Schools and Covid 19 (part 5) **Mod warnings in OP**

The ISSU is looking for a staggered return too. As are the National Parent's Association.

Time lost??? No idea where you've been since the start of the pandemic! Under a rock if you don't realise that teachers and a vast majority of students did the work online. A minority may not have but you will always get that in every walk of life. So why would you punish the majority by cancelling holidays? Hard working kids who followed their classes online, you'd cancel their holiday would you? And you're clearly not aware that oral exams are now scheduled to take place during the Easter break. How would you manage your punishing regime? Have them go to classes in the morning perhaps, classes they already did online and then do their oral exam later on until whatever time. Would that keep you happy?

I'm not necessarily advocating for it. I was just pointing out that other groups are calling for a staggered return too.

Why there is so much reluctance on behalf of the Dept, to put some more safety measures in to schools, so that conversations like this don't need to happen, is beyond me.

Anyone who thinks this is about additional “safety measures” in schools is deluded.

The teaching unions and parents council should read the report released today about how student mental health has suffered as a result of schools being closed. It’s a disgrace that unions are even considering another closure … and I say that as a teacher.

Still transmits and still a risk for some as far as I know? Happy to be corrected. To be honest I'm happier if we open as planned but I am a bit nervous.

If you read the reports so far on the effects school closures had on students you'll see that it is quite scathing of the lack of mitigation measures. Or listen to what the author of the report himself says.

"We don't want to expose children's health to any dangers if we can avoid it, but the issue here is that school closures should be the very last resort rather than looking at school closures as something we should do before we invest in other mitigation measures in schools," Professor O'Mahony said.

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/parents-association-calls-for-staggered-reopening-of-schools-amid-omicron-surge-1237088.html

The report on the impact of school closures on student mental health really needs to be considered very carefully by any teachers supporting school closures. The public won’t support us in the same way as last year … I predict genuine, and justified, anger from parents if the teaching unions force school closures

”We don't want to expose children's health to any dangers if we can avoid it, but the issue here is that school closures should be the very last resort rather than looking at school closures as something we should do before we invest in other mitigation measures in schools," Professor O'Mahony said.

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/parents-association-calls-for-staggered-reopening-of-schools-amid-omicron-surge-1237088.html

Would you not contact your local union shop steward and let them know your views. If enough like minded colleagues do thst the shop stewards are mandated to bring this forward

Great post … thanks X 1000

Ya this is what I'm expecting going back, but to be honest, I don't think people care, or maybe they aren't aware. Who knows?

Most teachers I know have no problem returning to school on Thursday. But out of 5 mainstream teachers in my school 3 will be missing this week, myself included. My family are waiting on a PCR test since Sat and so far no text for appointment.

I'm sure this will be repeated across the country. The rules on isolation time periods need to be changed. Healthy (unvaccinated) children who are household contacts should not have to isolate for 14 days! Aside from causing problems for working parents it also causes massive problems in the classroom. How can the teacher move forward with teaching and learning if half the class is missing? I totally understand about the issues with mental health but there are also wider issues that noone is talking about. The long waiting lists for pretty much everything are huge. Assessments, SLT, OT. School closing for a week or 2 isn't the biggest issue here. The fallout from covid is going to be going on for years.

Well I know from my situation if my husband or I do test positive in the coming days my kids have to stay home for 2 weeks. I know due to my husbands job I'll have to stay with them. We have been so lucky up to now in that my parents would look after them but I can't ask them to do that. So even tho they are well and healthy they can't go to school which means I can't go to work. I know this is not unique to the teaching profession and its across all sectors but its crazy to expect kids to stay out that long when they are usually fine within a couple of days.

I can see the rules being changed in the coming weeks also as its just unsustainable to keep going with the current rules. For all of society! Not just education

Our neps psychologist is unavailable at the moment. No replacement available. Post checked once a week and whoever picks it up will get back to us whenever it suits them. I have a child waiting on an AON and when they receive it will go on another waiting list that is currently 18 months to 2 years to be seen! This is not acceptable but noone is talking about that!

I had it on and when I seen he was on I turned it off.