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Education

School staff not allowed to wear masks

(185 Posts)
GagaJo Mon 10-Aug-20 13:28:41

At my old UK school (worked there until xmas), the staff have been made to sign a document to say that they will commit to NOT wearing masks in the classrooms or in school.

The rationale behind this is that the school will put all of the governments 'safety' measures in place, so it won't be necessary.

Which is obviously tosh. Children don't understand social distancing. The classrooms are small. To be safe, you'd need a maximum of 6 people in a room. Class sizes are usually 32/34. Even if the class sizes are halved, that isn't a safe ratio.

I feel so bad for my friends. US teachers are writing wills before returning to schools, just in case. Seems UK teachers will have to as well.

Chardy Tue 11-Aug-20 16:39:01

US - 100k schoolchildren diagnosed with COVID in 2 weeks!
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/coronavirus-news-uk-deaths-cases-second-lockdown/

quizqueen Tue 11-Aug-20 16:44:56

Teachers are the biggest snowflakes out!

growstuff Tue 11-Aug-20 16:46:18

No, they're not! The people who won't wear masks are! grin

growstuff Tue 11-Aug-20 16:47:58

NannyC2

God Bless you, growstuff

No thanks! He'd be wasting his time on me! Hopefully, you'll take a break now from posting fake news.

GagaJo Tue 11-Aug-20 16:53:02

quizqueen

Teachers are the biggest snowflakes out!

Yeah. I'd like to see you handle a class of 34 teenagers in a rough school, keyboard warrior. They'd make mincemeat of you.

Lucca Tue 11-Aug-20 16:53:27

quizqueen

Teachers are the biggest snowflakes out!

Another incisive, profound And well backed up statement.

MissAdventure Tue 11-Aug-20 17:24:24

QuizQueen, you've surpassed yourself today, although I realise you don't care. smile

FarNorth Tue 11-Aug-20 20:53:05

It is a worry that if many teachers become ill then schools may have no choice but to close.
And teachers may die.

if teachers had anything about them they would have already made a will
And then there's nothing more for them to worry about?

Ellianne Tue 11-Aug-20 21:04:00

I can't believe how morbid this thread is becoming. If teachers enter the classroom with this unhealthy state of mind it is going to be awful for their pupils.

NannyC2 Tue 11-Aug-20 21:16:18

I don't take 'breaks' growstuff - I am a warrior, and by the way, I don't post fake news.
People have the right to ask questions which thousands more are doing and rising in numbers.
It is wrong to try to squash people because you have a view, but so do others who may agree to differ with yours.
This resource is for each person to express their own views as long as they don't seek to think they alone are the 'expert.'
Shalom! (Peace be with you).

Callistemon Tue 11-Aug-20 23:15:34

NannyC2

I don't take 'breaks' growstuff - I am a warrior, and by the way, I don't post fake news.
People have the right to ask questions which thousands more are doing and rising in numbers.
It is wrong to try to squash people because you have a view, but so do others who may agree to differ with yours.
This resource is for each person to express their own views as long as they don't seek to think they alone are the 'expert.'
Shalom! (Peace be with you).

It was fake news because you posted the exact opposite of what Fact Check reported!!

What you posted as fact was what they were investigating and disproved.

It's how you tell 'em!

growstuff Wed 12-Aug-20 05:30:18

Exactly! She picked up something on Facebook, misunderstood it and passed it on because it suits the Trumpian agenda she has posted about before. It was the exact opposite of the truth and it's dangerous when people start to believe that kind of thing.

growstuff Wed 12-Aug-20 05:31:31

Squashing misinformation is not "having a view". It's the difference between facts and opinions.

Grandad1943 Wed 12-Aug-20 08:48:51

Ellianne

I can't believe how morbid this thread is becoming. If teachers enter the classroom with this unhealthy state of mind it is going to be awful for their pupils.

I could not agree more with your above statement Ellianne. In all the essential industries that have been required to operate fully throughout this crisis positivity in leadership has been forthcoming and paramount throughout.

However, now as the education sector is requested to once again fully reopen schools we see nothing but negativity and a near morbid attitude.

Heaven help the children in those classrooms if this thread and forum is anything to go by.

Galaxy Wed 12-Aug-20 08:58:17

My children are fine thanks for your concern, taught by teachers with a sound understanding of safeguarding and a commitment to their welfare and education.
Not people with half baked ideas and from what I can see no interest in childrens welfare.

