How will schools be able to go back in September?

Sierra Oscar

seamus wrote: »

It still might. The DoE said the Leaving Cert would be held as soon as is possible for those who want to take it.
I'm assuming at this stage that the exam papers are already finalised (or very nearly), so there's nothing stopping the exams from being held once a distancing protocol is in place.

It should be held in July as was planned. The country will look and feel a lot different a month from now.

I don't see them going back to it again though, there has been too much messing around of students. Another change now will add even more stress.

They should open schools for July too to makeup lost time.

History Queen

seamus wrote: »

It still might. The DoE said the Leaving Cert would be held as soon as is possible for those who want to take it.
I'm assuming at this stage that the exam papers are already finalised (or very nearly), so there's nothing stopping the exams from being held once a distancing protocol is in place.

I doubt very much they'll hold them in July at this stage (I wish they had never been cancelled in the first place). Examiners and superintendents as well as schools would need to be advised and informed of new requirements re Covid so seeing as none of that has happened I cannot see them running the exams anytime soon. Also I'd imagine while social distancing is still in effect more superintendents would need to be appointed. They haven't looked for more yet anyway (maybe enough applied for JC).

khalessi

daydorunrun wrote: »

Its because this thread only deals in problems not solutions.

We could deal in solutions if we didn't have people being negative all the time about the realities of working in a school and if the funding was there to solve the issue.

This is one of biggest problems with this thread, people who dont worlk in schools come in with what is a good and simple suggestion in other environments, which is great, but then people, normally teachers, who do work in the building say whether it could work on not based on their experience working with children. Then if teachers disagree, back comes the person to say teachers are negative or don't want to go back to school, or are deliberately bieng obstructionist. When in fact it is just a case of looking at reality and overcoming it.

If I suggest to an architect it would be a great idea to have a zig zag elevator, that can go up down and sideways either direction to deliver people exactly where they want to go in an office block. Then he says well yeah it would but it would be too expensive or unworkable at the minute. No one says he is deliberately causing an issue but is being realistic. It just means they go back to the drawing board.

And regarding the hot water issue, doctors and nurses use it all the time because hot water comfortable enough for washing hands, but is more effective than cold water because people spend longer washing their hands it removes oils from the hand that can harbor bacteria.

khalessi

iamwhoiam wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/irish-parents-on-schools-reopening-abroad-it-has-gone-suprisingly-smoothly-1.4269774


Irish parents abroad whos children have returned to school .

Interesting to read the different approaches taken.

lawred2

got rumours of class size being cut from 30 to 10 and kids doing about 2 days a week..

obviously that need only apply to heavily subscribed urban schools... rural schools with 10 in the class may be perfectly able to adapt.. so a massive disadvantage to kids of those schools

also heard that the work that would be done in school is going to officially be a job for the parents. So the school is going to carry on as if the work is getting done as it would normally despite kids only being in school a fraction of what they normally would.

heard this from a teacher themselves - could have been their own collective musings or information circulating/leaked from the department or could be all bollocks... It's still early to say. September still a while away yet.

khalessi

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

We'll all be wondering why the Leaving Certificate had to be cancelled and couldn't be held in July as planned. It's looking like everything will be up and running by the end of this month.

Schools will be open in September, teachers better get adjusted to that reality fairly sharpish. Public sentiment is wearing thin, something the Government clearly recognises considering they are about to effectively abandon the entire roadmap they set out a few weeks ago.

Teachers are aware, thank you and looking forward to going back. I just hope that parents are aware that there is a new normal as is constantly mentioned in the media and things might not be exactly how they have been previously.

I am very curious to see this roadmap for reopening schools but I for one reckon it wont be up to much but hope to be pleasantly surprised.

Sammy2012

lawred2 wrote: »

got rumours of class size being cut from 30 to 10 and kids doing about 2 days a week..

obviously that need only apply to heavily subscribed urban schools... rural schools with 10 in the class may be perfectly able to adapt.. so a massive disadvantage to kids of those schools

also heard that the work that would be done in school is going to officially be a job for the parents. So the school is going to carry on as if the work is getting done as it would normally despite kids only being in school a fraction of what they normally would.

heard this from a teacher themselves - could have been their own collective musings or information circulating/leaked from the department or could be all bollocks... It's still early to say. September still a while away yet.

This is what my principal keeps saying! But there is no official word! And it cant work. Parents will be working full time so theres no way teachers can take it that the work will be done.

History Queen

lawred2 wrote: »

got rumours of class size being cut from 30 to 10 and kids doing about 2 days a week..

obviously that need only apply to heavily subscribed urban schools... rural schools with 10 in the class may be perfectly able to adapt.. so a massive disadvantage to kids of those schools

also heard that the work that would be done in school is going to officially be a job for the parents. So the school is going to carry on as if the work is getting done as it would normally despite kids only being in school a fraction of what they normally would.

heard this from a teacher themselves - could have been their own collective musings or information circulating/leaked from the department or could be all bollocks... It's still early to say. September still a while away yet.

