When I heard two weeks ago that schools and day cares are opening on May 11th for kids between the ages of 0-12 years. I was delighted. All the things I could do with my free time, from the moment I drop them off until I pick them up again was in the making. I visualised it with excitement, but the euphoric spirit didn’t last long. At most a few hours, then thoughts of social distancing, the virus, new school system and the visible learning progress of my child during the lockdown arose.
There it was in my inbox few days later. The new school regulations:
- Like other schools in the Netherlands parents and caretakers are no longer allowed in the building.
- Designated marked places for parents outside the building.
- You drop off your kid in front of the entrance, then teachers will take-over.
- Between teachers and kids the rule of 1.5-meter distance applies.
- Kids of the same class do not practice social distance.
- The outings, gym and other physical activities are scrapped from the schedule.
- Teachers will focus the first few weeks on teaching the kids hygiene rules and how to keep their distance from them.
Not bad, right? A friend said to me when I was protesting about the opening of schools in that age category. Do we know how Coronavirus spreads among kids? How do we know if a kid from my child’s class with the virus can’t transmit it to other kids? Or is there proof that kids can only transmit it to adults? I queried my friend. What about the link to the mystery disease called Kawasaki impacting children? Everyday there are new discoveries about this disease. Besides how do you teach the little ones between the ages 4 – 7 to practice social distancing only with adults? At the same time teach and correct them with maths, letters and reading from a distance as well as comforting when they have those needs? I really don’t understand. Why was the government so eager to let schools open when there are so many uncertainties plus summer holiday is less than 8 weeks? Does it have something to do with the previous suggested herd immunity by the Dutch government? Or is it the creation of a (worldwide) new system? I can only speculate. For my ‘Dutchies’ that prefer to read articles in Dutch about it, here you go.
“Big Brother is watching, but so are we”
Back to social distancing between school kids and teachers. I am trying to picture what happens when kids hurt themselves or are fighting? How are they planning to intervene from a distance? I can’t help to think that some teachers will be hiding behind the distance rule and inability to act accordingly, when something happens to a child. I spoke to a mummy recently; she told me that her kid’s school explicitly states teachers not to console children. If they cry too long, parents have to come and pick up their children. Are they FUCKING serious? Before we said: Big brother is watching, but so are we. Now parents might be situated in a place of darkness, where you hand over your little child and just pray that all will be well with them when you pick them up. There is no free access to the school premises anymore. No mummy or daddy keepers around. Meetings with parents and teachers will no longer be held, not even mask-to-mask. Can you imagine a situation whereby your child is not in good terms with a teacher or you are not? That can be stressful, right? The truth is there is not much you can do about it when you hand over your child. You automatically abide by those rules. Schools have the government’s permission to design their own safety policies during this pandemic. I ask myself to whose benefit? For some reason Lucky Dube’s song Prisoner came to my mind with this specific lyric: “They won’t build NO SCHOOLS anymore. All they build will be PRISON, PRISON. All they build will be PRISON, PRISON.” This track was released by the Reggae legend from South Africa in 1989. It was a (political) statement of the inequality, apartheid and prison system in SA. Is it peculiar to say that I feel the new school system is (almost) turning into a prison system? Or am I over-exaggerating with this statement? Maybe I am, but this song kept on coming in my head in relation to the creation of a new system.
So you see, there are many reasons why my child is not back in school. I understand for a lot of parents it’s not doable to keep their children for a long time home, because of work, special care and needs for the child or other factors. For me this new system will not work coupled with the uncertainties around (the spread of) the Coronavirus. If my child was older, could express confidently on different matters. Acquired the (EQ )skills to know how to give 1.5-meter gap among other things. I might, just might, reconsider. Until then I am keeping my child home and continue as a teacher.
Feel free to comment and feedback in English or Dutch what your thoughts are about my post. I am curious how you are dealing with the school situation in the Netherlands or in your country. Do you have similar rules in your child’s school?
Thank Chi!! For giving me some new insights. I now totally understand why you are keeping him home and teach yourself. By the way very inspiring Hope the goverment finds a new way cause this not working for a lot of parents. They also have half days too that gives a lot of stress especially to working parents.They can’t really focus on their work cause they have to pick theme up again. So that is also a reason for keeping them home. They are waiting till the schools open for whole days.
Keep sharing! Love it!
Lucy, thanks for your feedback. That is so true, lot of schools are only opening half days. There so many factors why this ‘new school system’ is not going to work for a lot of parents. Love your comment. Stay safe.
Thanks Chi!
You too have a lovely Sunday