The virtual meeting's objective was to inform families about how this atypical beginning of the school year was experienced in schools: which emotions were most present in the educational communities, and what are the concerns and requests of both teachers, families and students. An attempt was then made to open a door to hope in order to live this time, full of uncertainty and confusion, as a learning experience.
“We feel we have to be an example for the youngest and do things well,” commented Alba Badajoz, a third-year high school student. “And that we have to make life easier for teachers by creating good dynamics in the classroom,” added Julia Martín, of the same age.
Pilar Gallego and Luzma Yepes, respectively consultant for guidance and educational director, agreed it is important to foster and value the accompaniment and active listening of young people: “We must be there, accompany them in this time that we are living with so much tension,” said the former; completed by the latter who said: “It is a golden opportunity to create a closer accompaniment and to help them develop those skills that appear necessary now.”
In general, the participants sent a message of trust to families and society. The sanitary measures adopted in the school are good and there are safe educational spaces. “We families experienced the beginning of the school year with uncertainty, but we were reassured by the work done by the educational communities and by the exemplary response of the students in the classrooms,” said Jesús Jiménez, representative of the families. “We are living in a tremendous educational situation, but it is teaching us great things, and we all have something to offer,” added Josean Prol, General Director of “Salesianos Deusto” in Bilbao.
The idea of being well informed, of communicating, of making known, was very present in the debate. “We feel that the news is not entirely true… I'm not looking for news, only information offered by those around me, by people I trust,” said student María Hernando, in her second year of Baccalaureate.
To close the debate it was proposed that everyone choose a title that reflects the desire to emerge stronger from this situation; the aspects of care, patience, gratitude, creativity, the value of the group to walk together in the face of individualism, work well done and support for young people in their future hopes and present actions emerged again.
