Across the UK right now are millions of children. Stuck at home. Huge numbers stuck in abusive environments - or loving ones in which their parents have no idea how to teach, motivate or incentivise their learning.
Also across the UK right now are the consequences of 40 years of deepening inequality: which cuts greatly across racial lines.
Children of middle class parents are much more likely to be relatively insulated. Children of working class parents - especially BAME - are not.
Children of middle class parents are much more likely to be relatively insulated. Children of working class parents - especially BAME - are not.
Even in normal times, even outside a pandemic, social services are always stretched well beyond their limits by an appallingly derisory budget: which austerity, which attacked Labour councils much more than Tory ones, has only made much much worse.
Horrible numbers of kids are falling right through the net right now. And it's no good saying "but vulnerable children are allowed into school" when all schools will have different approaches, different policies, and will be of wildly differing quality too.
That horribly grim reality is what's driving Labour's approach to all this. It's not, and should not be, about them automatically "supporting" the unions when the consequences for the poorest and most vulnerable are THIS bad.
In any case: Labour is NOT calling for schools to reopen. It's calling for a plan, a way out of this nightmare. The misrepresentation of what it's saying is a typical Twitter-led nonsense.
Take a step back for a moment. Think, actually think, of what life must be like in a country in which so many children depend on their schools to feed them.
Think too of what life must be like for those who need in-work benefits just to survive.
Think too of what life must be like for those who need in-work benefits just to survive.
And think also of the absolute impossibility of remote distance learning for 5-year-olds. Or most 6-year-olds. Or most 7-year-olds.
No amount of access to laptops, which so many of these kids don't have, is going to fix that.
No amount of access to laptops, which so many of these kids don't have, is going to fix that.
These children need SUPPORT. Lots of it. A computer in a sub-standard, over-crowded home doesn't provide that. Teachers in schools do.
Most parents are doing their best and muddling through. But the vast majority of them will be terrified of what this is doing to their kids.
Most parents are doing their best and muddling through. But the vast majority of them will be terrified of what this is doing to their kids.
What it's doing to them psychologically, emotionally, mentally and academically. What it's doing to their life chances.
Even once we're out of the pandemic, there will be another one: of mental illness among children and adults traumatised, damaged, devastated by all of this.
Even once we're out of the pandemic, there will be another one: of mental illness among children and adults traumatised, damaged, devastated by all of this.
School exists FOR A REASON. It provides structure, it provides support, it provides love, it provides care, it provides discipline too.
All of that's fallen by the wayside - we're in completely uncharted territory here as far as the entire modern age goes.
All of that's fallen by the wayside - we're in completely uncharted territory here as far as the entire modern age goes.
So yes, there DOES need to be a plan. Most Labour MPs do know the reality of their constituents' lives; it's people on here who clearly don't.
I'm privileged. I live in a really nice place, with a balcony overlooking the ocean. I work from home happily and have a lot of freedom
I'm privileged. I live in a really nice place, with a balcony overlooking the ocean. I work from home happily and have a lot of freedom
In urban Britain, humungous numbers don't have that privilege. Remember: Grenfell happened in the wealthiest borough on planet Earth - it's just that the poor were denied any of it, treated like shit and left in a death trap.
Think about people like them. There's millions of them. Think about their children. And stop this mindlessly callous, arrogant bullshit about "Labour friends of Covid" or "blood on your hands Starmer" and all the rest of it.
A way out from all this is desperately important.
A way out from all this is desperately important.
This is exactly what I mean about ideology and dogma being treated as more important than actual real life. Real life for millions and millions.
The reality of this pandemic is, for the entire world, it's always been a balancing act which no country Britain's size has got right
The reality of this pandemic is, for the entire world, it's always been a balancing act which no country Britain's size has got right
Of course teachers are scared: rightly so.
Of course there have been multiple disgraceful failures in getting schools as safe as possible.
And of course children can't go back until the new variant is brought under control.
Of course there have been multiple disgraceful failures in getting schools as safe as possible.
And of course children can't go back until the new variant is brought under control.
But while no, teachers are neither disposable nor expandable, neither are children. Least of all, the poorest ones.
Think about that before making some cheap, thoughtless political point with no awareness or understanding behind it.
It's complicated. Deal with it.
Think about that before making some cheap, thoughtless political point with no awareness or understanding behind it.
It's complicated. Deal with it.
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