Its a tricky one. If they have good mitigation measures in place ( and I don’t mean stuff that is there to look good I mean proper measures) then its hard to argue going back into the office really is more dangerous.
the killer for us is public transport to get to the office - we can make our space as safe as possible but everyone will be crammed on a tin tube/box to get there. >90% of our staff get bus or train.
If they have good mitigation measures in place ( and I don’t mean stuff that is there to look good I mean proper measures) then its hard to argue going back into the office really is more dangerous.
I agree that with proper mitigations in place the office is significantly safer than it would be if we were left to run riot. But I would still argue that sitting at home by myself is infinitely safer than going in to the office - and I don’t even have to wear a mask or leave a window open!
I definitely appreciate that working from home’s not for everyone and I also appreciate that there’s more risky work environments than the office (schools etc) but, for me, it’s all about lowering the exposure to risk surely? Why expose a full work force to a (relatively low) risk when you could instead just keep doing what we’ve done for the last 17 months without issue.
so going on seosamh77's post above presumably the main spreading driver is high schools with a secondary route of pubs? there will undoubtably be a decent sized overlap between pupils and pubs.
Certainly there is a very high number of positive cases in my wife's school as of yesterday. It feels like it is being allowed to rip through those populations.
As yet is seems little uptick in deaths so this could be the best way forward..?
As I've already said, there is a certain logic in allowing a higher infection rate during the summer when the NHS is better placed to deal with the consequences. Whatever level of immunity this confers will carry many folk over the winter months, booster or no.
I'd still not rule out some re-imposed restrictions in the months ahead though, particularly if another strain arises.
I’d still not rule out some re-imposed restrictions in the months ahead though, particularly if another strain arises
I think this is sensible - in my mind I am assuming and mentally preparing myself we will be locked down over winter yet again. If for no other reason that assuming we'll be free to go about and have fun only to suddenly find myself locked down for anther 6 months will be crushing for my wellbeing.
plan for the worst an all that...
Personal circumstances mean I'll be self-imposing my own set of restrictions for the next 6 months so I'm relaxed about the concept 😉
so going on seosamh77’s post above presumably the main spreading driver is high schools with a secondary route of pubs? there will undoubtably be a decent sized overlap between pupils and pubs.
Well, certainly the 12-18 age group, its not necessarily always the school that is the location of transmission. Those people meet up outside of schools. Schools will be part of the equation though.
I don't think there's a big overlap on the pub / school population. Much less so than when I was of school age. Plenty of drinking going on still (although a bigger proportion who don't drink than when I was a teenager - and much more socially acceptable) but not in pubs. There will be exceptions.
Personal circumstances mean I’ll be self-imposing my own set of restrictions for the next 6 months so I’m relaxed about the concept
Don't we all do that anyway? Just take the risks that we feel are appropriate to our own situation?
As long as I can still get out on the bike/board I'm happy. A pint at the end is nice but not always necessary 😉
Don’t we all do that anyway? Just take the risks that we feel are appropriate to our own situation?
I think some do. I think that's what the governments would like us to do, however for some, being told you can now do something means that they will do something, without thinking about whether they should. the old Jurassic Park theory.
How many people took up walking when we were told we should go out for exercise only? I partly think that was down to people wanting to get out of the house, but there was a dramatic increase (in my area) in people taking up fast walking/jogging/running/cycling. I firmly believe that when an idea is planted by an authority figure, it changes behaviour.
In light of both growing number of serious cases, and feedback from Scottish Government, I've taken the decision to cancel our September international conference today.
Postponed from 2020 already, planning began in 2018.
I'm a reasonable proportion of my work for the last 3 years down, a piece of work that started in 2015 with me applying to the international organisation who we partner with to host it.
I know in the overall pain that this pandemic has caused that this is pretty irrelevant. But it still pisses me off and has cost my employer too much.
Ah well, at least I can go to the football still...ffs
You'll need a vaccine passport to go the football soon.
I've been trying to hold the Red Bull Pump Track World Champs at the Skelf bike park for 2 years now. Still no sign of it happening.
Vaccine passports are a ridiculous concept eh...
@yourguitarhero wish you'd bloody get it done we're pushing for it too but they want to fulfill their promise to you.
It's going to be another chilly winter in my classroom. Fan heater so not allowed and windows open meant we spent a good few days in a classroom at 8C hard to move a science class to a non science room.
