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Schools closed until February? (part 3)
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An excellent post. Well researched, with personal experience and opinions backed up with facts.In my opinion: I'm not so sure we can fully understand or gage the situation in schools properly, whether they are safe or not safe, up to standard or not by both the schools side or the governments.
I know in this form, a lot of people are either Parents, Teachers or neither. (As far as I know, I'm the only actual secondary level student in this form) and it seems that there's a lot of back and forth with the "Schools are clearly safe from X study" and "No they're not safe, this study shows different"
But while everyone's entitled to their own opinions, making recommendations or criticisms on the state of the schools with the virus, I don't think it's going to help the grand scheme of things.
I've learnt a lot over the last 2 months about the government, our schooling system, the unions and NPHET through some of the discussions on this forum and on other forums or news websites. This had led me to make my own sensible decision that, there's really not much we can do, nor can we assume because one study showed this, and another showed this, they're neither right or wrong.
It's pretty naïve to assume that, since one country had a good reopening of schools, it means they spread low transmissions. But it's also naïve to assume that since another country had a bad effect in schools opening, that schools cause transmission.
Take the UK for example, they created a recent figure on what parts of their society are causing the most transmission, it stated in the illustrated pie-chart, that "education" accounted for 36% of transmission (the highest total.) But we need to remember a few factors here about the schools in the UK schools who had a "bad" opening up compared to a "good" one, with the Irish. It is seen that, like us, they started schools roughly the same week, and most pupils were thrown into their schools again with little protection, actually, even less more so than the Irish. From a friend who lives in the UK, it is not compulsory to wear a mask in schools, at all. Now, I'm not sure if this is EVERY school or just his, but that can make a big difference to transmission rates. It's obvious masks do help in Lessing the spread of the Virus, which is why our Government has made it compulsory for Secondary Level Schools to wear masks (albeit after poking and prodding) which gives the Irish an advantage in helping stop community transmission within the school environment.
Now, let's compare this to a school which has had a good opening to schools. I saw earlier in this forum, someone was talking about how the schools in Germany had lower transmission rates and that Covid doesn't spread highly within the schools premises. I would agree with her statement, however NOT from an Irish perspective. I put some time and research into this odd division of Irish schools having higher numbers, versus Germany's schools with low to non-existent transmission rates, and I think I came to understand my conclusion. Germany has better compliance from both the Government and public than Ireland does. I have seen this myself when I was in Germany. I found this article which shows how particular Germany is towards their safety from DW news, a popular German article.
https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-germany-unveils-airing-plan-for-schools/a-55286311
This gives an indication to me, how critique and precise the Germans are. Irish schools would never have this made out for them on air ventilation alone, they would sum it up in one sentence, "Keep them open and the door open, shure you'll be grand." Also, If people didn't know about Germany's government system, Germany is split up into 16 Bundesliga (or states) which have their own smaller government, education and holidays. Which means, unlike Ireland, They have 16 states managing schools inside their own districts, unlike in Ireland which has 1 government body overseeing the 1000+ schools in the country, and Hey, even Germany aren't perfect at this either. They reopened schools quite early in April-May after they thought they had a grasp on the Virus, however, this wasn't the case, as there were multiple outbreaks in Berlin schools come August after they reopened the new school year.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/over-40-berlin-schools-report-covid-19-cases-a-fortnight-after-reopening-1.4336773
Also, currently Germany, unlike every other (or most) European country's actually has the virus under control with their low incidence rate because of their very compliant public body.
So, what does this all mean? you may be asking yourself. Well, as I stated above, we just can't really fully understand the nature of Irish schools and if they spread the Virus or not. It's clear that schools have gotten cases, clusters here or there, or only 1. Hell, even my own school has had a case. But we shouldn't be bickering over if they're safe or not, we simply do not know. I've been in class now for about 2 months and I haven't gotten the virus (god forbid), however I do know of people around me that have had to be tested, or had to isolate because their older brothers or sisters were being tested. Even my own sister was tested for her chest infection because they thought it was Covid, (thankfully she's not in my household and didn't effect my education.) It makes me think, "with going to class, being with up to 90+ students daily and even more during break times and going out of the school during break for lunches, is it really safe for all students to be doing this?" and after time my decision was- "No, it most certainly isn't." I haven't gotten a case, but it could take one person in my year to get the whole of 6th year shut down, I mean I was already a close case with someone's brother who had tested positive, who's to say it won't happen again?
