Schools closed until February? (part 3)

WoollyRedHat

am_zarathustra wrote: »

Where is even showing the press conference, can't see it even on the News Now yet?

VM One

boetstark

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

Norma Foley will address the media briefing, this should be interesting.

This is a woman completely out of her depth. Very surprised if she survives this fiasco. Although when we have Mehole hands Martin as Taoiseach who knows

WoollyRedHat

Wombatman wrote: »

Relax. Norma has is all worked out. Did she not tell you?


https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0106/1188012-schools-leaving-cert-education/


Why would anyone think this is going to be another clusterflip?

Why are they only devising contingency plans now, they should have had several contingency plans prepared last summer. What an omnishambles.

eviltwin

Absolutely ridiculous decision for everyone. The LC students, staff and teachers who are going to be at risk and the students at home who now get a piss poor version of remote learning. Not to mention the teachers who are somehow going to have to work out the logistics of teaching students on site as well as at home.

And to think Foley is a teacher herself, what is wrong with the woman?

Ashbourne hoop

This years LC students really got a ****ty deal. They already missed half of last year, and will miss quite a bit of this year too. They should really be in revision mode now, but in my daughter's year, the only subject that's completely covered is chemistry. Quite unfair to expect them to sit an exam, that's before the obvious health risks. Quite bleak.

To think I was very optimistic on the 1/1/21......

Wombatman

Will say a lot about teaching unions if they don't try to put a stop to this.

I expect the ISSU will have a better stab at derailing this nonsense.

not a hope would I be cutting my contacts if the kids and indeed the leaving cert age are knocking around and then outside sharing cans of coke and mobile tik tok phone videos.

alroley

Wombatman wrote: »

Will say a lot about teaching unions if they don't try to put a stop to this.

I expect the ISSU will have a better stab at derailing this nonsense.

ISSU wanted all 3rd, 5th and 6th in school!!!

Surely ASTI have to take a stand here.

C__MC

TheTorment wrote: »

Surely ASTI have to take a stand here.

They'll run a mile

NetChat101

Apart from it being a ludicrous idea regarding the safety of those LC students, teachers and other staff needed to implement it - it could also delay everything else opening up at the end of January.

Only a full lockdown for three weeks could allow transmission to slow down enough to hopefully allow us back to schools/work/shops etc. by end January. If this plan is implemented then it keeps transmission going, numbers won't drop fast enough and a 1 Feb opening might be impossible.

Sardonicat

rusty cole wrote: »

not a hope would I be cutting my contacts if the kids and indeed the leaving cert age are knocking around and then outside sharing cans of coke and mobile tik tok phone videos.

Why? Because they could be spreading it you think you should be too?

RoryMac

Ashbourne hoop wrote: »

This years LC students really got a ****ty deal. They already missed half of last year, and will miss quite a bit of this year too. They should really be in revision mode now, but in my daughter's year, the only subject that's completely covered is chemistry. Quite unfair to expect them to sit an exam, that's before the obvious health risks. Quite bleak.

To think I was very optimistic on the 1/1/21......

I don't envy the Gov making these decisions, is it the correct decision? I don't know TBH

Lots of schools aren't setup for proper remote teaching and as you said this year's LC students have had a far sh!t time of it and are already way behind where they should be. Will be very difficult to judge them either by predictive testing and very unfair to make them sit the exams.

If my child was sitting their LC this year I think I would be pushing the school now for them to repeat 6th year

wirelessdude01

Tippex wrote: »

I can see the Unions pulling the plug on the ridiculous plan to only have LC students in schools.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that perhaps this is what Norma and the others anticipate will happen. That way they can put the blame on the various different unions.

bladespin

combat14 wrote: »

there is absolutely no reason why anyone needs to go into schools at this time

Jeez, shoot the messenger, it just flashed up.

Wombatman

Ashbourne hoop wrote: »

This years LC students really got a ****ty deal. They already missed half of last year, and will miss quite a bit of this year too. They should really be in revision mode now, but in my daughter's year, the only subject that's completely covered is chemistry. Quite unfair to expect them to sit an exam, that's before the obvious health risks. Quite bleak.

