Children and Schools During COVID-19 and Beyond ft. Tracy Vaillancourt

During this episode we discuss what school leaders, teachers, and families might reconsider as we return to this school year facing a COVID-19 Pandemic 4th wave. Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt discusses the release of Children and Schools During COVID-19 and Beyond: Engagement and Connection Through Opportunity, a Royal Society of Canada policy briefing. Dr. Vaillancourt addresses some of the challenges government officials, public schooling systems, school leaders, teachers, families, children, and youth might face as they return to school. She discusses some of the gendered differences in relation to social isolation, social media, peer relations, mental health and well-being, and reasons for the decrease in bullying in schools during the pandemic. Dr. Vaillancourt cautions us about the misrepresentation and politicization of scientific evidence and a lack of a national strategic plan that advocates for the well-being of children and youth.