Indeed, it seems we've a challenging few weeks ahead from the feedback I sought from Scot.Gov. and local authorities we work with.
We are really starting to see the effects of mass positve tests.
So many people off work, new starters unable to start and this is putting pressure on other staff, which will likely mean more off with burnout/stress.
This is on the back of a labour shortage due to Brexit, some tough times ahead for sure.
So many people off work, new starters unable to start and this is putting pressure on other staff, which will likely mean more off with burnout/stress.
daughters BF's work, a chain pub, 4 positive PCR tests, management calling staff in who are waiting for PCR results and one staff member currently working whilst sounding like she's losing her voice. They do have form though. one of the staff members parents, whom he lives with got a PCR test, was tod to come in to work, test was positive and he was told to stay on shift.
They are currently refusing to close due to lack of staff and are expecting those left to work double shifts.
It's not sustainable, and the customers are unaware of what's going on.
It's inevitable that her BF will pick it up. she's just had the results of a PCR come back negative, and is nervous about seeing him until it's clear that he's not.
East Dunbartonshire, where one school reported nearly half the pupils off.
but again, nothing scotgov can do without financial backing from westminster.
hard to move a science class to a non science room.
Get the burners going full chat.
That's my work (surprisingly keen on folk being in office for a pubic sector place) telling us to work from home. Management weren't that keen on it when the FM said but now the PM has the email has been sent out.
We had the same last week: all office-based staff to work from home unless there's a service need for them to be in a facility. We're an ALEO of a local council and the council's policy (which doesn't apply to us) has been very restricted return to the office, but we've been a bit more office-happy than them. My 50/50 WFH/office split is back to 100% home.
All work sponsored nights out canned here.
We were told school dances are off. Kids, who had already splashed for dresses etc., are holding their own. We've been told under no circumstances are we to have anything to do with them, applies to parents who are staff too.
We were told school dances are off. Kids, who had already splashed for dresses etc., are holding their own. We’ve been told under no circumstances are we to have anything to do with them, applies to parents who are staff too.
Sounds like the sort of policy which at first glance might seem sensible that probably backfires - an officially sanctioned even can have sensible precautions in place that won't eliminate but will reduce risk whilst the "underground" party will end up not only with increased covid, but probably other risks too!
Management weren’t that keen on it when the FM said but now the PM has the email has been sent out.
mmm... yeah I have a similar thing... but then I had to remind HR about Scottish tax bands being different this week so not sure I'm surprised.
Sounds like the sort of policy which at first glance might seem sensible that probably backfires
The 40 quip pp work subsidy is about the only reason lots of our people go, so they'll just not bother, me included.
As I posted on main CV19 thread last week, we had decided to stop all face to face work as of tomorrow anyway, across the UK. We had also decided to stop the Scottish Christmas swally as well.
We have decided today, in light of Scottish and Welsh government being more candid and suggesting mid-January for this work from home period, to extend that pause until end of January. I suspect we will be calling clients mid-January and extending that again...
I am finding it hard that not everyone is responding - we were due at a gig on Saturday, which is still going ahead as it is under the 500 people rules. There must be a scrabbling behind the scenes this week for a tightening of things like that...surely?
Nobeer - I'm sure that most employees won't care or perhaps do a small low key thing with their own small team (who may all be exposed to each other anyway). It was the schools cancelling dances thing - the pupils are still going to have a party, just in overcrowded, poorly ventilated spaces probably with drink etc...
Matt - I don't think you can expect venues to cancel events if the government have (a) not told them to (b) not offered any compensation. There's a tricky balance - but we must now have plenty of T&T data to tell us how big a risk different settings are in general, so I think there will be less willingness to cancel events without proof they are actually super-spreader events.
I am finding it hard that not everyone is responding
Gigs etc haven't been mentioned because there has been no material rule change, it's always been 'wfh if you can' up here, hasn't it?.
I think any form of 'lockdown' would be very interesting now, the fear has gone from a huge tranche of the population, folk (think) they know more, and as such will do as they please. And when those in power do as they wish, at the height of the pandemic, well.....
Fair point over gigs (etc) not being subject to rule or guidance changes. And I am making our decisions from a place of having supportive clients and funders, and a job that still pays....
I do wonder though if next week will bring some kind of lockdown light, without calling it a lockdown, with some guidance about closing things down some more.
