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Schools reopening

395 replies

user1468867871 · 30/06/2020 18:07

AIBU to share with you UsforThem. It is a group of mums who are campaigning to send children back to school as normal with no restrictions. They can be found on FB and Twitter #UsforThem. There is also a link to sign the petition on FB

OP posts:
ineedaholidaynow · 01/07/2020 20:35

But offices should ensure they are COVID safe. DH is an office managing partner. Due to all the requirements needed they are proposing most employees still WFH and if people want/need to go in the office, it is ensured that only a handful of employees are in at the same time so social distancing is maintained.

Bollss · 01/07/2020 20:38

@TabbyMumz

"20:26TrustTheGeneGenie

Oh forgot you dont realise what a cesspit of germs schools are, because you have no experience of that yet, do you"

",i'd say considering my child has attended nursery since 9 months old that actually yes I do."

Trust me, it gets worse. Nursery perhaps a room if 10 children, nursery in a school maybe 20 or 30, high school, 400 people.

Our nursery is currently a room of 8 children but has been as many as 20, they mix in both rooms. I am not stupid. Please stop treating me as such.

I also have a step son in high school who lived here full time for two years so I am well aware of that too, thank you.

I can't control whether the government fine. I don't agree with it. I don't think they'll fine anyone who has a genuine medical reason for their child not attending though.

I still don't agree that the viable alternative here is for schools to remain closed past September.

hedgehogger1 · 01/07/2020 20:40

Coz we don't need all the school staff and kids family members alive and healthy...

juggler82 · 01/07/2020 21:09

@hedgehogger1

Coz we don't need all the school staff and kids family members alive and healthy...
Ahem. ‘Vulnerable’ wife of primary school teacher here. Dh is happily back in school and my yr 1 is back. Covid isn’t a death sentence for the vast majority, as I’m not over 70 I reckon I’d stand a good chance (I’ve faced worse!) and the bigger risk for me is the affect lockdown has had on my children’s mental health.

Before anyone says it I’m not wishing to sentence anyone to an early death - we are sensible, others need to take precautions commensurate to their personal risk, but life is not risk free and that is in danger of being forgotten.

TabbyMumz · 01/07/2020 21:11

"Idon't think they'll fine anyone who has a genuine medical reason for their child not attending though"
Sorry, but I still dont think you are getting it. It's not just children who are vulnerable, it's their family members, and teachers and their family members that are at risk too. Do you really think they wont fine me because a family member is vulnerable . Of course they will.

TabbyMumz · 01/07/2020 21:13

"others need to take precautions commensurate to their personal risk"

For me that would mean my child not attending school, but I wont be able to do that, because I would be fined.

juggler82 · 01/07/2020 21:18

@TabbyMumz

"others need to take precautions commensurate to their personal risk"

For me that would mean my child not attending school, but I wont be able to do that, because I would be fined.

Then that is what your argument should be aimed at? Not trying to stop others legitimately sending their children to school.
Bollss · 01/07/2020 21:25

@TabbyMumz

"Idon't think they'll fine anyone who has a genuine medical reason for their child not attending though" Sorry, but I still dont think you are getting it. It's not just children who are vulnerable, it's their family members, and teachers and their family members that are at risk too. Do you really think they wont fine me because a family member is vulnerable . Of course they will.
I really honestly think they won't, yes.

I really, honestly hope they have provision in place for the (proper, adequate, same as in school) education of those children in the position that yours are. Nobody should be excluded for protecting family, nor should they be fined.

Look, I don't want people to die. I know you think that I think my child is more important than anyone else, and to me, he is. Of course he is. Just like your children are the most important people in the world to you. I completely understand.

Do I want to see vulnerable people die? No. Absolutely not and I think there is lots that can and should be done to help protect these people.

However. I don't think keeping everything closed is the answer. Of course, it's the safest option for the vulnerable. But it causes it's own set of new problems. There will be a recession. There will be a mental health crisis. Unemployment will be through the roof. We will probably see in a few years what the real effect on our children has been.

There needs to be a balance, between protecting our vulnerable, alongside the NHS, and protecting our economy and our children, and our society in general.

I wouldn't like to be the person making the decisions because whatever happens there will be a set of people who are unhappy, who feel ignored, threatened, upset.

Someone will have to make those decisions. They need to be clear, they need to have evidence to support them, proper reason behind them and support for the public to make it happen. Unfortunately we haven't had that so far, and that's the biggest issue right now.

