How will schools be able to go back in September?

Birdy · 21-05-2020 12:13AM

Aodhán O Riordan has tweeted that special schools and disadvantaged schools could open in June. The Government is consulting with NPHET.

#guineapigs

downthemiddle · 21-05-2020 12:17AM

Birdy wrote: »

Aodhán O Riordan has tweeted that special schools and disadvantaged schools could open in June. The Government is consulting with NPHET.

#guineapigs

I wonder if he was still principal of SLOT what his thoughts would be.

BonsaiKitten · 21-05-2020 12:33AM

lulublue22 wrote: »

Rather than a timetable it could possibly be an outline this term/ month in maths we will be focusing on addition within 100 etc. Possibly worth it for the core subjects but very cumbersome across the curriculum.

Aye yeah that is what I used to do with the blog. I gave the kids a (very) short list to type up and they'd put it up for me.

The one thing I did find is that you almost need a disclaimer - sometimes a class can be very weak on a particular topic and you need to spend longer on it than planned. I'd be wary of tying yourself down too much as a teacher. I reckon if you've a decent set of parents though it would be grand.

Treppen · 21-05-2020 12:36AM

Birdy wrote: »

Aodhán O Riordan has tweeted that special schools and disadvantaged schools could open in June. The Government is consulting with NPHET.

#guineapigs

Back to work for the grown ups, let's make sure everything is in place.
Back to school for kids, we could try a few things out like!

Talk about a back pedal. 3 weeks ago they cancelled the August Leaving cert because the knicker twist brigade were looking for certainty and clarity in 3 months.
Now if there's a whiff of free childcare (aka school) in a couple of weeks, it's full steam ahead.

Mrsmum · 21-05-2020 07:10AM

Treppen wrote: »

Back to work for the grown ups, let's make sure everything is in place.
Back to school for kids, we could try a few things out like!

Talk about a back pedal. 3 weeks ago they cancelled the August Leaving cert because the knicker twist brigade were looking for certainty and clarity in 3 months.
Now if there's a whiff of free childcare (aka school) in a couple of weeks, it's full steam ahead.

Personally I feel one's attitude to children returning to school is coloured by one's own exposure to the 'outside the home' world currently as well as real and genuine money worries. Take for example my household and my neighbours. In my home everyone is working from home and staying at home apart from grocery shopping, bit of exercise. We are also so lucky to be earning the exact same money as pre Covid. So sitting pretty really. To be honest the though of everyone back at school & work and all the mixing that involves gives me the jitters. Easy for me though to indulge my jitters. But my neighbours both work on the front line, hospital and care home work. Despite those 'dangerous' environments, they still come home and presumably hug their kids. I would imagine having to get on with essential work from the very start of this and already being heavily exposed would make them feel schools being open is no worse than that. And also of course we do need them out there and childcare is no small matter for them.

lulublue22 · 21-05-2020 07:28AM

Birdy wrote: »

Aodhán O Riordan has tweeted that special schools and disadvantaged schools could open in June. The Government is consulting with NPHET.

#guineapigs

My issue with this is first perhaps the most immunocompromised group and the one least able to social distance. It certainly raises questions about the leaving cert and I say that as a parent.

Paddygreen · 21-05-2020 07:29AM

Lyle wrote: »

jesus f*cking christ above

You think it's worth your child's death? And your post has two Thanks. Whatever impact this has on kids, it is not a fate worse than death, but you would accept the risk to the life of your child as a fair trade to prevent an as-yet-undefinable (in the long run) impact on their educational/social/psychological lives. Efforts can be made through the rest of their life to repair any damage done. If they're dead, they're dead. Your child. Dead. You're fine with it. I cannot wrap my head around this.

+1 The Grim Reaper stands by, waiting in the shadows, sharpening his scythe with the bones of men. Looking for an opportunity to harvest more souls. We can’t jump the gun guys. We need to stay the course.

khalessi · 21-05-2020 07:41AM

Mrsmum wrote: »

Personally I feel one's attitude to children returning to school is coloured by one's own exposure to the 'outside the home' world currently as well as real and genuine money worries. Take for example my household and my neighbours. In my home everyone is working from home and staying at home apart from grocery shopping, bit of exercise. We are also so lucky to be earning the exact same money as pre Covid. So sitting pretty really. To be honest the though of everyone back at school & work and all the mixing that involves gives me the jitters. Easy for me though to indulge my jitters. But my neighbours both work on the front line, hospital and care home work. Despite those 'dangerous' environments, they still come home and presumably hug their kids. I would imagine having to get on with essential work from the very start of this and already being heavily exposed would make them feel schools being open is no worse than that. And also of course we do need them out there and childcare is no small matter for them.

My sister is on the front line, it scares the crap out of her. SHe has kids and having seen what this virus can do, she doesnt want them back at school until it is safe and she doesnt think it is safe yet.

She worries constantly about bringing it home or passing it on. The restrictions relaxed on Monday and the parents of her kids friends dont want her kids near them because she is front line, they are worried about getting something.

