In March 2020 the deadly COVID-19 virus arrived in Europe (Sars-Cov2: scientific name for COVID-19), spreading quickly and causing thousands of deaths daily. In order to keep the case numbers low, it was decided by governments all over Europe that everyone needed to isolate. For students this meant staying home and studying online. During the summer of 2020, the number of cases dropped and the government believed it was safe for us to go back to school in September. This was the first time in months that we were able to meet in person. Sadly it didn’t last long. The 2nd wave of COVID-19 resulted in even more cases than before. It was obvious that we needed to go back to online schooling.
With the help of the vaccines the number of cases have dropped again and the Minister of Education- Przemysław Czarnek announced that we can return to school again, but only for one month before the summer holidays. I asked students from class 5A for their views about going back to school, one month before the end of the school year.
Ruby: I think it’s safe to come back to school because many people are vaccinated, including the teachers. The teachers will be happy to see us and it will be easier to teach us in the classroom. I think it’s good to come back now rather than next school year. I will be happy to see everybody. However, it would be easier to come back with new things to learn instead of getting used to school only for a month. My parents are happy for me that I can finally see my friends. I think returning to school will influence society because there will be more traffic and more people in shops which will help them rebuild after the lockdown. At the beginning I had concerns about the coronavirus, but since I found out that it’s been here forever and it’s just a different type of virus and we now have a vaccine, I’m not so worried about coming back to school.
Nika: I am concerned that we don’t need to wear masks in class. As a teacher I would be stressed as coming back to school means getting up early and preparing for lessons. I would prefer to come back to school in September however, it will be great to see everybody again, not only online. My parents worry about me coming back to school but they will also have some time for themselves and their work. I personally don’t have any other concerns.
Bruno: I think it’s not dangerous to go back to school but if somebody is scared, they don’t have to go to school. If teachers feel threatened they could ask their pupils to move their desks backwards. Personally I would prefer to come back to school in September because I don’t see the sense in going back to school for a month. My mom is happy for me to see my friends and experience how it will look like studying at school again. I’m looking forward to going to school on Monday and seeing my friends I haven’t seen for almost one year.
Borjan: I think it’s safe to go back to school because all the teachers are vaccinated and we were isolated for a long time. I feel it’s better to come to school on Monday because we will have a chance to adapt to normal school. My parents are ok with sending me to school. I also don’t have any concerns about returning to school and I don’t think it will influence the wellbeing of the society in general.
I share the views of my friends. I am also looking forward to going back to school. It will be great to see everyone in real life and not just on camera. Getting up earlier in the morning will be a little difficult, but I guess that’s the costs of returning to a normal life. Now that we are at the end of the school year and given how hard we have worked during online schooling, I am hoping that the teachers will spend most of the last month at school, working on integrating the students again and focusing on team activities. I think Ruby’s views about the impact on society are very relevant. Now that the vaccine is available to everyone, I am hoping that people will not get sick and die and things will return to the way they were before COVID-19. Fingers crossed that when it is time to return to school in September for year 6, the virus will be well and truly a thing of the past and we will be able to live our lives like young people should.
Max O’Brien
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