As I am looking from a "less mature" student's perspective, I think it's actually scary going into school everyday with this virus, especially currently with the normal enough flu season and such, making people develop coughs, chest infections and more. I'm very happy to wear the masks and clean my desk during the lesson as it makes me feel safer, but as I learn and study for my Leaving Certificate in 2021, I have a fearful thought in the back of my mind, a doubt of "We're not going to make it to December with how things are going" and I think I'm correct in the context. Each and every school in Ireland is completely and utterly different, different buildings, groups per year, boys/girls or mixed, different localities, different counties. This makes it super hard to pinpoint any real evidence with how schools are actually doing in the Pandemic with regards to spreading it. I could go on and on, but you hopefully get my point by now- We just don't know.
I fear for my own health in this situation, Since I am a venerable student compared to the majority, I know that if I catch this virus, I could get bad consequences from its effects, which is terrifying, no student should have to be in fear to go to school sometimes. We have over 1200 cases today, and it's quite clear that community transmission has caused the spike in cases as we already know, but it's awfully scary knowing that, with 1K+ daily cases a day, I'm submitting myself into an environment that isn't being monitored by the HSE closely and quite frankly, can be lazy in it's admission to student/teacher protection when rules are not strictly enforced. There's nothing I can even do about it either, Online Learning doesn't exist, there's no option for a "Blended" approach, it's a mess for some of us, but we manage anyway.
With Norma Foley's ideas of keeping schools open for the wellbeing of students mental health and social lives seems important to her, I think a students person health wellbeing is better off than mental in times of crisis. I don't think schools should be open as they are currently with 1k+ daily cases, but I don't think a full closure is ideal either. I think a blended approach could work well for many, as it gives kids social interaction at least twice a week, while letting them be at home safer, which makes them less susceptible to the virus on a daily basis.
Nobody wants this to happen, especially me, being shafted with a new "altered" Leaving Cert, possible lockdowns, doom and gloom on my own mental health, crazy assumptions on how schools should operate here, it's a full mess. But I am willing to endure it. As we know, Level 3 is "not working," and the government is going to reveal more restrictions tomorrow which will be on a nation-wide scale, but deep down I feel schools won't be altered in that regard, but I'm hoping they will consider something, even if only for Secondary schools. I am of the personal belief that the 2 week closure is a good idea, because you only miss a week of learning. That could even be changed, I don't mind doing a week of Online learning if needs be to help get this virus under control.
I'm scared of what might lie ahead if nothing is changed on the schools front. This was just my own opinion piece and I thank you for reading.
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In my opinion: I'm not so sure we can fully understand or gage the situation in schools properly, whether they are safe or not safe, up to standard or not by both the schools side or the governments.
I know in this form, a lot of people are either Parents, Teachers or neither. (As far as I know, I'm the only actual secondary level student in this form) and it seems that there's a lot of back and forth with the "Schools are clearly safe from X study" and "No they're not safe, this study shows different"
But while everyone's entitled to their own opinions, making recommendations or criticisms on the state of the schools with the virus, I don't think it's going to help the grand scheme of things.
I've learnt a lot over the last 2 months about the government, our schooling system, the unions and NPHET through some of the discussions on this forum and on other forums or news websites. This had led me to make my own sensible decision that, there's really not much we can do, nor can we assume because one study showed this, and another showed this, they're neither right or wrong.
It's pretty naïve to assume that, since one country had a good reopening of schools, it means they spread low transmissions. But it's also naïve to assume that since another country had a bad effect in schools opening, that schools cause transmission.
Take the UK for example, they created a recent figure on what parts of their society are causing the most transmission, it stated in the illustrated pie-chart, that "education" accounted for 36% of transmission (the highest total.) But we need to remember a few factors here about the schools in the UK schools who had a "bad" opening up compared to a "good" one, with the Irish. It is seen that, like us, they started schools roughly the same week, and most pupils were thrown into their schools again with little protection, actually, even less more so than the Irish. From a friend who lives in the UK, it is not compulsory to wear a mask in schools, at all. Now, I'm not sure if this is EVERY school or just his, but that can make a big difference to transmission rates. It's obvious masks do help in Lessing the spread of the Virus, which is why our Government has made it compulsory for Secondary Level Schools to wear masks (albeit after poking and prodding) which gives the Irish an advantage in helping stop community transmission within the school environment.
