Opinion: Students must be part of education solution to coronavirus crisis

TERRITORY schoolchildren and their parents have been ‘caught in a vacuum of misunderstanding’ by messaging from the NT and Federal governments amid the COVID-19 crisis. This situation needs to be clarified once and for all with our children’s futures, literally, at risk right now, writes highly respected top Darwin educator, Henry Gray.

A lack of clarity about educational futures amid the COVID-19 crisis is impacting children, their parents and teachers, says top Darwin educator and former Leanyer Primary School principal Henry Gray.

• Messaging around NT schools’ Term 2 as ‘clear as mud’

SCHOOL leaders, teachers and parents make regular decisions about educational issues.

Some policies and processes require lengthy consideration while other procedures are actioned after very short lead times.

In most instances, those most impacted by resulting changes are children.

Unfortunately, changing priorities and new approaches are little understood by those most affected – the students.

Educational partnerships focus on adults talking for students, about students, but generally not with students.

That has certainly been the case as COVID-19 confuses the 2020 educational agenda.

Within a few short weeks, the school year has been turned upside down.

Teachers and parents have been left juggling between the alternatives of school attendance and home schooling for children.

One is left wondering whether schools are there for normalised education or simply to provide for students who have to be minded elsewhere so their parents can go to work.

Students are in the middle of this dilemma.

They need reassurance and must not be caught in a vacuum of misunderstanding.

They need to know they are valued and loved; they must not feel they are a nuisance or a burden to parents and the community.

It is critically important that students understand what is happening educationally and why changes are taking place.

MORE TOP NEWS

Crisis could also bring opportunity to a struggling Territory

Territorians urged not to avoid RDH despite COVID-19

Virus strikes again as army’s largest exercise cancelled

Parents and teachers need to converse with children about these matters.

This must include listening to young people and answering their questions about educational alternatives.

Education has been muddied by everything happening at the moment.

Lack of clarity about educational futures was echoed in editorial comment by the NT News : “The messaging around schools for Term 2 from the federal, state and territory governments is as clear as mud.”

This “muddiness” plays on children, their parents and their teachers.

We need to consider what students are going through at this time. They need to be included in all conversations leading to decisions about education during Term 2.

Pros and cons about the two alternatives – school attendance and home schooling – should be canvassed. Parents should listen to students about their schooling preferences.

Family situations and children’s futures are at stake.

For Territory families, the situation is compounded by statements from both the Education Minister and Chief Minister.

Thursday’s issue of the NT News led with the headline “School IS compulsory” with Education Minister Selena Uibo indicating that Term 2 would be as normal across the Territory.

The Minister added: “All children are expected to attend school from day one, Term 2 – Monday, 20 April … you should plan for your child to physically attend school.”

The Minister added that home schooling exceptions could be made.

The Chief Minister’s comment on school attendance was somewhat broader. While suggesting that home schooling was a viable option, he stressed learning must happen and Term 1 leniencies would not extend into Term 2.

LAST DAYS! Free subscription offer: Stay informed during the coronavirus crisis

The upcoming holiday week will not be one of rest and relaxation for anyone connected with education. There will be a lot of talk between parents and their children about the best way forward.

One can but hope that students, parents and teachers will move into Term 2 with clear understanding and commitment.

Our first NT director of education, Dr Jim Eedle, said in 1979 that we would do well to remember that education was for children.

More than ever students need to be part of the planning so surety replaces uncertainty about their future schooling.

Henry Gray is a well-known and highly respected former NT school principal and education expert. He is was also the long-time president of the NT School Principals Association.