Opening schools is more important than zoos – Yorkshire Post Letters

From: Stephen Naylor, Brighouse.
Is the Government doing enough to assist all pupils during the Covid-19 lockdown?Is the Government doing enough to assist all pupils during the Covid-19 lockdown?
Is the Government doing enough to assist all pupils during the Covid-19 lockdown?

THE lack of any coherent plan to get every child back into school as soon as possible is another damning indictment of how the Government is failing to produce a method which we can all respect, and follow, as we emerge from the depths of the coronavirus crisis (The Yorkshire Post, June 10 and 12).

The virus is awful. It has led to a horrific number of deaths. But we can’t wait until the risk has gone to return young people to the classroom. Life is not risk-free and schools are no exception.

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Whether it is accidents in the playground or the spread of chicken pox or colds, we trust teachers and staff in schools to look after our children to the best of their ability day-in, day-out.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

I have faith in my son’s school, many other parents share that view.

These are difficult decisions. No-one doubts that.

But every day children are not in school is another day when the gap between our young people’s educational ability grows and when vulnerable children are away from the place that’s often a sanctuary.

It is staggering more emphasis is being placed on getting clothes shops and zoos open than schools.

That needs to change, and fast.

From: Hilary Andrews, Nursery Lane, Leeds.

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SO schools will now not be returning until at least September (The Yorkshire Post, June 6). Why has it not been possible for local councils to think outside the box and work out how children can get back into education?

There must be spaces in theatres where rehearsals are done, in cinemas where older pupils can sit in tiers as in a lecture theatre, where teachers could work at weekends like other essential staff.

The Government can’t organise everything and councils must play there part.

One thing this pandemic has shown this reader at least is that we, indeed, are a nanny 
state. Meanwhile First bus has marked out seats that should be left vacant to ensure social distancing. I travelled today in my mask and in an allowed seat.

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Unfortunately opposite me was a young woman, no mask, and in a seat marked politely “please leave this seat vacant to allow safe social distancing”.

What on earth are the bus drivers going to do if this happens on a larger scale as more people are tempted to use public transport?

Bring back conductors?

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

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Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

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Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor

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