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How will schools be able to go back in September?

shoppergal

Just wondering if anyone can give any insight into how schools could safely re-open in September?

Everyone I'm talking to is saying they won't be back until September but in my head I'm wondering how they'll re-open even in September? The virus will still be there with a vaccine still months away at that stage.

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SAXA

â€œIâ€™d like to see a situation whereby our schools could come back or at least could come partially back. Now I canâ€™t guarantee the timeline for this, but in terms of youâ€™re asking me the hierarchy of things, Iâ€™d like to see comeback that would be one of them,â€ he said.

Very non committal and at best aspirational..

wirelessdude01

starbaby2003 wrote: »

30 people in a classroom is not a mass gathering. You are comparing apples with oranges here. implying people are requesting to send teachers and kids into a war zone. Should nurses and doctors just not go to work? Parents can make decisions about their own kids safety and perform a risk assessment themselves so you should remove that from your argument too. If teachers don’t want to reopen schools that is fine but they need to provide lessons for full days across an internet platform exactly like colleges are.

And what do you suggest I do with the two parents who refuse to enroll on my Google classroom for my classes, the parents who won't reply to emails or take my calls or those parents who have said that their child won't be engaging in any of the stuff I do on Google classroom?

Also what do you think should happen in a house where there are 5 school going kids aged from 5 to 18 where there are two laptops and a tablet but where the laptops are needed by parents to WFH? These are actual scenarios in houses across the country.

What about those areas where there is no broadband for either the children or teachers?

antgal23

I work in a special needs school, 6 kids in a class with three adults, rooms are quite small. Each class has a toilet which all kids use or are changed in.

There are 25 mini buses with up to 8 kids in each that transport the kids each day.

Most if the kids are immuno- compromised.

I think Harris won't give us much guidance when we return and will be left to the schools themselves.

Sammy2012

SnowyMuckish wrote: »

Quote:My classroom was built in the 1960s. There is no hot water in my room. It is around 5m x 5m so I would only be able to take in maybe 4 children along with myself. I have a class of 28. Some with asthma and other ailments. The children share toilets with 60 other children. 4 stalls for each gender. The children will have to stay away from each other on the yard. This will be very hard to do altho if they only could play with the children from their classroom that might be a way around that. The school would have to be fully disinfected each day. Someone mentioned above that if teachers refuse to go back they should have to claim the 350 which is unfair on teachers who might like to go to work but would be in the high risk category.

I think the point the poster was making was how going back would be a logistical nightmare and unsafe for both students or teachers in high risk categories.

Quote: Anyone working directly with the public has always been at higher risk of infection. Those are just facts.

I don’t think it is responsible to put anyone in any profession or any child who has a underlying condition back into the public domain.

This is the point I was trying to make. Thanks SnowyMuckisy. I'm not refusing to go to work and I would consider myself healthy. I would rarely be sick as I am in constant contact with germs.

Someone mentioned above that people will continue to work from home when this happens. This is not true for some. My husband will have to go back to work when his office opens as in his job he needs to meet the public. He has enough work for this week but after that hell have to go back to meet his clients. So they're office will be opening for some of the time if the restrictions are relaxed somewhat on May 5th.

And yes we will have to learn how to live along side the virus until there is a vaccine but the plans need to be well thought not. There is no quick fix for this.

A side note also would be I couldn't understand why they cancelled the leaving Cert until August. Could they not just have told all the primary teachers to facilitate the exams in their classrooms to reduce the numbers in each exam centre and have had it in June. Got that out of the way for students first.

starbaby2003

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

And what do you suggest I do with the two parents who refuse to enroll on my Google classroom for my classes, the parents who won't reply to emails or take my calls or those parents who have said that their child won't be engaging in any of the stuff I do on Google classroom?

Also what do you think should happen in a house where there are 5 school going kids aged from 5 to 18 where there are two laptops and a tablet but where the laptops are needed by parents to WFH? These are actual scenarios in houses across the country.

What about those areas where there is no broadband for either the children or teachers?

If parents don’t want to engage that is their prerogative. With regards the laptops implement a scheme where parents can buy them at cost and people who normally get the back to school grant are provided one for free. The point I have been trying to make is- all teachers seem to be providing is what they can’t or won’t do. If anyone questions it they are ‘demonising teachers’ Businesses all over the world have had to adapt and in many cases are making it work. Why not try thinking about what you could do and bring it to your union. Wouldn’t that be a much better help to our children and our economy?

[Deleted User]

Do you know what, I think it’s time to just stop feeding the troll.

tabby aspreme

Sammy2012 wrote: »

Secondly in relation to school. My classroom was built in the 1960s. There is no hot water in my room. It is around 5m x 5m so I would only be able to take in maybe 4 children along with myself. I have a class of 28. Some with asthma and other ailments. The children share toilets with 60 other children. 4 stalls for each gender. The children will have to stay away from each other on the yard. This will be very hard to do altho if they only could play with the children from their classroom that might be a way around that. ?

