Principals plead for return to school

Several school principals have broken ranks with the State Government, pleading for primary schools to reopen now despite the lockdown.

Fitzroy Community School Principal Tim Berryman is among the principals calling for schools to immediately reopen. Picture: Jason Edwards

Three school principals have broken ranks with the State Government and called for primary schools to be reopened immediately.

Along with well-known psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg, the leaders have written an open letter to the Premier stating that school closures cause more harm than good.

They point out that children are at more risk on their commute to school than from Covid.

“Closing primary schools harms our children while failing to deliver a clear benefit. Keeping children home is damaging their wellbeing and hindering their learning,” the letter says.

It comes as several schools are telling parents of the “mental health toll” the pandemic is having on children.

Fitzroy Community School principal Tim Berryman with his kids Abi, 7, Xavier ,9, and Christian, 11. Picture: Jason Edwards

Some are urging families to contact headspace for support amid concerns a number of students have stopped attending zoom classes from home.

Victorian schoolchildren will have missed up to 147 days of school by September 2, and have done around 40 per cent of their learning in the past 18 months online.

The principals’ letter says that “keeping primary schools open supports children’s learning and mental health – their learning and mental health suffer when they are isolated”.

It was written by Timothy Berryman from Fitzroy Community School, Christel Duffy from Yarralinda School in Mooroolbark and Tanya Heine from The Village School in Croydon North.

Mr Berryman said he had seen increasing desperation from parents and children.

“Some parents share that they worry that they are bad parents, as they cannot cope. They are struggling, struggling to do their jobs, look after their team and teach their children,” he said. Dr Carr-Gregg said children were being denied access to their social networks, opportunity to play and key developmental milestones by closing schools and playgrounds.

“These things are causing more damage psychologically than the virus,” he said.

Education Minister James Merlino told the Herald Sun schools “would be back as soon as possible, not one day later”.

Originally published as Principals plead for return to school