Schools closed until February? (part 3)

teachinggal123

History Queen wrote: »

I think it should go ahead. There are 6 months to go. Most teachers in my school are almost there or thereabouts where they would be in the course in a normal year (maths department outlier here but I think their course is particularly long, someone might correct me on that). Most people think lack of extra curricular/ class trips etc is the difference.

Predicted grades were a shambles and completely undermine our system. This cohort have less to be measured on than before in terms of formal exam (i posted about this a few days ago).

Going forward access to education shouldbe prioritised by this I meam buy laptops and mobile bb dongles if need be to make sure all students can access online lessons.

As soon as there is an opportunity schools should be opened on a phased basis starting with 6th years. Cohort split in two and working week in/week athome. During week at home they are working on projects/exam papers etc, during week in school focus should be on new material/practicals etc. And introduce other year groups in a staggered fashion also.

All above just in relation to my opinion on LC

Make History Queen minister for education!

History Queen

teachinggal123 wrote: »

Make History Queen minister for education!

Jesus we've enough problems without making a bad situation worse!

GT89

Personally think teachers just want an easy life and do as little work as possible. In addition to hcws supermarket staff, bus drivers, some taxi drivers, some tradesmen, postal workers, warehouse workers and many more have been working throughout the pandemic and have just on with it.

Meanwhile teachers who will continue to be paid their full wages will say it's they won't work to protect their safety. Put them on the 350€ a week and see how quick they change their tune.

History Queen

GT89 wrote: »

Personally think teachers just want an easy life and do as little work as possible. In addition to hcws supermarket staff, bus drivers, some taxi drivers, some tradesmen, postal workers, warehouse workers and many more have been working throughout the pandemic and have just on with it.

Meanwhile teachers who will continue to be paid their full wages will say it's they won't work to protect their safety. Put them on the 350€ a week and see how quick they change their tune.

Please outline in detail precisely what parts of remote teaching are easier than in person teaching?

Also PUP? Pandemic Unemployment Payment.... you're going to fire us... all of us? To what end?

jimmytwotimes 2013

GT89 wrote: »

Personally think teachers just want an easy life and do as little work as possible.

Put them on the 350€ a week and see how quick they change their tune.

Next, please

Loafing Oaf

teachinggal123 wrote: »

And I'll take a large bet with anyone here the the LC exams wont go ahead this year.

IMO this is why there was such a drive to get the sixth years back into schools next week. The government and the DES know that even a few weeks out of school for those students will make the Leaving Cert a nonrunner again.

...Ghost...

Endintheclowns wrote: »

I'm guessing the special needs schools will follow now.

Foley will have to resign now. Utterly clueless

She won't resign. Not until she makes a few more fcukups and totally embarrasses the gov. For now, they will hang the blame on unions and teachers.

Responder XY wrote: »

looks like our government chickened out. shame on them. Children and young people once again paying the price. Pure and simple greed. ASTI should hang their heads in shame.

Glad to see both sides recognise the government farm yard animals. I wouldn't have suggested chickens though.

Neagra wrote: »

surely the schools can move online
the teachers can go to the school and from a empty classroom use zoom or similar to go live and teach the children
i dont understand why this needs to be complicated
my youngest boys school emailed today saying we will come back to you from monday with what is going to happen going forward - why is this week being written off?

It's a resources issue in many cases. You're assuming all schools have a computer in every class with broadband access. And who will take care of the teachers children who are also at home? Truth is that most teachers will be using their own devices to teach. This is against department policy, as it is seen as a GDPR breach.

KrustyUCC wrote: »

Yes shameful decision again

So much for looking after the education of our most vulnerable

I can't wait to go over to my nephews in the morning with my sisters crying her eyes out knowing the regression that is about to happen again

What's not to believe? So many people are ignoring the restrictions and visiting family and friends, helping the virus spread.

Follow_ur_lead wrote: »

They could have made it work if the will was there.

This isn't about covid. Not in a setting of 6 people.