I'd imagine thats teachers musing themselves. Most rural schools with small numbers will still have 30ish in a room but might have three different class groups in together eg. 1st 2nd and 3rd.

Schools cannot unilaterally decide to take a particular approach. We are all beholden to circulars issuedby the Department of Education. That is what will inform the direction schools take.

Edit: there has been talk about blendedlearning alright but no specifics on what that entails

JDD

In all honesty, with all the kiteflying on lifting restrictions earlier circulating in the media today, and the indications from abroad that the virus is weakening and opening the economy/schools has not resulted in a second wave, I think most of the arguments on this thread might be moot in a months time.

If I were to put money on it, today, I think the schools will reopen five days a week with full classrooms in September. I think there will be more handwashing and maybe staggered breaktimes, and possibly more cleaners if the council will pay for it, but that will be it. What would the point of "pods" be, or kids only going to school two days a week, if two or three kids from each class are collected to go off to the same after-school facility?

So that will be that really. I think the right decision was made on the Leaving Cert. There's no possible way it could have gone ahead right now, and from what we knew a month ago, it would have been too risky to have it in August. And it was good for the students to have some kind of certainty.

lawred2

Sammy2012 wrote: »

This is what my principal keeps saying! But there is no official word! And it cant work. Parents will be working full time so theres no way teachers can take it that the work will be done.

and that's parents who might have the best will in the world... there are a whole raft of kids whose parents would either be incapable of doing this stuff or couldn't give a toss about such stuff..

those kids would be at a serious disadvantage...

I can't see how that's a runner...

Having said that - our two lads are getting plenty of work sent home as it is... what's to stop them?

lawred2

JDD wrote: »

In all honesty, with all the kiteflying on lifting restrictions earlier circulating in the media today, and the indications from abroad that the virus is weakening and opening the economy/schools has not resulted in a second wave, I think most of the arguments on this thread might be moot in a months time.

If I were to put money on it, today, I think the schools will reopen five days a week with full classrooms in September. I think there will be more handwashing and maybe staggered breaktimes, and possibly more cleaners if the council will pay for it, but that will be it. What would the point of "pods" be, or kids only going to school two days a week, if two or three kids from each class are collected to go off to the same after-school facility?

So that will be that really. I think the right decision was made on the Leaving Cert. There's no possible way it could have gone ahead right now, and from what we knew a month ago, it would have been too risky to have it in August. And it was good for the students to have some kind of certainty.

Kinda the way I have been thinking of late

normanoffside

JDD wrote: »

In all honesty, with all the kiteflying on lifting restrictions earlier circulating in the media today, and the indications from abroad that the virus is weakening and opening the economy/schools has not resulted in a second wave, I think most of the arguments on this thread might be moot in a months time.

If I were to put money on it, today, I think the schools will reopen five days a week with full classrooms in September. I think there will be more handwashing and maybe staggered breaktimes, and possibly more cleaners if the council will pay for it, but that will be it. What would the point of "pods" be, or kids only going to school two days a week, if two or three kids from each class are collected to go off to the same after-school facility?

So that will be that really. I think the right decision was made on the Leaving Cert. There's no possible way it could have gone ahead right now, and from what we knew a month ago, it would have been too risky to have it in August. And it was good for the students to have some kind of certainty.

Yes, the whole 2m distance guideline will be scrapped long before the end of August.
This has already been pretty clear for weeks.

History Queen

normanoffside wrote: »

Yes, the whole 2m distance guideline will be scrapped long before the end of August.
This has already been pretty clear for weeks.

If that is scrapped it will be a lot easier to open schools as normal.

vid36

History Queen wrote: »

If that is scrapped it will be a lot easier to open schools as normal.

It won't be scrapped but it probably will change to 1m or 1.5m

normanoffside

History Queen wrote: »

If that is scrapped it will be a lot easier to open schools as normal.

Well, even Paul Reid who is the head of the HSE has been saying for weeks that he wants it scrapped.
To be honest this is a very important issue for me professionally as I am involved in education and I just haven't got involved in this thread as it was obvious people were arguing over rules that wouldn't even be in place come September

Deeec

lawred2 wrote: »

got rumours of class size being cut from 30 to 10 and kids doing about 2 days a week..

obviously that need only apply to heavily subscribed urban schools... rural schools with 10 in the class may be perfectly able to adapt.. so a massive disadvantage to kids of those schools

also heard that the work that would be done in school is going to officially be a job for the parents. So the school is going to carry on as if the work is getting done as it would normally despite kids only being in school a fraction of what they normally would.

heard this from a teacher themselves - could have been their own collective musings or information circulating/leaked from the department or could be all bollocks... It's still early to say. September still a while away yet.

