nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

How will schools be able to go back in September?

shoppergal

Just wondering if anyone can give any insight into how schools could safely re-open in September?

Everyone I'm talking to is saying they won't be back until September but in my head I'm wondering how they'll re-open even in September? The virus will still be there with a vaccine still months away at that stage.

Find more posts tagged with

schools

rte news

covid

Quick Links

Comments

Alrigghtythen

caveat emptor wrote: »

I agree Who would that be?

Occupational health?

I know companies are having to fit ventilation and filters.
Where's the risk assessments in the context of an airborne pathogen?

Great that googlers and tech workers told to work from home until 2021.
Seems like there'll be some serious legal disputes considering normal occupational health practice has been suspended and teachers not afforded the same legal protection as other workers.

Other workers like the garda, the nurses, the doctors, the shop keepers, the truck drivers, the shelf stackers, the packers, the fruit pickers all those other workers?

[Deleted User]

caveat emptor wrote: »

I agree Who would that be?

Occupational health?

I know companies are having to fit ventilation and filters.
Where's the risk assessments in the context of an airborne pathogen?

Great that googlers and tech workers told to work from home until 2021.
Seems like there'll be some serious legal disputes considering normal occupational health practice has been suspended and teachers not afforded the same legal protection as other workers.

Vast majority of employees in most sectors will be going to work everyday

combat14

latest news from around the world makes for grim reading with hong kong severely struggling and even vietnam which had been clear for months seeing a covid come back

spain alone had 1153 cases in the last 24 hours..

cant believe we are not going to introduce proper online teaching in September with training and resources available for staff and students

instead we are about to throw about 1/5 of the population together with practically zero health and safety measures it's hard to believe ...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/29/global-wrap-obey-rules-to-avoid-second-covid-19-lockdown-leaders-warn

Alrigghtythen

combat14 wrote: »

latest news from around the world makes for grim reading with hong kong severely struggling and even vietnam which had been clear for months seeing a covid come back

spain alone had 1153 cases in the last 24 hours..

cant believe we are not going to introduce proper online teaching in September with training and resources available for staff and students

instead we are about to throw about 1/5 of the population together with practically zero health and safety measures it's hard to believe ...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/29/global-wrap-obey-rules-to-avoid-second-covid-19-lockdown-leaders-warn

Here's a link to free ICT courses for teachers.

https://www.pdsttechnologyineducation.ie/en/NEWS/Autumn-online-course-schedule1.html

1/5 of the population, that's some school

YellowBucket

We should have online ready to roll as a backup at least. What happens if there is a serious second wave? Abandon education for another full term while we run around looking for solutions?

[Deleted User]

Boggles wrote: »

Jesus you are struggling lad.

They are not defining public health measures they are trying to implement them, they can't.

When you get home, try put 6 golf balls in your mouth, let me know how you get on, or would you need to wait for a professional golfer to tell you can't do it?

How many of these teachers have actually gone in to the schools and measured the classrooms and attempted to see how many desks can fit in with all the extra furniture removed? Or how many are just saying, room 10 is very small, no way we can fit first year English in there. And masks are also recommended when as a last resort and 1m is not possible

xhomelezz

Alrigghtythen wrote: »

Other workers like the garda, the nurses, the doctors, the shop keepers, the truck drivers, the shelf stackers, the packers, the fruit pickers all those other workers?

Great, how do they compare to schools? Overcrowded as well?

Alrigghtythen

YellowBucket wrote: »

We should have online ready to roll as a backup at least. What happens if there is a serious second wave? Abandon education for another full term while we run around looking for solutions?

Absolutely a contingency plan should be in place. Every teacher in the country at this stage should have online resources prepped. Here's a great site for ideas and templates to help

https://www.tes.com/en-ie/teaching-resources

BonsaiKitten

YellowBucket wrote: »

We should have online ready to roll as a backup at least. What happens if there is a serious second wave? Abandon education for another full term while we run around looking for solutions?

That's the thing I can't understand, there's no acknowledgement that schools might have to close again or any concrete plan as to what they should do in that scenario. I know that not all schools can do the same thing - I taught my primary class live every day, which really only worked because they're from privileged backgrounds - but even some suggested templates would be a help.