The setting of 6 might seem ok, but how many contacts exist outside the number 6? And how responsible have all those people been? It takes only 1 person to infect any of the 6 and the virus can then spread to some or all the 6 and from there.....you get my point?

I'm sorry about your situation and i really do empathise, but the right decision was made. It makes my life a lot harder while we are locked down with closed schools, but health and life is more important.

GT89

History Queen wrote: »

Please outline in detail precisely what parts of remote teaching are easier than in person teaching?

Also PUP? Pandemic Unemployment Payment.... you're going to fire us... all of us? To what end?

No commute, no having to deal with unruly school children

History Queen

GT89 wrote: »

No commute, no having to deal with unruly school children

I have children so no avoiding that. I'll give you the no commute part. So this is all just a ploy so I don't have to drive to work.... interesting theory.

...Ghost...

GT89 wrote: »

No commute, no having to deal with unruly school children

You're in the wrong profession so. Teachers have it so handy.

helpful

GT89 wrote: »

Personally think teachers just want an easy life and do as little work as possible. In addition to hcws supermarket staff, bus drivers, some taxi drivers, some tradesmen, postal workers, warehouse workers and many more have been working throughout the pandemic and have just on with it.

Meanwhile teachers who will continue to be paid their full wages will say it's they won't work to protect their safety. Put them on the 350€ a week and see how quick they change their tune.

Thank you for your input and the recommendation to put someone working from home on an unemployment payment will be across all industries I presume? Or just lazy teachers because you know not one of them will do any work?
How dare teachers not put the safety of their families and the community at risk. Those postmen are constantly in an enclosed space with 25 other people from different households with no masks or social distancing. It’s exactly the same and we all know it. Lazy teachers
You should try training to be a teacher it’s the easiest job in the country especially these days... no work to be done


Next

...Ghost...

for those who think the young are not at risk of covid. just look at how it was transmitted.

https://www.rte.ie/news/newslens/2021/0107/1188341-baby-covid-spain/

GT89

helpful wrote: »

Thank you for your input and the recommendation to put someone working from home on an unemployment payment will be across all industries I presume? Or just lazy teachers because you know not one of them will do any work?
How dare teachers not put the safety of their families and the community at risk. Those postmen are constantly in an enclosed space with 25 other people from different households with no masks or social distancing. It’s exactly the same and we all know it. Lazy teachers
You should try training to be a teacher it’s the easiest job in the country especially these days... no work to be done


Next

I know receiving Covid wage subsidy whilst WFH.

teachinggal123

GT89 wrote: »

No commute, no having to deal with unruly school children

Online teaching is far more difficult and time consuming than in-person.

Every teacher here would prefer to be back in the classroom. Every. Single. Teacher.

With respect, if you don’t know that you don’t know enough to make any comment here about about teaching and pedagogy.

JeffKenna

helpful wrote: »

Thank you for your input and the recommendation to put someone working from home on an unemployment payment will be across all industries I presume? Or just lazy teachers because you know not one of them will do any work?
How dare teachers not put the safety of their families and the community at risk. Those postmen are constantly in an enclosed space with 25 other people from different households with no masks or social distancing. It’s exactly the same and we all know it. Lazy teachers
You should try training to be a teacher it’s the easiest job in the country especially these days... no work to be done


Next

Judging by the posters history they don't even believe in covid so I wouldn't waste my time.

GT89

teachinggal123 wrote: »

Online teaching is far more difficult and time consuming than in-person.

Every teacher here would prefer to be back in the classroom. Every. Single. Teacher.

With respect, if you don’t know that you don’t know enough to make any comment here about about teaching and pedagogy.

So why are you demanding the schools close then?

History Queen

GT89 wrote: »

So why are you demanding the schools close then?

Go do some research and find out.

Stateofyou

GT89 wrote: »

So why are you demanding the schools close then?

I'm all whacked out. Game over.

...Ghost...

GT89 wrote: »

So why are you demanding the schools close then?

health, safety and preservation of life.

online education to the rescue.

