iamwhoiam wrote: » I would love to see the kids go back in June or indeed July . Maybe one day for a few and the next for another few . They all need to see that life will be ok and that adults are trying hard to get us all back . The little ones could have lunch at their desk , no play time and go home early Maybe 5-8 kids in each classroom for the beginning . A half an hour could be given for lessons on hygiene and safety etc Supermarkets , chemists , hospitals , GPs , clinics etc etc have all adapted and now so must we all adapt to get our children back to some tiny feeling of normality .
kandr10 wrote: » What makes you think it’s safe to do even that? Do you have access to information that the team advising the government doesn’t? .
Shybride2016 wrote: » Hi there, My eldest is in 6th class also. Since the return after Easter break we have been receiving an email first thing Monday morning outlining the work for the week and then each day a daily plan with extra bits if they want to do them. We can submit the work to the teacher and they can give feedback. We’ve had one Zoom assembly last Friday at which parents were asked to be present. Halfway through the principal had to remind some of the kids that everyone could see what they were typing in the chat box and she would have to remove them from the call if they continued! When you say you’re trying to fill your daughter’s week, despite the 4-5 days worth of work in the weekly email, it sounds like you feel they’re not being given enough to do. Is your daughter doing bits each day or all in one go? Either way, if you feel the school aren’t doing enough, contact them directly. For the three weeks up to Easter holidays my daughter’s school weren’t in communication every day, they sent weekly emails along the lines of “next page in workbook”, spellings, tables etc. Given that they weren’t given any notice to close or prep for long-term online learning I feel it’s ok for schools not to have had a Perfect system in place from day 1 but by now, all things considered (access to technology etc) they probably should have a better grasp of what system to use and work with. Hope this helps and I hope your daughter is ok and not too upset at missing all the usual end of 6th class events.
DSN wrote: » My 6th class child gets one email a week with tasks for the week + a daily task. Homework takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hrs a day. (mainly cos he dawdles) Motivation has gone out the window this week though now they know they wont be going back at all Parents doing the correcting & 'teaching' of anything new that comes up we just submit a log end of the week. . There's a young teacher in the school, no kids of their own to manage, & am very surprised they have not made any effort to try a zoom even one a week per class would really boost morale. I am going to tentatively suggest it when I submit the logs this week.
eclipsechaser wrote: » If the Department of Education don't think they can even run a variant of the Leaving Certificate in August with 1/6 of a school in large halls with generous spacing, I've got some bad news for those of you hoping that primary schools will open in June.
History Queen wrote: » I was about to comment similar. Very hard to see how the leaving cert is being called in to question at a time when they (according to the roadmap) are expecting hairdressers/creches etc to start reopening. I would have thought that socially distancing students would be easier to manage.
iamwhoiam wrote: » I agree . Surely they could spread the students in classes around the school ? They could use SNAs to supervise . I don’t see the huge obstacle to be honest
History Queen wrote: » surely calling off an exam (that is over two months away) with our current outlook being cautiously optimistic, would be madness?!
AustinOC wrote: » I agree - on the strict condition that the virus was heading towards zero in specific areas or counties, the above proposals or similar should be considered on a cost v benefit basis before June. Kids / teachers could attend on a voluntary basis. Outdoor classes etc, anything at all to close the psychological gap in the kids' minds. The blanket closure to September regardless of what the virus does seems premature. Other European countries are prioritising their educations systems, the debate here is all about re-opening the pubs while people throng the off-licences and chippers. And in the likely event that the pandemic rages through the southern hemisphere through the next few months, our schools will be closed again most likely from October on. Did NPHET consider that? June should be the best month in terms of weather (outdoor classes, open windows in classes etc) and in terms of immunity (Vitamin D). As with all these matters, it would have been very helpful to know what scenarios / risks / benefits NPHET considered here.
PowerToWait wrote: » That decision will have to be made this month. Is the outlook 'optimistic'? Assuming the virus doesn't simply vanish, how do we safely go back to large or even small gatherings of people? It's still as contagious as ever, still as unpredictably lethal, still 'around'. Do we accept this as another hazard and simply get on with things as best we can, stamping on outbreaks, quarantining zones, regions, towns? I presume they're working on a 'slow burn' through the population and that will take some time.
Scoondal wrote: » The teachers want their paid two months off. We should give them June and July. August ... we split classes ... 2 hours morning and 2 hours afternoon. Can we give our children some normality. Unions and Department of Education both oppose this. What is the best thing for parents and society ?
History Queen wrote: » So teachers aren't parents or part of society? There are fears over the safety of sixth years attending exams in August (approx 1/6 of the post-primary population) but the only reason schools can't open is because teachers want time off. Ya.
Scoondal wrote: » Schools in Germany are open on 18 May. But Ireland, ah we are different to normal countries.
Benimar wrote: » The Leaving Cert can be run if they use all schools, including primary. Maybe hire some church halls or sports teams clubhouses. Throw bodies at it, use as many teachers/civil servants as needed. If there are only 10-20 students in each location then social distancing should be manageable.
Scoondal wrote: » I pay teachers' salaries. Teachers are still on full salaries doing an hour of poor online "work".
khalessi wrote: » We will see how long for, maybe they have gone too early
kandr10 wrote: » I wasn’t aware opening windows was part of the advice on stopping the spread of the virus. If only it were that simple.
