Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) **Mod warning in OP 22/01**

Sammy2012

According to radio 1 just now there will be no announcements about the general school reopening until at least next Tuesday. LC should be sorted today.

Loafing Oaf

Sammy2012 wrote: »

According to radio 1 just now there will be announcements about the general school reopening until at least next Tuesday. LC should be sorted today.

no announcements I presume you mean

Sammy2012

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

no announcements I presume you mean

Sorry yes. Edited my post

wirelessdude01

Birdy wrote: »

Aodhán Ó Riordán described the Department of Education & Skills as a 'dysfunctional Debs school committee' this morning.

He robbed that line from someone who used it on twitter yesterday!! He thanked them in advanc and said he was robbing it!!!

NeuralNetwork

khalessi wrote: »

We CO2 monitors and hepa filters in all classrooms and proper working windows would be a start

We could be doing things that are less complicated than that. I’m not sure that you can effectively HEPA filter an uncontrolled space like that. I note some of the technical experts are advising against the use of mechanical ventilation systems.

I’m not convinced that the classrooms can be adapted - the only solutions that might realistically work would be to open the doors and windows a lot more and that might be only possible in the context of better weather from April onwards.

That’s the main reason I would argue for shifting the school year into the summer and having the summer holidays now.

mloc123

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

He robbed that line from someone who used it on twitter yesterday!! He thanked them in advanc and said he was robbing it!!!

It must be quite sad being in opposision in the Dail.

You litterally spend your life saying "oh I wouldn't do it that way" and if it works you say "well, it would have been even better my way" If it doesn't work you say "told you so"

Imagine if your job every day was to walk around you office/workplace and just tell people they are doing it wrong.. knowing that you will never be in charge or have to make any decisions that matter.

It must be a sad life

khalessi

NeuralNetwork wrote: »

We could be doing things that are less complicated than that. I’m not sure that you can effectively HEPA filter an uncontrolled space like that. I note some of the technical experts are advising against the use of mechanical ventilation systems.

And some are advocating their use. But as we stand there have been no new enhanced measures issued by the DES re H&S for reopening of schools. They are used ofr rooms in hospital so I dont see whay we cannot adapt tech for schools apart from unwillingness to spend money

Random sample

DSN wrote: »

Where has that come from? I sincerely hope they open when primary schools do. That said I agree there has not been talk about it I have heard. The ECCE funding was cut until the 5th so am (hoping!) it will be the 8th the back for that & childminding for all. The owner of my creche says she expecting an update on the 20th but I'd say it will be more of the nothing definite until the week before.

Do you mean for teachers kids? Teachers are considered essential workers so their kids can already be in crèche.

wirelessdude01

HermioneJean wrote: »

Oh that's awful. No we had a discussion about it. Some outlined their rationale but we came to an agreement, because we are adults. The main argument was if we could agree on food and entertainment at birthdays we could agree on a piece of cloth over a mouth for a bit of the day. Some people in other classes left the school but that was their choice too so. I will add the principal was at pains to stress that school had nothing to do with it, it was very funny, she was so worried!

So now you are saying that some parents had to pull their children from the school due to something that isn't enforceable. Heard it all now.

CapriciousOne

mloc123 wrote: »

It must be quite sad being in opposision in the Dail.

You litterally spend your life saying "oh I wouldn't do it that way" and if it works you say "well, it would have been even better my way" If it doesn't work you say "told you so"

Imagine if your job every day was to walk around you office/workplace and just tell people they are doing it wrong.. knowing that you will never be in charge or have to make any decisions that matter.

It must be a sad life

Sounds like the daily routine of a typical boards.ie poster.

HermioneJean

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

So now you are saying that some parents had to pull their children from the school due to something that isn't enforceable. Heard it all now.

They made their choice, I support them for doing so, but they also didn't have their children vaccinated so I suppose there was a link

mloc123

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

So now you are saying that some parents had to pull their children from the school due to something that isn't enforceable. Heard it all now.

Imagine having your kids hounding out of school by covid fundamentalists

wirelessdude01

mloc123 wrote: »

Imagine having your kids hounding out of school by covid fundamentalists

Leave Covid aside, that sort of parent power shouldn't have been enabled/facilitated by the principal. As I said I believe all children from 4th up should be mandated to wear masks while in class.

wirelessdude01

HermioneJean wrote: »

They made their choice, I support them for doing so, but they also didn't have their children vaccinated so I suppose there was a link

No they didn't make a choice, they were hounded out by parent power. Totally wrong.

am_zarathustra

NeuralNetwork wrote: »

We could be doing things that are less complicated than that. I’m not sure that you can effectively HEPA filter an uncontrolled space like that. I note some of the technical experts are advising against the use of mechanical ventilation systems.

