When are we going back to school 2

[RaraRachael]

New thread as the last one was getting full. Feel free to discuss, moan, speculate on anything to do with Scottish schools and what may/not be happening.

I have, however, lost any hope of children going back to school, because of this sort of attitude.

Though even the EIS appears to be accepting the full time plan now.

Sorry but I think you're woefully wrong in both cases there. The spreading it part of need to find some links but it's a virus - they may not spread it anymore than others or be as I'll as others but viruses don't check a date of birth before infecting someone.

On the "it'll be easy to stay distant from the children" - have you ever been in a primary classroom?! There's rarely 2m of space between the teacher and pupils at any point in the day. You need to hear individuals reading, show individuals where they're going wrong in a numeracy calculation, tie their laces, do buttons and ties, break up fights, type passwords into computers, give hugs to hurt or upset children, cut lunches - just a few examples there.

As I say, I’m resigned to my child being doomed to no education. He’s 12 btw abd starting secondary. Well, supposed to. He’s depressed and lonely and no education for months now and no doubt months to come.

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/articles/coronaviruscovid19infectionsinthecommunityinengland/july2020#infection-rates-by-age-sex-and-ethnicity-over-the-study-period

here's a link from the office of national statistics the this section shows data indicating no difference in infection rates based on age.

There are no recorded cases of pupils infecting teachers. But I’m wasting my breath. Crack in keeping safe.

I have, however, lost any hope of children going back to school, because of this sort of attitude.

What, a 12 year old whining about a mask? Parents and teachers will have to compromise.

I think we will end up going back full time, so teachers have to take on the pressure of no social distancing in our workplaces.

Parents therefore have to take the responsibility for making their children wear masks, making sure they keep them off with symptoms, and drilling it into them that they must do their bit. That's what'll keep the schools open with no official distancing.

Not true- Israel have admitted that reopening schools drove their rates way up.

My child is not “whining about a mask”. What a really horrible thing to say. I really hope you’re not a teacher.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/no-known-case-of-teacher-catching-coronavirus-from-pupils-says-scientist-3zk5g2x6z

The problem with the Times article is quite simply that we don’t know because there was not sufficient or widespread testing before lockdown when community transmission was at its peak. The same is true of other countries. The New York Times has a story about South Korea where contact tracing and testing was done and a large scale study shows that secondary pupils are just as likely as adults to transmit coronavirus.

There is an interesting quote from an epidemiologist who says that a balance is needed - between children and young people needing an education and reducing risk from coronavirus. We need to acknowledge that, I think, and a rush back to full-time school does not do that.

The comment about my child is vile and I’m
Leaving this thread and the site. I hope you take a look at yourself.

Outbreaks in schools had infected at least 1,335 students and 691 staff by Monday since the reopening in early May

www.wsj.com/articles/israelis-fear-schools-reopened-too-soon-as-covid-19-cases-climb-11594760001

Israel has an average class size of 27.

“Perhaps Israel is faring less well than European countries because it opened with fewer social-distancing measures,” wrote economist Emily Oster in the piece, adding: “One difference between Israel and countries such as France and Sweden is that Israel opened all its schools at once, and others started with younger children.”

Someone's touchy.

I’m desperate to get back and hope we will. What is currently concerning me is not social distancing from young children but from their parents and my colleagues. Even if young children don’t spread Covid adults certainly do.

I'm concerned about distancing from colleagues, practically and socially. My school is not an easy one and we rely on each other for support. Our staff room is absolutely tiny and the thought of eating alone in my classroom is really quite daunting.

You're flouncing off because someone said "whining"?! Just incase there's a lost in translation moment here it means to "complain in a childish and petulant manner" it's hardly an insult never mind a grave insult. My DD whines all the time - because it's raining, because her banana is broken, because Hey Duggee isn't on the TV, because the cat isn't up for having his tail pulled. And that was just today!

Refusing to wear a mask to protect other people is definitely "whining"

@BananaTreeBirdie I can emphasise with that. Teaching is a strangely lonely job without our colleagues. Yes you are with children all day but without adults at key times in your day it is very solitary. We spend a lot of time together too and that collegiate time, whether a planned meeting or a coffee at lunch, is the time that makes a good school strong.

I feel it is an aspect that non-teachers (and those determined to blame us) will really overlook or belittle, but it is so important.

I totally agree. I also teach in a challenging school with incredibly close and supportive staff. Without the relationships we have with each other many if us would've quit the job long ago. I know I'm a better teacher for the support from my team.

It'll be incredibly lonely and intense if we can't have time together to brainstorm ideas and debrief after particularly challenging days. I for one would be concerned for my and many of my colleagues mental health in this situation.

@BananaTreeBirdie

I feel it is an aspect that non-teachers (and those determined to blame us) will really overlook or belittle, but it is so important.

A good number of people in DP's work (not a school) have commented on this. They're not enjoying their jobs when social distancing. Collegiality is an important part of a lot of jobs and losing that will affect the mental wellbeing of a lot of people.

I don't think it was Mascotte's dc that was objecting to the mask wearing.
But flouncing or not, Mascotte and those who think that way will get their desire and have their dc back in school. They won't have a great experience if their teachers are off sick but hey ho.

We can always zoom each other at lunch I suppose

It's so difficult. Everyone wants the schools back, and I think a significant part of that is that, psychologically, that means things are really returning to normal. But it does mean significant mixing, between groups of people who do not normally mix, and in circumstances in which they don't normally mic. Yes, young people have been hanging out in groups, but in parks, or at a push, shopping centres, not crammed together in small classroooms. And rarely in groups of 30.

And in my experience schools are not great at putting teachers' wellbeing front and centre so I don't have great confidence that that's going to happen.
I really wish someone could come up with the perfect solution, that would allow all children to access their full education, for pupils' and teachers' health to be protected, and for any changes to be affordable, thus doable. But I don't think that solution exists.

Decided to have a quick look at the UsForThem fb page this morning.
Really wish I hadn't.
The most recent post is someone saying they're e-mailing JS and NS re the need for full time education because... they've had to buy plus size trousers for their child. Other parents' comments are in the same vein. Sigh.
Outdoor sports clubs have been open for weeks, children have been able to play outside, with friends, for months- it's the summer holidays for goodness sake! Parents should take some responsibility if they're going to complain about their child putting on weight, not send e-mails to the gov. 🤨

Yup it is not good for your own mental health to look there. It is now verging on hysteria. The thread about lunch boxes is another one which is just adding fuel to the fire. It seems that people can’t understand that guidance was issued in June based on blended learning. Two days before most schools shut that was flipped on its head and changed. There is not new guidance yet because no one knows what will happen on Thursday. Once that announcement happens then new guidance will be issued. Yet again.

What does concern me is that there are a huge number of people on that page who say they will not follow the guidance. They seem to be looking for reasons to argue. . I do have concerns around confrontations with parents who don’t agree with social distancing/ masks/ no assemblies etc. For a group who said they were not political, there seems to be a huge number of political posts allowed now. Anyone who suggests that some of the changes are a pain but they’re willing to put up with them (Like most of us feel about lots of the new changes) is shot down in flames and questioned as to whether they support the group.