29 people in a 5m/5m room, that's 16ft/16ft in old money.

Sammy2012

starbaby2003 wrote: »

If parents don’t want to engage that is their prerogative. With regards the laptops implement a scheme where parents can buy them at cost and people who normally get the back to school grant are provided one for free. The point I have been trying to make is- all teachers seem to be providing is what they can’t or won’t do. If anyone questions it they are ‘demonising teachers’ Businesses all over the world have had to adapt and in many cases are making it work. Why not try thinking about what you could do and bring it to your union. Wouldn’t that be a much better help to our children and our economy?

Are you a teacher star baby? Havent read the whole thread so not sure. But that's it us teachers dont want to do anything at all except sit at home and get fully paid. It's an easy life we have.

Dublingirl80

In the current rulings it may not be a mass gathering but it is a gathering of more than is appropriate. The conventional yard set up in schools would be 100 plus so more than was allowed previously. School as a whole would usually be 100 to 1000 children mixing. Even with the restrictions there are common areas, corridors etc. Cleaning practices are a huge issue ans most schools had no sanitizer before they closed. So if you can sort out these issues by all means do. These are just the tip of the iceberg. Children come in with a temperature,where do they go? Children hurt themselves, but nobody can get within 2m to help? I think people who think this will work in a school setting need to volunteer to go in themselves and organise it/work in these conditions. As for children keeping 2m apart, children in the park with their own parents arent doing this so do we really think they will in school all day everyday?

Sammy2012

tabby aspreme wrote: »

29 people in a 5m/5m room, that's 16ft/16ft in old money.

Sorry I should edit my post. Its 8mx8m.

tabby aspreme

starbaby2003 wrote: »

If parents don’t want to engage that is their prerogative. With regards the laptops implement a scheme where parents can buy them at cost and people who normally get the back to school grant are provided one for free. The point I have been trying to make is- all teachers seem to be providing is what they can’t or won’t do. If anyone questions it they are ‘demonising teachers’ Businesses all over the world have had to adapt and in many cases are making it work. Why not try thinking about what you could do and bring it to your union. Wouldn’t that be a much better help to our children and our economy?

What about the broadband, there is none in vast parts of rural areas

Sammy2012

tabby aspreme wrote: »

What about the broadband, there is none in vast parts of rural areas

Some of our staff dont have broadband. And also I've heard of some principals telling their staff to "sort that". So some principals are not very understanding either.

starbaby2003

SnowyMuckish wrote: »

Do you know what, I think it’s time to just stop feeding the troll.

Are you referring to me ? A troll, of course I am. Poking holes in your stance. You tell a lovely tale of zoom classrooms etc ... I nor any of my friends have had any interaction with their children's teacher since this started. This is across multiple ages and locations. Sounds like you are a trailblazer in this. Maybe you should reach out to your colleagues and help them get it all sorted out. I really hope you are better with getting your pupils involved in critical thinking than you are portraying on this forum.

starbaby2003

tabby aspreme wrote: »

What about the broadband, there is none in vast parts of rural areas

I understand there are logistical issues there are very few areas that wouldn’t have 4G. If there are areas like that they will usually in very rural areas and if in primary be attending small schools where social distancing could be implemented. For secondary schools those that do not have access to internet could be brought to specific buildings that have been taken over for this where social distancing could also be implemented.

Snow Garden

whatdoicare wrote: »

TBH most parents, including myself, are not
realistically expecting to be sending kids back to school before September at the earliest. This year is a complete write off.

It's far from a write-off. There is so much we can teach our kids and so much times to do so. Stuff that might be very useful to them e.g. cooking, fishing, lighting a fire, growing food, yoga, understanding nature etc etc. All better than some boring Irish poetry or dodgy religion 'lessons'...

Sammy2012

Snow Garden wrote: »

It's far from a write-off. There is so much we can teach our kids and so much times to do so. Stuff that might be very useful to them e.g. cooking, fishing, lighting a fire, growing food, yoga, understanding nature etc etc. All better than some boring Irish poetry or dodgy religion 'lessons'...

Great post Snow Garden and so true. I'm loving being home with my kids, going for walks with them, talking about nature, baking with them, teaching them to make sandwiches and do things around the house. There is alot more to education then sitting in a school building.

Higgins5473

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/back-to-school-partial-re-opening-to-be-examined-by-health-authorities-simon-harris-1.4232636

Schools potentially re-opening one day a week, yet no mass gatherings and social distancing directives to remain in place. Is every school in the country not a mass gathering event every single day they operating and how could any classroom in any school facilitate a social distance measure of 2 meters with 25+ children?

What am I missing here?

Ace2007

Sammy2012 wrote: »

Great post Snow Garden and so true. I'm loving being home with my kids, going for walks with them, talking about nature, baking with them, teaching them to make sandwiches and do things around the house. There is alot more to education then sitting in a school building.

