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

As I said last night the media are waiting for a confirmed school cluster to get their teeth into.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Surely there is a more efficient way of notifying parents than by letter. I for one don’t notice is there post in my letter box every day

Well the letter is sent via email.

PCros wrote: »

I’m all for collecting the data on schools with cases but is it necessary to name the actual schools in the public domain?

I mean I’ve no problem counting the cases in schools by counties but I just feel naming schools is going to put more pressure on principals who are already up against a lot.

Also are parents going to be faced with journos outside the schools gates on Monday?

The students, parents and teachers will all be notified so I don’t see why it needs to go further than that. Unless we’re not confident in the track and trace system?

Just my 2 cents.

All the information is already online with schools named. It is much harder to keep track without a school name, and increases the risk of over-reporting. It's not like anyone is naming a child or staff member

nothing wrote: »

All the information is already online with schools named. It is much harder to keep track without a school name, and increases the risk of over-reporting. It's not like anyone is naming a child or staff member

I wonder would this have issues re Patient confidentiality. Imagine it was your own son/daughter who tested positive. By the end of the day, their school is all over the national media, with locals finding out who is absent and naming & shaming accordingly.

CruelSummer wrote: »

I wonder would this have issues re Patient confidentiality. Imagine it was your own son/daughter who tested positive. By the end of the day, their school is all over the national media, with locals finding out who is absent and naming & shaming accordingly.

Would be all over the local WhatsApp groups regardless.

nothing wrote: »

School cases so far (sourced from news reports, various school and hse letters posted online)

Thanks for the information. I appreciate knowing.

meeeeh wrote: »

What would the multiple sources be? Twitter?

Anyway a preliminary data in UK is coming out that covid rate among school going kids was no higher to the rate among population. However higher numbers were detected among minorities and children of health workers. So all we need to do is keep black children and those whose parents work for HSE at home and it's problem solved.

And no I'm not being serious.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/going-to-school-does-not-increase-risk-of-young-children-catching-coronavirus-56bk8kp3x

If you aren't a subscriber you can't read the whole of the material, and the context is extremely different (I'm a UK based teacher).

Primary and nursery didn't send all of the students back in June/July - reception, year 1 and year 6 went back in most cases, and as part of that were in classrooms of no more than 15 students within protective bubbles. At secondary, it was only year 10 and 12, who were in on a rota basis with strict social distancing and control measures. A number of students who could come back, didn't come back. In addition, the children of key worker students i.e. the health workers you mention with higher rates were in school (and had been in school since the schools closed to the majority of students), with strict social distancing and control measures in place, and were in different areas of the building to bubbles.

"Public Health England said that it had picked up only three positive cases — two staff and one pupil — out of more than 12,000 people tested in English primary and pre-schools in June and early July." - I don't know how those figures can be accurate with five schools in Leicester had to close because of cases (https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11946713/schools-close-leicester-coronavirus-outbreak/), primary school in Barnsley where three staff members tested positive (two were in the same household), primary school in Derby with seven positive staff cases.

Very different having the whole groups of students back, a lot more difficult

babyboom wrote: »

Our local school had a confirmed case and is not on that list

Updated list, one school removed, spelling mistake fixed, one school added, NI schools added and brief source information included.

It's a working document, doing the best I can to keep it accurate and without identifying anyone

Murple wrote: »

I just watched a clip of a very happy, confident UK teacher talking about all the precautions being taken in the school like all children in rows facing forward (yet here in primary most are in magical pods facing each other), one way systems, staggered breaks etc etc. She seemed very pleased with herself that everything was as safe as possible.
As part of the clip, they showed the children washing hands in the classroom as part of these precautions. No space between the children, about 6 congregating around the sink area and none of the children shown used soap or did more that let the water run over their hands.

:eek::eek::eek: to that bold part

There is no such thing as social distancing between students in schools, it's completely impossible tbh

CruelSummer wrote: »

I answered all the questions if you read the post re Education of younger children. I'm surprised if you're qualified in Primary as you say, you haven't received this training on how to Educate in the Junior Cycle? What would you do if you were assigned Junior Infants in the morning? Put them all in masks from day one, including yourself?
how that would go down with the children, their parents and wider school community. Also how you'd go about achieving your learning outcomes for the year too...

This thread seems quite toxic, instead of taking part in the debate, there's a few on here who seem to think they can speak for all and no one can question their narrative. I'm going to unfollow as really this should be closed and discussed in a more protected way. There are a few on here who wouldn't think twice out of trying to get one up on their colleagues for 'not wearing a mask/visor/' - doing it wrong, etc.
This thread should not be used in a professional capacity with members of the public able to troll and pass themselves off as anyone under anonymous names, including myself.

It makes me laugh that people constantly think that primary teachers just have one qualification. There are many mature students in primary teaching. When I started, a lady who was 54 qualified to teach and fair craic to her. I have friends who are teachers, who are mature students with previous careers as social workers, accountants, ex banker, shop assistants, hair dresser, all walks of life and they bring great experience with them. Not everyone goes primary, secondary, uni, and back to primary again.

Regarding this, "What would you do if you were assigned Junior Infants in the morning? Put them all in masks from day one, including yourself?"

It is not my job to put them in masks, that will be decided by NPHET or DOH based on WHO guidelines that children 5+ should wear masks, if they choose to follow them. However in June, I ordered 2 masks with see through panels in case I am placed in Junior Infants, being in SET there is every possibility. I am high risk and have very high risk parents, so yes I will be wearing a mask. How that goes down with parents, will depend on whether DOH decides if they should wear masks, is not my concern that is what management are for. Mine would be how to manage it in the classroom so the children were comfortable with wearing them.

Regarding this, "Also how you'd go about achieving your learning outcomes for the year too..."

The learning outcomes as with other years have had to be altered this year as there is so many new protocols to be accommodated, so go slower to go forward. We are facing many new challenges and taking a slow approach to ensure children are comfortable is my main objective. If they were to wear masks, I would go slowly with that too. People say children cannot wear masks, they do in other countries. Also children are no different that adults, some wear them perfectly, some don't and as with academics, children learn at different speeds and will manage masks at different speeds, and my job is to encourage them in all they do, even if that eventually includes mask wearing. Children are amazing and surprise us all the time. I can't recall the many times a parent has said on the first day that they were worried about X behaving/sitting/ doing as he or she was asked in the classroom. Everytime I tell them not to worry, as 99% of children do well on their first day and for the 1% myself and colleagues are here to help.

It is sad you have chosen to leave as essentially debate is made up of opposing views and discussing them. No one here I have seen has declared they are speaking for everyone. However it is interesting that when asked by another poster about your qualifications, you now deem this a toxic environment that should be closed. Neither would I try to get one up on a colleague re mask wearing as that is childish. I would however approach them about it as everyone has their reasons for wearing or not wearing a mask or visor and I have already been approached by colleagues who are worried about them because believe it or not, they trust me and my background and experience.

babyboom wrote: »

Oh right, it's still not there but I'm sure it'll be added at some stage.

Unfortunately the information isn't available to be completely comprehensive yet.

I am concerned about people compiling lists and publishing them here . It is is not up to a member of the public to name names or schools affected by a positive test . It is up to the Department of Heath or Education or HSE to inform the public
It is concerning and not without danger for a member of the public to be making and updating lists .
Just my opinion and I needed to say it

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Which county?

North County Dublin - not Skerries