Adults took a considerable period to master social distancing - but young children will never do it.

So I'm told by teacher friend - who dreads trying to organise a class of thirty 4/5 year olds, when the schools open.


Parents will he looking on anxiously, and seeking information on the habits (travel and other) - of fellow pupils' families.

Because of the fear that their child will be infected by another - who has no comprehension about what's happening.


And whose parents may not be too concerned about isolating, hand washing, etc.

You are right Barney. Little ones will not be able to judge the distance, because it is a skill that develops later, but they are usually quite good at staying in a designated boundary.
I imagine they will be put into very small groups for learning and playing.

Do you have young children, Barney?

Barney wrote:
Adults took a considerable period to master social distancing - but young children will never do it.

So I'm told by teacher friend - who dreads trying to organise a class of thirty 4/5 year olds, when the schools open.



Class sizes have been capped at 15, so that won't be an issue, this is why it is only a few years starting in June, so there will be enough classrooms. There have been no new cases as a result of opening schools with social distancing in other countries.

robbiex wrote:
Class sizes have been capped at 15, so that won't be an issue

Not so sure - very small children barely know the difference between school and home, which will have completely different distancing rules.

And - in their home settings - the children will have had a variety of virus avoidance standards. From complete compliance, to none.

With no distancing imposed at home - yet rigorously at school! In addition, the 15 pupil goal is optimistic, bearing in mind the ubiquitous high class numbers.


To place the safety onus with teachers - already overstretched in many areas, particularly urban ones - may be a step too far.


Just like unions, some experts and common sense says...

I have every sympathy for teachers and everyone else at particular risk of catching it, like shop workers, bus drivers etc etc, but if that is your job, it is as essential as the doctors, nurses and other "key" workers you have been clapping in the streets for months, so get back to work or resign.

Even if the health (or others you mention) professional has good reason to be dissatisfied with the facilities in which they're working - whether it be because of overcrowding, lack of PPE, inadequate hygiene or something else?

Barney wrote:
Even if the health (or others you mention) professional has good reason to be dissatisfied with the facilities in which they're working - whether it be because of overcrowding, lack of PPE, inadequate hygiene or something else?




It is a horrible situation. But the others are not refusing to work, are they?

If you are not prepared to work because of inadequate protection to a signficant or mortal health threat which your employer can reasonably protect you from, then you shouldn't lose your job if you refuse to work.

This is just the start of the problems when the Gov and media decide to scare the crap out of the nation unecessarily, and turn 24 hour rolling media into a horror story that George Romero and Stephen King couldn't have bettered.

The real story, though, starts now, and is more Ken Loach:

A failed economy will mean more harm than the virus was ever going to cause, and fixing the economy requires confidence from a now largely traumatised nation.

Caring about the economy means caring about people as much as nursing them does; it is the basis of civilisation. Without it you will be starring in your own horror film before you know it.

Confidence in employees to return to work and employers in not being sued out of existence when an employee dies "with" Covid 19, is required. Being grown up and living with what is just another collectively manageable health threat is required.

So kick back as the zombies retreat from your screens. Enjoy the pop corn break.

The grim social realism flick starts in a few minutes...


I know it is not as exciting or obvious, but do pay attention because we need to ensure that our liberties are never removed again for no reason.