How will schools be able to go back in September?

WAW wrote: »

I'd say the reopening of society will now happen much quieter than the powers that be would like because people will no longer comply as their common sense thankfully has returned to show that this virus thankfully is not Ebola level.

It does make me laugh when people use this comparison but it is actually the opposite what they believe to be true.

I'll leave it to the guy who actually help discover Ebola.

This is much, much worse than Ebola, Ebola requires very close contact for transmission. People are very scared of it, but frankly it is usually very contained. There are some exceptions.

"But because it [COVID-19] is a respiratory transmitted virus, that makes it so worrisome.

It's very infectious because there's so much virus in your throat.

So this is literally something you can catch by talking to somebody, which is not the case with other viruses.

His name is Peter Piot. He actually contracted Covid 19, here is his story.

‘Finally, a virus got me.’ Scientist who fought Ebola and HIV reflects on facing death from COVID-19

Many people think COVID-19 kills 1% of patients, and the rest get away with some flulike symptoms. But the story gets more complicated. Many people will be left with chronic kidney and heart problems.

Even their neural system is disrupted. There will be hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, possibly more, who will need treatments such as renal dialysis for the rest of their lives.

The more we learn about the coronavirus, the more questions arise. We are learning while we are sailing. That’s why I get so annoyed by the many commentators on the sidelines who, without much insight, criticize the scientists and policymakers trying hard to get the epidemic under control. That’s very unfair.

trapp wrote: »

What proper safety measures are you suggesting?

Because given your level of scaremongering through this thread (thanking posts stating covid is worse than ebola!!) you'd likely have all the poor kids in hazmat suits.

What makes your insight so unique?

Every school in the country is different.

Why would you in particular know more than others about schools in general.

Working in a hospital is irrelevant.

Schools are not hospitals.

As has been pointed out to you already going to a classroom is not going to the front line of the covid ward.

Thank you for your input erroneous and condescending as it might be.

trapp wrote: »

It most certainly is not erroneous.

You have been spreading fear on this thread for the last month or so and it's high time it was debated with you.

You seem to put yourself forward as representing all teachers and having a 'unique insight'

When questioned on this 'unique insight' and what it is you won't respond.

You hyped the kawasaki link to covid as much as you could despite ALL the experts stating how rare it is.

Now you're thanking posts stating that covid is worse than ebola.

All through the thread you are exagerating the need for safety measures as if a classroom was a covid ward.

To repeat the children of this country have a right to go to school once it is safe.

If you want to stay at home, fine, but perhaps stop insisiting everyone else must do so too.

It appears you have your back up against me for some reason. Other people have mentioned Kawasaki as well and I mentioned it wasnt called that and that its correct name was Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome. I also pointed it out that is was very rare but why again let fact interfere with your fiction.

I never ever said I represented teachers nor would I think I do. I am entitled to voice an opinion on here too.

I have explained the unique insightt but why repeat myself constantly so people can batter me and throw insults.

Thank you for your input.

WAW wrote: »

Jesus wept. Would you give over. You're like a pedantic child with some new found knowledge jumping in with what you think you discovered but what everyone already knows. Metaphorical use of language. There's a few on this thread who can't let Covid 19 go. They want to hold on to the doom, to perceived threat. Let it go. The release will do you the power of good. Keep repeating Glass half full, not half empty.

Thank you for your input

After reading a lot of this thread I'm torn. There are lots and lots of misconceptions and a huge amount of legitimate concerns.

Firstly, to be clear, I am a teacher (post-primary). Zoom/video conferencing etc. is not the only way of teaching. I only say this as a lot of parents seem to equate zoom to teaching and suggest many students are only receiving homework since school closures. Homework is designed to reinforce pre taught material. It isn't feasible for students to have done that amount of homework without having been taught something. You can learn from reading/applying formula/researching/project work etc. I only say this as some parents are worried that a lack of face to face contact means a lack of teaching. Not necessarily so. (I mean this as a type of reassurance for parents not as an "out" for lazy teachers, any teachers not making their best efforts don't deserve to be defended).

