How will schools be able to go back in September? (Continued)

meeeeh

irishblessing wrote: »

In normal times, but we have to adapt. Healthy, surviving family members without long term health effects is most important. That doesn't mean socialisation is at the bottom of the heap. Combined (blended/hybrid learning) should be the first resort to avoid worse consequences, to avoid shutdowns, teacher absences and closed classes for days or weeks, and hospitals overran. Obviously, it's too late at that point. That's the WHOOOOOLE point of forward thinking planning in everyone's best interest. Not looking back in hindsight saying oh whelp, we saw this coming, feck it anyway... :rolleyes: Where will socialisation be then when instead instead of blended learning the school, community, or country is shut down. Why is this so hard to understand.

But the numbers are not high enough to warrant blended teaching. Schools seem to be doing fine in general

irishblessing

meeeeh wrote: »

In other words he should say what you want to hear.

As opposed to not saying what you don't want to hear? :pac:

wirelessdude01

meeeeh wrote: »

I hope someone reported the principal?

The request is being ignored.

meeeeh

irishblessing wrote: »

As opposed to not saying what you don't want to hear? :pac:

Actually I want them to say whatever they think they need to say. I won't like everything they will say. I certainly didn't agree with the delay in bringing in masks but I don't believe the delay was because the CMO was just a mouthpiece for government.

irishblessing

meeeeh wrote: »

But the numbers are not high enough to warrant blended teaching. Schools seem to be doing fine in general

Are you being deliberately obtuse? There are those in the high risk category completely uncatered for. There are those in the very high risk category who were downgraded to high risk and therefore both groups are extremely vulnerable. As are the family members they live with who may be higher risk.
There are teacher/sub shortages and others taking the retirement option. There are already cases and clusters in schools causing quarantines and closures and there is no national plan b for them. We have one of the largest class sizes in Europe in often old (and overcrowded) buildings making social distancing and ventilation impossible. Blended remote learning would reduce those class sizes and give choice to those who desperately need it.
"Schools seem to be doing fine" comment is just another 'I'm alright Jack' sentiment that only shows your privilege for one, your lack of empathy for other's situation for two, and a blatant ignoring of the reality of the situation.

Icyseanfitz

meeeeh wrote: »

But the numbers are not high enough to warrant blended teaching. Schools seem to be doing fine in general

How are we doing alright? Yesterday we had near 400 cases and the day before we had over 400, that's not good

irishblessing

meeeeh wrote: »

Actually I want them to say whatever they think they need to say. I won't like everything they will say. I certainly didn't agree with the delay in bringing in masks but I don't believe the delay was because the CMO was just a mouthpiece for government.

Which is exactly what they're doing? And we have every right to question our (unelected) leaders by the way, this isn't N. Korea. See, you disagree over things too. Didn't you trust the leadership on that decision? :rolleyes:

wirelessdude01

meeeeh wrote: »

But the numbers are not high enough to warrant blended teaching. Schools seem to be doing fine in general

At the moment. Point that I raised earlier is that there is no formal or consistent approach adopted for continuity of education in the event of a class, classes, whole year group or indeed whole school closure. It will be the 'bespoke approach we had before during lockdown.

Without searching at all I'm aware of 3 schools that have been fully closed. As far as i know, one is due open next Monday. The others won't be until the following week.

Now before anyone jumps in saying I'm advocating for schools to be shut I'm not. Keeping them open is the name of the game but different approaches based on local situation is what is required and this isn't and hasn't been allowed or considered.

I'm aware of one school in a hotspot in Dublin that asked the department for permission to adopt a blended solution. This would have reduced numbers in the school for a period of time. Classes are already being streamed to overflow rooms in the school anyway so could have been viewed from home in real-time as is happening in the over flow room.

Department refused to even engage with them and listen to the detail of the proposal.

meeeeh

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

How are we doing alright? Yesterday we had near 400 cases and the day before we had over 400, that's not good

No they are not great but they are not bad enough to close or limit the schools. You can't compare 400 cases now to 400 in April when testing criteria was different.

the corpo

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

As an aside a friend of mine in a massive primary school just messaged me to say that their principal has asked every staff member to delete the covid tracking app.

