Schools closed until February? (part 3)

iamwhoiam

Lillyfae wrote: »

They're not getting anything like this though, why would anyone be jealous?? Not to mention there's no evidence of the bit in bold whatsoever



They are for emergencies. Closing schools 2 days early isn't an emergency

And not all at once either

paddy19

tom1ie wrote: »

So what about the parents that will be forced to take AL to allow schools to close early?

It's one and a half days.
I assume parents have to take off the half day already.

So at most parents are taking one extra day AL for their children.

Seems like a lot of huffing puffing for 2 days AL.

jrosen

Didnt Norma Foley say there would be no extension of the Christmas Break? Is this more noise that will go away?

I mean I see the logic is reducing social contacts if it enables people to spend time with their families for xmas. But if society is back open will people really restrict their movements? There is also nothing stopping people making that decision for themselves. Every family is free to keep their kids home from the 18th if they wish. Giving them one whole week before xmas day.

I have already booked annual leave for the 4th/5th Jan to cover my kids being off. I actually sat down in June with my husband and we scheduled our days around the school calendar.

jrosen

paddy19 wrote: »

It's one and a half days.
I assume parents have to take off the half day already.

So at most parents are taking one extra day AL for their children.

Seems like a lot of huffing puffing for 2 days AL.

But its not just 2 days. The 2 weeks christmas holidays needs to be juggled, the mid term is not that long gone. Then there was the usual Summer holidays not to mention since March 15th. So 2020 has truly been a **** show for parents who work.
Expecting them to magic up 2 days annual leave at short notice is a bit much

eviltwin

paddy19 wrote: »

It's one and a half days.
I assume parents have to take off the half day already.

So at most parents are taking one extra day AL for their children.

Seems like a lot of huffing puffing for 2 days AL.

2 days AL at the end of the year isn’t an option. It will be unpaid leave in many cases.

joe40

E36Ross wrote: »

I'm not technically school staff but yet without me and others like me half the kids wouldn't be in school....... I think a lot of the "Begrudgery" is, The simple unfairness and selfishness of teachers unions to call for a blanket closure of schools a few days early.

Its very easy for them to make that call, When they don't have to worry about child care and the effects on other parents schedules. Not to mention the other staff like me, Namely bus drivers who have had limited income over the last few months and now coming into the Christmas, We're pulled 2 days early to suite teachers. (Theres also SNA, Bus Escorts, Canteen Staff, Cleaners and Maintenance people to consider)


IF it was put forward as a genuine concern for public health and limiting the spread, Fair enough I'd be 100% in favour. But its not, and thats very easily proved by the fact that they haven't suggested finishing two days early and coming back two days early in January which is the logical resolution.

And thats before I even mention the slap in the face to health care workers and other front line staff, Because the teachers feel "fatigued".

Hard to argue with anything there. Once the TUI started to talk about teacher fatigue as a reason for early school closure it was an open goal for the inevitable teacher bashing. A monumentally silly suggestion from a teaching union.

The government (informed by NPHET) make the calls in relation to public health and virus suppression. If there is a valid argument on these grounds to close early, then go for it. But to even mention "teacher fatigue" was ridiculous.

I know for a fact teachers are under enormous pressure and working in difficult and unique conditions, but so are many other sectors.
I would rather more emphasis from unions on keeping schools as safe as possible, not ridiculous suggestions like this which don't actually address any real issues.

Deeec

Schools should close early to give us all a chance of having a safe Christmas with our loved ones. It has been a tough year on everyone.

However the guy on Clare Byrne this morning from the TUI done teachers no favours saying that teachers are tired and deserve a few extra days off. It is insulting to other professions who have worked through since March - many with no break at all.

The teachers union representatives have been very poor throughout the whole pandemic. The seem to be completely missing the bigger issues teachers are now facing.

khalessi

Deeec wrote: »

Schools should close early to give us all a chance of having a safe Christmas with our loved ones. It has been a tough year on everyone.

However the guy on Clare Byrne this morning from the TUI done teachers no favours saying that teachers are tired and deserve a few extra days off. It is insulting to other professions who have worked through since March - many with no break at all.

The teachers union representatives have been very poor throughout the whole pandemic. The seem to be completely missing the bigger issues teachers are now facing.

Communication with members is a big issue as they seem to be going off on their own path. Implement proper ppe, identification of close contacts and proper testing would be more beneficial

awec

paddy19 wrote: »

It's one and a half days.
I assume parents have to take off the half day already.

So at most parents are taking one extra day AL for their children.

Seems like a lot of huffing puffing for 2 days AL.

It's easy to say "it's just 2 days" when you get as many days of paid leave a year as teachers do.

Posts like this highlight just how detached from reality some teachers are.

wirelessdude01

awec wrote: »

It's easy to say "it's just 2 days" when you get as many days of paid leave a year as teachers do.

Posts like this highlight just how detached from reality some teachers are.

Is the poster a teacher?

