I’m going out on a whim here and I know there will be many that disagree with me. But, I’m truly in the mindset of you should do what you feel is right and what is right for some, is not right for others. Today, I want to talk about my concerns over my kids returning to school.
Back to School
My youngest, The Little Man, goes into year six on 3rd September. My 13 yr old goes into year 8 on the 9th of September and my 15 yr old on the 8th. And I have concerns about them going back to school.
I want my kids to go back, of course I do. They actually like going to school, they have friends, they like learning, they like their schools and their teachers. They are happy at school. However, I’m a bit worried that this COVID virus hasn’t gone away. We have it under some control at the moment, but a lot of people are behaving like it’s gone, or maybe that it never even existed.
Primary School.
The Little Man goes to a great school and I know they are keen to welcome their pupils back. They have been cleaning and removing things, changing the layout, working hard to make the school safe. I will find out soon the exact plans they have in store for a safe return. And I was feeling very confident.
The government are saying it’s vital we get our kids back in school. They are saying that the children are safer there, that they need to go for their education and for their mental health. They are telling us that children are unlikely to spread the virus or catch it. There have been very few child deaths from COVID.
I have a few issues with what they are saying. Even the language they use proves they are not sure. How can they be sure when the children have not been to school in so long? Where is their scientific evidence that a whole group of kids put together in a building will be safe? There isn’t any because they have only just started to go back. The schools in Scotland have been back a little while and so far only 20 schools have had to re-close because of COVID cases. I say only, because there are over 5000 schools in Scotland and only 20 have had break outs (So far.) But, 20 closures, means lots of sick people, teachers and children. This can be spread to the children’s families. And some will die. COVID kills.
Secondary School
I’ve not really heard much at all from the girl’s Secondary school yet. I’m hoping we will get some further details very soon. They will probably form bubbles, have one way systems, avoid moving between too many classrooms. The general precautions, along with extreme hygiene and sanitation. Brilliant. They are doing all they can.
Now, the girls will mix with about 30 children a day if we are lucky. It will probably be a lot more. But it’s okay because they don’t often get sick or pass on the virus. (Not scientifically proven in a setting like school.) The kids and the teachers may be doing all they can to keep safe and stop the spread of the virus.
It all sounds fine. Until you realise that those 30 children also have families that they are with each day, that’s a bubble of at least 60 more people with contact. And they will have contact with their bubbles (if they are abiding by the guidance) so the number of contacts each day increases. Then there are the families who have not been taking any precautions at all and can’t wait to get their kids back to school. And the families with working parents who have contact with those they work with, those they meet through work and travel. All these connections which are mostly necessary.
Then the families who have just come back off holiday abroad, will they abide by the rules and self isolate for 14 days and keep their kids off school? Some will, but I bet some won’t
We have been staying home. Our contacts have been minimal and we have observed social distancing. As a family we have been out of the home twice since the kids stopped going to school. My daughter has returned to work in a sterile environment. My husband is the only one who has left the house for essentials, and to visit his Mum.
I am vulnerable, I didn’t make the shielding list but my consultant and GP wrote to me and told me I should shield if possible and avoid contact with others as much as I could.
My eldest son is vulnerable, as is my teenage daughter. We have not been dealt the best of cards health wise.
Now we are expected to give up all the hard work we have put into staying safe and send our children back to school or face a fine.
My Concerns over school.
I think I have made myself clear and you may, or may not agree with me. I have no problems with those from healthy families sending their kids back to school. I have no concerns over schools actually re-opening. My main concern is that we are not being given a choice.
I truly believe that those with medical issues that have been doing all they can to stay safe, should be allowed to keep their children home until it is proven to be safe. If the kids go back and after a few weeks we get the real evidence that it’s working out, then the vulnerable will feel more comfortable about returning. If it doesn’t turn out to be safe then those kids will be bringing COVID into the homes of those that may not survive it. I have to consider for a moment, are my children more likely to suffer from a gap in their schooling (not education because that can be provided) or from losing a member of their family, like me, or a sibling? My concern is that we are not being given that choice.
Here is a petition on Change.org to try to stop parents from being fined for not sending their child back to school until they can be sure it’s safe. Please take a moment to add your name, even if you are sending your child back. Think of others.
