Disposable teachers?

[RomanRita]

Anyone else feel that the Government is preparing to sacrifice the well-being of school staff to prop up the economy?
I wonder what the response will be once teachers begin to get sick.

"Eating in my office" shows you are not in the same boat as the average teacher.
Things I touch that pupils touch - chairs, tables, door to classroom, all the fire doors, pencils, rulers, jotters, computer.

I’m worried about what to do with my child who is not school age who is usually looked after by grandparents but obviously that won’t work soon. I know that doesn’t just apply to teachers but think that will cause another massive problem as I know I am far from the only person in that predicament

I am happy to do my bit but it’s turning into a nightmare!

I’ve been leaving doors open in my classroom so barely touching anything the students would handle; I’ve brought food from home and eating in my office.

Dude. You have an office. Talk to me when you're an average primary school teacher being coughed on by 30 seven year olds in a room that's legitimately only slightly bigger than my living room.

Italian Dreams

You seem to suggest your child will be looked after by grandparents if schools don't close. Surely this is even riskier than looking after them in quarantine? Spending all day with other kids leaves them as much higher risk of contracting the disease.

I don't mean this just being relevant to you per-say but the grandparent childminding situation is a straw-man one. Grandparents should cease all childminding duties imminently regardless of school closures.

What I find irritating is that overtly or surreptiously we are seen as childcare, not professionals ,there to educate children. Your children, your problem, I am NOT a free babysitting facility. Plus, i have my own family issues to manage.

Grandparents should cease all childminding duties imminently regardless of school closures.

Depends how old the grandparents are, surely? The one who looks after my DC is 49.

That's MIL, but even my parents are only early sixties (same as my teacher colleague who is being expected to look after her class throughout the whole outbreak (and catch coronavirus from them, in all probability)).

*Should be similar age, not the same.

You are right but finding an alternative for many is easier said than done. My point is it is a big problem waiting to happen. My parents health absolutely comes first but for all the people who rely on grandparents for child care finding an alternative now all at once will be a big problem

User If everyone has that attitude during a crisis what a terrible state the country will be in. If essential workers have no childcare they will have to prioritise their children over you/ your sick relatives.

My father in law was on holiday in France and is returning early because the schools in France have now closed so everyone headed South and the campsites are now heaving. This is how the virus spreads. There is logic in keeping the schools open and I don't see how you're any more at risk than other professions. I'm pretty sure people that work in shops didn't stand up to be the last ones standing, yet the government is reassuring everyone that shops will remain open, meanwhile people around them are fighting over loo roll and pasta.

Many, many, employees are being asked to work from home when at all possible. So no not everyone has the same experience or exposure. I think people in shops could be scaled back - does Tesco need to be open 24/7 for example, and could more of us not use self scan or self checkouts

@Minesabecks judging by the queues in supermarkets in our town this weekend, I’m not convinced closing them will help. Fine for the middle classes who have filled their cupboards, but for those living hand to mouth, who have to go in far more regularly, restricting hours really won’t help.

I would also hazard a guess that it’s those on lower incomes who don’t have the luxury of working from home. When I think lower incomes, I immediately think of childcare, shop workers, retail, hospitality, cleaners, delivery drivers, factory/warehouse staff. None of those jobs can be done at home. So, these workers have little choice but to turn in for work each day. If they don’t, they more than likely won’t be paid. Then what will happen to them?

I don't disagree with anything at all you've said. Some earlier posters were saying teachers were being asked to do nothing more than every other profession - I was pointing out a lot of people are now working from home that's all.

I'm feeling apprehensive about going in to work today. Infants are super spreaders and the playground is heaving with adults in a small space at drop off time (badly designed layout).

I'd rather be busy for my mental health than kicking around at home but I have a strange feeling today.

Yes me too. I am happy to do my bit but have a horrible sense of foreboding.

And yes, my room is titchy too. I'm taking some cleaner in to do my desks etc and will have windows open but there's barely room to seat 32, never mind have them any distance apart.

Our school has sent a text message out this morning - school cancelled for one year group due to high levels of staff absence.

Do we really think there is much hope to avoid spread in primary schools? We have been doing several hand washing stops a day, sanitising lines (before the sanitiser ran out and could not be replaced), staggering meal and break times, wiping down desks and equipment between lessons, introducing closer supervision and encouraging non-contact games in the playground, rearranging seating to create more distance etc, all with good cheer and an upbeat vibe, as don't want to make children worried, but it now just feels like empty gestures; they're just little children who cough, sneeze and smudge all over their faces and everything else, including their teachers. All of our immunosuppressed pupils were removed by parents the week before last.

@RomanRita

I agree. I said elsewhere I'd be happy to look after (can't say teaching, necessarily) children of frontline workers as long as this whole thing isn't used as a performance management stick. The government needs to assure teachers that everything on the list you posted is not required for the interim, perhaps by making a temporary change to the STPCD. Otherwise, I can well imagine schools I've previously worked in still expecting teachers to be marking and assessing in the same way, wasting time doing wall displays etc., when they have 40 in a class, 30 of whom are essentially unknowns in terms of ability, learning behaviours etc. across a range of year groups.

Ooh, I meant to reply to @fedup21, sorry @RomanRita!

Just been notified that my student is self isolating. Last seen last week, looking decidedly peaky. From a university with confirmed cases. Oh dear. I almost hope they are just pulling a fast one, but suspect not.

You’re no different to everyone else still at work and there will be millions that have to carry on even in a lock down. Carers, supermarket staff etc. Why are teachers so special.

This is The Staffroom, Vinyl. You must have taken the wrong door. Most teachers are very supportive of the idea of either staying open as long as operationally and logistically possible, or at the very least continuing to provide open school places for the children of frontline and other essential workers. Some of us are, however, a bit on edge, whether because of worrying about our own underlying health issues or those of family members. What's so strange about that?

Many teachers are saying they would be happy to help continue to be in school and have pupils. Why, @Vinylsamso , are you ignoring many teachers' posts to concentrate on the few who just want "extra holiday"? Why come here and make sweeping generalisations? Because you have a personal vendetta against teachers? Because you know one teacher who says they want to close and think we're all think like that? Try reading what people have posted more closely. Teachers are allowed to be worried about the logistics of having to go to work, just like anyone. Go and make out none of us care somewhere else, please.