In the first two weeks of February, when most schools reopened physical classes at full strength for Classes I to IX, younger children had issues such as shorter attention spans and restlessness. And, their reading and writing skills had dipped. To ease them back to the routine, many schools have turned to open-book assessment, bridge courses, and flexible snack and toilet breaks. In fact, some children struggled to come on time to school for the first few days.
Parents say children were glued to gadgets during the past two years and missed a peer environment to ease their transition from childhood into adolescence. Reopening of physical classes has taken away their gadgets and they are struggling to cope.
It doesn’t help that they have to wear masks all the time and maintain social distancing. Most children TOI spoke to complained about masks.
“After reopening, I am able to see my friends in person. But, it doesn’t feel the same with masks, social distancing and sanitisers. Still, physical classes are better than online classes as I am able to clarify doubts,” said Dawin Prakash, a Class IX student from SBOA School and Junior College, Anna Nagar.
Akshaitha, a Class VIII student from Vidyodaya Girls Higher Secondary School in T Nagar, said she missed chatting with her friends in school (social distancing curbs) and wearing masks throughout the day was difficult.
Priscilla Samuel, a Class VI student from Perungalathur, said she put on weight during the past two years. “I used to be lean before the pandemic. I hope to lose weight in one or two months,” she said. Her school is giving students aerobics training to address the obesity issue. Parents are happy children are not glued to gadgets anymore.
“For two years, children spent 10 to 12 hours a day on mobiles or laptops. Classes, sharing notes and sending assignments, watching videos after class hours, chatting with friends, they became addicted to their gadgets. With physical classes, they are away from mobile phones and laptops,” said Srikala, a parent from Nungambakkam.
“Parents need to reduce screen time gradually following the reopening of schools. If they try to stop gadget use suddenly, it may lead to behavioural issues. Some children may also find it difficult to cope with the higher classes immediately. Parents and teachers need to be patient with the children,” said clinical neuropsychologist B S Virudhagirinathan.
“Schools also need to be flexible when dealing with the children. They should allow them to eat and go to toilets as and when they ask for the first few weeks to give them time to adjust to physical classes. Parents also should allow them to play outdoor games to ease their pressure,” he said.
Schools reopening has also eased the pressure on children transitioning into adolescence while cooped up in apartments away from their peers. Priyadarshini, a parent from Anna Nagar, said her son had a tough time during the lockdown. “My son has studied all of Class VIII online. He was not able to accept changes that were going on within him like a change of voice. ” But once he went back to school things were okay. “He saw that the other boys have grown taller and their voices too have changed and all that this was normal,” she added.
Teachers say the first few days after schools reopened were trying. “It took us a week to get students to make eye contact; they were also initially restless in class,” said Bhavani Janakiraman, a teacher from a Chennai school.
Schools are trying various things to improve students’ attention spans. SBOA, for example, conducts board rush. This is a game where students are split into two groups and they have to sprint to the board and touch, for example, the verb in a sentence on the board.
Maharishi Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Chetpet, has decided to continue with open-book assessment for primary students. “We introduced open-book assessment to remove the guilt among children while writing unsupervised tests. When we announced reopening of schools, their first question was whether we will continue with open-book assessment.
The transition to physical classes will take time,” said R Maheswari, headmaster, primary section. This school, Vidyodaya Girls Higher Secondary School in T Nagar, and GRT Mahalakshmi Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Ashok Nagar are introducing bridge courses for students studying up to Class VIII.
The consensus of educators is that everyone –students, teachers and parents – will have to be patient.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/chennai-taking-baby-steps-back-into-classrooms/articleshow/89635011.cms
