New Fred. It nearly ended in tiers.

[Cismyfatarse]

Sorry. Lost track of what was proposed. Hope this will do.

I loved the cat lawyer cis, the complete deadpan way he deals with it too! Weetabix and beans? Well it's not just us unquietly losing a bit of grip it seems!

wouldbegood I've stopped checking the news again - it'll all be nonsense until we start to see vaccines hit hospitalisation rates and case rates and whatever other gubbins they're measuring. I reckon a lot of people are keeping their powder dry to push for change once we get to that point.

I'm not sure I can take any more why don't we pretend to be another country with completely different history, structures and natural environment articles.

My DCs old school went hard for learning through play and no structure without setting up any outdoor environment component because it's in a city centre, funds were delayed etc - it was absolutely horrible.

@IncludeWomenInTheSequel

We've had dozens of threads of 'railing' now and I don't think it seems to be helping anyone to deal with it any better. Managing ourselves is all we've got when we can't manage the actual situation.

Personally I found a bit of railing useful - it was nice to be able to actually discuss things and say "I think this is bloody shite" without it being some weird conspiracy theory wormhole. For a long time there was a separate happy thread whereas I feel now like any time anyone is negative they're told off.

@blowinahoolie

Great article Starry👌 I think we should adopt more strategies like Finland in our own education system. DS (5) didn't enjoy being out in the snow yesterday, he cried within 10 minutes because it was "too cold". Lacking resilience. I am sure Finnish children don't behave this way as it's a habit to play out in all weathers from such a young age. My youngest (3) will stay outside all day if he could. Since being out of nursery, 5yo has really struggled a lot and is less resilient. No doubt about it.

Yeah, this is why it's so important that the panel that @IncludeWomenInTheSequel was on exists. The Scottish curriculum does require one hour outdoor learning a week but that's not enough. I really hope we can move to this model too but with the internal market bill, we may need to follow the English model in the future.

I'd rather we looked at the resources we've got first before we mandate outdoor time (which I can see is yet another cheap soundbite solution) - outdoor play on tarmac with knackered equipment is the reality for a LOT of kids in Scotland's cities that are overcrowded. It's hardly Finnish woodland scenes.

if I had to pick one thing I don't like about the scot gov it's this - take potentially good ideas from around the world that seem popular (who isn't for more cherubs playing in the snow type stuff), stick them into some policy document and no attempt to confront the resource problems on the ground (staff, outdoor space, equipment etc).

I've worked in several schools in our biggest city and a few very close to the centre / East End. The vast majority of our schools have access to green spaces.

@anon444877

I'd rather we looked at the resources we've got first before we mandate outdoor time (which I can see is yet another cheap soundbite solution) - outdoor play on tarmac with knackered equipment is the reality for a LOT of kids in Scotland's cities that are overcrowded. It's hardly Finnish woodland scenes.

Agreed, outdoor learning in some city centre Edinburgh primaries is pretty dire, my DD's old school had zero grass and a tiny concrete playground. My own primary school was in a dodgy council estate but it had several courtyards one of which was a wildlife garden and loads of playground space.

I also think in Finland they're probably a lot more au fait with having the right sort of outdoor clothing and it's probably cheaper and more accessible than what you'd buy here.

I know at our private school they'd asked for donations of warm outer wear as obviously windows open in classrooms and more outdoor time last term and some DCs didn't have any suitable clothing.

Sorry badly worded the donations weren't for the DCs from our school but ones in poorer areas.

One policy I like is the fund for outdoor clothing ( puddlesuits, wellies, snowsuits) etc for children from low income families - so they're not missing out due to a lack of funds.

Personally I found a bit of railing useful - it was nice to be able to actually discuss things and say "I think this is bloody shite" without it being some weird conspiracy theory wormhole. For a long time there was a separate happy thread whereas I feel now like any time anyone is negative they're told off.

Agree, I've more or less stopped posting now to be honest. It was good to have a laugh and a foot-stomp.

One of the recommendations was reform of how education is delivered, but I think it was more to take account of the barriers to remote learning etc. Total reform is out of scope really.

Also @StatisticallyChallenged I've strayed away from that thread too, it was getting harder and harder to find posts deemed acceptable by the group! There's positivity and then there's hands-clamped-over-the-ears-denial.

I like a good rail as much as anybody; I just don't think it's healthy when it dominates the discussion every day. It makes it a chore, and sometimes a battle, to join in if you don't feel that way. I've kept quiet on most of these threads because of it. I feel like the assumption is that I'm an arsehole if I say I'm coping fine. But, I am. And I think that's ok. I'd be happy for other people if they were saying the same.

I think I’ll start a separate railing thread.

I think the main thing is not to tell other people how they should feel.

I’m really happy if others are happy and coping. But I’m entitled to be fed up.

I must be unlucky as I can't think of a state school round me that has much other than tarmac. And 'access to green space' is a bit nebulous - YES they can trek to the local park, but the staff hate that because they have to cross busy roads which adds risk and stress to their jobs. They usually ask for parent helpers when they have to do it.

That's what I mean there's 'access to green space' (can go to local park full of dogs but it's a trek and staff don't like doing it) and 'access to green space' - has several playing fields and scope for forest school.

There's too much tokenism to nod to badly implemented ideas as it is.

@WouldBeGood

I think the main thing is not to tell other people how they should feel.

I’m really happy if others are happy and coping. But I’m entitled to be fed up.

Exactly, people moan because they want to vent or whatever, not really looking for anyone to fix it. Sometimes people who've been struggling, just want an ear and some support/sympathy/validation.

@WouldBeGood

I think the main thing is not to tell other people how they should feel.

I’m really happy if others are happy and coping. But I’m entitled to be fed up.

I think you're right, and I don't think anyone is doing that.

if I had a proper education wish, I'd have more parental choice.

There are so many kids that could benefit from going to school 2 or 3 days a week and then accessing other forms of education the other days. If you could access the budget as a parent and use it with choice, it would open so many things up.

The ASL provision - I don't think I've got a friend with a child with additional needs that isn't forking out a lot for private classes outside what the school is providing.

but coming on a thread and saying there's too much negativity and it's not helpful is a way of telling people to be quiet, even if it isn't specifically directed.

Right, must get on with actual job after morning frolics in the snow.

@WouldBeGood Can I come to the new thread I'm only here for the railing 🤣🤣

I just forked out on a Swedish waterproof suit for my young DC, £130 full price, and fortunately as I am late to this winter party it was on sale for £80. Crazily expensive.

For me the railing has been a refuge from relentlessly positive people who seem to take pride in religiously following the rules and filling their social media posts pages with posts bossily telling other people to follow them too.

However a bit of we- are -where -we -are so the sensible thing to do is make the best of it seems like the way to go. But everybody needs to get things off their chest sometimes. And some people are living in horrendously stressful circumstances. Sometimes I wonder if some people who talk about how they're fine and they don't need to go places, have a social life etc aren't really bothered about that. It shouldn't be for anybody to decide what the best way for everybody else to deal with this situation is.

@anon444877

but coming on a thread and saying there's too much negativity and it's not helpful is a way of telling people to be quiet, even if it isn't specifically directed.

Right, must get on with actual job after morning frolics in the snow.

So my perception is right then - you're only truly welcome here if you are in chime with the prevailing sentiment.

This is why I stepped off these threads in the first place. I'll just piss off again.

I find my Facebook is full of people either posting scare stories about covid, nagging people to follow rules, and bad poetry about how awful it all is. I do like the respite from bad poetry and motivational quotes.