Unhappy about primary schools re opening

[Bitterglitter]

Is anyone else unhappy about primary schools being re opened as part of the lockdown easing measures?

I keep thinking about the kids who have underlying health conditions that aren't yet diagnosed.

My DS1 (5) was diagnosed with a benign heart murmur in feb this year. It was only picked up because he has a lot of follow up Paediatric appointments because he was premature. I don't even know if it's an issue as far as covid19 goes. But what about all the kids out there with undiagnosed asthma, diabetes etc?

Primary age kids can't and won't maintain social distance. And they will act as super spreaders too. Doesn't matter how well their parents maintain distance if all these kids are mixing it up in schools.

It just seems crazy when so many parents can continue working from home. Am I being hysterical?

[lemonsandlimes123]

Mumto2two - it's perfectly possible to have hypertension and not be obese you know!

[Mumto2two]

@lemonsandlimes123 - of course yes, I didn’t mean it in the wholly associated sense; just the fact that a large part of our growing hypertension problem as well as issues with type II diabetes, is driven by increasing levels of obesity. It’s not exclusive, but it’s a big part of the problem.

[Quartz2208]

I thought it highlighted the age of CV related deaths more than anything - the underlying conditions tend to me things you get as you age

[june2007]

None round here opening and none of my nieces or nephews are either.

[Quartz2208]

Sweden is interesting in that they never shut schools

and indeed only 1% of the deaths that they have shown was under 50

www.socialstyrelsen.se/statistik-och-data/statistik/statistik-over-antal-avlidna-i-covid-19/ (note you do have to work out Swedish)

and are over the peak

[Piggywaspushed]

Yes, but also have the 8th highest rate of deaths per 1000 in the world, hey?

[Quartz2208]

@piggywaspushed that wasnt my point, they didnt shut schools and still they had a low rate of deaths under 50, commensurate (or indeed lower than other countries) even though they never shut schools. Children still mixed and the sky didnt fall in.

According to worldometers they are 10th in the World per Million population similar to Ireland and Netherlands.

There approach is being highlighted as one to follow coming out of lockdown

[Piggywaspushed]

I am not convinced that having a far higher rating than any other Scandinavian country is all that much of a role model but if you say so. 10th in the world is very high compared with Norway, Denmark, Finland...

They haven't 'come out as they never went in. Sure, it is academically interesting but their population density, schooling, trust in government and many other issues are very different from ours.

[Quartz2208]

I dont say so the WHO are saying so

And yes they are different but that doesnt mean we cant look at them and see what they did

[Piggywaspushed]

In terms of coming out of lockdown, perhaps but not to look up to in terms of death rates or to learn anything about schools from. I would have thought Germany and Ireland were better places to look as countries that have managed lockdown well and already have exit plans.

[Quartz2208]

www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/how-sweden-faced-the-virus-without-a-lockdown-1.4240944

Ireland and Sweden are very similar

And yes you can learn because the failings in Sweden are with the over 70s which schools havent impacted

They kept them open the mortality rate of the under 70s did not increase. That should tell us something

[Piggywaspushed]

Yes, read the running thread on Sweden which has a great more detail on what WHO in fact said.

[Quartz2208]

Yes that it is a future model for how we might have to be and schools are open which is relevant to this thread

[LIZS]

I think many are overlooking that the normal operation of schools in Europe can be very different to UK. Part time, half day Wednesday, staggered timetables, home to lunch and probably most crucially children who walk themselves to and fro from an early age so no parents/carers waiting at the school gate. This allows much more flexibility in reopening without too much disruption.

[Quartz2208]

Having a few friends abroad they are all doing a different approach. Norway has DS Year 2 friend back but not his Year 5 brother. Switzerland are going back next week but split it on an alphabet basis so they are doing 2 days a week

[Chillipeanuts]

“If they have to go back, then they have too or the fines will start. It's either that or home ed.”

Would hope the usual rules won’t apply in these circumstances. We took our youngest out of college 2 weeks before settings were closed because of asthma risk and my husband needing to shield. College were extremely supportive, provided work by email, authorised absence and assured us of a place, however long it took,
I imagine this will continue at the other end. There are too many children with health issues or vulnerabilities in close relatives to even think about fines.
I am worried that we’ll end up with a two-tier state system though, with vulnerable children effectively penalised through no fault of their own.

[Moondust001]

It just seems crazy when so many parents can continue working from home

Really? An awful lot of parents have never been able to work from home; and many employers are accepting huge short term dis-benefits to their business in order to let others work from home. There are also costs to employees in working from home - not just the obvious ones of increased home costs but also the risk of health coming from many people working at home in conditions that would never be allowed in offices!

It is also absolutely impossible to work (anywhere) and also do childcare - unless you happen to the the teacher. Flexible working arrangements do not include adding "look after my child as my primary concern" to your job description. Anyone who doesn't want their child to return to school is free to resign or take unpaid parental leave.

[Quartz2208]

It just seems crazy when so many parents can continue working from home

But we are WORKING from home. I manage to fit in 9-11 with DS and get as much done as I can but then I have to work. Neither me or DH are keyworkers but we are both in jobs that have become busier due to COVID 19 so need to work.

We are managing and they are just about keeping up but it isnt ideal for either of them

[Mumto2two]

It’s great for those who have been able to continue their working lives at home, but it’s a serious ‘me in my bubble’ mentality to assume that this is remotely the case for most. Half the population are on the government furlough scheme...and many have no jobs to return to at all.

[Hippofrog]

I can’t see how kids staying home can go on long term. Yes more parents could be at home due to furlough and redundancy but how many of those parents are in the right frame of mind to teach their children? Stress depression and anxiety will be affecting so many parents, those parents shouldn’t have the added pressure of educating their children as well. It could tip some people over the edge completely.

[LIZS]

Those saying they will keep their dc out of school, will you also maintain current lockdown levels even if restrictions are eased. So no playgrounds or parks, trips to beaches, theme parks, libraries, shops, garden centres, meeting family or friends etc for an indefinite period?

[Chillipeanuts]

Yes, not much point otherwise?

[Greenpop21]

Well, we were asked to measure the classrooms to see how many we can fit in with social distancing last week. The answer is 5!

[LavenderLilacTree]

Lives are more important than anything else. Kids going back to school will result in an increase of cases and people will DIE.

[Quartz2208]

@lavenderlilactree

But that assumes that by the time June comes the biggest risk to lives is Coronavirus which if the lockdown has worked may not be true.