Jaysis, what on earth is the thinking behind that??

Icyseanfitz

meeeeh wrote: »

No they are not great but they are not bad enough to close or limit the schools. You can't compare 400 cases now to 400 in April when testing criteria was different.

Will they still be okay in 2 weeks when they hit 600? How about 800 a day, will that be okay?

wirelessdude01

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Where did I say that?

I want to see/hear transparency about schools and the cases/clusters/outbreaks in them.

I will be highly and pleasantly surprised if we get a diagram like we did yesterday which shows how a case in school spreads.

As an aside a friend of mine in a massive primary school just messaged me to say that their principal has asked every staff member to delete the covid tracking app.

Its an active debate about what to do about the tracing app in work environments where other controls are in place. In work here large amounts of people work in a production environment, but segregation measures have been put in place. There is an expectation that at some point we will get a large number of pings from a case, but who in reality probably only has 3-4 contacts max. Operators working in the area are not supposed to bring their phones with them (cleanroom), however reality is most have the phone in the pocket. The alternative however is that many of these will have the phone in their lockers, resulting in far more pings as hundreds of lockers are in the same area.

meeeeh

irishblessing wrote: »

Which is exactly what they're doing? And we have every right to question our (unelected) leaders by the way, this isn't N. Korea. See, you disagree over things too. Didn't you trust the leadership on that decision? :rolleyes:

Questioning something is not the same as professionally dismissing someone and devaluing their expertise.

irishblessing

meeeeh wrote: »

Questioning something is not the same as professionally dismissing someone and devaluing their expertise.

Okay. If that's the only point you want to try to make it's a poor attempt at discussion of all the wider issues and points made which you're conveniently ignoring.

meeeeh

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

Will they still be okay in 2 weeks when they hit 600? How about 800 a day, will that be okay?

I don't know how many we will hit in 2 weeks but I would think the hospital numbers and how many other services in hospitals can be provided are lot more relevant for essential service/activities like schools and business activities.

irishblessing

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I'm aware of one school in a hotspot in Dublin that asked the department for permission to adopt a blended solution. This would have reduced numbers in the school for a period of time. Classes are already being streamed to overflow rooms in the school anyway so could have been viewed from home in real-time as is happening in the over flow room.

Department refused to even engage with them and listen to the detail of the proposal.

This is an utter disgrace and neglect of their duties in the highest order. Disgusted.

meeeeh

irishblessing wrote: »

Okay. If that's the only point you want to try to make it's a poor attempt at discussion of all the wider issues and points made which you're conveniently ignoring.

Oh so now I'm discussing the wrong points. Right. I 'm ignoring some points because I'm already wasting too much time discussing this. Unlike some here I have to at least pretend I'm working.

irishblessing

meeeeh wrote: »

Oh so now I'm discussing the wrong points. Right. I 'm ignoring some points because I'm already wasting too much time discussing this. Unlike some here I have to at least pretend I'm working.

irishblessing wrote: »

Are you being deliberately obtuse? There are those in the high risk category completely uncatered for. There are those in the very high risk category who were downgraded to high risk and therefore both groups are extremely vulnerable. As are the family members they live with who may be higher risk.
There are teacher/sub shortages and others taking the retirement option. There are already cases and clusters in schools causing quarantines and closures and there is no national plan b for them. We have one of the largest class sizes in Europe in often old (and overcrowded) buildings making social distancing and ventilation impossible. Blended remote learning would reduce those class sizes and give choice to those who desperately need it.
"Schools seem to be doing fine" comment is just another 'I'm alright Jack' sentiment that only shows your privilege for one, your lack of empathy for other's situation for two, and a blatant ignoring of the reality of the situation.

