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

Mad_maxx · 07-01-2022 12:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118431619#Comment_118431619

That dingbat Orla Hegarty is the chief architect of this public drive to have hepa filters installed in schools

Teacher2020 · 07-01-2022 02:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118431501#Comment_118431501

I know that I have regularly emailed the Minister for Education throughout my career back as far as Mary Hanafin. Every minister in the past has always replied to me with a nice and courteous email that is signed by the minister. Once or twice suggestions I made were acted upon. I have emailed Norma at least 4 times since she has started as Minister. Every time I have emailed her (all emails were education related obviously), her secretary has sent me a curt email saying that this is not the remit of the Minister of Education and would be better taking it up with another Minister. She is without doubt the worst Education Minister we have had in my 16 year teaching career. You'd get more satisfaction talking to the wall as emailing Norma Foley.

shesty · 07-01-2022 03:49PM

I can't disagree with that, she is appalling.

mohawk · 07-01-2022 04:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118431619#Comment_118431619

I work in the type of environment they are used in and I would definitely be no expert in them. Anyone I have spoken too from engineering side that actually would be an expert in them has made similar points to yourself. Initially I thought it sounded like an idea worth exploring but now it just sounds like it would be a huge waste of money.

TheValeyard · 07-01-2022 04:20PM

Today was a repeat of yesterday except more students out.

History Queen · 07-01-2022 04:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118434434#Comment_118434434

Same here.

km79 · 07-01-2022 05:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118434434#Comment_118434434

Same

Bananaleaf · 07-01-2022 06:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118431268#Comment_118431268

The thing is though, the vast majority of those working adults that would normally be in work sitting at a desk are now sitting at home, so ....

Bananaleaf · 07-01-2022 06:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118426919#Comment_118426919

That's a lot of staff absences - how is your principal managing the S&S?

Bananaleaf · 07-01-2022 06:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118431423#Comment_118431423

If this is considered 'keeping quiet' I don't know how loud they are expected to shout!!!!

Links below and for the utmost clarity, I have even cropped the relevant bits out for you

ASTI

https://www.asti.ie/news-campaigns/latest-news/asti-expresses-dismay-at-lack-of-progress-on-school-safety/

TUI

https://www.tui.ie/news/reopening-of-schools-%e2%80%93-january-2022-update-on-the-current-position.14360.html

jimmytwotimes 2013 · 07-01-2022 07:17PM

Presume the 2-day week has contributed in part to the low numbers attending school this week.

There are a lot out with covid or as close contacts but not all absences are related to covid. Hopefully we'll see better attendance next week.

Didn't have over 1/2 of any class present today and some classes didn't even hit double figures out of 24+

airy fairy · 07-01-2022 07:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118435283#Comment_118435283

If I remember correctly, teacher unions were to a point of up to strike action last year when they weren't getting priority in vaccines, saying they weren't safe, and also included pay in the arguments! Didn't hear them shouting for vaccines for vulnerable kids before going back to school this term....didn't hear them threaten strike for filters during the week either. Putting a proposal/demand into writing is far different than what they did last year.

I've written unions above, I don't think teachers have a say anymore tbh.

Bananaleaf · 07-01-2022 07:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118435658#Comment_118435658

Do you believe that it is within a teaching union's right to demand that other people's children be vaccinated?

Are you saying that teacher unions should have announced a strike this week if they didn't get HEPA filters?

Teachers never have a say. We are the foot soldiers. (Not comparing myself to someone going to fight the Taliban as someone suggested a few days ago, LOL, it's an expression)

I'm totally okay being a foot soldier by the way. Love it. Go in, do my job, go home. Have no desire to be a principal. Far more hours, far more stress and I'd say far less thanks involved too.

Teacher2020 · 07-01-2022 08:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118435658#Comment_118435658

Unions aren't there to fight for the needs of the children. They are there to fight for the pay and working conditions of teachers. We pay them 400 euro a year each for the privilege. The national parents Council are there to represent parents and children. Yes the teaching unions aren't popular but thats only because they tend to be stronger than the other unions.

orecir · 07-01-2022 09:46PM

Never seen morale as low as today in my school. The coldness of the building and the amount of staff absences was tough going.

