Saving lives is more important than children’s education just now

(The editorial can be read here: ‘September should be absolute latest date for schools return’)

It referred to working parents trying to juggle child-minding, and working from home with sympathy, yet it failed to have the same feelings for teachers themselves who are in the same boat.

Many teachers are working from home providing learning material for classes or liaising with parents and pupils over the internet. Other teachers are volunteering looking after essential workers’ children.

I believe that to start school too early would have a detrimental effect.

Teachers have families of their own, and having to look after other children, who cannot be expected to stay two metres apart, would seem foolish.

It would be traumatising for children if teachers were having to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). It would be hard to police children washing their hands etc.

At this time, lives, to me, are more important than children’s education.

People’s lives cannot be brought back, but education can be resumed, and ironed out, in the future.

John Mulholland, Doagh