So instead of responding to this, and playing semantics about how you vs others disagree on how the gov't runs the show (you disagree in the "right" way, apparently), now you're going to hide behind some ridiculous excuse that you are too busy and working, despite being on here throughout the day so far. Right...

meeeeh

irishblessing wrote: »

So instead of responding to this, and playing semantics about how you vs others disagree on how the gov't runs the show (you disagree in the "right" way, apparently), now you're going to hide behind some ridiculous excuse that you are too busy and working, despite being on here throughout the day so far. Right...

OK and this is actually my last response on the subject. Those who are vulnerable have to stay at home and I agree something should be done to cater for them. Those who were downgraded obviously aren't vulnerable enough and how we treat Corona improved so if all possible they should be in main system. There is no point of starting blended learning before issues appear. Kids are not overly affected by Corona so unless school is forced into blended learning by large outbreak there is no point for it. However the kids (and parents) in blended learning will be in disadvantaged position in comparison to kids in normal learning so I wouldn't be quick to implement it.

irishblessing

meeeeh wrote: »

OK and this is actually my last response on the subject. Those who are vulnerable have to stay at home and I agree something should be done to cater for them. Those who were downgraded obviously aren't vulnerable enough and how we treat Corona improved so if all possible they should be in main system. There is no point of starting blended learning before issues appear. Kids are not overly affected by Corona so unless school is forced into blended learning by large outbreak there is no point for it. However the kids (and parents) in blended learning will be in disadvantaged position in comparison to kids in normal learning so I wouldn't be quick to implement it.

"... aren't vulnerable enough." Still leaves them at more vulnerable without options, doesn't it? Not very sympathetic but then you're not facing it so what do you care.

No point in starting blended learning before issues appear? Wow... so there's no point in trying to avoid any sickness, long term illness or death, nor avoid any disruption in learning and addressing disadvantaged students in an uneven system as the rolling absences, quarantines and lockdowns go on. Instead of levelling out the field, ensuring everyone has the same safety and access to education, you only want to compare normal learning to an abnormal time which is to absolutely ignore reality. We are in the midst of a global pandemic, and our leaders in respect to education have absolutely not risen to the challenge.

You at least admit to one whole segment of society uncatered for (though I would argue all are uncatered for properly). For someone who constantly spouts about how much education and socialisation should be valued, you seem to have planted your feet firmly against the best plan to ensure all have the best possible support at this time. I don't understand you.

JimmyVik

Pretty sure schools will be closed by Christmas the way things are going. Maybe even in November.
And of course the chools will not be ready for it and this time we will have 2 full terms without proper remote learning in place.
Now we were very happy the way the tacher did it last time, but its a different teacher this year and god knows what they will be like.
But one thing is for certain. If the schools continue as they are, then none of them will be ready for closing down and remote learning for the rest of this school year.

Icyseanfitz

meeeeh wrote: »

I don't know how many we will hit in 2 weeks but I would think the hospital numbers and how many other services in hospitals can be provided are lot more relevant for essential service/activities like schools and business activities.

And yet hospital admissions and ICU beds used are at the highest theve been in months, how does your "increased numbers is only increased testing" Fit in with that?

meeeeh

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

And yet hospital admissions and ICU beds used are at the highest theve been in months, how does your "increased numbers is only increased testing" Fit in with that?

I said positive numbers can't be compared to numbers in April because we are testing more not that they are not increasing. At the end of April there were 120 people in ICU with Covid. https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/covid19-updates/covid-19-daily-operations-update-20-00-26-april-2020.pdf

mvl

irishblessing wrote: »

This is an utter disgrace and neglect of their duties in the highest order. Disgusted.

yes, it is extremely frustrating, shows lack of agility and is not appropriate attitude for a 2020 1st world country.
- reducing number of ppl onsite is appropriate for majority of the workplaces where technology is used - why can't ppl see the benefits of doing same in schools ? it IS a workplace where technology can be used, is it not ?

so ... been complaining here for days that I don't want my secondary school daughter to have to spend full time in school between 9-16h: I want her to spend enough time in school, and in my opinion, smaller number of core hours of school learning can be complimented with delta online learning, to enable a safer environment for students/teachers and parents involved !!!

wirelessdude01

I had reason to spend a few days in hospital recently (non Covid related) and when I looked out my window they were building/erecting two massive marquees out the back. Asked one of the nurses and they said they were preparing as a just in case for expected surge in admissions.

