could teachers/schools be more flexible
Discussion
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-52633150
schools have been off now since 20th March, a few teachers have been going in minding a small number of key workers' kids, whilst some have been giving online lessons from home.
Could they not facilitate small class sizes by having longer school hours, say 7am till 7pm and even opening on Saturdays. Having an early and a late shift, wiping down all tables/chairs etc between class changes, and using different entrances/exits to minimise contact.
It would take a lot of planning and organising but... hey teachers are clever and "only want what's best for the kids" right?
In times of crises nothing should be dismissed, to add to the above they should even consider coming in during the 6 week summer break, it's not like everyone's gonna be flying away on holiday.
schools have been off now since 20th March, a few teachers have been going in minding a small number of key workers' kids, whilst some have been giving online lessons from home.
Could they not facilitate small class sizes by having longer school hours, say 7am till 7pm and even opening on Saturdays. Having an early and a late shift, wiping down all tables/chairs etc between class changes, and using different entrances/exits to minimise contact.
It would take a lot of planning and organising but... hey teachers are clever and "only want what's best for the kids" right?
In times of crises nothing should be dismissed, to add to the above they should even consider coming in during the 6 week summer break, it's not like everyone's gonna be flying away on holiday.
ironv8 said:
Could they not facilitate small class sizes by having longer school hours, say 7am till 7pm and even opening on Saturdays. Having an early and a late shift, wiping down all tables/chairs etc between class changes, and using different entrances/exits to minimise contact.
Will they be paid for these extra hours you're suggesting? Because they should be. There’s already a lengthy thread discussing schools, teachers and Covid 19.
To summarise (I’m a primary school teacher).
I (And my colleagues) have been working bloody hard since March 20th, including over bank holidays and the Easter holidays. This is not intended as ‘I’ve been working harder in comparison to anyone else in any other profession’, simply that I have been working similar hours to when I was at school.
I would be willing to change my working pattern - no problem at all. However, This wouldn’t be feasible in my school without the recruitment of dozens of extra members of staff.
I would be willing to continue working over the summer holidays however I would want either overtime or days off in lieu. I’d be perfectly happy to work 50% of the summer, maybe 1 week on/1 week off.
No teacher that I know or work with have been anything but flexible and adaptable throughout this crisis.
To summarise (I’m a primary school teacher).
I (And my colleagues) have been working bloody hard since March 20th, including over bank holidays and the Easter holidays. This is not intended as ‘I’ve been working harder in comparison to anyone else in any other profession’, simply that I have been working similar hours to when I was at school.
I would be willing to change my working pattern - no problem at all. However, This wouldn’t be feasible in my school without the recruitment of dozens of extra members of staff.
I would be willing to continue working over the summer holidays however I would want either overtime or days off in lieu. I’d be perfectly happy to work 50% of the summer, maybe 1 week on/1 week off.
No teacher that I know or work with have been anything but flexible and adaptable throughout this crisis.
Edited by Jamie VTS on Friday 15th May 15:51
danny0001uk1 said:
There are a number of studies now showing a clear lower risk of transmission from the under tens.The instinctive response of the teaching unions and the BMA seems to be how can we make things difficult for a Tory government. What it should be is how can we get through a national crisis together.
Poor children in particular need to get back to school and these public sector unions seem to be under the misapprehension they will be insulated from economic collapse.
ironv8 said:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-52633150
It would take a lot of planning and organising but... hey teachers are clever and "only want what's best for the kids" right?
I like this little snippet. It's like wailing "Won't somebody think of the children?!"It would take a lot of planning and organising but... hey teachers are clever and "only want what's best for the kids" right?
7am to 7pm, 6 days a week. That means 6am to 8pm in reality. Go to school, teach all day, come home, eat dinner, go to sleep for the next day in 6 hours time. What about teachers that have children, family or who may care for those isolating. When does a teacher shop? Doh silly me, they've got Sunday off! It's a very simplistic view.
ironv8, I take it your little darlings are getting on your nerves.
Jamie VTS said:
There’s already a lengthy thread discussing schools, teachers and Covid 19.
