Is morality something you expect of others?

If transmission of the virus is supposedly low between children and from children to others, we will be failing a whole generation if schools are not opened again in September.

If the fear is transmission to grandparents then I am afraid that grandparents will have to take every precaution and perhaps isolate again for a while.

I'm sorry, but children are the future.

gillybob

I don’t think we can judge politicians by their own personal moral standards at all .

But he's utterly corrupt in his public life, as well.

How you can talk about him in the same breath as Winston Churchill completely escapes me. Churchill wasn't the most pleasant of people but at least he was effective and a good leader...

Moral duty is different to having morals.

Callistemon

If transmission of the virus is supposedly low between children and from children to others, we will be failing a whole generation if schools are not opened again in September.

If the fear is transmission to grandparents then I am afraid that grandparents will have to take every precaution and perhaps isolate again for a while.

I'm sorry, but children are the future.

I suppose it doesn't matter if it kills a few teachers, either?

Ah, well, as the mother of teachers, two of whom are back in the classroom, I hope they will take every precaution and that the school or college fulfills its duty of care.

But I am the aunt of medical staff too, a doctor, nurses, pharmacists.
They have all continued working throughout.

But surely if it is a "moral duty" that duty belongs not just to teachers and school staff but to the wider public. So how do those criticising teacher feel they are fulfilling that moral duty? We already know that Boris and company aren't really investing in this.

The teachers I know both in the family and my DGC's teachers, want to get back into the classroom.

I'm sorry if those you know would prefer not to, MaizieD.

He was wearing his Prime Minister's hat when he made that announcement. He is showing his concern for the children of this country.
How he conducts himself in his private life is totally irrelevant.

OK lemongrove, so we send all the kids back to secondary school and after six months or so the problem will be solved because some of them will have died and others will be suffering from long term physical defects due to the virus that will keep them out of mainstream education.

Then off course, some of them will have lost their parents and will be fostered away from their home area.

I have not heard of anything being set up to track this sort of thing.

Have I missed something.

boat

OK lemongrove, so we send all the kids back to secondary school and after six months or so the problem will be solved because some of them will have died and others will be suffering from long term physical defects due to the virus that will keep them out of mainstream education.

Then off course, some of them will have lost their parents and will be fostered away from their home area.

I have not heard of anything being set up to track this sort of thing.

Have I missed something.

Not sure that will happen.

There's been a huge downturn in hospital admissions

An ICU consultant gave an interview to the Times

'I think that's highly unlikely, because the pubs have been open for over a month, people have been interacting heavily during that time and the natural history of the disease is that and you are going to end up in hospital you are pretty much in hospital within 15 days of contracting it.

He also suggested the downturn could be due to the most vulnerable in the UK having contracted the virus in 'March and April' and that the virus may have become 'less virulent'.

Five children have died of the virus in the UK which is very sad indeed.

Children who are vulnerable should probably not return to school but for the majority it is the best course of action as many thousands, or million, will be disadvantaged if not.
LAs should be prepared for local lockdowns.

So if you were the parent of a child with diabetes, asthma, or some other complaint or for that matter a member of the BAME community would you want your child in school?

Read my post

tickingbird I have to to say (gently) that your comment at 18:20 is one of the most nonsensical I have ever seen on GN.

It's like saying, "All shop assistants think", or "Everyone over 65 says".

Please could you rephrase it so that a logical person might be able to agree/disagree with you?

Those who believe that schools should not re-open until the virus is well and truly eradicated throughout the world could be waiting for some considerable length of time, perhaps years.

It is just not feasible and totally unfair on a generation.

Lucca

Sorry my post was not very well written I am just so disappointed at the unwillingness of people to see the point of view of those involved in education.

Are you speaking for the whole of the teaching profession?

I know several who wish to get back to educating their pupils and some who are.

Callistemon

Lucca

Sorry my post was not very well written I am just so disappointed at the unwillingness of people to see the point of view of those involved in education.

Are you speaking for the whole of the teaching profession?

I know several who wish to get back to educating their pupils and some who are.

Did I say I was speaking for the whole profession ? I don’t understand the rest of your post sorry. My point is that in my opinion teachers DO want to get back to teaching their pupils provided they are given clear guidelines and the possibility to teach as safely as possible.

Callistemon

But I am the aunt of medical staff too, a doctor, nurses, pharmacists.
They have all continued working throughout.

Indeed. As have teachers been working. It’s not a competition.

Yes, I do know.

But some children have missed out on a lot more by not being in school

Callistemon it's easy to state generally that vulnerable children should not return to school, but the question is would you want your child there? If you don't send them you risk being fined. There is also now a clear link between Covid complications and obesity, with much higher numbers of poorer children obese, are these children more at risk?
I don't think anyone has said schools shouldn't open just that they need to make sure children and staff are properly protected.

would you want your child there.
Well, they are - teaching.
As for my DGC - it's not my decision to make, but yes.

I see the narrative has changed

boat

OK lemongrove, so we send all the kids back to secondary school and after six months or so the problem will be solved because some of them will have died and others will be suffering from long term physical defects due to the virus that will keep them out of mainstream education.

Then off course, some of them will have lost their parents and will be fostered away from their home area.

I have not heard of anything being set up to track this sort of thing.

Have I missed something.

Yes, you have missed using some common sense, and are using high drama when it isn’t needed.
We don’t know if there will ever be a 100% effective vaccine
So teachers cannot hide away on full pay for a year or more.
Children need their education and being back to a reasonably normal school day.Parents need to go back to work, if they cannot work effectively from home.
Parents of children who have physical reasons to stay shielding at home will have a good case to carry on, but that would be very few really.Teachers who are older and have underlying health conditions would also have a good case to carry on working from home, but the vast majority should go back.
I think the case of ‘morals’ has been answered now by many posters, that not being regarded by some to have any ( or few)
Does not mean that ( in the case of a PM) he cannot ask others to show morality.

He can ask others to show morality whether people will listen to that request because of their view of his morality is another question.

Once again no one has said schools shouldn't open just that the opening will be far more complicated than BJ is trying to pretend.
The idea that there are few children with health issues is quite amusing. In one very small school I taught in- around 100 children- we had 2 diabetics, 2 undergoing cancer treatment, 1 awaiting heart surgery at least 10 asthmatics and a few other illnesses such as kidney problems. Those children deserve an education where their safety is paramount.
It would be nice to see a government which accepted it has a moral duty to fund education properly.