I compared this to the blatant lack of planning shown to education.

meeeeh

irishblessing wrote: »

You at least admit to one whole segment of society uncatered for (though I would argue all are uncatered for properly). For someone who constantly spouts about how much education and socialisation should be valued, you seem to have planted your feet firmly against the best plan to ensure all have the best possible support at this time. I don't understand you.

I planted my feet firmly against your plan not against the best plan. Btw we also run our own company, we are increasing our workforce and we have no intention to tell our customers that we can't provide the services because our employees have to do blended teaching. Your way will bankrupt the country, take away the means of earning an income from people and all because you are afraid your kids might come home with sniffles. How many lives do you want to destroy, how many families have to be moved on employment supports to enable remote learning?

Lillyfae

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I had reason to spend a few days in hospital recently (non Covid related) and when I looked out my window they were building/erecting two massive marquees out the back. Asked one of the nurses and they said they were preparing as a just in case for expected surge in admissions.

I compared this to the blatant lack of planning shown to education.

I'm confused. You see this as prudent planning for hospitals, but it wasn't good enough for schools a few months ago?? Or you think hospitals and schools are subject to equally bad planning?

wirelessdude01

Lillyfae wrote: »

I'm confused. You see this as prudent planning for hospitals, but it wasn't good enough for schools a few months ago?? Or you think hospitals and schools are subject to equally bad planning?

Well these things weren't your standard marquee. Obviously unaware how these are being financed.

I know a school that made an enquiry about renting some form of marquee for the year and was quoted €90,000. Yes €90,000. No school has that type of money and there was no provision anywhere in the plan to provide finance. Insurance enquiry was made with Allianz as well and they were told it wouldn't be covered anyway so was a non runner regardless.

Point I'm making is the difference in approach to forward planning. Health is planning ahead for something which may or may not occur but if/when it does occur there is some type of a plan.
Education won't do any planning that would ensure a consistent approach if/when a class/classes/year group/whole school aren't allow into the school building.

Once again I'm not looking or advocating for schools to be closed or for a national lockdown. I'm advocating that people should be realistic as already whole schools have been shut for two weeks. This is a fact and more schools will be impacted. Regional shutdowns with regards to schools aren't too far fetched.

Lillyfae

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Well these things weren't your standard marquee. Obviously unaware how these are being financed.

I know a school that made an enquiry about renting some form of marquee for the year and was quoted €90,000. Yes €90,000. No school has that type of money and there was no provision anywhere in the plan to provide finance.

So if the marquee looks OK to you then it's a good solution but if someone else suggests anything like that you personally ridicule them out of the thread? Does it ever occur to you that, actually, you may vastly overestimate the weight of your own opinion?

I'm not saying NPHET or the CMO are always right. This is still an unprecedented pandemic, and any measures taken have to be within the context of the whole of society, to the benefit of the whole of society. There are employees in many essential sectors who may be at a higher risk, who may have family members at a higher risk, of becoming gravely ill from Covid. If that's the case, they need to make their own decision as to how they feel is best to proceed. Supports need to be in place for those at a very high risk, as they are. But whether you like it or not, formal education and socialisation at school is essential and should continue, especially since we can see it is not the super spreader that you have predicted it would be.

Things are going to be inconsistent, and up and down until a functioning vaccination program is available. Tough for all of us, very tough for teachers who can't effectively teach small children from home. Until then I'm glad that there are virologists and public health experts advising the policy makers and not the INTO, the principal at the school down the road, Voices for Teachers facebook page, you, Blondini etc etc etc

wirelessdude01

Lillyfae wrote: »

So if the marquee looks OK to you then it's a good solution but if someone else suggests anything like that you personally ridicule them out of the thread? Does it ever occur to you that, actually, you may vastly overestimate the weight of your own opinion?