Next, some misconceptions, schools, teachers and unions are not en masse trying to prevent schools from reopening. Far from it. The vast majority of us want a return to normality as soon as possible. I personally have hated trying to work from home while minding my two year old. It has been difficult but I've done my best for both him and my students. Many others have been doing the same.

Thirdly, media irresponsibility, in my opinion the media has further compounded a difficult sitiation by applying so much pressure and creating false hype against the inept department of education. Misleading headlines, encouraging the stereotype of the lazy teacher/ obstructionist unions/ "wont someone think of the children" mentality led directly to the cancellation of the Leaving Certificate exams, which ,while flawed are a much fairer test of student ability than "calculated grades". The rescheduled Leaving Cert wasn't due to be sat until TWO MONTHS from today. Yet, a decision was made weeks ago to cancel them on health grounds, according to Joe McHugh. 7 days later, the same media was baying for schools to reopen, what about these supposed health grounds?. If the media only reported fact instead of misinformation there would be less hype and less uncertainty, and much less stress on students, teachers and parents.

Finally, I already asked upthread and have since had a quick look myself, has anyone details on any European schools that are fully open? All I can find is partial openings and limited teaching. Yet when similar steps are suggested here they are run down as unworkable for working parents (which they are but I don't see how we can do anything else if this is the health advice we need to follow).

My own opinion as already stated is that I would love to see "normal" school resuming in September. I hope that can happen. If not life will be difficult as our school buildings are too small and classes are too large to successfully implement some of what other European countries have been able to do. We have a shortage of teachers/basic hygiene facilities and school funding. Those three things need to be addressed at a minimum in order for schools to open as far as I can see.

This sums up the ineptitude of the Department of Education. In an article where Joe McHugh admits that there will be additional costs in schools for tackling Covid (24m per term hand sanitizer bill) there is also an admission that there has been no extra funding sanctioned to the Dept of Education.

"While additional funding has been approved for three other departments, no decision has been taken to amend the Department of Education budget.

“Therefore, all expenditure pressures arising are to be met within the existing budgetary allocations,” a spokesman said."



https://amp.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/no-extra-funds-for-irish-schools-to-tackle-covid-19-fallout-1002571.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&__twitter_impression=true

trapp wrote: »

It most certainly is not erroneous.

You have been spreading fear on this thread for the last month or so and it's high time it was debated with you.

You seem to put yourself forward as representing all teachers and having a 'unique insight'

When questioned on this 'unique insight' and what it is you won't respond.

You hyped the kawasaki link to covid as much as you could despite ALL the experts stating how rare it is.

Now you're thanking posts stating that covid is worse than ebola.

All through the thread you are exagerating the need for safety measures as if a classroom was a covid ward.

To repeat the children of this country have a right to go to school once it is safe.

If you want to stay at home, fine, but perhaps stop insisiting everyone else must do so too.

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

There are absolutely a few who would be very happy for this to continue on indefinitely. Completely shut you down at the mere suggestion that life might return to normal.

Meanwhile the rest of society is getting on with things and welcomes every little bit of extra freedom and positive news.

Luckily the hysterical folk are the minority and they can continue to hide under the bed in their hazmat suits unless they have 200% guarantee that they will not get infected while life moves on without them.

They are entitled to do that so long as they don't expect the rest of the world to follow suit or get agitated when they see others around them living normally.

trapp wrote: »

This is it exactly.

They can stay in all they want, slink out to the shops once a week in masks and gloves and do whatever they like in their spare time.

Netflix and banana bread seem to be popular.

But they cannot and should not be attempting to stop the rest of the world living their lives.

It's such a childish attitude 'I'm not going out so no one else can either'

