So the time has come, today my big daughter is going to school again. With mask, safety distance, hygiene measures, various rules and only half of the class. For two hours a day, two days a week. After a brief moment of joy for my first grader, who not only missed her friends and teachers very much, but also didn't have the most patient teacher at home, followed: Disillusionment. For me, two hours of school means above all: driving and a lot of lost time for the job that I actually have to do during this time.
Homeschooling was tough …
… even though we have a really patient child. Nevertheless, it just doesn't work to write creative texts in the home office if you explain addition and subtraction at the same time, spell each word together, assist with learning to read, accompany a project week with various handicrafts, ensure movement and somehow keep the mood high, although after weeks you only have a patchwork of nerve costumes and would rather sit in a corner and cry. But: Somehow we changed it, in spite of the changing model, the lugging of the clothes back and forth, another small child, who just rediscovered the defiance phase and also needs attention. It worked, we got used to it, we created small oases and somehow divided the care so that each of us could do our job at some point. And we can even count ourselves lucky because we are not tied to fixed times and support each other as best we can. How do parents do that who cannot work flexibly, who are completely overwhelmed with homeschooling, or single mothers and fathers? I know Corona affects us all, but what parents can do can only be imagined if you are a parent. And now that too: school in canapes.
Sorry dear colleagues, I only work from time to time
School is going on. It's also a duty. For us, this means Monday lessons from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. In theory, I'm working at that time. In practice, I am now not only a teacher on the days when there is no school, but also a lot on the other days to take my children to school and daycare and then actually pick them up afterwards. I can't work in the meantime, I could of course optionally set up a car office and fill the time window with work in a parking lot that I have between driving.
I know my daughter's teachers are doing their best
The past few weeks have certainly not been easy for me and I am incredibly grateful for the effort that everyone has put into lovingly guiding their students through the crisis. I just wonder why in all the current plans and plans of politics, authorities and schools one thing is simply not considered: We parents also work! Still, even after six weeks of madness at home. The burdens are not a mysterious whisper behind the scenes, but rather loud voices. But why is nobody still listening? Why do we now completely confuse all the laboriously established home office routine by doing two hours of school twice a week instead of letting school take place on at least one day, as some schools do?
Hygiene plans? How does that work?
Actually, the toilets would have to be cleaned three times a day, the individual entrance at the school gate and in the breaks should be checked. In reality there is a lack of space, staff and on top comes the unpredictability factor child. Because basically we all know that many adults find it difficult to implement distances and all the recommendations, so what do we expect from our kids? From school and politics, on the other hand, I expect that finally parents will also be considered and not always placed on their shoulders. It is not just about what schools can do, but also what is expected of parents. I fully understand that things have to start slowly, that nobody has ever been in such a situation, and I don't have a perfect solution either. However, there are people, such as Senator for Education Thies Rabe here in Hamburg, who should develop one for this and like one with a little more vision for everyone.