Every evening she comes home strips at the front door, the clothes go in a bag and she carries them to the washing machine and then she walks to the shouwer and then scrubs shower and bathroom down every evening.

c montgomery · 21-05-2020 07:43AM

Paddygreen wrote: »

+1 The Grim Reaper stands by, waiting in the shadows, sharpening his scythe with the bones of men. Looking for an opportunity to harvest more souls. We can’t jump the gun guys. We need to stay the course.

How many kids have died of covid in ireland?
How come Denmark, Croatia and others have opened with no adverse effects?
Ireland will be open again soon, you re free to stay at home avoiding the "grim reaper "

CruelSummer · 21-05-2020 07:50AM

MerlinSouthDub wrote: »

Abroad or not, why couldn't your holidays start one month earlier and finish one month earlier? It seems like a very small ask of teachers in the current environment.

Does it? We cannot travel more than 5km at the moment. Between online teaching and home school, I’m not calling this a ‘holiday’. If restrictions are lifted I want to be able to see family and friends in August, as would many people.

combat14 · 21-05-2020 07:56AM

guys at the moment the advice for employers is not to spend more than 2 hours in room with same people in a 24 hour period. At present this looks set to go beyond sept. how will school go back if this is the case ?!!

plodder · 21-05-2020 08:03AM

NPHET seem to be acknowledging that experiences of other countries will be taken into account. If other countries can return to something closer to normal including spending more than 2 hours in a room with other people then our plans will have to adapt to this. We should be planning for a variety of different scenarios regardless, not just the most conservative ones.

Scruff101 · 21-05-2020 08:04AM

combat14 wrote: »

guys at the moment the advice for employers is not to spend more than 2 hours in room with same people in a 24 hour period. At present this looks set to go beyond sept. how will school go back if this is the case ?!!

This is advice only. It was discussed at the NPHET conference yesterday evening. They're aware it's not feasible for this to happen in all situations and I'm assuming childcare/education facilities will be included in that as will many other places. Otherwise only those with an office to themselves could go back to work.

Paddygreen · 21-05-2020 08:05AM

Kids could die guys, possibly of Kawasaki disease. Not worth the risk. We need to keep the schools locked for the foreseeable future. When they eventually open there will have to be massive changes to ensure social distancing. Compulsory masks would have to be part of the equation.

Mrsmum · 21-05-2020 08:10AM

khalessi wrote: »

My sister is on the front line, it scares the crap out of her. SHe has kids and having seen what this virus can do, she doesnt want them back at school until it is safe and she doesnt think it is safe yet.

She worries constantly about bringing it home or passing it on. The restrictions relaxed on Monday and the parents of her kids friends dont want her kids near them because she is front line, they are worried about getting something.

Every evening she comes home strips at the front door, the clothes go in a bag and she carries them to the washing machine and then she walks to the shouwer and then scrubs shower and bathroom down every evening.

Well I wouldn't deny your sister's feelings are very valid and in fairness to my neighbours, I don't mean to suggest they are all casual and blasé about their children's safety. No one is. But it is a fact people generally become used to their new norm. Schools will not be 100% safe in Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec etc, they just won't be but our children will go back and we will all, teachers, parents and children get used to living with that feeling.

khalessi · 21-05-2020 08:16AM

Mrsmum wrote: »

Well I wouldn't deny your sister's feelings are very valid and in fairness to my neighbours, I don't mean to suggest they are all casual and blasé about their children's safety. No one is. But it is a fact people generally become used to their new norm. Schools will not be 100% safe in Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec etc, they just won't be but our children will go back and we will all, teachers, parents and children get used to living with that feeling.

Yep we will go back in September, but hopefully with planning and not roughshod in the front door. You are correct re getting used to new norm, that is hers but she is in an environment that has planned for it.

The least we should want for our kids is that a plan is in place and that the government arent just reacting to media pressure.

MrDavid1976 · 21-05-2020 08:21AM

Paddygreen wrote: »

Kids could die guys, possibly of Kawasaki disease. Not worth the risk. We need to keep the schools locked for the foreseeable future. When they eventually open there will have to be massive changes to ensure social distancing. Compulsory masks would have to be part of the equation.

What is the incidence and evidence in this disease across the population? How does this compare with a lower standard of education for life (if this goes on as you suggest). And I am not even going into the other effects of kids not seeing grandparents

daydorunrun · 21-05-2020 08:22AM

downthemiddle wrote: »

Interesting interpretation of the points I have made on this thread. I don't believe I have trivialised the opinions of others but I make no apologies for challenging others and asking them to substaniate their points, something that they have failed to do.

I wasn't interpreting all your points. Just the one where you clearly wanted to paint yourself as enlightened and every body else as 'blind' and ignorant for not substantiating their points in a way that was satisfactory to you.

NIMAN · 21-05-2020 08:25AM

I feel we need to hit September with kids back full time. Any of this 'reduced hours', or 'couple of days per week' is going to seriously stunt their schooling after 6 months off.

