School Reopening in São Paulo Amid Coronavirus Leaves Teachers Insecure

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With private schools reopening on Wednesday, October 7th, teachers report insecurity with the partial return. Fear of infection, difficulty for students to comply with the hygiene protocol, and uncertainty about the type of activities that could be developed are the issues raised.

School boards accept that there is a feeling of uncertainty among educators, but they say that the feeling is only natural since this is an unprecedented situation for everyone. As well as courses to guide staff on the new rules, there are facilities providing emotional support to teachers.

“As they were adjusting to distance lessons, we will once again face the new with this partial reopening. It’s only natural that teachers feel insecure, doubtful,” says Giselle Magnossão, educational director of the Albert Sabin school, in the west side of the capital.

“They have a great sense of responsibility for the students’ well-being, so there’s this anxiety.”

The school has promoted rounds of talks with teachers, mediated by a psychologist so that they share their fears and anxieties about returning. According to Magnossão, the greatest concern reported is how to create a safe and welcoming environment for the children with so many new rules.

Mayor Bruno Covas authorized the reopening of schools in the city from Wednesday. For the private school network, the only limit imposed is that no more than 20 percent of the children can attend at a time. There is no restriction on days and timetables for students to attend the facilities.

However, concern has led many to choose to provide the activities on a restricted schedule or only for a few classes. Some schools have decided to host students only once a week (an option by the Stance Dual school, in Bela Vista, for instance) or even once a month (a decision by the Gracinha school, in Itaim Bibi).

Others have not advised the teachers about the attendance and schedules they should adopt, they only told teachers about the return.

A teacher from Elvira Brandão (Chácara Santo Antônio) said she still has no information on how many days she will have to attend the school and on how many of them she will host students.

The preparation course for the safety protocol will only be conducted on Monday, October 5th, two days before the reopening. According to the teacher, who asked to remain anonymous, her main concern is with the students’ and parents’ compliance with the new rules.

For instance, she says that families will not be able to access the schools and that she fears that some will not understand the new rule or that the children will feel helpless on their return without the support of their parents inside the facility.

At Lourenço Castanho school, in upscale Vila Nova Conceição, teachers said that with the short time available to organize things, there are still many questions regarding the return of partial activities. The incorrect interpretation of the city hall rules has also delayed planning.

On Friday, October 2nd, teachers were notified by email that the school would begin planning cultural activities and reception for all students scheduled to restart on October 13th, after being informed of the “option of in-person activities”.

Another teacher, who also asked to remain anonymous, said that initially, the school planned to host students for activities involving teachers and educators of non-compulsory subjects. Then it decided to summon the other teachers to perform reception activities for students.

“We have four different buildings for each teaching year and each one will make a proposal for this gradual return. We will offer a range of activities and families will choose which they want to attend,” says Alexandre Abbatepaulo, the school’s principal.

He says that only at the start of next week will he know the result of the consultation with families about their interest on the partial return. “It is only natural that there is insecurity. We are insecure to restart many of our activities at this time, but the school has taken precautions, partnered with the Sírio Libanês Hospital. We can not say that there is no risk, but it is quite reduced with the actions we have adopted,” he says.

Below are the municipal rules in the protocol prepared by the city for reopening schools:

Preparation

• Teachers, principals, coordinators, and other staff should receive training to understand compliance with the protocol;
• Parents and students will be informed of the rules;
• Parents in charge are required to notify in writing when they choose notreturning.

Student access

• At least one employee will monitor access;
• All students will have their temperature checked;
• Everyone should wash their hands before entering the school (if there is no washbasin, they should use sanitizer gel);
• Parents are prohibited from entering school facilities;
• Entry time will be different for each class to prevent crowding;
• Everyone over four years of age must wear a mask at all times.

Classroom

• Students must sit 1.5m away from each other;
• School materials must be disinfected;
• Sharing toys and materials is prohibited;
• Windows and doors should remain open;
• Rooms should be cleaned at the end of each shift.

Common areas

• Schools should set up circulation routes within the facility;
• Contact and ball games are forbidden, as well as group playground equipment such as merry-go-rounds, swings, slides and seesaws;
• Breaks will be separated by classes.

Source: Folhapress

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