BonsaiKitten

awec wrote: »

It's easy to say "it's just 2 days" when you get as many days of paid leave a year as teachers do.

Posts like this highlight just how detached from reality some teachers are.

Lol. The holidays are unpaid, the salary covers days worked. Some pay is kept back and given over summer - this is why subs get a higher daily rate of pay as they aren't paid over holidays.

But of course it's easier to just gripe about teachers and holidays isn't it ...

Blondini

Armani Gray Redcoat wrote: »

The teachers won't like this, the comments are FB regarding this are drawing a comparison with the teachers.

https://www.todayfm.com/news/nurses-who-are-self-isolating-are-being-asked-to-come-back-early-1107780?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3pzdImigkFkyMt-Tlfx9hEX9joNMErrLOJyb0hpvt-X_C7ycUSDWE5G_c#Echobox=1605701775

I can assure you that no teacher I know will give a donkeys bolloxx about any of the "opinions" of people who have no clue about the teaching profession.

paddy19

khalessi wrote: »

Yes schools are stressful for students and staff but no more than anywhere else at the minute.

Try interacting with 4 different classes of 25 students per day.

That's a hell of difference to anywhere else.

KerryConnor

This was floated as an idea on voice for teacher s facebook page a few weeks ago. The idea was trashed by 100s of teachers. Mainly because of the inevitable teacher bashing it would cause. I work in a large school and haven't heard anyone asking for this.

It's not a bad idea, it would probably reduce overall level of transmission on Christmas day. However for unions to mention 'teacher fatigue' as reason and not stick to covid transmission reasons was looking for trouble. Just groaned inwardly when I saw the headline this morning

Boggles

HerrKuehn wrote: »

There isn't really any reason to finish early though.

Of course there is, it's been explained several times on here all ready.

What part are you struggling with?

Boggles

awec wrote: »

It's easy to say "it's just 2 days" when you get as many days of paid leave a year as teachers do.

Posts like this highlight just how detached from reality some teachers are.

I'm not a teacher. But I don't think being one on this floated idea makes you devoid of an opinion.

I have yet to here one reason why this would be nothing but a good idea which would benefit the entire country and by extension the economy.

If people could peel away from the teacher bashing, engage the brain slightly they'd would see it too.

---

I see the new HSPC "stats" are out.

There were 10 clusters identified in schools last week, compared to 21 the week before, and 30 and 46 in the two weeks before that.

Interesting.

HerrKuehn

Boggles wrote: »

Of course there is, it's been explained several times on here all ready.

What part are you struggling with?

I am not struggling with anything. Yes, posters have made a case for why they think it should happen, it's just opinion though. If parents are concerned they can keep the kids off for those days. I suspect quite a few will.

froog

teachers need new unions. badly.

Boggles

HerrKuehn wrote: »

I am not struggling with anything. Yes, posters have made a case for why they think it should happen, it's just opinion though. If parents are concerned they can keep the kids off for those days. I suspect quite a few will.

It's hardly a mental notion though is it?

It's quite simple, keep large clusters of people apart, limit the spread of the virus.

What's your alternative opinion ?

iamwhoiam

HerrKuehn wrote: »

I am not struggling with anything. Yes, posters have made a case for why they think it should happen, it's just opinion though. If parents are concerned they can keep the kids off for those days. I suspect quite a few will.

I agree . If parents need to keep kids off they are free to do so .

2ndcoming

Jesus lads, this craic still going on.

Most people's annual leave year does not run Jan-December for this very reason.

Lots of other businesses shut up shop and give staff holidays for a week and a half or more every christmas.

People have the option of unpaid parental leave if they have somehow managed to use all their Annual Leave in the one year we couldn't go anywhere.

Additionally if you are so consumed by and obligated to work at all times in place of parenting the children you made perhaps it's something you need to look at yourself instead of blaming everyone else.

Whingeing about the usual sh1t.

HerrKuehn

Boggles wrote: »

It's hardly a mental notion though is it?

It's quite simple, keep large clusters of people apart, limit the spread of the virus.

What's your alternative opinion ?

I don't have an issue with the suggestion as such. Seems like it could be resolved by finishing up a couple of days early and going back a couple of days early. In fact I would suggest this very issue could have been foreseen before the start of the school year. On the other hand I think most people are happy with the current situation and are not looking for anything to change. The "teacher fatigue" thing I find humorous. I hope the teachers unions never stop trolling because it provides a lot of entertainment. I kind of understand why some people like listening to Joe Duffy now.

meeeeh

KerryConnor wrote: »

This was floated as an idea on voice for teacher s facebook page a few weeks ago. The idea was trashed by 100s of teachers. Mainly because of the inevitable teacher bashing it would cause. I work in a large school and haven't heard anyone asking for this.