To think I was very optimistic on the 1/1/21......

This ....... and everything they have done in 6th year has been hampered by Covid restrictions. No lockers, no after school study, restricted movement around the school, no sport etc. Way worse off than the 19/20 6th years as far as quality and quantity of education.

Lia_lia

eviltwin wrote: »

Absolutely ridiculous decision for everyone. The LC students, staff and teachers who are going to be at risk and the students at home who now get a piss poor version of remote learning. Not to mention the teachers who are somehow going to have to work out the logistics of teaching students on site as well as at home.

And to think Foley is a teacher herself, what is wrong with the woman?

She’s a feckin eejit. Shouldn’t be a minister at all.

FileNotFound

combat14 wrote: »

there is absolutely no reason why anyone needs to go into schools at this time

Do you not get the sense that this is being done as they may actually keep most students out of school until post March?


Would make sense to the gov to try and get LC students in school if they expect long closures - at least then they can avoid the exam fiasco again.


That's just my own guess - who knows.

FileNotFound

NetChat101 wrote: »

Apart from it being a ludicrous idea regarding the safety of those LC students, teachers and other staff needed to implement it - it could also delay everything else opening up at the end of January.

Only a full lockdown for three weeks could allow transmission to slow down enough to hopefully allow us back to schools/work/shops etc. by end January. If this plan is implemented then it keeps transmission going, numbers won't drop fast enough and a 1 Feb opening might be impossible.

Not sure where 3 weeks come from - we are now worse (spread wise) than March last year. Did that not take 12 weeks to reduce? I don't imagine some magic difference will prevent the same again - especially with a worse strain about.


Maybe why they are so desperate to keep the LC students in (Not justifying just guessing at the mindset here)

Purple Mountain

Wombatman wrote: »

This ....... and everything they have done in 6th year has been hampered by Covid restrictions. No lockers, no after school study, restricted movement around the school, no sport etc. Way worse off than the 19/20 6th years as far as quality and quantity of education.

No books in school.

hesaidshesaid

Norma speaking at press conference now. The rage I feel when I see/hear her is unreal. She is deluded.

Tippex

Norma Foley cannot string a full sentence together jesus wept get on with it FFS

lulublue22

Looks like special schools , special classes and LC will be back on site. So much for reducing contacts and staying safe .

Tippex

sounds like a bull**** artist here now norma based on what I know and what has been said on this thread. She has said nothing of note

wirelessdude01

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

Norma Foley will address the media briefing, this should be interesting.

What time is that on at? Assume it's on RTE News Now.

hesaidshesaid

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

What time is that on at? Assume it's on RTE News Now.

Yes questions from journos now

rob316

lulublue22 wrote: »

Looks like special schools , special classes and LC will be back on site. So much for reducing contacts and staying safe .

Ya they only closed primary and 5 years of secondary. That doesn't reduce anything sure

Tippex

Norma Foley absolutely waffled with nothing of substance holy ****

Ashbourne hoop

rusty cole wrote: »

not a hope would I be cutting my contacts if the kids and indeed the leaving cert age are knocking around and then outside sharing cans of coke and mobile tik tok phone videos.

Are you Junior Cert age ? My god, a year into this and you come out with that nonsense.

Purple Mountain

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

What time is that on at? Assume it's on RTE News Now.

Live on VM3

jrosen

Didn’t see that one coming. I think they are under huge pressure for the LC. No doubt the kids have been screwed having missed a chunk of the end of 5th year. Then depending on the schools some students may have missed a lot more time with either being sick or lack of staff. I believe staffing has been a problem for a lot of schools.

While I see the merit in wanting the 6th years back I just don’t see how it’s workable. It’s huge pressure on the schools and if teachers are on site teaching how can they simultaneously deliver online to the other years?
Add to that and the teachers who have their kids home themselves

Wombatman

MM "Schools are safe".

faceplant.gif

Bare faced lies from Norma


This mantra of schools being safe needs to stop

Looptheloop30

jrosen wrote: »

Didn’t see that one coming. I think they are under huge pressure for the LC. No doubt the kids have been screwed having missed a chunk of the end of 5th year. Then depending on the schools some students may have missed a lot more time with either being sick or lack of staff. I believe staffing has been a problem for a lot of schools.