I’m not convinced that the classrooms can be adapted - the only solutions that might realistically work would be to open the doors and windows a lot more and that might be only possible in the context of better weather from April onwards.

That’s the main reason I would argue for shifting the school year into the summer and having the summer holidays now.

I'm not opposed to this idea in theory but in practice you'd never get parents to agree to it. Some would, some wouldn't and you'd end up exacerbatting a divide in the real world. In an ideal world though its not a bad idea just the DES are gun-shy around things like this so it wouldn't be enforced. To be honest their is zero enforcement of non attendence this year, and parents know it.

I assume the summer schools will go ahead this year, I'd like to see them extended to two weeks in August and kids who didn't engage online due to additional needs or family situation brought in to give them a heads start on the year and make sure they have a positive start. This might go a way to helping bridge the divide. The majority of middle-class kids, without additional needs will catch up just fine, especially when there will be not trips or games etc for a while.

khalessi

NeuralNetwork wrote: »

We could be doing things that are less complicated than that. I’m not sure that you can effectively HEPA filter an uncontrolled space like that. I note some of the technical experts are advising against the use of mechanical ventilation systems.

I’m not convinced that the classrooms can be adapted - the only solutions that might realistically work would be to open the doors and windows a lot more and that might be only possible in the context of better weather from April onwards.

That’s the main reason I would argue for shifting the school year into the summer and having the summer holidays now.

In my school since September we agreed all windows and doors open all day and they have been all of term 1.

As it stand there are no new measures for safety in schools for reopening which is mental.

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/02/keeping-schools-open-without-masks-or-quarantines-doubled-swedish-teachers-covid-19

Keeping schools open without masks or quarantines doubled Swedish teachers’ COVID-19 risk Study seems to cover first lockdown adn we are dealing with worse variants now.

HermioneJean

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

No they didn't make a choice, they were hounded out by parent power. Totally wrong.

They weren't hounded out by anyone. They are adults, they could do what they want with their children. They weren't in my class so I don't know the ins and outs but.

HermioneJean

mloc123 wrote: »

Imagine having your kids hounding out of school by covid fundamentalists

So are you going to apologise for calling me unstable, now a covid fundamentalist? You know nothing about me at all, and you are happy to bully me? All the people who liked this post are hypocrites for liking this personal attack. Shame on you.

iamwhoiam

HermioneJean wrote: »

They weren't hounded out by anyone. They are adults, they could do what they want with their children. They weren't in my class so I don't know the ins and outs but.

So PARENTS decided how other PARENTS should act in a school setting ?
Parents decided their children would wear masks and so everyone else had to fall in line . Absolutely disgraceful that this was actually allowed get so out of hand that children were taken from that school due to the pressure out upon them .

HermioneJean

iamwhoiam wrote: »

So PARENTS decided how other PARENTS should act in a school setting ?
Parents decided their children would wear masks and so everyone else had to fall in line . Absolutely disgraceful that this was actually allowed get so out of hand that children were taken from that school due to the pressure out upon them .

Parents had a chat about what we wanted. Parents decided we were happy to go with masks.no one said they couldn't come to school, certainly not us. I already told you 5 in my dds class don't wear them for medical reasons. Did you even read my posts before you jumped to conclusions? We had a discussion and reached a consensus like democratic people, just like we did when we changed the uniform. No one forced anyone. Your jumping to conclusions is disgraceful.

political analyst

If the Leaving Cert exams go ahead, will they take place as usual in June?

iamwhoiam

HermioneJean wrote: »

Parents had a chat about what we wanted. Parents decided we were happy to go with masks.no one said they couldn't come to school, certainly not us. I already told you 5 in my dds class don't wear them for medical reasons. Did you even read my posts before you jumped to conclusions? We had a discussion and reached a consensus like democratic people, just like we did when we changed the uniform. No one forced anyone. Your jumping to conclusions is disgraceful.

Yes i read your posts
So explain to me so why children were removed if they were under no pressure whatsoever to wear a mask
What was the rational to remove children ?

iamwhoiam

I posted this earlier in another thread but thought I would post it here too for some balance



While I cannot abide Norma Foley and I think she has made a complete mess of everything she touches I think the vast majority of teachers have done a great job despite her

I do homework with grandchild and in 1st class and her teacher has been amazing .He teaches with videos from the classroom , links to art and PE ., sets homework daily and reading groups on zoom.He encourages, corrects , sets up science experiments, gets them to measure things in the house etc etc . I have nothing but admiration for him and others who stepped out their comfort zones and made it happen despite Ms Foley and The Dept .

