Scottish schools opening

[chocciechocface]

I was ready for schools opening, but this new research has given me pause for thought. I think this came out after Sturgeon's decision. What do you all think?

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/07/31/georgia-children-covid-outbreak/#click=t.co/Y9gSG9zENz

Quote from the article:

"A new report suggests that children of all ages are susceptible to coronavirus infection and may also spread it to others — a finding likely to intensify an already fraught discussion about the risks of sending children back to school this fall.

The analysis, released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, details an outbreak at a sleep-away camp in Georgia last month in which 260 children and staffers — more than three-quarters of the 344 tested — contracted the virus less than a week after spending time together in close quarters. The children had a median age of 12. The camp had required all 597 campers and staff members to provide documentation that they had tested negative for the virus before coming. Staff were required to wear masks, but children were not."

actually I think they said 27 cases are now linked to the pub.

NS made me roll my eyes when she was talking about wanting to cry. If she was that concerned she'd close all the bloody pubs. We saw this cluster coming a mile away. I also think the Tory eat out scheme will lead to more clusters.

I think they have caved due to the pressure from usforthem and opened schools full time. It is foolhardy as far as I am concerned

I had a look on their Facebook page and noticed they were saying the school camp case study had been "discredited by experts".

I do think teachers are in an unenviable situation (to put it mildly). A relative of mine (primary school teacher) contracted COVID just as lockdown started. The ONLY possible source was her P5 class. She is now worried about reports that immunity might not last long and is terrified of going back to class.

Who/what is usforthem?

A pressure group of "concerned parents" demanding a return to full time education with no social distancing, masks or any other safety measures basically. Appears to have had a massive influence on the DFM's sudden change of mind about schools returning back in June.

A campaign group who aimed to get all pupils in 100% from day one. Reasonable premise until it turned into a rabid ranting mob. They had a daily "call to arms" to fill the inboxes of all the people in SG, councils etc who had anything to do with schools or education.

They have had to apologise to Stephen McCabe a councillor who is part of COSLA for offensive correspondence and comments on their page. Many of the discussions in the comments no longer make sense as the admins have deleted so much. The admins have tried to ask for less vitriol and upsetting posts as the screenshots, if shared on social media, damage the group's reputation and cause.

Now that schools are returning 100% from day they are directing their wrath towards the parts of the Guidelines for Return that don't fit with their vision. They want to decide if and when school staff (and even other pupils) can wear face coverings and observe distancing. Regardless of the individual's circumstances as their child is all important. They will send symptomatic children to school, refuse to have them removed and refuse testing as they get to diagnose and don't believe the science behind testing. They want their children to challenge the "normalisation of mask wearing " . Staggering starts etc will not be imposed on them same with requests re pencil cases, or phones in primary school.

Don't forget theydon't want to get their dcs vaccinated if one is developed either.

I knew I'd miss something Mistress - such a smorgasbord of bampottery .

Holy fuck. But why, if they are that nuts and willing to indulge in risky behaviours, is anyone listening to them at all?

Now that is a phrase I'm going to remember!

That’s not true of the majority of UsforThemScotland. Most of us joined to try and get our children back to school as we are terribly concerned about them. I’m pro vaccination, not a conspiracy theorist, just a concerned parent who felt impotent to help my child.

@WouldBeGood

That’s not true of the majority of UsforThemScotland. Most of us joined to try and get our children back to school as we are terribly concerned about them. I’m pro vaccination, not a conspiracy theorist, just a concerned parent who felt impotent to help my child.

Same here.

Yes honestly need some sense here, the balance of evidence still says children are less likely to catch and transmit the virus than adults - so schools reopening over pubs etc makes sense. Close the pubs if need be.

I’m sure a lot of the usforthem are parents worried about their jobs and their children’s education rather than anti vac conspiracy theorists...

Great summary Lidlfix!
Also, the UsForThem Scotland group had a 'normal mum' member speak on the BBC Scotland radio (turns out she's an ex PR person for a political party, the colour of which ironically rhymes with true) and one of the main commenters on it had a meeting with Boris on his one day jaunt to Scotland. He wouldn't even meet the FM! BUT they are, of course, completely politically neautral.

And your ok with what the group wants now? Not stirring or goading, we're all entitled to our own views, just wondering how many people who joined up no longer believe in their new goals. Some of the posters on the other thread left after the announcement as the original aim had been met.

*neutral even!

I’ll leave the group when schools are definitely back full time. And no masks for kids.

And I believe that most members are worried parents who wanted a return to full time education and have probably never even posted on the Facebook page. Unfortunately , it's the ranting, infighting and COVID deniers comments that are there to be read by all.

Well hopefully the 90 minute covid test will obviate the need for people to guess which cough is covid. I don’t see it as at all political to want to protect jobs through full time schooling and neither does the FM clearly - no idea where the suggestion that supporting a group keen on ft schooling is somehow a Tory stalking horse has come from, very paranoid.

Didn’t it already become clear that teacher mask wearing is the teacher’s right to decide as part of their human rights? No campaign group will change a UN convention.

It gained traction because councils like Edinburgh offered ONE day a week plus one extra day every three weeks as their “blended learning” solution.
I’d have taken 50% as a reasonable solution but until the pressure came for 100% we were only getting 25% which while better than nothing wasn’t good enough.

And there are people of all political persuasions on there. The SNP get pelters as they’re the government in charge of the schools. I’m certainly no Tory.

Not even over 16? Or those kids who want to wear them? Again not goading just asking. I am genuinely interested as I have a 16 year old who wears a mask for 8 hours at work.

I get that most joined as they wished their children to go back to school full time but everyone I know left when they realised the groups target - children in school full time with no social distancing, no matter what the science says at the time.

I ought to have said no mandatory masks for kids.