How will schools be able to go back in September?

mirrorwall14 · 28-07-2020 11:46AM

Vicxas wrote: »

Can anyone outline what the plan is for primary schools? I tried to read the Journals breakdown of it but still wasnt clear. Are kids going back full time, are they going to be in pods too?

Have a look at some of the proposed seating plans. That many of them are for over 30 students tells you exactly what’s being proposed. Add in that several of them include the kids sitting against the bars of the classroom and also are for particularly large rooms....

Send em back and cross your fingers. That’s the plan

Lillyfae · 28-07-2020 11:46AM

khalessi wrote: »

We await an apology too as you are incorrect about how well qualified primary teachers and SNAS are too.

Sorry, what?

You hardly need an extra degree in Nursing to be a primary school teacher, do you? You do apparently need it to have an inflated sense of self importance though.

I'm not insulting the qualifications of any primary school teacher, I believe that someone who's just walked out of university is better than someone who's been there for 30 years and thinks they are a health and safety expert, a psychologist, a virologist, an epidemiologist, a parenting expert and a representative for every teacher currently working.

wirelessdude01 · 28-07-2020 11:49AM

Lillyfae wrote: »

The bit in bold I think is very likely. But I still think that individual schools should have had a multitude of plans ready to go in case of all scenarios and it's a case of some do and some don't.

We had discussed a lot prior to closure. Most bases had been closed. The one thing from the document that really pisses me off is the probable redirection of SET teachers to cover children who can't come to school. These teachers deal with the children who most need our attention. The children who have to stay at home should have been provided with a central online portal and teachers not drawn from school staff. This is something I feel very strongly about.

Icyseanfitz · 28-07-2020 11:49AM

Lillyfae wrote: »

Sorry, what?

You hardly need an extra degree in Nursing to be a primary school teacher, do you? You do apparently need it to have an inflated sense of self importance though.

I'm not insulting the qualifications of any primary school teacher, I believe that someone who's just walked out of university is better than someone who's been there for 30 years and thinks they are a health and safety expert, a psychologist, a virologist, an epidemiologist, a parenting expert and a representative for every teacher currently working.

I don't know many industries that would value a fresh student over an employee with 30 years experience to pull from.

khalessi · 28-07-2020 11:49AM

Lillyfae wrote: »

Sorry, what?

You hardly need an extra degree in Nursing to be a primary school teacher, do you? You do apparently need it to have an inflated sense of self importance though.

I'm not insulting the qualifications of any primary school teacher, I believe that someone who's just walked out of university is better than someone who's been there for 30 years and thinks they are a health and safety expert, a psychologist, a virologist, an epidemiologist, a parenting expert and a representative for every teacher currently working.

Actaully I am not talking about me but about my colleagues in primary and secondary you insulted a number of times today and talk about inflated opinions you dont even live in the country and yet feel perfectly more qualified than teachers to comment. Get off your soapbox. At least the parents here have a reason to comment.

Joe Kane · 28-07-2020 11:49AM

Boggles wrote: »

Why? all I see is fair, reasoned, professional, experienced people.

Like I said get in contact with your local officials, try get them to get some answers for you. you are wasting your energy having a moan at the wrong people.

I have several times over the last fortnight and to date have been completely ignored.

Are teachers not wasting their time moaning on here too? What good is it doing?

Aren't they all part of unions etc that have huge power when it comes to getting what they want or don't want. Last time I checked parents in my situation don't have any say or input at all.

Icyseanfitz · 28-07-2020 11:51AM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

We had discussed a lot prior to closure. Most bases had been closed. The one thing from the document that really pisses me off is the probable redirection of SET teachers to cover children who can't come to school. These teachers deal with the children who most need our attention. The children who have to stay at home should have been provided with a central online portal and teachers not drawn from school staff. This is something I feel very strongly about.

I completely agree, students with additional needs have really suffered and been forgotten through this whole fiasco, and the department has had since March 12th to get something up and running, what a joke.

ldy4mxonucwsq6 · 28-07-2020 11:51AM

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Have a look at some of the proposed seating plans. That many of them are for over 30 students tells you exactly what’s being proposed. Add in that several of them include the kids sitting against the bars of the classroom and also are for particularly large rooms....

Send em back and cross your fingers. That’s the plan

It's fine on paper, we know the reality is different.

Kids had to go back and they wanted them back fully, there wasn't really any other way to achieve that from what I can see.