Ellianne Wed 12-Aug-20 09:03:08

Boris maybe a bumbling idiot sometimes, Grandad, but in his own way he too is trying to set an example of positivity and offer upbeat agenda. We had too many weeks of doom and gloom with all those briefings and the shocking figures, now optimism (with caution), is what is required. Many teachers here have translated their worries into paranoia. Talking about their own wills and potential imminent death before they've even entered the classroom is not healthy for their pupils.
I don't have all the facts and figures, I don't even understand many of the reports. I don't have many answers but I do have a positive attitude and am keen to give this a try.

GagaJo Wed 12-Aug-20 09:13:48

So all of you are HAPPY to enter a small space, with 30 plus other people who come from a huge variety of backgrounds and areas? No real attention to health and safety.

And god forbid, you're sensible and want to|:

A) protect yourself a little with a mask and
B) prepare a will in case the worst happens (as someone has already said, we should all have them anyway really).

Some of you really do just see teachers as disposable servants, don't you? Not trained professionals.

Similar to those parents who complain their children didn't get any/enough teaching during the pandemic but who also didn't contact the school/check the schools website for the way work and lessons were conducted.

No wonder the UK has such poor uptake of education, unlike Asia where it is valued and teachers are supported. Those people you dislike and denigrate so much are the gateway for your children's future. With a bit more support, you'd get a LOT more out of the system.

Reminds me when I set up an English homework / support club. The only students that attended were Asian. Their parents made them come, appreciating the extra help.

Galaxy Wed 12-Aug-20 09:19:36

So ellianne can you explain why I should trust my childrens safety to someone who in their own words doesnt understand the reports.
When I pick a plumber I tend to choose one who is a qualified plumber not someone who says well I dont understand plumbing but I am sure if we have a positive attitude we can get this job done.

Ellianne Wed 12-Aug-20 09:28:47

Sure * Galaxy*. I do not understand all the scientific reports, I am not good at understanding the published facts and figures, BUT I have read the dfe guidelines from cover to cover because that is part of my job. Those guidelines are as clear as crystal to me (in comparison with some of the bumpf they produce). Your plumber will not have read and understood every report on every boiler out there, I have employed many who have scratched their heads but applied common sense and a positive attitude with fine results.

Ellianne Wed 12-Aug-20 09:33:22

Gagajo it never crossed my mind what area or background my pupils were from. They are all children. And to bring race and ethnicity into the equation is absurd. If you want to talk demographics have you ever lived and taught in East London?

Galaxy Wed 12-Aug-20 09:36:19

Yes I have read those guidelines too ellianne, part of my job as well. People on this thread have pointed out that many suggestions on this thread and the previous one contradict those guidelines.

GagaJo Wed 12-Aug-20 09:44:58

No, but in another multicultural area.

Just so happens that my after school club was in Northumberland, school had between 1 & 2% BAME. Yet my club was all BAME students.

And bringing ethnicity in ISN'T absurd. As I'm sure you know, white working class boys are the lowest achieving group and are targeted for intervention. Cultural attitudes to education massively affect achievement and as a direct result, life chances. If teachers ignore that, they are not differentiating adequately.

And it has always been the case throughout my career that BAME parents push their children and support the school/teachers.

In relation to this discussion, I would posit that all those on here complaining about teachers as snow flakes / lazy / negative etc etc are white, fitting the stereotypes of undervaluing education/teachers.

I reiterate, your attitude towards teachers and schools has a direct correlation to your children's attitude towards education. If you want your children to do well, work with schools/teachers, not against them.

Ellianne Wed 12-Aug-20 10:19:19

I don't think discussions on colour or creed are of any importance here. Race or religion neither. It's like all the articles and discussions on the black woman in America who has been chosen to run alongside ???? someone in the elections. We don't need to be told she is black all the time, she is the best for the job.
Likewise in the classroom I would find it strange to differentiate on grounds of ethnicity. My experience is children, particularly younger ones, all want to be treated exactly the same. Making special provision on those grounds only harbours resentment.

Galaxy Wed 12-Aug-20 10:24:22

Special provisions are made all the time in education it's what pupil premium is based on, it's what every initiative based on supporting boys within the primary sector is based on.

MaizieD Wed 12-Aug-20 10:31:33

^ My experience is children, particularly younger ones, all want to be treated exactly the same. Making special provision on those grounds only harbours resentment.^

And your 'experience' is...what? Ellianne?

You certainly missed out on some comprehension skills teaching somewhere in your education. Nobody was talking about 'special provision' on the grounds of ethnicity.

What has been said is that it tended to be only children from 'ethnic' backgrounds who took advantage of special provision.