“What class are you in? “,” Who do you have as a teacher “… In a few hours now, it is the resumption of these rituals of the beginning of September. Back to school has its hobbies that will never change but, since last year, a guest has come to turn upside down the way of apprehending this important moment for children and parents. For the second consecutive return to school, we will have to deal with the coronavirus and its health protocol. But this time; it will also be necessary to resume classes while the Delta variant, more contagious, continue to worry the authorities. “20 Minutes” asked his parent readers, among his readers, how they experienced this new season under the sign of the Covid-19 and all seem rather worried.
“Children will pay a heavy price”
The first reason for anxiety for parents like Sabrina, the government’s health protocol, deemed too light: “I am stunned by the lack of preparation of the Ministry of National Education. No CO2 sensor or purifier in schools. The sanitary protocol is more than light compared to the Delta variant. Frankly, I have the impression that the children are going to pay a heavy price and only because the ministry is covering its face. Yes, the variant is dangerous also for children there is a risk of hospitalizations, in reaction, of long covid. “Pauline, mother and teacher is directly concerned by the challenge of this new school year:” I am not at ease. On the one hand, the protocol put in place at the start of the school year does not suit me, it is in my opinion not adapted to the health situation. On the other hand, the classes being overcrowded, screening should be massive in order to avoid class closures, but here again, the government does not intend to provide the means. The Minister of National Education seems to live on another planet by underestimating the strong contamination of the Delta variant. “
The concern around the possible infection of children is there, but other anxieties also exist, especially in their everyday life with the shadow of the virus above their heads, as is the case for Agnes’ daughter: “The youngest of 7 is worried and wants to wear the mask all the time at school even if the others make fun of her. She is afraid of transmitting the virus and of being sick. “Same observation on Anne’s side:” I am afraid for my son and he is afraid of bringing the virus home and that I fall very ill. It is a heavy load for him to carry. This psychological dimension is never mentioned… ”In summary,“ the situation is very stressful ”, concludes the mother of the 9-year-old boy.
“I am rather confident because of the vaccination”
Among the testimonies we have received, some parents, like Laurence, are a little more relaxed as the fateful date approaches: “I am rather confident because of the vaccination, which was not the case. case during the last school year. It is important that the continuity of the courses be ensured in face-to-face as much as possible. Ideally, I would have liked the teachers and administrative staff of National Education to be part of the public to be vaccinated as a priority! “Damien, dad, also considers the risks lower than during the previous waves” Children, with rare exceptions, have mild forms of the disease (…). I am in line with the national committee, which recommends an optimized “Test, trace, isolate” strategy as an alternative to vaccination. “
While there are no more hours left before the big meeting, there is no doubt that parents, like the government, will pay close attention to the indicators a few weeks after the start of the school year. Hoping that “the right path” of a return to “normal life” hoped for by Jean Castex will also be the one taken by all schoolchildren.