As a Primary School teacher I'm delighted to be going back on Thursday. Omicron isn't a big deal for the vast majority, we need to get on with it. Some schools/classes might be disrupted but with the potential new rules around close contacts and a bit of cop o/leeway around that end of things then most schools should function alright
Just back from a jog - I counted 11 teens hanging out on a street corner, practically on top of one another. Of the 11, one was wearing a mask.
They are obviously entitled to do what they want, but if we are worried about staff shortages, that shortage is going to come about as a result of high transmission. There will be higher transmission in the community if schools don't reopen in my opinion. The parents of those 11 are not going to suddenly stop their children socialising (as is their entitlement, no judgement) on Thursday if it were announced that schools would remain closed.
I feel lucky that I'm a secondary teacher - I also passed one of the local creches who were out for a walk and the poor woman couldn't keep the children out of her personal space at all - in fairness, at least in secondary they are mostly far enough away from us and they are all masked and some are also vaxxed and possibly boostered.
I reckon principals will be pulling their hair out over the next month. A lot of schools I feel will be forced to close due to staff shortages.
Also I think it's only right that the department state if the LC will be a hybrid model again this year and will the JC actually go ahead this year.
Principles also have flexibility to manage there school year. Over the last 30 years the Christmas holidays have been reduced from being nearly 3 weeks to now barly two weeks. Easter holidays used to be 10 days now 16 days. At the same time you have mid term breaks.
How was it at the most health riskiest time of the year we allowed the holidays to be shortened to such a short time frame.
What a **** show, no plan at all by the department. I hope not but considering the amount out sick before Christmas I can see many schools shutting simply due to staff being out.
Maybe when schools are shut down because of government incompetence Vs unions or nasty teachers people will realise who's to blame.
The government has been consistent that school will reopen. Teachers unions have tried to bully them into extending the school holidays. If schools close now the days must be made up during the spring break or Easter.
If schools close now it will be because they do not have staff.
If the schools close due to teacher shortages, we will not be making up missed days.
Hence that government request for CMO advice. They want to tweak the rules on isolation and it's not just schools.
I was very surprised to hear the government are going ahead with the school opening. I was trying to figure out why the change in their behaviour. The only thing I can think of is that it is actually much easier for government to open up schools and go for quick herd immunity than organise hepafilters and sort out air hygiene.
No plan at all ??
Norma Foley has been very consistent that the plan is to open. Just because a few union reps don't like it doesn't mean there's no plan.
Magically like schools, school staff wil be deemed "safe" and no more isolating needed 🤣🤣🤣 it's so stupid I could see it happening.
Colm O Rourke principal in st Pats Navan said on radio today its critical that schools open, and that school management will have to get on with what they are paid to do.
Doubtful but it should be short term anyway with this expected to peak pretty soon.
I find this really frustrating - Norma Foley putting education first - what a joke and no I’m not talking about opening / closing schools more the removal of banked hours , misuse of SET , removal of OT & S< and standing over the refusal of outside agencies to come into schools due to “covid” - removing supports from those very same children that need it the most and are most affected by school closures . Populist is exactly what type of minister she is.
It's not just teachers. Nurses, Hse staff, Fire Brigade, Gardaí.
Don't you get it? It won't be perfect every time. But if they implement a 5 day isolation after a pcr for the above, the science says the overwhelming majority will be able to return to work, no problems.
You might have anomalies here and there, but deal with those on an individual basis.
I don't think it's outrageous that education, security and health care are prioritised in so far as possible.
All of which are standardised holidays set by …….. wait for it …… the Dep.
O Rourke is two ends of a b**locks but I agree with him on this one.
We need to get on with this, just drive on. Life is getting closer to normal, a closure of schools is a backwards step. Unbelievably detrimental to the students too.
Ive what I assume is Omicron here and it’s a complete farce having to stay at home for this. A runny nose and tiny tickly cough. Enough is enough. This is all over bar the shouting (shouting being the ridiculous testing and isolation requirements).
The science says a positive case needs 10 days isolation, you send someone back into school after 5 and they are probably still contagious, spread it to more staff who then will be out for 5 days and rinse and repeat until schools will be shut as there will be no staff available. Hospitals are in that very situation right now.
Which hospitals are shut down?
Never said hospitals where closed, but surgeries, scans, appointments and even wards are being closed and cancelled at the moment due to staff shortages, bloody obvious that you can't just close a hospital.
Having dealt with you earlier in these threads I'm not going to bother responding from here on out.
Yup, you did say “schools will be shut” and that “hospitals are in that very situation right now”. I was wondering which hospitals you meant. This is what you said:
“The science says a positive case needs 10 days isolation, you send someone back into school after 5 and they are probably still contagious, spread it to more staff who then will be out for 5 days and rinse and repeat until schools will be shut as there will be no staff available. Hospitals are in that very situation right now.”
If schools are closed locally the days must be made up during the school calendar. If closed nationally the days do not need to be made up. AFAIK these are rules agreed between the dept and schools.
Thats not true. If a school has to close for whatever reason there is leeway to cancel things like school tours, sports days etc if the school feels that the time lost can not be made it. Working extra days is the last resort. This has come up before when schools had to close for weather related issues.
Schools who close due to staff shortages will move online I would say
Can't open if you don't have staff.
True, but online learning will kick in before that becomes an issue.
First week of Easter has already been given over to leaving cert oral exams.
If Omicron is as mild as we all say then theres nothing to stop even the majority of the positive ones from teaching from home.
And if you do have the staff, then open?
The lollipop lady in our estate was out sicks for about 2 months before Christmas . The road is very dangerous for kids and yet she wasn’t replaced leaving kids in danger . They were far more at risk crossing the road than from Covid but no one in authority paid any attention . Its all about Covid now and other risks being ignored .
You gotta love how everyone for the past 2 years has been "I trust the experts, I trust scientists!"
But as soon as the scientist come out with something people don't like, union reps, teachers and unemployed mammies on facebook know more than them and should be trusted over the experts!
Childs ombudsman who's a doctor said today schools should open as normal.
I trust the experts, I trust scientists...schools should be open!