This is the plan that could very well be implemented. I think 2 days per week is better than nothing. This creates huge problems for working parents though. Employers have been understanding on employees not being able to work to full capacity for the past few months and even are supportive of parents juggling work and children over the summer. However come September I think employers will be losing patience on this.

Parents who care about their childrens education will either have to work part time or give up their jobs. Parents could be facing choosing between being able to pay the bills or educate their children. Im sure you agree this is a very difficult decision. Teachers who have children will also be facing this decision.

You will also have parents who will not educate their children at home at all. Children could be hugely dissadvantaged by this. I don't think there is an easy solution.

iamwhoiam

Home schooling is not workable .Some parents have the time and will be able to give the kids time .Some kids will be at child minders, grandparents and in creches .Parents will struggle big time to educate with no training , no time and it will cause huge stress

wirelessdude01

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

Schools will be open in September, teachers better get adjusted to that reality fairly sharpish. Public sentiment is wearing thin, something the Government clearly recognises considering they are about to effectively abandon the entire roadmap they set out a few weeks ago.

I want to be back in school. Where are you getting this idea that teachers don't want to be? Don't be mistaking genuine concern for our childrens health and wellbeing for not wanting to go back. We want to be safe and for our classes to be safe. We have no real input into any decision making with regards to any of this.

kandr10

I think some people on here genuinely agree with this...
https://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2020/06/05/****-it-lets-go-to-phase-5-now-insists-nation/

Sierra Oscar

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I want to be back in school. Where are you getting this idea that teachers don't want to be? Don't be mistaking genuine concern for our childrens health and wellbeing for not wanting to go back. We want to be safe and for our classes to be safe. We have no real input into any decision making with regards to any of this.

The restrictions will be eased to such an extent (including social distancing) that it will most likely be business as normal in schools come September, that's what I am getting at. I wouldn't get too bogged down on planing for convoluted measures as they won't be implemented.

ldy4mxonucwsq6

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

The restrictions will be eased to such an extent (including social distancing) that it will most likely be business as normal in schools come September, that's what I am getting at. I wouldn't get too bogged down on planing for convoluted measures as they won't be implemented.

Agree and I think the powers that be are banking on this being the case hence the lack of any solid plans or guidelines issued so far.

We've a good while to go anyway so if things stay on the right track we'll be in a nice position to open up schools at the end of August with minimal changes or disruption.

History Queen

Going by today's announcement and the speeding up of easing restrictions, looks like things will be back to near normal come September. Brilliant stuff.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/snas-to-back-students-with-disabilities-using-phones-or-laptops-1.4234375%3fmode=amp

JP100

History Queen wrote: »

Going by today's announcement and the speeding up of easing restrictions, looks like things will be back to near normal come September. Brilliant stuff.

Sadly the virus will decide that and not announcements in of themselves.

lulublue22

History Queen wrote: »

Going by today's announcement and the speeding up of easing restrictions, looks like things will be back to near normal come September. Brilliant stuff.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/snas-to-back-students-with-disabilities-using-phones-or-laptops-1.4234375%3fmode=amp

Hopefully - it does look like its heading that way.

wirelessdude01

I still think that there is a need and requirement for the dept to give us proper guidance and guidelines for September. None of us teachers want to be left scratching in the dark again come September/October or sometime during the winter if we have to implement some form of restrictions in the school environment. This is where the department officials need to earn their salaries.

kandr10

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I still think that there is a need and requirement for the dept to give us proper guidance and guidelines for September. None of us teachers want to be left scratching in the dark again come September/October or sometime during the winter if we have to implement some form of restrictions in the school environment. This is where the department officials need to earn their salaries.

That’s it. Better to have them and not need them. Abandoning restrictions is easy since we all know what normal looks like. Implementing something last minute is not so easy.

Murple

Guidelines are due next week I believe. Discussions are ongoing.

ldy4mxonucwsq6

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

The FAI and Im almost certain the GAA arent allowing teams to train till July 20th. Im training my sons team in groups of four all socially distancing for the last 2 weeks. It has nothing to do with his club officially and it cant be at his clubs ground. While keeping the 4 boys apart and getting them to have a kickaround, you will have beside you on the green games of chasing going on, wrestling between boys, other boys playing football that isnt socially distanced.

GAA back open the end of this month, grounds will be open and small team training can take place as well.

Sammy2012

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

GAA back open the end of this month, grounds will be open and small team training can take place as well.

I know of two personal trainers who are using the facilities for their outdoor classes already.

ldy4mxonucwsq6

Sammy2012 wrote: »

I know of two personal trainers who are using the facilities for their outdoor classes already.

I did see some local lads here doing outdoor boot camps last week which is a brilliant idea.

Good to see folks adapting to allow them to at least keep some things going.

Great news all around today with things getting back to normal sooner than thought. I'm delighted, can't wait

I hope business is booming very soon for everyone who needs it.