I'm not saying NPHET or the CMO are always right. This is still an unprecedented pandemic, and any measures taken have to be within the context of the whole of society, to the benefit of the whole of society. There are employees in many essential sectors who may be at a higher risk, who may have family members at a higher risk, of becoming gravely ill from Covid. If that's the case, they need to make their own decision as to how they feel is best to proceed. Supports need to be in place for those at a very high risk, as they are. But whether you like it or not, formal education and socialisation at school is essential and should continue, especially since we can see it is not the super spreader that you have predicted it would be.

Things are going to be inconsistent, and up and down until a functioning vaccination program is available. Tough for all of us, very tough for teachers who can't effectively teach small children from home. Until then I'm glad that there are virologists and public health experts advising the policy makers and not the INTO, the principal at the school down the road, Voices for Teachers facebook page, you, Blondini etc etc etc

Quote where I said it was a super spreader?

You just dismissed two of the education stakeholders, INTO and principals as having no input into how things are decided. How narrow minded.

Not quite sure what the INTO or principals have done that deserve such ire from you. Care to explain?

How are things in the land of tulips?

Lillyfae

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Quote where I said it was a super spreader?

You just dismissed two of the education stakeholders, INTO and principals as having no input into how things are decided. How narrow minded.

How are things in the land of tulips?

I'm not going to go back over all of your posts, anyone following this thread is well aware of your position.

The INTO don't educate anyone, but no I don't believe that principals or the INTO should be advising pandemic management strategy.

They're the same as anywhere else, thanks for asking. We've had to fall back onto stricter guidelines unfortunately but it's to be expected at the moment. A lot had returned to the office under the false sense of security afforded by a flattened curve, so the government are reiterating the position of "work from home unless in an essential role that requires office attendance". Hopefully numbers will improve soon. As for schools etc, they close for a couple of days and open back up again as necessary. A bit unsettling for the staff but the children are just delighted to have a routine.

wirelessdude01

[quote="Lillyfae;114764616"

They're the same as anywhere else, thanks for asking. We've had to fall back onto stricter guidelines unfortunately but it's to be expected at the moment. A lot had returned to the office under the false sense of security afforded by a flattened curve, so the government are reiterating the position of "work from home unless in an essential role that requires office attendance". Hopefully numbers will improve soon. As for schools etc, they close for a couple of days and open back up again as necessary. A bit unsettling for the staff but the children are just delighted to have a routine.[/quote]

So is it closure due to a case(s) in a school, closure of schools in an area. How does it operate? Interested to hear.

s1ippy

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

As an aside a friend of mine in a massive primary school just messaged me to say that their principal has asked every staff member to delete the covid tracking app.

My old principal sent a group message this week to advise the same, it was forwarded to me by a friend. I wonder if they're being told to or if they just have no moral compass whatsoever.

wirelessdude01

s1ippy wrote: »

My old principal sent a group message this week to advise the same, it was forwarded to me by a friend. I wonder if they're being told to or if they just have no moral compass whatsoever.

I was told last week that the HSE has contacted schools and ask that they amend any policy where they advised downloading the app. Also to advise staff/pupils to uninstall/disable in school.

SusanC10

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I was told last week that the HSE has contacted schools and ask that they amend any policy where they advised downloading the app. Also to advise staff/pupils to uninstall/disable in school.

Was there a reason given ?

wirelessdude01

SusanC10 wrote: »

Was there a reason given ?

Is there ever.

Guessing the Drogheda 'glitch' is the most likely reason.

Lillyfae

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

So is it closure due to a case(s) in a school, closure of schools in an area. How does it operate? Interested to hear.

