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

Can somebody explain this to me please.

Taken from https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0322/1205509-5-things-we-learned-from-the-latest-nphet-briefing/

"Dr Glynn said he has received reports from his public health colleagues to say exposure around schools, such as play-dates and socialising going to and from school, are leading to outbreaks."

If the children are able to pick up the virus whilst on a play date and socialising to and from school..surely they will be picking it up in the school itself?

This is window dressing at its best but it could possibly be
a) causing an increase in cases
b) causing long term damage to children's health.
c) bringing virus home to vulnerable family

Hurrache

The point is that it's not adhering to restrictions that bring it into schools. If the majority of people did adhere, there's little to spread around.

joebloggs32

Richard tea wrote: »

Well it's just that most posters here think schools are not safe places. Is teacher training essential at the moment? Can't have it both ways

Secondary teacher here.

I can guarantee 100% our school would not have coped this year with staffing shortages without student trachers.

2 maternity leaves advertised twice with no applications form qualified teachers. In the end timetables were rejigged to give student teachers only non exam classes to teach while taking the hours to be covered.

And thats only the start of it.
We now have 9 teachers deemed very high risk or pregnant and so are teaching their 5th and sixth years from home while the student teachers are supervising.

They are also plugging the day to day gaps for cover and additional covid supervision rosters.

We have had covid also knock out numerous teachers throughout the yesr as close contacts for two weeks at a time. Guess who stepped into the breach each time.

Management are firefighting to keep the show on the road. I've nothing but admiration for their efforts to keep the school running despite the challenges laid out above.

I am sure this is being replicated across the country.

average_runner

hesaidshesaid wrote: »

Can I ask what class your daughter is in? Am interested to see if they are still just testing the pod from 3rd - 6th. Thanks.

It would be great to know if it was the UK variant in that class. In early December we had a case in Junior Infants and it seemed that no one else tested positive - schools/teachers don’t know who tests positive as HSE don’t tell us and everyone was out for 2 weeks either way. It was very early Dec so unlikely to have been UK variant.

It’s much more likely to be that now, so it’s very good news that there was no viral spread in your daughter’s class.

As for schools closing after Easter, I can’t see it. That said, we will probably send all books home anyway. No point getting caught out. Preaching to the converted here, but people really need to avoid indoor meetings for as long as possible so we can keep schools open until the end of June.

4th class. No idea on variant but we know the kid.

km79

joebloggs32 wrote: »

Secondary teacher here.

I can guarantee 100% our school would not have coped this year with staffing shortages without student trachers.

2 maternity leaves advertised twice with no applications form qualified teachers. In the end timetables were rejigged to give student teachers only non exam classes to teach while taking the hours to be covered.

And thats only the start of it.
We now have 9 teachers deemed very high risk or pregnant and so are teaching their 5th and sixth years from home while the student teachers are supervising.

They are also plugging the day to day gaps for cover and additional covid supervision rosters.

We have had covid also knock out numerous teachers throughout the yesr as close contacts for two weeks at a time. Guess who stepped into the breach each time.

Management are firefighting to keep the show on the road. I've nothing but admiration for their efforts to keep the school running despite the challenges laid out above.

I am sure this is being replicated across the country.

You could be describing any school in the country
The lack of support from the Dept is reprehensible.
Remember those “local support teams” they put in place after October .......no me either

History Queen

km79 wrote: »

You could be describing any school in the country
The lack of support from the Dept is reprehensible.
Remember those “local support teams” they put in place after October .......no me either

The Educate Together School in CityWest was looking for anyone with teaching council registration of any sort to apply for a vacancy they have. They got one PME and one second level teacher who was only partially available in response. The recruitment crises though not caused by Covid has been brought in to sharp focus.

