another lockdown looming

[MidChristmasCrisis]

There must be lockdown fatigue where I live as the roads are just as busy this morning as before Xmas. Last March on the first morning of lockdown there was nothing on the road..just me pootling to the yard.I am upset for my daughter who cannot return to university and it appears is still having to pay for accommodation there.

 

[DZ2]

It’s almost the very definition of madness...doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result....

They're not expecting different result. They are expecting to achieve the same result as with previous lockdowns, that is to lower infection rates.

The whole thing is the madness though, whichever way we look at it!

 

[southerncomfort]

I fully support a full lockdown with closure of schools.

The virus was absolutely rife in my daughter's school before Christmas.

However, I feel quite strongly that face to face teaching should have continued for those in an exam year. The risks to them and teaching staff would have been minimal with the rest of the school closed.

Its all very well saying that assessments will be used and standards will be relaxed, but that won't do anything to prepare students for the step up to further education.

I just hope Boris is right this time and that, with vaccinations, we are finally on the home stretch. Ive been largely supportive of the government up until now but the constant over promising and under delivering is eroding morale somewhat.

 

[Frumpoon]

But what else can they do? I definitely found more people to be complacent about the rules in the UK. It was noticeably different moving here as everyone sticks to every rule.

I won't say as it will only cause a row

 

[dogatemysalad]

But what else can they do? I definitely found more people to be complacent about the rules in the UK. It was noticeably different moving here as everyone sticks to every rule.

Some East Asian countries coped much better despite having great disparities in wealth and no free health care, probably due to their previous experience of SARS and MERS. Having a society which takes pandemics seriously both as individuals and collectively makes a massive difference. We also have a media here that takes a perverse pleasure in undermining the government and uses public health as a political opportunity.

 

[daydreamer]

However, I feel quite strongly that face to face teaching should have continued for those in an exam year. The risks to them and teaching staff would have been minimal with the rest of the school closed.

Its all very well saying that assessments will be used and standards will be relaxed, but that won't do anything to prepare students for the step up to further education.

I agree but it would be a logistical nightmare. If I were to continue teaching my exam students face to face to make it safer they would need to be in smaller groups or a larger room. So say a GCSE class has 30 students in, it would be safer if it was taught in 2 lots of 15. So if we give them the same amount of face to face content they were having that would double the teaching time for that group. How would that be staffed? That would need re-timetabling so the teachers weren't supposed to be teaching other groups remotely and the new half classes simultaneously. Or they could be given half the time - either giving very short lessons or all the weeks lessons would need to be taught in one go, which again would need re-timetabling.

There are ways around the problems *but* schools need more than 1 nights notice to sort everything out! In fact my college put in place sensible measures in September (half classes, extra long lessons to minimise movement, lessons once a week per subject) so it may have been safe to just continue with the exam groups. Even this depends on which subject it is - in some subjects they had way more students than previous years as the GCSE's came out so high so more met the entry requirements so even their half classes are large. Before Christmas we and other places who had put in place similar measures were getting pressure from the Dept of Education for not giving enough contact time!

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I won't say as it will only cause a row

I think it’s a difficult situation, whatever they do, someone will be unhappy with the decision.

 

[meleeka]

My son has just had an email to say his Creative Media exam is still going ahead on Monday so that’s one qualification he will have gained (hopefully, if all this upset hasn’t affected him too much).

 

[Frumpoon]

I think it’s a difficult situation, whatever they do, someone will be unhappy with the decision.

I can only speak for myself

There's very little hope or joy in my life so I don't really care if I catch it and die, I've made peace with my mortality.

That being the case I am unlikely to give much of a stuff about people I've never met catching it and dying.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I can only speak for myself

There's very little hope or joy in my life so I don't really care if I catch it and die, I've made peace with my mortality.

That being the case I am unlikely to give much of a stuff about people I've never met catching it and dying.

Please find someone professional to talk to, feelings like this are not common, they are damaging to yourself and you need someone to help You. Everyone has potential for hope and joy in their lives but it has to start from within, talking it through with someone can help you.

I know it may not currently seem like it but things are going to get better. x

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Some East Asian countries coped much better despite having great disparities in wealth and no free health care, probably due to their previous experience of SARS and MERS. Having a society which takes pandemics seriously both as individuals and collectively makes a massive difference. We also have a media here that takes a perverse pleasure in undermining the government and uses public health as a political opportunity.

Wellll, some of those East Asian countries also don't have or value Human Rights law. Sure things worked in China since they literally welded the doors shut on apartments and whatnot.

I agree that they have previous experience, take it more seriously and collectively, but some of the measures taken in some of those countries wouldn't fly in the EU or UK. So I really feel that's part of it.

