Forces now lining up on either side of the LC argument
The union is surveying students on the matter, with provisional results showing a clear favour towards a hybrid model, which is a choice between predicted grades or sitting the exams.
Absolutely, either way it should be discouraged in schools.
Presumably it could work both ways, those who got vaccinated could be isolated also
Most schools (if not all at this stage) will have some sort of bullying policy.
our lad has his first vaccine his brother has a poor immune system so basically any help in protecting his brother is good for us and he was happy enough to get it .. but I told him not to discuss it in school as it wasn’t anyone else’s business and I also explained not all his friends will get it and better off not discussing the vaccine at all .. i presumed all parents Would have had that discussion.
I agree the teacher should be the first port of call as it needs to be knocked on the head , you definitely don’t want two groups of kids pitted against each other over a vaccine.
Schools should have a firm stance that kids don’t discuss it and that it should remain private..
I'd definitely talk to the teacher first, children should not be asking the health status of other children it’s bizarre and needs to stop if its happening.
Points are based on supply and demand. If predicted grades don't happen there'll be no grade inflation, therefore points will drop that had been artificially inflated.
There have been significant changes made to courses this year. Is your child aware of how much less needs to be covered? Students aren't the best barometer of how much work needs to be done as they aren't aware of things teachers know such as sections that can double up yo answr two parts of the paper or sections that can be cut out entirely. I have finished the course in one of my subjects and will be finished next week in the other. Normally I don't finish until Easter.
My students are looking for predicted grades but couldn't articulate why when I pointed out that course wise, they are at no disadvantage to previous cohorts.
Who exactly is "pushing" the vaccine for under 12's? It is available if you want it for your kids, but you don't have to give them it.
Agree that you should start with the Class Teacher.
When our daughter (6th) went back to school last September, she had just got Dose #1. Very few of her Class had at that point. Another girl in the Class went around asking the kids aged 12 (the Birthdays are on a chart on the wall) if they had been vaccinated and really pushing that everyone should be asap.
The Teacher knocked it on the head quite quickly and had a chat with the Class on personal choice etc.
Assuming it's primary, I'd probably have a word with the teacher to keep an eye on that.Doesn't matter that it's vaccine related, fact is if they are ganging up on one another, that needs to stop.It could be branded shoes, phones, a type of school bag, anything, I still don't think it is acceptable.
When I read that post, I was strongly reminded of a cartoon which I cannot find now, of two children, one screaming into the face of the other, and the mother of screamer is standing behind him -her tongue extends down to him and is also his tongue.They are most likely saying what they are hearing at home and that should be nipped in the bud in school, at the very least.
Not every decision requires a double blind scientific study.
Open windows increase the number of air changes, therefore reducing the concentration of airborne droplets. Masks reduce large droplet spread.
This doesn't require a masters in fluid dynamics.
Right, but we have no way of knowing if there is an asymptomatic case in the class, unless we were to PCR test the class regularly. So, we have windows open and schools want HEPA filters. It was a genuine question by the way. I am not in a work environment like that so haven't been part of conversations around it. I presume the DES/schools/NPHET have made an estimate of how much the reduce the spread by? There is a cost to having the windows open in terms of the comfort of those in the room and obviously the financial cost of the filters. What are the expected benefits exactly?
What impresses me about Norma Foley is that she is so out of her depth and we can still hear her. I have a BSc, not an expert but don’t see good data for open windows.
Like that idea. So much more caused by COVID fear and restrictions than COVID looks like causing into mid year. Please God they will shut the windows. My Dad went to school with no shoes but it’s a no brainier to say he was happier.
Surely there wouldn't be any spread to reduce if there wasn't a positive case in class?
Genuine question: what do you want the principal to do?
I've a LC kid. Busting arse to do well. But is very nervous of impending dates for certain projects in case she's deemed a close contact, or indeed gets Covid. Or if she gets it in June.
6 teachers from 6 subjects missing today. No online alternative. So it's a study class when courses haven't been completed yet.
The anxiety of needing 600 points for a course that only required 520 or less the year before last is real, no idea if they'll drop to '20 points or not, I suspect not.
I understand that some kids will only take the foot off if PG are brought in now. But surely a blend of PG and marks for exam taken in June might help?
I wonder will points drop to 2020 leveks? I had a LC in 20 too, and while the marking went blaa for some, at least points remained stagnant.
No idea of a solution, but I do believe continuity of the course is not happening, be it teacher or student that is absent due to a close contact or has Covid, it indeed long Covid. It's not level at all this year.
Completely agree with the point you have made, my son is in LC , points will go up, students will not get the courses they want, last year a lot of courses went to random selection , it's not ideal, but an exam is better that predicted grades
I'd be against predicted grades this year as well.
Can only speak for my subjects but the changes to papers mean my groups could sit the paper now.
Predicted has broken the CAO college application system. 625 not enough to get some courses. Others getting nearly 100 pts more than they would have gotten and ending up on courses they possibly won't be able for
The exam system isnt fair but its better than the free-for-all we've had the last 2 years.
Nothing like peer pressure
It has started already in my sons class, he is in second class. A few of the kids has had the vaccine and are now saying that they are going to create a vaccine only group, plus are going around saying you have to get the vaccine. Is this what people want? Those who are pushing the vaccine for u12s. I will be speaking to the school principal tomorrow. This is completely unacceptable
"We go from a warm environment where all our needs are met to where we need to start to fend for ourselves by sucking a nipple."
Doesn't sound sooo stressful...
Stress is a part of life. From the day we are born we have to cope with stress. The actual event of bring born is one of the most stressful that happens to us. We go from a warm environment where all our needs are met to where we need to start to fend for ourselves by sucking a nipple.
This idea that stress is all evil is not a reflection on life
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/no-justification-for-hybrid-leving-cert-exams-this-year-say-teachers-unions-1.4772913
The standardisation process used for predicted grades over the past two years requires junior cycle data, however due to the pandemic, some of the current leaving cert students did not sit those exams.
“Advocates for a repeat of the emergency methods are therefore advocating for something that is either impossible or else will be radically changed and involve historical school data that would be hugely unfair for many students,” the TUI added.
Roisin Shortall was making the same point at the weekend so it's not just the unions
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/students-seek-more-choice-in-leaving-cert-exams-given-disruption-1.4772392
I'm against it too, at least in last year's guise anyway. I've the course finished in one of my subjects and will be finished next week in the other. I understand not all subjects will be the same but the changes made to mine are more than adequate.
Gosh. I can’t understand how they can be against it seeing the stress the students are under. I am a member of the TUI and they haven’t consulted me in it!
Suprrise Surprise the TUI and ASTI coming out against it as per irish times today. I'd say their main problem is if it used again the goverment would find it easier to reform the exams process and introduce a continous assessment model and scrap the traditional leaving cert all together.
I'm optimistic there won't be another January of open windows and masks.
It might be time to consider radical change to the school year. Open for another month in the summer, and close in January. That would solve part of the heating problem.
Can anyone say how much the open windows reduce the spread by in situations where there is a positive case in the class? What difference do HEPA filters make? Would it be 20%? More or less?
