Well-known former Darwin principal, Henry Gray, says give NT students the year off

TERRITORY students should be given this year off as a gap year, says well-known, former Darwin principal, Henry Gray

Well-known former Darwin principal, Henry Gray, says Territory students should be given this year off as a gap year. Picture: Michael Franchi

TERRITORY students should be given this year off as a gap year, well-known former Darwin principal, Henry Gray says.

Former Leayner Primary School principal, Mr Gray — who was also the president of the NT School Principals Association — expressed concern about the Northern Territory Government’s policy with schools in relation to the coronavirus pandemic and the order that they remain open.

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He also questioned whether or not children were forced to go to school at too early an age.

“In my opinion schools should be closed as far as providing formal education,” he said.

“From an educational viewpoint, in the same way that students after completing year 12 often have a gap year, or two, why not call this a gap year in advance of the next year.

“Just let students have the opportunity if they can to relax as much as possible.

“It’s not going to happen that if schools reopen, or if the coronavirus settles down in the later part of the year, students will switch from one situation in their mindset to another and go back to being peaceful and happy about learning.”

Mr Gray said working from home for students would widen the gap between the haves and the have nots.

“Students are going to dip out,” he said. “There’s a lot more to education than just academics and unfortunately that’s disregarded.

“We’ve forgotten that education should be about social, emotional and moral development as well as academic.

“It’s academics, academics, academics these days and the rest doesn’t count.”

Mr Gray said academics should be given a rest.

“Let kids have a sort of chance to grow up this year. Let children have a chance to mature a bit.

“It won’t hurt. When I began as a teacher children did not start ... pre-school until they were five.

“Now they’re starting pre-school compulsorily at three.

“That’s all about schools being called upon to mind children at a younger and younger age. You’ve got to question whether it has been wise.”

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Mr Gray said schools were not able to fulfil their purpose during the current pandemic.

“Children who are going to school at the moment are going to school to be minded,” he said.

“We’ve diminished education because the circumstances of COVID-19 have forced that upon us.

“Teachers are focusing on trying to provide lessons online or by correspondence where online facilities are not available.

“People need to think about the anxiety that students are feeling because of the situation.

“There is no way known that children are going to be relaxed with what is going on.”

Mr Gray said while he personally thinks schools should be closed, if he was still principal he would be obliged to carry out the orders of the NT Government to keep them open.

“Teachers and schools principals follow the commands given to them,” he said.

“If I was still principal of Leayner Primary School it would be a case of me saying our school is open because it is required to be open and Henry Gray, principal, is following orders.

“However Henry Gray, as Henry Gray, is not doing it other than because he is required to do it. He’s doing it because he has to, not necessarily because he wants to.

“At the same time I would be trying very hard as the current principal is, to keep the community assured, and in a positive frame of mind about education and what’s going on.