Schools

Oh gilly for heavens sake. What do you want ? We are talking risk reduction - this scheme will have many problems but it’s a start - do you want all children to go to school or none? Any risk reduction scheme will not please everyone but it’s hardly as though the virus is a ‘people pleaser’ is it?

Just talking to my lovely neighbour across the road . He is a police officer but his wife is a stay at home mum . His oldest son plays footy with my DGS ( now cancelled sadly) he said that technically he could send his boys to school being a key worker even though his wife doesn’t work at all . He’s not sure what to do . Very confusing .

I think children should be treat the same . No one more important or precious than the next .

Ooops sorry that was in answer to your question suziewoozie

I think the government would have preferred to keep schools open, but that there was a national (media driven?) clamouring for them to be closed. That not enough was being done to prevent spread.

You either belong to one opinion or the other? Which is right? Nobody knows.

Children are not treated the same ever - it’s a nice idea but impossible. It’s no good gilly harking after the impossible - what do you really want? All at school or none ? Or just for your dgc to be included in the going to school group?

And again - it’s about risk reduction not about achieving the perfect world

I think if key workers have a SAHM/D they should do the decent thing and keep their children at home

My son is a university lecturer. He is currently very busy organising and marking online materials for his students, assessing and grading their work. He is trying to do so working from home, as his partner is ill with suspected Coronavirus. So he is trying to work, look after a sick person, keep the household running. Add into the mix a lively five year old child, off school already because of isolation, and work is not getting done easily. Meanwhile his partner who works in genetic research is unable to contribute to the scientific developments we desperately need.
Just examples.
So many people in so many walks of life are finding life extremely stressful. It ill befits those of us with time to be on forums like this to knock any job or any sector of society.

There’s really No need to resort to personal nastiness suziewoozie

I think a lot of us that have children who teach or know teachers are taking some of the vitriol aimed at them personally at the moment; and so they should.

From the horse's mouth - Guidance for schools, childcare providers, colleges and local authorities in England on maintaining educational provision, on gov.uk site.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

We usually look after 4 grandchildren in the school holidays or when needed. Our children themselves have said we are not bringing them to you as you will be both at risk of infection. They are all trying to sort out other arrangements. I am very proud of them for considering our health and not being selfish in asking in these circumstances.

My daughter is a teacher. She is also a mum and my lovely daughter. She loves her job and has several children in her class with very individual special needs. A couple of them have blossomed this year according to their parents and she is so sad not to be able to finish the year with them. She was in tears last night because of all the uncertainty and she said everyone of the teachers shed tears in the staff room.

gilly I think your posts have been pretty nasty quite frankly and aimed as so often not just at teachers but at many public sector workers in general.You say you want all children to be treated the same - so what do you want - all children to go to school, increase risks and rates of infection or no children to go to school and lose many key workers and others of course to lose their jobs? It’s no good just complaining ( but it’s easy)

Gillybob.It is not a 'them and us ' mentality as far as teachers are concerned.These are unprecedented times.Please cut them a little slack.The ones in school are not favoured .With home packs ,virual links and the activities in school they are trying there damn best for all their pupils.It's a fact if some staff are idolating ,ill or their childcare isn't availableEach school is doing the best day by day.

He’s not sure what to do . Very confusing

If his wife is a stay at home mum it's a no brainer. They should stay at home away from infection.

Exactly! The link Elegran posted makes it crystal clear that schools are only being kept open, so that essential workers have childcare. The priority is the country, not individuals. My guess is that hardly any secondary age pupils will be in school.

Trisher. You are so right. I have witnessed many teachers desperately upset. I also am certain it will be really difficult running the schools with the children of key workers in whilst also probably trying to put together distance learning resources for students who are at home.
Why in this time of horrendous crisis would anyone verbally attack teachers?

Gilly regarding your policeman neighbour - of course his children should not go to school if his wife is a SAHM.

I can't imagine why he's not sure what to do!

In these exceptional circumstances, it's not a privilege for some children to to go to 'school' (it's really emergency childcare not education) so his children are the winners by being in the safety of their own home with their mother.

I feel bad for the parents who have to send their children so that they can continue to provide vital services e.g. NHS, transport, supermarkets, utilities, etc.

It's not as though those at school will be gaining any advantage regarding exams etc, in fact I feel sorry for them.

I’ll nip over and tell him shall I ?

Yes I’m thoroughly nasty . Happy now ?
Good

Yes gilly do that - if he were my neighbour I’d tell him.

Yes I bet you would

My concern is for the children who are more at risk still having to attend school as their parents are key workers. Not so, those children protected at home.

That's what I think Kalu. Every one of them is a potential carrier, so the other children and the teachers are at risk. The idea of getting children to keep 6 foot apart from each other is ludicrous. I wonder what will happen when one of the people (either pupils or staff) become infected and the others have to self-isolate for two weeks. My bet is that schools won't be open for long, before everybody is self-isolating.