School’s out – but not forever

But instead of sitting in a classroom with their teacher and peers, the vast majority of the island’s children will be at home with their parents.

They’re not ill, they’re not skiving; it’s just that home is the safest place for them, and everybody else, right now.

The confirmation on Friday that schools would not be reopening this week, except to continue catering for vulnerable students and children of essential workers, was no great surprise, although the fact that they look set to remain closed until 31 May might have come as a blow to some.

So, will children still be receiving an education? Yes, of a sort.

Distance learning guidance has been sent out to parents, explaining how education will be delivered and how much work children of different ages will be expected to do each day.

Many parents already struggling with the stress of trying to work from home have been fretting about taking on the role of teacher too, but the guidance makes it clear they are not expected to.

Teachers will set tasks for the children and offer online help and feedback. All parents need to do is offer their offspring a bit of encouragement and help them plan their time. They’re not even expected to sit with them while they work.

Sounds simple enough.

But what if the child refuses to do the work?

For every youngster who relishes the increased family time and gets stuck in to the tasks set without complaint, there is a surly teen who would rather be anywhere than stuck at home with their parents and who will go to great lengths to avoid any work.

But teachers know this. Allowances will be made. These are extraordinary times and all anyone can do is their best.

This will pass.

The children will catch up. Life will move on.

And maybe, just maybe, they’ll learn some important lessons they would never have had the chance to otherwise, about independence, self-reliance, empathy, creativity, and about the benefits of slowing down and appreciating the simpler things in life.