I am Fearful for our children-are you?

[Wakeupworld]

I am fearful for your children - are you?
I am a headteacher who loves my job; the highlight of my day is saying good morning to the children on the gate. I love the school, I love the children, I love our school community and I am fearful.

I’m not ignoring the risks Covid-19 poses but rather asking whether the measures schools are putting in place are
reasonable and proportionate to that risk.

The number of children affected by the Covid-19 virus has been minimal, school staff have been shown to be at no greater risk and evidence of children potentially bringing the virus home has not been found. Therefore, is it right that:
Desks must face the front in Chinese style classrooms
Repeated hand washing is the norm, a minimum of 5 not including toilet trips, resulting in wasted learning time for all
Play time with other year groups is cancelled and friendship groups are limited
Lunches are eaten in classrooms from takeaway style containers, no dining halls and eating round a table together
Singing in groups is banned, no nativities, choirs or plays
Sharing of toys and books is restricted, less engaging classroom
Do we want a playground where children are fearful of playing with their friends because they are so used to social distancing in the world?
Do we want a school community where parents cannot speak to the teacher at the end of the day if they are worried about something?
Do we want children to grow up to be adults who fear communicating with each other?

Like I said, I am a headteacher who cares about the children in my care and for that reason I am stating that I believe these measures are more psychologically damaging than any potential risk of the virus.

So what can you do? Contact your child’s head teacher, the chair of governors and the local authority/academy trust and ask them one question: How are the measures you have put in place for Covid-19 going to impact all childrens psychological well-being on a short-term and long-term basis? Is that on their risk assessment...because I am fearful for that risk.

Our school (work) didn’t lockdown. Nor did they put any measures what so ever in place apart from a hand gel station on reception that visitors used.
We didn’t have a single case of covid. Maybe we were lucky, who knows. But our kids were happy and safe and that was worth the risk for me.

Oh give over.

I understand where you are coming from; and also agree with most you said. However, I think young primary school children will mainly be happy to be back to some kind of routine, learning and seeing friends and if that means doing all the things above you’ve listed than so be it for now...

As a headteacher, what are you doing to address the issue?

Yes OP I think you're right.

My yr5 hasn’t had school since March but yr10 has. He was absolutely fine and glad to be back. I’m really not fearful of what you are listing.

I understand that you are concerned, but I don't see the harm in having desks all facing forward. That was my experience from the age of 6 onwards (perhaps reception had grouped desks but can't remember).
What's the concern specifically with that?

I'm not 104 BTW, this would have been the 90s

My ds went to holiday clubs at his school during the summer.

Apart from handwashing, the dcs got on with things as normal. Parents weren't allowed out of cars, packed lunches only but otherwise normal.

We've had details of new term. There will be extra hand washing and masks must be worn on school buses, lunches will be eaten in tents to maintain bubbles but otherwise, no change.

We'll see how it goes and adjust as we go along, I imagine.