I also think closing borders and holiday travel would gain us more momentum on getting the numbers lower, but that comes with complications as well. However, I do feel as though certain countries that are struggling should look to those that are doing better and adopt a thing or two, if possible.

I get arena hire from an exercise stand point. I suppose some have no other way of exercising their horse(s)? But also would be a wee bit peeved if a visitor brought Corona into the yard and it had to be shut down. Since they didn't really "need" to be there for the basics of care such as feed and mucking.

I do respect that equine management is complicated (can't turn away a good doer, older horse needs movement for arthritis, and so on) and the whole thing isn't as straight forward as we would like. It's hard. It sucks. We can only hope for a better future.

 

[Frumpoon]

Please find someone professional to talk to, feelings like this are not common, they are damaging to yourself and you need someone to help You. Everyone has potential for hope and joy in their lives but it has to start from within, talking it through with someone can help you.

I know it may not currently seem like it but things are going to get better. x

That's sweet but not going to happen

I think you'd be surprised how common these feelings are amongst people.

There are an awful lot of people who don't have families and don't really have much of a future because of the cost of education, housing, getting started in life etc. The social contract between the generations has broken down...

 

[GreyMane]

These are bleak times especially for people who are on their own.
I can't offer much to counterbalance it except to say, however disconnected you feel from the world, you still matter and can make a difference.
I was feeling dire on Christmas Eve - and unexpectedly got the chance to help a stranger. Seeing them cheered up, it made me feel loads better. Frumpoon I hope the same happens to you, as helper or recipient. You never know. We can't change the world but small acts of kindness, and paying it forward, are still possible.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

That's sweet but not going to happen

I think you'd be surprised how common these feelings are amongst people.

There are an awful lot of people who don't have families and don't really have much of a future because of the cost of education, housing, getting started in life etc. The social contract between the generations has broken down...

Of course it is going to get better. Why would I be surprised?? I lived through the first lockdown completely alone in the UK, with no near family. not once did I allow myself to be consumed by all the nonsense in the media, you have to take it one day at a time. I am now in a country, where I don’t speak the language and I am in a remote location with no transport and I spend everyday on my own but thankfully hubby comes home from work daily.

I don’t have any family over here, or friends yet as we’ve been in lockdown since we moved, we’ve been in complete lockdown (harsher than the UK for weeks now until at least the 17th jan). I don’t have a job, as no One hiring, I can’t start language courses as they’ve all shut down and money is tight. I definitely don’t allow myself to be consumed by everything, as then you genuinely start to believe that nothing will ever change and there is no hope, which is where you are obviously at.

I reiterate that you need to speak to someone, you need someone to help you.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I am unreasonably pissed off with the whole thing and I can only pin it down to it being so unfair on school kids. By the summer they'll be almost a year behind but I bet they won't re run the years. And the poor uni students are getting pss poor education for their expensive fees. Rant over. At least we can keep up riding.

Uni students are getting the same teaching that would have got anyway but online. Their fees are for the teaching element of their studies, anything else is entirely in their own hands. If i were them, I'd be more bothered about the Halls fees which have been paid, when the students could have stayed at home.
As for school pupils, they won't be a year behind, they are all receiving exactly the same teaching now, Online teaching for those at home, supervised by support staff for those at school in many schools that I know about. Those who can't access online learning, have for the most part been classed a vulnerable and been given a school place. Most of them could have had a school place in the last major lockdown but their parents chose not to take it up. Pupil premium children are 'vulnerable' for this purpose.

 

[Frumpoon]

Of course it is going to get better. Why would I be surprised?? I lived through the first lockdown completely alone in the UK, with no near family. not once did I allow myself to be consumed by all the nonsense in the media, you have to take it one day at a time. I am now in a country, where I don’t speak the language and I am in a remote location with no transport and I spend everyday on my own but thankfully hubby comes home from work daily.

I don’t have any family over here, or friends yet as we’ve been in lockdown since we moved, we’ve been in complete lockdown (harsher than the UK for weeks now until at least the 17th jan). I don’t have a job, as no One hiring, I can’t start language courses as they’ve all shut down and money is tight. I definitely don’t allow myself to be consumed by everything, as then you genuinely start to believe that nothing will ever change and there is no hope, which is where you are obviously at.

I reiterate that you need to speak to someone, you need someone to help you.

Well good for you

 

[Ownedby4horses]

Well good for you

I don’t think social media is helping you in your current frame of mind, we Are all in this situation together, to varying degrees. I suggest you take a time out from all social media and again, get some help.

Im going to put you on UI as I’ve been as kind as I can trying to help but you are clearly on a path of complete self destruction and being snarky to people who are trying to help, just isn’t productive for anyone. I hope you do seek help.

