Petition to stop Tier 4 schools opening.

[LastChristmas20]

If you feel the same as me and are worried about the children spreading this new strain.

Please sign.

petition.parliament.uk/signatures/100564226/signed

Signed too. Better to have planned closure, with support for the vulnerable and KW children, than do nothing, let the virus take even more hold and schools close anyway.
The more school staff catch this, the less support for those that really need it. The more ill staff the more ad hoc education will be. There needs to be a plan and this must include the government working with businesses to support parents to work at home, work flexibly if at all possible.

I have staff with long COVID and COVID deaths to deal with. (I work across schools). The MH of children associated with these deaths suffers too.

*this comes down to

[quote SnowGnome]@inquietant again, I agree with you and to us comes down to the whole point of the thread.

The fact that the argument has been diminished to a choice between de-register or die is just unbelievable, when actually we all want the same thing - safe schooling!![/quote]
I simply can't understand why other parents care if my child is in next week or not. They are just bullies I guess, and don't want anyone to do anything differently.

Most parents (including me) did return their children when able after the first lockdown - but I wouldn't have given a shit if a couple stayed at home for a few more weeks.

I echo a PP - those who don’t think schools should close, is there any point in the severity of this outbreak that would change your minds? Seems many have a mentality that they should never close no matter what. Even if that means in the worst affected areas they will de facto close due to staff shortages and isolating.

@inquietant

You're quite right, that did make no sense.

So, upon reflection:

• no one should have to send their children to school if they don't want to for the sake of the risk to their health. What an appalling choice to have to make

• in the current scenario, parents should have the choice to not send their children to school for a short period, say Feb half term or whenever things are likely to be improving.

• no one should be deciding between fines and what they perceive a risk to their health.

• however I would like schools to remain open for those that have a different view on the risks.

My kids don't go to a state school so I'm not 100% accurate on the ins and outs of the system. I know that in our school 80% did return when they opened for junior years in June. I was happy that the 20% who didn't want to come back at the time were able to make the choice that was right for them.

@Dddccc completely agree it's ridiculous. But apparently kids mustn't have an education because diseases kill people.

Our school will have already been closed 4 1/2 weeks when they return on 11th. My eldest hasn’t been in school since 7th December. All pupils have been asked to test this week and again before returning on 11th. I would like to give them a chance to re-open. Otherwise it will be months of wasted time again.

in the current scenario, parents should have the choice to not send their children to school for a short period, say Feb half term or whenever things are likely to be improving.

I think both the people who want school.open and who want school closed should be able to coalesce around this?

I do have a reservation about whether this would help protect teachers' health - I remain shocked at the number of cuntish parents who clearly do not give a shit about teachers.

I do have a reservation about whether this would help protect teachers' health - I remain shocked at the number of cuntish parents who clearly do not give a shit about teachers.*
*
I haven't seen this first hand, but I'd agree that teachers' health is essential - they should absolutely be given priority for the vaccine. Say at the same level as health care workers.

I'm CV and would get the vaccine ahead of others. I'd be happy to delay my vaccine so that educational staff could have theirs first.

Sorry, bold fail, that was in reply to @inquietant

Almost 88,000 signatures and rising.

What I would have liked to see was parents given the option to keep children at home at their discretion without fines or loss of places. That possibility was not offered so, as pp have said, the only option is to ask the Government to decide.

The problem with schools remaining open isn't just the the spread within them, it is the buses and trains they use to get to and from them. Bus drivers cannot police mask wearing and drive at the same time. I live in a rural area and the average journey to the nearby schools takes at least 45 minutes and social distancing just doesn't happen.

@Counterpane I agree. I do hope however that this offers the compromise that both sides can accept.