https://twitter.com/CitywestETNS/status/1373926047041912832?s=19

Mrsmum

I don't know what other people are seeing but my area, which was very rule abiding, are now behaving as if there is no level 5 lockdown at all. It's the good weather really, young children are out the front green mixing in their droves, parents mixing as they watch the really small ones, big groups of teenagers walking around, women walking and running together and neighbours having visitors. Lots of home maintenance workmen operating also. Easter will be the same and more I imagine. After Easter will tell alot.

average_runner

Mrsmum wrote: »

I don't know what other people are seeing but my area, which was very rule abiding, are now behaving as if there is no level 5 lockdown at all. It's the good weather really, young children are out the front green mixing in their droves, parents mixing as they watch the really small ones, big groups of teenagers walking around, women walking and running together and neighbours having visitors. Lots of home maintenance workmen operating also. Easter will be the same and more I imagine. After Easter will tell alot.

Outside in the fresh air is ok. Kids got to play.
Kids sports will be back.soon

combat14

Prof Nolan said it was "quite clear" that there is some concern about a "possible increase" in incidence in children between 0 and 12 years of age, adding that they need to see how that pans out over the coming ten to 14 days.

Dr Glynn said he has received reports from his public health colleagues to say exposure around schools, such as play-dates and socialising going to and from school, are leading to outbreaks.

He said that over the last few days, there has been a drift upwards in terms of case numbers, with an increase in the five-day moving average. However, he said that it is "too early to say that it is an established trend".

(Rte News, 22/3/2021)


looks like things are hanging in the balance at the moment, lukcy easter holidays are coming up, or is it...

Dickie10

Cant see any other kids back at secondary til september . tbh we will be very lucky to keep what we have in school open. dont think theres much need for the others back anyway at this point.

noplacehere

joebloggs32 wrote: »

Secondary teacher here.

I can guarantee 100% our school would not have coped this year with staffing shortages without student trachers.

2 maternity leaves advertised twice with no applications form qualified teachers. In the end timetables were rejigged to give student teachers only non exam classes to teach while taking the hours to be covered.

And thats only the start of it.
We now have 9 teachers deemed very high risk or pregnant and so are teaching their 5th and sixth years from home while the student teachers are supervising.

They are also plugging the day to day gaps for cover and additional covid supervision rosters.

We have had covid also knock out numerous teachers throughout the yesr as close contacts for two weeks at a time. Guess who stepped into the breach each time.

Management are firefighting to keep the show on the road. I've nothing but admiration for their efforts to keep the school running despite the challenges laid out above.

I am sure this is being replicated across the country.

Absolutely the same in any school I know of in the greater Dublin region. Our school has a cohort of graduates (no teacher training) who are keeping the show on the road day to day in the building. Without them we’d have had to shut due to lack of staff

JacksonHeightsOwn

combat14 wrote: »

Prof Nolan said it was "quite clear" that there is some concern about a "possible increase" in incidence in children between 0 and 12 years of age, adding that they need to see how that pans out over the coming ten to 14 days.

Dr Glynn said he has received reports from his public health colleagues to say exposure around schools, such as play-dates and socialising going to and from school, are leading to outbreaks.

He said that over the last few days, there has been a drift upwards in terms of case numbers, with an increase in the five-day moving average. However, he said that it is "too early to say that it is an established trend".

(Rte News, 22/3/2021)


looks like things are hanging in the balance at the moment, lukcy easter holidays are coming up, or is it...

With all due respect, ronan Glynn was saying everything is in the balance or "the new few weeks sew crucial" since last summer when we where in double figures and didn't have a single person in hospital with it.

The government and nphet, rightly or wrongly are like a football manager that has lost the dressing room. They've rehashed the same sentences over and over and the people aren't listening anymore.

They need to feed us something positive, dangle a carrot ffs. But all we get is more treats of, "if you do much as look at your neighbours, we'll put you under house arrest for another month"

Locotastic

Dickie10 wrote: »

Cant see any other kids back at secondary til september . tbh we will be very lucky to keep what we have in school open. dont think theres much need for the others back anyway at this point.

