another lockdown looming

[ycbm]

I think my information is rather more up-to-date than yours, notwithstanding your acquaintance with 'an award-winning Headteacher'. There are now much more accessible websites to support the NC, most schools have based much of their online teaching around those, most schools are expecting teachers to do some f2f teaching in each lesson, which they just weren't set up for last time. The first time around it was a accepted that everyone was doing their best under extremely difficult circumstances but the situation wasn't perfect, especially for those children with limited, or no access to devices. However, huge efforts have been made to supply pupils with suitable devices and lack of access is one of the criteria which qualifies children as being 'vulnerable' as far as taking up one of the limited school places is concerned. More is being expected of both schools nd their pupils in terms of attainment during this current lockdown, 'do what you can' is not sufficient now.

For families who are struggling with education at home but really do not want to risk sending their children to school, for one of the many reasons that have been discussed previously:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-lap...not-attend-school-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19


This website could also be helpful:
https://workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/coronavirus-furlough. Parents can ask to be furloughed in order to look after children who can't go to school.

Nobody is disputing any of that PaS, the only things I am disputing is that there won't be children who are severely disadvantaged by learning at home and that all teachers will be good at their new job of online teaching.

Those claims still appear to me to be utterly unbelievable.




PS I never claimed acquaintance with the Head Teacher, her views were shared in mainstream media. She simply said that among the many teachers she was responsible for, some were working much harder at online teaching and some were simply better at online teaching. If that wasn't true, then it would be the only profession in the world where it wasn't true.
.

 

[ycbm]

I read something last night, I'm sorry but I don't remember the source, basically a woman in Australia wrote a letter to the editor about growing up in Bosnia and being unable to go to school. Then the family emigrated to Australia where they didn't speak the language. The writer ended up going to university. Her point was that children worldwide are in the same position and they'll get past the setbacks.

The analogy with people rescued from a life threatening siituation doesn't hold for me. I don't think it compares with kids used to going to school in a class of 30 suddenly being expected to be motivated enough to learn online, especially if their parents are disinterested or they lack technology/space/whatever.

One child is experiencing improvement in their life chances, the other is experiencing a reduction. It's a completely different situation both physically and motivationally.

 

[ycbm]

and let's remember it's not just the oldies that are dying from this. younger people are also succumbing to it including those at normal "student" age. if they don't die they might walk away with vision or hearing impairment, loss of digits etc or generic "long covid"

The skew is overwhelmingly to the old, followed a long way behind by the younger but already ill. The last figure I saw for deaths of anyone outside those 2 categories was well under 500.

In late December, I read that the average age of death from Covid-19 was 14 months older than the average life expectancy.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

The analogy with people rescued from a life threatening siituation doesn't hold for me. I don't think it compares with kids used to going to school in a class of 30 suddenly being expected to be motivated enough to learn online, especially if their parents are disinterested or they lack technology/space/whatever.

One child is experiencing improvement in their life chances, the other is experiencing a reduction. It's a completely different situation both physically and motivationally.

You are fooling yourself if you think that every child suddenly becomes motivated as they walk through the school door. In fact for some children working online is motivating in itself, so several children that I can think of would prefer to work online. For the others, some will be self-motivated just because they enjoy learning, whilst others will appreciate a teacher asking them via Teams' or whatever to do something practical, whilst for many the motivation comes from knowing that the teacher will be looking at their work when it is finished.
If the gvt had followed the professionals' advice from the beginning of Sept, all schools would have been teaching classes in a rota, probably with alternate weeks in school, which would have helped staff to monitor exactly what the children in their classes were doing at home but we are where we are, so we will all have to make the best of it.
I hope you realise that when children are taught in a class of 30, even if there is more than one adult in each class, even the very youngest children have to take some responsibility for their own learning. No teacher can *make* a child participate fully in the learning opportunities which are offered.

 

[milliepops]

The skew is overwhelmingly to the old, followed a long way behind by the younger but already ill. The last figure I saw for deaths of anyone outside those 2 categories was well under 500.

In late December, I read that the average age of death from Covid-19 was 14 months older than the average life expectancy.

i'd imagine that the closed nature of care homes may have accounted for some of that, historically, as the residents were sitting ducks. it's just my opinion that saying it is only killing the elderly so we should forget these annoying lockdowns is ignoring the fact that many people in younger age brackets get affected badly. those with long covid and other complications are not in the death figures but still very ill.

