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Original poster

When are we going back to school 2

561 replies

RaraRachael · 15/07/2020 20:46

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
RaraRachael · 16/07/2020 14:40

I'm a bit confused. I can't don't remember JS saying that teachers had to wear face coverings, yet on the BBC Scotland news it said that we did [confuced]

Having spent 5 minutes in a cake shop wearing a mask this morning, and feeling faint, there's no way I could wear one of those bloody things all day, every day.

OP posts:
chrislilleyswig · 16/07/2020 14:47

@RaraRachael

I'm a bit confused. I can't don't remember JS saying that teachers had to wear face coverings, yet on the BBC Scotland news it said that we did [confuced]

Having spent 5 minutes in a cake shop wearing a mask this morning, and feeling faint, there's no way I could wear one of those bloody things all day, every day.

He said that they didn't have to unless they couldn't physically distance. So first aid ?
BananaTreeBirdie · 16/07/2020 14:58

I also don’t want to wear one for a prolonged period of time. I don’t know how HCPs do it.

I think cutting PE is very shortsighted. Fair enough a focus on the academics but some children have been cooped up for months now. They’re also going to be exhausted. I feel tired going to to the shops or seeing people in the garden. You can’t do long division at 2.30pm on a Thursday!

There’s got to be a balance between academics and art, music, pe. They also need to re-socialise!

WaxOnFeckOff · 16/07/2020 15:16

Outdoor Pe shouldn't be a problem, plus daily mile etc? Aren't they reintroducing outdoor sports for DC now anyway? Plenty of team non contact things for PE such as dodgeball etc.

I know we don't always have the benefit of good weather, but surely they will just have to get on with it. High Schools usually use Gym halls for Prelims and exams so DC are stuck with outdoors for chunks of th year anyway. Appreciate this wont be great for schools with limited outdoor space but I guess just another thing for schools to get their head round. Primary school less strictly timetabled so teachers can perhaps take their chances as to when to get DC out.

Art I can't see any issue with, music surely ok if they bring their own instruments but then again, maybe not wind instruments :)

SockYarn · 16/07/2020 15:30

Does anyone believe a word that comes out of Swinney's mouth after the whole "blended learning a contingency" lie?

WaxOnFeckOff · 16/07/2020 15:34

@SockYarn

Does anyone believe a word that comes out of Swinney's mouth after the whole "blended learning a contingency" lie?
To be fair, I didn't before that either.
YonBonnieBanks · 16/07/2020 15:43

did they say Art was being dropped? I thought it was just music, choir, PE and drama?

WaxOnFeckOff · 16/07/2020 16:04

@YonBonnieBanks

did they say Art was being dropped? I thought it was just music, choir, PE and drama?
I dunno, I was just following on from PP.
Arkadia · 16/07/2020 16:21

@BananaTreeBirdie,
You can’t do long division at 2.30pm on a Thursday!
Well, let's face it, that was NEVER going to be an issue. I don't even think long division are on the syllabus. At the very most simple divisions by a single digit. :D

Invisimamma · 16/07/2020 17:20

Just had an email from Falkirk Council saying their will still be a 'soft' part time start until 24th August, but maybe it'll be 19th August. 😕 Ffs! But certainly part time the first week.

SockYarn · 16/07/2020 17:24

We had a FAQ document from school and one of the questions was about whether they would deliver the full curriculum - they said they would. So that to me includes Art and Drama. Perhaps not choir as that would be extra-curricular.

But with students working towards exams in Art/Drama/Dance, they can't just not teach it!

Arkadia · 16/07/2020 18:26

Yes, just seen it. Just say the 17th and be done with it. What NONSENSE, really...

GardenOfRaman · 16/07/2020 21:17

Following. I had been getting my hopes up for FT in August, but maybe I shouldn't...

Groovee · 16/07/2020 21:45

As an EYP I'm very unsure of face masks for staff. Our job is to be in close proximity of children and children rely on facial expressions to guide them.