The guidelines we have in place now are miles away from a lockdown.
Which is why they'll probably not make much difference and we'll get locked down early next year anyway
The guidelines we had during most of the lockdown were miles away from a lockdown tbh. I'd love to see the carnage if we went like some of Germany, nae covid passport, nae cairry oot! 🙂
it’s always been ‘wfh if you can’ up here, hasn’t it?.
Very much a guideline and in no way enforced. My missus just quit her job last month as she was back to a 3 hour round trip to Glasgow (including slack time walking from and waiting for trains) despite having no real need to be in an office.
Now working in an office but 5 minutes from the house.
The underground school party just means that all senior pupils will be returning to school with 4 days until the hols after a massive piss up. Just enough time for a superspread to happen and wipe out Xmas.
I do wonder though if next week will bring some kind of lockdown light, without calling it a lockdown, with some guidance about closing things down some more.
Would agree with this. I was expecting more to be announced this week. Strangely haven’t been hearing all the background noise we have otherwise heard over the past 24 months. Let’s see.
Unscheduled Covid update from the FM tomorrow.
I've just read letter from health protection Scotland. It was sent out to heads of education and headteachers, now sent on again to all members of EIS union.
To paraphrase: if NHS or local authority suspect Omicron = automatic 10 day isolation, this can be extended to secondary contacts as well as primary contracts/suspected cases.
Seems the message is don't mess around, isolate.
-
What are they going to base their 'suspicions' of omicron on? Is there different symptoms to Delta?.
Surely they have to go with actual test results.
The first line is about tested/NHS tells you.
The second line a little more 'hmmm'..
Dear Directors of Education,
Letter to all early learning and childcare (ELC), schools and higher and further
education settings: Omicron variant
This letter is to clarify what action is required of education, early learning and childcare
(ELC) settings in response to the Omicron COVID-19 variant that has recently emerged.
To date, the Omicron variant appears to be more transmissible than Delta. Evidence on
severity is still being gathered and assessed. The effectiveness of vaccination to protect
against severe disease is not yet known, but the booster is expected to provide
protection.Robust efforts to slow transmission are being undertaken while we learn more.
Therefore, local Health Protection Teams are contacting cases and close contacts by
phone and SMS to advise individuals linked to known or suspected Omicron cases that
more stringent self-isolation measures than for Delta are being applied.
Schools will be contacted to support case finding and risk assessment. It is
acknowledged that bubbling systems are no longer in place for most schools, therefore
contact tracing may necessitate whole classes to isolate if close contacts, as previously
defined, cannot be identified.
The advice to cases and contacts linked to Omicron cases continues to evolve.
Currently any Omicron case or contact identified by Test and Protect or the local
NHS Health Protection Team must self-isolate for 10 days. This applies to
everyone, irrespective of age, and the self-isolation period cannot be reduced by
testing negative or being vaccinated. Contacts should arrange for PCR testing at their
local testing site.
There may be occasions, following risk assessment, where secondary Omicron contacts
(contacts of contacts) may be asked to self-isolate and get tested. This would usually
involve households of contacts, and they (the secondary contacts) would no longer need
to isolate if they are negative on PCR test.
If a case is suspected of being infected with the dominant Delta variant, isolation
guidance remains unchanged (NHS Inform). However, in the infrequent occasions when there is a mixed variant picture within a setting, a risk assessment may lead to amore precautionary approach where all contacts are advised to isolate for 10 days.
We appreciate this will cause significant concern about the potential educational and
staffing impacts in areas where Omicron is identified, but we are taking action now to
prevent further measures being necessary and we are keeping them under continuous /
daily review. This is a fast moving picture and we will be in touch again soon.
[Cont. To usual advice]
29 pupils in my daughters class (she’s 6) - only 13 in today. Some parents are keeping their kids off to reduce risk of them getting it so they can do Xmas with the relatives as per normal, apparently.
The spectre of home schooling is on the horizon I fear - extended Xmas holidays?
We are planning on stopping nursery soon to minimise any risks over Christmas. As it is he does week on week off with coughs and colds just now.
Our youngest (S5) tested negative with a PCR test this week.
Thankfully!
It's most likely a cold or flu thing.
We've kept her off school anyways.
If no improvement in how she's feeling might get her another PCR.
I'm hoping they go for lockdown lite over Christmas.
