What a worrying week for parents and teachers. I feel for them because the issue of 'stay at home' or 'back to school' is very complex and worrying. I have been listening to this debate all week. I believe the Government's interest is all to do with business and getting parents back to work. Don't kid yourself that it is about the children's education!
What are the concerns? Back to school will put children, parents and teachers at risk, since there is more infection around now than when we first went into lockdown. In fact, the R figure is creeping up again. Take the teachers' viewpoint. They are against reopening until safety can be guaranteed. There is confusion about spacing. It will be difficult for children to carry out spacing and totally impossible, and wrong, for reception children to do this. Yet we have been told to do this with our children when out in public, for the last six weeks. Also what about all the hand washing and the corridor passing?
I suspect that the Government is relying on the rumour that children do not get infected, but we now have a life threatening inflammatory illness associated with the virus, taking children into hospital. Just two children have died. Parents are understandably anxious about their children's safety.
Parents may feel their home schooling efforts are inadequate. I would like to remind them that, when their child was born it had no experience but it had the potential to grow into an amazing adult. They were responsible for the child's development before school when it learnt to walk, talk, feed itself, dress itself, count and even hold a conversation. In fact, some real life education occurs with the parent, before the child even goes to school.
Parents should be more confident about their ability. Then there are numerous educational offerings on BBC or Google to boost home lessons. Would staying at home for June and July, just 40 days, be so educationally damaging. What about giving parents a choice? Is that too democratic?
Apart from pondering on this debate I have been having a go at writing children's stories, under a simple title, 'When I was a little girl we didn't have...' So easy and just a reminiscence for us older folk.
To my delight, I received two You Tube videos from my son and his partner. One took me on a walk over the Yorkshire hills and the other took me on, 'A tour of their garden with bee hives'. Another son and partner showed off their bread making skills and encouraged me to try. I reflected, with parental pride, that these initiatives had their origins in 'home schooling'
Finally, thank you friends for the gifts of a pear, tulips, the Guardian and a luxury box of chocs. I am sending you a picture of my amazing flowering bush as a virtual gift from nature.
Alice is a retired teacher trainer, a mother of four grown up 'successful' sons and a strong believer in parent power.
See previous posts from Alice In Salford Isolationland…
Part Eight - click here
Part Seven - click here
Part Six - click here
Part Five - click here
Part Four – click here
Part Three – click here
Part Two – click here
Part One – click here
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