I am fortunate to work in a nursery which is mainly outdoors but then is that I move in to P1 to support their settling and transition into P1.

YonBonnieBanks · 16/07/2020 22:29

The unions don't seem happy at full classes returning and maintaining cleanliness with so many pupils.

DD is still worried she could be in different classes, different start times, lunch times etc to her friends.

Onebabyandamadcat · 17/07/2020 19:48

As a teacher I'm very disappointed in the education secretary. I feel like we're being thrown under a bus. No distancing between pupils but we've to stay distant from them and other staff. How does that work when trying to help a 7 year old understand a concept - do I stand 2m away and shout while holding up big bits of paper? In a room with 33 children so no actual space to stay 2m away from them all?

I can wear a mask, perhaps, if I want but I thought the purpose of a mask is to protect others from me. So I wear my mask and help protect my pupils and their families (all of whom must wear a mask in shops as over five remember) but they don't need to wear a mask to protect me?

I want to get back to work normally and see all my kids. I miss them and my colleagues so much. However, it needs to be fair and safe for all. Mumsnet sometimes gives teachers a hard time but all I'm asking is that I work in an environment that is as safe as it can be. How can it be sensible or right that I spend 5 hours a day in a poorly ventilated room with people from 33 other households with minimal scope for distancing with no ppe then have to line up with a mask on to grab a loaf of bread on my way home? The two scenarios don't match up - they can't both be the right way to go.

AudacityOfHope · 17/07/2020 21:05

I'm not a teacher, just a parent, but I agree with you.

How can schools be the only safe buildings in the country? I think it's obvious that the 'rules' are only not required in schools due to parent uproar (which I never felt myself) and concerns about the economy.

I don't really want to send my kids back tbh.

KatySun · 17/07/2020 21:54

I am a parent and I agree as well Onebabyandamadcat - this is basically throwing everyone back to school with a few words about teachers being two metres away and crossing their fingers.

I was very disappointed by the lack of online schooling which my primary school aged DC got in lockdown (secondary school aged DC was well-provided for so I realise it was not the same everywhere), but the answer to that is really not to just pretend the virus has magically gone away and/or everyone who sets foot in a school is immune.

I have had covid 19 and I am still recovering four months on, and my DC have also had it. I really do not want it again.

KatySun · 17/07/2020 21:56

School buses are apparently covered by the magic as well as they will be counted as part of the school estate (no physical distancing required) but children travelling to school on public transport need to wear a mask and observe physical distancing. It is madness.

Sassenach85 · 17/07/2020 22:16

I feel like we will be hated for even complaining or pointing out the dangers. I’m a teacher and for many reasons I won’t go into I would love to be at work. In fact my mental health needs it! But the return to school doesn’t make sense to me it’s madness

AudacityOfHope · 17/07/2020 23:19

It's really concerning isn't it Sad

All these months I've felt I could keep my family safe because it was within my control where we went and who we mixed with. That'll be gone in a flash and I don't feel anything is being done to give actual things protection to the adults or children involved.

Disappointed that NS caved so easily really.

Sassenach85 · 17/07/2020 23:26

If put simply I don’t see how they can explain it?? I can sit in a room with 30 kids but I need to participate in mutual mask wearing in shops etc? I don’t know what the unions will say/do now

AudacityOfHope · 17/07/2020 23:29

It just seems to be accepted now that children aren't impacted by it the way adults are, so that's that. Oh, and they don't seem to spread it any more either Confused which is very handy.

TheMurk · 17/07/2020 23:32

@AudacityOfHope but they aren’t?

AudacityOfHope · 17/07/2020 23:39

Yes I know. But putting 30 people who are quite likely to be asymptomatic carriers (should they get it) into a room together seems mighty risky; they will also all interact with adults in the school, then go home to their parents, who interact with other adults, grandparents, etc.

None of this is discussed any more, just swept under the rug.