Schooling over the holidays

Would it be possible (if we are starting back to schools) to possibly run teaching on through some of the summer school holiday times and maybe allow teachers to take 2 weeks break the same as the rest of the country does, and they can maybe take there remaining holidays attached on to October week (2weeks) Christmas (2 weeks) February 2 weeks and an extra week somewhere else.

Why the contribution is important

This would allow the country to make a start on getting back on track and allow pupils to make up learning lost and maybe even sit exams possibly outside in playgrounds or under large outdoor canopies

by CitKat1 on May 10, 2020 at 12:33AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 2.1
Based on: 7 votes

Comments

  • Posted by bluebird19 May 10, 2020 at 09:49

    Teachers are not paid for all the days that schools are off- see SNCT for info.
    There are 40 days of paid leave with the rest of the holidays being deemed "closure days" with no payment.
    If teachers are expected to work in the summer holidays then they should be paid. Taking days back doesn't really work if you are looking at all staff doing this- it would be quite disruptive.
  • Posted by mpiper May 10, 2020 at 09:55

    I agree with this suggestion.
    There are many unknowns about the coronavirus, however one thing that is very clear is that the risk to school age children, and in particular primary-school age children, is essentially zero if they have no underlying health conditions. The reason to close schools to date is to reduce community spread and protect the health of teachers, and this was the correct course of action.
    If children in general were a high-risk group, schools should remain shut until the pandemic is crushed, but thank goodness they are not a high-risk group (quite the opposite).

    Schools should be opened as soon as community spread reaches an acceptable level. Pupil attendance in the initial weeks should be entirely voluntary to support those parents who do not wish their children to return immediately. In primary schools we should consider the "bubble" approach of small groups of children taught together, as Denmark. Teachers with increased risk of any kind (including age) should work from home. It will not be school as normal, but it will be something.

    In summary, I believe there are 3 key reasons schools should re-open as a priority:
    1) The risk to children without underlying conditions is low - close to zero. Children at increased risk, or those were their parents wish it, should remain at home
    2) Social justice. It is the most vulnerable children who will be most scarred by school closure. This will widen the attainment gap. And children will pay for the educational scarring they are experiencing for the rest of their lives
    3) Maintain public support for the lockdown. In families where all parents work, and where furlough is not available or not offered (a very large proportion of the private sector), the choice is work and neglect your kids, or financial hardship and often destitution. This will erode public support for the lockdown (and for teachers)
  • Posted by Lawmonkey May 10, 2020 at 10:57

    Essentially zero. Not zero.

    A 6 week old baby has just died. Do you honestly think parents should even be considering sending their children to school? My child will not be returning until I am comfortable, that may be long after me as I am a teacher. I will not be one of those, albeit very small statistics for children. Every statistic is a person, a family. A life.
  • Posted by CitKat1 May 10, 2020 at 19:44

    Lawmonkey, the baby in question had many underlying conditions: It wasn’t disclosed what the conditions were. And this was only meant to a suggestion of how we can move forward. Nothing is set in stone
  • Posted by mpiper May 10, 2020 at 23:31

    I 100% agree, you should not send your child to school if you are not comfortable.

    To expand the risk point, it is a fact that a child without underlying health conditions is far, far, far more likely to die in a road traffic accident than of Coronavirus. Can we mitigate all risk and still educate our children to give them better lives? (Because isn't that the point of education?)
Log in or register to add comments and rate ideas

Idea topics