Some parents don't realize this - your kids are lucky to have you.

Gerianam

Denmark did it last week. Classes divided as teachers will be in every day but children will be in one day a week.

BanditLuke

Higgins5473 wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/back-to-school-partial-re-opening-to-be-examined-by-health-authorities-simon-harris-1.4232636

Schools potentially re-opening one day a week, yet no mass gatherings and social distancing directives to remain in place. Is every school in the country not a mass gathering event every single day they operating and how could any classroom in any school facilitate a social distance measure of 2 meters with 25+ children?

What am I missing here?

Primary schools not all schools. I'd give it a one in five chance.

BanditLuke

Gerianam wrote: »

Denmark did it last week. Classes divided as teachers will be in every day but children will be in one day a week.

Average class size Denmark 19. Ireland is nearer 30

flynny50

Big problem with this idea is who would mind the children on the days that they are not in school & parents back at work!?

beggars_bush

Sammy2012 wrote: »

Some of our staff dont have broadband. And also I've heard of some principals telling their staff to "sort that". So some principals are not very understanding either.

Bill the school

Anyway, I don't think schools going back is feasible

Teachers going into school and sending work out and possibly doing video lessons is more realistic

khalessi

beggars_bush wrote: »

Bill the school

Anyway, I don't think schools going back is feasible

Teachers going into school and sending work out and possibly doing video lessons is more realistic

You mean teaching online? We are doing that but video lessons have as I have been told by those above a GDPR issue.

gnf_ireland

flynny50 wrote: »

Big problem with this idea is who would mind the children on the days that they are not in school & parents back at work!?

If this happens it’s not to allow parents back to work full time. It’s to put a bit more structure on the home schooling initiative and allow kids some levels of social interaction with people their own age group. It’s very difficult to home school without some level of school participation - and most would say it’s been very lacking to date esp at primary level.

Normal work patterns for most are unlikely to return until September and beyond - whatever the new normal will be !!

gnf_ireland

khalessi wrote: »

You mean teaching online? We are doing that but video lessons have as I have been told by those above a GDPR issue.

With all due respect to everyone, GDPR is used as an excuse for everything these days. GDPR is a regulation around data protection and privacy and the use of data for its intended purpose. It’s about consent - not about anything else.

If someone provides consent to use their personal information for a purpose they can do that. For example you provide a doctor with personal data and medical history to treat an illness - but not to sell it to a 3rd party to sell you other goods or services.

GDPR is used by many as an excuse not to do things. In reality all that is needed is to get consent from those interested to do something, and the others can do without.

wirelessdude01

Sammy2012 wrote: »

Some of our staff dont have broadband. And also I've heard of some principals telling their staff to "sort that". So some principals are not very understanding either.

Funny you should say that. I've just moved Into a new build house and we can't get fixed broadband or even that imagine service. Only option is mobile data and the coverage is pretty hit and miss when it comes to that ass every one in the estate is in the same boat. During the working day it is unusable (can't even stream YouTube without buffering) as everyone that is WFH and children trying to access school stuff are on at th same time in a very condensed area.

gnf_ireland

R11 wrote: »

But then we teach the same thing 4 days a week and make very little progress. Plus both my kids are in primary also and my childminder will not be taking kids until there's a vaccine or anti viral medication.... So how do I look after my kids on the days they're not in and both of us are working??

Yes you make very little progress and you have to repeat yourself a few days a week. I think all of that is understood. The question is more the alternative and how much progress will happen if the kids have no interaction with the school between now and September ?

I appreciate some teachers are making an effort, esp at secondary level. Others are making no effort at all. My school we have one teacher making a reasonable level and another sending a list of homework on a Monday and radio silence the rest of the week. A friend of mine with 4 kids in different classes (different school) heard nothing from school or teachers since they closed - except a request for voluntary contribution payments !!!

Regarding you children and who will mind them - this is not a teacher only issue. This applies to every person with kids who are working. Teachers are not special here and a solution needs to be found for everyone to get back to work. But it’s not a reason not to return to school - it’s just another factor in the overall discussion

wirelessdude01

Sammy2012 wrote: »

Great post Snow Garden and so true. I'm loving being home with my kids, going for walks with them, talking about nature, baking with them, teaching them to make sandwiches and do things around the house. There is alot more to education then sitting in a school building.

The amount of people who don't realise this is frightening. I always tell my parents at parents night that academic stuff is secondary when it comes to school for me. If they come to school they will pick up bits and pieces but the social side is so so important in primary. Enough time for pressure when they go to big school.

wirelessdude01

beggars_bush wrote: »

Bill the school

Anyway, I don't think schools going back is feasible

Teachers going into school and sending work out and possibly doing video lessons is more realistic

I can imagine my principal if I or any other members of staff tried that. We have no money as it is in the school.