How will schools be able to go back in September? (Continued)

Bobtheman · 13-08-2020 08:21PM

Bananaleaf wrote: »

Yeah, fair enough. I understand that. As some on this thread will be sick of me mentioning, I have a father who falls into the "very high risk" category. I am his closest contact so will have to visit him at times to bring him to hospital apps etc.

I do not want to return to my place of work. It is only in the past week that I have become extremely anxious about it. I would prefer to work from home and while up to about a week ago I did want to return, I am now secretly (not-so-secret anymore!) hoping that there is a last-minute U-turn.

I don't think there will be though, because even though the money the govt have spent on schools isn't enough to have them Covid-safe, it is WAY too much to have pumped into them and then not open them come Sep.

What can we do? Not a rhetorical question, I'm genuinely asking. I've outlined in a previous post all the efforts that were made by my circle of colleagues and friends to contact the various powers that be, but we just hit brick walls the whole time.

My heart goes out to you. Is there no alternatives you can make? If you are really nervous it might be an idea to use up your sick leave this year if you have exhausted all other options. I would talk to your principal and union before that happens

Bobtheman · 13-08-2020 08:23PM

Just saw a Simpsons episode. Marge says to a school inspector who shut down a school
" You've been in public education too long '
She reaches for a few bottles of vodka. The inspector.
Enough said
As we used to say in the union
Three stages
Idealism
Realism
Alcholicism

Lucyspell · 13-08-2020 08:34PM

Check out Dr John Campbell’s video on you tube, re the recent findings in the USA on the infectious nature of the virus in children. And in particular in the under fives. It is crazy to open the primary schools in the coming weeks..

Murple · 13-08-2020 08:36PM

Bobtheman wrote: »

Just saw a Simpsons episode. Marge says to a school inspector who shut down a school
" You've been in public education too long '
She reaches for a few bottles of vodka. The inspector.
Enough said
As we used to say in the union
Three stages
Idealism
Realism
Alcholicism

There’ll be a lot of drinking the hand sanitiser so.

khalessi · 13-08-2020 08:40PM

Lucyspell wrote: »

Check out Dr John Campbell’s video on you tube, re the recent findings in the USA on the infectious nature of the virus in children. And in particular in the under fives. It is crazy to open the primary schools in the coming weeks..

Here ya go
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/12/health/covid-kids-school-gupta-essay/index.html

khalessi · 13-08-2020 08:41PM

Murple wrote: »

There’ll be a lot of drinking the hand sanitiser so.

Wel as long as you use bathroom before going home, you wont be bringing it home:D

isup · 13-08-2020 10:00PM

Blondini wrote: »

I have looked into this and I think it depends on the dosage of the immunosuppressant as to whether you are high risk or VERY high risk. I know this because I am on immunosuppressant and my consultant deemed me only high risk.

MEDMARK will decide if you are VERY high risk when you Do their risk assessment

https://www.medmark.ie/teachersna/covid-risk-assessment/

It's their call.

It seems like if you are classed as high risk and not high risk that you have to fend for yourself. It's a risk I wouldn't want to take.

Lucyspell · 13-08-2020 10:07PM

khalessi wrote: »

Here ya go
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/12/health/covid-kids-school-gupta-essay/index.html

Thank you, same information, Dr Campbell explains it very well in his video too.

Bananaleaf · 13-08-2020 10:19PM

Bobtheman wrote: »

My heart goes out to you. Is there no alternatives you can make? If you are really nervous it might be an idea to use up your sick leave this year if you have exhausted all other options. I would talk to your principal and union before that happens

I'll need to see exactly what the local arrangements at my school are but yes, I intend on speaking face to face with my principal tomorrow.

If all else fails, I have income protection with Cornmarket but I'm hoping it won't come to that

DSN · 13-08-2020 10:41PM

Mrsmum wrote: »

I've just been talking today to my friend who is a teacher in the U.S. Interesting to see the set up there. So her school district sent out a survey to all their parents asking what they wanted. The results were: 50% wanted their children back full time at three feet apart, 25% wanted their children in two days a week at six feet apart and 25% wanted online teaching/learning only. So anyway she said they hadn't the resources for the first two options (not sure why they asked for preferred option in that case), therefore there will be no return to school at all, children will be learning online. Every child has been gifted a laptop. Another thing she said is that parents are actively seeking out home tutors to help their children as parents are finding it impossible to home school themselves. Her daughter who is in 3rd level from home has just got a job tutoring a family of three for €35 dollars per child per hour. That's the news from over there.[/QUOTE

That's desperate. Kids whose parents can't or won't homeschool & can't afford whopping tutor fees are scuppered then. What's new.

i_surge · 13-08-2020 10:46PM

DSN wrote: »

Mrsmum wrote: »

I've just been talking today to my friend who is a teacher in the U.S. Interesting to see the set up there. So her school district sent out a survey to all their parents asking what they wanted. The results were: 50% wanted their children back full time at three feet apart, 25% wanted their children in two days a week at six feet apart and 25% wanted online teaching/learning only. So anyway she said they hadn't the resources for the first two options (not sure why they asked for preferred option in that case), therefore there will be no return to school at all, children will be learning online. Every child has been gifted a laptop. Another thing she said is that parents are actively seeking out home tutors to help their children as parents are finding it impossible to home school themselves. Her daughter who is in 3rd level from home has just got a job tutoring a family of three for €35 dollars per child per hour. That's the news from over there.[/QUOTE

That's desperate. Kids whose parents can't or won't homeschool & can't afford whopping tutor fees are scuppered then. What's new.

