Put focus on e-learning, not rushing to reopen

Premier Doug Ford and his education minister, Stephen Lecce, continue to insist it is too early to make a final determination about whether students will return to school this term or schools remain closed until fall, at least.

It’s understandable, but we respectfully suggest it is increasingly unrealistic. By continuing to hold out hope that schools could return, Ford and Lecce could be unintentionally hurting families who may counting on that happening.

But realistically, what are the odds?

In his most recent briefings, Ford acknowledges he is under increasing pressure from all sides to set a date for reopening the economy and society in Ontario. But he insists, rightly, that we’re not remotely ready for that to happen if the overall objective remains to stop or dramatically reduce community spread of COVID-19.

Ford wants to offer some relief to the apprehension so many of us are feeling. That’s probably why he said his government and health authorities are discussing beginning to reopen the province on the May long weekend, which this year is May 16-18. It’s a noble objective, and if health authorities support it, we can all take some comfort from it. But note the emphasis on the word “beginning.”

This isn’t going to be like switching on a light. It will, and should, take time. Models are already in place for what conditions need to be met for loosening pandemic restrictions. When this begins to happen, it will be limited, probably sector by sector, and distancing restrictions along with other hygiene imperatives will remain in place. Starting the process on the May long weekend doesn’t mean schools will be back that Tuesday or any time soon after that. Ford himself has said schools will be among the last things to reopen, due to fear of COVID spreading among students, teachers and staff.

So let’s assume, for sake of argument, that we’re talking about several weeks before the province could reopen schools safely, again, assuming all the prerequisites are met.

Now we’re looking at the middle of June or so. Does it really make sense to send millions of students back to school for two weeks? Does it make logistical and financial sense to reopen schools for that brief period? Does it make educational sense, given that the learning environment is chaotic at the end of a normal school year, which this year is definitely not?

Reasonable people, even stressed parents, can probably understand why the government wants to maintain an optimistic stance, even though it seems increasingly unlikely to become reality. We would argue, however, that it is time, now or very soon, to admit the obvious.

E-learning, remote learning, distance education — call it what you wish — is not getting off to a smooth start according to many reports. That’s not surprising. You don’t make a change of this size and complexity on the fly and with little or no planning and preparation time. Expecting remote learning to have a smooth implementation under these circumstances isn’t realistic. And there is no one to blame for that. No one predicted the size and severity of this pandemic, at least not specifically. Boards of education and teachers have gone to remarkable lengths — issuing tablets to students, for example — and have done so on the fly and in the midst of an emergency. So it is no surprise e-learning is off to a rough start.

Later Wednesday, Ford appeared to retract his Victoria Day musing which means reopening would be later, strengthening the argument for keeping schools closed. Instead of reopening, the government should focus on perfecting remote learning. If there’s another wave of COVID-19, we’ll need it.