While I see the merit in wanting the 6th years back I just don’t see how it’s workable. It’s huge pressure on the schools and if teachers are on site teaching how can they simultaneously deliver online to the other years?
Add to that and the teachers who have their kids home themselves

Especially in remote areas with next to non existent access to a strong, reliable internet connection.

Ashbourne hoop

RoryMac wrote: »

I don't envy the Gov making these decisions, is it the correct decision? I don't know TBH

Lots of schools aren't setup for proper remote teaching and as you said this year's LC students have had a far sh!t time of it and are already way behind where they should be. Will be very difficult to judge them either by predictive testing and very unfair to make them sit the exams.

If my child was sitting their LC this year I think I would be pushing the school now for them to repeat 6th year

There's already talk in the house of repeating, we'll see what happens on that one.

I also don't envy the government having to make the decisions, there's no good ones, only different levels of crappy.

lulublue22

rob316 wrote: »

Ya they only closed primary and 5 years of secondary. That doesn't reduce anything sure

We all have our concerns and areas which we are interested in. If you are happy good for you .

hesaidshesaid

It turns out Norma absolutely loves the sound of her own voice. And it appears that she actually believes this bull**** she's spouting. It troubles me deeply but she is reminding me of Trump.

John O.Groats

rusty cole wrote: »

not a hope would I be cutting my contacts if the kids and indeed the leaving cert age are knocking around and then outside sharing cans of coke and mobile tik tok phone videos.

Ridiculous post. 2 wrongs don`t make a right.

Wombatman

If schools are safe why are we closing them? Couldn't make it up.

What does Norma find so funny that she has to smirk all the time??

Ashbourne hoop

Wombatman wrote: »

This ....... and everything they have done in 6th year has been hampered by Covid restrictions. No lockers, no after school study, restricted movement around the school, no sport etc. Way worse off than the 19/20 6th years as far as quality and quantity of education.

Absolutely. And probably no mock exams where a predictive grade could be calculated.

Endintheclowns

So schools are safe but we are only opening them for LC and special needs. What about school transport for special needs kids? What about whole special needs schools, does the whole school still open as in no change?

xii

This is what happens when you make Enya, Minister for education.

Tippex

so now she has just thrown the schools under the bus to say it is up to them to decide how it's done

FileNotFound

lulublue22 wrote: »

We all have our concerns and areas which we are interested in. If you are happy good for you .

He was merely stating a fact - they will reduce contacts by 90+% compared to standard schools attendance under the plan.

Sure it was for arguments sake but accurate none the less.

Amirani

It's particularly grating for some reason when people (in this case Foley and Martin) refer to students doing the LC exam as "the Leaving Certificates".

NetChat101

FileNotFound wrote: »

Not sure where 3 weeks come from - we are now worse (spread wise) than March last year. Did that not take 12 weeks to reduce? I don't imagine some magic difference will prevent the same again - especially with a worse strain about.


Maybe why they are so desperate to keep the LC students in (Not justifying just guessing at the mindset here)

Absolutely, but in March we knew very little about anything, we were completely flying blind.
Even masks weren't compulsory in shops etc. I just think that 3 weeks of a tough lockdown with everybody buying into it would go a long way to enabling opening up in February. Better than another 3 months of half decisions.

Icsics

Oh she just says includes LCA

TheTorment

TheTorment wrote: »

Bare faced lies from Norma


This mantra of schools being safe needs to stop

horrendous vickers wife head on her. All she has in her arsenal is to appeal to good faith and gesture etc because she's nothing of substance left, it's attempted flattery but the teachers i'd say are not having it.

People need to remember teachers are not robots, they have a variety of ages, BMI's, underlying health issues as per the general populus.. I wouldn't go near a class room.. they're only going to bring it home.

wirelessdude01

This is an utter mess. Why 3 days, surely 5 days would be easier to run from a timetabling point of view?