Teachers - Anyone else worried?

[foundlingfar]

Any teachers on here concerned about the current covid stats? I am surrounded by kids in my class who's families are isolating, they clearly have symptoms but have tested negative so are able to attend school. I feel like I can't do anything to protect myself and my family 😕. I work with very little children so I'm constantly tying shoe laces, helping to zip up coats, comforting children etc. I'm just so anxious and feel like other workers have been told to 'work from home' or 'limit contact' whereas teachers have been largely expected to get on with it. I know we're not the only ones but in primary, we aren't even allowed to wear masks as children need to see us speak etc. I know this is an awful thing to say as I love my job and children, but it's like we are putting the kids before our own health?! And come of us have families and our own children too!

@Fedupsotired

I still haven't warmed up from today 😭. I'm resigned to getting it too, just a case of when 🤷🏼‍♀️

I really feel for you, being freezing cold is so hateful. I lost a lot of weight several years ago and was absolutely MISERABLE in work as it made me so frigging cold and my menopausal colleagues kept opening all the windows. Its not ok to be freezing all day. Can you bring a hot water bottle or is that a stupid idea? I got a big long one for Christmas, it is fab. Sorry, I am sure you already thought of that!

Lilifer being anxious about those other things though, will make the OP more anxious in general, so they are linked.

Pregnant teacher here and I am worried to be honest. Triple jabbed and try and avoid it as much as I can, but I am concerned about viral load and how that will change anything.

We have three students who are suffering from long covid, and one member of staff. That is what I worry about more than the initial illness.

@Blubells

You are going to get covid from somewhere at some point. Maybe school, maybe other parts of your life. Your kids, your friends, your social life, the supermarket. I presume you are not hiding away at home on a weekend?

This. Unless you live like a hermit you're unlikely to avoid catching it.

Well of course, since no one wants to prioritise school.

What comforting comments from someone who isn’t in the same situation.

@foundlingfar

I know it's becoming difficult to avoid - I guess it's just my anxiety talking. 2 years of constant worry - including a pregnancy and giving birth to a child during the pandemic - has kind of got me on edge! Heading back to work has made me more nervous than I thought I'd guess.

Aw fair enough, leaving the baby is crap too after maternity leave, nevermind all the changes and stress etc. I can see why you are anxious! I guess it is a case of taking a day at a time. I felt like this summer 2020 but have had time to adjust, obviously if you have been off it is understandable it is hitting you now. Take care of yourself op

@Totallyblue

Pregnant teacher here and I am worried to be honest. Triple jabbed and try and avoid it as much as I can, but I am concerned about viral load and how that will change anything.

We have three students who are suffering from long covid, and one member of staff. That is what I worry about more than the initial illness.

I am a midwife but not in England, teachers in my caseload are getting to work from home after 28 weeks still. I do think school staff in England seem to have the worst end of the deal compared with the rest of the UK (I am assuming you are in England). It isn't fair in my opinion.

@TheMoth
Every word you have said is true. I have been setting cover work every week for 10 weeks now, and it is really impacting on my ability to do my own job with my own classes. I'm resigned to catching it. The pupils won't wear masks, the CO2 counter is reading well above 1200 every lesson even with the windows open and I am sick of arguing with pupils about them staying open. They can wear coats, but the ones who complain the loudest never bring a coat, bag or pen to school. I am fed up, and we're only on day 3 of a new term!

@privatehall I am in England, and with a not very understanding school. I am just going into second trimester but I will fight tooth and claw for wfh in third. I don't hold out much hope!

In my secondary school I'd gently ask them if they've been tested and if not I'd send them home.

In my dd's primary school they ring the parents and ask and if necessary you have to go collect them. Ask your school what the policy is and go from there.

I work in a factory and caught Covid at work. No one wears a mask or distances. It is what it is now. Can't avoid it unless you never leave your home.

@PrivateHall

saraclare it isn't a competition, the point is it isn't just school staff at risk, is it. What an odd reply The point we are making is that we are all exposed to covid and all expect to get it.

Not odd at all. Of course lots of people are at risk (I have a DD who's a ward sister on a Covid ward). But your post indicated an either/or. For many teachers (and others in high-risk jobs) it's both. Work risk AND family risk.

I have no skin in this game. I'm retired. But I will challenge posts that are illogical.

No I'm not worried. We've got lots off but everyone seems to have a heavy cold.

It sounds like this is less about covid and more about coming back to work post maternity jitters. covid is just the outlet. That's completely normal. It'll get easier.

@NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy

I'm a teacher, I've had it twice and even though I'm the wrong age / weight to be getting it - no, I'm not anxious at all.

Use your teachers' brains to understand the stats and read beyond the media scaremongering!

That's fine and I'm glad you were fine.

But catching covid 15 months ago put me in hospital.
I am CV (in and out for shielding, need to have 4 jabs, etc) work in close contact right across the school and covid led to complications. I now have a life long additional medical condition as a result, along with daily medication for life. I'm diagnosed with long covid. 15 months later I still have some ongoing issues such as fatigue, breathlessness, chest pains, etc. This is on top of my previous health condition and medication which puts me in the vulnerable group.

