Government flip flops / school closures

The Wordress

km79 wrote: »

I would also guess that some parents won’t send their children in
I know some will but an equal amount may not

My children are sent into school even when they are sick. Some of the parents are WFH so their children will be in without a doubt.

The more I think of it, the more livid and upset I am. Safe at home my backside.

Bananaleaf

Smacruairi wrote: »

I just hope that if people are disappointed and dissatisfied with the plan tomorrow, it's lack of clarity, it's openness to interpretation, if it doesnt go far enough, that you encourage everyone, parents, students and your BOM. to formally write to your TD and local councillors to express that point.

It's not good enough bitching on twitter, unless they see real emails coming in that affect their vote, they won't change. Parents have massive power, get them on to your representatives because they sure as hell don't listen to us or unions.

Also I'm banned from the covid forum so someone will have to express the same for me there, lol.

Agreed. But also remember that a lot of people don't bitch because they want change. They bitch because they enjoy bitching.

Treppen

The Wordress wrote: »

As a special class teacher, I don't know how I feel about having to attend school full time. I have 6 children and 2 adults in the room with me in a relatively small classroom

I am in contact with a huge amount of people within our special needs area over the course of the day- other special class teachers, SNAs, bus escorts etc.

I also did my upmost during the March lockdown to support my children and sent work packs home on a regular basis. I got positive feedback from my parents that their children were coping well at home.

I have my own children at home and I will have no childcare for them if they can't attend their mainstream and preschool classes.

I feel like I am in a pickle now and I was prepared to go work online and send supplementary work home to cater for my children's academic needs.

The more I type the more I feel like I could cry to be put into this situation on a (fingers crossed) short term basis.

Really though I think it'll be left up to local arrangements to figure it out. You'll just need an unflappable principal and this is where subs and colleagues should come into play.

I don't have 6th years but if have no issues stepping in occasionally if a 6th yr teacher has to mind kids (I have my own but they're old enough to potter about and keep themselves amused while spouse is wfh).
If every teacher let the school know if they're free for a stint of subbing then we'd get through the month.

TheValeyard

The more I think about it, the less likely special needs kids, resource classes or 6th years will be in a mainstream building.

Too much movement and defeats the purpose of the exercise.

As said earlier, seems to have been suggested. But with primary closed, staff with young kids, no minders, literally cannot attend work. Dont see it as workable.

We'll know soon enough anyhow.

Season 3 of Covid is really going all out!

Good luck to all!

Treppen

TheValeyard wrote: »

The more I think about it, the less likely special needs kids, resource classes or 6th years will be in a mainstream building.

Too much movement and defeats the purpose of the exercise.

As said earlier, seems to have been suggested. But with primary closed, staff with young kids, no minders, literally cannot attend work. Dont see it as workable.

We'll know soon enough anyhow.

Season 3 of Covid is really going all out!

Good luck to all!

It seems as if they are going to leave it to schools to sort

which many won't be able to

so schools will have to resort to online

so it'll be schools trying to figure it out with 40 shades of Joe Duffyworthy goodness

Not the minister.

Job done

km79

“ The summer Leaving Cert exams could be delayed by a few weeks if Covid continues to cause serious problems.”

From Rte

wirelessdude01

km79 wrote: »

“ The summer Leaving Cert exams could be delayed by a few weeks if Covid continues to cause serious problems.”

From Rte

Hate the kite flying around exams. Students and teachers directly impacted by it are already stressed to the gills.

Smacruairi

This time if it comes to "calculated grades" I'll be gathering sweet fa in terms of evidence. A test at Easter and some open book essays and that's it that I'll glance at. I'm not jumping through the pressurised hoops again for 6 months.

Random sample

Smacruairi wrote: »

This time if it comes to "calculated grades" I'll be gathering sweet fa in terms of evidence. A test at Easter and some open book essays and that's it that I'll glance at. I'm not jumping through the pressurised hoops again for 6 months.

If they think last years results were high, wait til they see the class of 2021.

rainbowtrout

Random sample wrote: »

If they think last years results were high, wait til they see the class of 2021.

Yep, if there was anything to take from it, it was put down high grades they’ll more than likely get to keep them.

am_zarathustra

My two safest grades were downgraded for some random reason I still don't understand and I was brutally honest so I'd be inclined to err on the higher side, which I didn't do this time, I can't imagine I'm the only one

I really hope they just figure it out and run the LC, it could have comfortably run last year. The marking schemes and papers can be adjusted accordingly

Random sample

am_zarathustra wrote: »

My two safest grades were downgraded for some random reason I still don't understand and I was brutally honest so I'd be inclined to err on the higher side, which I didn't do this time, I can't imagine I'm the only one

I really hope they just figure it out and run the LC, it could have comfortably run last year. The marking schemes and papers can be adjusted accordingly

I think if schools had been back in May it would have been easier to run it last year.

No excuse this year.

I would be happy with more choices on the exam.

wirelessdude01

Today with Claire Byrne talking about how huge the essential worker list is and how it basically means everyone and their aunt is an essential worker. They are saying that if essential worker status means your children get to go to school and creche/preschool then pretty much all children would be allowed to.

Rosita

I'm not sure if it'll come to calculated grades again but listening to a doctor on the radio just now, comments from the HSE, and rumours that contingency arrangements for exams are being discussed, I get the feeling that it's not impossible that we might not be back until after Easter, or at least this could drag on for a length of time unforeseeable in the context of the reality-denying Josepha Madigan line of the other day that schools would definitely open on Monday.

