shutting windows as they are cold. As a finale a 16 year old using his hat as a snot bucket. The other TA left the room as it was making her heave.
So as parents desperate to keep schools open, maybe teach kids to respect others health, use a tissue, ensure they have correct equipment and follow basic hygiene? The majority of these kids are teenagers but have the attitude of pre schoolers. Can't blame covid on poor parenting.

@Blubells

Also, the 37% refers to a two period week in November, a time when rates in children were particularly high.

Rates are not exactly likely to decrease or even stabilise at the moment, are they?

@FenceSplinters

My headteacher seems fairly certain that we’ll be online come January.

Ours too.

We've got to plan for in school and remote learning over the break.

'I have been deliberately been coughed on by three 14 year olds, lent pens to kids who put them in mouths/up noses. 50 percent of kids refuse to wear masks while pushing/shouting in or at others faces. Watched a 13 year old pick nose and wipe on a resource.
Kids shutting windows as they are cold. As a finale a 16 year old using his hat as a snot bucket. The other TA left the room as it was making her heave.'

Omg those kids sound horrible !! Where are you teaching?

@Blubells Have had similar too.

@NearlyAlwaysInsane

Tosh. So they're more likely to catch Covid than healthcare workers then? Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Yes as they don’t have the same PPE, distancing, & the people they are in very regular contact with are almost exclusively not vaccinated so the potential risk in this environment could easily be higher. The risk to healthcare workers is also present, but many more steps have been taken to reduce the risk in that environment compared to schools.

@Exhausteddog

I dont understand how the stats work? 37% more likely to get covid that all or any other workers? I imagine there must be a sliding scale and also some crossover where people travel on public transport. I've been pinged multiple times within weeks, and I know its from being on the train. Are they including nursery workers in this too? I imagine they too are pretty high risk but can't do online nursery.

I dont know what the answer is. I desperately dont want schools to close, but I do think more could have been done over various lockdowns and holidays to improve school environments. I don't think teachers should be put at undue risk but I also know how much DS struggled with online learning, and I don't know how he would get on without me there, while I go to work (I was fortunate -in a way- to be furloughed last time)

I posted the data upthread. Some of your Qs are answered .

@Angelswithflirtyfaces, apart from the snot scarf 🤮, all that behaviour is completely typical of teenagers.

Or snot hat even.

@Veeveeoxox

Would the teachers still want to close schools if their salaries were reduced ?

Teachers don't want schools closed as it doubles their workload. If schools close, their wages should go up to reflect the workload they are doing. You can't increase their workload and decrease their pay.

Term ends tomorrow for us.

And 80% of our staff have had covid, almost all traced to school contacts and almost all autumn term 2020. Almost all, bar 1 I think, of our staff are double vax and most have had boosters now, rest are due them this holiday. So we are as covered as we will ever be.

We have rising numbers amongst pupils (4-7y infant school) and also their families. We are classed as borderline for PHE so their official letters were sent home today, one class supposed to do 7 days of LFTs and rest twice weekly if they can, but all can come to school if not positive or don't have symptoms.

I can't see much point in doing much more tbh right now

[quote Orchid876]@bluebells, apart from the snot scarf 🤮, all that behaviour is completely typical of teenagers.[/quote]
Yup

@siestalady

Because they wouldn't be working

Schools can't shut wholesale again, they just can't. Everyone accepts there will be disruption and ad hoc closures because frankly, omicron is coming for all of us. But blanket closures- nope.

Oh dear

@Omicrone

So what if teachers are more likely to catch it? Everyone has been double, and many now triple vaccinated, the chances of being seriously ill from Covid now are very very small , so they can't really use the whole 'its not safe for us' line any more. Everyone is going to get this strain anyway.

I say all of this as someone who works in a school and was a bit at how keen some of my co-workers were to 'shut the schools'.

This in spades ^^

@NeinDanke

Children should NOT be forced to make sacrifices in order to keep adults safe. They've already missed out on so much.

Exactly this.

Adults should be protecting children (including their education), not the other way around.