I was fortunate in that I was able to work from home during the two school closures - more due to my specific job role than anything else. But once I returned between the closures I caught covid. All the timings etc point to it coming from school - it was rife in the school at that point, with approx 80% of our staff catching it (despite not being in close contact with one another) along with many of the children and their families.

I'm now triple vax, with 4th vax due in February. I'm still working right across school, so in close contact with 300 children and school staff each week. I do what I can but there is only so much I can realistically do.

I don't want schools to close. In the school lockdowns, despite being at home, my work load was immense. I'm not sure I could do it again.

I also don't want to restrict my life outside of school much more either. I take precautions. I wear a mask. I distance where I can. Despite cold causing me pain I meet friends outside where possible or with windows open for periods of time if indoors. I lost too many family members in the first half of 2020 (not covid but made much harder by covid restrictions) and being able to see my close family is important to me.

I don't think there is much that can be done.

The government won't pay for filtration systems and other such precautionary measures, and schools don't have the budget for it, so that's a no go.
It's primary so masks in classes aren't appropriate and social distancing for the children is impossible.
My headteacher is trying to find solutions to me reducing the number of contacts I have, but it involves logistics and timings, and other staff, so not ideal and not a longer term solution.
I don't want to give up my job. I enjoy it. I'd be bored being home all the time without working. I need to work for my sanity!

I just have to have my fingers crossed that if I get it again this time the vaccinations will help keep me from complications and hospital admission.

And hopefully we are heading towards the end of the crisis gradually and we can start to live with it becoming a milder and less concerning virus.

other workers have been told to 'work from home' or 'limit contact' whereas teachers have been largely expected to get on with it

The purpose of this is to try keep schools open. Not to turn you into a martyr. Its for the sake of the children.

I just figure we’re all going to get it (again!) and that at least we get paid if we’re off with it.

It’s a crap time to be working in schools but probably a crap time to be working in most places.

I get worried about meeting with vulnerable friends and relatives but they know the situation as well as anyone and are happy to take the risk (alongside lfts)

But even those 'working from home' often have children or teenagers coming and going, carrying the virus

Not sitting in poorly ventilated rooms with 30 kids at a time, are they?

What makes you think you’ll be unsafe if you catch the current variant? Are you CEV? Unvaccinated?

I'm classed as CV and one of my children is CEV - so far only one vaccine (and you would not believe the faff I had to go through to get that, had to get the MP involved to actually get it. It was an unbelievable situation to find ourselves in with all potential parties involved refusing to do the vaccination on the basis that it was someone else's responsibility). It is no fun for us as a family having me in a classroom, let me tell you. I have had it so am less concerned ,than I was. but it is a huge worry and not something you should really be dealing with in what is already a demanding workplace.

It is so frustrating to read that people still don't realise that there are people who are frontline who are both vulnerable to covid, even with vaccines, who are crucial to the running of services and who really love their work and don't want to be forced out of it. It is also forgotten that we have families and friends who are important to us and who form part of our overall well-being network who may also be legtimately worried about covid and to keep them safe, we may be cutting back on essential, mental health affirming stuff so we can still work. Simply put, we are people with lives too, not teaching robots. Please don't forget it.

Our SN school has given us the choice of wearing masks in the classroom or not. Most of us do this term. We didn’t before xmas though.

The purpose of this is to try keep schools open. Not to turn you into a martyr. Its for the sake of the children

ODFOD. Have you seen the stats on education and long covid? I won't even mention deaths.

Teachers are parents too. Our children matter too. Just as children of other frontline workers do. Children are undergoing considerable stress thinking about what might happen to their parents becuase of their job choice. Sadly it seems that is something else that is being forgotten. Not all children feel safe and happy in the school environment whilst covid is rife. Something else to remember.

Its for the sake of the children.

Don’t be daft. If this govt gave a shit about the education of children they’d put some money into it.

It’s for the sake of keeping kids out of parents’ way so they can work (primary) and so they don’t have to fuck up cancelling exams again (secondary). There’s certainly zero concern for any quality of educational experience while they’re in school.

Ask about how well-funded CAMHS is for the sake of the children.

I think the risk is pretty high for anyone with children in class at the moment. The kids are probably all going to get it and bring it home to their parents.

People on here won't believe this but it's true. I feel lucky to go into school every day. I would not cope mentally with wfh and have wfh friends who have basically become agoraphobic after almost 2 years of it. I've managed to avoid covid so far but feel I will inevitably get it, but I'm triple jabbed so what else can we do?

@EurghCobwebs well said

Surrounded by those that have had it, adults and kids, not a whiff of covid has come my way… I swear I’m a cockroach

My husband is a teacher and tested positive the day he finished for Christmas. My baby and I caught it from him and had a miserable Christmas with all plans cancelled and baby and I feeling really ill (he wasn't too bad) We recovered just in time for him to go back to work. We're both fully vaccinated.

Figured we'd all catch it at some point and just glad it wasn't just before I was due to give birth.

I wouldn't worry too much unless you or a family member are vulnerable. Most of us will catch it at some point like all other colds and flu.

I would have been very sympathetic a year ago, but not now. I think the time has come that we have to get vaccinated, live our lives and accept the fact that at some point we are all likely to get covid.