YellowBucket

It’s not as if this is extremely unlikely. There’s a fairly significant possibility of a second wave. The health system is prepping for one. Education should be.

lulublue22

Alrigghtythen wrote: »

Absolutely a contingency plan should be in place. Every teacher in the country at this stage should have online resources prepped. Here's a great site for ideas and templates to help

https://www.tes.com/en-ie/teaching-resources

Wow what would we do without you ?

Alrigghtythen

lulublue22 wrote: »

Wow what would we do without you ?

We're all in this together

combat14

Alrigghtythen wrote: »

Here's a link to free ICT courses for teachers.

https://www.pdsttechnologyineducation.ie/en/NEWS/Autumn-online-course-schedule1.html

1/5 of the population, that's some school

yes it is some school it's called the irish education system comprising 1,091,632 students:

Primary 544,696
Secondary 372,296
Post secondary 174,640

plus teaching staff and that's why we have to get it right for the entire country's sake

lulublue22

Alrigghtythen wrote: »

We're all in this together

Not really if the response on here to SET covering classes is indicative of the general public then some children are expected to bear more of a burden than others.

ETA it will take more than a post a link to share the burden. If you genuinely thought we are all in this together then you would acknowledge the legitimate concerns re the return to school rather than tk a cheap shot post re how many teachers have measured their class or are they just saying that bull**** Raising questions / concerns does not equate with wanting to keep the schools closed.

Alrigghtythen

combat14 wrote: »

yes it is some school it's called the irish education system comprising 1,091,632 students:

Primary 544,696
Secondary 372,296
Post secondary 174,640

plus teaching staff and that's why we have to get it right for the entire country's sake

Why are we putting them all in the same room?

caveat emptor

caveat emptor wrote: »

I agree Who would that be?

Occupational health?

I know companies are having to fit ventilation and filters.
Where's the risk assessments in the context of an airborne pathogen?

Great that googlers and tech workers told to work from home until 2021.
Seems like there'll be some serious legal disputes considering normal occupational health practice has been suspended and teachers not afforded the same legal protection as other workers.

Alrigghtythen wrote: »

Other workers like the garda, the nurses, the doctors, the shop keepers, the truck drivers, the shelf stackers, the packers, the fruit pickers all those other workers?

I found the HSE health and safety assessment guidelines. Pity kids and teachers not afforded the same courtesy. Every hse manager has to conduct this. They could be sued if not done correctly.

Where 2 metre worker separation cannot be ensured a specific activity risk assessment must be conducted and alternative protective measures must be put in place
e.g. comprehensive hygiene measures,
minimising the frequency and time staff are within 2 metres of each other,
minimising the number of staff involved in the task,
physical barriers,
provision of face masks.

https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/safetywellbeing/healthsafetyand%20wellbeing/guidelineoncompletionofoshriskassessments.pdf

combat14

Alrigghtythen wrote: »

Why are we putting them all in the same room?

with no masks on

YellowBucket

BonsaiKitten wrote: »

That's the thing I can't understand, there's no acknowledgement that schools might have to close again or any concrete plan as to what they should do in that scenario. I know that not all schools can do the same thing - I taught my primary class live every day, which really only worked because they're from privileged backgrounds - but even some suggested templates would be a help.

Not only that but the vaccine timeline and assumption of it being immediately effective is very optimistic. The reality is we could have to deal with this for a year or more.

We have to be able to live with this and we need contingencies in place, including an ability to fall back on remote learning or half time class sizes.

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t reopen schools, nor am I trying to be a pessimist, but we need to be realistic or it will potentially cost us a lot In terms of disruption and a huge financial risk.

This *is* going to cost us money, but putting good infrastructure in place now could also potentially mean that we would have infrastructure for online learning that could be used permanently for other reasons and to just modernise services for students and teachers.

We need to be careful we’re not just looking at the short term.

lulublue22

Alrigghtythen wrote: »

Why are we putting them all in the same room?

Again with the cheap jibes - you know exactly what the concern is - makes a mockery of your we are all in this together schtick.

xhomelezz

Alrigghtythen wrote: »

Why are we putting them all in the same room?

Looks like you just looking for some cheap entertainment. Better pay few bucks and get Netflix or something.