If there is any staggering to be done, I'd prefer they did it in June or July and try to go back to normal in Sept.

lulublue22 · 21-05-2020 08:25AM

I think schools will have to go back in September. There are lots of issues around this with variations at local level. What the government need to do now is acknowledge theses difficulties and get a coherent plan in place that minimises risk to all concerned rather than flip flop around due to media pressure. A basic change to implement would be to increase the capitation grant to ensure that schools have the basics like Hot Water and hand sanitizer.

lulublue22 · 21-05-2020 08:28AM

NIMAN wrote: »

I feel we need to hit September with kids back full time. Any of this 'reduced hours', or 'couple of days per week' is going to seriously stunt their schooling after 6 months off.

If there is any staggering to be done, I'd prefer they did it in June or July and try to go back to normal in Sept.

I think the primary curriculum is too broad and for the duration of this pandemic should be contracted to the core subjects with SESE and SPHE. That will free up some time.

khalessi · 21-05-2020 08:30AM

NIMAN wrote: »

I feel we need to hit September with kids back full time. Any of this 'reduced hours', or 'couple of days per week' is going to seriously stunt their schooling after 6 months off.

If there is any staggering to be done, I'd prefer they did it in June or July and try to go back to normal in Sept.

Thing is it wont be normal, it is not normal for the schools in Europe or round the world either from what we have seen.

I was talking to a secondary school teacher yesterday about what they thought and they said that they are trying to plan for September and are looking at different ideas, including bringing half the school in one week and the other half the next week and putting teaching online.

They then discussed the reprecussions of this on the kids such as not being in sme group as friends and the issues that could cause. In their words it is a minefield they are trying to get through while attending to the chlildrens educational, social and psychological needs.

wirelessdude01 · 21-05-2020 08:32AM

lulublue22 wrote: »

I think schools will have to go back in September. There are lots of issues around this with variations at local level. What the government need to do now is acknowledge theses difficulties and get a coherent plan in place that minimises risk to all concerned rather than flip flop around due to media pressure. A basic change to implement would be to increase the capitation grant to ensure that schools have the basics like Hot Water and hand sanitizer.

See increased capitation grant seems like an obvious one but won't happen. We actually think it could be reduced in the near medium term as a cost cutting measure.

wirelessdude01 · 21-05-2020 08:35AM

khalessi wrote: »

Yep we will go back in September, but hopefully with planning and not roughshod in the front door. You are correct re getting used to new norm, that is hers but she is in an environment that has planned for it.

The least we should want for our kids is that a plan is in place and that the government arent just reacting to media pressure.

Some people on here like to infer that us looking for some form of guidance, guidelines and structure from the Govt/Dept means we don't want to go back and/or are refusing to go back to the classroom. We just want some help.

lulublue22 · 21-05-2020 08:35AM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

See increased capitation grant seems like an obvious one but won't happen. We actually think it could be reduced in the near medium term as a cost cutting measure.

I’ve no doubt but I ‘m not sure parents realise how strapped for cash schools are and how that impacts the basics such as hot water and hand sanitizer. At one stage last winter I taught in thermals with my coat on - All the children had their coats and hats on. I kid you not.

khalessi · 21-05-2020 08:37AM

lulublue22 wrote: »

I’ve no doubt but I ‘m not sure parents realise how strapped for cash schools are and how that impacts the basics such as hot water and hand sanitizer. At one stage last winter I taught in thermals with my coat on - All the children had their coats and hats on. I kid you not.

Thats been us too. Soap and toilet paper is a huge issue pre covid be fun seeing what it will be like in September.

wirelessdude01 · 21-05-2020 08:38AM

lulublue22 wrote: »

I think the primary curriculum is too broad and for the duration of this pandemic should be contracted to the core subjects with SESE and SPHE. That will free up some time.

So no art, music or OE?

downthemiddle · 21-05-2020 08:39AM

daydorunrun wrote: »

I wasn't interpreting all your points. Just the one where you clearly wanted to paint yourself as enlightened and every body else as 'blind' and ignorant for not substantiating their points in a way that was satisfactory to you.

My response to this sweeping generalisation?

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

If this thread is the norm then it must be a very toxic work environment.

I don't think that I'm portraying myself as particularly enlightened by challenging such a comment. I believe that most classrooms are warm and welcoming.
If you don't think such a comment should be challenged you are welcome to your opinion but most reasonable people would, I would hope, disagree with you.

daydorunrun · 21-05-2020 08:40AM

downthemiddle wrote: »

My response to this sweeping generalisation?

I don't think that I'm portraying myself as particularly enlightened by challenging such a comment. I believe that most classrooms are warm and welcoming.
If you don't think such a comment should be challenged you are welcome to your opinion but most reasonable people would, I would hope, disagree with you.

Fair enough.

downthemiddle · 21-05-2020 08:43AM

plodder wrote: »

NPHET seem to be acknowledging that experiences of other countries will be taken into account. If other countries can return to something closer to normal including spending more than 2 hours in a room with other people then our plans will have to adapt to this. We should be planning for a variety of different scenarios regardless, not just the most conservative ones.

I think you will find that many schools are already taking that approach.

How will schools be able to go back in September?

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