What would you do?

[goodandbadjapan]

I run an English school in an area which doesn't have massive Covid numbers but which are increasing very quickly. We have been closed this week for Obon and are due to start back this coming week. Neither my wife nor I have been vaccinated because they are very, very slow in this area. We haven't even had a coupon yet (although have been told we should get one soon). We are thinking of staying closed until we have vaccines or numbers fall. Last year we closed and got compensation so we didn't lose money. This year there is no word yet of any compensation so we will likely take a financial hit. We may also lose some students. Then again, to go back and get infected would likely kill the business stone dead. We could try and do lots of online classes but I really don't like that and most of the students are young kids who would need to be on their mum's phone or have an adult there to help them. We did a few last year and they weren't great. Too many technical issues on the student side of things. So, what would you do? Am I being overly cautious / nervous?

[RetireJapan]

Really tough one.

Last February/March I was very worried, mainly because of the uncertainty. We closed my wife's school when the local schools closed, and went online with videos and zoom classes. After a couple of months of that, we started small group classes and continued with the videos for those that preferred that. In June we opened again normally and have been operating that way with slightly smaller classes, masks, partitions, ventilation, and wiping desks down between classes.

We haven't had any cases linked to the school, just students who were close contacts and stayed home until they were cleared by the health workers. Also students whose school/year/class was closed were asked to stay home and not come to the school.

Right now I'm fully vaccinated, my wife has had one shot, two staff are fully vaccinated, two of our teachers will have their first shot next week (the other one is waiting for Pfizer but should be able to get first shot this month, and most of our student interns are fully vaccinated.

I stopped going to jiu-jitsu practice last week, and will stay away until my family are all vaccinated or local cases drop back to under 50 or so (currently over 200). But I think teaching students with masks in a ventilated classroom is a lot safer than combat hugging.

We'll continue operating the school normally as long as local schools don't close, and the way things are going I think we have a decent chance of avoiding problems.

I also think the consequences of getting infected are much less than they were last March, where it would have been very damaging to get an infection in the school. Now that most of the local schools have had cases, I would be much less worried about that aspect of things.

[Beaglehound]

I run an English school in an area which doesn't have massive Covid numbers but which are increasing very quickly. We have been closed this week for Obon and are due to start back this coming week. Neither my wife nor I have been vaccinated because they are very, very slow in this area. We haven't even had a coupon yet (although have been told we should get one soon). We are thinking of staying closed until we have vaccines or numbers fall. Last year we closed and got compensation so we didn't lose money. This year there is no word yet of any compensation so we will likely take a financial hit. We may also lose some students. Then again, to go back and get infected would likely kill the business stone dead. We could try and do lots of online classes but I really don't like that and most of the students are young kids who would need to be on their mum's phone or have an adult there to help them. We did a few last year and they weren't great. Too many technical issues on the student side of things. So, what would you do? Am I being overly cautious / nervous?

Sympathies. I teach from home but mostly one to one so have been leaving it up to students whether to come, depending on the situation at the time. Most continue to come, though we are always masked up/windows open etc. I share your feelings about online classes with kids, pretty stopgap without serious preparation, both technical and pedagogical.

Hard to give advice. Ben’s point about infections being less damaging to the business than previously is valid, but depends on how things are in your location. I don’t see you losing large numbers of students by being responsible. Maybe engage with your customer base, offering a ‘holiday’ to those students/parents who want it but still run classes for those who want to come. Keeps everyone happy, though still a financial hit of course as some will stay away.

[goodandbadjapan]

Thanks Ben and Beaglehound. We did much the same as you last year Ben, and I think we will sort of do the same this time - i.e. stay open unless a full State of Emergency comes into effect in this area or the schools are told to close. We will allow any students who wish to be absent to stay away and adjust fees accordingly and just carry on trying to make the school environment as safe as possible. It may be that we have to close anyway if things don't improve!

[nickr]

Yep, same here. It's difficult with young kids who don't understand the virus situation. I think for the next few weeks I'll do everything at the table and cut out the mat work - that's where they gather too close and get right in my face.

[AreTheyTheLemmings?]

What ages are your students? Would a limited-time, homework-only system be feasible? It might allow you to ride out the worst of it, even if it means a reduced 授業料 for that period. Then reopen before everyone tires of that?

Also,

We haven't even had a coupon yet

That is terrible.

And on an unrelated matter, I would gladly pay 2,000 yen to see a show by a band called

combat hug

[goodandbadjapan]

What ages are your students? Would a limited-time, homework-only system be feasible? It might allow you to ride out the worst of it, even if it means a reduced 授業料 for that period. Then reopen before everyone tires of that?

Youngest 4, oldest a senior citizen but most are elementary school. Could do homework only but wouldn't charge - I'd be ok with that but the trouble is just not being able to estimate how long the 'limited time' would be!