Alrigghtythen

caveat emptor wrote: »

I found the HSE health and safety assessment guidelines. Pity kids and teachers not afforded the same courtesy. Every hse manager has to conduct this. They could be sued if not done correctly.

https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/safetywellbeing/healthsafetyand%20wellbeing/guidelineoncompletionofoshriskassessments.pdf

You would assess the risk as the same? I would not. A frontline worker, dealing with confirmed corona virsus patients and those with lowered immune systems is carrying a greater risk of catching it than a teacher in September.

Bobtheman

Look the state has done a terrific job on health and housing. I have every faith they can send kids back to school in September.

The teaching unions have to be careful. The erosion of the unions in Ireland is a lot of the reason for, zero hour contracts and the general decline of working conditions in many sectors.
INTEL abolished its defined benefit scheme and it was an easy lay because they had no union.
So a lot of the population who have **** all protection from unscrupulous employees want everybody down to their level.

caveat emptor

Alrigghtythen wrote: »

You would assess the risk as the same? I would not. A frontline worker, dealing with confirmed corona virsus patients and those with lowered immune systems is carrying a greater risk of catching it than a teacher in September.

Where does it say frontline worker?
Every organisation is required to do the following.......
If your school hasn't updated theirs in the context of a global pandemic
caused by an airborne pathogen.
They are on shaky ground and should probably do it pronto.

1.1 Legislative Framework
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 places a legal obligation on employers to proactively manage safety, health and welfare and put in place the necessary protective and preventative measures to reduce injury and ill-health to their employees. Other legislation and regulations pertinent to this undertaking include (non exhaustive):

• Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, 2007 (S.I. 299/2007)

• Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Reporting of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences)

Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 370 of 2016)
• Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Biological Agents) Regulations, 2013 (S.I. No. 572 of 2013)

• Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations, 2001 (S.I. 619 of 2001)

xhomelezz

Alrigghtythen wrote: »

You would assess the risk as the same? I would not. A frontline worker, dealing with confirmed corona virsus patients and those with lowered immune systems is carrying a greater risk of catching it than a teacher in September.

Frontline worker by now has access to all PPE gear he needs, at least I hope he does.

bodhrandude

I'd be more inclined to wonder when Electric Picnic is coming back.

thomasdylan

caveat emptor wrote: »

I found the HSE health and safety assessment guidelines. Pity kids and teachers not afforded the same courtesy. Every hse manager has to conduct this. They could be sued if not done correctly.

https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/safetywellbeing/healthsafetyand%20wellbeing/guidelineoncompletionofoshriskassessments.pdf

Come on now. The HSE has daily assaults and every so often sexual assaults on staff. And has people doing 24 hour and 36 hour shifts. HSE certainly hasnt a safer place to work than a school over the past few years.

caveat emptor

caveat emptor wrote: »

Where does it say frontline worker?
Every organisation is required to do the following.......
If your school hasn't updated theirs in the context of a global pandemic
caused by an airborne pathogen.
They are on shaky ground and should probably do it pronto.

Just to clarify as regards the legislation.

We are dealing with the a level 4 biological agent......

• Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Biological Agents) Regulations, 2013 (S.I. No. 572 of 2013)

“biological agent” means micro-organisms,
including those which have been genetically modified, cell cultures and human endoparasites,
which may be able to provoke any infection, allergy or toxicity,
classified into 4 risk groups accord- ing to their level of risk of infection,
as follows (if the biological agent to be assessed cannot be classified clearly in one of the following groups,
it shall be classified in the highest risk group among the alternatives):

(d) a “group 4 biological agent” means one that causes severe human disease and is a serious hazard to employees and that may present a high risk of spreading to the community and in respect of which there is usually no effective prophylaxis or treatment available;

iamwhoiam

thomasdylan wrote: »

Come on now. The HSE has daily assaults and every so often sexual assaults on staff. And has people doing 24 hour and 36 hour shifts. HSE certainly hasnt a safer place to work than a school over the past few years.

And the amount of healthcare staff infected with Covid 19 is testament of that .

xhomelezz

bodhrandude wrote: »

I'd be more inclined to wonder when Electric Picnic is coming back.

First weekend after the schools open :pac:

iamwhoiam

Was in West Cork yesterday chatting to a teacher . There is no doubt that individual schools have individual issues and need to have different protected in place
They will have very little problems with distancing for example but problems with bus transport
Our local school in Dublin wont have transport issues but definitely issues with start times . The whole estate walks to school on packed footpaths so staggering starts will be their issue