HermioneJean

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Yes i read your posts
So explain to me so why children were removed if they were under no pressure whatsoever to wear a mask
What was the rational to remove children ?

I have no idea, as I said they weren't in my group. Maybe they thought masks weren't sufficient maybe they didnt want no extra curricular, maybe they preferred home school, who knows. I don't jump to conclusions about the desires of other people, and I certainly dont pass comments on them, like disgraceful or such and such. I won't hold it against you if you want to pull back and we can keep discussing.

Deeec

HermioneJean wrote: »

Oh that's awful. No we had a discussion about it. Some outlined their rationale but we came to an agreement, because we are adults. The main argument was if we could agree on food and entertainment at birthdays we could agree on a piece of cloth over a mouth for a bit of the day. Some people in other classes left the school but that was their choice too so. I will add the principal was at pains to stress that school had nothing to do with it, it was very funny, she was so worried!

Its great that the majority reached agreement on this re the masks. Your situation would be unusual though - Ive never heard of parents agreeing food and entertainment for birthdays either. I take it every child has the same party. It sounds very pressurising and controlling.

HermioneJean

Deeec wrote: »

Its great that the majority reached agreement on this re the masks. Your situation would be unusual though - Ive never heard of parents agreeing food and entertainment for birthdays either. I take it every child has the same party. It sounds very pressurising and controlling.

I wouldn't see it as controlling if we ask each other to keep an eye out for dietary requirements, there are diabetics, nut allergies, vegans and all sorts, god I'd be mortified if I gave someone a reaction or something they couldn't eat for ethical or religious reasons, when does good manners end?

With regards to entertainment is more so we don't end up going to see the same film or that one parent feels the need to keep up with the kardashians. God have we gotten to the stage where mothers can't talk to each other and exchange ideas and thoughts, I mean if someone wants to do their own thing, fricking fair play to them! If we disagree so what! I thought that is what boards was meant to be, and why I left twitter! But apparently I'm unstable and a fundamentalist! Lol!

Are there no other actual parents on here who can solve disagreements without running off to tell teacher!!!

jimmytwotimes 2013

political analyst wrote: »

If the Leaving Cert exams go ahead, will they take place as usual in June?

Going on what few pieces of information Leo dropped last night.

LC (whoever wishes to sit it) will happen in June
JC can't run at the same time. (prob a hint its not happening)
He mentioned summer break (so any movement on holidays doesn't look likely)

Deeec

HermioneJean wrote: »

I wouldn't see it as controlling if we ask each other to keep an eye out for dietary requirements, there are diabetics, nut allergies, vegans and all sorts, god I'd be mortified if I gave someone a reaction or something they couldn't eat for ethical or religious reasons, when does good manners end?

With regards to entertainment is more so we don't end up going to see the same film or that one parent feels the need to keep up with the kardashians. God have we gotten to the stage where mothers can't talk to each other and exchange ideas and thoughts, I mean if someone wants to do their own thing, fricking fair play to them! If we disagree so what! I thought that is what boards was meant to be, and why I left twitter! But apparently I'm unstable and a fundamentalist! Lol!

Are there no other actual parents on here who can solve disagreements without running off to tell teacher!!!

Look I wasnt getting at you at all. I was just curious. One of my kids has special dietary requirements so I see your point here. I thought you meant you agreed only certain types of food could be served and only certain entertainment was suitable ie. every child had the same party which sounded very strict. Discussion happens between our parents groups just like you said. Your post just read differently. I didnt mean it as an insult.

NeuralNetwork

The problem isn't individual teachers, it's the system hasn't supported them at all. There should have been much more put in place for remote learning supports and IT supports and so on.

The impression I'm getting is that the department quite literally thought a mop and a bit of a 'deep clean' (wipe of desks) would be adequate.

HermioneJean

Deeec wrote: »

No discussion happens between our parents groups just like you said. Your post just read differently. I didnt mean it as an insult.

That is great, no problem at all. I know tone doesn't come across well here. I would feel its sad if parents don't discuss things, I mean when I grew up my mum knew everyone on the street and insisted that if I ever went to someone's home or had someone in, that she at least know who they are, I just think that if all of our DDs are together for so many years it's nice to be able to talk about things as a community.

Don't get me wrong, there are things I disagree with that don't happen, like for example they don't want a girls camogie team but are happy for soccer, but you can't win them all right? Most of the parents in the school don't like camogie, I don't throw a wobbler and call it disgraceful, I signed her up for her local club lol. They spend time on religious stuff, not my thing but it's the school thing so I don't cause upset. What happened to compromise in life!!! But thank you for engaging with me, best of luck to you if you teach and have children