Reopening of schools? A word from an elementary school teacher from Lugano: “We are living in a period characterized by many uncertainties. What I feel like saying is that it would be risky to make imprudent decisions that risk undermining the efforts undertaken so far to contain the pandemic. Although the news had been in the air for weeks, the decision to close the schools was made while we were in the classroom during working hours. We had to act quickly ”, thus begins the story of Francesca (real name), elementary school teacher of Lugano, about her experience since the beginning of this pandemic. “We communicated to the families how we intended to organize the management of homework. Schools have adopted different choices ”. Teachers in Ticino have had to get used to new methods: they send homework by post, others use electronic mail, still others deliver them directly to the pupils' letterbox, in short, it was the beginning of a new and not easy teaching method. because "distance learning has limits" according to the teacher, but "now that a certain balance seems to have been established, it would be a shame to have to upset everything". In fact, if it was not easy for the teachers, the pupils and parents also had difficulties, who had to get used to it quickly.
A teacher at the time of the coronavirus, what are you most afraid of? Francesca is worried about the health of her children and their parents: “It would be unnatural, even if necessary, to prevent children from hugging friends and teachers. I also find it difficult to control that children respect social distances in the most informal moments. While probably working with halved classes, this task would be no less ”. The directives from the Confederation and the canton have not yet arrived, but there is talk of halving the classes to allow hygiene measures to be respected. “At the moment I think that there are not yet the conditions to guarantee the safety of both teachers and students themselves. Already in the period before the closing of the school it was realized that it was not always possible to keep the minimum distances ", continues Francesca," if we return with halved classes, the issue of caring would also be dropped, a fundamental service for working parents ". Yes, because the schools have not actually closed completely, some teachers have remained available to allow, for example, two parents, doctors or nurses, to be able to continue doing their work.
When asked: “Francesca, would you reopen the schools now?”, I didn't feel any hesitation in her answer: “Health first of all! It is certainly preferable to start over in September with the hope of having more security. Considering the short period missing from the summer holidays, I would continue with distance learning, to which pupils and parents are getting used to ".
