Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) Mod warning in OP 22/01

20-01-2021 10:51PM

downthemiddle wrote: »

For those who want to follow the example of NI.

https://www.donegaldaily.com/2021/01/20/military-deployed-to-northern-ireland-hospitals/

If only they could have kept their special education classes home. Instead of having about 400 hospitalisations per million, they could be like us, and have 400 hospitalisations per million

mirrorwall14 · 20-01-2021 10:56PM

for anyone interested I did fire off an FOI request. Thanks for the link to read earlier. Not sure I actually worded it right but sure look it’s worth a try

downthemiddle · 20-01-2021 11:20PM

Deleted User wrote: »

If only they could have kept their special education classes home. Instead of having about 400 hospitalisations per million, they could be like us, and have 400 hospitalisations per million

You need to check your figures. One is 441 per million the other 393 per million. More importantly only one has called in the army at the moment.

km79 · 20-01-2021 11:23PM

https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0120/1190840-coronavirus-ireland/

tails_naf · 20-01-2021 11:40PM

completedit wrote: »

Are people actually stupid or something? Those most ardently in support of lockdowns over the past year are the same people who are now up in arms about the closures of schools. Like everything, as long as it doesn't really impinge upon my life too much then we're happy to comply to on-going lockdowns and restrictions without any sympathy for those whose lives are up in the air and extremely damaged by the various hidden non-Covid related affects of successive lockdowns. However, once they are forced to have to marry their responsibility as parents with their workplace commitments, suddenly, Covid is no longer that much of a threat and teachers should like it and lump it and get back to work. It is outrageous cognitive dissonance.

Teachers are being treated as if their sole existence in life is that of teachers. They aren't at risk, nor are their families and this outrageous idea that schools can somehow be 'safe' while everywhere else is in lockdown due to the supposed, and given recent death and hospitalisation rates, blatant threat of the virus.

It's a few weeks in addition to the Christmas holidays. Maybe a month. The education and outcomes for children do not rest on a few weeks of missed school. Not in a first world country. How someone from Government has not come out and vocalised clearly and sternly that the closures are the result of the Covid situation deteriorating in a way we hadn't been envisioned back in September. It's absolutely disgraceful to be honest.

It's extremely unfair that parents are not being told to bear the responsibility and face up to the fact that this pandemic comes with huge disturbances, disruption and inconvenience for everyone. I'm not saying for these same people that Covid has not been restrictive or hard, but it has been bearable. Their lives could do with a bit of variety, but they're at the stage where they're rearing the kids, paying off the mortgage, focusing on career. They have other concerns so have been able to ride the Covid wave, while putting a bit aside. So far, they've been quite compliant and happy to trot out the 'all in this together' line while safe in the knowledge, once Covid has subsided, that they'll be in a stronger financial situation. All was rosy until god forbid the schools closed for a few extra weeks.

Talking about bearing some responsibility, why is it not mandated that all teachers are on zoom teaching for the normal teaching day? It's working very well in other countries. As it is most teachers at primary level have limited online instruction with their class. Makes no sense to me, there's been months to plan for this.

20-01-2021 11:43PM

downthemiddle wrote: »

You need to check your figures. One is 441 per million the other 393 per million. More importantly only one has called in the army at the moment.

You are really going to argue about a tiny difference. All measures of virus both sides of the border indicate the epidemiological situations are very similar at the moment. We have the army supporting testing, they have them supporting hospitals. ICU numbers are remarkably similar at the moment also

downthemiddle · 20-01-2021 11:45PM

tails_naf wrote: »

Talking about bearing some responsibility, why is it not mandated that all teachers are on zoom teaching for the normal teaching day? It's working very well in other countries. As it is most teachers at primary level have limited online instruction with their class. Makes no sense to me, there's been months to plan for this.

Whose turn is it to explain this time?

Icyseanfitz · 20-01-2021 11:46PM

Another bit of gold from Waterford whisperers. What's sad is that an outright satirical media outlet is more on point than our national media outlet rte

https://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2021/01/20/whos-to-blame-evil-teachers-snas-or-our-flawless-government/

History Queen · 20-01-2021 11:52PM

tails_naf wrote: »

Talking about bearing some responsibility, why is it not mandated that all teachers are on zoom teaching for the normal teaching day? It's working very well in other countries. As it is most teachers at primary level have limited online instruction with their class. Makes no sense to me, there's been months to plan for this.

Doesn't suit households where children are sharing devices/parents unavailable to supervise primary school children at class time/poor internet/unsuitable devices/students helping in house with childcare or chores....

wirelessdude01 · 21-01-2021 12:06AM

History Queen wrote: »

Doesn't suit households where children are sharing devices/parents unavailable to supervise primary school children at class time/poor internet/unsuitable devices/students helping in house with childcare or chores....

Still our fault though.

tails_naf · 21-01-2021 12:12AM

History Queen wrote: »

Doesn't suit households where children are sharing devices/parents unavailable to supervise primary school children at class time/poor internet/unsuitable devices/students helping in house with childcare or chores....

