A group of parents with children at the regional school community ‘t Rijks in Bergen op Zoom is furious with rector Leon de Rond. In a letter to students and their parents, he recently announced that students should test themselves for corona twice a week. If they don’t, they put fellow students and teachers “at risk” according to De Rond.
This has upset many parents, message BN de Stem. In a letter to the rector, they demand that he slow down. They also want the testing to stop immediately because it is “demonstrably nonsensical and irrational.”
“They do not consider the consequences of a test company at all. De Rond pretends it’s an obligation, when it’s just advice. That coercive tone is unacceptable. Where is the freedom in and of education?” says Xandra Dijks, one of the parents.
Another parent added: “Children are already having such a hard time psychologically these days. And then you are going to put this burden on top of it.”
The letter from the parents is supported by an attached calculation by general practitioner Jan Vingerhoets in Bergen op Zoom, who explains in his calculation that the chance of infections and the like is minimal in his eyes these days.
The rector responds to the letter from the parents by stating that he has no regrets. And he ignores the doctor’s advice with the words: “I am not a doctor; it’s not about my own view. I implement government policy.”
–
–
