The news that in-person learning is on hold again at Ontario schools has left some parents and educators upset and frustrated by what they call a roller-coaster of emotions caused by the ongoing indecision and inconsistency by government.
Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced yesterday schools will be moving back to online learning next week due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, increasing risks to the public from COVID variants, and spike in hospital admissions.
As a parent, educator and president of District 17, Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, Jen Hare said Monday’s announcement has definitely left her with mixed feelings.
“It’s a sense of relief in one way for our members to know they don’t need to go into schools that are potentially unsafe,” Hare said, while also acknowledging the move back online will be a challenge.
“It’s hard for working families and for our members who have kids at home who are now going to pivot to remote learning, but it’s something that’s necessary to keep us safe and try to reduce the continually escalating numbers," she said.
Having consistent messaging from the education minister also would be helpful to both teachers and parents, Hare noted.
“(Sunday) we saw an article that said we were 100 per cent going back and (Monday) we learned we are not," she said. "The pivoting on families, on educators and on kids is just not fair. That’s really the heartbreak of this announcement.”
As a parent of a school-aged child, Hare knows the importance of in-person learning, but noted for now being online is what is safest.
“It’s so important kids have the ability to be with other kids and be with their teachers in a school. I know that as a mom and (seeing) how well my son does with in person learning… but the problem is they can’t return to in person until it’s 100 per cent safe,” she said.
“We’ve seen multiple outbreaks at his school and it’s terrifying as a parent to know there’s COVID in the building he could potentially bring home and give to his grandparents," Hare added. "It’s so important that we get some additional safety measures in place and that we stop doing this to kids. The flip-flopping and pivoting on a dime that’s not fair to kids.”
Patricia Tomasi, who is a mother of two elementary-aged children, said she has no idea how she’s going to make online learning work this time around.
“I’ll be running from computer to computer making sure the links are working, and then back to my computer to work, then up making snacks and lunches. It’s just too exhausting to think about,” she said.
“I know this is the right thing to do right now, because we’re in the worst phase of COVID since the pandemic started, but I’m feeling really defeated right now," Tomasi added.
Tomasi said she doesn’t have a lot of confidence students will be in back in class for the rest of the school year, and is just going to try to remain hopeful that summer camps will run this year to give her a small break.
“I feel guilty feeling this way because there are so many suffering right now. I guess I’ll just do the best I can and push my husband to help out more. Dads, partners, please, if you’re reading this, you need to help us moms," she said. "We just can’t do it all. We’re breaking."
Tomasi is also the co-founder of the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative.
“I’m seeing so many moms whose anxiety and depression have been increasing since the pandemic started," she said. "What I really wish is that classes would have been reduced in size and better cohorts right from the beginning… maybe they would still be open now.”
Sandy Tuckey, whose daughter Sarah is finishing up Grade 9, said her heart is breaking for the kids who just want to be with their friends and teachers, but acknowledged that it’s likely the best way to address the rapidly increasing numbers.
“I am just feeling sick for our kids. Sarah is resilient but... kids of all ages need that personal contact. For high school, this is the time they get to shine and to have that sense of freedom they get to have as teenagers… but for all kids it feels like they’re grounded indefinitely… (and) there’s nothing we can do for them,” she said.
“I wish there was another way, but I understand we need to get it under control.”
Marie Reynolds, who is a Grade 3-4 teacher and the parent of a child in junior kindergarten, said as a parent, she can somewhat appreciate the break from the chaos that is getting out the door each day with two young children. However, she said her oldest will definitely be disappointed she won’t be going back to school.
“We don't put too much pressure on her to do all the work because she is so young,” Reynolds said. “As a teacher, I do appreciate the slower pace of not having to get out the door, but I definitely feel that my students' learning and mental health suffers with online learning. All the parents are in a different situation, some can be right there with their kids and help and some don’t pay any attention at all.”
Reynolds knows first-hand how stressful it can be worrying about the health and safety of not only yourself but also your students, after her classroom was closed earlier this year following a potential exposure to COVID.
“I showed up to work that day not even knowing my class was online. I felt very out of the loop and was just expected to change everything last minute," she said. "All the teachers in my school feel the same as we don't have enough supply teachers so people miss their planning time (or) are expected to cover for others at the last minute.”
Despite the stresses that have come along with teaching during a pandemic, Reynolds said she’s not sure what else schools can do beyond what’s already being done.
“The custodians have been awesome with cleaning and PPE (personal protective equipment) has been supplied,” she said. “I wish the class sizes were smaller, but it’s too late for that.”
Government officials noted data will be assessed on an ongoing basis and health officials will be consulted to determine when it will be safe to resume in-person learning.
