LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Parents have many school questions

Re: “‘I think it’s safe to send kids to school,’ education minister says” (Montreal Gazette, April 27)

On Monday evening, a few short hours after Quebec’s premier and minister of education declared May 19 as the return-to-school date for public primary school students in the greater Montreal area, I received a short survey from my daughter’s school. Its central question was: “Do you intend on sending your child to school upon the reopening of schools on May 19?” According to the school, this information will help them to plan, given that attendance for the remainder of the school year will not be mandatory.

I comprehend and agree with many of the varied rationales for the provincial government’s decision to reopen public elementary schools.

However, my understanding of the need doesn’t mean that I’m ready to opt in by sending my child back to school.

I need to know the particulars. With the children’s COVID -19 exposure risk strategically shifted on to parents here, this is not a decision to be taken lightly. How will transportation work? Do we have enough drivers and buses to ensure one child per seat? Many schools are overcrowded. How will the limit of 15 students per class be imposed in the absence of space? Who will monitor lunch? What about the wearing of masks? Knowing that masks slow the spread, why are only teachers being asked to wear them?

Ultimately, it seems premature to expect parents to begin digging out the backpacks and lunch boxes in the absence of a clear and, even more important, credible plan.

Elaine Weiner, N.D.G.

Restart family gatherings, too?

I listen to Premier François Legault’s daily briefings and up until now have admired the decisions. This last one, however, has me thinking.

Let me see: You are putting several children from different families and one teacher together for about six hours. During that time, they will encounter other school personnel, all from different families.

Will all the different family members, including the children, be wearing masks? Which adult will accompany children to the bathroom to see that they wash their hands? Is that even legal?

I ask this question because I have not seen my son, daughter, son-in-law, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren since the beginning of the onset of self-quarantine to control the spread of COVID -19. We are one family. Can we meet in one of the classrooms? Marilyn Golden, Pierrefonds

Parks, playgrounds before schools

Re: “How can we increase probability of large-scale natural immunity?” (Montreal Gazette, April 24)

I am not a scientist, but I am an elementary school teacher in the Montreal area. Several of my colleagues and I are wondering if opening up the playgrounds and parks again, and allowing perhaps two or three children from different families to play together, might be a good first step before opening classrooms. It seems this would be a useful approach with relatively low risk. We all need to get used to being together again.

Joan Grynol-fenner, Montreal

SHARE YOUR VIEWS: letters@montrealgazette.com