Rita Panahi: Confusing schools of thought hit home
Parents are being bombarded by conflicting advice as Victorian households begin a full term of remote learning. One education expert warns prolonged absence from the classroom will have an adverse impact on our kids, writes Rita Panahi.
Rita Panahi
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Research released this week reveals an increasing number of Australians are hitting the bottle to cope with the coronavirus catastrophe.
Expect alcohol sales to soar further as Victorian households embark on a full term of homeschooling.
There are already widespread complaints about online learning sites crashing, students with nothing to do or being saddled with confusing instructions.
Meanwhile, parents are being bombarded by conflicting advice from experts.
Indeed one expert, Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, has even managed to contradict himself in a series of tweets where he variously told parents to keep their children at home in term two “to drive down transmissions”, then reassured them “schools are not dangerous places” and they should have no qualms about sending their kids to school.
It was all too much for shadow planning minister Tim Smith who responded with: “Mate, you’ve had more positions on this issue today than the Kama Sutra”, demanding he release the modelling on which his advice is based.
Putting aside the disturbing Kama Sutra imagery, Smith has a point about the modelling and lack of transparency on the science behind the Victorian guidelines.
The expert medical panel, headed by Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy, advising the National Cabinet had been unequivocal in stating that schools were safe, particularly for children, while parents and teachers should practise social distancing with other adults and those with underlying health conditions should stay home.
“We’re concerned (state) governments are keeping schools closed not from a health recommendation but almost because of parental fear,” Prof Murphy said.
Another fear is that the teachers’ unions may strike.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also been clear in emphasising the importance of kids returning to school, warning “the education of our children hangs in the balance”.
Education expert Kevin Donnelly warns that prolonged absence from the classroom will have an adverse impact.
“We are already falling behind in all the international testing … if kids are away from school any longer it’s only going to lead to further lowering of national standards,” Dr Donnelly said.
Rita Panahi is a Herald Sun columnist