 

[ycbm]

As for school pupils, they won't be a year behind, they are all receiving exactly the same teaching now,.

This isn't true.

I have friends with children of different ages at a number of schools and they are reporting that even within one school there is huge variation in how well and conscientiously teachers are handling online learning.

That's before you take account of broadband, which in this area is failing due to excess demand at around 3pm every afternoon. And whether the child is trying to focus on a propped up smart phone shared with siblings of other ages, or a 17 inch PC monitor while sat in the quiet of a study. Etc.

And then include the ability of children to motivate themselves to learn from home, which will vary enormously from one child to the next, and the ability of a parent to help motivate them which will also vary enormously from one parent to the next.

I don't find it remotely credible to suggest that children's education is not being affected by not learning inside a school building.
.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I fully support a full lockdown with closure of schools.

The virus was absolutely rife in my daughter's school before Christmas.

However, I feel quite strongly that face to face teaching should have continued for those in an exam year. The risks to them and teaching staff would have been minimal with the rest of the school closed.



.

You do realise that only a few members of staff are qualified to teach those exam students and that all the other students are expecting to be taught as well? In order to be 'safe' classes would need to be socially distanced , which would in reality mean half a class in each session, thus doubling the lesson time for teachers.

 

[Winters100]

This isn't true.

I have friends with children of different ages at a number of schools and they are reporting that even within one school there is huge variation in how well and conscientiously teachers are handling online learning.

That's before you take account of broadband, which in this area is failing due to excess demand at around 3pm every afternoon. And whether the child is trying to focus on a propped up smart phone shared with siblings of other ages, or a 17 inch PC monitor while sat in the quiet of a study. Etc.

And then include the ability of children to motivate themselves to learn from home, which will vary enormously from one child to the next, and the ability of a parent to help motivate them which will also vary enormously from one parent to the next.

I don't find it remotely credible to suggest that children's education is not being affected by not learning inside a school building.
.

This is true, and sadly I fear that the gap between kids who have parents who value education and those who do not will widen.

That having been said we should not underestimate the ability of young people to adapt and overcome obstacles. Some years ago I helped out a refugee family who had come to Europe from terrible circumstances. The children, aged between 9 and 15 years, had missed almost 3 years of schooling and did not speak the language, and I mean not a word. We are still in touch, the oldest has very good grades and is hoping to start University to become a dentist in October, and the others are all doing really well in school too.

As I see it there is not really a choice but to close schools, so the best thing that we can do is to motivate our children to understand that education is valuable, and that ultimately success or failure is a choice, not luck.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

This isn't true.

I have friends with children of different ages at a number of schools and they are reporting that even within one school there is huge variation in how well and conscientiously teachers are handling online learning.

That's before you take account of broadband, which in this area is failing due to excess demand at around 3pm every afternoon. And whether the child is trying to focus on a propped up smart phone shared with siblings of other ages, or a 17 inch PC monitor while sat in the quiet of a study. Etc.

And then include the ability of children to motivate themselves to learn from home, which will vary enormously from one child to the next, and the ability of a parent to help motivate them which will also vary enormously from one parent to the next.

I don't find it remotely credible to suggest that children's education is not being affected by not learning inside a school building.
.

Schools usually finish at or around 3. 00pm. Most schools/teachers are including an element of live f2f teaching in each lesson in this lockdown, which by the way, only started today. Part of a teacher's skill is in motivating those children who will be reporting back at the end of the lesson. I am not sure how your friends have managed to report back to you about all their families' different experiences, already.
Pupils' experiences before Christmas were concerning because of the number of times pupils were having to self-isolate during the Autumn Term.

 

[meleeka]

This is true, and sadly I fear that the gap between kids who have parents who value education and those who do not will widen.

It’s not just that parents don’t value education, but it’s very difficult to motivate a teenage boy who doesn’t want to be motivated! There’s a fine line between encouraging and starting WW3 in this house. He’s absolutely fine at school and works hard, but at home it’s easier not to try. There’s also the issue of what happens when he doesn’t understand. Asking a teacher usually just prompts another link to YouTube. We’ve had days where the whole family is sat trying to work out how to do a maths exercise (he went beyond my knowledge in year 6!), where if he was at school he’d just ask at break and the teacher would explain it again simply until he got it.

 

[ycbm]

Schools usually finish at or around 3. 00pm. Most schools/teachers are including an element of live f2f teaching in each lesson in this lockdown, which by the way, only started today. I am not sure how your friends have managed to report back to you about all their families' different experiences, already.
Pupils' experiences before Christmas were concerning because of the number of times pupils were having to self-isolate during the Autumn Term.

