How will schools be able to go back in September?

History Queen · 13-06-2020 11:13AM

Jinglejangle69 wrote: »

Noone has said that.

I just can't understand what people are whinging about.

I don't care whether you're a teacher or not.

Going back with social distancing will behugely problematic as outlines by Joe McHugh and lead to only part time attendance. What many people are concerned about is that he has said his preference is for schools to open fully with no social distancing.

This, at the moment, is contrary to health advice. He also has made vague statements about more cleaning and hygiene adherence but no specifics on how this will happen and what funding will be made available to pay for same, this has led people to believe he just wants schools open with no additional safety measures. No other workplace is being asked to/allowed do this.

Those of us working in the education sector are used to vague promises of more details. Usually it results in nothing specific and schools are left fending for themselves. Most schools can't afford basic hygiene and heating provision without parental contributions as it stands.

Sammy2012 · 13-06-2020 11:14AM

Jinglejangle69 wrote: »

Noone has said that.

I just can't understand what people are whinging about.

I don't care whether you're a teacher or not.

I suppose some people are unhappy with the wait and see attitude! Schools will have to plan blindly. I however can understand why they havent issued guidelines as it 11 weeks away. Things are changing on a daily basis now. So theres no point saying what'll happen in 11 weeks.

Benimar · 13-06-2020 11:15AM

Jinglejangle69 wrote: »

Sorry what am I missing here?

People are moaning that schools will go back with social distancing and maybe a few days a week?

Or people are moaning the government said schools can open again fully in September?

That they will open fully in September with no Social Distance.

I haven’t heard ONE person saying kids shouldn’t go back for at least part of a week - teachers do 5 days, kid do 2 or 2.5

Benimar · 13-06-2020 11:17AM

Jinglejangle69 wrote: »

https://www.rte.ie/amp/1147170/

A plan is clearly outlined in here.

The article is actually entitled ‘A destination without a roadmap’

The roadmap is the plan, and there isn’t one.

john123470 · 13-06-2020 11:19AM

Insidious wrote: »

This may be the start of a new Government. I won’t forget and If they follow through on this… I’ll see them in the next election with the memory of the consequences of their decisions.

I don't think it really matters who is in government. Nobody gets into politics to make the world a better place - at least not without having a fat cat salary and pension attached.

Primary focus of all politicians here is me fein - then the general public. Tell people what they want to hear and shure you'll be grand out.

Clergy get bad press .. but i'd like to pick a few well educated clergy and give them some rein in the affairs of state. Not religious affairs but a say in decisions that affect everyday life, affordable housing, the homeless, severely under developed areas. At least, morality would get a hearing. What we elect on the merry go round every few years is quite depressing. A so called good politician is someone who gives You what You want. The cute whores and the brown envelopes haven't gone away y'know ..

As for the rona, we'll generally follow what the UK does because we can't think for ourselves. People here are still confused, 3 months in, whether wearing a mask is beneficial or no. Ffs.

And 3 months from now ? Well, who knows where we'll be next month .. never mind 3 months. If there is a 2nd wave, who can predict its severity. The Medical experts are at loggerheads with the politicians .. a lot of people think its ok to gather for mass protests w/out observing rules for distancing. And we have the likes of Scruffy on the radio waves to stoke any fire that starts

One is inclined to give up

Cyrus · 13-06-2020 11:21AM

Insidious wrote: »

Maybe you're right and I'm looking at this wrong... I just don't want to end up in another brutal lockdown because we didn't stay the course for that extra couple of months while waiting for a vaccine.. It looks pretty likely we'll have one by years end if the news stories are to be believed..

You’re not happy for kids to go back to school even though all the science now points to it being low risk but happy to try out a rushed vaccine ?

Odd logic

History Queen · 13-06-2020 11:23AM

Interesting outline of the position on schools in Belgium. Certainly not a full reopening.

https://onderwijs.vlaanderen.be/nl/heropstart-lessen-op-school-wie-waarom-hoe

History Queen · 13-06-2020 11:24AM

Jinglejangle69 wrote: »

https://www.rte.ie/amp/1147170/

Read this link.

