Thread by @fauchonmathieu

@Aaron_Derfel 1/15 Day 18: on tonight's subthread, I wanna adress how an apparent innocuous decision can have a big impact on the schedule of school and the learning of the kids.

@Aaron_Derfel 2/15 Back in 2019, when covid didn't exist (remember that? No... just after the dinosaur's era), Minister Roberge made a 2nd recess mandatory in elementary schools. How could we be against that?

@Aaron_Derfel 3/15 Well, what seems like a good idea, per my humble observations, does more harm than good. I'm gonna take my elementary school as an example for this thread. But I know not all schools have that exact system, but you'll get the picture.

@Aaron_Derfel 4/15 Schedule of the day was 6 periods of 50 mins. 2 periods. 20 mins recess. 2 periods. 1h20 lunch break. 2 periods, end of school. Periods #3 (after recess) and 5 (after lunch) are not a full 50 mins class: kids need a transition relax time AND we have to manage kids disputes

@Aaron_Derfel 5/15 So, those periods are maybe half the time learning, and half relax time/managing disputes. But since september, we have a second recess. It is now 2 periods. Recess. 2 periods. Lunch. 1 period. Recess. 1 period.

You're seeing where I'm going?

@Aaron_Derfel 6/15 Now, you have periods #3, 5 AND 6 that have an half the time for learning at best. But period 6, you have to prepare homeworks, school bags, etc. So, that period is virtually useless. BUT WAIT!

@Aaron_Derfel 7/15 Pandemic time baby! So, it takes more time after bell rings because we can't mix bubbles: each class has to enter the school, class per class, supervise washing of the hands and managing bathroom time. Because it is, you get it, one class at a time.

@Aaron_Derfel 8/15 We have around 18 toilets and 15 sinks for 400+ students. Oh, in that count, I have count employees bathroom that we let to the kids. We only kept one for 50+ employees.

@Aaron_Derfel 9/15 A lot of kids are behind, and teachers could use more time to catch up what kids didn't learn from march to june. But with that new recess, the afternoon are mostly useless.

@Aaron_Derfel 10/15 Example: Lunch ends at 1pm. Kids line up. Wait. Enter the school when it's their turn. Wash hands. Bathroom time. When it's the class turn. Back in class, reading quietly. Teacher manage disputes between kids. When everything's ready, it is maybe 1h30-40.

@Aaron_Derfel 11/15 Let's start but hey! Recess time at 1h50!

Recess ends at 2h10. Kids line up. Wait. Enter the school when it's their turn. Wash hands. Bathroom time. When it's the class turn. Reading quietly. Teacher manage disputes between kids. It's 2h35-40.

@Aaron_Derfel 12/15 Bell rings at 3pm! Quick, buses are there at 3pm and some leave at 3h05-10pm!

When do you have learning quality during afternoon?

@Aaron_Derfel 13/15 What saddens me more it is seeing a good portion of kids, easily 25-30%, who do nothing during recess. Wandering around like zombies, not knowing what to do. Why? Nobody's are directing them. They don't know how to entertain themselves alone.

@Aaron_Derfel 14/15 So, they're waiting next to the door. Thinking about their tablets they'll play with when they'll arrive at home.

@Aaron_Derfel 15/15 Bottom line, the second recess promised by the government is a good marketing stunt, presumably with good intentions, but is doing more harm than good, especially in the current pandemic situation.

Be smart, be safe, end of subthread.