Remove coronavirus-related restrictions from NSW schools
Petitioner:
Ms Carmen Atkinson
| Member:
Mehan, David
| No. of Signatories:
439
| Date closed:
17/09/2020
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, We ask that Parliament lift restrictions on NSW schools immediately. This should include school transition programs and end-of-year celebrations, but also excursions and extra-curricular activities that are important for the development of well-rounded children.
Current measures are inconsistent and illogical. If children can attend school, why can’t primary children visit a local high school? Why can 100 children gather for sports but not other events? If children can gather at school in year groups, why can’t they be together to hold a formal/celebration? If they can shout in groups of up to 28 students in a small classroom, why can’t they play a woodwind or brass musical instrument in a smaller band group? Restrictions are not science-based.
Coronavirus cases peaked in NSW in late March, with only 5 deaths recorded since May, yet restrictions have recently been expanded rather than eased. Death rates among children are so low worldwide that they are effectively zero. The concern of children passing the virus on to adults is also unfounded, since studies around the world (including Australia) show that this is very rare.
Teachers want to do their jobs of educating our children. Parents want their children to have the important educational, social and formative experiences of childhood with minimal psycho social consequences, and to be welcomed back into their child’s school. The toll of these ongoing, fluctuating restrictions on mental health is immense and out-weighs the risk.