If you have children of different ages trying to use the Internet on one device, line speed at 3 in the afternoon is relevant.

My friends reports were from last lockdown and isolation episodes, I see no reason why this one will be any different. It was backed up by an award winning headmistress at the time of the first school closures.

I think most reasonable people accept that some teachers are doing the home learning thing better than others. It is the same in any profession, why would teachers be any different?

And some homes are certainly going to be better, for multiple reasons, than others.

Do you stand by what you wrote "they are all receiving the same teaching now " and that no child will be falling behind? Because if so, I'm sorry, but I think that is simply not credible.

 

[dogatemysalad]

This isn't true.

I have friends with children of different ages at a number of schools and they are reporting that even within one school there is huge variation in how well and conscientiously teachers are handling online learning.

That's before you take account of broadband, which in this area is failing due to excess demand at around 3pm every afternoon. And whether the child is trying to focus on a propped up smart phone shared with siblings of other ages, or a 17 inch PC monitor while sat in the quiet of a study. Etc.

And then include the ability of children to motivate themselves to learn from home, which will vary enormously from one child to the next, and the ability of a parent to help motivate them which will also vary enormously from one parent to the next.

I don't find it remotely credible to suggest that children's education is not being affected by not learning inside a school building.
.

This is so true. Not each child has access to a personal laptop or even a smart phone. Imagine a family with three children in education, plus parents trying to work from home, all using broadband and vying for time on an internet device. Some families will be competing for space on the sofa, never mind having a personal workspace.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Advice for equestrians in England during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak
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Please note, while the guidance is current at the point of publication, it may quickly be superseded following further government updates, or changes to the situation. Please bare with us while we make these changes.
Latest news
England - National Lockdown 4 January 2021:
England is now under a National Lockdown and there are new restrictions in place which will impact on horse owners and our riding schools. We understand how worrying this new lockdown will be for everyone but please be assured that the BHS will be providing support and guidance as it becomes available.

• During the lockdown riding schools must close for public lessons and activities
• Arena hire is not permitted, however arenas can be used for exercising horses which are stabled at the venue, livery yard or riding school
• Horse owners, loaners and sharers can continue to travel to care for and exercise their horse when it is not kept at home
• Livery yards can continue to allow horse owners, loaners or sharers to care for and exercise their horse
• Horse riding can continue although all organised activities and competitions will be required to stop
• Essential visits for the welfare of horses e.g. farrier, vet and physio can continue

Further details for riding schools, horse owners and coaches will be updated on the website as they become available. The BHS Welfare helpline is also available to offer help and support during the Coronavirus pandemic and can be accessed on BHS Care Line

 

[Spangles]

I get riding centres and establishments having to close as they generally have a large footfall of public clients, even if offering 1-2-1 lessons etc. However, is it still permittable to have 1-2-1 lesson on your own livery yard with on-site manager/ trainer who's livelihood is running the yard? We could use a remote earpiece outside of arena so rider would be only body in OUTSIDE arena? A blanket rule seems unfair for the very small livery yards who rely on this extra income :-(

 

[ester]

I don’t think social media is helping you in your current frame of mind, we Are all in this situation together, to varying degrees. I suggest you take a time out from all social media and again, get some help.

Im going to put you on UI as I’ve been as kind as I can trying to help but you are clearly on a path of complete self destruction and being snarky to people who are trying to help, just isn’t productive for anyone. I hope you do seek help.

I agree with frumpoon that these feelings aren't particularly rare, whereas finding help most definitely is and finding meaningful help even more so. Saying it has to start from within can also be particularly unhelpful.

It's just not true for everyone that things will get better and just because you are coping well with exceptional circumstances it doesn't mean that everyone is able to.

 

[Frumpoon]

I feel so desperately sorry for children and young people. If this was your first taste of adult life at college or university you'd be completely justified in feeling devastated .

What government policy is saying and underlining in red and capital letters is that young people don't matter, working people don't matter, healthy people don't matter. The only people that matter are the elderly and infirm.

 

[Frumpoon]

I agree with frumpoon that these feelings aren't particularly rare, whereas finding help most definitely is and finding meaningful help even more so. Saying it has to start from within can also be particularly unhelpful.

It's just not true for everyone that things will get better and just because you are coping well with exceptional circumstances it doesn't mean that everyone is able to.

This is 100% true and I've blocked Pollyanna because she's trying to get a bit too involved in my life for my liking

 

[southerncomfort]

The only issue we are having is non tech savvy teachers.

My daughter's French teacher spent half of today's lesson trying to sort out technical issues. Normally she'd be able to call on someone from the computing department but she was flying solo today.

I really feel for teachers, this must be enormously stressful.