Safe schooling at the right time
I cannot understand the push to get schools back (the economy, I know) but children are not immune and neither are teachers!! Schools cannot socially distance- the buildings are not suited to it. Some classrooms have fixed desks so they can’t be moved further apart. Corridors are narrow. Pupils can survive without education for a time and teachers are highly skilled at adapting to fix it when it’s over. I don’t think we should be risking anyone’s health just to get children back to school.
Why the contribution is important
The survival of humans must come ahead of anything else. The economy is a human construct (made up by us). I don’t think we should just use natural selection to sort out COVID 19.
by Supergirl102 on May 06, 2020 at 03:34PM
Posted by sannylagoose May 06, 2020 at 16:14
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by Movingforward May 06, 2020 at 16:25
2 million vulnerable children have not been seen by anyone in authority for 6 weeks.
Children under 10 should be back in schools and nurseries in a phased and safe way as soon as possible.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by tjaygillespie May 06, 2020 at 16:27
There is no evidence to indicate that children under 10 are spreading the virus to adults. This is the reason why schools were initially shut down.
I firmly believe that schools should reopen, with vulnerable students and staff self isolating, as soon as possible.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by Laura_m_88 May 06, 2020 at 16:34
Adults have to bring children to the school/nursery therefore the footfall and infection rate inscreases again.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by CAlex May 06, 2020 at 16:39
There also has to be protections for staff, who certainly can develop severe complications and die from this virus. Children returning involves many adults who must put themselves at risk to make that happen.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by theweemaverick May 06, 2020 at 16:44
However, for the vast majority of children, I don't want to see them return to school until they can do so without the need to socially distance nor wear face coverings. The idea of my wee tot having to do either of those things is just so sad and I find the idea of it distressing. If it's not considered safe enough for all children to return without such measures being in place - then, in my opinion, they don't return yet.
I respect the guidance from Government and have followed it throughout, including keeping my daughter in school until the very last day that she was permitted to do so. I trust in the judgements and abilities of teaching staff also. I have never flouted any rules around term time attendance (e.g. taking holidays etc.) but I know that I would be more than hesitant to have her return if things are as I have described above. If a rule-follower like me feels that way, then I have to be honest and say that I think there is a danger of such variation across the board that Teachers would be under great strain to bridge the teaching of those who are back (part-time or otherwise) with those still being kept at home - and everything in between.
My feeling would be keep it simple. Open up for vulnerable (and, if necessary, key worker) kids to ensure their wellbeing. For everyone else, wait until they can go back to school without restriction.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by theweemaverick May 06, 2020 at 16:49
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by jlaud3 May 06, 2020 at 17:51
This means prioritizing people's health, well-being, and safety before anything else. That's the bottom line. This applies to the students as much as it does to staff. Parents need to feel comfortable sending their kids to schools and teachers/staff need to feel comfortable attending schools.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by Julief May 06, 2020 at 17:59
Not so much the children can survive without education for a time. We have some amazing teachers in this country that will do everything they can to help the children once they are back. But there are a huge amount of children living in an unstable home environment. There’s also an immeasurable toll being taken on their mental health living in restricted conditions which they may not understand, and some with adults who are also struggling with mental health.
Without doubt there’s a balance to be struck. Nobody wants to risk this virus overwhelming us, but I think we need to acknowledge that keeping children off school is not risk free either.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by sgwatson May 06, 2020 at 18:05
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by Balderdash May 06, 2020 at 18:13
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by mumoftwounder4andteacher May 06, 2020 at 18:18
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by lillega May 06, 2020 at 18:48
However, opening them will also help children massively, and will have an effect for their entire life times. It is worth perhaps considering the example of Singapore - after it closed schools for a couple of weeks during the SARS crises there, it also opening them for a similar amount of time in the following holidays. They care about education, as should we all.
The impact on inequality is also a reason to open. The independent sector is delivering much more during lockdown than even the best state schools. And it is not hard to observe instances where some in the state sector are receiving nothing, either as a result of virtual truanting or simple lack of provision. Let's not let inequality widen more than it already is. Open the schools.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by RitaH1981 May 06, 2020 at 18:48
. If schools were at least told that they would be able to reopen by say mid June, it would allow time to consider how certain measures could be enacted to keep children safe. Parents could also then have the time to consider their options and inform their employers and make other arrangements if possible.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by Jb May 06, 2020 at 19:03
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by Hjb May 06, 2020 at 21:08
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by LShand45 May 06, 2020 at 23:45
I personally would not object to my children starting back during the summer holidays if it was deemed safe to do so especially if it was on a part time basis as I believe that their education is very important. I am not using the school as a baby sitting service as they are both old enough to look after themselves but feel that they have been brilliant and very resilient throughout this whole situation and deserve to be given the opportunity to education that we had.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by Lucy1980 May 07, 2020 at 01:14
A lot of school staff have underlying health conditions so it would need to be looked at what percentage this is in total across Scotland. Some schools could just happen to have for example 80% of their staff with an underlying condition and therefore would not be able to open with a safe ratio of staff to children.
It is clear that schools will not return to ‘normal’ in August 2020 because class sizes in Scotland go up to 33 children. In the average classroom that I know of, you could socially distance around 8 children in a class if you spread them out (plus the teacher and if the class had a classroom assistant or ASN) or removed all the desks.
Children will likely return to school on a part time basis. I assume one or two days a week for each child, weekly rotations, or perhaps morning and afternoon sessions. Children who can remain at home with someone working from home will likely have to do so initially. There is no way every child can return to a school building all at once and have any chance of socially distancing to keep themselves and adults safe. I don’t say the word ‘impossible’ lightly, but this would indeed be impossible.
Then schools have to think about playtime, lunchtime, PE lessons, young children who can’t possibly understand social distancing and just want to run around and play tig, hug their friends etc.
If every other office building, factory, shop etc in the country is socially distancing, schools must also adhere to this. Unfortunately that is going to take a huge amount of planning and guidance from the government over the next few months to make sure we get it right for children and school staff during this worrying time.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by Broughty_man May 07, 2020 at 20:09
Public Health Scotland analysis shows that (as of 4 May) 60% of confirmed cases
were women and 40% were men
Twenty four percent were in the 15-44 age group;
33% in the 45-64 age group and
41% aged 65 years and over.
Simple schoolboy arithmetic tells me just 2% are in the age group <15yrs.
Our teachers are idle whilst our children's education and future is PERMANENTLY damaged.
We have taken our eyes off the ball - The high risk groups are the sick and elderly. The Govt has Failed Them miserably!
Children are our future - OPEN THE SCHOOLS.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by lindog May 08, 2020 at 19:29
basis perhaps instead of alternate weeks it would be better to have some pupils in mornings only and some in afternoons then the children will have a contact with the school every day and be able to obtain schoolwork and seek guidance. This would also eliminate the lunch hour where groups of children will congregate.
It is also important to have children attend school everyday even if it’s just a part of the day as school provides a safety net for children at risk of harm.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by cherry May 08, 2020 at 22:32
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)