TTLF

Well, here we are, 24 hours later and I'm back to Online learning. I know this forum isn't really students (I haven't seen many by the looks) But I am glad to say I'm actually super relieved . It's been a tough time in the past 24 hours with me having that constant "Do I go back do I stay at home" debacle in my head.

I had a small meltdown/argument with my parents because I ended up not thinking too rationally as we were somewhat bombarded with the information, I was scared and I acknowledge that. My motivation has also gone down in the last week because its "still break" and because of all this uncertainty, but that's no excuse that I shouldn't start working. To tell the truth I've been mainly looking at news stuff because of all that's occurred in the last 2-3 days.

It's obvious to see LC students are protesting the recent LC exam debacle in the last day or so and I want it to not go unnoticed. While I "have a voice" It's probably completely out of my hands on what they decide to do with the exams. I'm lucky to come from a place where I was provided with decent quality Online teaching back in March-May, I even still did Summer exams (although not to an amazing standard because my mental health was wayyy down)

I think as we go into online teaching this time, you can actually learn from your past mistakes. I know what's coming ahead of me this time, unlike in March where if you told me "Your mental health will severely deteriorate and you will have 0 motivation" I would've laughed, "2 weeks of home-schooling! it looks fun!" I would've said back. But this was not the case.

We all need to take into account though, what will happen to the LC? I'm not going to go on about "we need predicted grades" or anything because, It's not really my place to decide at the end of the day. But I will agree that we do need either some clarity (idea) or compensation for the time we do miss. Online learning is a great alternative for now, but it can't teach you everything properly. Also I would address some teenagers will become more relaxed during online schooling since you can "do assignments whenever" and there's little structure, we've all been a victim to this, even I was procrastinating watching some Anime instead of studying for my summer tests in 5th year.

I am worried however, that the Government will try push for a more traditional LC currently. I didn't see Norma's Primetime Interview but with the idea that she's not backing down with her ideas, I don't see tomorrow's meeting on "a review of the LC" going in any direction that'll help personally. Students have been trying to stand up to this, and I do agree we have seen disruption in classroom time. Something must be done anyway, I know for a fact I'm failing German. I try my best but it's hard. We've done little prep work for the German Oral and my class and I were supposed to start it yesterday (general topic conversation, ramping up the Rollenspiel dialogue with sessions together.) But it's obvious now this can't go ahead for the time being. I just hope they can acknowledge the issues facing Orals. As for practical work, I do see an issue for my Geography one as I stated before, but honestly that's out of my hands and hopefully I can do the field trip in February.

I want to thank everyone on this forum that's been keeping me up to date, and trying their best to help us with "round 1" of showing the government the unsafe ideas we had been put under for next Monday. I do however, hope children with learning disabilities get some sort of extra help for them, just like us LC have (sort of?) gotten tonight.

One more thing. I am utterly surprised last night the Government put Young Adults education in front of Personal and Public health standards for this country, that's Insane. :rolleyes:

Queried

GT89 wrote: »

Personally think teachers just want an easy life and do as little work as possible. In addition to hcws supermarket staff, bus drivers, some taxi drivers, some tradesmen, postal workers, warehouse workers and many more have been working throughout the pandemic and have just on with it.

Meanwhile teachers who will continue to be paid their full wages will say it's they won't work to protect their safety. Put them on the 350€ a week and see how quick they change their tune.

I find this very unfair to be honest. With schools fully open there would be a million pupils and school staff moving around daily, during a time where cases and hospital admissions are skyrocketing. In my case, and probably for the vast majority, social distancing is impossible and in primary school settings masks are not worn. This is understandable as we are working with children but senior primary children fall into the age bracket that spread the virus as much as others. The test and trace system is collapsed and there have already been issues with schools not being informed of positive cases. Most teachers would only love to be in school but NPHET themselves have stated that keeping schools open pose a significant risk considering widespread levels of the virus in the community.