 

[ycbm]

You are fooling yourself if you think that every child suddenly becomes motivated as they walk through the school door.

I don't, and that would be why I never wrote it or anything that remotely suggested it.

In fact for some children working online is motivating in itself, so several children that I can think of would prefer to work online. For the others, some will be self-motivated just because they enjoy learning, whilst others will appreciate a teacher asking them via Teams' or whatever to do something practical, whilst for many the motivation comes from knowing that the teacher will be looking at their work when it is finished.
If the gvt had followed the professionals' advice from the beginning of Sept, all schools would have been teaching classes in a rota, probably with alternate weeks in school, which would have helped staff to monitor exactly what the children in their classes were doing at home but we are where we are, so we will all have to make the best of it.
I hope you realise that when children are taught in a class of 30, even if there is more than one adult in each class, even the very youngest children have to take some responsibility for their own learning. No teacher can *make* a child participate fully in the learning opportunities which are offered.

Is it completely impossible for you just to accept that not all teachers will be good at this online situation and that some children, especially in poor homes, will be disadvantaged by it?

 

[ycbm]

"Teaching" online or via remote is vastly different to teaching in person.

I have been teaching the same subject, at the same college, for 15 years (yikes, time flies!). A large part of my job is reading subtle cues in the class room when students are working. When I am explaining something I look at their facial expressions to try and see if they are understanding, when I set work I listen in on their discussions and watch them- which questions are they asking each other about, where have the fast ones got to, where have the slow ones got to, how can I go and prompt the slower ones to help them out a bit, what can I ask the fast ones to challenge them a bit more. I walk around and peer over shoulders - have they used exactly the correct terminology, have they drawn their diagrams completely correctly, how can I prevent them from going off in completely the wrong direction.

I can't do any of this online. The majority of students have their cameras turned off, it is suggested we shouldn't ask them to turn them on in case they feel self conscious, or they may not have band width. Even if they do have cameras on the quality of the picture might not be great, they're all working alone, I can't see their work.

I could use the online sessions to teach them new work - but the only feedback I get at the time about understanding is if they ask questions - which because of the systems used has to be to the whole class. So usually it is like i am sat talking to myself. I have to guess how fast or slow to go, I don't know what, and how accurately, they are writing down.

I have been trying to use the sessions to go over exam questions. This is working better - but again lacking cues about progress and exactly what they are writing is really hard. I like to ask questions to specific people who I think will get it right (helps with confidence) this is really hard without actually being in front of them!

I could go on and on but essentially what I am saying is that remote "teaching" is a really blunt tool.

I, and I'm sure the vast majority of other teachers, am trying really hard but it sure ain't easy!

Thank you for this, it is refreshing to read a teacher's view so well explained.

You do a job i couldn't do myself, doubly so now you are online.

 

[Zuzan]

I don't, and that would be why I never wrote it or anything that remotely suggested it.



Is it completely impossible for you just to accept that not all teachers will be good at this online situation and that some children, especially in poor homes, will be disadvantaged by it?

It is quite obvious that wealth and health are directly linked. The onus is on the state to level up health and educational opportunities.. there are ways to do this that will restore / improve / recover.. it isn't just about how we react now in terms of education but how the state can recover education .. imo one way would be for all school age children to simply repeat a year.. obviously that needs to be resourced but it would restore a semblance of educational equality and opportunity.

 

[Upthecreek]

I can’t comment on how primary age children are coping or will be affected by the move to online learning, but I can certainly offer first hand experience of what it’s like for my son who should be doing GCSES this year, and my daughter who should be doing A-levels. First of all I want to say I am angry because I really feel that this situation could have been avoided if a sensible approach had been taken to children returning to school in September. They could have adopted a blended learning approach so that children received a mixture of face to face teaching and online learning. This would have reduced the numbers in school at any one time and may have stopped the infection rates becoming out of control as they are now. I guess we’ll never know, but just going back like they did was madness.

I don’t want to bore everyone to death with all of the problems and limitations of online learning, but there are loads.

Some teachers have adapted amazingly well to teaching online, setting work, answering queries and giving students individual feedback. Some are really poor at it.

Apart from our WiFi being crap, we are lucky. The kids have a laptop each and supportive parents who have made sure they do the work. Despite that I will be very surprised if they get their predicted grades.