What is new is a virus. Education is an unessential luxury at this point in time.

A chance to not let schooling interfere with their education maybe, a whole world to learn from, endless resources. Adapt.

Mrsmum · 13-08-2020 11:21PM

[/QUOTE That's desperate. Kids whose parents can't or won't homeschool & can't afford whopping tutor fees are scuppered then. What's new.[/QUOTE]

I suppose it's like grinds here. No such thing as a level playing field. Those with money will always use it to their advantage.

byhookorbycrook · 13-08-2020 11:26PM

Bananaleaf wrote: »

I'll need to see exactly what the local arrangements at my school are but yes, I intend on speaking face to face with my principal tomorrow.

If all else fails, I have income protection with Cornmarket but I'm hoping it won't come to that

Cornmarket are notorious for not paying out . Most unlikely they will pay in this case .

mcsean2163 · 13-08-2020 11:34PM

Mrsmum wrote: »

[/QUOTE That's desperate. Kids whose parents can't or won't homeschool & can't afford whopping tutor fees are scuppered then. What's new.

I suppose it's like grinds here. No such thing as a level playing field. Those with money will always use it to their advantage.[/quote]

Some parents spend their money on booze, fancy clothes, etc. others spend it on their kids education, others don't have spare money for anything.

All sorts.

Bananaleaf · 13-08-2020 11:53PM

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Cornmarket are notorious for not paying out . Most unlikely they will pay in this case .

That is why I'm hoping it won't come to that. I nearly don't want to even go asking because I don't want to know the answer. In fairness I've two colleagues who have needed to use it and they had no problems with payment but I'm not saying for a second that you are wrong.

I'd say whatever chance you'd normally have of getting money out of them, you'd have to expect that they will have some Covid clause worked out. Otherwise everyone who's on it would be heading for the hills

The Unbearables · 14-08-2020 12:04AM

You'd want a screw lose to be sending your kids back to school. No chance in hell am I putting my daughter in a small room with 29 other kids and two adults given how lethal this virus is.

combat14 · 14-08-2020 12:54AM

The Unbearables wrote: »

You'd want a screw lose to be sending your kids back to school. No chance in hell am I putting my daughter in a small room with 29 other kids and two adults given how lethal this virus is.

I kno there were 92 confirmed cases today but no one died so that has to mean it is safe for all the office workers and kids to go back ..?

isup · 14-08-2020 07:27AM

combat14 wrote: »

I kno there were 92 confirmed cases today but no one died so that has to mean it is safe for all the office workers and kids to go back ..?

Kids will spread it more and they won't have physical distancing rules in Schools. Until kids go back to school there still are family's that keep their kids distancing themselves from others and meet see people outdoors but at a relative distance. So when the kids go back things will change alot I would say.
So until then I would be relatively confident that my home is a safe zone and after they go back to school it'll rule out seeing the grandparents as they are being safe and I wouldn't want to put them at risk and it also wouldn't be fair to out them in that awkward position

NIMAN · 14-08-2020 07:39AM

The Unbearables wrote: »

You'd want a screw lose to be sending your kids back to school. No chance in hell am I putting my daughter in a small room with 29 other kids and two adults given how lethal this virus is.

When do you see yourself sending your daughter to school?

WhatsGoingOn2 · 14-08-2020 07:53AM

The Unbearables wrote: »

You'd want a screw lose to be sending your kids back to school. No chance in hell am I putting my daughter in a small room with 29 other kids and two adults given how lethal this virus is.

It is not lethal for kids. Think of your child's mental health.

NIMAN · 14-08-2020 07:56AM

WhatsGoingOn2 wrote: »

It is not lethal for kids. Think of your child's mental health.

This is going to be a major dilemma for parents, and why I asked the question.

There is likely not to be a vaccine for the next school year, realistically. And CV19 will be with us in some form or another for at least the next year or two, maybe longer.

So at what point do parents think it is safe to send their kids back into a school setting? To homeschool a child for the next year or two and keep them away from school and their friends could have very serious mental repercussions.

And I wonder what the legal sides of things are? Will parents be allowed to keep their kids off school as long as they want?

I fully understand some parents have genuine concerns and some kids may be immuno-suppressed and in danger, but if your child is healthy I think they have to return to school asap and try to get back to normal life. The decision to close schools may happen again anyway so I will be sending mine back in September and I really hope the school year goes on as normal. I will be limiting their contact with my elderly mother, but their lives have to continue.

DSN · 14-08-2020 07:59AM

i_surge wrote: »

DSN wrote: »

What is new is a virus. Education is an unessential luxury at this point in time.

