OT. Schools...normality and Coronavirus.

[ramAnag]

Dentists? Not sure how widespread this is but a friend of mine went to her local (NHS and private) dentist last week and was seen and referred to another dental practice for a procedure which happened Thursday. They had some unusual PPE I'm told but otherwise all went well.

So I'm not even going to point out the difference between getting into people's mouths and doing things inside them, and sitting at a desk socially distanced from your charges and periodically caning them! .

Perhaps my understanding of dentists being open is not reflective of national experience, but doesn't look like down tools to me.

Well let’s just accept that a lot more schools have been opened than dentists...that dentists routinely wear masks, goggles and sometimes visors, and teachers no longer perform from behind a socially distanced desk emerging only to ‘periodically cane’ miscreants.

[swaledale]

Well let’s just accept that a lot more schools have been opened than dentists...that dentists routinely wear masks, goggles and sometimes visors, and teachers no longer perform from behind a socially distanced desk emerging only to ‘periodically cane’ miscreants.

Well they might have to revise the way they work then! Not a return to caning obviously.

[mistaram]

Dentists? Not sure how widespread this is but a friend of mine went to her local (NHS and private) dentist last week and was seen and referred to another dental practice for a procedure which happened Thursday. They had some unusual PPE I'm told but otherwise all went well.

So I'm not even going to point out the difference between getting into people's mouths and doing things inside them, and sitting at a desk socially distanced from your charges and periodically caning them! .

Perhaps my understanding of dentists being open is not reflective of national experience, but doesn't look like down tools to me.

25th of March The chief dental officer ( yes there is one ) told all dentists to cease work to help prevent Covid spread In emergency patient to go to A&E

[Ram59]

Well let’s just accept that a lot more schools have been opened than dentists...that dentists routinely wear masks, goggles and sometimes visors, and teachers no longer perform from behind a socially distanced desk emerging only to ‘periodically cane’ miscreants.

I think with the new social distancing rules that caning will have to cease or maybe they could use the 2.4m long ones from my wife's veggie plot?

[Geoff Parkstone]

Teachers may need to learn new techniques from the lessons of sharia law in the time of covid

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-pandemic.html

Apologies for reference to Daily Mail

[Ram59]

It's interesting to note that it's becoming to be acceptable planning for different areas to come out of the lockdown at different rates, depending on the local circumstances.

Yet, only 2 weeks ago, the government was hammered for relaxing the restrictions differently in England, compared to the rest of the UK. We even saw TV crews going to Oswestry golf club, where 14 holes were in Wales and 4 in England.

As RA says, different schools in different areas and of different structural make up, need their own approach to reopening. I think individual schools need to be given the right to decide their own fate. Some will easily be able to open on the 1st, some will take a little longer and some may need to restrict the numbers.

[MadAmster]

Dutch dentists have been back at work for about a month now. They wear face masks and either safety glasses or those full face perspex masks.

They, wisely, do not make the patients wear face masks

[Geoff Parkstone]

Swale, in the interest of brevity and to avoid too much repetition I am recommending two things.

1) Schools should only return on a regional basis with dates for return agreed by those with regional knowledge regarding the existence of the virus locally and familiarity with the appropriateness of specific schools and classrooms.

2) Teachers, and pupils, should be equipped with masks and other basic items of PPE dependent on teaching situation.

I don’t think that is too much to ask.
There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution for schools, just as there isn’t with other ‘public’ places, and there is far too much rumour and contradiction as regards some of the things you are passing off as facts in your anxiety to see a much wanted return to normal.

So do you also agree that in those areas where COVID is still more dominant (Liverpool, Manchester etc) the summer term should extend into the 2 month summer break to give the kids that will go back later an equivalent deal?

Sure there may be some with holidays booked in, eg, North Wales who may be able to sustain that booking, but you've said before that the parents have ultimate decision to send or not send so that can be accommodated.

[ramAnag]

So do you also agree that in those areas where COVID is still more dominant (Liverpool, Manchester etc) the summer term should extend into the 2 month summer break to give the kids that will go back later an equivalent deal?

Sure there may be some with holidays booked in, eg, North Wales who may be ablve to sustain that booking, but you've said before that the parents have ultimate decision to send or not send so that can be accommodated.

No, can’t see how it will work, and before you suggest otherwise, I have absolutely no vested interest.

[Geoff Parkstone]

How about the idea of asking former teachers to come back into service to deal with the need for numbers due to halving of class sizes? Obviously being paid the difference between working pay and pension (if there is one)