Schools to close again.. Covid

Definitely would prefer to be back in the classroom with a full cohort of students. Bringing back Junior and Leaving Certs on Thursday will actually be much harder for teachers than brining back everyone...there will be an expectation to teach those classes in school, supervise for absent colleagues (fair enough) AND provide online tuition to those groups at home.

The problem is that there won't be a full cohort of students. Coming up to Christmas we had student absenteeism of about 25%. None of these students at home were being provided ANY type of education...this percentage will surely be higher over the next few weeks.

I'm not strongly campaigning for either scenario but the situation is so far from being black or white. Everyone will of course be beating the drum that suits them. The ISSU are coming out now and supporting a staggered return, the cynic in me would venture that this is part of a campaign to get further adjustments to papers/ calculated grades (again fair enough). Parents want the children in school for many reasons, many (maybe most) realise that for their mental health it is the place for them to be with online learning a poor replacement for in class teaching. Many also NEED the schools to be open for childcare (again fair enough). A small percentage of teachers would love to return to online learning and do very little. A percentage of students would love an extension to the Christmas holidays and won't engage in any online learning...

Not sure what point I'm trying to put really other than I suppose you can get upset at those in the black and white sections of the argument. Some of the abuse to teachers, the unions etc just seems ill informed, not helped by a union that can't articulate (or don't know) what they are fighting for really.

Has anyone watched the VFT webinar?

Im watching it at the minute and I find it bizarre… a woman on to talk about statistics, but giving anecdotal evidence, and now talk of how omicron is not more transmissible, we’re just not trying hard enough. I don’t know what they are playing at, and I haven’t even got to Gerry Killeen.

No I haven't. A page such as that sounds like fear-mongering if I'm being honest. I actually know few teachers who are on Facebook.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/0104/1269707-covid-schools/

"However, the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) will meet formally on Thursday to review the latest data on the virus.

It is unclear if new restrictions will be recommend after this meeting or if the Government will impose them this week if they are advised."

looks like tony is doing a favour for govt while the rest of nephet still on their xmas holidays the clowns on the street knows the country is riddled with covid at the moment

So if the hse thinks its safe to open the schools, then why do we need to vaccinate the kids?

Why did us adults get boosters if we dont need them, as if its safe in a school, its safe anywhere

Jesus Christ

I got my booster but you have to wonder where the hse is coming from

This comment has come up a few times.

Its one union that looked for a closure and as usual its the ASTI that fails to read the room.

What the TUI said makes perfect sense. If a school does not physically have enough staff to open then they need to be able to close as opposed to a blanket closure across the country. Look at the train service today and the airlines for the past two weeks internationally. If you haven't got the bodies you cant provide the service.

The biggest challenge will be for primary schools as their students are not yet vaxxed and only half of them wear masks. They also have a greater challenge in having subs unlike secondary with the S&S system along with the new additional substitution scheme which can pick up a lot of the slack..

We are not in the same territory as 12 months ago. We have a less severe strain, combined with a highly vaxxed school community at second level. We need to keep the schools open IF POSSIBLE.

You'd be living in a fairy world if you think all schools will open Thursday. Staff will either be positive or in isolation or awaiting testing.

It's going to be very ad hoc for next few weeks. Some days in class, some days online.

Situation will vary from school to school.

Not opening the schools for two days is a closure.

The staggered return is a closure for many more students.

I propose turning schools into pubs at 8pm. Since you know, magic safe spaces.

I work in a large secondary school just across the border. We were back today for staff day, pupils in tomorrow. There were quite a few absences, but the hope is that we will be able to stay open as normal.

I don't think schools are particularly safe but the benefit of continued education outweighs the risk at this stage.

Obviously only time will tell how this term will progress with likely high infection rates in both staff and pupils.

I have two kids one doing leaving cert this year another in TY for their sake I really think schools should remain open if at all possible. I don't think delaying would have any significant help.

Straight from the horses mouth as they say

Apparently they represent 47% of post primary schools - a fairly substantial cohort tbf.

As did the ISSU

Who feel the fight is not over

As did one representative body for early child care. ( rep 1400 early childcare providers)

fight not over yet TUI meeting govt tomorrow to hear of so called "operational" details for reopening

everything could change next week too

Just like it’s disingenuous to say that the unions speak for all teachers - there are 3 different unions who have different membership and who at that do not represent all their members views - yet people insist they do quite vocally.

In relation to ETB national parents association no offence but don’t know and don’t care - google may help you there.

That is not correct at all. We join the union and let them represent us, in consultation with us. I check into a hospital and sign a consent form to undergo a medical procedure. Does that mean the surgeon can take what he likes while he's in there?

The ETB NPA being suggested as representing of all parents is every bit as disingenuous as the TUI/ASTI being suggested as representing all of teachers.

Teachers and parents - in the main - actually want the same thing here.

My union did not consult me re reopening at all - my union also didn’t put out a statement seeking a delayed reopening and a staggered return - yet the consensus apparently is that I don’t want to go back to work and my union wants to keep schools closed. Go figure.