Here you can find an open letter to Boris Johnson requesting better safety in our schools. You can sign the letter and show your support, even if you don’t have a child at school.
Please help if you can.
Think of those less fortunate, be kind.
In the meantime, I have to wait until I hear from my kid’s schools before I make my final decision. But I’m really not happy about sending them back just yet.
I’d love to know your opinions?
Oh gosh, such a hard decision to make! I completely agree with you. Covid has not gone away and I wish people would stop behaving as if it has done so. My son will be going back to school next week. He is 17 and has anyway been seeing friends. My husband and I have been much more cautious. I hope that all will be well.
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It’s a lot of pressure on the schools too. The older kids should hopefully know how to behave and follow rules, but the younger ones are just going to be confused.
It is so hard isn’t it – I think that we are lucky as we have a choice as to whether we send our children back or not. But what if we are the only ones that keep our child home? Will she suffer? Will her education suffer? We’re still waiting to hear how it will be at school for us but a friend’s daughter has already been told that school will be half online so they can restrict numbers in the school building at any one time. That sounds like the best solution to me so fingers crossed for our school.
#MMBC
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I think that sounds sensible, there are all sorts of solutions to reduce numbers in the schools at any time. I really hope they can come up with something better than sending them all back in troves. I’ve had two of my children lose large chunks of schooling because of illness and other problems and they’ve caught up with no issues.
I am feeling very uneasy about the my youngest going back to school. So far we know nothing much apart from it reopens on the 7th. I am glad you haven’t heard anything about your girls secondary school either. It makes me feel a little bit better that most secondary schools seem to be dragging their heels in keeping parents informed.
I think with families like yours which have been shielding there should be no pressure to send the kids back to school and you certainly shouldn’t be fined.
I am happy for my teen to go back to college. They have been clear about what precautions have been put in place and how everyone is going to stay safe. x
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I believe there is some sort of meeting on Wednesday with the school authorities which should outline further guidelines. I think college kids should know how to be more sensible. I feel for the teachers too though.
OH wow! In the states we can opt out and do distance learning with our kids or we can send them. Most school are working a modified schedule where half the school goes two days; they sanitize and no one goes on Wednesdays then the other 1/2 attends Thurs. and Friday.
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It just goes to show that there are ways to make this work. Our schools have not even told us definite plans yet. But they will all be in school at the same time and I just don’t see how that’s going to be safe. It’s totally not fair on vulnerable families who will face fines if they don’t send their kids into school. And nothing else is on offer so far, but we are campaigning.
It is such a hard decision to make, and I can completely understand your concerns as I share many of them. My husband and I have considered deregistering Sophie and home-schooling her for the year (as we’d have to apply for junior school this year anyway) and if she’d been Jessica, I think we probably would have done so. However, I do feel that Sophie does need the social side of the school environment and to be able to see her friends again. She has coped so well with home-schooling and I know her education would not suffer if she needed to continue home-schooling but she has missed her friends a lot. I’m sure that her school will try and make it as a safe as they can but it is a worry. Good luck with making the right decision for your family x
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I’m not a parent but I have great concerns about going back to school. I fear children will become ill and some will die. The virus is horrific.
This morning I heard of a little two year old who is in hospital struggling. It’s rare but not impossible, and we don’t know how much they carry without symptoms because they’ve not been in this situation yet.
Hi Anne, I totally agree that what is right for one person maybot be right for the next and that no judgement should be placed on that. My sister is in a similar position where her husband is vulnerable after having a kidney transplant and her two will both be going to secondary school in September. Of course she wants them to go back, but she is also very nervous about the whole thing. They can keep my brother-in-law relatively safe at the moment as he is self employed and can work alone and the family are careful who they came into contact with, but going back to school brings concerns (my sister also works in a school) and for that reason anyone who feels that for the saftey of their loved ones their children should be homeschooled, then of course fines should not be handed out. There must a be a way of doing it.
xx
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Sorry to hear about your sister’s husband. It’s so difficult, It really should be thought out better. There are so many options other than ‘go to school or get fined.’ I’m joining campaign groups to lobby the government to rethink their moves. I’ve heard of so many parents who are choosing to home school instead. It’s not fair at all. I WANT my kids to go to school, but I also it want it to be safe for them and me.