Open childcare services, eyes are sometimes far from eclipsed

While some kindergartens are opting to teach and observe outdoors as the sky darkens, others have decided to have students stay indoors for group activities, such as in the gymnasium – a place that overwhelmingly has no windows.

According to reports we have seen, while some schools are organizing indoor shows, others are planning indoor activity days on space and eclipse themes, others are doing interactive games, some crafts and art. Some people don’t mention the eclipse in their message to parents. However, conducting an external observation session is not prohibited.

The School Service Center Draveurs (CSSD) says that despite widespread distribution, safety glasses will be available upon request for schools and that program activities on the day will be “at your educator’s discretion.”

Questions

While the Quebec Ministry of Education’s guidelines raised a lot of questions online – some schools that had initially decided to stay open eventually turned around, but then Minister Drainville said he was encouraging controlled and safe outdoor activities – Outaouais School authorities leave It is at the discretion of each institution to organize events or not.

The School Service Center Portages-de-l’Outaouais (CSSPO) says schools will be provided with protective glasses for kindergarten teachers who will be on site. The giveaway started this week.

“Staff will follow government guidance regarding the eclipse to ensure the safety of students and staff present. Our Educational Resources Department has recommended Discovery of the Universe resources to school staff for educational activities before and during the eclipse, we note.

Fuzzy

The Otahuahua School Support Union (SSSO-CSQ), which explains that the opening of kindergartens despite the closure of schools on April 8 is a matter of either pleasure or discontent among its members, claims that it is not aware of the details of the instructions that have been given.

Union members don’t really know what to do, admits Kim Lafleur-Loriot, the president, who expects the action plan to be revealed to them next week.

“I know that teachers want to engage in educational activities, but I don’t know whether they are told “yes” or “no.” We were also told that there would be glasses. I think that each kindergarten will have its own plan. Some said there would be a movie in the gym. All I know is that the (bus) rides scheduled for that day are cancelled,” she said.

One thing is for sure: due to gray areas, the union receives many calls regarding this particular day.

“It seems to be at the discretion of each school (program activities), it depends on the fear of each direction,” comments Ms. Lafleur-Loriot.

“A real waste”

For the Association for the Teaching of Science and Technology in Quebec (AESTQ), which from the outset deplored the decision of several school centers to close institutions, the idea that the few children attending kindergartens would not have the opportunity to see even the slightest part of this phenomenon because, among other things, they will watch a movie that is a “real waste.” However, we ask you to blame not the teachers, but the authorities, in particular the Ministry of Health.

“It’s just shocking. We are depriving these students of this phenomenon that we only experience once in a lifetime. The learning opportunities are enormous, including following simple safety rules. This is truly a missed opportunity,” says Camille Turcotte, CEO.

She claims that the instructions from the Ministry of Health were written in an “alarmist tone” from the very beginning, which caused a domino effect in the school network.

“This is poor scientific communication, there was even erroneous information. They were the ones who started the ball,” she laments.

Ms Turcotte said the decision to close all schools in Otahue was disappointing for many teachers in the region “who had been preparing for months and voted against the school day”. [quand l’Association les consultait]”.

“A seven-minute capsule has been created that can be shared in class to support teaching. We also started distributing it to kindergartens,” she explains. We even train people with our partner because we are fully aware that childcare staff are not as trained and equipped to do this as teaching staff.”

Curtains closed on the Ontario shore

In the case of Ontario, the Council of Catholic Schools of the Center East (CECCE) mentions that for child care centers that it operates itself (some of which are run by external partners), the directives provided are intended to ensure that children do not have the opportunity to observe what is happening. the phenomenon is expected in the region from 14:10 to 16:35.

“Children will not go outside during the eclipse, and indoor curtains will be drawn to prevent children from looking outside,” it said.

In the case of partner-managed facilities, CECCE gave them the option to open or close and indicated that they were not aware of the planned activities.

“However, we cannot tell you whether these child care providers purchased protective eyewear for their staff and children or whether specific instructions were given on their part,” CECCE said.

Only eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2:2015 provide adequate protection for viewing the sun during an eclipse, public health authorities note.

Remember that Otaua and Ottawa are not on a path where the eclipse will be fully visible. According to the Astronomical Society of the Montreal Planetarium, the occultation of the Sun by the Moon will be 98.6%. Only far southern Ontario, as well as parts of Quebec, including the south of the island of Montreal, Montérégie and Estrie, are located on the path of totality.

The next total eclipse is expected in 2106.