Sunday 30 August 2020

Back to school.



The re-opening of schools across much of Europe is the next experiment in the world of COVID-19.

Will the juniors be able to play marbles, conkers, or hopscotch? Will the seniors be able to canoodle behind the bike sheds, without 'socially distancing'? Will the teachers hold their breath behind a perspex screen until break time? Will the two metre rule hold strong in the staffroom?

Will attendance be staggered? Will desks be placed two metres apart? Will masks be worn all day long? No-one really seems to know. Maybe it will be up to individual schools.

Children need the interaction with their peers that only school life offers. They need to compete, to banter, even to argue.

We are told that children are the least susceptible to COVID-19, but their teachers must be amongst the most vulnerable. One virus carrier inside a classroom could cause havoc outside.

Government minds are still changing about the whys and wherefores of classroom life. All children must learn to read, write, add-up, speak coherently, and have basic social skills; and my fingers are crossed that the spelling of SCHOOL will remain as it always was!



28 comments:

  1. Now it's kool
    It's time for skool
    Cross fingers
    Hope not to die


    Ours go back on the 7th, maybe. Those in charge have realised it's most important for them all to get that social interaction. They'll probably all have to wear masks and have staggered play intervals.

    I hope they close all the islands and restrict travel again. At least that will keep cases isolated. Our grandkids are still enjoying the summer and see most of their friends daily anyway. But it's time for them to get back to reality. They haven't been in a school room since march


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    1. Now it's kool
      It's time 4 skool
      Cross your fingers
      Hope not to die
      Yours is not to reason wy

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    2. I would imagine that most children will be glad to go back, apart from anything they must miss all their friends.

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  2. Sounds like a recipe for disaster?

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    1. I don't know. In some countries they've never closed, and all seems to have gone well. Children are mostly 'self-healing', it's only the staff I would worry about.

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    2. ... and the kids' parents?

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  3. My sister was teaching her students unmasked when at the front of the classroom but masked otherwise. I think all schools are back in other states and mine will reopen for the the final term this year.

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    1. In the UK they are now talking of University students not returning to campus until Jan 2021. It's all a bit confused.

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  4. Wonderful news. I am so pleased that schools are reopening. Think positive at all times.

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    Replies
    1. Children should be at school, we are not organised enough for home schooling. I believe both Holland and Sweden have kept their schools open with no extra problems.

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  5. Just to add to your replies - I am glad I have retired from teaching in Comprehensive school - don;t have to worry about it.

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    1. Knowing that children carry more germs than an outdoor privy, I'm also pleased it's not me standing in front of 20 (or more) of them.

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  6. Let's hope that all goes well as schools attempt to reopen. Government leadership has been very poor with U turns, poor communication and ignorance about what it might all mean at the chalkface.

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    1. The infrastructure of schools are all different, therefore it's very difficult to make one rule that suits all comers. Most, I'm sure, will be OK, but there's bound to be cases where it goes wrong. One just has to hope that they are very few.

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  7. I don’t think that there is any other way but to open schools .... they can’t be shut forever. A bit of a suck it and see situation. A bit like everything else ... we’ve got to get out there and open things up otherwise everything will go down the pan !!! .... but with caution and safety rules in place. XXXX

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    1. That's about it. They can't stay closed forever; neither can pubs, shops, restaurants, theatres, etc. There will be new waves of the virus, but in the long term things should get better.

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  8. Havant a clew wot you meen?

    LX

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  9. This is what is happening in Ontario elementary schools. Parents have a choice to send their children to school, or have them do online learning. Students from grade 4 and up must wear masks, and students below grade 4 are recommended to wear masks but it is not mandatory. In my classroom, I can fit 15 desks, pulled apart by 2 metres. However, I think, at the moment, I will have 20 students, so I don't know how that is supposed to happen. It is mandatory that I wear a mask. Students are starting on September 8th, and I still don't have all the information. We are staggering break times and washroom / washing hands times so that we don't have the usual crowd of kids in the washrooms at the same time. Hand sanitizer will become the norm. There are still so many unanswered questions for the teachers. The government is telling the public that students will be physically distanced, with fewer students in each class, however extra teachers are not being hired. They are telling the public that sanitizing and cleaning will be a priority, but extra custodial staff is not being hired. I feel like I will be in the middle of some very controversial issues, but I think it is very important that students go back to school. -Jenn

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    1. I agree with your final point, but how it will physically be managed is another question. Maybe the kids could be taught to sanitise behind them as they move around; it may take-up most of the day, but they'd probably prefer that to Maths.

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  10. I think school is a super-spreader of the virus and the perfect way to accomplish herd immunity. I also think this is what the powers in charge want. We have been told so many lies that our heads are spinning but yet we keep looking to our leaders for guidance. Colleges have opened here and so far, the news does not look good. Some have already closed in person classes. I worry so about my grandchildren and the teachers on the front lines. Yes, children need to interact, but their lives and the lives of their families should not be at such great risk. They will get over missing a year of school but they might not get over Corona 19.

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    1. We keep looking to our leaders for guidance, and they look to their medical advisors for guidance. Unfortunately the advisors are rarely in agreement with each other about anything. The perfect recipe for a mess.

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    2. This is my thought too. While education is important, it isn't as important as my child or grandchild's life.

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  11. In Massachusetts, USA most schools are opening after Labor Day. Half the students will attend Monday and Tuesday and the other half Thursday and Friday. All students are given the option of remote learning. Masks and social distancing are required. We are told, if an outbreak occurs the schools are prepared to go to full remote learning. Some teachers are expressing great concern about opening the schools and have said they prefer to go full remote. School buses can not accommodate social distancing requirements for everyone and parents are asked to transport kids to school. School nurses are asking about testing if someone is not feeling well. There is no definitive answer to this question. It all seems like a trial and error process. We will hope for the best; I'm sure there will be a few bumps in the road.

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    1. It does seem all very confused, but I do hope they will find a comfortable solution for all concerned.

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