Seeing more and more folks not using hand gel on entering places, I truly despair!
talk of lockdowns is a bit premature yet, we'll know more in a few weeks of the true nature of omicron, but the virus booster, while, not really having an effect on cases, as of yet, are certainly having a positive effect on deaths and hospitalisations, there's been a steady reduction in both over the last while.
So it's a wait and see what, if any effect, omicron has. The voluntary nature of the suggestion is proportionate, and there's no valid reason nor cause to go any further yet.
Cases alone don't justify any lock downs, and there's nothin really particularly unusual happening at the minut that hasn't been happening for the last few months. Only a significant rise in hospitalisations and deaths will justify further lockdowns.
Seeing more and more folks not using hand gel on entering places, I truly despair!
I for one have pretty much stopped gelling my hands. If you did it every time you were requested to it would be about 30 times a day and surface transmission really isn't a massive thing is it?
I work in social care. If I add together all the times I change gloves and/or wash my hands over the working day that's probably about 30 times during the shift. We're trying to use hand gel or soap and water where possible to cut down on the use of gloves to reduce the environmental impact.
Errmmm- hand gell is no substitute for gloves! check your infection control policy. At one point during an outbreak I was getting thru many more pairs than that.
I thought regularly washed hands were preferable to use of gloves? It’s not like the virus enters via the skin…
I for one have pretty much stopped gelling my hands. If you did it every time you were requested to it would be about 30 times a day and surface transmission really isn’t a massive thing is it?
@Spin - I believe you are right, the main route is now mostly accepted as air borne and the contact route pretty much needs you to contaminate your hands then very soon after touch someone or them touch the same object as you and that person then transfer the contamination to their airway. That is how many other cold/flu type diseases are spread but doesn't seem to be the way for Covid. Of course all those other bugs are still in circulation so good hygiene is still a good idea and may help reduce pressure on healthcare but probably isn't going to stop you getting Covid.
I've not completely stopped (and especially in the small shops where they've gone out their way to put it right at the door in an obvious place I'll do it to make them feel happier), but I'm more likely to do it on the way out of a public toilet or trolley licker supermarket than on the way in!
I work in social care. If I add together all the times I change gloves and/or wash my hands over the working day that’s probably about 30 times during the shift.
Maybe that's appropriate and proportionate in a care setting, I don't know enough to comment. I think the evidence suggests it's neither of those things for Joe Public.
The whole hand and surface thing has been a massive red herring (for Covid) but it's in the public consciousness now. I'm a teacher and I've got colleagues who get every kid to sanitise their hands on the way into the room then everyone sits there with the windows shut!
We've also got two cleaners who over the course of a day wipe every door handle and light switch in the school twice. Hard to see what purpose that's serving.
Sorry Tjagain I did'nt make it very clear. It's not for tasks which involve contact directly with the service user or even necessarily close proximity to the service user. Decision was taken at the top level and is in line with government advice.
That's a quite scary listen to Nicola.
Summary:
Omicron
Doubling time is under 3 days, closer to 2 days.
Today we are at 15% if cases Omicron, doubling every 2 days currently.
R number above 2.
Already issues of staff in hospitals, Scotrail not running trains due to lack of staff etc.
A move back to 10 day isolation for all household contacts alongside any covid case or suspected cases
That’s a quite scary listen to Nicola.
Yep
I greatly fear my Hogmanay plans (I plan to have my first lapdance in years just before a nice lunch followed by horrendous quantities of Class As) are in great peril!
That's all our youth clubs in shetland closed down until into the New Year in anticipation of announcements tomorrow. Christmas parties cancelled and local food establishments getting cancellations and some face to face meetings at work that had only really just restarted cancelled.
We're moving house to mainland Scotland at the weekend so I hope nothing puts a hold on that 🤞🤞🤞
Wee yins school announced her prelim next Monday would be brought forward to this week, then FM announces schools not closing early, school forced into u turn.
Muppets.
Wee yins school announced her prelim next Monday would be brought forward to this week, then FM announces schools not closing early, school forced into u turn.
That's shitty behaviour by the school. Bizarre that they'd try to jump the gun on that before getting confirmation.
Dammed if you do, damned if you don't. My son's was postponed because of the school having a couple of days without electricity and now has been brought forward to Thursday from next Monday. The sensible thing to do would have been to close schools on Friday, attendance next week is going to fall off a cliff with parents making their own decisions. But instead there will be restrictions on what we can do/ who we can see during the holidays, personally I am finished complying with their shite.