The people you mentioned above are doing unbelievable work and I am not suggesting for a second that they're not. However, evidence suggests that opening schools like normal is not a good idea for the moment. Believe me, I cannot wait to get back to normality when things improve. I don't think it's fair to say teachers are lazy and want to do as little as possible. We're in the middle of a pandemic and nobody wants this.

eviltwin

GT89 wrote: »

Personally think teachers just want an easy life and do as little work as possible. In addition to hcws supermarket staff, bus drivers, some taxi drivers, some tradesmen, postal workers, warehouse workers and many more have been working throughout the pandemic and have just on with it.

Meanwhile teachers who will continue to be paid their full wages will say it's they won't work to protect their safety. Put them on the 350€ a week and see how quick they change their tune.

Give over. I’m not a teacher, I am someone who has worked through COVID with all the additional stress and risk. However my employer has bent over backwards to ensure my safety and that of our clients. We have changed work practices, invested in safety measures, we have weekly supervision with a counselling service, weekly check ins with management, plenty of PPE.......

My job doesn’t involve working in one space with multiple people all day and yet my safety is the priority as it should be. What do teachers have? I’m a parent and I’m very relieved that schools are staying closed. Yes it’s a pain because I’m going to somehow have to work home school around my normal working week but at least my child is safe. The risk is just too great for things to continue as they are. Education is important but health matters more.

KrustyUCC

...Ghost... wrote: »

What's not to believe? So many people are ignoring the restrictions and visiting family and friends, helping the virus spread.

Yeah but I'm not ignoring the restrictions

Essential purposes for travel (permitted outside 5km limit)

"for vital family reasons, such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people, and in particular for those who live alone, as part of an extended household but excluding social family visits

I'm well within 5km anyway but providing child care esp to two kids with special needs has always been allowed

wirelessdude01

I'd love just once, when Norma mentions having consulted the "education partners" if she could be asked who exactly these partners are and list the different people she has spoken to who represents them. Bet she'd be fairly bloody tongue tied then.

khalessi

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I'd love just once, when Norma mentions having consulted the "education partners" if she could be asked who exactly these partners are and list the different people she has spoken to who represents them. Bet she'd be fairly bloody tongue tied then.

She looked in mirror and had a quick chat and agreed.

Queried

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I'd love just once, when Norma mentions having consulted the "education partners" if she could be asked who exactly these partners are and list the different people she has spoken to who represents them. Bet she'd be fairly bloody tongue tied then.

This is exactly what I was saying to myself (read: to the TV, aloud :pac:) when I was watching the announcement.

GT89

eviltwin wrote: »

Give over. I’m not a teacher, I am someone who has worked through COVID with all the additional stress and risk. However my employer has bent over backwards to ensure my safety and that of our clients. We have changed work practices, invested in safety measures, we have weekly supervision with a counselling service, weekly check ins with management, plenty of PPE.......

My job doesn’t involve working in one space with multiple people all day and yet my safety is the priority as it should be. What do teachers have? I’m a parent and I’m very relieved that schools are staying closed. Yes it’s a pain because I’m going to somehow have to work home school around my normal working week but at least my child is safe. The risk is just too great for things to continue as they are. Education is important but health matters more.

The proposal to keep schools open for 6th years and children with special needs would've allowed adequate social distancing. The risk to children from cv19 is minimal.

jimmytwotimes 2013

GT89 wrote: »

The proposal to keep schools open for 6th years and children with special needs would've allowed adequate social distancing. The risk to children from cv19 is minimal.

Thanks for that Doctor GT89

Queried

GT89 wrote: »

The proposal to keep schools open for 6th years and children with special needs would've allowed adequate social distancing. The risk to children from cv19 is minimal.

I can't speak for secondary schools as that's not my area but special schools would just be returning to what was in place before Christmas as everyone would be in and no extra staff or extra room to facilitate social distancing.

GT89

jimmytwotimes 2013 wrote: »

Thanks for that Doctor GT89

Could you please remind of how many children died of cv19 in Ireland?