Re-opening Schools?

[ska invita]

A very minor thing but I caught BBC TV main news yesterday, lead story was on schools
The piece interviewed two school kids who said they wanted to go back as they'd be bored otherwise
Their mum wanted back too
Head teacher complained at last minute decisions by government but that's it

Zero voices from medicians or unions who think it's not safe for it to happen

No surprise, but what a load of shit BBC news is.

 

[Dogsauce]

And also if you’re no longer allowed onto school grounds, you’re forced together in a really small space outside the gate.

we have five gates, plenty of space for queuing. Different year groups use different entrances at the moment.

Pavements are narrow, so even without Covid it‘s annoying having to pass a few parents stood immediately outside one of the gates completely blocking the pavement. Shite if you’re wanting to get past with one child in a pushchair and one wobbling about on a bike or scooter, we have to go into the road. They could actually have their little get together within the playground where there is plenty of space or on the wide pavement around the corner. But a bit of distancing and maybe masks might be a good idea too.

 

[nagapie]

Are the pavements outside school really high areas of transmission?

 

[existentialist]

Are the pavements outside school really high areas of transmission?

They will be if lots of people jam together, unmasked.

 

[Plumdaff]

we have five gates, plenty of space for queuing. Different year groups use different entrances at the moment.

Pavements are narrow, so even without Covid it‘s annoying having to pass a few parents stood immediately outside one of the gates completely blocking the pavement. Shite if you’re wanting to get past with one child in a pushchair and one wobbling about on a bike or scooter, we have to go into the road. They could actually have their little get together within the playground where there is plenty of space or on the wide pavement around the corner. But a bit of distancing and maybe masks might be a good idea too.

We have to wear masks at my daughter's school. There's a pretty decent queuing and one way system too. However a small percentage of parents fuck it up by sitting in their cars (with engines running of course) and then barging in the front when the gates open. Infuriating.

Despite the fact my daughter will really want to go in I'm now erring on the side of caution, certainly for the first week back (for her it's the 11th all local schools are remote learning next week). I suspect that everything may have changed by then anyway.

 

[Aladdin]

Schools creches and child care facilities in Ireland are all to stay closed to Jan 11th. This is to he reviewed.
HSE CEO said of testing and positivity rates today

Meanwhile Health Service Executive CEO Paul Reid has warned that "we need to get the spread of the virus back under control".

"Positivity rates yesterday at 22% with some centres reaching 50%. It's quite rampant & high risk. But we can turn this around again. Let's do it."

I think they need to not rely on people rallying to the call.. the government needs to do a hell of a lot more to make us safe.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

All London primary schools to remain closed...

 

[nagapie]

They will be if lots of people jam together, unmasked.

That's not really what happens tho. Lots of people wear masks, different years come out at different times/entrances and even those who chat without masks keep a relative distance. I think jam doesn't quite fit and they're outdoors.

 

[Glitter]

We have to wear masks at my daughter's school. There's a pretty decent queuing and one way system too. However a small percentage of parents fuck it up by sitting in their cars (with engines running of course) and then barging in the front when the gates open. Infuriating.

Despite the fact my daughter will really want to go in I'm now erring on the side of caution, certainly for the first week back (for her it's the 11th all local schools are remote learning next week). I suspect that everything may have changed by then anyway.

We have to wear masks too and we’re not allowed in the playground - we’re not allowed on the premises at all. They collect children from their allocated gates. Start times staggered.

 

[SpookyFrank]

It's really hard maintaining that kind of unnatural way of being with people over the long term when the natural thing is to come together and chat. It can be hard, and lonely, being a parent, talking with other parents at the school gate is the only meeting up some people have.

Nah, what's hard is being dead because you got covid and died.

 

[maomao]

Nah, what's hard is being dead because you got covid and died.

Which is a very very unlikely result for most parents of primary age children.

 

[Badgers]

That's not really what happens tho. Lots of people wear masks, different years come out at different times/entrances and even those who chat without masks keep a relative distance. I think jam doesn't quite fit and they're outdoors.

 

[maomao]

That's kids inside schools not parents outside.

 

[Badgers]

That's kids inside schools not parents outside.

Yeah. Sorry, did not mean to quote you or anyone with that stubby finger fail.

 

[Dogsauce]

That's not really what happens tho. Lots of people wear masks, different years come out at different times/entrances and even those who chat without masks keep a relative distance. I think jam doesn't quite fit and they're outdoors.

Based on my observations (as the guy whose job it is to unlock the gates), few people wear masks, distancing is very sketchy, times aren’t staggered and many parents have multiple kids in different years so a lot of weaving about. We’ve instigated a few bits of one way system where paths or gates are narrow, and different gates for different year groups. No control over how people behave outside the gates (or inside them really). It’s just another transmission path that needs to be considered when sending kids back to school, that of parental mixing.