At least they can start working on something now. Nothing was ever going to completely mitigate the risk and life has to go on.

Boggles · 28-07-2020 11:51AM

Ectoplasm wrote: »

The reality is that it will most likely be used on temporary accommodations which

There is no provision of funding for temporary accommodation like prefabs or anything like that, if anything prefabs should be closed, particularly the older ones.

Norma thinks schools can utilize, their music rooms, libraries, snooker rooms, bowling rooms and cigar parlors to accommodate the extra teachers that don't exist.

Actually where did Norma actually teach, Downton Abbey?

Boggles · 28-07-2020 11:52AM

Joe Kane wrote: »

I have several times over the last fortnight and to date have been completely ignored.

The "plan" was released yesterday at 6 O'Clock.

Demand a meeting.

Joe Kane · 28-07-2020 11:55AM

Boggles wrote: »

The "plan" was released yesterday at 6 O'Clock.

Demand a meeting.

You're being a smart arse now.

I really hope you're not working in the education sector.

Icyseanfitz · 28-07-2020 11:55AM

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

It's fine on paper, we know the reality is different.

Kids had to go back and they wanted them back fully, there wasn't really any other way to achieve that from what I can see.

At least they can start working on something now. Nothing was ever going to completely mitigate the risk and life has to go on.

They could have used up until Halloween for a staggered return to judge the effects reopening would have.

And instead of trying to mitigate the risk any bit they simply buried their heads in the sand and threw money at it.

wirelessdude01 · 28-07-2020 11:55AM

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

I don't know many industries that would value a fresh student over an employee with 30 years experience to pull from.

I remember as an IT graduate walking into my first 'proper' job and my boss telling me to forget everything I had learned in college, the real learning was starting now.

Same kinda occured in teaching. I sailed through college and TP, not a bother. I really struggled my first two years out even with all the supports that are/were in place. Experience really is everything in teaching.

Lillyfae · 28-07-2020 11:58AM

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

I don't know many industries that would value a fresh student over an employee with 30 years experience to pull from.

Fresh teacher. If they proved themselves to be uncooperative or incompetent they would get rid of them though, 30 years or not.

If this thread has taught me anything it's that there is no encouragement to ask a question though. I've admitted to being wrong many times on this thread. I've learned many things. I can accept when I'm wrong and apologize. I can change my mind about something! It seems to be seen as some sort of weakness by a large cohort though.

Ectoplasm · 28-07-2020 11:58AM

Boggles wrote: »

There is no provision of funding for temporary accommodation like prefabs or anything like that, if anything prefabs should be closed, particularly the older ones.

Norma thinks schools can utilize, their music rooms, libraries, snooker rooms, bowling rooms and cigar parlors to accommodate the extra teachers that don't exist.

Actually where did Norma actually teach, Downton Abbey?

Yeah I should really have said temporary adjustments rather than accommodations. It does feel like if they say big numbers enough then people will believe everything is grand.

Icyseanfitz · 28-07-2020 11:59AM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I remember as an IT graduate walking into my first 'proper' job and my boss telling me to forget everything I had learned in college, the real learning was starting now.

Same kinda occured in teaching. I sailed through college and TP, not a bother. I really struggled my first two years out even with all the supports that are/were in place. Experience really is everything in teaching.

College's are a little bubble of "perfect world", experience is the only way to get better at anything in my experience.

amber2 · 28-07-2020 11:59AM

I know given the circumstances this may be trivial but has there been any mention In this road map regarding the usage of uniforms, just not sure if I should go out and buy or not and can’t find the info anywhere.... I’m guessing uniforms are going to be a no no unless you have one for every school day.

Icyseanfitz · 28-07-2020 12:01PM

amber2 wrote: »

I know given the circumstances this may be trivial but has there been any mention In this road map regarding the usage of uniforms, just not sure if I should go out and buy or not and can’t find the info anywhere.... I’m guessing uniforms are going to be a no no unless you have one for every school day.

From what I've read there's no guidelines on clothing, could wear the same uniform for 2 weeks. Business as usual so if your school has a uniform that's what will be used.

Boggles · 28-07-2020 12:02PM

Ectoplasm wrote: »

Yeah I should really have said temporary adjustments rather than accommodations. It does feel like if they say big numbers enough then people will believe everything is grand.

The extra funds work out a few pence per child per day.

It's for soap and maybe paper towels.

