Corona measures at school Do you hear the voices of children?
April 27, 19:37
School lunch is silent, chorus, keyboard harmonica performance, and science experiment are not allowed.
I have entered my third year of school life, which I couldn't take for granted because of the corona.
It goes without saying that infection control is important, but there are also voices of confusion from the field.
This time, I would like to think from the perspective of a child.
(Kyoto Broadcasting Station Megumi Ebitsuka / Network News Department Mariko Noda Murahori, etc.)
I have no choice but to do it
The new semester of the third year of Corona.
School teachers are also worried about strict infection control.
At elementary schools in Kyoto City, music classes continue to be difficult to produce the sounds of musical instruments.
An elementary school teacher in Kyoto
"Keyboard harmonica is just a practice of holding an instrument and moving your fingers. The recorder is also the same. Children don't know what kind of sound they actually make. But it's a unit, so there's no choice but to do it."
Singing a song in a loud voice can lead to the spread of flying, so it is said that chorus practice is only done in a small voice while wearing a mask.
In science classes, you cannot experiment with microscopes or alcohol lamps.
This is to avoid sharing the same equipment and the opportunity for children to approach each other.
Instead of experimenting, he says he is learning by watching the video of the experiment.
Specified in the manual
These measures, which may seem too strict, are based on the guidelines of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
In the manual, there is an item "Learning activities with a high risk of infection even if measures against infectious diseases are taken".
for example…
[Music]
"Songs performed indoors by students at short distances and wind instrument performances such as recorders and keyboard harmonica"
[Science]
"Experiments and observations where students work at close distances"
[
Physical education]
"Exercise"
"Exercise to combine and touch at close range"
The actual response is left to each school according to the index for judging the level of each prefecture, but it is difficult to judge and there are some doubts among teachers.
Elementary school teachers in Kyoto
"There are only restrictions, for example, in music classes, I hear people say,'What can I do?'. It's a pity that children can't actually experience playing musical instruments or experimenting. However, since infections can occur in schools, we have to be careful even if it seems to be overkill. "
I asked the children
What do children think about these measures?
"At school, I was told to wear a mask at home."
Parents of second graders have recently been told by their children.
He is still in the lower grades, so he believes that the teacher is absolutely correct.
"Tags" have been banned for a year because of contact.
Last year, playing in the park after leaving school was also prohibited, so it is said that the teacher was touring the neighborhood.
Parents:
As a parent, I want you to talk a lot with your friends, play a lot, and experience a lot because it's a precious elementary school age. I want them to present it, and I also want them to have the opportunity to communicate with their parents as well as their children and think together. "
I can't meet friends in another class
Some children say that school is boring.
A boy in the 4th grade of elementary school in Chiba prefecture had a class change in the new semester.
I'm in a different class with a good friend, but it's decided that I shouldn't be in the next class.
Even if you want to meet your friends during breaks, the classes you can go to the school playground are decided by day, and the classes you can't go to are spent in your own classroom.
Lunch time is also silent.
After everyone says "I'll have it" with the mask on, we eat silently without talking.
The desks weren't facing each other or sticking to the neighbors, and everyone was facing the blackboard.
Boys hated school and became more and more unwilling to go to school.
A boy in the 4th grade of elementary school
"I don't enjoy school now because all my friends are in different classes. What I want to do when Corona is gone is to take off a mask. We talk and eat together during lunch time. I had a lot of fun, so I want you to come back. I want you to be able to play outside anytime during your break. "
The boy's mother
"I feel that corona, including school lunches, has reduced the opportunities for children to communicate importantly at school. Even though the children in the class have less interaction with each other, the eldest son is familiar with the class. I think it's taking a while. There was a time when I thought it was unavoidable to take measures against infection, but I'd like to see it reviewed at school soon. "
There are variations in the response of schools and teachers
Corona measures vary depending on the school and teachers.
In some cases, the teacher's own "infection control" led to a big problem.
At a junior high school in Yokosuka City, about 3.5 million yen including water charges was incurred for about two and a half months from the end of June last year.
"I thought it was necessary to keep the pool clean by constantly flooding it to prevent infection."
The teacher who was in charge of managing the school pool continued to supply water.
The city explained in advance that it is not necessary to replace the water as usual because the water quality of the pool is controlled by the filtration device, but according to the Board of Education, the teachers continued to supply water at their own discretion. is.
In addition, the Board of Education of Yokosuka City distributes the city's own manual to each school, but it is said that the "rules for wearing masks" also differed in the situation of instruction at each school.
The manual stated that "the mask may be removed depending on the situation during breaks and physical education classes", but parents said that some schools "instruct them to wear masks uniformly". It was sent from.
The school was informed of the parents' suggestions and asked for a review.
Fumihiro Suzuki, Chief of Health and Physical Education Division, Yokosuka City Board of Education
"I think there are cases where the intention of the manual is not fully communicated, or even if the intention is understood, it is not well communicated to children. Wearing it leads to the risk of heat stroke, so I would like to persistently inform you of appropriate measures. "
"It also affects children's hearts"
Children who are faced with major changes in their living environment due to the corona disaster.
There was an interesting survey result.
According to an Internet survey conducted by the National Center for Child Health and Development last December,
▼ 10% of 4th to 6th graders and
22% of junior high school students had moderate or higher depressive symptoms.
On the other hand, if you have symptoms of depression, when you ask if you want to talk to someone,
▼ 29% of 4th to 6th graders and
51% of junior high school students say, "Look at the situation without talking to anyone." I'm answering.
This survey also summarizes the voices of children.
For the school ...
"I want you to hear more about your child's thoughts"
"Don't be afraid " "
I want you to stop masking during silent meals and physical education" "
Let's have a concert and a marathon!"
For parents ...
"I want you to listen quietly until the end" "
I don't want you to look at your smartphone"
"I want you to praise me more" "I want
time to be with you"
The person in charge of the investigation pointed out that the school and parents could not afford to take measures against the infection of the corona virus, and it would be difficult for them to hear the story.
Naho Morisaki, Director, Social Medicine Research Department, National Center for Child Health and Development
"It is thought that many children who feel lethargic due to corona sickness feel that they are being tossed. However, I think there are quite a few places where I can't help myself, even though my life is suppressed because the various decisions that accompany it are moving from the top down from adults. "
He points out that it is necessary to show a proper attitude to listen to children's voices.
Director Morisaki
: "It's important for children to have one voice, and it's also convincing for them to tell them that these measures are being taken after thinking about it. If you do so, it will lead to self-esteem, and as a result, your mentality will improve. "
Listen to the voice of the child
During this interview, there was a first grader who talked like this.
"I have to eat lunch quietly, and it's different from when I was in a nursery school, but it's fun. I have a favorite menu. It's okay because I'm an elementary school student!"
I felt that the children were accepting the current situation as much as possible.
It will be a long holiday soon.
Restrictions on travel and dinner are being relaxed.
Why don't you listen to the voices of children who are trying hard to keep what adults have decided on this occasion?