Keeping schools shut will do lasting damage to an entire generation

sir – You report (June 9) that “schools may remain shut beyond September”.

The risk of children infecting adults or indeed one another with Covid-19 is acknowledged to be extremely small. The damage being done to children educationally, emotionally and socially by keeping them away from school is beyond calculation. Even accepting that social distancing is likely to be impossible in most schools, the price that children are being required to pay by being confined to home is now too high.

It is imperative for their future, and the future welfare of our society, that all schools reopen by September.

Giles Slaughter Woodbridge, Suffolk

sir – I cannot believe it is beyond the wit of those in charge to get schools up and running again, as has happened in other countries. One obvious solution might be to split classes and have, say, 15 pupils in the morning and 15 in the afternoon.

The summer holidays should be jettisoned so that pupils can catch up, with a one-week holiday before the beginning of September.

Patsie Goulding Reigate, Surrey

sir – Why do people think education and the economy are different?

Until schools are prepared to take children off our hands, nobody will properly be able to get back to work.

Charlie Rigby Shipston-on-stour, Warwickshire

sir – The debate over schools is mired in fear – for students, teachers and those back at home.

However, the reality is that, outside school, groups of teenagers are assembling on bikes, in parks and at beauty spots, with no social distancing or concern for the rules. Parents and teachers must know this to be the case.

David Coverdale Leeds, West Yorkshire

sir – I worked in the Health and Safety Executive for many years. One of the myths we often encountered was that “safety is paramount”. But safety can

never be paramount. Is is a factor in human endeavour, and an important one – but still just one among many others.

The human race has always pushed boundaries and taken risks. Driving, for instance, is a dangerous thing to do – yet we still do it because we have made the decision that the benefit is worth the risk. Even staying at home is not risk-free. So when I hear teachers saying that schools must be “safe” before they start teaching again, I know that this is simply an excuse for doing nothing.

Dr Hugh Anderson Liverpool

sir – As I was on my daily walk yesterday, I heard a sound that was music to my ears.

It was the sound of children enjoying themselves and shouting at each other in the school playground.

Liddle Stokoe Ashtead, Surrey