The Cul Camps got underway in Laois this week as hundreds of children from across the county came together in groups – many doing so for the first time since March.
On March 12, with the Coronavirus beginning to grip the country, the government took the decision to close all schools and colleges with immediate effect.
It was subsequently announced that they would not reopen again until the new academic year – something which is less than a month away now.
In that time, pubs that serve food, hairdressers, dentists, restaurants and shops have all reopened under new guidelines.
Pubs that do not serve food are due to reopen on August 10 and still – less than a month before school is due to resume – the Department of Education have not offered any guidance to schools on how they can get back to the classroom.
At the Cul Camps last week, all of the coaches wore masks. The children each had their own hand sanitizer which they regularly used at during periods of inactivity, social distancing of 2 metres is practiced.
They adhered to what they were asked to do to the best of their abilities.
Will that eliminate the possibility of contracting Coronavirus? No – but it is a plan for carrying out an activity and minimising the risks as much as is possible.
We have to find ways of living alongside Coronavirus and plans like that one help – a plan which is sadly lacking so far from the Department of Education more than four months after everything closed.
We have spoken to a number of Laois primary school teachers working in schools both inside and outside the county.
Speaking under the promise of anonymity, they have outlined their experiences over the last few months, frustrations with the Department of Education and their fears for the future.
One, who works outside of Laois, explains the impact that school closures have had on children from disadvantaged areas.
They said: “Back in March, all sectors were closed down very quickly which was the correct decision at the time, however, all other sectors were given advice and clarity about how to proceed in the immediate future.
“Teachers and principals set up their own arrangements at the drop of a hat and continued to use them throughout the year while awaiting further advice from government or Department officials – something which we are still waiting on.
“Throughout this time teachers learned how to use online learning and desperately tried to meet the needs of the students online. Some teachers even set up online tutoring to explain to other schools how to use a selection of online platforms to enhance the students learning.
“From there came the announcement that schools would remain closed for the rest of the school year with guidelines on reopening to follow soon – again, we’re still waiting.
“In my own school we delivered food packages every Thursday to those students most at risk due to their personal circumstances. Upon meeting parents at the door, they explained how difficult their situation was and apologised for how their children could not engage online because they didn’t have the facilities in the house or somebody else needed to use the laptop.
“Almost three months into the pandemic the Department announced that each school would receive an ICT grant to help with online learning. In my school’s context, the grant was the equivalent of less €10 per student.
“From there, principals and teachers continued to act on a local level putting arrangements in place to deal with the issues arising in their school daily.
“Principals began to organise online graduations for 6th Class students and some even held drive in graduations to try and mark the occasion for these pupils.
“The 30th June offered some hope in that the 2019/20 school year finally drew to a close and students, parents and teachers could look forward in hope to returning to some sort of normality for September.”
However, one month into the summer holidays, this teacher fears that those who were disadvantaged before the lockdown, will be even more so after it.
They said: “Yet we are 1 month into the holidays and principals, students, parents and teachers all still awaiting some guidelines for reopening.
“The media have been the main source of information for teachers who are regularly accused of not caring about the situation, which has led to various attention seeking radio talk show presenters making ill-informed judgements about the profession.
“The Department did manage to produce some guidelines towards the end of June, which appeared to be a very rushed document that answered little to no questions or concerns that people had.
“In summary the government and Department of Education’s response has been pathetic and if it were not for the hardworking, innovative work of principals, teachers and SNA’s along with the willingness of parents to develop their child’s learning, we would be in dire straights heading towards the reopening in September.
“Like in any other situation, those students who are most at risk are the ones who have suffered the most throughout the pandemic.”
Another teacher, who works in Laois, worries about class sizes and how they can fit their 30 plus students into their classroom under social distancing rules in September.
They said: “I expect us to be back in the classroom in someway but class-sizes and other issues are worrying.
“I have more than 30 in my class next year with a full-time SNA – so something is going to have to give.
“Either they’ll say that social distancing is relaxed completely for U13s or they’ll have to split the school days and have blended learning – which would be horrific.
“We’d probably manage with one metre social distancing as the desks are a metre wide so children could sit on opposite sides of one desk.
“All desks are shared, so two metres would mean every child needing their own. That can only work with split classes.”
On Thursday, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said it would reflect very badly on Ireland if we were unable to open our schools in September but could open our pubs.
While Taoiseach Micheal Martin went further yesterday and said that a plan to reopen schools will be brought before the cabinet by Minister for Education Norma Foley on Monday.
That plan, as far as teachers are concerned, can’t be published quick enough.
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