Susie O’Brien: Getting our kids back to school the race that really matters

While Victorian kids wither away waiting to hear when schools will reopen, Daniel Andrews is busy planning a return of racing crowds in October.

The Andrews government is considering a plan to bring 5000 racing fans together for the Cox Plate next month, but it still hasn’t told us when school students will be back on campus.

I can’t think of a better illustration of the divisive and warped priorities of Premier Daniel Andrews.

When you have to take leave from work to stop your depressed child from killing herself – as one of my friends has just done – you don’t give a damn about horse racing.

And nor should Andrews right now.

The mental health and learning of our state’s school kids is not a priority for his mob.

They’ve kept the AFL going, allowed high-profile TV and movies to continue to shoot here and signalled their support for the return of racing crowds in October.

Yet they won’t allow senior year 12 kids to see their teachers on campus, let alone students from any other year level. School holidays start in two weeks and we still don’t know what’s happening next term.

Apparently, Andrews is planning to announce his plan for the reopening of schools this week, but the planning for the plan is still in the planning stages.

The Moonee Valley Racing Club is pushing to get vaccinated crowds back by October 23. Picture: Getty Images

We’ve got one million kids in this state spread across 2276 schools – that’s 439 children on average per school. This is one tenth of the number of racegoers the government is considering allowing to attend the Cox Plate. So what’s the problem?

The Moonee Valley Racing Club is pushing to get vaccinated crowds back by October 23 – four days before the start of the first major VCE exam.

At this stage, we don’t even have an idea of how exams are going to be run – will they be delayed further given the GAT was moved out by a month? Will they be inside or outside? At home or on campus?

What’s infuriating parents, teachers and students is that the government has no shortage of top-level advice to inform a safe return to campus.

Epidemiologists and infectious disease experts say classroom ventilation, outside learning, smaller groups, mask-wearing and staggered arrivals will all help reduce the risk of infection.

These things have worked in the UK and the US.

Some schools here are already looking at doing their own rapid antigen testing, doing ventilator assessments and purchasing carbon dioxide monitors and particle filters. They’re more committed to classes going back then the politicians.

The government is still yet to tell us when schools will reopen and how while children who can’t see their friends are withering away every day.

While the government is still yet to tell us when schools will reopen and how, children who can’t play with their friends, see their teachers or play sport are withering away day by day.

Their despair and desperation is palpable.

Andrews should care more about the 14-year-old with anorexia who’s had relapses since schools have been closed and everything “has been taken away”.

And the 10-year-old kid whose mother had to “physically restrain him from getting a knife because he said he wanted to die”.

And the year 12s who – after all the work they’ve done – are opting for unscored VCE studies, or dropping out.

Or the confused grade ones who have had to start and stop school six times and think learning from home IS school.

One parent summed it up: “Like a car crash in slow motion, I am watching the mental health decline of my eight-year-old”.

It beggars belief that the government thinks giving hope to a bunch of racing enthusiasts is more important than looking after our kids.

I acknowledge that similar sporting events in other countries overseas are opening up – there are capacity crowds at the US Open, full houses at the UK cricket test matches and packed stands at American college football.

But such countries have also opened schools.

Some year 12s – after all the work they’ve done – are opting for unscored VCE studies, or dropping out.

Schools are back in the UK, with regular testing on campuses, social distancing and use of carbon-dioxide monitors keeping infection rates low so far.

In the US states, schools are even staying open during outbreaks. In some states they are allowing masked students who agreed to be tested every two days to stay on campus.

In NSW, where races at Randwick are due to kick off next month, VCE students are back at school part time and others will return next term.

Victorians deserve the same clarity and certainty.

What parents need now is to know that when term four starts, our kids will be back in class.

Schooling may be different for a while, and we all know that, but if students don’t get back on with their lives soon, the mental damage could be irreparable.

The health of our kids is more important than any horse race, footy game or TV show, and it’s a pity Dan Andrews can’t see this.

Susie O’Brien is a Herald Sun columnist