Thats a cop out, the teachers should still be available and teaching online full time, if some students don't or can't partake then OK, but don't punish the majority for those reason that would apply to a minority.

tails_naf · 21-01-2021 12:14AM

downthemiddle wrote: »

Whose turn is it to explain this time?

There's no explaining it, plenty excuses sure, but no good reasons. Full day online teaching is happening and working in other countries, I've relations who's kids are doing school full time abroad and it works well.

History Queen · 21-01-2021 12:17AM

tails_naf wrote: »

Thats a cop out, the teachers should still be available and teaching online full time, if some students don't or can't partake then OK, but don't punish the majority for those reason that would apply to a minority.

Wait... are you seriously telling me that issues raised by the parents that we surveyed based on their experience last year are a cop out? By who? The parents? Are you for real? And not one parent wanted live lessons all day so precisely what "majority" are you speaking for?

Our teachers are available online for the whole school day.

Edit: live lessons are not the only form of teaching

khalessi · 21-01-2021 12:21AM

loving the new posters full of originality

wirelessdude01 · 21-01-2021 12:22AM

tails_naf wrote: »

Thats a cop out, the teachers should still be available and teaching online full time, if some students don't or can't partake then OK, but don't punish the majority for those reason that would apply to a minority.

Tell that to the parents of the children in my class who when surveyed said they didn't want what you have described. I do live zoom every day. I have good attendance but not all children can get on due to broadband issues. Concepts are taught used loom tutorials. ALL my children and their parents are happy. Parents are happy that the curriculum being taught and that each day is a progression from the previous day.

khalessi · 21-01-2021 12:22AM

downthemiddle wrote: »

Whose turn is it to explain this time?

Laughed when I read this as exactly my thoughts

dirkmeister · 21-01-2021 12:23AM

tails_naf wrote: »

There's no explaining it, plenty excuses sure, but no good reasons. Full day online teaching is happening and working in other countries, I've relations who's kids are doing school full time abroad and it works well.

And who says Zoom is the best platform?

We are using seesaw, I prerecord my lessons.

Children access them at their own convenience.

They can contact me with a voice note, picture or video of their work.

I can reply to them immediately.

It’s very child friendly.

Parents have my email if they want to contact me.

Have you any ideas yourself as to why we should be using Zoom instead? If so, I’m all ears.

wirelessdude01 · 21-01-2021 12:23AM

tails_naf wrote: »

There's no explaining it, plenty excuses sure, but no good reasons. Full day online teaching is happening and working in other countries, I've relations who's kids are doing school full time abroad and it works well.

What country? What age kids? Public or private school?

km79 · 21-01-2021 12:35AM

dirkmeister wrote: »

And who says Zoom is the best platform?

We are using seesaw, I prerecord my lessons.

Children access them at their own convenience.

They can contact me with a voice note, picture or video of their work.

I can reply to them immediately.

It’s very child friendly.

Parents have my email if they want to contact me.

Have you any ideas yourself as to why we should be using Zoom instead? If so, I’m all ears.

This is primary I assume ?
My sons (4th class ) teacher does the same.
It’s excellent. He can engage with her if he wants . She sends videos of readings etc and he can reply with voice note, video , message etc
To be fair to her we have decided to sent a max of two messages back a week. One photo of work and maybe one bit of him reading .
She has 30 other kids or so .
I’m happy he is doing his work . We do not want , need or would be able to support anymore live video streams during the day. Myself and my wife are working from home and this involves live streaming for both of us. The oldest lad is in college . He is doing essays on his laptop .

For primary what you are doing is perfectly fine . People just want to complain .
Keep up the good work

tails_naf · 21-01-2021 12:39AM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

What country? What age kids? Public or private school?

My wife is a teacher, her parents are both teachers and her sister is a teacher (primary). In this case it is her sister who is teaching full time online. She's in the US and it's a public school, primary classes (elementary), as is her mother (different school). None of them can believe that online teaching is not mandated here. The majority of students attend most of the day.

tails_naf · 21-01-2021 12:46AM

dirkmeister wrote: »

And who says Zoom is the best platform?

We are using seesaw, I prerecord my lessons.

Children access them at their own convenience.

They can contact me with a voice note, picture or video of their work.

I can reply to them immediately.

It’s very child friendly.

Parents have my email if they want to contact me.

Have you any ideas yourself as to why we should be using Zoom instead? If so, I’m all ears.

The problem is many teachers are doing eff all. Some are great, with loads of interaction online, others close to zero. Many do not record any lessons. It's the inconsistency in how this is being handled that's the issue. Why can't all teachers be asked to deliver online learning for the working day, be that recorded or live?

