How is everyone feeling about the possible re-opening of schools as early as 1st June? I of course completely understand how important education is for children but I feel very anxious when I think about the children of family and friends, and my teacher friends, who may be going back to school. After all schools and nurseries were closed for a reason and I don't feel reassured that the associated risks have really been mitigated. I find comments suggesting that children are less likely to become 'severely ill' really upsetting because a) children have died from the coronavirus and b) even if they are not 'severely ill' themselves, they could make another family member, friend or teacher very, very ill and the consequences could be deadly. After all, we now know that ethnic minorities are most at risk. I just feel like the whole decision is being rushed and the lives of teachers, teaching assistants, children, their families etc is being put at risk as if they are expendable. I also think it is shocking how teachers are being maligned for saying they do not think it is safe to go back to school yet. Teaching staff are generally overworked and underpaid and play such a crucial role. I know I wouldn't be where I am today without the wonderful educational experience and emotional support I was provided by my teachers. They live for our children so if they are sharing concerns, why are we not listening to them?
 

10 Comments

  • Anonymous

    17/05/2020

    Today's news definitely hasn't helped. A spike in deaths and ethnic minorities are most at risk. And yet schools have re-opened! Ridiculous!

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  • Noor

    27/05/2020

    It all seems like a political move to get the workforce back into action to 'save the economy'. Meanwhile a second wave could potentially cause an even bigger wave of deaths and I personally cannot fathom another lockdown being implemented in the Autumn. We as adults are mentally strained and drained in this lockdown period and now we could be sending our children into a solitary, socially distancing class where they will be programmed to not be children and do the things they would naturally want to do like feeling, touching, holding hands of friends, physical play will be banned. So what's to be gained from this? I dont see the benefits of this action and as a person who has elderly family members, I dont want to put them at risk so I wont be sending my children into school until the risks are proven to be massively reduced and school will be back to normal..... I can dream

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  • Shai

    20/05/2020

    I have children and i don't want them going back to school because I live with my elderly mother in law and she is over 80 and worry about her catching it from the kids who many not show signs of having it! i will not be sending mine to school.

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  • ZaraS

    20/05/2020

    I think it is absolutely ridiculous. Young children are more likely to pass germs as they are naturally touchy-feely and have weaker immune systems so they are prone to viral infections a lot more then a healthy adult. Yes, social distancing measures maybe able to be enforced in the classroom, but what about the playground? Do people really think kids are going to stay 2m away from each other? And does this not just endanger the lives of teachers? What if they show symptoms and have to take two weeks off? What happens to the kids then? Will they bring agency staff in? Is that safe? How about the teachers who can't work because they have pre-existing conditions? There are so mnay variables here that have not been considered and it is troubling that the government is being so careless. Let's be clear - education is valuable but there are so many other ways to do this that is safe for everyone. We might have overcome the 'peak', but a significant number of people are still dying and still being infected. Unless the government wants to wipe out half the UK population, they need to use their private-school educated brains a bit better.

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  • SamM

    19/05/2020

    Haven't had a chance to read all the replies above so apologies for repeating any points made. personally, I feel that it is too early to open schools. Even with the best measures in place social distancing is not something that cones easy for children. Apart from the risk to children and their families with regards to the virus, the kids might end up feeling quite distressed, overwhelmed or confused by the strange set up for school and classes. Also, it cant be easy to see their friends and not be allowed to play with them. How much play can they do 2 meters apart? I feel physically and mentally it might be too much for the kids to cope with. I know its not easy for the parents to keep them at home and to home school but i wonder whether comparatively it is a better environment for them all round, safety included.

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  • Anonymous

    18/05/2020

    if social distancing is maintained with very small class sizes also at playtime too also washing hands every hour maybe do mornings for half class and afternoon for other teachers tested first

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  • MeowZee

    18/05/2020

    It is sad how quickly we have gone from clapping for and thanking key workers to calling teachers and teaching assistants lazy and cowards. I know those directing such hurtful comments towards teachers are perhaps the minority, but it is still sad that they are so loud that that is all we can hear.

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  • Anonymous

    17/05/2020

    Apparently Eton, Harrow and Winchester are staying closed until September. If the private schools with their £30-40k fees per year per student and less than 20 students per class won't reopen in June, why are state schools being opened? Coronavirus shows once again that the working class are expendable.

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  • Anonymous

    17/05/2020

    If it all goes wrong and leads to an increase in coronavirus cases, who is going to take responsibility? All those telling parents and teachers to stop complaining and get back to work, will they be happy to be personally liable of the deaths that could occur because of this decision?

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  • NazminA

    17/05/2020

    You're not the only one feeling anxious. I also feel that there has been a lack of compassion shown in the 'discussions' on this topic. Parents are naturally worried about the safety of their children, as are teachers. Children too are also anxious and worried. Many lives have been lost and as you say, ethnic minorities have been disproportionately affected, and all this has had a very real and very deep impact on us all. To go from fearing for the lives of your loved ones and having to take every possible precaution to keep them safe, to be told it is fine to send them back to schools and nurseries in the space of a few weeks is overwhelming. I feel the mental health impact on everyone involved is being massively overlooked. I have no doubt that teachers will do their best to keep our children safe but I also think it is unfair to place such huge burdens on them. Earlier this week the ONS published the first results of their coronavirus tests survey and they found that children are just as likely to get covid-19 as anyone else. Apparently just because they are likely to get the virus doesn't mean that they can spread it at the same time and quite frankly, this doesn't even make sense to me. Surely if they can get it then someone can get it from them? And regardless, the crux of the issue is that we don't know all the ins and outs of this Covid-19 and a lot of guess work is currently involved which is all fine and well but then why not keep children (and teachers and parents and relatives) safe and in their homes for a little while longer until we know for sure?

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