Mixed feelings from educators and parents as students set to return to in-person learning in GTA

BY PAUL JUNOR

After weeks of speculation, the Ontario government finally announced on Wednesday, February 3^rd, 2021 that schools would resume on Tuesday, February 16^th, 2021 in Toronto, York, Ottawa and Peel. Schools within these areas will go back to in-class instruction after being closed due to the provincial lockdown which has been in effect since January. Students have been relying on virtual school/online learning to maintain their education. Boards outside those hotspots will resume in-class learning on February 8^th, 2021.

Education Minister Stephen Leece told CityNews that, “following the best medical advice, with the clear support of both Ontario’s and the local medical officers of health, we are reopening schools across the province knowing that we have taken additional steps and more additional investments to protect our students and staff. Nothing is more important than returning kids to school safely because it is crucial for their development, mental health and future success.”

Minister Leece has depended on the advice of SickKids for recommendations with respect to the safe return to school. He is still open to modifying the planned opening of schools based on the increase in outbreaks. He states, “I want to be clear, if things change we will not hesitate to act… that’s why we’re going to monitor the trends to ensure we deliver on our number one priority; keeping schools safe.”

John Tory, Mayor of Toronto, is supportive of students returning to school. He told CityNews, “I am in full support of the approach taken by Premier Doug Ford and Minister [Stephen] Leece, including the approach taken with respect to City of Toronto schools, in particular. In-class learning is very important. Kids need the social development they get from going to school while being surrounded by teachers and their peers. We all agree, this reopening of schools must happen safely.”

In a report, Ontario top medical doctor, Dr. Eileen de Ville told CityNews stated, “when schools were closed for months in the first part of the pandemic, it was in large part for the same reason almost everything was closed too. We knew very little about COVID-19, how it is spread, who is vulnerable to it, how it can be treated and even if valence were possible. Over the past year, the body of knowledge has expanded.”

Romana Siddiqui, a mother of three from Mississauga told CityNews that she has mixed feelings about having her kids return to schools. She states, “we know for our kids that being in a brick-and mortar school in person, that’s the best. There’s always a push-and -pull. There are no easy answers.” Another parent, Shaneela Shakeel who has three children in the York Region states, “they have to readily start to seriously mean it when they say that safety comes first for our kids and educators.”

Another parent, Shauna Hunt Keri spoke out, “it’s a tough question. What I think is best for my family in terms of their safety is to stay home. What I think is best for my child in terms of mental health is to go back to school. I can’t readily find a way around those questions, and I know everyone is trying to juggle and find a way to marry those two options.”

 Another parent, Anne, who has two boys, expresses the reality of this dilemma. She states, “overall, it’s been hard. On paper, what they said they’re going to do, sounded amazing, however in September we didn’t see a lot of the things that they said were going to happen. Many parents, caregivers and guardians are caught between a rock and a hard place.