I have read it. It doesn't answer my question?

13-06-2020 11:33AM

iamwhoiam wrote: »

September is two and a half months away . Lets not get our knickers in a twist just yet . Who know what Covid is doing by September and we could have a good grip on it by then .

we have a good grip on it now! By the time schools get back most of us will have been back at work 3 months!! (in my case I worked throughout this).......but wait until you hear teachers through one obstacle after the other in the way of schools reopening...."we might catch Covid from the kids" etc etc.

In a country of 5 million people we have a miniscule amount of new cases now...... if this was any other virus it wouldn't even be mentioned. 95% of people who get Covid recover, most get mild symptoms. If you are vulnerable speak to your employer, otherwise get on with it and get schools fully open by September! We are the laggards of Europe now.

iamwhoiam · 13-06-2020 11:36AM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

we have a good grip on it now! By the time schools get back most of us will have been back at work 3 months!! (in my case I worked throughout this).......but wait until you hear teachers through one obstacle after the other in the way of schools reopening...."we might catch Covid from the kids" etc etc.

In a country of 5 million people we have a miniscule amount of new cases now...... if this was any other virus it wouldn't even be mentioned. 95% of people who get Covid recover, most get mild symptoms. If you are vulnerable speak to your employer, otherwise get on with it and get schools fully open by September! We are the laggards of Europe now.

Absolutely . By the way I am all for them opening . ? Personally I think the should be going back beginning of August

KerryConnor · 13-06-2020 11:37AM

My nephew is back in school in Australia for the last 5 weeks and there is no social distancing, its school as normal. Its going well no new outbreaks but they are enforcing strict quarentine . They didn't get half as much infection as we did but hopefully we ll be down to comparable rates by September. Would love to be able to go back fully but think we need strict quarentine for it to work properly .

History Queen wrote: »

What countries have opened schools fully with no social distancing or safety measures?

Jinglejangle69 · 13-06-2020 11:41AM

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2058086386/1

Thread here on it.

Pretty much what I am saying.

Open them back and stop the whinging.

Insidious · 13-06-2020 11:43AM

Cyrus wrote: »

You’re not happy for kids to go back to school even though all the science now points to it being low risk but happy to try out a rushed vaccine ?

Odd logic

I never said that.....
any of it....
I'm happy for them to go back in as safe a manner as possible.. with social distancing. Maybe some online classes will be needed.. Maybe we'll have to keep helping with teaching our children at home. Maybe the classes will have to be split into 2 or 3 classes attending on different days.. I don't know whats best.. Just don't undo the good work we have done.. Don't ignore the social distancing advice and make it clear to people about wearing masks... As for a Vaccine being a rushed one like you say.. It doesn't mean it won't be a good safe vaccine.. There are a lot of people working on it... with endless bags of cash to get it done.. I have faith in their efforts and will get the vaccine when it's available.. Then life can get back to normal.

Jinglejangle69 · 13-06-2020 11:47AM

Insidious wrote: »

I never said that.....
any of it....
I'm happy for them to go back in as safe a manner as possible.. with social distancing. Maybe some online classes will be needed.. Maybe we'll have to keep helping with teaching our children at home. Maybe the classes will have to be split into 2 or 3 classes attending on different days.. I don't know whats best.. Just don't undo the good work we have done.. Don't ignore the social distancing advice and make it clear to people about wearing masks... As for a Vaccine being a rushed one like you say.. It doesn't mean it won't be a good safe vaccine.. There are a lot of people working on it... with endless bags of cash to get it done.. I have faith in their efforts and will get the vaccine when it's available.. Then life can get back to normal.

There may never be a vaccine.

You want life to go on like this for something that severely affects mostly old people?

Protect the old and vulnerable.

