Back to school: Mixed emotions as students, parents prepare for life after homeschooling
From Mentone to Mornington parents expressed a mix of emotions at the return-to-school news. From concerns of “unhygienic” conditions to staggered-start anger and even admission of “a little celebration tonight”, they shared their thoughts with the Leader.
South East
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Parents in Melbourne’s southeast are feeling a whirlwind of nerves and exhilaration as the state’s schoolkids prepare to head back to the classroom.
And despite this morning’s announcement from the State Government bringing a sigh of relief to those who struggled with at-home learning, others say they are worried their children could be exposed to “unhygienic” conditions as soon as the first bell rings.
It comes after St Kilda Park Primary School principal Neil Scott said social distancing would be the “biggest challenge” the school had ever seen.
Mornington mother-of-two Michelle Pauliczek said some of her friends can’t wait to send their children back to school “but I’m not sure I want my daughter to head back with Victoria still having quite a few coronavirus cases compared to other states”.
“I think those that are still happy to homeschool their children should do so … and by Term 3 all students should be back at school if it is safe.”
In Berwick, mother-of-two Fiona Campbell said her children were looking forward to going back to school but feared teachers would not be able to police hygiene rules outside of the classroom.
She said there should be checks in place to make sure parents did not send children to class if they had flu-like symptoms.
“Kids are unhygienic as it is, I can see how teachers can keep classrooms sanitised but how will they make sure kids are washing their hands at the toilet, for lunch and on the playground,” she said.
“Parents should not be allowed to send their children to school if they have a sniffily nose or sore throat (during this time) … schools aren’t babysitting services.”
Dingley Village father-of-three Andrew Manning said he was considering holding his children back from attending school until Term 3 as he and his wife needed to be home for work and could not juggle staggered starting times.
“(The decision) is more for convenience than contamination,” he said.
“Schools can’t make a rule that suits everyone, however we are glad we’re slowly heading back towards normal.”
Mother-of-two Genene Hickey from Waterways said her children, including one Year 11 student, were looking forward to seeing friends again and for face-to-face interaction.
“They have both been very focused at home,” she said.
“My friends with primary school children can’t wait for them to go back.”
Frankston mum Helena Blomeley said she was “relieved” at the news but was concerned as to when the “second wave” of COVID-19 could hit.
“Schools starting back is a sign we have the virus fairly controlled,” she said.
“I don’t know when the second wave will hit but for now (Victoria) seems to be doing OK.”
Langwarrin mum Tracey Lockens said her daughter Olive, who is in Grade 2 at Langwarrin Primary School, had enjoyed her time at home doing “home schooling”.
“Olive feels mixed about going back to school after being home for a while,” she said.
“She likes home school but wants to see her friends again.
“And when we do go back parents can’t go into the school so it will be a drop off at the gate, which she hasn’t had before.”
She said she had loved having Olive, 7, home for home school and would have preferred it to remain in place until the end of term one.
Dingley Village mother-of-three Amanda Seaborne said her girls were excited to see friends and experience new learning structures as children eased back into normality.
“I am at ease with the State Government’s decision to reopen schools with special conditions,” she said.
“Out school has gone above and beyond with communication and I have no doubt they will have everything covered off before reopening.”
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McKinnon single parent Katrina Hurt said the news could not have come at a better time for her family, after having a rough morning and struggling to come to terms with homeschooling.
“As someone who was never particularly successful in the mainstream education system as a student myself, I have had a particularly hard time completing tasks … I worried that the teachers thought I was doing nothing when I was trying my hardest,” she said.
“This morning wasn’t going to plan when I went to my room to cool off and have a secret cry for five minutes, that’s when I checked my phone and saw that I only had two weeks left of this. “Now we’re racing through today’s work so that we can have a little celebration tonight.”
brittany.goldsmith@news.com.au