Schools - should they go back?

[490808]

Omicron wave: Government faces standoff with teaching unions over schools reopening

I tending to side with the teachers for a change. If we are likely to have a peak of covid cases due to Christmas and New Year celebrations in the next couple of weeks why not postpone schools going back until after the peak?

[Scotty]

Because there's a vast amount of HSE staff (6,000) off with Covid at the moment. If you close the schools it means a huge amount more staff staying at home to mind the kids. I don't think the health system could take it, then you have gardai and other essential services in the same boat.

[490808]

Good point but would keeping the kids out of school stop even more HSE staff getting Covid?

[Scotty]

Hmm, I don't know. NPHET will tell you the outbreaks aren't happening in school, they're happening at mid term break, parties, etc, etc. But I still think the main reason the schools are being kept open is to provide child minding.

[Frank]

If things are as bad as we're being led to believe then they can't open. If they do open then what's the point of people staying away from each other or avoiding shops like we're being told to?

[490808]

Looks like they are going back come what may https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/rul ... 37593.html

[kadman]

Looks like they are going back come what may https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/rul ... 37593.html

I think childrens health has paid a disproportionate price in many ways throughout the pandemic, for the sake of other sections of society.
And the years ahead will be a testing time for their mental health especially. Must say my heart goes out to them in all this.

[95438756]

Looks like they are going back come what may https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/rul ... 37593.html

Discussed now ( 18:10) on drivetime. Sin Féin spokesperson being interviewed on his take on Minister for Education Norma Foley's conference today with INTO.

I'm not really sure if Sinn Féin has anything positive to contribute in all of this though.

[Scotty]

I think childrens health has paid a disproportionate price in many ways throughout the pandemic, for the sake of other sections of society.
And the years ahead will be a testing time for their mental health especially. Must say my heart goes out to them in all this.

pfft, I've two teenagers myself and several niblings under 10 and they haven't batted an eye lid through the whole thing. Water off a ducks back.

[kadman]

pfft, I've two teenagers myself and several niblings under 10 and they haven't batted an eye lid through the whole thing. Water off a ducks back.

Good for you.
I'll tell that to family members who have children that need sna, where the services were curtailed, and health services withdrawn during this, i'm sure they will be impressed.

[Hairy-Joe]

Just thinking. I wonder how much the teachers themselves did to help the schools open? Did they restrict their movements and follow the public health advice for the previous week or so in order to make sure they didn't catch Covid or be a close contact so they could go back to work?

I know of plenty of people (myself included) who restricted their plans and movements over Christmas so they COULD go back to work in Jan.

[Scotty]

Good for you.
I'll tell that to family members who have children that need sna, where the services were curtailed, and health services withdrawn during this, i'm sure they will be impressed.

Impressed with what? It's my opinion that schools and SNA services should stay open.

[490808]

Impressed with what? It's my opinion that schools and SNA services should stay open.

Our SNA services are so poor that I doubt the little provision there is will be much affected?

Unless its changed in the last few years the system is controlled by underfunding at all levels.

[Samson]

If the teachers want to close the schools let them , but on the one condition they do not get paid, see how many want a school shut down that could go on for several months.
Money talks, those so worried about covid stay home and don’t get paid. Reckon it would be less than 5% of teachers.

[490808]

Rolling class closures likely as schools report 'incredibly difficult' first day back

Schools reopened yesterday after the Christmas break, with many principals reporting that 30% to 40% of children did not turn up for class.

The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland estimated that 15% to 30% of staff were absent while the Irish Primary Principals' Network reported that schools were down 20% to 25% of staff.

So what was the point of sending the kids back to school? I really doubt much in the way of education will have gone on under those conditions?