Are you comfortable sending your kids back to school?

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/01/2022 (1744 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The province announced in December that the post-holiday return to classes for K-12 students would be pushed back by four days to Jan. 10.

Education Minister Cliff Cullen said the delay is designed to give public health officials more time to assess the impact of the COVID-19 omicron variant and determine if any further changes need to be instituted for the upcoming winter term.

In the wake of the announcement, some education groups have already questioned the wisdom of sending teachers and students back to an in-person learning environment given the massive spike in coronavirus cases the province is experiencing.

Last week, both the Manitoba Teachers’ Society and the Winnipeg School Division — the largest school division in Manitoba — openly called for a return to full remote learning at the beginning of the winter semester to protect students and staff from contracting the virus.

This would follow in the footsteps of the Ontario government, which announced yesterday that students in that province will learn from home until at least Jan. 17.

On Monday afternoon, the Sun asked local parents on Facebook if they are comfortable sending their children back to in-person classes under these circumstances.

The post saw more than 115 comments within four hours.

Some parents said they would prefer to keep their kids at home for at least the time being.

One Facebook user, Jennifer Pinard, stated there would need to be a huge drop in daily COVID cases before her mind changes on this subject.

“The best case scenario for our family would be to have [a] virtual class option implemented and have this option openly available to all who want to make [that] choice, therefore allowing less crowding in schools,” Pinard wrote.

Penelope Garcia was similarly hesitant to let their child resume in-person learning.

“I’m not comfortable as there were five reported cases in my child’s school the last week prior to vacation and five the week before,” Garcia wrote. “I don’t think any kids need this.”

However, the vast majority of the parents who responded to Monday’s Facebook post were in favour of their children returning to in-person instruction on Jan. 10.

Many of these respondents echoed the opinion that the benefits of in-person education far outweigh the risks of COVID transmission.

Karen Giles noted that her son is a tactile learner whose program can’t be replicated in a remote-learning environment.

“He is [losing] out on his technical work with his autobody and welding classes,” Giles wrote. “How are we the parents supposed to help our kids learn this at home? This is putting them behind when it comes to graduating with their level 1 in these programs.”

Other parents in support of a return to in-person learning on Jan. 10 said they believe their children are in good hands, stating local schools have taken all the necessary safety precautions.

“They have been doing what they need to when it comes to distancing and masks,” Ashley Nicole Winstone wrote. “My daughter thrives at [an] in-school experience, so if something happens we will deal [with it] when [the] time comes.”

Here are some other responses from parents who are in favour of the current Jan. 10 return plan:

“I am very confident in sending my daughter to school. She needs to be there. And the teachers have done an amazing job so far.”

— Mandy King

“My kid hates school — and she struggles in school. But when I said they might go remote she even said ‘No. Not again, I need to go to school.’ And I completely agree with her and have no problem with her going back.”

— Jessica Ludwig

“Their mental health is so important right now and the last thing they need is to be stuck at home even longer. If people are worried, they can keep their kids home … that is their choice!”

— Candice Amanda Armitage

“I’m definitely comfortable sending my children back. The remote learning of last year didn’t go well. My son learns better in the classroom.”

— Alycia Chuckrey

“Our school and daycare next door has only had one case this entire time. I’m fairly confident that my school, its teachers, leader and parents have done everything they can to keep everyone safe, and will continue to do so.”

— Rana Wilkinson

Manitoba has recorded at least 2,937 COVID cases in K-12 schools since the 2021-22 academic year began on Sept. 7. More than 80 per cent of these cases (2,361) involved students.

» kdarbyson@brandonsun.com

» Twitter:@KyleDarbyson