I could be wrong and things might rectify quickly but things really seem to be haywire in the context of health system metrics. And with the 2/3 week time-lags which are part of this pandemic it'll drag on easily enough. Mid-term break comes two weeks after the end of January. It certainly is impossible to imagine any decision to go back ahead of that would be taken.

If we can't go back at that stage everything is a problem, orals, practicals, projects, and maybe even the written exams as we normally understand them.

am_zarathustra

Random sample wrote: »

I think if schools had been back in May it would have been easier to run it last year.

No excuse this year.

I would be happy with more choices on the exam.

I'm happy enough with even the current changes to the paper so more choice would almost make it too easy. My option subject could sit their paper in a couple of weeks at a push and could answer enough questions in each section (I'm in an inner city Deis school for context). My core subject would need more time but possibly, given most kids will engage with online learning, the extra choice already available might be enough. I've heard other teachers, particularly subjects with large practical components, say it's not enough. What else in these subjects could be done? Could the practical competent be altered in some way?

Warbeastrior

Cant see why they won't run the LC properly. We'll be back to low numbers come June imo since people will be able to socialise outdoors which will drop all the cases got from people 'having' to socialise indoors.
Plus the vaccine will have been in effect for a good period of time.
I could be completely wrong tho.

TheValeyard

Smacruairi wrote: »

This time if it comes to "calculated grades" I'll be gathering sweet fa in terms of evidence. A test at Easter and some open book essays and that's it that I'll glance at. I'm not jumping through the pressurised hoops again for 6 months.

You get a H1, you get a H1

Rosita

Warbeastrior wrote: »

Cant see why they won't run the LC properly. We'll be back to low numbers come June imo since people will be able to socialise outdoors which will drop all the cases got from people 'having' to socialise indoors.
Plus the vaccine will have been in effect for a good period of time.
I could be completely wrong tho.

Hopefully you are not wrong and things should be okay unless something really unforeseen comes along. But they time it takes to get back now will have an impact on projects, practicals etc. For teachers of those subjects it's a tricky time.

km79

Warbeastrior wrote: »

Cant see why they won't run the LC properly. We'll be back to low numbers come June imo since people will be able to socialise outdoors which will drop all the cases got from people 'having' to socialise indoors.
Plus the vaccine will have been in effect for a good period of time.
I could be completely wrong tho.

If they are serious about it the solution is obvious
They need to prioritize Leaving Certs and school staff for vaccination in April/May

clunked

Would giving the vaccine to teachers and SNAs in special units immediately be a way of allaying fears of staff. You might say it’s not feasible but of course it is if there’s sufficient good will. Home schooling might suit the teacher but it’s a disaster for the students concerned

Smacruairi

The ISSU have pushed their ill-conceived plan for school reopening, already the kids are infighting about it. Let's see if they get as much publicity this time around as last time. Very tempted to make a twitter account to hold them accountable for their "canvassing" this time around

Morris Garren

When will an announcement be made?

The Wordress

clunked wrote: »

Would giving the vaccine to teachers and SNAs in special units immediately be a way of allaying fears of staff. You might say it’s not feasible but of course it is if there’s sufficient good will. Home schooling might suit the teacher but it’s a disaster for the students concerned

Home schooling doesn't really suit anyone to be honest.

I think the rule should be all for one and one for all.

One of my issues is that my own children are at home and I have no childcare. What kind of leave will I have to take if schools continue to close?

Also,my mainstream colleagues are working safely in their own homes and I may have to go in and face the lion's den everyday. The cross contamination in my classroom and school is unacceptable. As much as I have made my classroom safe- I still have have to use the same sink, toilet, kettle, work space, door handles etc etc.

I am very upset to be honest.

wirelessdude01

Smacruairi wrote: »

The ISSU have pushed their ill-conceived plan for school reopening, already the kids are infighting about it. Let's see if they get as much publicity this time around as last time. Very tempted to make a twitter account to hold them accountable for their "canvassing" this time around

What a their "plan" this time?

clunked

clunked wrote: »

Would giving the vaccine to teachers and SNAs in special units immediately be a way of allaying fears of staff. You might say it’s not feasible but of course it is if there’s sufficient good will. Home schooling might suit the teacher but it’s a disaster for the students concerned

What happens if they don't want the vaccine though?

BonsaiKitten

[Deleted User] wrote: »

What happens if they don't want the vaccine though?

Presumably they don't have fears then.

Rosita

Looks like we can be ironing the shirt for Monday after all.

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

km79

Rosita wrote: »

Looks like we can be ironing the shirt for Monday after all.

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

Ridiculous
3 days a week
Which 3?
What happens if they have non exam subjects on 3 of the 5 days ? So all timetables have to be rearranged
Attendance will be 50% at most. The rest will be on Joe Duffy citing (quite rightly ) safety concerns
A mess. A right bloody mess. I hope it is shot down

wirelessdude01

Exams gone this year in NI.

amacca

km79 wrote: »

Ridiculous
3 days a week
Which 3?
What happens if they have non exam subjects on 3 of the 5 days ? So all timetables have to be rearranged
Attendance will be 50% at most. The rest will be on Joe Duffy citing (quite rightly ) safety concerns
A mess. A right bloody mess. I hope it is shot down

Could be kite flying? Doesn't seem well thought out to me at this juncture, will be interesting listening to the majority illogical loons on Joooooe Duffffy this afternoon.