It's not a bad idea, it would probably reduce overall level of transmission on Christmas day. However for unions to mention 'teacher fatigue' as reason and not stick to covid transmission reasons was looking for trouble. Just groaned inwardly when I saw the headline this morning

There are a few issues around it. They asked for it fairly late, the seven day isolating doesn't conform with any guidance and at this stage extra days just seem to be an obligatory request around holidays. Not to mention that just about nobody will self isolate before Christmas unless they have to. We'll be all fighting in shops for brandy cream and boxes of Roses.

It also seems they didn't consult many of their members.
It's a bit embarrassing when an union rep goes on the radio and his members start texting in that nobody asked them and that they don't want extra days.

I think that's the problem school unions have, they go for what their most militant members want and then wonder why it didn't work. ASTI lost members to the last strike and when return of the ballots was so low in October they had to threaten strike even though they knew there is a zero chance they will actually go on strike. The latest just seems something that seemed great idea on Zoom and possibly in a phone call with Aodhan O Riordain who is trying to make Labour relevant again. Considering how quickly he stopped pushing the idea I'm guessing the feedback wasn't great.

SusanC10

Genuine question - how do working Parents manage if their child is ill ? Particularly in the current climate. Or if their child is a close contact of a confirmed case ? And these Kids need to stay at home. For several days.

I accept that as a SAHM, I don't have to worry about this aspect but I wasn't always a SAHM. And I worked when our kids were very young and were ill far more frequently than in recent years.
No family near us.

Most people I know have extra Annual Leave this year. Untaken due to the Pandemic. Most of our friends are rolling leave into the next leave year and still needing to use up days.

thomasdylan

Boggles wrote: »

I'm not a teacher. But I don't think being one on this floated idea makes you devoid of an opinion.

I have yet to here one reason why this would be nothing but a good idea which would benefit the entire country and by extension the economy.

If people could peel away from the teacher bashing, engage the brain slightly they'd would see it too.

---

I see the new HSPC "stats" are out.




Interesting.

As has been said multiple times, there are loads of essential workers, a lot of whom will work shift on 24/7 rotas who have arranged shifts around the established holidays. Finding out a month before that this has been changed is going to be really difficult for them. There are already staff shortages in a lot of hospitals in the East of Ireland.

Anyway, decisions like this should be guided by NPHET and not the French and Geography teachers in the TUI.

Lillyfae

2ndcoming wrote: »

Jesus lads, this craic still going on.

Most people's annual leave year does not run Jan-December for this very reason.

Lots of other businesses shut up shop and give staff holidays for a week and a half or more every christmas.

People have the option of unpaid parental leave if they have somehow managed to use all their Annual Leave in the one year we couldn't go anywhere.

Additionally if you are so consumed by and obligated to work at all times in place of parenting the children you made perhaps it's something you need to look at yourself instead of blaming everyone else.

Whingeing about the usual sh1t.

Why would parents take unpaid leave to give teachers extra paid leave??

meeeeh

SusanC10 wrote: »

Genuine question - how do working Parents manage if their child is ill ? Particularly in the current climate. Or if their child is a close contact of a confirmed case ? And these Kids need to stay at home.

I accept that as a SAHM, I don't have to worry about this aspect but I wasn't always a SAHM. And I worked when our kids were very young and were ill far more frequently than in recent years.
No family near us.

Most people I know have extra Annual Leave this year. Untaken due to the Pandemic. Most of our friends are rolling leave into the next leave year and still needing to use up days.

Dump kids on grandparents or work from home. I work for myself so it's usually not an issue but most people would probably consider it an extra bit of hassle for no particular reason.

I have a question of my own. Who here is seeing vulnerable relatives or friends for Christmas and intends to self isolate for previous 14 days including avoiding shops and similar?

Lillyfae

SusanC10 wrote: »

Genuine question - how do working Parents manage if their child is ill ? Particularly in the current climate. Or if their child is a close contact of a confirmed case ? And these Kids need to stay at home. For several days.

They are reasons for exceptional emergency leave. 2 extra holidays for teachers wouldn’t really be considered an emergency.

um7y1h83ge06nx

Blondini wrote: »

I can assure you that no teacher I know will give a donkeys bolloxx about any of the "opinions" of people who have no clue about the teaching profession.

That does seem to be the case alright but I think it is a flawed one. More public support would help pressurise the government to meet your demands which can only be a good thing for the TUI etc.

Also the very obvious lack of caring about public opinion can be construed as arrogant which needs to be avoided too.

By comparison, and I'm not a nurse and don't know any nurses well, the INMO seem to be much better at leveraging public support, they play their cards well.

SusanC10

meeeeh wrote: »

Dump kids on grandparents or work from home. I work for myself so it's usually not an issue but most people would probably consider it an extra bit of hassle for no particular reason.

I have a question of my own. Who here is seeing vulnerable relatives or friends for Christmas and intends to self isolate for previous 14 days including avoiding shops and similar?

We have 2 very vulnerable family members. My Mum and one sister. Another sister who has no kids and wfh is going to self-isolate for 14 days and then drive down to them for Christmas. My other sister and I both have kids and she lives abroad. We will not be visiting.