You both seem to think that the coronavirus was some hoax perpetrated by the teachers unions who are representative of the most self entitled/ lazy shower to walk Gods green earth.
We have now reached a situation where its grand everything is normal and we can return to school as normal no protective measures are needed and teachers need to get on with things after all its not a "covid ward you are teaching on". 2 weeks ago the leaving cert was cancelled because of pressure from parents saying the children were not safe and were stressed yet teachers who question the safety of their school environment are whingeing lazy childish self entitled and hysterical.
Its not a covid ward for sure - in a covid ward doctors work in a sterile enviornment with running hot water and the best PPE the state can provide. My class has 34 pupils in a room which has not enough space for 8 if social distancing rules are applied. If one child gets covid is it possible it will spread to their classmates? their siblings in the school and their classmates? the teachers who spend 5 hours with them everyday? Would that have a knock on affect on their parents and grandparents? There are over 250 pupils in our school? The children share toilets with 1 other class thats 60 children altogether using the facilities. There is no running hot water in the toilets. The corridors in the school are long and narrow under current guidelines children would not be able to pass each other in those corridors.What about the 2 vulnerable children in my class should they come back in September? The department of education has given absolutely no guidance on how schools should reopen other than to say they are reopening and guidance will be given in 2 weeks. To question all of this is not hysteria. I have a wife and children. I have parents who are classified as vulnerable. Do I want them to expose them to a life threatening disease given the environment I work in is on my viewing high risk and I could potentially carry it back to them? No i don't. Schools shut down in March for a reason, would we be in a better position today if they hadn't shut down?
With all of that said do I want to go back to school? Absolutely I'd go back before the end of June if I could and have our school tour and sports day and enjoy what is the most enjoyable month to teach for me when the bulk of the work is done the sun is shining and the kids have no homework. I'd love to start school as normal in September and just forget this whole thing happened.
I could be very flippant and say that some on here are sick of having their kids under their feet all day but I have empathy I can see the difficulties with trying to work from home and mind young children especially. Burying your head in the sand and pretending it'll be grand though is no plan. Sending them back because we all need to work isn't either so how does it work we aren't Denmark we don't have the infrastructure or the teachers to do what they are doing on a phased basis? We could just hope it dies out there is zero community transmission and all will be well in September I'd be surprised if there is not a few candles lighting and novenas being said in the department of education that that's going to happen lets hope it does but what if it doesn't?

History Queen wrote: »

After reading a lot of this thread I'm torn. There are lots and lots of misconceptions and a huge amount of legitimate concerns.

Firstly, to be clear, I am a teacher (post-primary). Zoom/video conferencing etc. is not the only way of teaching. I only say this as a lot of parents seem to equate zoom to teaching and suggest many students are only receiving homework since school closures. Homework is designed to reinforce pre taught material. It isn't feasible for students to have done that amount of homework without having been taught something. You can learn from reading/applying formula/researching/project work etc. I only say this as some parents are worried that a lack of face to face contact means a lack of teaching. Not necessarily so. (I mean this as a type of reassurance for parents not as an "out" for lazy teachers, any teachers not making their best efforts don't deserve to be defended).

Next, some misconceptions, schools, teachers and unions are not en masse trying to prevent schools from reopening. Far from it. The vast majority of us want a return to normality as soon as possible. I personally have hated trying to work from home while minding my two year old. It has been difficult but I've done my best for both him and my students. Many others have been doing the same.

Thirdly, media irresponsibility, in my opinion the media has further compounded a difficult sitiation by applying so much pressure and creating false hype against the inept department of education. Misleading headlines, encouraging the stereotype of the lazy teacher/ obstructionist unions/ "wont someone think of the children" mentality led directly to the cancellation of the Leaving Certificate exams, which ,while flawed are a much fairer test of student ability than "calculated grades". The rescheduled Leaving Cert wasn't due to be sat until TWO MONTHS from today. Yet, a decision was made weeks ago to cancel them on health grounds, according to Joe McHugh. 7 days later, the same media was baying for schools to reopen, what about these supposed health grounds?. If the media only reported fact instead of misinformation there would be less hype and less uncertainty, and much less stress on students, teachers and parents.

Finally, I already asked upthread and have since had a quick look myself, has anyone details on any European schools that are fully open? All I can find is partial openings and limited teaching. Yet when similar steps are suggested here they are run down as unworkable for working parents (which they are but I don't see how we can do anything else if this is the health advice we need to follow).

My own opinion as already stated is that I would love to see "normal" school resuming in September. I hope that can happen. If not life will be difficult as our school buildings are too small and classes are too large to successfully implement some of what other European countries have been able to do. We have a shortage of teachers/basic hygiene facilities and school funding. Those three things need to be addressed at a minimum in order for schools to open as far as I can see.

Very well said.