It is hard work for all of us. We have staff juggling the demands of teaching and having their own children at home as well as teachers who have elderly parents living with them. We have teachers grappling with the need to adjust their teaching methods to suit the online space and yet they turn up to teach every lesson always giving their best to provide a quality education. Whether we open up our school in a couple of weeks, at the end of term or sometime next term isn't important, we will keep teaching regardless.

Robert Marshall, deputy principal, St Catherine's School

Economic imperative

Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan quotes two drivers – equity and parents getting back to work – in his push to force a return to classroom teaching ("Cash reward for private schools to open doors", 29/4). The equity line is that disadvantaged kids suffer most by remote learning and need to be back in the classroom. But if that is the case how many of these disadvantaged kids are in wealthy private schools? The parents getting back to work is an economic imperative, not a health one. So this is actually an economic policy not a health policy.

Ian McKenzie, Canterbury

Future prospects in jeopardy

Teachers and students shouldn't be at school if it's not safe but I'm struggling to understand the Victorian government's reasoning ("Premier won't 'flick switch' on schools", 29/4). I hope the government is working behind the scenes to ensure that students can start going back to school as soon as possible. For many students who already face disadvantages, the loss of engagement with school will permanently damage their life prospects.

Kate Jackson, Kew

Hope for future respect and equality

This pandemic has shed light on the work of teachers and their role in society. As parents are forced to help educate their children at home and deal with issues that teachers deal with constantly, maybe society will gain a better understanding of teachers' work and the sorts of difficulties they have to solve in a classroom of 25-30 students.

Just maybe they will have more respect for teachers. Maybe this new recognition will see them rewarded with a decent wage and improved working conditions. And maybe they will see the disparities in resources between public and private schools that have been accentuated since the Howard government started to fund private schools at the expense of state education.

Paul Brown, Da Nang city, Vietnam

THE FORUM

Nurses out of work

I'm a registered nurse specialising in dementia and elder care and can no longer find work. While we hear of the magnificent work of ICU and emergency nurses there is another story that needs to be told. A large part of the nursing workforce is employed as casuals in nursing pools or agencies. With private hospitals essentially lying idle and public hospitals cancelling or reducing non-essential surgery, thousands of casual nurses no longer have jobs. The government has complicated matters by allowing nursing students to work. Casual shifts in the aged care sector have essentially stopped, the question must be asked why, as before COVID-19 lockdowns shifts were plentiful. Nursing is not confined to the ICU or emergency room, nurses need support or we won't be there when needed.

Andrew Dean, Upwey

Room for compassion

My mother is a resident of an aged care facility in Bundoora. A few weeks ago families were notified, that because of the coronavirus, the facility would be closed to visitors. At the same time they offered alternative methods for families and friends to interact with loved ones. Unfortunately my mother is coming to the end of her life and the manager gave me permission to visit her twice a week. For these visits I have been escorted by the manager to the side entrance near my mother's room, so avoiding walking through the facility itself. My temperature has been taken each time and the relevant questions asked before I was allowed in. I also have to get my flu shot before May1 to continue to see her. The facility offered alternatives for families and friends to interact with the residents, to negate as much as possible the absence of physical contact with loved ones. The greater the number of people coming and going the greater the probability of coronavirus getting into these facilities that contain vulnerable people. Certainly there will be some extra anguish associated with no outside visitors but they are not isolated from each other or from staff.

Phil Mackenzie, Eaglemont

Science boost

It is a welcome development that the PM and Science Minister Karen Andrews have requested Australia's top researchers and scientists to provide research evidence that is to be used in government decision-making regarding the COVID-19 crisis. As Australian Academy of Science chief executive Anna-Maria Arabia said, it is to be hoped that this "new evidence-based approach" will extend to consideration of other issues ("Science strike force raises winter alert", 29/4). Dare I suggest that the government's newly acquired sense of the importance of scientific evaluation of evidence might also apply to the issue of climate change.

Phyllis Vespucci, Reservoir

Respect climate science

The Coalition government's newfound trust and reliance on science to inform policy making is encouraging. I'm sure Australian climate scientists would be happy to form a rapid research information forum just like the one assisting the government with the coronavirus crisis.

Lynn Frankes, Kew

Children's parties next

As our pollies are starting to make noises about it being safe for children to return to school maybe they should also consider reopening sporting facilities for children, cinemas for children, and birthday parties for children because if they are deeming it safe for children at school then surely these other large group activities are safe for them and the adults who run them. Somehow I can't see this happening. So why are teachers being used as guinea pigs?