Well in a case from last week:

https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/3266155/grote-opluchting-op-eindhovense-basisschool-weer-open-na-coronabesmetting-bij-leerkracht

A primary school teacher tested positive, so they closed the school for 2 days and tested all teachers. It goes on to say that parents weren't happy that these were counted as study days (so no lessons given). The principal is worried about the fact that guidelines permit children coming to school with the sniffles, although she is glad that they're allowed to. She also found it frustrating that they had various points of contact within public health so not really continuous advice etc

wirelessdude01

Lillyfae wrote: »

Well in a case from last week:

https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/3266155/grote-opluchting-op-eindhovense-basisschool-weer-open-na-coronabesmetting-bij-leerkracht

A primary school teacher tested positive, so they closed the school for 2 days and tested all teachers. It goes on to say that parents weren't happy that these were counted as study days (so no lessons given). The principal is worried about the fact that guidelines permit children coming to school with the sniffles, although she is glad that they're allowed to. She also found it frustrating that they had various points of contact within public health so not really continuous advice etc

Any children tested as a result?

So different people having different opinions based on the same information? Same happening here. No consistent approach when it comes to tracing in schools at all.

Lillyfae

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Any children tested as a result?

So different people having different opinions based on the same information? Same happening here. No consistent approach when it comes to tracing in schools at all.

No children tested, just the teachers.

Well that would be the case anyway since they have regional and not national public health services here- but I think it was more along the lines of having one point of contact, not that the information was different. Bit of advice, maybe if you make less assumptions about things you don't understand to begin with then your argument might become more coherent.

wirelessdude01

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Is there ever.

Guessing the Drogheda 'glitch' is the most likely reason.

If you are in a place where your location relative to other people is known, the app adds no value, just confusion as it's not, and can never be, 100% accurate. Where loads of people are in a building, even if they are in different rooms, pings may be returned. The value of the app is where you don't know the people you are in the vicinity of, or could forget, such as when socialising.

wirelessdude01

Lillyfae wrote: »

No children tested, just the teachers.

Well that would be the case anyway since they have regional and not national public health services here- but I think it was more along the lines of having one point of contact, not that the information was different. Bit of advice, maybe if you make less assumptions about things you don't understand to begin with then your argument might become more coherent.

Likewise to yourself.

mvl

appears there is an assumption here that blended learning means parents have to drive the teaching - with follow on economic impacts/disasters - why is that ?
personally i would have thought blended learning is done via teams/zoom/skype calls, with teachers driving the remote learning ?!?

- with that in mind, schools can ensure all children from a year are taught virtually by one teacher at a time per subject, while allowing for additional teaching resources backups for the classes that are done in school - this can help preventing schools being understaffed in next months even. win win for all ...

Icyseanfitz

mvl wrote: »

appears there is an assumption here that blended learning means parents have to drive the teaching - with follow on economic impacts/disasters - why is that ?


personally i would have thought blended learning is done via teams/zoom/skype calls, with teachers driving the remote learning ?!?


- with that in mind, schools can ensure all children from a year are taught virtually by one teacher at a time per subject, while allowing for additional teaching resources backups for the classes that are done in school - this can help preventing schools being understaffed in next months even. win win for all ...

People don't want to hear it, schools are now seen as mere economic babysitting, and that all educators just want to close schools :rolleyes:

Talisman

irishblessing wrote: »

For how long?

I have no idea, it is just a forewarning. From what we have heard there have been at least 8 positive cases in the school to date.

wirelessdude01

Talisman wrote: »

I have no idea, it is just a forewarning. From what we have heard there have been at least 8 positive cases in the school to date.

Any in same class or same year?

JDD

I think it's perfectly understandable to ask people to disable the covid app while at work, in certain situations. You don't need to uninstall the app, just switch off your bluetooth while in work.

If you work in a lab where partitions are raised between colleagues, or in a workplace where your mobile is left in a locker, then it is not just good reasonable to ask people to disable to the covid app, it is advisable. Otherwise your mobile is going to send out a massive amount of pings when your employer or the HSE already know who your close contacts are. And then everyone who gets a ping self isolates, leading to unnecessary paralysis.

Same in a school, I would expect. As a teacher, if you have your phone in your pocket then it will ping the teacher in the classroom behind you, and possibly above or below you. If you are a secondary school teacher moving from classroom to classroom your phone will probably pick up every other teacher in the school as a close contact when you might not have even seen another face during the day.

mvl

mvl wrote: »

appears there is an assumption here that blended learning means parents have to drive the teaching - with follow on economic impacts/disasters - why is that ?


personally i would have thought blended learning is done via teams/zoom/skype calls, with teachers driving the remote learning ?!?