Now, let's compare this to a school which has had a good opening to schools. I saw earlier in this forum, someone was talking about how the schools in Germany had lower transmission rates and that Covid doesn't spread highly within the schools premises. I would agree with her statement, however NOT from an Irish perspective. I put some time and research into this odd division of Irish schools having higher numbers, versus Germany's schools with low to non-existent transmission rates, and I think I came to understand my conclusion. Germany has better compliance from both the Government and public than Ireland does. I have seen this myself when I was in Germany. I found this article which shows how particular Germany is towards their safety from DW news, a popular German article.
https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-germany-unveils-airing-plan-for-schools/a-55286311
This gives an indication to me, how critique and precise the Germans are. Irish schools would never have this made out for them on air ventilation alone, they would sum it up in one sentence, "Keep them open and the door open, shure you'll be grand." Also, If people didn't know about Germany's government system, Germany is split up into 16 Bundesliga (or states) which have their own smaller government, education and holidays. Which means, unlike Ireland, They have 16 states managing schools inside their own districts, unlike in Ireland which has 1 government body overseeing the 1000+ schools in the country, and Hey, even Germany aren't perfect at this either. They reopened schools quite early in April-May after they thought they had a grasp on the Virus, however, this wasn't the case, as there were multiple outbreaks in Berlin schools come August after they reopened the new school year.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/over-40-berlin-schools-report-covid-19-cases-a-fortnight-after-reopening-1.4336773
Also, currently Germany, unlike every other (or most) European country's actually has the virus under control with their low incidence rate because of their very compliant public body.
So, what does this all mean? you may be asking yourself. Well, as I stated above, we just can't really fully understand the nature of Irish schools and if they spread the Virus or not. It's clear that schools have gotten cases, clusters here or there, or only 1. Hell, even my own school has had a case. But we shouldn't be bickering over if they're safe or not, we simply do not know. I've been in class now for about 2 months and I haven't gotten the virus (god forbid), however I do know of people around me that have had to be tested, or had to isolate because their older brothers or sisters were being tested. Even my own sister was tested for her chest infection because they thought it was Covid, (thankfully she's not in my household and didn't effect my education.) It makes me think, "with going to class, being with up to 90+ students daily and even more during break times and going out of the school during break for lunches, is it really safe for all students to be doing this?" and after time my decision was- "No, it most certainly isn't." I haven't gotten a case, but it could take one person in my year to get the whole of 6th year shut down, I mean I was already a close case with someone's brother who had tested positive, who's to say it won't happen again?
As I am looking from a "less mature" student's perspective, I think it's actually scary going into school everyday with this virus, especially currently with the normal enough flu season and such, making people develop coughs, chest infections and more. I'm very happy to wear the masks and clean my desk during the lesson as it makes me feel safer, but as I learn and study for my Leaving Certificate in 2021, I have a fearful thought in the back of my mind, a doubt of "We're not going to make it to December with how things are going" and I think I'm correct in the context. Each and every school in Ireland is completely and utterly different, different buildings, groups per year, boys/girls or mixed, different localities, different counties. This makes it super hard to pinpoint any real evidence with how schools are actually doing in the Pandemic with regards to spreading it. I could go on and on, but you hopefully get my point by now- We just don't know.
I fear for my own health in this situation, Since I am a venerable student compared to the majority, I know that if I catch this virus, I could get bad consequences from its effects, which is terrifying, no student should have to be in fear to go to school sometimes. We have over 1200 cases today, and it's quite clear that community transmission has caused the spike in cases as we already know, but it's awfully scary knowing that, with 1K+ daily cases a day, I'm submitting myself into an environment that isn't being monitored by the HSE closely and quite frankly, can be lazy in it's admission to student/teacher protection when rules are not strictly enforced. There's nothing I can even do about it either, Online Learning doesn't exist, there's no option for a "Blended" approach, it's a mess for some of us, but we manage anyway.
With Norma Foley's ideas of keeping schools open for the wellbeing of students mental health and social lives seems important to her, I think a students person health wellbeing is better off than mental in times of crisis. I don't think schools should be open as they are currently with 1k+ daily cases, but I don't think a full closure is ideal either. I think a blended approach could work well for many, as it gives kids social interaction at least twice a week, while letting them be at home safer, which makes them less susceptible to the virus on a daily basis.
Nobody wants this to happen, especially me, being shafted with a new "altered" Leaving Cert, possible lockdowns, doom and gloom on my own mental health, crazy assumptions on how schools should operate here, it's a full mess. But I am willing to endure it. As we know, Level 3 is "not working," and the government is going to reveal more restrictions tomorrow which will be on a nation-wide scale, but deep down I feel schools won't be altered in that regard, but I'm hoping they will consider something, even if only for Secondary schools. I am of the personal belief that the 2 week closure is a good idea, because you only miss a week of learning. That could even be changed, I don't mind doing a week of Online learning if needs be to help get this virus under control.
I'm scared of what might lie ahead if nothing is changed on the schools front. This was just my own opinion piece and I thank you for reading.
Fantastic post, very logical and reasoned.0 -
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