It is hard for them to maintain the motivation when they have lost the fun part of school, which is the social side. They know they have to keep going because now it’s been confirmed that exams are cancelled they are under pressure from the school to “produce excellent work” as grades will be mainly based on teacher assessment.

 

[Evie91]

The skew is overwhelmingly to the old, followed a long way behind by the younger but already ill. The last figure I saw for deaths of anyone outside those 2 categories was well under 500.

In late December, I read that the average age of death from Covid-19 was 14 months older than the average life expectancy.

I haven’t read the whole thread. Just wanted to say thank you for posting this. I took a break from the news over Christmas and have recently struggled as feel I need to be informed but all that seems to be published is deaths from COVID- mainly those stories seem to be people previously fit and healthy. My husband is vulnerable and currently catergory nine to be vaccinated- doesn’t have a date yet. He’s still working and I’m so worried about him- so this has helped a little, thank you.

 

[ycbm]

I haven’t read the whole thread. Just wanted to say thank you for posting this. I took a break from the news over Christmas and have recently struggled as feel I need to be informed but all that seems to be published is deaths from COVID- mainly those stories seem to be people previously fit and healthy. My husband is vulnerable and currently catergory nine to be vaccinated- doesn’t have a date yet. He’s still working and I’m so worried about him- so this has helped a little, thank you.

It is happening every time they want us to lock down, it's very obvious. Suddenly the news is filled with every healthy younger person who has died or been seriously ill.

I hope your husband gets his jab very soon, you must be very scared. If you don't have a finger-clip blood oximeter, please buy one. One thing you can spot very early is blood oxygen levels. If they drop, it's an emergency even if he is happy and seems well. Available on ebay, not expensive.

 

[Evie91]

It is happening every time they want us to lock down, it's very obvious. Suddenly the news is filled with every healthy younger person who has died.

I hope your husband gets his jab very soon, you must be very scared. If you don't have a finger-clip blood oximeter, please buy one. One thing you can spot very early is blood oxygen levels. If they drop, it's an emergency even if he is happy and seems well. Available on ebay, not expensive.

Thank you I’ll take a look,we don’t have one.
It’s also helped me understand why so many older people are being vaccinated first. I understood the care home resident’s, vulnerable, care home staff, NHS staff etcbut did wonder why the next group wasn’t vulnerable but still working people- so that break down explains the reasoning behind it (As I’d thought retired older people ’could’ continue to isolate for a little while longer, whilst we vaccinate those also vulnerable but still having to go out).
From an entirely selfish perspective my focus is my husband, family and friends surviving the virus and getting a vaccination.

 

[ycbm]

One thing I do wish is that we had paid the younger vulnerable to stay at home. The stress on them and their loved ones of them going to work must have been absolutely horrific.
.

 

[Evie91]

Well husband is currently self isolating. His work insist on the track and trace ap. He was notified he has to isolate as been in touch with someone with COVID. He’d been at home over Christmas, the only place he has been is one trip to the supermarket. Decided to isolate with him- according to guidelines I don’t have to, but equally I don’t want to risk passing anything on. Gutted as on annual leave this week too. I was going to ride share horse and walk dogs with a friend but have cancelled all. I don’t want to pass anything on, if he does have anything. Keeping my fingers crossed, keep taking his temperature and taking one day at a time- hoping he remains well.

 

[Flame_]

One thing I do wish is that we had paid the younger vulnerable to stay at home. The stress on them and their loved ones of them going to work must have been absolutely horrific.
.

IME, working people who live with vulnerable people are extremely stressed too. It's like its inevitable that one day they'll go home and infect their Mum, for example, while at the same time "Mum" has to sit and wait for it. This must be a horrid situation.

 

[SEL]

i'd imagine that the closed nature of care homes may have accounted for some of that, historically, as the residents were sitting ducks. it's just my opinion that saying it is only killing the elderly so we should forget these annoying lockdowns is ignoring the fact that many people in younger age brackets get affected badly. those with long covid and other complications are not in the death figures but still very ill.

Hit home today. Neighbour rushed to hospital when his oxygen stats dropped low and he's now sedated and ventilated. He's 60 ish and has a problem with his right lung but had decades of life ahead of him. Fingers crossed he still does.

His daughter in mid 20s has asthma and is still wheezing heavily.

They've been so careful too ?

 

[spotty_pony]

a great worry with not a lot of work coming in (self employed) but all we can do is take it a day at a time. My horses keep me sane and I am lucky that they are at home so I don't have to go anywhere to see them.