- with that in mind, schools can ensure all children from a year are taught virtually by one teacher at a time per subject, while allowing for additional teaching resources backups for the classes that are done in school - this can help preventing schools being understaffed in next months even. win win for all ...

Believe it or not the majority of workers in the country dont have jobs that can be done remotely. 1 parent in every household with kids under the age of 16 would need to remain home from work to support remote learning.

For under 10's it would be virtually impossible to even maintain a remote job while looking after kids

Then there is the broadband infrastructure for large swathes of the country.

wirelessdude01

mvl wrote: »

appears there is an assumption here that blended learning means parents have to drive the teaching - with follow on economic impacts/disasters - why is that ?


personally i would have thought blended learning is done via teams/zoom/skype calls, with teachers driving the remote learning ?!?


- with that in mind, schools can ensure all children from a year are taught virtually by one teacher at a time per subject, while allowing for additional teaching resources backups for the classes that are done in school - this can help preventing schools being understaffed in next months even. win win for all ...

In theory it works at second level without much if any parental involvement bar pulling them out of bed every morning. Without a central portal/framework/guidelines it can in reality based on lockdown be hit and miss. This is where the whole plan B needs to be formalised.

s1ippy

JDD wrote: »

I think it's perfectly understandable to ask people to disable the covid app while at work, in certain situations. You don't need to uninstall the app, just switch off your bluetooth while in work.

If you work in a lab where partitions are raised between colleagues, or in a workplace where your mobile is left in a locker, then it is not just good reasonable to ask people to disable to the covid app, it is advisable. Otherwise your mobile is going to send out a massive amount of pings when your employer or the HSE already know who your close contacts are. And then everyone who gets a ping self isolates, leading to unnecessary paralysis.

Same in a school, I would expect. As a teacher, if you have your phone in your pocket then it will ping the teacher in the classroom behind you, and possibly above or below you. If you are a secondary school teacher moving from classroom to classroom your phone will probably pick up every other teacher in the school as a close contact when you might not have even seen another face during the day.

I would say the opposite. If you're at work and somebody in your room tests positive and uploads their code, you will be prioritised for testing and know more quickly if you have covid.

If you don't have the app you mightn't even be flagged as a close contact in schools.

JDD

mvl wrote: »

appears there is an assumption here that blended learning means parents have to drive the teaching - with follow on economic impacts/disasters - why is that ?


personally i would have thought blended learning is done via teams/zoom/skype calls, with teachers driving the remote learning ?!?


- with that in mind, schools can ensure all children from a year are taught virtually by one teacher at a time per subject, while allowing for additional teaching resources backups for the classes that are done in school - this can help preventing schools being understaffed in next months even. win win for all ...

I'm guessing teams/zoom/skype might work well for secondary school? I mean, it would work for English, Irish and Maths presumably. Not so much for PE, music, art, home economics or the practical parts of science, but you'd be 70% of the way there. Is there any parents who had their secondary kids doing zoom lessons over March to May?

I'm not sure at all about primary school. Our school did microsoft teams for 5th and 6th class. I don't know how well it worked.

For classes below 5th our school used Seesaw. Which was a disaster for us anyway, and entailed two hours of direct supervision of each child each day. I'm not sure why they thought that microsoft teams would not work for the younger classes. Possibly because everything is done on worksheets, which have to be PDF'd and emailed and printed anyway, and the class is taught through play materials that people don't have at home? I don't know. It's also possibly because it is hard to keep a large group of children engaged at that age, and it's only barely manageable when you are in the room, and impossible to do remotely, so the parents would have to sit with their kids and re-explain/re-iterate what the teacher is saying so that the child understands.

Did anyone who has kids in younger primary school classes have their home-schooling done by video call with the teacher? If so, how did it go? Could you leave your child to it and get work done?