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

Msbookeeper wrote: »

To me, it appears that without proper masks provided, no improvement of ventilation in school buildings (corridors are a disaster), no mention of improved close contact tracing, no on the ground measures have been taken to make schools any safer.

Despite the new variant becoming the dominant strain, despite children being far more likely to pass it on now.

Feels like the Gov. called unions bluff. Has anyone contacted their union rep? I emaied today but no reply, seems we're just taking this one lying down despite no improvement in on the ground safety and no I don't believe it when Des says school environment is safe - 30 people in one poorly ventilated room, nope.

khalessi wrote: »

I spoke to our LWR today about masks and was told they had plenty of the blue med masks mainly for intimate personal hygiene. I did point out that we are dealing with a different strain and FFP2 or FFP3 was recommended some weeks away but was told Dept recommended the blue med masks, which are the same masks we had last term. I asked would these masks be bought and would they be available for all staff and was told that would b eclarified at a later date.

khalessi wrote: »

I spoke to our LWR today about masks and was told they had plenty of the blue med masks mainly for intimate personal hygiene. I did point out that we are dealing with a different strain and FFP2 or FFP3 was recommended some weeks away but was told Dept recommended the blue med masks, which are the same masks we had last term. I asked would these masks be bought and would they be available for all staff and was told that would b eclarified at a later date.

Marty Bird wrote: »

You do realise that Astra Zeneca refuted that claim and have said they will deliver all contracted vaccine supply in Q2

Msbookeeper wrote: »

Hi, well actually current Nephet recommendation is that Junior infants and senior infants return to primary school and leaving certs are to attend post primary. Des went ahead and added a couple of years for good measure,again without any further on the ground safety measures.

Put yourself in this position: 30 people, possibly unmasked in a poorly ventilated room, during an airborne pandemic. Go ahead and tell me that's fine and dandy.

If you want to take the assumption all teachers "think" they understand epidemiology of a novel virus, fine but that's some leap from me giving my opinion.

If you would, explain to me why I can't meet a friend in a park but it's okay to put myself in a room with 30 people? All day if a primary teacher? How do those two current government policies match up?

Today Norma Foley explained it is up to society to keep the schools open, no it's the DES responsibility to provide a safe working environment i.e. Improve ventilation, provide suitable masks and put contact tracing in place, that would be leadership and governance, rather than throwing unions, teachers and now society as a whole under the bus.

PS I love you're crystal ball prediction, you know as much as my dog scout does about what 4 weeks away will be like. Your teacher bashing mindset is soo transparent.

Msbookeeper wrote: »

To me, it appears that without proper masks provided, no improvement of ventilation in school buildings (corridors are a disaster), no mention of improved close contact tracing, no on the ground measures have been taken to make schools any safer.



Feels like the Gov. called unions bluff. Has anyone contacted their union rep?

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

It’s not DES saying schools are safe it’s NPHET and public health officials.

New strain is a challenge but not enough of a game changer to keep schools closed. Teachers have been crying NEW STRAIN as an excuse to stay at home when they really don’t even understand the epidemiology of the virus and different strains.

Schools will go back on Monday and in 3-4 weeks daily cases will still be low and hospitals and ICU nos will still be declining .

yrreg0850 wrote: »

Why should the unions have a say when schools reopen.

Where would we be if the unions representing grocery etc. decided that shops were unsafe,
or, the medical staff unions, whose members cannot even get rest days, not to mind 25 hour weeks, mid term breaks, and, eight week holidays adopted the same attitude as teaching unions.

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Come join us. We are always looking for mature entrants to our profession.

yrreg0850 wrote: »

Why should the unions have a say when schools reopen.

Where would we be if the unions representing grocery etc. decided that shops were unsafe,
or, the medical staff unions, whose members cannot even get rest days, not to mind 25 hour weeks, mid term breaks, and, eight week holidays adopted the same attitude as teaching unions.

yrreg0850 wrote: »

Why should the unions have a say when schools reopen.

Where would we be if the unions representing grocery etc. decided that shops were unsafe,
or, the medical staff unions, whose members cannot even get rest days, not to mind 25 hour weeks, mid term breaks, and, eight week holidays adopted the same attitude as teaching unions.

Stateofyou wrote:

So NPHET and public health officials are the ones speaking from authority, when you have a point to prove against another poster. When you have to answer uncomfortable questions, suddenly you disagree with these experts. Maybe it's you who really doesn't even understand the epidemiology of the virus and different strains. Maybe we can all admit that none of us are virologists/epidemiologists/immunologists/vaccine researchers.