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Part of the problem with the debate around schools is the obscure nature of the accusations against teachers
What exactly are teachers being accused of?
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What exactly are teachers being accused of?
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Is it that they are refusing to do their job? I.e. lazy
Simply untrue. They will still be teaching remotely, which is often more difficult than in person
If they can't do that because of lack of tech that's partly the govt's fault and it should have been better prepared by now
Simply untrue. They will still be teaching remotely, which is often more difficult than in person
If they can't do that because of lack of tech that's partly the govt's fault and it should have been better prepared by now
Is it that there is a low risk of teachers catching the virus? I.e. mountain out of a molehill.
AFAIK virus risk in schools broadly matches the wider population (happy to be corrected), which is rising rapidly
If there's increased risk everywhere, there is in schools too
AFAIK virus risk in schools broadly matches the wider population (happy to be corrected), which is rising rapidly
If there's increased risk everywhere, there is in schools too
Plus, no other group is being asked to remain in close contact with large numbers of potentially infectious people, i.e. children in this case, with little to no PPE
In some schools it is banned, in others simply frowned upon
In some schools it is banned, in others simply frowned upon
Plus, 1 million people work in schools in England alone: …https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england
Add to that almost 9 million pupils: …https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics
That's a lot of people (~18% of the population in England) mixing closely, even with mitigations in place, and should concern us all
Add to that almost 9 million pupils: …https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics
That's a lot of people (~18% of the population in England) mixing closely, even with mitigations in place, and should concern us all
Do teachers want to actively harm the futures of the children they're supposed to be helping?
This is a malicious accusation against people who dedicate their lives to not just teaching but providing a whole range of pastoral care to children. I give it no value.
This is a malicious accusation against people who dedicate their lives to not just teaching but providing a whole range of pastoral care to children. I give it no value.
Should teachers be expected to take risks the rest of us aren't as part of their job?
Personally, I don't think so
If there were sufficient testing and mandatory use of PPE until widespread vaccination, the level of risk might be different (again govt shld shoulder blame)
Personally, I don't think so
If there were sufficient testing and mandatory use of PPE until widespread vaccination, the level of risk might be different (again govt shld shoulder blame)
Some people seem to expect teachers to take risks they don't have to take themselves
Some may be comfortable working in schools, that's a personal choice
But the right to be safe and secure at work is basic and not too much to ask, not even (in fact, especially) in a pandemic
Some may be comfortable working in schools, that's a personal choice
But the right to be safe and secure at work is basic and not too much to ask, not even (in fact, especially) in a pandemic
And you'll notice none of this has anything to do with whether children are at a risk of getting serious disease (as we all know, on the whole they aren't)
But they can catch it, carry it and spread it - that's what matters here
But they can catch it, carry it and spread it - that's what matters here
The govt is deflecting blame onto teachers for their own serious shortcomings
Whether school preparedness for online learning, mass testing in schools or vaccine rollout, not to mention slow and poor decision-making which has contributed to such high rates of infection
Whether school preparedness for online learning, mass testing in schools or vaccine rollout, not to mention slow and poor decision-making which has contributed to such high rates of infection
