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

Deeec wrote: »

All parents I know agree that remote learning does not work - it was ok while numbers were high but in no way does it compare to children attending school. I dont know any parents who are not willing to send their children back to school. Of course parents have concerns but they realise that going back to school is best for their childs development. Those that love remote learning are very few and far between and usually have their own reasons for that. Real life seems to differ alot to what is said on this thread.

So you don't think numbers are still high? Both my children who are secondary teachers think the numbers are high and most of their colleagues agree...but time will tell....
Remote teaching should be working ...it just takes effort all round....it really should be that in times like we have now/perhaps the future there should be no problem from switching from school to remote learning..work needs to be done on this...
Problem the Dept of Education/Norma Foley has is no foreward thinking....about anything....

penny piper wrote: »

So you don't think numbers are still high? Both my children who are secondary teachers think the numbers are high and most of their colleagues agree...but time will tell....
Remote teaching should be working ...it just takes effort all round....it really should be that in times like we have now/perhaps the future there should be no problem from switching from school to remote learning..work needs to be done on this...
Problem the Dept of Education/Norma Foley has is no foreward thinking....about anything....

Yes I feel it is safe as numbers are low in my area. My children go to a smallish country school. My daughters ( Snr infants ) teacher who is pregnant is going back to school on Monday. She could work remotely but she has chosen to go back so she obviously feels it is safe also. The teachers in my kids school done a brilliant job regarding health and safety from Sept - Dec.

There are still huge differences in how schools ( and indeed teachers ) operate remote learning which is very unfair IMO. We cant say that every child working remotely in this country has access to the same education at the moment which is a big failing. I agree that Norma and DES need to formulate a plan for future closures and remote learning but I think we all know that wont happen.

yrreg0850 wrote: »

Everyone except some of the teachers on this forum.

As you can see they are even complaining with the media for suggesting they go back to work.

I'm not a teacher, I'm a parent of a second class child and I feel like schools are being rushed open. The vast, vast majority of the parents that I know feel the same. I'm sending my son to school on Monday and I feel so uncomfortable with it. If we hadn't almost certainly both had Covid already I'd feel so much worse. It's over 11 months since I got sick and I'm not 100% recovered. I'd likely have a reasonable immune response to exposure to B117 but one of the antibody resistant variants would very likely make me sick again because my immune system feels shattered. And while I'd probably recover eventually, I'd really like to avoid spending any months of this year in bed.

We are doing this too soon. After Easter when transmission has reduced more and more vulnerable people have had their vaccine would be completely different. Most kids need to be back at school but waiting a few more weeks would make little difference to them while potentially making an enormous difference to viral transmission and the risk to vulnerable people. By opening now, there is a larger chance that they'll have to shut again before the academic year is over and slow the reopening of the economy even more. Waiting a just a little longer would make that very unlikely.

Zaney wrote: »

I work in the private sector - my work is measured on outcomes, not hours worked.

My 7 year old has most definitely not been sufficiently educated over the last two months. I don’t blame the teacher or his efforts. I don’t blame me or my efforts as a parent. I don’t blame my 7 year old or her efforts as a student. We all three are finding remote learning very difficult. And all three of us are delighted that schools are starting to reopen Monday.

I'm delighted schools are reopening too but take issue with the earlier insinuation that teachers were not working.

iguana wrote: »

I'm not a teacher, I'm a parent of a second class child and I feel like schools are being rushed open. The vast, vast majority of the parents that I know feel the same. I'm sending my son to school on Monday and I feel so uncomfortable with it. If we hadn't almost certainly both had Covid already I'd feel so much worse. It's over 11 months since I got sick and I'm not 100% recovered. I'd likely have a reasonable immune response to exposure to B117 but one of the antibody resistant variants would very likely make me sick again because my immune system feels shattered. And while I'd probably recover eventually, I'd really like to avoid spending any months of this year in bed.

We are doing this too soon. After Easter when transmission has reduced more and more vulnerable people have had their vaccine would be completely different. Most kids need to be back at school but waiting a few more weeks would make little difference to them while potentially making an enormous difference to viral transmission and the risk to vulnerable people. By opening now, there is a larger chance that they'll have to shut again before the academic year is over and slow the reopening of the economy even more. Waiting a just a little longer would make that very unlikely.

I agree on feeling that this is rushed and that waiting until after Easter for the majority would have been the safer choice.
I also have difficulty accepting that nothing has really changed in schools since before Christmas in terms of precautions etc.
However, I personally only know one other person personally that has reservations and she is a pregnant Teacher who is having a difficult pregnancy.
We are keeping our 5th Class child at home until her brother goes back after Easter. I am hoping that things will have improved by then.

Edit to add - I am sorry that you are still feeling the affects of Covid and hope that you recover fully soon.

Del Griffith wrote:

Will you stop peddling this hysterical rubbish, even if it is more contagious to kids (which is yet to be proven) its going to go from somewhere like 0.01% to 0.013% of a negative outcome. Pretty much irrelevant and negligible.

The whining from teachers is looking really pathetic at this stage.

