Susie O’Brien: How we can all learn lessons from lockdown
The whole home-schooling experience has given parents a new understanding for the job teachers do. Most are teaching from home and supervising their own kids as well, so how do they find time to be so positive, Susie O’Brien asks.
Susie O'Brien
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Home schooling. How hard can it be? Compared to school, activities, sport, commuting and work — not to mention battling a global pandemic — I thought overseeing the kids’ lessons at home would be easy. I had it all worked out.
I’d let my three kids guide their own learning, be tough when I needed to be and give the right amount of wise support.
There would be nourishing food breaks, family-based exercise pep-ups and a calming, enriching environment.
Yeah, right.
Things started unravelling about 9.05am on day one when we couldn’t find the learning tasks on the school’s website.
Just as I was about to sack myself as his teacher and bring wine o’clock forward by nine hours, I worked out we were using the wrong log-in.
Half an hour later my son was googling, “When is school going back?” No doubt he was frustrated by my high hopes, low standards and inability to do his Year Five maths homework.
Once my son finished the two hours of work assigned to him, he refused to do any of the educational, creative, stimulating activities I found to fill the time until 3.30pm.
He said no to keeping a journal, drawing a world map showing the holiday we’re not going on this year, or doing maths sums online.
“I am not going to do your random stuff,” he said, eyeing me off with an uncharacteristic level of disdain.
Instead, he opted for watching Good Morning Vietnam at top volume while eating packet pasta and then kicked the ball in the front yard for what seemed like an eternity. Well, that’s history, PE and home economics taken care of. Nailed it.
The Washington Post tells me home schooling will set back an entire generation of kids. No one seems to be keeping track of how much it’s setting back the parents who are supposed to be supervising them.
By day two I was thinking of forming a Teacher Appreciation Association of Australia for those who suddenly glean an understanding of all the good work educators do.
By day three I wanted my own life back and felt like going on strike in my bedroom with the Netflix remote and all the kids’ leftover Easter eggs. I even drew up a log of claims.
What do we want? SCHOOL TO BE BACK! When do we want it? NOW! No wonder the hashtag #homeschoolingfails is doing the rounds on social media.
One kid wrote in his school diary: “It is not going good. My mum’s getting stressed out. My mum is really getting confused. We took a break so my mum can figure this stuff out and I’m telling you it is not going good.”
One parent said: “Home schooling is going well, 1 student suspended for fighting and 1 teacher sacked for drinking on the job. Easy peasy.”
Another said: “Been home schooling the kids since 9am. It’s 9.08am and I’m starting to think teachers deserve the long holidays.”
Next week I’ve decided to adjust my expectations and stopped taking advice from others. So much for the mindful check-ins, the calming space, and helpful hints.
Instead I’ll follow advice such as:
MAKE sure there are no wine bottles in the background of the Zoom chats with teachers;
DO the kids’ work for them and then let them watch TV the rest of the day so you can get your own work done; and
LOCK yourself in the bathroom when you need a break or to make a work call — anywhere from 10 minutes to three hours would do.
The whole experience has given me — and just about everyone else — a new understanding for the job teachers do. Most are teaching from home and supervising their own kids as well. And they still find time to be positive and encourage others. How do they do it?
As one teacher friend posted this week: “I just want parents to know that no matter what way you can attempt this home learning and at what level … you are all doing a fantastic job.” She clearly hasn’t been inside our house.
But she’s right. We got this. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Don’t worry if the kids don’t learn much. Don’t worry if it is not “going good” all the time.
And don’t forget to turn off the computer microphone when someone’s having a meltdown (especially if it’s you).
Susie O’Brien is a Herald Sun columnist