The Resilience Of Education

The Oxford Dictionary defines the term “resilience” as “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness”.

This week, the Year 5 classes eagerly started prepping and practicing for their virtual oral presentations about their experiences of distance learning. They have quickly adapted to a different way of answering questions in the form of interactive Google Slides and Google Docs assignments. We have been performing experiments on shadows and mirrors at home, and are marveled at how much science can be done using nothing but ordinary household items!

If we take a look at the circumstances in which majority of the world currently finds itself, it is safe to say that we have all been exposed to a fair share of both difficulties and toughness over the past number of weeks. While observing how commendably the Year 5 students have been able to adapt to this uncertain and unstable situation, something beautiful has caught my eye; The Resilience of Education.

Before we could learn about shadows, periscopes, factors and multiples, we were faced with the challenge of teaching ourselves how to navigate through a new digital world in which this learning was to take place. A tremendous amount of pressure is placed on students, parents and teachers to not only ensure the schoolwork has been adequately done, but to do so without the support, structure and comfort of their daily school routines.

The Year 5 students have very quickly proven that no matter what obstacles or setbacks we are faced with, determination and hard work will always prevail. They have taken the bull by the horns and, in some instances, taught me a thing or two. Education could never be confined to the idea of only an educator providing insight and information to a student. If there is one thing that this lockdown has taught me it is that, even in a time of isolation and social distancing, there is so much we can learn from each other – no matter our age or title.

I could not be prouder to be a part of a community who has taken the unknown and, through strength and resolution, created an environment full of unity, understanding and bucket loads of support. We may have no classroom, no school desks, no whiteboards or projectors, but as long as we have eager minds – ready to learn – education and will always be possible.

Robyn Pieters
Year 5 Teacher