ceadaoin. wrote: » And that's an indefinite payment is it? Where is the money going to keep coming from if no one is working?
gnf_ireland wrote: » I am not sure where you got the numbers from. Most schools would average around 20 students per teacher including principals. The student teacher ratio is 26 if I remember correctly. Our school has around 12 teachers (excl principal) for around 340 pupils. The sensible way to approach this is to divide each class into say 3 or 4 groups, and bring them in one day a week each (teacher in 3-4 days), and spend the other day correcting homework and setting the plans for the children's work for the remaining days where they continue some level of home schooling. That would mean around 8 children or so per class, so social distancing is much more possible, within the yard and classroom settings. And those requiring additional supports can continue to receive them. Does it solve issues across the board - absolutely not, but it does allow a level of social interaction for children in a controlled manner, and if parents don't feel comfortable with it (for example they wish to engage closer with their own parents), then they don't have to send them in. But not everyone has Mammy and Daddy around the corner. We all need to remember we are social animals and need a level of interaction. Children have effectively been locked up for the last month - and many don't understand what is going on. There is a reason solitary confinement is a punishment in most penal systems !
road_high wrote: » That’s the question no one is focused on. It’s all being borrowed at the moment. The problem is of course paying it back with interest on top of our national debt.
gnf_ireland wrote: » ratio is 26/1 when principals are included, of which many are non-teaching. Most classes in big schools have ~30 per class Not every student is 5 years old ! The very youngest of a 13-14 year cycle are.
Hearty80 wrote: » Why cant the schools open and still keep children away from grandparents and elderly neighbours/friends. If UK schools reopen then its actually ridiculous for our schools to remain closed. Nursing homes are the major problem not schools or creches. Not a regular poster here but sounds like everyone just agrees with each other. Everything will be open soon then ye will have to come out of the bunkers.
Professor Moriarty wrote: » Not getting your logic. Special needs aside and taking a 16/1 ratio, there are 16 kids are typically in a classroom. If that number is reduced to 8, what's the problem?
timmy_mallet wrote: » Who would hone school them if their parent(s) are working?
KerryConnor wrote: » You're suggesting you could have half students in the school groups of 8/9. There wouldn't be enough classrooms, there's only one classroom per class group. And then small office size rooms. So you could only have a third or a quatre of the kids in at a time if you stick to those size groups.
Ray Donovan wrote: » 1 day a week for primary schools is the most creative solution they came up with??
FishOnABike wrote: » That's the problem. Ratio is closer to double that.
Ellsbells1 wrote: » I understand the need for kids to go back to school my own are really missing school and friends however who will mind children on the alternative days that children are not in school and their parents are in work? How can social distancing work in crèches?
Professor Moriarty wrote: » The average class size is 24. 30 is an outlier. Regardless, couldn't a class that accommodates 30 easily accommodate 15 socially distanced kids?
gnf_ireland wrote: » Who is saying parents will be able to return to work in that situation? 1 day a week does not allow anyone return to work. I was talking to our CEO during the week and he said it was likely it could be 6 months (or longer) before a normal working pattern is reintroduced - whatever the new normal will be. And the answer is the same people who home school them before the easter holidays while trying to balance that with the full time jobs they already had. There are people working from home at the moment who are expected to get a full days normal workload done while this crises is ongoing (and are thankfully getting paid for it as well). Their only options are to start very early, finish very late and try keep all balls in the air in terms of work and children. Very few are getting paid (outside of the 350 euro a week) and not doing a normal days workload
KerryConnor wrote: » The Dublin school I teach in has no class under 27 and average around 29. Biggest class is 32.
easypazz wrote: » All the realists are focused on it. The lockdown brigade bury their head in the sand when it is mentioned.
gnf_ireland wrote: » https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/irish-primary-schools-bottom-of-the-class-for-class-sizes-and-funding-in-europe-949949.html Average looks to be 25 based on this quick search. In the area I am in (high demand area), and I asked all schools this question most have between 28 and 33 per class, averaging 30. The absolute cutoff was 33. My youngest has 26 in a mixed grade class and eldest has 32 in a single grade class
Professor Moriarty wrote: » So, if you were to halve those numbers...
KerryConnor wrote: » You're suggesting you could have half students in the school groups of 8/9. There wouldn't be enough classrooms, there's only one classroom per class group. And then small office size rooms. So you could only have a third or a quatre of the kids in at a time if you stick to those size groups. Would be great for the kids to have small classes for a year, they'd get a lot out of it. But they'd need to have lots extra classrooms. Maybe prefabs will be the answer in some schools
khalessi wrote: » Halving them would not be enough, even in the lovely Danish photos doing the rounds they hve maybe 6 in each group
FishOnABike wrote: » It will be a logistical and practical nightmare. The biggest reservoirs of infection at the moment seem to be nursing/residential care homes and healthcare workers. Any workplace where social distancing and other strict anti-infection measures can't be effectively and consistently implemented will be problematic. If one worker tests positive they and their contacts will need to self isolate for up to a fortnight. Next day test results wouldn't help if it takes time for a person's viral load to increase to a detectable level after infection. With a significant % presymptomatic, asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic carriers it can spread under the radar before being detected. If a number of people in a household are working the opportunity for infection is multiplied and if there is intra-household transfer of the virus then all contacts in multiple workplaces will also have to self isolate for a two week quarantine period. With the prospect of repeated, significant, large levels of absenteeism, possibly amounting to effective shutdowns of a business, it would be an extremely difficult environment for any business to successfully operate in.
Hearty80 wrote: » Just open the schools as normal, social distancing is never possible with children. In 2 weeks time Ireland needs to restart the economy. Obviously teachers don't want to go back because they never do. Children are not super spreaders, in the uk essential workers were still able to send their children to school.
Professor Moriarty wrote: » So a classroom that accommodates 30 would not be able to accommodate 15 socially distanced kids?
khalessi wrote: » No, not if socially distancing is done properly which in this country it wont be. In a lot of classrooms the square footage is given but doesnt allow for bulit in furniture Also will classes be deepcleaned properly daily? Will PPE be provided to staff? Can they co opt other buildings like they have hotels for drop down hospital?
