Closing schools

in an attempt to keep the b...... virus from raging through the entire system is rather like just partially shutting the stable door and hoping the horse doesn't realise it. Opening up schools to some classes rather than others is no better.

My little friend who starts school this year is going to get his wish to actually start school on what should be the first day of term for everyone. His "big brother" will not be going to school for at least another two weeks after that. Students starting secondary school and in the final year of secondary school will also be expected to attend school. Everyone else will be learning "online" again. 

The decision has been described as "the best we can do" in a situation where the numbers continue to grow. And yes, quite possibly it is because by no means all children have yet had even one shot, let alone a second or a booster. 

My little friend's mother is a paediatrician and she will be seeing many children for vaccinations in the coming weeks. There have been angry complaints to her about the process and how it has been handled. Her response has been, and continues to be, "in a pandemic we don't always know what is going to happen next. If we did know it would not be a pandemic."

To me her response seems to be a perfectly reasonable response. This virus keeps changing shape and darting in unexpected directions. The school situation will just add to the stress many families are already feeling. 

I also doubt how logical it is because students who do go to school and come down with the virus are likely to spread it at home. Is it just going to slow the inevitable spread - and keep us all in misery a bit longer?