Expand school sizes with Shipping Containers

A possible, and granted 'out the box', temporary solution to getting children back to school could be to use shipping containers. Cheap to get a hold of and there's hundreds and hundreds sitting idle at Grangemouth Docks. Could be installed quickly over the summer holidays and given a lick of paint to be a bit more pleasant inside for everyone.

This would expand the school size and allow social distancing to be implemented more easily.

Why the contribution is important

Would let the children get back to where they belong and improve both their mental and physical well-being. Would also allow working parents to get back to work easier

by Stevendufc on May 08, 2020 at 10:21AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 2.7
Based on: 4 votes

Comments

  • Posted by GJBB May 08, 2020 at 10:30

    And how about the long promised, but not delivered, reduction in class sizes with a corresponding increase in teacher numbers.

  • Posted by Stevendufc May 08, 2020 at 10:46

    Just trying to be inventive with a temporary and easy solution to getting the kids back into education.

    Reductions in class sizes can wait another day.

  • Posted by Jay91 May 08, 2020 at 11:16

    1. Not all schools have the space to install these containers.
    2. The containers would have to be cleaned, windows installed, additional furniture purchased, etc. so wouldn't exactly be as cheap as just buying an empty container
    3. If the intention is to space children out to allow social distancing, we are talking about splitting classes and there's already a shortage of teachers and teaching assistants, so wouldn't be able to effectively supervise all the children
    4. In the schools that do have the additional space, the containers would be getting installed in playgrounds taking away outdoor time for the children

  • Posted by FraochL May 08, 2020 at 11:30

    With offices and sports centres sitting empty, and much easier to heat/ventilate, why would we put our kids in tin cans that are noisy in the rain, overheat in the sun and freeze in the cold, are dark and will contain any virus brought in. You’d not be allowed to keep livestock in them.

  • Posted by Stevendufc May 08, 2020 at 11:36

    As I say, (and I believe the whole point of this website) just sounding out a possible solution. A solution that could be tweaked easily (portakabins rather than shipping containers?)

    The solution surely isn't for the children to be stuck in the house until they're vaccinated, as some would seem to be in favour of.

    "Can't" is a horrible word, and not representive of the attitudes we'll need to bring this forward.

  • Posted by Stevendufc May 08, 2020 at 11:43

    1. Not all schools have the space to install these containers.

    I can only comment on the schools in my town (5 in number) and they have plenty space.

    2. The containers would have to be cleaned, windows installed, additional furniture purchased, etc. so wouldn't exactly be as cheap as just buying an empty container

    Ok, let's do that.

    3. If the intention is to space children out to allow social distancing, we are talking about splitting classes and there's already a shortage of teachers and teaching assistants, so wouldn't be able to effectively supervise all the children

    The teachers might have to work a bit harder. We are 'all in this together after all'. Again I can only comment via my own experience (my five year old son) but they have three teachers for two primary one classes, plus a few non-teaching staff (headteachers, deputy headteachers) who could surely lend a hand and 'get their hands dirty'

    4. In the schools that do have the additional space, the containers would be getting installed in playgrounds taking away outdoor time for the children

    True the installation of any extra 'building' would impact on playground space, but we're all going to have to sacrifices going forward

  • Posted by Jay91 May 08, 2020 at 16:17

    By your own words "we are all in this together" but you seem to be only thinking about the schools in your town and your experience with the staffing levels at the school your son attends.

    There are schools in very deprived areas or closely built areas with next to no space, maybe enough for one container or portakabin, which really isn't going to add all that extra space.

    There are over 2000 primary schools in Scotland. The amount of money required to set up these temporary structures modified to meet the appropriate H&S levels will simply not be justifiable. Key word being temporary.

    Different councils have different budgets and each school is managed with differing staffing levels. The shortage of teachers in Scotland has been a widely reported on in the last few years. Read some of the ideas and comments on the page left by teachers and you'll see that the reality in the rest of Scotland is in stark contrast to the staffing levels at the school your child attends.

    Anyway, just my humble opinion.

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