To summarise (I’m a primary school teacher).
I (And my colleagues) have been working bloody hard since March 20th, including over bank holidays and the Easter holidays. This is not intended as I’ve been working harder in comparison to anyone else in any other profession, simply that I have been working similar hours to when I was at school.
I would be willing to change my working pattern - no problem at all. However, This wouldn’t be feasible in my school without the recruitment of dozens of extra members of staff.
I would be willing to continue working over the summer holidays however I would want either overtime or days off in lieu. I’d be perfectly happy to work 50% of the summer, maybe 1 week on/1 week off.
No teacher that I know or work with have been anything but flexible and adaptable throughout this crisis.
I’ve been working harder in comparison to anyone else in any other profession <= Really ? To summarise (I’m a primary school teacher).
I (And my colleagues) have been working bloody hard since March 20th, including over bank holidays and the Easter holidays. This is not intended as I’ve been working harder in comparison to anyone else in any other profession, simply that I have been working similar hours to when I was at school.
I would be willing to change my working pattern - no problem at all. However, This wouldn’t be feasible in my school without the recruitment of dozens of extra members of staff.
I would be willing to continue working over the summer holidays however I would want either overtime or days off in lieu. I’d be perfectly happy to work 50% of the summer, maybe 1 week on/1 week off.
No teacher that I know or work with have been anything but flexible and adaptable throughout this crisis.
Actually being honest here, no you bloody have not...
JagLover said:
There are a number of studies now showing a clear lower risk of transmission from the under tens.
The instinctive response of the teaching unions and the BMA seems to be how can we make things difficult for a Tory government. What it should be is how can we get through a national crisis together.
Poor children in particular need to get back to school and these public sector unions seem to be under the misapprehension they will be insulated from economic collapse.
could you please reference the studies that you refer to??The instinctive response of the teaching unions and the BMA seems to be how can we make things difficult for a Tory government. What it should be is how can we get through a national crisis together.
Poor children in particular need to get back to school and these public sector unions seem to be under the misapprehension they will be insulated from economic collapse.
ruggedscotty said:
I’ve been working harder in comparison to anyone else in any other profession <= Really ?
Actually being honest here, no you bloody have not...
You tit. Read it again. I said I’m not trying to compare myself to anyone else.Actually being honest here, no you bloody have not...
In other words, literally the opposite of how you read it.
I’m not saying I’ve been working harder than anyone else, because comparatively to others who’ve been sticking their necks on the line everyday - I haven’t.
But I have been working bloody hard over the last 8 weeks.
Hope that clears it up what I meant ?
Edited by Jamie VTS on Friday 15th May 15:52
ruggedscotty said:
Jamie VTS said:
There’s already a lengthy thread discussing schools, teachers and Covid 19.
To summarise (I’m a primary school teacher).
I (And my colleagues) have been working bloody hard since March 20th, including over bank holidays and the Easter holidays. I don't mean to say that I’ve been working harder in comparison to anyone else in any other profession, simply that I have been working similar hours to when I was at school.
I’ve been working harder in comparison to anyone else in any other profession <= Really ? To summarise (I’m a primary school teacher).
I (And my colleagues) have been working bloody hard since March 20th, including over bank holidays and the Easter holidays. I don't mean to say that I’ve been working harder in comparison to anyone else in any other profession, simply that I have been working similar hours to when I was at school.
Actually being honest here, no you bloody have not...
jinba-ittai said:
JagLover said:
There are a number of studies now showing a clear lower risk of transmission from the under tens.
The instinctive response of the teaching unions and the BMA seems to be how can we make things difficult for a Tory government. What it should be is how can we get through a national crisis together.
Poor children in particular need to get back to school and these public sector unions seem to be under the misapprehension they will be insulated from economic collapse.
could you please reference the studies that you refer to??The instinctive response of the teaching unions and the BMA seems to be how can we make things difficult for a Tory government. What it should be is how can we get through a national crisis together.
Poor children in particular need to get back to school and these public sector unions seem to be under the misapprehension they will be insulated from economic collapse.