ThatDamnScientist · 01/07/2020 21:26

@formerbabe

I have a vulnerable person at home and two others in my family living elsewhere. I dont want my child bringing it home, to them

Yes but tens of thousands of people die from flu every year in the UK. Your DC could pick that up at school and pass it on.

I feel you really need to research before you post. A suitable flu vaccine is offered to most vulnerable people each year AND ALL children in primary school are offered the flu vaccine to prevent exactly that.
iamapixie · 01/07/2020 21:30

The concept of 'selfishness' often comes up in these threads, but it is not more selfish to want schools open to all, than to want them closed to the majority.
Arguably it could be more selfish, when looked at in terms of population-level needs rather than individual needs, which is ultimately the basis on which decisions have to be made for a population of 66 million individuals.
Everything is about weighing up costs and benefits (health, social, economic, educational etc).
What is interesting about the current situation is that society has very clearly prioritised those 'vulnerable to Covid' over others 'vulnerable to anything else:. That is quite a leap, in particular because in terms of pure percentages (so again, at a population not individual level), Covid does disproportionately affect the elderly whereas the lockdown could be argued to disproportionately affect younger generations.
Of course, at an individual level, and however altruistic each of us is, we would be a species-outlier if we genuinely each cared more about people we don't know than close family and friends.
Selfishness is therefore possibly not a helpful concept here.

Helloitsmemargaret · 01/07/2020 21:50

That's a great post @iamapixie

I'm a key worker so my kid is in school. My passion is advocating for the kids who are suffering outside of school. That doesn't mean I don't understand teachers concerns about their own health.

I do really worry that by focusing on the wrong things (schools, beaches, protests, gatherings in the park) we've missed what's actually fuelling the resurgence.

formerbabe · 01/07/2020 21:58

A suitable flu vaccine is offered to most vulnerable people each year AND ALL children in primary school are offered the flu vaccine to prevent exactly that

And yet still people die of flu....

darkcaramel · 01/07/2020 21:59

Do you honestly believe flu and corona are the same, former?

formerbabe · 01/07/2020 22:01

And what did we do before the flu vaccine? We didn't shut down society did we?

Anyway, my point is more that we live constantly with risk. Vulnerable people who are elderly or have underlying conditions or are immuno suppressed are at risk from a multitude of things. They take measures to protect themselves.

ineedaholidaynow · 01/07/2020 22:02

I wonder how many people would die from flu if there wasn't a vaccine? I wonder how many people would die from COVID if there hadn't been lockdown/social distancing?

CallmeAngelina · 01/07/2020 22:03

And what did we do before the flu vaccine? We didn't shut down society did we?
Nor did we worry unduly about children's mental health or them missing a term of school.

formerbabe · 01/07/2020 22:04

Do you honestly believe flu and corona are the same, former

No...I'm making the point that we live with risk all the time. Flu can kill, it's contagious. Chicken pox can kill too. We have to learn to live with risk and take measures if we're vulnerable whilst allowing others to live a normal life

MarshaBradyo · 01/07/2020 22:05

Why unduly?

Do you not think children’s mh is important?

When did children last miss a term of school en masse?

I get teachers want to feel safe. I don’t get the minimisation of the impact on children.

Tg some people are considering it. In Germany and other countries they recognise the priority for children.

formerbabe · 01/07/2020 22:06

Nor did we worry unduly about children's mental health or them missing a term of school

Well no because when in history were children isolated at home for months and not allowed to see other children or go to school Confused

darkcaramel · 01/07/2020 22:07

You know that isn’t a reasonable comparison at all.

I pulled someone up earlier for a distasteful comparison; the sort of ‘let the vulnerable fend for themselves’ attitudes are just as awful.

We’ve had it easy in this country where lockdown is concerned and people have died as a result.

Bollss · 01/07/2020 22:07

We also previously didn't know as much about mental health as we do now.

darkcaramel · 01/07/2020 22:07

Apparently everything causes mental health to collapse so I’m taking that with a huge pinch of salt.

formerbabe · 01/07/2020 22:08

It's always an interesting type of person who minimises mental health issues...I bet you think we're all snowflakes right or other such shite. Not to mention the posters on here who think if a child has any mental health issues, it's because they come from a terrible home.

Bollss · 01/07/2020 22:09

@darkcaramel

Apparently everything causes mental health to collapse so I’m taking that with a huge pinch of salt.
Please don't minimise. Lots of things do trigger people's mental health. It is really no wonder why people are struggling being completely isolated.

Attitudes like yours are why people didn't speak about it for years. Please lets not go back there.

MarshaBradyo · 01/07/2020 22:10

I would have thought teachers would see missing a term of school as quite a big deal and would be on the side of children being in school.