Thread by @GeorgeMonbiot

The latest shocking coronavirus scandal:
Like the health department, the Department for Education has quietly replaced experienced clinicians with call centre workers employed by Serco. It's one reason why disaster looms in England's schools.
My column.
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

The lockdown will be another failure without a massive, emergency programme of school refurbishment, extra premises and professional health advice. But no such help is on offer.
So school epidemics will spread back into the community, and we'll be stuck in the cycle again.

If the government had set out to screw this up, it couldn't have done a better job. The massive suffering caused by this pandemic will continue until it treats public health more seriously than corporate profits.

I know there's a lot going on, but please don't let them get away with this.
Support @GoodLawProject's legal cases, support @We_OwnIt and other groups opposing these scandals. Raise a stink.
Our lives and freedoms may depend on it.

The testimony from teachers and parents in the responses to these tweets makes me want to cry.
What the hell are they supposed to do?
Does the government not give a flying damn about their lives?

Just like frontline health workers, school staff are putting themselves at great risk for the benefit of society. And (in the classroom) without PPE. But no one's clapping for them, and there's no thanks from the government, only lies and insults.

Teachers sign up for a lot of tough situations when they take their jobs. But they do not sign up to be exposed to a life-threatening disease without adequate safety measures.