Two teachers banned from speaking to the media have broken ranks, giving a rare insight into teaching on the frontline during the coronavirus crisis.

Key points: Two teachers — one public, one private — have given two very different accounts of teaching amid coronavirus

Two teachers — one public, one private — have given two very different accounts of teaching amid coronavirus They both say social distancing is impossible, while Karen has described her classroom as a "Lord of the Flies" scenario

They both say social distancing is impossible, while Karen has described her classroom as a "Lord of the Flies" scenario The Prime Minister has described teachers as "critical people" in the community and has so far refused to close schools

The teachers, one in the public system and one a private school teacher, told the ABC two very different stories as the threat of COVID-19 intensifies and many schools remain open.

The public school teacher, who the ABC is calling Karen, described it as a "Lord of the Flies" scenario, while the private school teacher, Jessica, said by the school staying open, it took pressure off health professionals responding to the crisis.

Karen is a teacher at a large Sydney public school.

She said students had told her she'd die if she contracted the disease — but because they were "immune" they were not going to catch it.

"We're dealing with a situation where kids are literally sneezing on [teachers] or coughing on them because they have no sense of personal hygiene or personal space," she said.

"We've got teachers at school who are quite old. They're all 60 years (of age)-plus and these people have got underlying health issues as well."

She said physical distancing at large public schools was impossible, as 30 students were crammed in to classrooms with inadequate sanitation supplies.

Other public schools have issued public pleas for donations of hand sanitiser.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has remained firm on keeping schools open on Wednesday described teachers as "critical people" in the community.

"When I think about teachers, I'm thinking about them in the same way that I'm thinking about paramedics, about nurses, about doctors," he said.

"It's very important that we work with teachers to ensure that their workplace health and safety is being addressed as we manage this very difficult issue.

"School is not as usual any more. That's clear. We all accept that. And school won't be as usual going into the future."

But Karen said teachers seemed to be "caught in the middle".

"We've got kids who are coming to school every day with colds, coughs, flu symptoms who are feeling sick, they're dizzy, they're nauseous, they have headaches," she said.

"I'm sure some of them are asymptomatic."

Karen said NSW Premier Gladys Berejeklian's decision to ask children to stay home had greatly reduced student numbers, but she wants it to go further.

In direct defiance of the Federal Government, which advised parents to send their kids to school, Karen and other teachers have been sending children they deem "non-essential" back home.

"We've had children who refused [to do this], absolutely refused," she said.

The private experience

Private school teacher Jessica, who works at a smaller independent school, painted a much more positive view of life during coronavirus.

She said she had been working "extremely long hours" teaching normal classes and helping refine online teaching modules as remote learning began.

"Yes I've had to work weekends but whatever helps Australians out for a good cause is a good cause," she said.

"So I'm not thinking about myself at the moment. If the Government wants that and that relieves a bit of pressure off healthcare professionals and things like that, then it's a good thing."

She said her school remained adequately stocked with hand sanitiser and soap.

"I'm a bit of a clean freak so I've been sanitising, the kids have been good and understood to wash their hands," she said.

"There has been times I suppose I felt a little bit vulnerable.

"But I also think it's a good thing I'm at school rather than at home because I've been able to talk to colleagues and get that proper online training."

Physical distancing was a problem at her school too, with students packed into tight classrooms.

But attendance is expected to fall to 25 per cent at Jessica's school this week, as many parents keep their kids at home.

"The social distancing has been a lot easier since the Government has asked to keep some of the kids at home because the classrooms are smaller so we're able to actually separate the students about a metre in the classroom," she said.

She said her school was supportive of the Government's plan to move towards a dual system of remote learning and an on-campus option.

"It's hard for a lot of parents who can't have their kids at home, they have to go to work and they're struggling themselves in their own income and jobs so we're compassionate about that," she said.