The sensible thing to do would have been to close schools on Friday, attendance next week is going to fall off a cliff with parents making their own decisions. But instead there will be restrictions on what we can do/ who we can see during the holidays,
Closing schools would not have meant an un or less restricted holiday.
personally I am finished complying with their shite.
It's not 'their shite', it's a simple equation, many more cases=NHS ****ed and the only remaining weapon is restrictions. With the transmissibility of Omicron and public fatigue, I wonder about how effective that will be but it's really all we've got.
Dammed if you do, damned if you don’t.
If you were talking about the SG I'd agree.
Having been told that due to mitigations we can't be infected in school but can as soon as we're outside. So I face to face 100+ kids per day +14staff and can't get it. But meet those same 14 staff in a restaurant on Friday after work and everyone is a typhoid Mary.
Yet no enhanced mitigations for senior pupils who are pressing ahead with a dance.
Yet no enhanced mitigations for senior pupils who are pressing ahead with a dance.
Our local authority put the kybosh on dances / parties some time ago, in fact I think the line was no right from the start.
Having been told that due to mitigations we can’t be infected in school but can as soon as we’re outside. So I face to face 100+ kids per day +14staff and can’t get it
Was there not a large scale study that showed teachers covid rates were no worse than any other profession a few months back?. Happy to be corrected though, I didn't really dig much past the headline numbers.
It’s not ‘their shite’,
Oh it really is. Schools/football stadiums/gigs perfectly safe,but as 100th says small gatherings not, they can wedge that. Likewise any other restrictions on small gatherings while large ones are OK. Each to their own but I am done with doing what I am told by 2 sets of politicians making it up as they go along.
Was there not a large scale study that showed teachers covid rates were no worse than any other profession a few months back?
I remember that, but since 100% of my 8 person department has had it, other opinions are available. Also done during a time when kids at least wore masks in school.
I remember that, but since 100% of my 8 person department has had it, other opinions are available.
Aye, hard to ever quantify where someone was infected, hence why I suppose we need to go with the headline numbers as a reasonable guide.
The thing is Duckman, I don't believe in two wrongs making a right.
I agree that larger gatherings carrying on such as football, gigs, the 200+ person weddings at my son's hotel etc is very much at odds with the larger message.
I also believe we are balancing other health issues against covid - our mental health as a nation is poor, and I think hidden in that elderly and teens to young adults are most hard hit. I also am watching family and friends having slow or no treatment of other issues at present, all under a caution around covid.
But, and maybe I am too compliant, I do think I can protect my family and friends by staying out their way at the moment.
"It's a shite state of affairs" I think sums it up for me.
I also note that First Ministers Briefing today at parliament is followed by TV announcement from St Andrews House. hmmm - 3 week Christmas circuit breaker....?
“It’s a shite state of affairs” I think sums it up for me.
Agreed.
I'm just trying to use common sense. My daughter's football team had a social event last Friday which we decided not to attend, it was going to be over 100 people, indoors and drink would be taken. Those all added up to a no for me. I've got tickets for Easter Road on the 22nd and if it's still on we'll be going. More likely to get hypothermia than COVID. Government ads are telling us opening windows makes a big difference so surely a stiff breeze from the North sea will do. I don't mind not going out, it's much harder for my son who is 18 and potentially has a much busier social life. He's also trying to qualify for the Commonwealth games and can't really afford to miss training so it's a bit easier to persuade him to give parties a miss but we're just trying to get him to pick and choose how he socialises.
hmmm – 3 week Christmas circuit breaker….?
Not a chance.
I’m just trying to use common sense
This. I haven't been in a pub in years, but tbh if I was a drinker, I'd be steering well clear at present, ditto works night out etc, anything indoors where drink is involved, it all goes to ****.
It's amazing how much life revolves around it though, getting a swally seems to be folks biggest concern in any new restrictions chat. Ridiculous.
Aye, I was swithering about going to a gig last weekend but swerved it. Would have been about 300 people in a club. Ended up staying home and working on my ever-so-reliable campervan instead.
My work's all-staff lunchtime nibbles and wine Christmas thing next week is canned.
However, my team are due to go out to Dishoom afterwards, around 15 people going to a restaurant at 2pm. Really hoping it doesn't get booted as I really like the food!
