"Don't stress over children's school work" — Scoil Bhride Principal
That's emphatic advice from Scoil Bhride Principal Anne Flanagan, who says a schedule of work which was emailed to all parents is just designed to keep things 'ticking over'. "We're mindful of not overburdening parents. You can't have them feeling they have to sit down for a couple of hours a day doing school work with their children."
Instead, the children can get into some of the suggested projects, do some reading, as much or as little as they want to. "We've emphasised the need for exercise, to get out in the open air while practising social distancing. Fresh air and activity is very important to keep minds ticking over, and to prevent stress and panic."
Ms Flanagan suggests also giving the children some responsible jobs to do around the house, and maybe sitting down with them for 30-40 minutes a day to do some of the academic work which was emailed. "They can read a book, talk about it, maybe write a review. It's also very important to monitor screen time, not let them sit down for hours in front of the TV, and also keep an eye on their phone activity. Instead of watching rubbish on the telly, try and have them watch something like Planet Earth and similar."
For both the children and their parents, the main thing is to keep everybody healthy, well and positive, mentally as well as physically. And to take advantage of family time. "Nobody should be stressing or panicking about school work. Children can very easily catch up, and we can prioritise the important things when they come back."
As for their teachers, they are all in their own homes, many of them with their own families. "We may be working on school planning, policy work, we'll reconvene in a couple of weeks and see where we're going. In the meantime, we were taking a mid-term break anyhow, and the Easter holidays will be coming up. So we're just getting on with it, and hoping that this thing will turn quickly."
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