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Coronavirus

Should the schools reopen?

(119 Posts)
Lizbethann55 Sun 24-May-20 15:27:26

I have been asked by my union to sign a petition calling for schools where I live to stay closed. I haven't signed it because I honestly don't know and I wondered what you all thought. I am so glad that it's not a decision I have to make. My eldest GC is due to start reception in Sepember. If she had been just a few weeks older she would have been there already and she will be one of the oldest in her year. As it is, her parents both work for the NHS and so she has been in nursery all the time anyway. The nursery she goes to is actually part of the hospital and all the children there have at least one parent working in the hospital so things are not very different for her and her younger brother. I think some of those who are vehemently against the reopening forget that very many schools have never closed, that thousands of children of key workers attend them and that hundreds of teachers have never stopped working. Does anyone know if there have been any reports of children or teachers who have continued to be in schools falling ill? I do worry about all the children who are stuck in multi storey blocks of flats in inner cities and those whose parents lack the ability or inclination to even try to home school them or make this lockdown worthwhile in any way. On the other hand, it would be dreadful if any families did become ill as a result of opening the schools. Obviously, sending any child to school for the time being could not be made compulsory so any child who had underlying health issues, or who had vulnerable parents or siblings need not go. And that would have to be made very plain and clear. What is the consensus of opinion? Please try not to make your thoughts based on politics. This should be an apolitical discussion.

gillybob Sun 31-May-20 22:31:06

Because they have no choice but to work or else no pay . Sadly that is reality for many people not fortunate enough to work in the public sector.

growstuff Sun 31-May-20 22:28:17

How many of them ere infected? Maybe that's why the lower paid have tended to have higher infection rates.

It still doesn't mean that everybody should run the same risk.

gillybob Sun 31-May-20 22:27:18

Oh and A&E are operating on a skeleton staff.

Why ?

MayBee70 Sun 31-May-20 22:26:58

That doesn’t make it right though, does it?

gillybob Sun 31-May-20 22:26:39

In the meantime my DH is (like many others) is terrible pain . He can barely sit down . Scans cancelled, operation cancelled. Departments empty . Its an absolute shambles.

gillybob Sun 31-May-20 22:24:39

I know people who have been going to work exactly as they always did . Factory workers classed as “key workers” on sh*tty wages putting their lives on the line in food production . No social isolation, no PPE ...just business as usual .

Furret Sun 31-May-20 22:23:45

We all know that there is spare capacity in ICU now.

MayBee70 Sun 31-May-20 22:21:14

But they’ve been dealing with people that have been in lockdown and the majority would, hopefully be virus free. Once there is more community transmission everyone will be more at risk. My neighbours have just had what seems to have been a small party. I’m sure that will have been replicated throughout the country.

Furret Sun 31-May-20 22:18:37

Not exactly working as ‘normal’ though I take your point. Yes we will have to all go back to work but it is too soon IMO.

It’s health v wealth and we all know what people like Rees-Mogg want.

gillybob Sun 31-May-20 22:13:57

Maybe it’s too soon? I don’t know but I know plenty people who have been working “as normal” the whole time .

gillybob Sun 31-May-20 22:12:19

I don’t know furret I don’t have the answer, just as all the scientists and politicians don’t have the answer either .

At some point we are going to have to take the plunge .

Let’s face it many people in shops , factories, transport etc. Have been working as normal throughout this whole pandemic and most get very little recognition.

Furret Sun 31-May-20 22:06:56

So the workers return and then what?

A rise in the infection rate, the virus spreads again, comes into the home via the workers and to schools through the children (who do carry it even if asymptomatic).

gillybob Sun 31-May-20 21:58:48

Until schools return, many parents cannot return to work .

For the record most people do not have (paid) nannies and have no choice but to work .

etheltbags1 Sun 31-May-20 21:08:31

Keep the little ones home till September but have the older children back. The 16 plus age group are old enough to keep a distance and understand rules, they also have exams to look forward to

Hetty58 Sun 31-May-20 20:57:11

growstuff, yes, it does seem a very sudden concern (and often quoted reason for schools reopening). It reminds me of the concern for the homeless - only at Christmas!

Of course, there's the majority of time (mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays) away from school, when disadvantaged and abused children suffer too, perhaps most.

Social workers have often found home visits impossible during lockdown. An awful lot of parents have had 'symptoms' and are 'self-isolating'. There was a rush to place the most vulnerable into foster care before lockdown began.

growstuff Sun 31-May-20 20:45:33

I assume the people who are so concerned about the home situation of some children will be supporting massive future investment in restoring support such as SureStart, social services, grants for schools in deprived areas, etc.

Furret Sun 31-May-20 20:40:27

Absolutely not.

Hetty58 Sun 31-May-20 20:29:53

It will be interesting to see how many parents decide to actually send them in. I think there's good reason for year six to return but not reception or year one. The government want people to return to work, though, so it's just for childcare.

Oopsminty Sun 31-May-20 19:44:17

My daughter teaches Year 1.

She's happy to be going back

Had I a child in Reception or Year 1, I'm not sure I'd have sent them in.

It hardly seems worth it for a few weeks.

My eldest daughter has two boys. One in Year 4 and the other in Year 6.

The latter isn't impressed about having to go back when his brother remains at home!

On balance I think it's good to get them back in

Susan56 Sun 31-May-20 19:37:34

My son in law is a teacher in a school for vulnerable children and the school has been open all along.Not all the children have attended but Calendargirl is right,it is impossible to get the children to socially distance.One of the reasons the children do so well at the school is because there is less formality than at a regular school.We were talking to him today and he said it has worked well up to now but the staff are not sure what will happen when all the children return.

Our granddaughter lives in Wales and her school will not reopen until September.My daughter is glad the decision has been made for her.She said the parents of the school are very divided as to whether the school should reopen or not.

BlueBelle Sun 31-May-20 19:30:32

ellenvallin your picture sounds ideal BUT what about the families who are stuck in ‘Grenville towers’ places what about children whose parents are working from home while they try to learn, what about the families that don’t have computers or one between three kids, what about the kids.watching domestic violence or worse being abused themselves what about the kids caring for parents and school is their only social space what about kids of drug addicts or drinkers I could go on and on
School doesn’t have to be policed and won’t be, they will get used to limited contact and hopefully by September or January it will Just be a bad dream and soon they ll forget all about the tim3 they couldn’t touch their friends and going back is the first step

MissAdventure Sun 31-May-20 19:30:04

I feel uneasy about the whole 'getting back to normal' steps, because we have no idea who has had the virus, as yet.

maddyone Sun 31-May-20 19:22:37

My six year old twin grandchildren have never stopped going to school, even through the Easter holidays, as both their parents are doctors who work for the NHS. Their two year old brother had to start nursery rather quickly as they lost their usual childcare, which was us or the other grandparents. Our other grandchild has been home schooling as his parents were both at home, one home working, the other made redundant immediately with the lockdown. They have said their seven year old will return to school as soon as Year Two are able to return. I actually don’t really know what I think about schools returning full time. I think I’ll watch and wait and reserve judgment.

Elegran Sun 31-May-20 19:06:16

I believe schools have closed in Derby and Bristol because of cases.

Elegran Sun 31-May-20 19:05:10

BlueBelle I think morning and afternon seesions are a,ong theways that schools are planning to cope, but there is talk of other practical considerations too - the layout inside each classroom, cleaning the toilets (and the staffrooms) far more frequently, playground distancing, cloakrooms for outdoor clothes, sharing equipment, parents going into school to fetch their child, and so on.