Let life get back to normal for the majority.

uli84 · 13-06-2020 11:48AM

Hahah, are you even serious? Why shouldn’t they go back to school? There are many more ilnesses as ‘deadly’ as this virus and noone is closing anything or changing anything over them, social distancing in school my ar*e

iamwhoiam · 13-06-2020 11:57AM

Insidious wrote: »

I never said that.....
any of it....
I'm happy for them to go back in as safe a manner as possible.. with social distancing. Maybe some online classes will be needed.. Maybe we'll have to keep helping with teaching our children at home. Maybe the classes will have to be split into 2 or 3 classes attending on different days.. I don't know whats best.. Just don't undo the good work we have done.. Don't ignore the social distancing advice and make it clear to people about wearing masks... As for a Vaccine being a rushed one like you say.. It doesn't mean it won't be a good safe vaccine.. There are a lot of people working on it... with endless bags of cash to get it done.. I have faith in their efforts and will get the vaccine when it's available.. Then life can get back to normal.

It would be a very unfair system if parents were expected to teach at home . Some parents have one child and stay at home . Some parents have four kids and need to work . Some parents have children in school and look after a child with special needs . Not everyone has the time to teach nor in fact the qualifications to educate .

Many parents work around school times and if the children are only in 2.5 days then many will lose their jobs
Its a fine line we have to tread but if the numbers are under control and contact tracing is in place I see no obstacles to them getting back as normal

LuasSimon · 13-06-2020 12:13PM

If the teachers have their way the schools will never reopen ...,.. we are destroying young people’s lives and futures by giving into teachers looking for any reason not to work !

Sammy2012 · 13-06-2020 12:19PM

LuasSimon wrote: »

If the teachers have their way the schools will never reopen ...,.. we are destroying young people’s lives and futures by giving into teachers looking for any reason not to work !

Where have you seen that teachers don't want to work? Have you spoken to everyone of them? Any that I know are looking forward to going back to work and stopping this online teaching.

Tokyo · 13-06-2020 12:31PM

LuasSimon wrote: »

If the teachers have their way the schools will never reopen ...,.. we are destroying young people’s lives and futures by giving into teachers looking for any reason not to work !

Mod: Quit it now with the 'all the teachers' rhetoric - you should have enough common sense to know that painting swathes of an organization with the same brush will not end well for you here.

mullinr2 · 13-06-2020 12:44PM

Jinglejangle69 wrote: »

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2058086386/1

Thread here on it.

Pretty much what I am saying.

Open them back and stop the whinging.

There will be one or two teachers in every school that will have problem with no social distancing. They will be backed by the unions and their fellow teachers. If they insist on no social distancing at schools, teachers will go on strike, mark my words.

13-06-2020 01:24PM

Secondary schools teachers union already on News at 1 saying this won't work for them , why should they be put at risk, and slamming Minister for Education !! By September the rest of the country will have been back at work 3 months at least! Teachers are their own worst enemy and I understand the attitude a lot of people have about them.

Generalising obviously isn't good but people will have very little patience with teachers at this stage, kids off school since 12 March, Leaving Cert cancelled......... there needs to be a "can do" attitude from teachers, not this constantly throwing obstacles in the way.......

Mrs OBumble · 13-06-2020 01:29PM

Insidious wrote: »

I never said that.....
any of it....
I'm happy for them to go back in as safe a manner as possible.. with social distancing. Maybe some online classes will be needed.. Maybe we'll have to keep helping with teaching our children at home. Maybe the classes will have to be split into 2 or 3 classes attending on different days.. I don't know whats best.. Just don't undo the good work we have done.. Don't ignore the social distancing advice and make it clear to people about wearing masks... As for a Vaccine being a rushed one like you say.. It doesn't mean it won't be a good safe vaccine.. There are a lot of people working on it... with endless bags of cash to get it done.. I have faith in their efforts and will get the vaccine when it's available.. Then life can get back to normal.

If we keep undereducating the kids, we won't have a future medical workforce, because not enough will learn enough for the jobs.

