Susie O’Brien: We’ve waited long enough for a plan on schools
Stressed parents who just want to get the economy going, have been dying for weeks to know when the burden of remote learning will end. But despite plenty of time, Daniel Andrews still hasn’t given us date. It’s time he told us the plan, writes Susie O’Brien.
Susie O'Brien
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Victorian kids need to be back at school. So why hasn’t Premier Daniel Andrew set out a plan for sending them back?
We waited weeks for his May 11 announcement, but he still hasn’t told parents and kids when we will freed from the burden of home schooling.
It’s very disappointing.
There is no reason for the Premier not to present a measured plan for children to resume classroom teaching.
Other states are doing it, so why not us?
Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton even said that “from a public health point of view I don’t have a problem with schools reopening”.
Why isn’t Andrews listening to him?
The Premier says our coronavirus figures are the envy of the world, so there is no reason not to send children back to school.
It’s starting to look like a small group of militant teachers who don’t want to go back to classroom teaching are running this state.
While many teachers are desperate to get their students back to the classroom, a smaller group is overly cautious – and even downright resentful – about schools reopening.
They’re the ones who don’t want to resume classroom teaching because they’ve put a lot of effort into the transition to home learning. They’re acting as if the education system is there for them, not the state’s one million school kids.
Parents listening to Monday’s announcement heard a lot about medical research and testing, but nothing about what they really needed to hear – when kids are going back to school.
We desperately need to get the economy moving, but this can’t happen until our children get back to school.
Andrews’ approach puts us at odds with the rest of Australia, and the consequences could be catastrophic economically.
It also makes him look like a leader who’s on a power trip who doesn’t trust schools, parents, teachers and kids to do the right thing.
So far 161,000 people in this state have been tested and only 30 additional cases have been found.
Andrews says his approach is cautious, safe and appropriate. In my mind it’s too cautious. In fact, it’s ridiculous. Although I welcome the easing of restrictions on small gatherings, outdoor recreation, and funerals, I expected a comprehensive road map to reopen schools.
Schools have long been established as safe, so there is no reason why kids can’t go back.
The Premier says he will make more announcements on schools, but there is no need for any further hold-ups.
Schools have spent many weeks organising staggered opening times, rearranging classrooms and bringing in additional cleaning staff. Parents are ready to get back to work. Students are ready to see their friends and teachers and get on with the school year. We are all ready, so why isn’t the Premier?