As we get closer and closer to the reopening of schools in Ontario, teachers and education workers across the country are prepping their classrooms.  And, it’s not looking good.

According to the Government of Canada website, a distance of 2 metres is needed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  We are instructed to keep at least 2 metres apart when around other people.  And, if possible, “just stay home”. Check out the video below before moving on to the very unsettling photos that teachers are sharing of their classrooms and just how little physical distancing is even possible.

Less Than 1 Metre

For a reason that many still don’t understand or agree with, our children do not need to abide by the same 2-metre rule that we as adults do when in public settings like the grocery store or bank.  Instead, it is being recommended that they exercise on a 1-metre separation provided there are additional protections put in place such as wearing masks, enhanced cleaning and regular screening.

However, the reality is, even with cutting the recommended physical distancing length in half from 2 metres to 1 metre, the new 1 metre distance isn’t even possible for many classroom settings.

What does your classroom look like?
⚠️32cm betw. desks
⚠️1m betw. students (Gr.7)
Masks @ instructional time.
NO masks @ lunch/snack breaks.

Pls share your class pics!
REALITY vs. Ford's $ Ad Campaign.#UnsafeSeptemberON #OntEd #ONpoli pic.twitter.com/w8fCI6Ijbl

— Terence Kernaghan NDP (@kernaghant) August 27, 2020

Does this look like 1m distance to you @Sflecce @fordnation @JustinTrudeau @CPHO_Canada?
This is what our classrooms look like.#onted #onpoli #UnsafeSeptember #Ontario #FireLecce #UnsafeSeptemberON #schoolsreopening #edchat #EdTwitter #education pic.twitter.com/EufQbn1FfJ

— Mıchelle (@fungtastique) August 25, 2020

Tried my best. Little under a metre apart. Yes those are the desks you probably sat in 30 years ago. Yes that's a chalkboard. But we are totally funded adequately 🙄 Thanks for the extra 7 students I got this week! #SafeSeptember #abed #schoolsreopening pic.twitter.com/A77Wuc1mRW

— Cody Garner (@GarnerCody) August 23, 2020

42 desks less than 1 m apart in any direction. Largest class size (so far) is 40 students. Will see 136+ students in here daily. No cohorts. @SOSAlberta @alberta_moms @ColinAitchison @AdrianaLaGrange @RachelNotley @shoffmanAB pic.twitter.com/87XtgUcl10

— Tara Cunningham (@Taraelizjeanne) August 29, 2020

Not Enough Room

There simply isn’t enough room to fit every student.  Teachers are having to remove desks and furnishings such as bookshelves in order to keep each desk at least one meter apart.

There won’t be any physical distancing in my classroom. I need to remove at least 8 desks to be able to have students 1 metre apart pic.twitter.com/qmX0bGbm7Z

— Dee (@TweetDiane) August 25, 2020

I have the largest classroom in my division. I can fit 26 desks spaced approximately a metre apart if I go right to the wall on one side which makes the bulletin boards unusable. Unless several choose online, I’ll need to add more. Yearly average is 30. pic.twitter.com/cLHH2gBGLB

— Liz Sollors (@Sollors70) August 27, 2020

Went in to set up my classroom yesterday. Look at the individual desks only. At 1 m distance I can only fit 18 kids. I have had 30 in the past. 23 on my roster as of June. #SafeSeptember ?? @Sflecce pic.twitter.com/tZ0CrllJRe

— L.Chittle (@ChittleL) August 22, 2020

@RachelNotley I tried my hardest, I can't even keep 28 empty desks one metre apart in my classroom. I might have to move out my shelving and round tables to make it happen. A classroom shouldn't have to lose bookshelf space to be safe. pic.twitter.com/twAF8l8Ypq

— Canadian Kroller (@CanadianKroller) August 26, 2020

Trying to distance these desks 1m apart is physically impossible. #firelecce @fordnation @Sflecce Why should my students and I be crammed into this portable all day with no ability to physically distance and no access to hand washing? pic.twitter.com/1OHxDzuzgC

— Dee (@TweetDiane) August 24, 2020

The Same As Before

For many teachers, the option to rearrange their classrooms doesn’t even exist.  Many are sharing photos and saying that their classroom setup is the exact same as it was before COVID-19.

An #ETFO member shared this pic of their classroom set up for September. 👇🏼👇🏽👇🏻👇🏼👇🏽👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/sIGIz1ihDD

— Sam Hammond (@etfopresident) August 29, 2020

If you have a photo that you’d like for us to feature here, please email it to admin@safeseptember.ca or simply mention us on Twitter @safesept.