And so, here we are. It’s been a little over a week since children across the province started going back to school for in-classroom learning. Now, I can only speak from our own personal experience here in Metro Vancouver. I recognize that different families experience different circumstances. And the situation is quite different in other parts of Canada and across the United States. We just have to figure it out for ourselves.
Indeed, we were already concerned back in August when we started thinking about what going back to school would look like in 2020. There were a lot of unknowns and, truth be told, there are still a lot of unknowns. For our part, on the spectrum of very concerned to not concerned at all about sending kids back to the classroom amidst a global pandemic, we fall somewhere in between. We’d probably feel quite differently if there were a lot more cases in BC. Daily case counts are rising, but it still seems manageable for now.
Back to School: Majority Rules
First, a bit of context. Barely more than a week before the return to school, parents were asked what we wanted for our children’s education. The Burnaby school district offered four options, similar to other parts of Metro Vancouver:
- Return to in-classroom instruction at your local school
- Online/distance learning
- Home schooling
- Postponed return to in-classroom instruction
With both options 2 and 3, a parent or guardian would be largely (or wholly) responsible for a child’s schooling. There’s minimal (and almost none, in the case of home schooling) teacher support. Given what most parents experienced with “temporary home school” or distance/online learning in the spring, plus the challenges of pandemic parenting in the summer, it’s perhaps not surprising that 85 percent of parents chose a return to in-classroom instruction. Back to school, it is.
We obviously didn’t know this when we filled out the survey, but it turned out that most parents made the same choice we did. Yes, we experienced a fair bit of hesitation and apprehension, choosing the first option in a manner that felt like we almost had no real choice.
What Is the New Normal?
There’s still a lot of uncertainty. We also know that the school and district administration (and the teachers) are doing the best they can with what they know and what they have. Even under “normal” circumstances, going back to school can be stressful, especially for very young children (and their parents). We knew this school year was going to be different. So, now that we’re a little more than a week into this, how do we feel? Well….
- Learning groups and cohorts are being maintained as much as is reasonably possible. Children enter and exit the school through specific doors to minimize contact with other students. They also have staggered recess and lunch, and they have assigned play areas to minimize contact between groups.
- There are no lunch monitors from the older grades to watch the younger grades. The teacher stays in the classroom to eat their lunch and watch the students instead. Addie misses seeing her monitors, but understands why this is how it is.
- Similarly, as least as far as the six-year-old has reported, she hasn’t had any PE or music class. I’m not sure if that’ll change with week two, so we’ll see how that goes and how the school chooses to handle it.
- I’m certain the learning environment itself is different. From what I can gather, teachers are encouraging children to engage in more independent play rather than group play.
- Students are washing their hands more frequently. Thankfully, at Addie’s school, practically every classroom has its own sink. They wash their hands upon arrival, before and after recess, before and after lunch, and before heading home. They’re also limiting the number of kids who go the washroom at the same time.
Many people are quick to tell you that school is not daycare. It’s true that teachers are not babysitters.
That being said, it’s also very true that schools effectively function as a form of childcare. It’s a place to send our kids where we know (or hope) that they will be safe and taken care of. School is a place to enrich their lives, but also so that the rest of society can continue to function. This is especially true when dual income households are increasingly the norm, particularly in big cities.
The Same, But Different
Surely, going back to school in 2020 has been different. They’ve got to line up outside, one meter apart, and go through a daily health check. The teachers are wearing masks, some are wearing face shields, and there’s far less interaction between divisions and with other teachers and education assistants.
Even so, a lot of it is still the same. They still get to interact with (some of) their friends, they’re still learning, and — at least for my six-year-old — she’s still having a good time. We haven’t seen any signs of the usual “back to school flu” yet, but I don’t want to jinx it.
Surge Capacity Depleted
We’re barely a week into the back to school season and I’m already exhausted. I know a lot of parents (and the general public) are just as exhausted too, because we’ve exceeded our surge capacity. This pandemic has taken a toll on all of us, some more than others. As hard as it might be, we have to recognize and accept that none of this is going to go away overnight. We have to figure out a way to make it work.
Without getting too far into the political side of things — Did you hear that John Horgan called for an election yesterday? It’ll be on October 24 — I feel it is critical to get our education system working as best as is reasonably possible. Just as we want to make sure our health care system is working. And basic transportation is working. They’re fundamental and, as tough as it may be, we may have to sacrifice elsewhere in our lives to make that possible.
No, a lot of the usual back to school advice might not apply here, but a lot of it does. We just have to take it one day at a time, and remain extra vigilant for everyone’s children and their families. I feel better after one week of instruction than I did when I first filled out that survey. Let’s try to build on that.
I feel it is critical to get our education system working as best as is reasonably possible
This.
Every day. Every year. Not just in 2020, but especially in 2020.
Great review. My kids have been back 2 weeks now and yes, it’s been tiring but I am really happy Alice is back into the (admittedly for us, but less so for her. Kids are so resilient) swing of things.
I just hope it lasts.
Judging by what is happening over here in Europe, I fear it may not.
Everyone has been talking about a “second wave” pretty much everywhere. Coupled with the usual “back to school flu,” many parents are understandably concerned. But I’d much sooner close all the restaurants and bars if it meant that schools could continue to operate.
All is going ok here in Alberta! Very similar precautions, I hope we can all stay healthy during the winter flu season. Just have to take it day by day I guess
My kids talk about how often they wash their hands at school. That is a great way to avoid getting sick. As well, the school is doing lots of work to keep kids separated into their cohorts. As for music – my kids are talking about how they are learning to “play” Beethoven music through percussion on their bodies and clapping and snapping their fingers. I thought that was pretty genius!
Back to school has been different and at times anxious but I think everyone involved from parents and students to teachers and school boards are doing their best
I’m really happy with how things have gone so far.. that being said, we had warmer weather and so lining up 6 meters apart outside was not a big deal. With this rain, I’m trying to figure out how they’re going to make it work! The class sizes have been smaller cause several kids are doing the option 4 transition. My girls just need this for their own mental health, both seem to be flourishing so far. One day at a time, step by step!