 

[Steel Icarus]

Whatever excuse or justification you can come up with far too many people are not at least erring on the side of caution regarding distancing. I can't help it, it makes me angry.

 

[chilango]

Nah, what's hard is being dead because you got covid and died.

You've not been a parent, have you Frank?

 

[maomao]

Based on my observations (as the guy whose job it is to unlock the gates), few people wear masks, distancing is very sketchy, times aren’t staggered and many parents have multiple kids in different years so a lot of weaving about. We’ve instigated a few bits of one way system where paths or gates are narrow, and different gates for different year groups. No control over how people behave outside the gates (or inside them really). It’s just another transmission path that needs to be considered when sending kids back to school, that of parental mixing.

Our school sent parents home to get masks before they could pick their kids up. It worked and now almost everyone wears masks. Also the headmaster and janitor steward it a bit, breaking up groups, keeping people moving. But it's a small school and only in it's fifth year since opening so less parents to deal with than most.

If I'm at work though, a quick hello to another mum will be the only adult contact my wife gets for most of the day.

 

[Red Cat]

Nah, what's hard is being dead because you got covid and died.

Ah the black and white you're with us or you're for people dying thinking again.

Part of the problem of managing this pandemic is there's been no expressed or implied understanding of how people behave in groups.

 

[Red Cat]

Whatever excuse or justification you can come up with far too many people are not at least erring on the side of caution regarding distancing. I can't help it, it makes me angry.

It's not either of those things, it's an understanding of people's need for connection and how people behave in groups.

And that can co-exist with anger about these things.

 

[SpookyFrank]

You've not been a parent, have you Frank?

I've been a person, and like all other people I have struggled with the lack of social contact this past year. Being a parent doesn't put you in a special category where your need to chat shit with other parents without bothering to put a mask on trumps other people's need to not die.

e2a: And if I were a parent I like to think I'd prioritise getting to a point where my kids could go to school normally, socialise normally, have a proper childhood etc over my need to chat shit with other parents without bothering to put a mask on. I'd also be aware of my obligation to be a good role model for my child by demonstrating conscientious, considerate behaviour.

'Parent' after all is just a subcategory of 'grown-up'.

 

[Steel Icarus]

It's not either of those things, it's an understanding of people's need for connection and how people behave in groups.

And that can co-exist with anger about these things.

How people behave in groups usually, or at a time where there's been a fairly well publicised deadly pandemic circulating for months?

 

[chilango]

I've been a person, and like all other people I have struggled with the lack of social contact this past year. Being a parent doesn't put you in a special category where your need to chat shit with other parents without bothering to put a mask on trumps other people's need to not die.

e2a: And if I were a parent I like to think I'd prioritise getting to a point where my kids could go to school normally, socialise normally, have a proper childhood etc over my need to chat shit with other parents without bothering to put a mask on. I'd also be aware of my obligation to be a good role model for my child by demonstrating conscientious, considerate behaviour.

'Parent' after all is just a subcategory of 'grown-up'.

My point is not that parents get to be "a special category" but rather recognising (and remembering) how hard it can be.

 

[nagapie]

I think school gates are a red herring. Outside, mostly some sort of compliance and some measures in place. I'd be surprised if they were ever identified as means of transmission. If people go to someone's house after, that's different. And you can't police teenagers, believe me I watch my school try, poor TAs on 'road clearance duty' every day.

 

[chilango]

Also by "chat shit" you might be referring to the only adult, social contact that a very tired, stressed, anxious person might have that day.

 

[Red Cat]

How people behave in groups usually, or at a time where there's been a fairly well publicised deadly pandemic circulating for months?

Why wouldn't you look at both if you were actually interested in controlling a virus? Why wouldn't you employ the experts in this? The organisation that (i think) most employs group consultants is the NHS because of the way we behave in groups when faced with illness and death.

 

[chilango]

I think school gates are a red herring. Outside, mostly some sort of compliance and some measures in place. I'd be surprised if they were ever identified as means of transmission. If people go to someone's house after, that's different. And you can't police teenagers, believe me I watch my school try, poor TAs on 'road clearance duty' every day.

I think it really depends on the geographical capital of the school.

Schools with the land, ample parking, multiple entrances and exits, distance from busy roads etc. are in a far better position than those with tiny playgrounds, one entrance, narrow pavements and fronting busy roads etc.

 

[nagapie]

I think it really depends on the geographical capital of the school.

Schools with the land, ample parking, multiple entrances and exits, distance from busy roads etc. are in a far better position than those with tiny playgrounds, one entrance, narrow pavements and fronting busy roads etc.

I guess what I'm questioning is more the ability for the virus to transmit in the outdoors where people may be close together but not right on top of each other and not for a very extended period of time.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

My kids primary has a single entry point at the end of a cul-de-sac. Distancing at pickup time is somewhat difficult.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Also by "chat shit" you might be referring to the only adult, social contact that a very tired, stressed, anxious person might have that day.

Which precludes that person from putting a mask on because...