'What planet are you on?' Today hosts clash with minister over shutdown of schools
The federal education minister has rejected claims the government’s position on school closures is confusing despite criticism from teachers, principals and parents, and a seemingly obvious flaw in the health advice underpinning the government’s assertion.
The federal government continues to say that schools should remain open, however on Sunday Victoria and the ACT broke ranks by saying they would close schools early and move to distance learning.
Victoria is bringing forward school holidays by four days, closing schools from Tuesday.
The ACT will also move to be pupil free this week. The NSW Premier announced schools would remain open, but urged parents to keep their kids at home.
Queensland, meanwhile, said schools would remain open but it was up to parents to decide if they want to send their children or not.
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan was unwilling to admit the situation has sowed confusion among parents in a fiery interview on The Today Show this morning.
The minister denied there was anything confusing about the approach, much to the dismay of the hosts.
“I'm not entirely sure what world you live in or what planet you live on if you don't think parents are confused,” host Karl Stefanovic told the minister.
“Because right now, you're saying stay open. It's OK and it's safe for your kids to go to school. The Victorian Government are saying they're not going. That is immediately confusing. Right there. That is confusing. Right there. That is confusing. Do you agree?”
Mr Tehan rebuffed the claim, saying: “Well, Karl, I live on the same planet as you do.”
“What we’re trying to do is make sure we get consistent national advice ... and that essential service workers, their kids can attend school at this time.”
Medical advice has not changed, education minister says
Despite the ructions, Mr Tehan was keen to present a united front with the state governments.
“The consensus view is that the medical advice has not changed, and that is why all state and territory premiers agreed last night that it is still safe for children to go to school,” Mr Tehan said.
“They also agreed that it is important for our children to get an education during this time.”
The outspoken TV host wasn’t satisfied with the federal minister and unloaded after the interview had finished.
“I just keep coming back to the notion that it's not all right for any of us to be within 1.5 metres of each other but it's OK at schools,” Mr Stefanovic said.
“I've got three kids and I have one on the way. Try telling that to a child. ‘It's OK for to you get this virus’. Straightaway, they're seeing all these messages out there. You can't be on Bondi Beach. ‘Hang on, I can't be on Bondi Beach with people but I can be in school with someone?’
“It just doesn't marry up. So that's why there's obvious confusion here.”
Teachers ‘disgusted’ with government’s message
On Sunday Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said there was no evidence that children were common transmitters of the COVID-19 disease. But on the other hand Mr Murphy and the federal government have also said children should stay in schools, at least in part, because if they’re left to roam in public they could transmit the disease to others.
This contradiction has not been lost on people, further adding to the confusion and anger from teachers.
My main question from the PM’s presser: why are kids low risk vectors for the virus at school but suddenly become high risk vectors in shopping centres and on trampolines?
— Marcus Strom (@strom_m) March 22, 2020
“We don’t know if children spread this”
So you don’t know but it’s FINE to risk it for every adult working in a school? FFS. This is astonishingly inept.— Alex Kidman (@alexkidman) March 22, 2020
Meanwhile teachers, some of whom are in high risk groups, have threatened to walk off the job, saying they are being treated as an afterthought.
Queensland teachers say they are being treated as scapegoats and have been "thrown under the bus" by the government's refusal to close down schools.
Teachers say the lack of discussion about what might happen to teachers if they are infected by their students has left them feeling abandoned and dispensable.
Many report their schools are lacking in basic supplies, including soap, making it impossible for students to follow basic hygiene advice about washing hands regularly.
"Personally I am disgusted with the message being sent that we are glorified babysitters so that others can go to work. The message that teachers are sacrificial lambs," one Gold Coast high school teacher told AAP.
She said the government's position was riddled with inconsistencies.
“The message (is) that if schools close, kids will congregate in groups in public and increase the spread of the virus - but apparently kids in groups at school do not do this?
“I am an asthmatic so I am in a higher risk category but according to the government I am safe at school because it doesn't affect kids as badly.”
NSW schools to stay open but parents encouraged to keep kids at home
'Not happy': Parents and teachers confused by governments' schools policy
Calls for schools to shut down from Wednesday
As a result of the incoherent messaging and logical pitfalls of the federal government’s stated advice, the Queensland Teachers’ Union has demanded a school shutdown from Wednesday, saying it no longer trusts national cabinet's view that it's safe to keep classrooms open.
The union has not ruled out strike action.
Meanwhile schools in NSW have reported a complete lack of consultation as the state and federal governments deliver conflicting messages in recent days.
A primary school teacher in Sydney’s eastern suburbs told Yahoo News Australia she and other colleagues were “not happy” with the ongoing confusion brought about by the conflicting messages from the state and federal government.
She said there had been a certain air of discontent from teachers in recent weeks over a lack of direction and instruction amid the escalating outbreak.
“Parents keep coming up to me this morning asking if I have more information because they’re confused,” she said.
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