Schools to close again.. Covid

deiseindublin

What - the only realism what supposedly happens in your kids school?

Treppen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118435449#Comment_118435449

We're over 30% of pupils out and 18% teachers out.

Where are you getting the national figure from?

skippy1977

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118435449#Comment_118435449

Realistic in what way? As in there is 10% absences nationally? I can't comment on the national picture (where did you get the data to make such a broad statement?) I know we had 196 out of 450 out today...your statistics don't paint a realistic picture of what is going on in my school.

ShamoBuc

A few teachers out in my school, not sure how many, 9 students out of 30 absent, same yesterday.

WWMRD

71% of students absent yesterday and 68% today. I had between 20-30% attendance in my classes yesterday and today. Those students that were in were questioning why I was working on. The classroom was baltic... Had to close doors and windows for it to heat up for an hour. They open again. I haven't warmed up in two days.

For our cohort I do think that online learning for the last two days would have been more beneficial....a lot that are out are close contacts. Hoping that numbers improve got next week 😊

Random sample

About 40% of students missing in my school. Less than 20% staff missing.

0% interaction on teams from the missing students, so I don’t know if they are sick/contacts/waiting to see the lay of the land next week.

Bobtheman

It's a write off for a lot of schools this week education wise. It was lose lose either way. Delayed opening and the media would complain. Even though parents and students groups wanted a delay.

Open up and you get f all students. Though if we'd gone online you'd lose students.

Im sure the ventilators will arrive just as covid ends.

Btw i dont leave my windows open all the time. Covid is less likely to kill me than pneumonia.

Rosita

I had 8 of 26 Leaving Certs in for the last two days. I don't expect that is just about the two extra days - I presume it will continue over the next few weeks at least given the huge rate of infection around.

I think the two extra days would have been useful for schools to get some sense of what the absences would be and what could be done. The Dept of Ed waffled in an afterthought face-saving situation that some classes might be done on-line but there was no time given to schools to organise anything like this or decide that if this were to happen - which classes, what days, AM or PM? - which those two days might have facilitated.

I'm in a situation where there's little progress in-person (if teaching the entire class - as opposed to just covering the course - is your plan) and obviously none on-line. No issue there in one sense I suppose as opening schools was never an education-based decision anyway, but there will have to be an acknowledgement that this is in essence a school closure when state exams are up for debate in a few weeks.

Treppen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118438092#Comment_118438092

8 out of 26 leaving certs !

I think we can see the writing on the wall.

am_zarathustra

A lot more senior kids missing in ours than junior, not entirely sure why.......more partying or just more able to make their own decisions?

am_zarathustra

Grueller

45% absences in my daughters secondary school.

25% in my sons primary.

I have no idea of staff absence as that would be none of my business but of 16 class periods, my daughter had 4 classes (3 teachers) who were out.

Treppen

Ya listening to RTE radio now at 1pm and looks like it's pro-choice again (excuse the pun).

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118438461#Comment_118438461

If this was around when I was doing my leaving cert I certainly would have put forward the case to my parents that I'd study at home for those two days to see how the situation evolved.

Now I would have had to have a book in hand for the day, but they would have trusted me not to act the maggot.

I'd imagine alot of students/parents had similar conversations.

Plus there's also the argument if they knew xyz weren't going in and a decent % were going to be missing that the teacher wouldn't be able to move forward with fresh course material. So why engage in unnecessary risk.

solerina

40% of our students out the last 2 days, only 10% of staff so good on that front. The heat was on full blast but it was freezing, if you closed the windows even a little Bit the monitors turned orange in 15 mins….I was frozen but I was a king sure we had enough ventilation. 50% of the LC class were out. I worked on with all my class groups and posted on teams afterwards….not great but all I could do !!

timmymagoo

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/new-evidence-shows-how-school-closures-hit-childrens-mental-health-hard

this is so much bigger than all of us

Time for teachers and parents do everything to keep schools open at all costs

If teaching staff becomes an issue then we must be willing to make tough but necessary decisions

All teaching staff absent must have wages stopped and put on the covid state payment of 350 per week and

Emergency measures introduced to allow people with skills but no teaching qualification to be hired on long term casual contracts

I personally have 2 degrees and a masters and would be willing to stand in at a daily rate to mentor children on maths science and accounting

I am confident teachers will keep schools open but no harm to have a contingency plan

rainbowtrout

We had 60% absence from students on Friday. Way more missing from senior years than junior. Some of my LCs told me that a lot of their friends got covid socialising on New Year's Eve.

Rosita

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439069#Comment_118439069

The €350 a week offer could backfire. Plenty of teachers on 'hours' who'd find staying in bed relatively attractive at that payment.

timmymagoo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439216#Comment_118439216

Maybe it would and maybe its best to leave absent teachers on full pay but I believe the option of using lay staff is something that needs to be looked at

Rosita

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439260#Comment_118439260

As long as they have gone through the Garda vetting process and have their qualifications assessed by the Teaching Council of course. That'll take no time.

timmymagoo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439278#Comment_118439278

We ate told we are on a war footing and this is an emergency like no other

Than garda vetting and teaching Council assessment can surely be dropped temporarily

am_zarathustra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439260#Comment_118439260

This is already happening, in subjects where there are acute teaching shortages. There is an unqualified rate, you could easily look this up. Generally they don't meet standards, don't know the curriculum and have very little behavioural management skills. There is the odd exception. If you have a degree in an in demand area you could already be doing this. Good luck to you. If you think the skill of teaching lies in having acquired knowledge you are in for a shock.

Hooefully next week will be the worst and things will improve after that!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439069#Comment_118439069

Teachers have been working in a acute hiring crisis for years. Many teach over time, take classes after school, teach subject and prep for them without proper training so subjects don't have to be dropped mid cycle........you have a limuted understanding of the issues actually facing schools.

I can point to some of the issues in the HSE but I wouldn't presume to tell a rake of nurses what the issues are in their hospitals, I'd be more inclined to ask them what the issues are that they perceive.

Quandary

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439420#Comment_118439420

reformed child sex offenders will be able to have access to over 30 children in a room with the door closed and no cameras.

I suppose everyone should get a 2nd chance though and as you said we are in a crisis!

whats the worst that could happen…

Crocodile Booze

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439420#Comment_118439420

Garda vetting dropped? Are you crazy? Two degrees and a masters eh? Hmmmmmmmm

Icyseanfitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439069#Comment_118439069

🤦🤣🤣🤣

Icyseanfitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439420#Comment_118439420

Drop Garda vetting!!! do you actually understand the potential issues that could cause? Issues far far worse for children than missing a class here or there. Ffs some people have zero critical thinking skills 🤦

timmymagoo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439429#Comment_118439429

I did not know that schools could hire skilled staff with no teaching qualifications

I have a degree in science which I never used and a degree and masters in maths and finance

Are you telling me that a school could hire me if they had staff shortages to mentor students on subjects

If that Is true I would do a day a week If rates were good

Please put up a link ifyou can please

Bananaleaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439069#Comment_118439069

🤣🤣🤣

Bananaleaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439655#Comment_118439655

No need for a link Timmy - walk into a school and speak to a principal.

Why only a day a week though?

Gusser09

The schools wont close now.

Its interesting to see since NPHET and govt didnt buckle to the unions media coverage online around covid has eased a fair bit. Probably the shot in the arm we all needed. If the schools had of delayed opening then we would still be in the throws of covid next winter. Fair play to all in getting them open and keeping them open.

Did many parents really want a delayed opening? Kids need school. Especially after the last 2 years. We just couldnt face into another period of remote learning.

Onwards and upwards from here. We will reach immunity soon enough.