The kids are already swarming in estates with no social distancing happening. Let them do it in school ad well.

khalessi · 13-06-2020 01:32PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Secondary schools teachers union already on News at 1 saying this won't work for them , why should they be put at risk, and slamming Minister for Education !! By September the rest of the country will have been back at work 3 months at least! Teachers are their own worst enemy and I understand the attitude a lot of people have about them. Generalising obviously isn't good but people will have very little patience with teachers if this prevents their kids going back to school and getting an education.

It is interesting looking at rest of Europe back to school but not properly, that Irish people dont care that all of Europe have instigated different types of precautions and yet here the Irish government are happy to thrown Irish kids and teachers to the wolves with no precautions or interest in providing guidelines for reopening.

No one knows where we will be in 3 months time, in a better situation or worse or similar. So we should have a plan for all situations instead the Irish government who promised guidance came out yesterday with no guidelines and put the blame on teachers if no reopening in September.

They have had months to come up with something and all they did was dodge responsibility, yet again. Education has been very badly handled by them and all it results in on here is the teachers being blamed not the Department.

Mrsmum · 13-06-2020 01:37PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Secondary schools teachers union already on News at 1 saying this won't work for them , why should they be put at risk, and slamming Minister for Education !! By September the rest of the country will have been back at work 3 months at least! Teachers are their own worst enemy and I understand the attitude a lot of people have about them.

Generalising obviously isn't good but people will have very little patience with teachers at this stage, kids off school since 12 March, Leaving Cert cancelled......... there needs to be a "can do" attitude from teachers, not this constantly throwing obstacles in the way.......

But surely it would mean more and not less work for teachers if all pupils do not go back to school as they will be in school every day albeit with smaller classes while having to set & correct online learning for children who are at home and also needing and paying for far more childcare for their own children than they would have needed heretofore.

jimmytwotimes 2013 · 13-06-2020 01:39PM

mullinr2 wrote: »

There will be one or two teachers in every school that will have problem with no social distancing. They will be backed by the unions and their fellow teachers. If they insist on no social distancing at schools, teachers will go on strike, mark my words.

If schools are the only workplace in Ireland not to observe social distancing then they'd have reason to strike.

downthemiddle · 13-06-2020 01:40PM

mullinr2 wrote: »

There will be one or two teachers in every school that will have problem with no social distancing. They will be backed by the unions and their fellow teachers. If they insist on no social distancing at schools, teachers will go on strike, mark my words.

Are teachers entitled to the same rights as employees of Woodies, McDonalds, Ikea, Penneys or members of the Dáil?
If social distancing protocols still apply in September why do you think schools should be the exception?

Quantum Erasure · 13-06-2020 01:42PM

I believe children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way

ldy4mxonucwsq6 · 13-06-2020 01:45PM

downthemiddle wrote: »

Are teachers entitled to the same rights as employees of Woodies, McDonalds, Ikea, Penneys or members of the Dáil?
If social distancing protocols still apply in September why do you think schools should be the exception?

Because its not workable, plain and simple. There are plenty of workplaces open and doing business now where social distancing no longer exists bar on a procedural paper in case they are inspected.

By the end of next month adults will be told to wear masks when it's not possible to social distance e.g schools, transport etc. NPHET are NEVER going to come out and say OK lads no need to social distance any more, they just won't do that.

It will slide to the wayside naturally like it already has in a lot of places.

Mongfinder General · 13-06-2020 01:46PM

Quantum Erasure wrote: »

I believe children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way

Show them all the beauty they possess inside...

khalessi · 13-06-2020 01:47PM

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

Because its not workable, plain and simple. There are plenty of workplaces open and doing business now where social distancing no longer exists bar on a procedural paper in case they are inspected.
.

That doesnt make it right?

So are you saying it is ok that rules been broken in these places and health being put at risk as long as services are provided? You are ok with that?

It isnt right anywhere.

How will schools be able to go back in September?

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