Mixed feelings before the start of school: «It's complicated»

For the Zimmermann family* from the canton of Zurich - like most other families - not much has been «normal» in recent weeks. Except that father Christoph still went to the office, a small asset management company, every day. Primary school teacher Ellen Zimmermann taught her first class remotely. Daughters Lena, 15, and Svenja, 12, also learnt in front of the screen. From Monday, Ellen is back in front of her class two days a week, while sixth-grader Svenja goes to school part-time. High school student Lena, on the other hand, is studying at home until further notice, as secondary schools such as grammar schools and universities are still closed.

Lena: It's a strange feeling that I'm sometimes all alone at home. I find distance learning very strict. But it also has its advantages. For example, I can use the time I would otherwise be travelling to school for yoga.
Ellen: I'm very happy that you're both so independent and don't need much support when studying. I don't know how I would have managed otherwise. We teachers were thrown in at the deep end at the beginning, we had to plan, find out what was going on and how. I was suddenly working every day instead of just two days a week. I find the hours of screen time very exhausting, I wasn't used to it. I had to attend online training courses during the holidays. And for once I was the student, because Lena and Svenja know their stuff much better than I do. They explained online tools like Teams, Zoom and OneNote to me and practised with me!

Christoph: It's very fortunate that the girls are already so familiar with all the tools. We don't have to worry much about their lessons in and of themselves. The big challenge is to get some structure into the day, to make sure that they don't sit in front of a screen all day and that they also go out sometimes. That's not always easy. Teenagers rarely feel like going for a walk with their parents.
Svenja: I prefer to practise football tricks in the garden, I don't usually have time for that. And I've rediscovered drawing.
Lena: And I cooked almost every lunchtime.
Ellen: In general, it was nice to have Lena with us «properly» again. She's usually away all day. We realised how important it is to have a good time together as a family. Even if not every day was harmonious, of course, but you have to put up with that.

We realised how important it is to have a good time together as a family.

Lena: It was nice to spend a bit more time with the family. Nevertheless, I'm now looking forward to getting out more. I would actually like to go back to school. It's quite difficult to motivate yourself to study every day, especially as there are no tests. And I miss my hobbies.
Ellen: Above all, I miss the naturalness of doing things or not doing things, also with regard to starting school. Hygiene measures, social distancing rules - everything is suddenly so complicated.
Christoph: That also bothers me. No more meetings with business partners or friends, and when I get a WhatsApp from Ellen telling me to pick up toilet paper on the way home, I panic slightly because the shelves are empty in the evening. And then you have to pay close attention to where you're going so that you don't get too close to anyone.

Ellen: That will be a huge challenge at school. My job partner and I have completely rearranged the classroom so that nobody sits too close and we can move between the benches without getting too close to anyone. We marked the floor with tape. We've also put up boxes where the children can put their assignments and they stay there for two days until they are corrected. The school has ordered visors for the singing lessons. The desks are sanitised after each half-day. I am very happy that we teach in half classes - if only because the two washbasins in our classroom are barely big enough for 24 children. Despite all these measures, I'm really looking forward to standing in front of the children again and receiving direct feedback instead of giving online monologues.
Svenja: I'm really looking forward to school. I can't hug my friends, but just seeing them «live» is cool. Group chats via WhatsApp just aren't the same. I also much prefer to study in the classroom than alone in my room. It's much easier if you can ask a question straight away if you can't figure it out instead of waiting for the teacher to be present.
Lena: That's true. In class, you have a direct dialogue with teachers and classmates. At home, you can certainly ask your parents or google it, but you're not always sure if it's right.
Christoph: I think, socially speaking, it's more important for Svenja that she can go back to school than it is for you, Lena. She's in Year 6, the class will be breaking up in the summer, and it would have been sad if they'd had to finish the school year in distance learning. Especially as the class camp, excursions and sports days are already cancelled.
Ellen: I think it's important that a bit of everyday life returns, especially for children. They need to socialise with their peers, have a bit of fun, a life outside of their room.
Svenja: It's not that difficult to implement the precautionary measures. It's a matter of habit, for example washing your hands before having a snack.

As a teacher, I have to admit that the time of crisis also has its advantages.

Ellen: As a teacher, I have to admit that the crisis period also has its advantages. The parents - and especially the fathers - got an insight into their children's everyday school life, and many realised that teaching children is not always so easy. I have received a lot of positive feedback. I think the appreciation of our work has increased. That's nice.
Christoph: And I think that some technical opportunities have emerged for school and work that could also be utilised in the future.
Ellen: That's right. I realise that I've become more open to these possibilities myself. I always thought it was awful when even small children were glued to an iPad, but there's not really that much difference between them doing tasks on a screen or printed out. On the contrary, it saves a lot of paper.
Lena : I also find it easier to upload an assignment to Teams instead of handing it in on paper. Even though I would almost be grateful to hand in a paper at school at the moment!
Svenja: Yes, it's funny. I never thought I'd be so excited about school.

* We have changed the names of the family, the four of them don't want to be googleable. Names known to the editors.