My pal and I are going tomorrow night just in case.
Guess you just have to try and take each choice on its own merits and think about cumulative exposure chances.
my money is on us following Irelands latest round of restrictions. Reduced socializing in hospitality settings, back to table service etc, number of households per table. Reduced number of people in a household/indoor environment etc etc.
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/covid19/living_with_covid19_plan.html
There won't be a circuit breaker/lockdown, they'll keep that nuclear option for Jan if it all goes tatties over the festive period
I foresee some pretty impressive family fall outs over covid this christmas. Middle aged curmudgeonly parents swerving the social possibilities of getting it but younger generation young adult kids need/want to socialise getting it and passing on to the family or just taking down one or two others.
"Yes, Mum - you can't come over to ours for Christmas now because LIAM couldn't stay at home AND HAD TO SNOG THAT TART so we ALL have to isolate and now Karen has got it too. Yes Mum, she's a nightmare when she's ill, I KNOW. ALL BECAUSE LIAM CAN'T KEEP IT IN HIS PANTS! Yes, this might be your last Christmas and you'll be all on your own now. Yes Mum, Christmas is ruined. MAYBE LIAM WILL THINK ABOUT THAT NEXT TIME HE PUTS HIS TONGUE DOWN A STRANGER'S THROAT"
Ah, Bread!
My brother is the only family member to have had it so far. Unless any were asymptomatic. Most likely caught the day he was at the football at Parkhead. But I suspect more likely in the crowded football pubs he was in before and after the game. Funnily enough he spent 6 hours in a car with his wife and daughter the day before symptoms appeared and they didn't catch it.
The new/old isolation rules have the potential to hammer our staff absence rate. But having a blether about covid fatigue yesterday and somebody suggested non compliance with that would be 50% at least.
The pupils "dance" is not the school one which was binned but one they've organised themselves. Shows what motivation does for them.
As for rates amongst teachers not being higher, I accept that but being told no spread in work is false. It would spread in any work place at the same rate.
Anyway I'm going on the night out but will lft everyday next week.
@yourguitarhero the nearest Dishoom I'm getting is curry cooked from their book. Which is my absolute favourite home cooked curry.
Curry out of the cookbook is on the menu for Christmas Day chez YGH!
Any other teachers seen the exemptions letter to HT's that has gone out from Ms Somerville?
"To implement such exemptions, Head Teachers must be able to demonstrate to yourselves
that:
their school is impacted by staff shortages as a direct result of self-isolation requirements
those staff shortages are in danger of putting essential functions and services at risk, and
all other options to address pressures on operations have been exhausted
They should also provide detail regarding:
the impact of no action
the scope of the requested exemption – location, number of staff etc
whether they are currently engaging with their local incident managemen team (IMT)
regarding outbreak management
You should satisfy yourselves that all the conditions above have been met in full and you
understand the nature of the request before approving any such exemption. They apply both
to teaching staff and vital school support staff. "
I wonder who makes the decision. the person isolating or the school?
Having been told that due to mitigations we can’t be infected in school but can as soon as we’re outside. So I face to face 100+ kids per day +14staff and can’t get it
This keeps coming up so frequently I guess there must be something in it..... but being honest were they really saying this? Or just that mitigation measures brought the risk down to acceptable level.... similar other face-to-face jobs.
There are some weird claims made about mitigation measures. My boss at work claimed that wearing masks meant that sharing a car with someone for 6 hours didn't count as a contact for track and trace. I find that hard to believe since as a specs wearer I see how much of my breathing goes round the mask, not through it.
I have spent the entire pandemic sharing cars every working day with random different people and haven't tested positive or had any missed work due to track and trace.
For schools there is far more contacts but the social distances are bigger and the shared spaces are bigger. Who knows how that affects the transmission risk?
For schools there is far more contacts but the social distances are bigger and the shared spaces are bigger. Who knows how that affects the transmission risk?
We have 80% of the roll moving around the building every 50 mins 7 times a day plus registration. One way system or not , that is a lot of closeness.
I could be wrong but it seemed like "school is really low risk" is basically just a polite fiction to deal with the fact that school is inherently a bit risky but also one of the most important things we do and the risk is tolerable. Avoids the kneejerk "school must be completely safe" reaction and also somewhat removes "why can't I go to the pub/spinning class/orgy, my kids are at school"
Northwind +1