草莓社区

The Minister of Education has announced that schools will remain closed until at least May 4^th.

The Minister and the education community have a听hard balancing听act to perform right now. How can they provide answers that听address听all of听the differing needs and capacities of families听looking for guidance and direction during the COVID-19 pandemic?

We talked to the Minister of Education last week and he said, wonderfully honestly, 鈥淚 am not the subject expert on education in a pandemic.鈥澨� No one听actually听is, but at 草莓社区,听we鈥檙e going to try to keep you up-to-date听and听provide a range of articles and papers you can read听as well as听regular updates on the听evolving听news in education.听We invite you to听follow @PeopleforEd听on Twitter听if you鈥檙e looking for key updates.

So听what听do the听pandemic and the subsequent school closures听mean for children and families?

PFE Tip #1: Manage expectations

We have been looking at the research and we think there are听a number of听things to keep in mind.

Firstly, it鈥檚 important to remember that parents are under strain right now 鈥� working from home, struggling with temporary lay-offs or permanent job loss, having to continue working听in jobs that are stressful and听that听may put their own health at risk, and/or trying to deal with a range of mental and physical health needs for their families,听both immediate and extended.

It is also听of听vital听importance听to remember that parents cannot substitute for the role of teacher and听that听home cannot听be a听replacement for听schools听which provide students with a community, a social life, and a range of adults听who听support their journey听toward听adulthood.

Maybe听most important of all, we must remember that听any new policies and resources developed to听manage the current crisis听need to be听created with equity听and a broad approach to learning听in mind.听Before we ask parents to do work that is normally done by a myriad of adults in a school, we must ask ourselves鈥痺hich鈥痯arents are set up to do听it, and we have to remember that not all parents have the capacity听to听homeschool听their children,听nor should they.听 What we can do is highlight areas that deserve听attention听as parents strive for some balance in their home听schedules听and aim to build听and maintain听positive mental health听for themselves and their children.

PFE Tip #2 Find education resources that work for family听

School boards across Ontario are racing to provide as many resources as possible, and the province’s website includes resources for parents and students.听

School boards are also providing resources for families. For example, the Toronto District School Board听has produced听听and the Ottawa Catholic District School Board has created a website with updates, learning and well-being resources. Some boards have听, and some are听.听听

PFE Tip #3: Focus on broad learning

As we all know, learning comes in many forms. It鈥檚 not just about math worksheets or technology.听So鈥痜ar,鈥痶he听Ministry听has focused on providing resources to support reading, writing, math and science 鈥� including a 40 page!!听guide听to听听for parents with children in kindergarten to grade 6. The Minister has also announced that they are working on ways to ensure all families have access to technology.听听

While it is important that a wide range of resources are provided, it is also important that the current crisis doesn鈥檛 drive us backward into a narrowly defined view of education. Continuity of learning may be important, but learning comes in many forms, and there is widespread agreement that today鈥檚 young people need access to a new set of basics, well beyond the 3 R鈥檚. At 草莓社区, we call these听The New Basics. The New Basics include: Developing a sense of self and society,听Learning听to learn, Thinking听creatively听and critically,听Communicating听effectively, and Collaborating. Particularly during听this time of families听being听together at home during an unprecedented听worldwide crisis, the opportunity听for parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren and siblings听to听develop听these skills听sets听together听are听enormous and听草莓社区 can attest to听the benefits听being evidence-based.听

If you want to learn more, go to Education reading in a pandemic听