The first day of school is meant to be exhilarating and exciting, but it wasn't. The main feeling I got was dark and empty as a few kids walked past the temperature sensor cameras at the school gate.
I can officially say many things are messed up. Last semester we had classes online and offline. Over summer vacation the Covid19 cases increased. On the first day of school students were supposed to come to class but parents didn't send them. Classes that had 25 now had five students.
This was something I had never seen before. The parents had formed a strong bond and community during vacation time. The school followed procedure and social distancing and sent surveys to all the parents about how to conduct classes in the first level of infect, second level and third level of infection. The parents completed the survey and kids went to school again the second day. This time it was the odd number classes that came to school. Each class class took turns so when one class was in school the other class was at home doing online activities.
While students were at school today the government issued a mandate that students stay home and take classes online until September 11th.
https://n.news.naver.com/article/008/0004460340
It looks like Korea is on level 3 preparedness for the pandemic and they will be until September 11th. This day is not so significant to Korean people. The don't think 911. They remember but it seems far off. Anyway after 9.11 if the covid19 cases decrease we will continue with the schedule of classes online and offline.
Either way teachers are told to come to school to help kids who cannot get help at home and to prepare class materials. If we want to work at home we should use our vacation time. Teachers are doing their best to provide education in a healthy environment.
The government was faster than March in making decisions about school. At that time the government decided we should start two weeks later. This two weeks was extended a long time with no definite plan. At least now there is an online curriculum secured even if they extend the two week thing.
The thing that I wonder about is the college entrance exam in Korea. It has always been a big important thing in November. All the students meet on the same day to take the test to enter college. There is only one testing time and at that time schools close and traffic stops and the whole nation of students takes the exam crowded into the schools and test centers around the country. This system will have to be reformed in 2020 to allow space between students. There has always been only one test to make it fair that all students have the same test but I don't know how that will be possible now.
As for Korea and many nations in the world that start school in August there are many decisions to make and the way we make these decisions and our attitudes will influence our children and the future of our nation.
