LESSONS FROM LOCKDOWN
T
Jane Prescott, Headmistress Portsmouth High School GDST
he Japanese term Kintsugi which means golden
hosting online collaborations, but they understand the
joinery, comes from their art of repairing
importance of the mute button, for example, and
something broken into an object of greater
choosing suitable backgrounds.
beauty. Making something go from useless to priceless. This pandemic has shown us something similar. There has been unbelievable loss and tragedy. However, families have found they have the time for walks and talks in a way that their busy lives did not allow before lockdown. Children have been able to take life at a slower pace too, and enjoy more art activities and baking, for example. Time gained from not having to commute any further than the bedroom to the kitchen is put to use in other ways. Relatives have “met” with their families on a more regular basis, and whilst spending time online may not be their place of choice, it has provided a greater opportunity to catch up with family news. Pub
quizzes
have
brought
groups together along with challenges that raise money for charity. We have all made a greater effort to stay in touch. Schools have faced so many challenges in the last few months. Parents have become assistant teachers if their children are young, and even teenagers have required more intervention than they would have normally needed from their parents. Children have learned new skills during lockdown and families have discovered family time, not normally possible in busy households. Pupils are taking part in online face to face lessons giving them an insight in working from home and virtual meetings. They know how to stay motivated, and whether this way of working would suit them. Previously they may have seen parents
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Those students who were released from the pressures of public examinations may feel relieved, but also aggrieved that their end result is determined by the achievement of their predecessors because of the possibility that the final grade is based on how well previous cohorts performed – they cannot change the past, but it influences their future. However, they have had time to embark on virtual pre courses which arguably prepare them better for their next stage. Whilst gyms have remained closed, everyone has taken advantage of the good weather by getting out at least for their daily walk, and in many cases for much more of a work out. Older children may end their day with exercise and a nation has tuned to Joe Wicks’ and others’ daily routines. Taking time and effort to ensure life is not too sedentary has been a focus for many. We may eat more in lockdown, but most of us are trying hard to balance that excess with activity. It has been difficult not to hug friends and family, and even to see them in person if they are not local. This, along with other measures has meant children have developed a resilience to the changes that are part of normal life. Children on the whole have adopted the new way of living with remarkable ease, and their adaptability is beyond what we would have expected. The global pandemic is not a situation that anyone would want repeated but good has risen out of the bad. I hope the future keeps some of the slower, less rushed aspects we have all enjoyed.
