Area residents have taken it upon themselves to offer homeschooling assistance for parents with young children unable to stay at home with their kids during school hours.
Premier Doug Ford announced Monday that schools will be moving online for at least two weeks beginning Jan. 5 as the province faces record-high case counts that, according to public health officials, threaten to overwhelm the province's health-care system.
As a result, Erin resident Becky, who did not want her last name used, took it upon herself to offer homeschool assistance on Facebook for parents struggling to find help for their children, especially with the delayed school start and the delayed lockdown announcement.
“I have the ability to work from home and I have my kids home anyways, and I thought it was the right thing to do – to offer help to those currently scrambling and struggling finding someone who can look after their children because of the delayed lockdown announcement,” explained Becky.
“If I can help, why wouldn’t I? I have two children. My daughter is in Grade 8, so she’s older and this would be the perfect opportunity for them to interact with other children.”
This is the first time Becky has offered this kind of help to other parents and local residents as her workplace has permanently moved to working remotely. Both her children have special needs, so she finds solace in having other children with them to provide better communication skills.
“I know what it’s like to get organized and rely on people, especially during the lockdowns. I’ve scrambled multiple times to find help and assistance during the pandemic, as I couldn’t be home with them, so I know the struggle. And my offer doesn’t mean that I’m only taking children with special needs. I’m taking anyone who needs my help,” she said.
Sylvia Eng, another Erin resident, has also offered her assistance on Facebook with homeschooling.
“Many families in my community are left behind in cases like this including single parents, and children with extra learning needs,” explained Eng.
“I’m not a teacher but I am a mom with two older kids and I know what it’s like to struggle finding help and assistance. I can’t imagine going through this lockdown and needing to go back to work but cannot find the help they need. So, I’ve offered my help. I have training as a foster parent with vulnerable screening clearance and I also have experience with kids with special needs.”
Eng noted that she’s just a mom offering a helping hand in the Erin community and a safe place for respite care for families who need it.
“I understand many may be in crisis that’s quite invisible and unsupported,” she said.
The province announced all publicly funded and private schools will move to remote learning starting Jan. 5 until at least Jan. 17.
Ford said the decision to close schools, a move that would last at least two weeks, was taken because the province couldn't guarantee schools would be fully staffed with so many teachers expected to be off sick.
Initially, the Ford government announced that children will be back to in-person learning. However, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said the return to school date was pushed by two days to Wednesday but would still be in-person. Moore said the province wanted to give schools extra time to provide N95 masks to staff and to deploy 3,000 HEPA filter units.
Though they were asked repeatedly by reporters on Monday, provincial officials did not provide a list of any other specific steps they plan to take in order to ensure a safe return to school on Jan. 17.
The County of Wellington is also currently working with the Ministry of Education on an emergency school age child care program in Guelph and Wellington County for parents unable to stay with their children during school hours.
“The county is currently working with the Ministry of Education on an emergency school age child care programme in Guelph and Wellington County. More information should be available in the coming days. This programme is for frontline workers who qualify under the Government of Ontario’s eligibility criteria,” explained Andrea Ravensdale, communications manager for the county.
