Testing

I agree that we can’t re start our economy until schools are fully reopened. It is impractical for parents and carers to be expected to return to work if their child or children are attending school on a rota basis. I also don’t think it is fair that schools are being commonly referred to as ‘child care facilities.’ Yes, they care for children but it is not the purpose of a school to look after your child whilst you are at work. The suggestion of some children returning to school and the others learning online is also problematic. The teachers are still working full time from their homes, preparing lessons to best engage their classes, marking work and video conferencing their classes to make sure that, in some way, their mental wellbeing is being taken care of. Schools and school staff are not the villains here and I know that they would much rather be with their pupils in a classroom than in this current situation. The suggestion that teachers could be in class’ and also ‘teach online’ is ridiculous. These two activities can not be done simultaneously.
My suggestion is that all members of school staff, all pupils and all of the households of these pupils are tested. If the tests return as negative the pupil is free to return to school under the provision that they attend school and return to their household each day. This would mean that pupils could return in larger volumes and would be safe within school. The families, pupils and staff should be tested once per month to ensure that the school building is as free from infection as possible. If any members of the school community are seen to be flouting these guidelines, making unnecessary trips, visiting people not in their households, not agreeing to testing, then the pupil would be asked to not attend school. This puts the onus on families and staff to be vigilant so that our young people receive an education. This also ensures, what seemingly many people forget, that staff within the school will also be protected. It is all well and good stating that children ‘don’t get effected’ but the staff in schools will. A school ceases to exist if there are no adults to run it.

Why the contribution is important

This approach would allow for larger volumes of pupils to return with less emphasis on social distance. If everyone in the school building is aware that no one has the infection it also creates a safe environment for all.

by Edi77 on May 09, 2020 at 11:48AM

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Average rating: 4.0
Based on: 2 votes

Comments

  • Posted by petermuir79 May 09, 2020 at 11:58

    What about people with no children, could they return to work before?

  • Posted by Callendar May 09, 2020 at 12:01

    It’s refreshing to hear that schools indeed are not childcare facilities and the adults in there need to be remembered and looked after along with children. A phased approach and testing would make this an easier task!

  • Posted by POR May 09, 2020 at 12:04

    We need to sort out testing so we can get result on the same day. A test on Monday which gives result on Wednesday means you may be positive on Monday and have had two days of spreading virus before you get result !! There are tests available for giving result on the day Are they too expensive ??

  • Posted by Stephen666 May 09, 2020 at 12:16

    The underlying requirement expressed quite correctly is that all citizens require testing and possibly retesting. The size of this task is simply enormous but necessary. An interim "norm" might be to organise local bulk area testing within School catchment boundaries, in an agreed order. Schools have been shared before, i.e., in the 70's for the 3 day week when industry was shut down to deal with limited power supplies. There is no reason therefore why 1 school could not have 2 sessions per day, of half the pupils, at least in the interim "norm" until enough has moved generally to facilitate a long term "norm" for education.
    Where larger schools have been put in place requiring pupil travel other than generally by foot, it may be necessary to provide specific school busses, and increase the testing regime to cut off viral access to the school pupils.

  • Posted by MJAndrews May 09, 2020 at 12:34

    Testing needs to be continuous: a -ve one day does not mean a -ve 5 days later.

  • Posted by Balderdash May 09, 2020 at 15:59

    Why not work to a four day school week (either Mon to Thur or Tue to Friday) to enable testing to take place at the close of the last school day which would allow 3 full days for results to come back? If children and teachers have antibodies they don't require a test
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