What exactly are you basing your opinion on that secondary schools don't need to be back?

They have had two consecutive school years of major interruptions, you can bet they need to be back more than junior infants do.

They need to be back to give them a small bit of motivation for a precious few weeks before their 3 months of summer holidays which, if NPHET have their way, will consist of doing absolutely sweet f all.

NPHET won't have their way though, that ship has sailed and the tide of public cooperation has begun to turn.

Icyseanfitz

Dickie10 wrote: »

Cant see any other kids back at secondary til september . tbh we will be very lucky to keep what we have in school open. dont think theres much need for the others back anyway at this point.

they will all be back after easter, 100% The real question is whats the point to be honest, the amount of learning that will actually happen will be minimal.

Locotastic

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

they will all be back after easter, 100% The real question is whats the point to be honest, the amount of learning that will actually happen will be minimal.

Whats the point?? Might as well ask why anyone goes to school ever in that case.

Why will there be minimal learning? Let's hope teachers and students don't have the same attitude.

TonyMaloney

It's not going well in England, where all schools are back

https://twitter.com/IanDenton12/status/1374054608205668352?s=20

josip

Nice table in that tweet. Am I correct in thinking that the effectiveness of the UK's vaccination program on the various age groups is reflected by the dark green band of cells ?

TonyMaloney

josip wrote: »

Nice table in that tweet. Am I correct in thinking that the effectiveness of the UK's vaccination program on the various age groups is reflected by the dark green band of cells ?

The colours indicate percentage change in cases on a daily basis.
I see what you're getting at, and it certainly seems plausible given how it starts with the oldest cohort first and moves to the younger categories over time.
I'm not sure though.

Only 189 cases in the over 65s. Just under 4% of their cases. Pretty phenomenal results.

They'd better get a move on though

Icyseanfitz

Locotastic wrote: »

Whats the point?? Might as well ask why anyone goes to school ever in that case.

Why will there be minimal learning? Let's hope teachers and students don't have the same attitude.

im not going to try and explain to someone who doesn't work in a school why bringing kids back after 3 months of being out of school for a few weeks before summer holidays isnt going to accomplish much educationally.
Its been an incredibly hard year for a lot of them and expecting them to be able to just jump back in full pace as if nothing happened is idiotic, more so when they know themselves they are only back for a few short weeks before being out for 2-3 months again.

Locotastic

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

im not going to try and explain to someone who doesn't work in a school why bringing kids back after 3 months of being out of school for a few weeks before summer holidays isnt going to accomplish much educationally.
Its been an incredibly hard year for a lot of them and expecting them to be able to just jump back in full pace as if nothing happened is idiotic, more so when they know themselves they are only back for a few short weeks before being out for 2-3 months again.

Which is exactly why they should be back and back for longer than a few weeks.

Still taking 3 months holidays after all of this is an absolute joke. But sure that's our leadership for you, they just have no imagination among other things.

And no appetite to rock the boat with teachers unions (despite 'extraordinary times') who I notice are back in their box these days.

beggars_bush

Locotastic wrote: »

Which is exactly why they should be back and back for longer than a few weeks.

Still taking 3 months holidays after all of this is an absolute joke. But sure that's our leadership for you, they just have no imagination among other things.

And no appetite to rock the boat with teachers unions (despite 'extraordinary times') who I notice are back in their box these days.

Get a job teaching to avail of these amazing job conditions

History Queen

Locotastic wrote: »

Which is exactly why they should be back and back for longer than a few weeks.

Still taking 3 months holidays after all of this is an absolute joke. But sure that's our leadership for you, they just have no imagination among other things.

And no appetite to rock the boat with teachers unions (despite 'extraordinary times') who I notice are back in their box these days.

And what do you suggest should happen?

Locotastic

beggars_bush wrote: »

Get a job teaching to avail of these amazing job conditions

What are you on about? I don't want to be a teacher nor do I think the conditions are amazing. A fair amount of teachers consistently complaining on boards so can't be all that great.