We had about 50% student attendance out of a school of 800 pupils.

byhookorbycrook · 07-01-2022 10:08PM

HEPAs are scientifically proven . Órla Hegarty isn’t a “ ding bat “ she has verified qualifications , unlike many random Covid “ internet experts .”

I bought a HEPA for my own room as I’m very high risk ( despite Medmark saying I’m not , because I can stay behind a screen ( erm, airborne?) and enforce 2m SD ( again , in my room as an SET, even if there was the space to be 2 m back from children, you can’t SD from the children )

shesty · 07-01-2022 10:44PM

Well put it this way -it can't hurt to have HEPA filters.

Jinglejangle69 · 07-01-2022 10:49PM

Opening windows is a guideline.

Its not the law.

Sometimes in life its OK to use a bit of common sense.

Close the windows next week. Kids are freezing.

notAMember · 08-01-2022 07:00AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118436829#Comment_118436829

oh I don’t know… I think it has a few disadvantages.

It gives a false sense of security

it wastes energy

it wastes the earths resources to create them

it costs money to buy

it needs maintenance

it takes up space

it is destined for landfill

But I get ya, no more than all the other pointless unused things that are bought, left in a corner and later binned. Just the destruction of the environment.

lee_baby_simms · 08-01-2022 07:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118436553#Comment_118436553

Orla Hegarty has absolutely no relevant qualifications with respect to infectious diseases, immunology or epidemiology.

shesty · 08-01-2022 07:35AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118437668#Comment_118437668

If that is what we are measuring by, I think HEPA filters are the least of our problems.

notAMember · 08-01-2022 08:32AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118437702#Comment_118437702

Agreed!

JP100 · 08-01-2022 11:07AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118436875#Comment_118436875

Just pick a day while you're at it! Say Wednesday, the virus doesn't like Wednesdays!

harr · 08-01-2022 04:21PM

I am torn , I want my child in school he has missed so much and he needs the extra help he does an extra class to help him along . Home schooling was not great in my house as I have a special needs child as well .. so home school was a nightmare.

He had been well all over Christmas and thank god covid hasn’t hit us yet , but just two days into the new school term and he is chesty and runny noise , he has asthma so he gets infections very easily.

He rarely complains but he was frozen in school yesterday and his teacher said it barely got about 7 in the classroom .. because he now had symptoms of covid it’s back to antigen tests but I know it’s only a heavy cold and his asthma

I honestly don’t think I can bring myself to send him in on Monday . He wants to be in school with his mates so bad

Bananaleaf · 08-01-2022 04:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439626#Comment_118439626

harr - is your child primary or secondary? What kind of extra help? If I can help you with anything, I will, if that makes your decision any easier. I am an English teacher and I've lots of SEN experience

harr · 08-01-2022 07:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439729#Comment_118439729

Hi , thanks so much , he is in primary school and just at the moment gets an extra hour a day one on one to help with his math and English. The school in fairness have been excellent and his teacher has set additional home work for him and has adjusted his home schooling work if needed.

orecir · 08-01-2022 08:13PM

Fair play to Sinn Fein calling for another year of predicted grades for the current 6th years.

The minister needs to announce this asap.

Bass Reeves · 08-01-2022 08:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440928#Comment_118440928

It is totally incorrect for him to do so. If predicted grades are announced too early, too many students opt for them and give up working. This will effect them at third level. In the end it is the disadvantaged child that will lose in the long term

deiseindublin · 08-01-2022 11:06PM

Wasn't announced for another 7+ weeks in 2021. I can't see us not having AG this year, but hopefully there will still be exams as there were last year.

snor · 09-01-2022 12:24AM

AG and exams by far the fairest option. I have 6th years this year who have never sat a state exam or even mocks. They have missed So much in person school last year. This year, the student absenteeism rate is hugh with many teachers absent also. Fear now is some will be absent for orals, mocks etc. a very stressful time for these young people.

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

Comments

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