If they are so unlikely to get the virus how did we have over 2500 children getting it in the last two weeks?

Whining about wanting a safe working environment. The humanity!

If we are being treated as frontline workers, then why are we 11th on the list for the vaccine? When other frontline workers are currently getting vaccinated (as they should be).

Warbeastrior wrote: »

If they are so unlikely to get the virus how did we have over 2500 children getting it in the last two weeks?

Whining about wanting a safe working environment. The humanity!

If we are being treated as frontline workers, then why are we 11th on the list for the vaccine? When other frontline workers are currently getting vaccinated (as they should be).

I agree with you....everyone is entitled to feel safe in their working environment hence the amount of people working from home.

Today in Dublin there is a major garda operation in progress as gardai are clashing with anti lockdown protesters.... I wonder are there any of these protesters parents? because people should remember they want schools open but
forget about the safety of others ie teachers/students going back monday..

So much for dr. Ronan Glynn's asking people to stay at home etc....
Until vaccinations are carried out more atleast until after easter schools should not be going back...

penny piper wrote: »

Isn't that the problem we still have a level 5 lockdown and didn't the acting chief medical officer only yesterday asked parents not to congregate/organise play dates etc...

I think it's a very selfish attitude having playgrounds packed full and then parents complaining about teachers not wanting to go back to work.....

For my children who are teachers in Dublin they both have to bring letters explaining that they are teachers because we live in Leitrim and they need to use train/dart in dublin.....
And no child has been deprived of academic/personal development....

They absolutely have been deprived . There are extremely vulnerable children in this country living with neglect , abuse , violence and extreme difficulty . They have missed out on their safe harbour in school and missed out on a stable environment where they feel safe . To deny this fact is naive at best

GazzaL wrote: »

We've been in various levels of lockdown for 12 months. We can't stay in lockdown forever.

If some teachers don't want to go back, leave them sit on the PUP. There are plenty that want to go to work.

Children are being deprived of academic and personal development. It's outrageous to suggest otherwise. Even RTE have admitted this, and children with special needs in particular are being left behind.

Well if all you can come up is RTE as an example....
Children have received remote education ...i do know i've had two teachers in my own home doing this....
Didn't you just say about how many parents have their children in packed playgrounds? how outrageous is that? didn't you listen to ronan glynn?
.

penny piper wrote: »

Well if all you can come up is RTE as an example....
Children have received remote education ...i do know i've had two teachers in my own home doing this....
Didn't you just say about how many parents have their children in packed playgrounds? how outrageous is that? didn't you listen to ronan glynn?
.

Some kids are getting max. 1 hour per week contact time with their teacher. Kids aren't learning and interacting with their peer group. Remote learning for kids is not an adequate subsitute for the classroom.

Children with special needs are regressing at an alarming rate which puts massive pressure on their parents who don't have the specialist skills needed.

Like I said, I have no problem if you want to keep your kids at home. You seem to have a problem with anyone that wants their kids to go to school and play with their friends and peers, all of which is critical to their academic and personal development.

What gives you the right to tell people their children can't receive a proper education and interact with their peer group for proper personal development?

GazzaL wrote: »

Some kids are getting max. 1 hour per week contact time with their teacher. Kids aren't learning and interacting with their peer group. Remote learning for kids is not an adequate subsitute for the classroom.

Children with special needs are regressing at an alarming rate which puts massive pressure on their parents who don't have the specialist skills needed.

Like I said, I have no problem if you want to keep your kids at home. You seem to have a problem with anyone that wants their kids to go to school and play with their friends and peers, all of which is critical to their academic and personal development.

What gives you the right to tell people their children can't receive a proper education and interact with their peer group for proper personal development?

Don't be so melodramatic.....we are in a level 5 lockdown still.......listen to nphet and what they are advising ....maybe read the letter ronan glynn sent out...and where are the studies done on special needs children regressing? why it's only two months....

iamwhoiam wrote: »

You have got to be kidding with this post . It shows naivity at very best . Ask any teacher if they have kids in their class who have no stability , no home schooling , looking after younger kids at home , alcoholic parents . They exist , and if you think it doesn’t then open your eyes
They are known to the services and teachers look out for them and keep services informed .

I know full well where TUSLA have been informed regarding children and done absolutely nothing......I actually never said children with these problems didn't exist.....but what are social services during this period of lockdown?

penny piper wrote: »

Schools shouldn't be looked upon as a "safe harbour" what happens when these children go home??.

Primary school was my safe harbour. I used to be the 1st person in the doors and the last to leave for a period of 2 years until my home life (thankfully) improved
It deeply hurts me to think there are children who are in the same situation I was in and in a lot worse situations and have not been able to go to school
Schools are not just about education- they are a safe space where children are treated with dignity, kindness and respect

penny piper wrote: »

I know full well where TUSLA have been informed regarding children and done absolutely nothing......I actually never said children with these problems didn't exist.....but what are social services during this period of lockdown?

You said no child was deprived of an education . Oh yes , they most certainly were . These kids exist and they also count

And please do not suggest to me that I know of such children and do nothing
You have no clue about my life or what I do or how I deal with such knowledge