I think expecting students to take another 3 months off shortly after going back is demonstrative of the lack of imagination or appetite our government has shown throughout.

Sure just lock everyone down and let's not dare have an original idea that might work.

deiseindublin

The hatred of teachers and their working conditions is really what keeps this thread going. That, along with people thinking the schools should be responsible for their kids year round, even when on their holidays.

Teachers and SNAs discuss their actual experiences in schools, and then somebody comes in with some ridiculously vague teacher hating comment. Something like this:


Teacher/SNA "We are preparing summer exams right now so we can report back to parents before the holidays with concrete feedback".

Teacher Basher "absolutely ridiculous to be talking about taking holidays when we are in the middle of a pandemic"

Unsaid - even if teachers and students have already put in their contractual hours and more on top, it's just inconvenient for parent to have darling at home over the summer.

average_runner

Locotastic wrote: »

Which is exactly why they should be back and back for longer than a few weeks.

Still taking 3 months holidays after all of this is an absolute joke. But sure that's our leadership for you, they just have no imagination among other things.

And no appetite to rock the boat with teachers unions (despite 'extraordinary times') who I notice are back in their box these days.

My kids won't be going in over the summer. They need a break from all that has gone on this year. Alot of people need a break and having school over the summer is not a break for anyone

Locotastic

deiseindublin wrote: »

The hatred of teachers and their working conditions is really what keeps this thread going.

Replace 'and' with 'of' and maybe you're on to something.

Automatic accusations of teacher bashing is the default position against anyone who has the nerve to have a differing opinion to the overwhelming voice of teachers on this thread.

Because to debate logically against valid ideas and alternative opinions is too much work I guess.

ThunbergsAreGo

average_runner wrote: »

My kids won't be going in over the summer. They need a break from all that has gone on this year. Alot of people need a break and having school over the summer is not a break for anyone

Why will they get more of a break at home?

My wife is a teacher and kids are seriously struggling (she teaches junior school) - and why wouldnt they, a year has been missed. Feel desperately sorry for the kids in all of this.

average_runner

ThunbergsAreGo wrote: »

Why will they get more of a break at home?

My wife is a teacher and kids are seriously struggling (she teaches junior school) - and why wouldnt they, a year has been missed. Feel desperately sorry for the kids in all of this.

Yes they will get more of break at home during the summer. Get to play with their friends, get to go gaa camps like last year, get to go camping, great bike rides etc.



My kids are in junior school, worked hard through lockdown as did their teachers. As we know junior school is alot about repeating steps they learnt the year before, building in the principles. So we can build on that again in Sept.

penny piper

Locotastic wrote: »

Replace 'and' with 'of' and maybe you're on to something.

Automatic accusations of teacher bashing is the default position against anyone who has the nerve to have a differing opinion to the overwhelming voice of teachers on this thread.

Because to debate logically against valid ideas and alternative opinions is too much work I guess.

You are entitled to your opinion like everyone ..I'd like to know what is your "valid idea" for children to continue their education past the usual close of summer holidays??? who do you expect to teach them? how do you want this done?

ThunbergsAreGo

average_runner wrote: »

Yes they will get more of break at home during the summer. Get to play with their friends, get to go gaa camps like last year, get to go camping, great bike rides etc.



My kids are in junior school, worked hard through lockdown as did their teachers. As we know junior school is alot about repeating steps they learnt the year before, building in the principles. So we can build on that again in Sept.

Really hope the GAA camps are on this year....

Thats great you (and your kids) have managed to stay on top of it and are not suffering. From speaking to my wife, it is those that haven't that are falling further and further behind.

Perhaps a something similar to the July provision could work, but alot broader - and focused on the work completed during lock-down/remote learning. I would think teachers should be paid extra for it as well, and with the prospects of holidays etc possibly off the tables many might jump at the chance.