Ireland
HIQA said:
While the evidence is limited, it appears that children are not substantially contributing to the spread of COVID-19 in their household or in schools. One study suggests that while there is high transmission of COVID-19 among adults aged 25 years or older, transmission is lower in younger people particularly in those under 14 years of age.”
“An Australian study that examined potential spread from 18 confirmed (nine students and nine staff) cases to over 800 close contacts in 15 different schools found that no teacher or staff member contracted COVID-19 from any of the initial school cases. One child from a primary school and one child from a high school may have contracted COVID-19 from the initial cases at their school
https://www.hiqa.ie/hiqa-news-updates/hiqa-publishes-four-evidence-summaries-support-national-response-covid-19“An Australian study that examined potential spread from 18 confirmed (nine students and nine staff) cases to over 800 close contacts in 15 different schools found that no teacher or staff member contracted COVID-19 from any of the initial school cases. One child from a primary school and one child from a high school may have contracted COVID-19 from the initial cases at their school
Iceland
Iceland said:
Children under 10 are less likely to get infected than adults and if they get infected, they are less likely to get seriously ill. What is interesting is that even if children do get infected, they are less likely to transmit the disease to others than adults. We have not found a single instance of a child infecting parents.
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/icelandic-study-we-have-not-found-a-single-instance-of-a-child-infecting-parents/Switzerland
Switzerland said:
Switzerland says children below ten years old and grandparents can hug, emphasizing that children are less likely to transmit the coronavirus.Swiss authorities say it is safe for children under the age of ten to hug their grandparents, revising its official advice on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The country is now slowly lifting restrictions, with some businesses allowed to open and schools to resume in two weeks.
Now I appreciate that teaching is a profession where people continue until retirement age. My Mother was a primary school teacher and only finished fulltime at 65. So there will be some classed as "high risk" who perhaps should continue working from home. In general though dealing with primary age children is NOT high risk. the teachers will almost certainly be at lower risk than shop assistants. There needs to be a sense of proportion and a realisation about those who will suffer most from political grandstanding.
ironv8 said:
Could they not facilitate small class sizes by having longer school hours, say 7am till 7pm .
Both our local primary schools are saying they'll be open, but there won't be before and after school clubs - so it'll just be 8.45 until 3.15. That's going to be a bit of a problem for parents who rely on that extended hours care.Jamie VTS said:
ruggedscotty said:
I’ve been working harder in comparison to anyone else in any other profession <= Really ?
Actually being honest here, no you bloody have not...
You tit. Read it again. I said I’m not trying to compare myself to anyone else.Actually being honest here, no you bloody have not...
In other words, literally the opposite of how you read it.
I’m not saying I’ve been working harder than anyone else, because comparatively to others who’ve been sticking their necks on the line everyday - I haven’t.
But I have been working bloody hard over the last 8 weeks.
Hope that clears it up what I meant ?
Edited by Jamie VTS on Friday 15th May 15:52
vikingaeroatwork said:
I like this little snippet. It's like wailing "Won't somebody think of the children?!"
7am to 7pm, 6 days a week. That means 6am to 8pm in reality. Go to school, teach all day, come home, eat dinner, go to sleep for the next day in 6 hours time. What about teachers that have children, family or who may care for those isolating. When does a teacher shop? Doh silly me, they've got Sunday off! It's a very simplistic view.
ironv8, I take it your little darlings are getting on your nerves.
My little darlings have fled the nest luckily.7am to 7pm, 6 days a week. That means 6am to 8pm in reality. Go to school, teach all day, come home, eat dinner, go to sleep for the next day in 6 hours time. What about teachers that have children, family or who may care for those isolating. When does a teacher shop? Doh silly me, they've got Sunday off! It's a very simplistic view.
ironv8, I take it your little darlings are getting on your nerves.
I'm not anti teacher, my mum was one and my SIL still is. Most do a great job despite poor government direction, authorities that would hang them out to dry at the first false "he touched me" accusation, and disrespectful, undisciplined kids.
Even if kids come in a few days a week on an alternate basis it's got to be better than staying off till September
What are the options, clearly full classes aren't going to happen.
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