Using seesaw is fine by the way, but live interaction is useful too. If live interaction is not valuable in teaching, then even after covid we should just have kids all watch Eddie woo on youtube and we'd have no need for maths/economics teachers (just an example, but if all prerecorded is good enough, you can't beat Eddie woo)

tails_naf · 21-01-2021 12:48AM

km79 wrote: »

This is primary I assume ?
For primary what you are doing is perfectly fine . People just want to complain .
Keep up the good work

I'm complaining about the inconsistency. It's great your sons teacher is dedicated, others are not so lucky and the kids are barely occupied for an hour a day just doing homework/busywork, but not covering any new topics.

Mardyke · 21-01-2021 12:49AM

tails_naf wrote: »

The problem is many teachers are doing eff all. Some are great, with loads of interaction online, others close to zero. Many do not record any lessons. It's the inconsistency in how this is being handled that's the issue. Why can't all teachers be asked to deliver online learning for the working day, be that recorded or live?

Using seesaw is fine by the way, but live interaction is useful too. If live interaction is not valuable in teaching, then even after covid we should just have kids all watch Eddie woo on youtube and we'd have no need for maths/economics teachers (just an example, but if all prerecorded is good enough, you can't beat Eddie woo)

The lack of a consistent platform that schools can use for remote learning is a disgrace and something the Dept of Education should be hung for.

It's something that should have been rolled out years ago, but at the very least in the last 10 months.

Of course you will get some teachers that are good and others that are not.

By having a clear process and a platform that everyone in the country uses then it takes away the excuses for the not so proactive teachers.

History Queen · 21-01-2021 12:49AM

tails_naf wrote: »

The problem is many teachers are doing eff all. Some are great, with loads of interaction online, others close to zero. Many do not record any lessons. It's the inconsistency in how this is being handled that's the issue. Why can't all teachers be asked to deliver online learning for the working day, be that recorded or live?

Using seesaw is fine by the way, but live interaction is useful too. If live interaction is not valuable in teaching, then even after covid we should just have kids all watch Eddie woo on youtube and we'd have no need for maths/economics teachers (just an example, but if all prerecorded is good enough, you can't beat Eddie woo)

Any teachers doing "eff all" should be reported to their schools. If you read the guidelines issued by the department you will see what is expected.

dirkmeister · 21-01-2021 12:55AM

tails_naf wrote: »

The problem is many teachers are doing eff all. Some are great, with loads of interaction online, others close to zero. Many do not record any lessons. It's the inconsistency in how this is being handled that's the issue. Why can't all teachers be asked to deliver online learning for the working day, be that recorded or live?

With respect, I’d love to know where you are getting your figure of “many” from. That just sounds like teacher bashing and makes people less likely to engage. The vast majority of teachers I know are flat out teaching during the day.

That being said, my nieces’ school are taking the absolute p!ss. Work is emailed on Sunday for the week with no other interaction. Infuriating. I couldn’t stand over that if I worked there.

You mention inconsistency, take that up with the Department who have been beating the “autonomy” drum when it came to issuing guidelines. That’s part of the reason why we are in this mess.

Mrsmum · 21-01-2021 12:56AM

Quick question - in my sons' school, only the maths teacher has a live class for the full hour. All other teachers are live for max twenty minutes. Would that be fairly standard ? Just curious really. Obviously secondary school.
Edit should have said, not all classes are live but when they are live it's short.

wirelessdude01 · 21-01-2021 12:59AM

Mrsmum wrote: »

Quick question - in my sons' school, only the maths teacher has a live class for the full hour. All other teachers are live for max twenty minutes. Would that be fairly standard ? Just curious really. Obviously secondary school.

Two neighbours are secondary. They've been told to keep the live segment to max 20mins. They go through what is to be done, class go off and do it and then 5min round up. Two different schools with roughly the same approach. All classes are shortened as well to enable teachers and students to be able to get prepared for the next one.

History Queen · 21-01-2021 01:01AM

Mrsmum wrote: »

Quick question - in my sons' school, only the maths teacher has a live class for the full hour. All other teachers are live for max twenty minutes. Would that be fairly standard ? Just curious really. Obviously secondary school.

In our place off results of parent and student surveys it was decided that lives should not take up whole class period or if they did that all work assigned be completed during the live.students were finding the workload too much and couldn't commit to a school day of lives and homework in the evening. (In our place maths teachers mostly doing whole class live so maybe this works for maths?)

In other subjects such as English the teacher will teach new material for x amount of time and then assign work for the rest of the time. Sometimes students do work immediately sometimes they log off and do work later when it suits them. Teacher remains available via email or chat or sometimes stays live but with camera turned off in case students wish to ask a question. Maybe it is similar in your son's school?

Mrsmum · 21-01-2021 01:03AM

Tks folks. That sounds reasonable.

wirelessdude01 · 21-01-2021 01:03AM

Happened to glance at myself in the mirror today as I was heading out for a walk after I shut off the laptop for the evening. Dear God the black circles under my eyes are shocking. Any other teachers noticing the same?

Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) **Mod warning in OP 22/01**

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Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) Mod warning in OP 22/01