"I am oppressed and submerged": a school director entrusts her difficulties in the face of the new wave of COVVI-19

On the phone and several times during the interview, Isabelle* laughs.However, deep down, this elementary school director of Yvelines does not want to laugh.The situation does not lend itself to it.Less than a week after the start of the school year, more than 9,000 classes are closed and more than 47,000 students were declared positive to COVVI-19, announced the Ministry of National Education, Thursday, January 6.

For almost two years, Isabelle, like her counterparts everywhere in France, has chained a confinement and the school at home, the return in face -to -face with adapted rules, a back -to -school year in September and a return to a situation """"""""worse than during the first confinement, """"""""she said, after the Christmas holidays.

Between a first light health protocol, announced by Jean-Michel Blanquer, the day before the start of the Parisian, then a second three days later, and a sometimes chaotic concrete situation on the ground, the director sails in sight, waiting for daysbest between small fleeting joys, exhaustion and demotivation.Here is his testimony.

""""""""I manage an establishment of 15 classes.Normally, there are 392 students.At the end of this week, we are more around 300, since there are seven suspended classes and 11 positive cases.It is an urban school quite mixed socially, most parents have professions where telework is not possible, but there are few caregivers.At the start of the school year in September, we were all motivated, the months of May and June had been more cheerful, some outings had been organized.The children no longer wore the mask outside, it left.But in December, the situation stretched again.I had to make the decision to cancel the Christmas market for the second consecutive year.Students, like teachers, were disappointed.

In December, I had to manage a dozen classes administrative closures because it was impossible to replace teachers.When we learn the absence of a colleague and his non-replacement, it is necessary to call all the families of the children concerned to explain that they will not be accepted.In October and November, we could distribute the few students not recovered in other classes under certain conditions, but in December, it was no longer possible because of the protocol.Some parents understand and organize themselves, but others are protected: """"""""It's scandalous! How will I do? I can't keep it...""""""""

Une phrase qui me marque à chaque fois, c'est lorsqu'un parent me lance : """"""""Comment je fais ? Moi je travaille !"""""""" J'ai envie de répondre : """"""""Et moi je fais quoi ?"""""""" J'ai conscience que la situation pèse sur tout le monde, on se prend l'anxiété des gens.Anger and aggressiveness have a notch with administrative closures.I receive emails where I have sometimes stormy discussions, I am on the front line and I wake up the reproaches.Some upset parents in the morning apologize in the evening, they know that it is not our fault, but speak under anger.

""""""""The ministry may not have anticipated...""""""""

When the Christmas holidays arrive, I am exhausted.I totally cut, I absolutely did not open my emails for 15 days...It was a matter of survival.I no longer listen to the media to preserve myself, so I discovered the new protocol on Monday morning.As long as I have nothing on my messaging, I consider that nothing changes.

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— Enterprising Writers Fri Jul 02 12:14:02 +0000 2021

I understand that parents say to me: 'I don't put it from the week.'Others explain to us that their child can no longer or are worried:' it will not have to be repeated.'A family even decided not to put their child again to school.For parents, the return of the compulsory mask outside was the drop of water, so they chose home education.

With the second protocol of the week, it's a little better, we avoid starting again on a series of tests at each new case declared less than a week after the first.Otherwise, it could never have stopped.Until Thursday, there was no official document from National Education to transmit to pharmacies so that they deliver the self -tests to parents who came to have their child tested.The ministry may not have anticipated that pharmacies would ask for an official document or he did not suspect it?

""""""""I feel like I am a robot""""""""

In the meantime, some families could not receive these tests and were unable to put the child back to school since he had not been tested.Even if we try to filter the students and check the gate certificates, one morning, we still had with five children who did not have negative tests or certificate.I think some will take certificates on the honor that will be false.And I want to say that this is no longer my problem.

I would like the Minister to ask us for our opinion before setting up such protocols.We are on the front line and we are not asking us what is achievable or not.I have the impression of being a robot to apply devoids of human dimension.

I would like us to be asked if all is well.I have fulfilled a single questionnaire in two years, leaving the first confinement, but since then nothing.And when I hear the project to replace teachers absent by retired students or people, I laugh.Are we here to do daycare?This job is learned.We depreciate it.

""""""""Children have lost their carelessness""""""""

The teachers do not want to come in the morning, they are knotted.There is no project, no dynamics.They are happy to find their students, but they know that their day will start with a test control or a message for a positive case.They are also very asked by parents whose children are at home and who demand the work that has been done in class.But they cannot ensure face -to -face and distant.

Overall, children do not complain too much, but the moments of life they lack.Two students had to consult child psychiatrists because they developed anxieties.Between what they hear in the press, in the courtyard, in their family, they no longer know if they are in danger or not.It's even more difficult for CPs, because learning to read with a mask, it's not easy but the level has not dropped too much.

One has the impression that children have lost their carelessness.It shows in their games in the courtyard, we are always behind them to watch that they have their mask.Run with a mask during recess, at eight years old, is not normal.I am worried, we steal two years from their childhood.How are they going to live with that growing up, how will this period have marked them?

It's been two years since we say that it will be better and better, but there I wonder when will it stop?I don't know if it can be worse than now.It's worse than during the first confinement because we have a lot to manage.Everything overflows, we receive parents from parents after 8 p.m., 9 p.m., sometimes at 4 a.m..It's a permanent pressure, you wake up in the morning, wondering what will happen to you.

I've been in the National Education for 20 years, five years that I am director, but if the ship flows, it will be without me.I know that the painting is not very cheerful.No one has cracked yet, but it could happen.It only takes a trigger for it to go into a spin.I caressed the project to convert myself in a few years, the desire is increased tenfold.I know that the grass is not necessarily greener elsewhere, but if I had an opportunity, I would resign overnight.""""""""

* The first name has been changed.