Benimar · 28-07-2020 12:03PM

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

From what I've read there's no guidelines on clothing, could wear the same uniform for 2 weeks. Business as usual so if your school has a uniform that's what will be used.

Probably done on a school by school basis which isn’t ideal.

Our kids school have already been on today to say that uniform will no longer be mandatory ie: don’t send your kids in in dirty clothes! Good call imo.

Boggles · 28-07-2020 12:04PM

Joe Kane wrote: »

You're being a smart arse now.

I really hope you're not working in the education sector.

Because I am trying to give you some advice?

All transmit and no receive.

As you were lad.

Icyseanfitz · 28-07-2020 12:06PM

Benimar wrote: »

Probably done on a school by school basis which isn’t ideal.

Our kids school have already been on today to say that uniform will no longer be mandatory ie: don’t send your kids in in dirty clothes! Good call imo.

That's the whole plan in a nutshell really, give money to schools and let them do as they see fit, and when it all goes bad it isn't the departments fault, it's the schools.

wirelessdude01 · 28-07-2020 12:08PM

The headline figures sound great. Nearly €400m, nearly 1300 teachers(split 200 primary 1080 secondary), 120 guidance. All optics.

Placates the majority of parents and the general public at large which is the objective.

I know some of my parents that I will have next year through stuff outside of schools and the more clued in one's have asked me, is that it? They know themselves that this isn't great but that we'll all blunder along until it falls apart.

Joe Kane · 28-07-2020 12:09PM

Boggles wrote: »

Because I am trying to give you some advice?

All transmit and no receive.

As you were lad.

Aye,

''Contact your local TD's, Demand a meeting etc''

''I have and being ignored''

''The plan was announced yesterday at 6 o'clock''

Like I said it's a 'Mé féin' job from here on in now.

Take her handy.

wirelessdude01 · 28-07-2020 12:10PM

amber2 wrote: »

I know given the circumstances this may be trivial but has there been any mention In this road map regarding the usage of uniforms, just not sure if I should go out and buy or not and can’t find the info anywhere.... I’m guessing uniforms are going to be a no no unless you have one for every school day.

Up to each school. Assumption being it will carry on as per normal.

Boggles · 28-07-2020 12:10PM

Joe Kane wrote: »

Aye,

''Contact your local TD's, Demand a meeting etc''

''I have and being ignored''

''The plan was announced yesterday at 6 o'clock''

Like I said it's a 'Mé féin' job from here on in now.

Take her handy.

You were demanding answers from people when the relevant department hadn't issued a plan yet.

They did last night.

What part is confusing you?

drunkmonkey · 28-07-2020 12:12PM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

My interpretation is that the pod has to be 1m away from the next pod.

Having said that John Boyles segment on Virgin Media news yesterday had the children within a pod 1m apart. If that is the case then I can fit maybe 18 at a squeeze.

We don't have any spare rooms or space.

The pods only work if everyone is in the pod, if a cleaner is working across 2 pods that's a problem, if teachers are meeting or sharing the same canteen at different times that's a problem, kids are mingling before and after school that's a problem. There's so many ways this can get out of control very quickly, the virus is now more prevelant outside the country than when we locked down, we've 0 control of who's coming into the country, this can only go one way once we reopen schools as demonstrated in Israel, Sweden etc.
NZ plan is only show in town, I just hope it doesn't take a student or pupil to prove that point.

Gael23 · 28-07-2020 12:14PM

It looks like the unions are going to scupper the plan

wirelessdude01 · 28-07-2020 12:19PM

Gael23 wrote: »

It looks like the unions are going to scupper the plan

How?

Know the INTO have said they are generally happy but have concerns which they will raise in the coming weeks.

wirelessdude01 · 28-07-2020 12:21PM

drunkmonkey wrote: »

The pods only work if everyone is in the pod, if a cleaner is working across 2 pods that's a problem, if teachers are meeting or sharing the same canteen at different times that's a problem, kids are mingling before and after school that's a problem. There's so many ways this can get out of control very quickly, the virus is now more prevelant outside the country than when we locked down, we've 0 control of who's coming into the country, this can only go one way once we reopen schools as demonstrated in Israel, Sweden etc.
NZ plan is only show in town, I just hope it doesn't take a student or pupil to prove that point.

We've been told that the staffroom will be locked. We have one cleaner at present. Having one cleaner per class bubble just isn't feasible.

How will schools be able to go back in September?

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