A chance to not let schooling interfere with their education maybe, a whole world to learn from, endless resources. Adapt.

See this I absolutely disagree with. Education is essential on many levels. In particular for the marginalised in society who don't have the resources or support to simply 'adapt' & 'learn from the world around them' This virus won't be around forever but a generation whose education was severely interrupted for a long period will have repercussions long term.

Beanybabog · 14-08-2020 08:05AM

NIMAN wrote: »

And I wonder what the legal sides of things are? Will parents be allowed to keep their kids off school as long as they want?
.

I wonder about this too. Schools have to resort to Tulsa if a child misses 20 days and they should investigate. I wonder what’ll happen this year- there can be no fear about missing school if we want to encourage parents to keep kids at home for every snotty nose.

Mrsmum · 14-08-2020 08:17AM

Speaking now on Newstalk about how vital ventilation is. Some study which has the respect of scientists saying cleaning and distance great and all but the virus doesn't just fall to ground/surface. It builds up and circulates around in the air so children should get a lot of outside breaks and doors and windows open to air the room.

jrosen · 14-08-2020 08:18AM

Parents cant keep their children out of school with zero attempts to educate and rightly so. If you dont feel happy to send your kids back then you should be taking the steps now to set yourself up to home school. Your teachers are going back to the classroom, its not really fair to expect them to teach and also prepare work and contact kids who are at home out of choice.

My kids are going back. I can not deliver a secondary school education to my eldest and I wont have his educations disrupted any more than I can help.

The usual absenteeism rules wont apply, they simply cant and to be frank, I couldnt care less what the department think or who the get involved. If i feel school is unsafe I will take my kids out, if they are sick I will keep them home.

Midnight Sundance · 14-08-2020 08:24AM

My school seems to be really making an effort to make social distancing possible. My biggest worry was class sizes and its splitting the bigger classes in half.in saying that , it seems anyone in these split classes probably won't receive any /much learning support whatsoever but I guess there has to be a compromise somewhere.
I do feel the poor SEN children are going to draw the short straw this year and will not get the supporting they deserve or are entitled to due to special ed teachers Either taking one of these split classes or no doubt "subbing" in classes where teacher is out sick.
I've been very anxious about going back to work but know that smaller classes are definitely going to help reduce the spread of covid if it does come to the school. No amount of hand sanitisation and masks will stop it spreading if kids r packed in like sardines.

downthemiddle · 14-08-2020 08:53AM

Midnight Sundance wrote: »

My school seems to be really making an effort to make social distancing possible. My biggest worry was class sizes and its splitting the bigger classes in half.in saying that , it seems anyone in these split classes probably won't receive any /much learning support whatsoever but I guess there has to be a compromise somewhere.
I do feel the poor SEN children are going to draw the short straw this year and will not get the supporting they deserve or are entitled to due to special ed teachers Either taking one of these split classes or no doubt "subbing" in classes where teacher is out sick.
I've been very anxious about going back to work but know that smaller classes are definitely going to help reduce the spread of covid if it does come to the school. No amount of hand sanitisation and masks will stop it spreading if kids r packed in like sardines.

Schools using SEN teachers to reduce class size are going to find themselves in trouble with the department very quickly and risk having sanction for those teachers withdrawn. We cannot condemn the department for their approach to SEN without condemning schools who are using SEN teachers in this manner.

lulublue22 · 14-08-2020 09:09AM

Midnight Sundance wrote: »

My school seems to be really making an effort to make social distancing possible. My biggest worry was class sizes and its splitting the bigger classes in half.in saying that , it seems anyone in these split classes probably won't receive any /much learning support whatsoever but I guess there has to be a compromise somewhere.
I do feel the poor SEN children are going to draw the short straw this year and will not get the supporting they deserve or are entitled to due to special ed teachers Either taking one of these split classes or no doubt "subbing" in classes where teacher is out sick.
I've been very anxious about going back to work but know that smaller classes are definitely going to help reduce the spread of covid if it does come to the school. No amount of hand sanitisation and masks will stop it spreading if kids r packed in like sardines.

Is it definite that SEN/ SET are taking the overflow classes ? if not I would love to know hoe the school is reducing class size and where are they getting the physical space to do so ?

wirelessdude01 · 14-08-2020 09:14AM

downthemiddle wrote: »

Schools using SEN teachers to reduce class size are going to find themselves in trouble with the department very quickly and risk having sanction for those teachers withdrawn. We cannot condemn the department for their approach to SEN without condemning schools who are using SEN teachers in this manner.

I doubt there will be much if anything said to any school that does. The document implies that school staffing resources are allowed to be used in whatever way that best fits.

Now don't think that means I agree I agree with it at all.

lulublue22 · 14-08-2020 09:17AM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I doubt there will be much if anything said to any school that does. The document implies that school staffing resources are allowed to be used in whatever way that best fits.

Now don't think that means I agree I agree with it at all.

Is there not a legal obligation under the EPSEN act no ? TBH I’m hazy on that and maybe totally off the mark.

How will schools be able to go back in September? (Continued)

Comments