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Covid and Work, Covid Advice and General Chat

LooperCat said:
No need for the patronising head-banging-a-wall emoji
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I think the Dude said it best "Yeah well that, like just eh.. your opinion man."

I said face coverings are considers ineffectual after a period of time and stressing out about being able to wear a face covering from personal experience is not that constructive, especial to us diabetics stress can raise bg levels. The implication to anyone who wanted to see the post as constructive, instead of trying to find an angle upon which to hang an argument, is from my own experience of dealing with kids, the general public etc.... continuous over the last few months is it is easy to upset yourself over thinks you can not control.

You chose to respond to this with "And if just one of the people in that classroom is infected......"

I never assumed it would be just one.
 
Max68 said:
Interestingly one article suggests tall people may be at more risk so that's at least one thing I have in my favour because I'm a short ass!!
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I can lend you a ladder if that helps
 
I worked from home for 12 weeks, high street branch bank. I didn’t feel happy to be on public transport and dealing with the great British public face to face, there are some selfish idiots out there. I have decided to leave, fortunately I am in a position to do this, after all no holidays for the foreseeable
 

It may well come to that as the more I think about it I would probably rather struggle financially that risk it day in day out. As you say being signed off with sick pay may give me some time to work out how I can get any benefits by walking out. Not sure how but will speak again with the Union next week and hope that the MP comes back with something but I'm not holding my breath. I love my job, and would hate being on benefits but it's a stark choice trying to find the lesser evil!
 
Hopefully it will all fall into place before term starts. Councils are often supportive and will do their best. I liked my job and the residents I work with,and the majority of people I work with. I know my employer views staff as a commodity though! At least if you are entitled to work sick pay as you say it can give you time to think clearly about the options. Universal credit isnt brilliant but it's better than nothing and often leads to other things like reduction on Council Tax, free dental treatment etc,which when add up alongside other expenses such as travel to work etc . Leaving work rather than being absent from work is a big step. No one knows what things will be like in a year. Getting a job might be impossible. A vaccine may or may not be available etc. Meanwhile the websitefor Citizens Advice is very useful as a starting point for info about benefits etc. Good luck and fingers crossed.!
 
Well, I’ll just bow to your clearly greater knowledge & experience
 
I have been at home for nearly 5 months now went into work today for afew hours to try and get my head right for my return on the 24th felt good to be back serving customers had mask on and was behind a screen felt safe I cant be at home any longer I know some may say iam mad ! But my wife was on the front line on a covid ward at the height of things now that was scary for both of us ! and she has not had a break from so I must be strong like she was the NHS has done great god bless them !!!
 
 
I too myself taught in one school for last 12 years and have T2D and another illness which resulted in receiving the NHS vulnerable letter. My school wants me back into the class come September. Saying they are following government rules and are Covid Safe lol, which they are but that is like saying all our fish are slippery free!
I said could I wear face masks since I’m coming out of shielding but they said NO - because gov says you will get fined for not wearing on shops or in a bendy bus BUT get this, apparently face mask is not required or recommended in a school!!
In all other parts of society and in employment environment it’s gov own advise to employers is to not discourage employees wearing a face covering and I got this from gov.uk website but in a school apparently it’s not required. That’s because School employees are super humans Or the Covid is a polite virus that doesn’t infect school staff.
There is too much in your face we didn’t know, and we are doing our best acting so don’t blame me if you die from Covid.
So I have decided to take my health in my own hands and have quit the teaching job with immediate effect. I’m going to wait it out until a vaccine and then go back to teaching. To me nothing is more obvious than a school environment with 1000+ students shouting and talking and natural born non-distancers who will spread the virus from on to everybody within the first school week. They then will take it home and so almost all households in U.K. will be affected by the virus. Regretfully more deaths are to follow because we haven’t become world beating on total death counts yet.
So we should talk about why the gov believes face masks is not required in schools but you will get your ass whipped if caught without one in a museum where no one opens their gob! Remember herd immunity, no science for face mask. Not required face mask in school is all part of the original plan which had to be scrapped for fear of loosing face. It’s still their plan.
 
The press are too busy ‘teacher bashing’ to be worried about real news/risks. I work admin in an FE college, due to start back on Monday & tbh I’m bricking it, I have type 2, am 64 with a history of lung sarcoidosis & none alcoholic fatty liver disease, am currently overweight (though not massively & losing) my desk acts as ‘Reception’ for the staffroom I support which means I’m unable to maintain even 1/2 metre social distancing (they are looking into getting me a screen) 1500+ students 140+ staff & no PPE ‘What could possibly go wrong.......’
 
Mr_Pot said:
What would the teachers on here suggest the government should do to enable children to continue with their education?
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I work admin in an FE college, & I would like to see a requirement for all staff & students to wear PPE, no one has ever to my knowledge said at what point/age ‘children’ change from not being spreaders to go being otherwise. You can’t go in a shop without it for 10mins but you can be in a series of classrooms etc. With 30+ young adults who can’t be isolated in bubbles all day & don’t need it - it makes no sense. On a side note, the staff at my granddaughter’s nursery which is affiliated to a NHS hospital all wear face masks all day, the advice/ rulings are inconsistent & dangerous
 
I remember a while ago that Chris Whitty said to open schools safely we would have to cautiously balance what else we opened. Last night it was in the news that nail bars, beauticians, indoor entertainment venues,some sports arenas, casinos,larger weddings etc. can open. Some of this is staggered and of course guidelines in place. The only places still shut are nightclubs and places where there is ,hmm,hostess entertainment.
I'm sure this wont be the first or last time today I shake my head in disbelief.
 
Emailed my UNION earlier but again they are bound by Gov guidelines so not expecting much back. Rather than get advice re Covid though I am trying to get some advice on how to leave my job without being blackballed for Universal Credit by resigning. Pity I am not on a fixed contract as that would solve the problem although considering they placed me on a temporary 3 day contract there might be a way to use that.
 
Good luck
 
I think it is so sad that all we want in schools are the same conditions for other indoor settings where people are not eating or drinking but we are not allowed them. This is causing great anxiety for many staff and probably students too. It is heartbreaking that good staff feel their only option is to resign and probably go on benefits at a time when many people are losing their jobs and the country is in a real mess. I can see no sense in the government sticking to the guidelines they have invented. I’m sure most staff would be willing to return if they felt everything had been done to reduce the risk to all.
 
Perhaps the teachers will go on strike? Perhaps so many will leave their jobs that the schools will no longer be able to function. Many teachers who have working partners in safe jobs may be able to afford to do that. It would serve Boris right. I do believe it would be important for the children for schools to reopen but I cannot see how that can be done safely. Some countries I hear, are holding classes in empty cinemas etc to provide enough space for social distancing. Forbidding teachers from wearing masks is outrageous and is adding insult to injury.
 
I have just listened to today's Independent Sage broadcast which can be found on twitter or YouTube. Today it is about the reopening of schools. Its reassuring in that it acknowledges the concerns we have all expressed. It also goes into detail about how it can be done safely and how you can estimate risk in your area. It may also make you despair even more at the things that the Government could and should do but seem to be ignoring. They have the resources,they certainly find them for inefficient test and trace systems. It would require investing back the money austerity took. More teachers,smaller classrooms, investment in laptops and wifi for deprived areas etc.
This government are either incredibly stupid or really dont give a damm.!
For them getting schools open is to support the economy not for the benefit of pupils.
I think at best they will hand the whole process over to local authorities, but without the funding needed. Blame shifted!
 
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