Catherine Gerardson, Watsonia North

Victorian pride

Congratulations to the Victorian government on its decision to make financial support available to international students. The mean-spirited and callous disregard of these people by the Commonwealth shamed the country. Now, Victorians can hold their heads up in the knowledge that we are not prepared to see people Australia recruited, from whom they benefited through their labour and their taxes, left in the lurch.

Dr Juliet Flesch, Kew

Cruelty of zoos

Imagine if lockdown became permanent and we weren't permitted to leave our property for food or exercise. Imagine how boring, monotonous and intolerable life would be. Well this is the reality for zoo animals. We are duped into believing that zoos help animals by saving them from extinction, but the reality is that most zoo animals are not endangered. Zoos exist primarily to make money and this week Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham admitted this when he said it was crucial that zoos and aquariums survived the crisis to help the tourism industry recover once restrictions were lifted ("Zoos, aquariums get $95m lifeline", 28/4).Isn't it time we opened our eyes to the cruelty of zoos?

Jenny Moxham, Monbulk

Complex solution

Stephen Mills (Letters, 29/4) writes that keeping sufficient forward observation and slowing to 40km/h for police, causes a danger to road users and then increases the degree of difficulty by suggesting three separate speed zones dependent on which lane one is travelling. Sadly, he overestimates the ability of drivers. With peak hour traffic reduced during the pandemic, and the continuing reports of collisions on our freeways, I can only conclude that for quite a few Victorians, driving in itself is just too difficult.

Peter McGill, Lancefield

Economics not safety

There is no medical consensus that it is safe to open schools. Victoria's Chief Health Officer says it's too early. The reality is that no one knows for certain whether it is safe because we have never faced this virus before. If it's safe for children and teachers to be squashed together in schools then it must be safe for children and adults to be together at playgrounds, parties, sleepovers and sports events but there is no suggestion that restrictions should be lifted in these areas. It makes one wonder if economics, not safety, is the driving reason behind the pressure to open schools.

Grant Nichol, North Ringwood

Source of inspiration

Adam Liaw's recipes have been a source of interesting meals at our house. I look forward to them each day. As for the chanchan salmon, it was delicious – ingredients not too difficult to find, and alternatives given. I'm becoming quite the cook.

Leoni K. Mather, Melbourne

Worthy of trust

As Chris Uhlmann suggests, Australia's national interest involves more than cash ("We must face the truth on China", 29/4). National security and sovereignty, national self-respect and our international reputation are also important elements. Despite this, our relationship with China has become increasingly focused on trade, profit and jobs. However, Australia faces significant challenges in now trying to change this situation. In their efforts to rebuild their operations, will Australian businesses and universities be more cautious in their relations with China? That seems unlikely. If China is prepared to maintain and even extend its trade and economic links with Australia, we will go along.

Rod Wise, Surrey Hills

Resilience of youth

I live in "Little Mesopotamia, between the Great Rivers," the Darebin, Merri Creek and the Yarra. I regularly walk the linear paths and tracks in this grassy bushland. Previously I might meet nine or 10 people in an hour's walk, now I meet 50 to 100. People walking dogs, running, bike riding and pushing prams. The stark reality is that these people are mostly young and out of work. Possibly they have never been out of work before, with mortgages or rents, families and little prospect of work in the near future. I return anxious and a little depressed. To be hopeful and optimistic for a better future I have to have faith in the resilience of youth.

Kevin Laws, Thornbury

Kindness pandemic

Am I imagining it or is there really a new wave of friendliness creeping into Melbourne? As we saw on Anzac Day neighbours are actually being neighbourly and talking to one another over the fence ... there is also a new regard for one another as we pass in the street ... and today on my regular walk down the Yarra past all those desolate waterfront restaurants and cafes around Southbank, I stopped for a coffee at the lonely coffee caravan near the convention centre. I ordered the coffee and asked "do you take cash?" ... well said the barista, this one is free. Free? Yes she said, the previous customer offered to pay for the next customers coffee as a sign of solidarity.

As the generous customer was still there I thanked her, she smiled broadly, the beautiful barista smiled broadly and so did I. Wouldn't it be great if that sort of behaviour became a lasting legacy of this pandemic.

David Johnston, South Yarra

Abandon football season

It is time for the AFL to show some responsibility and commonsense by abandoning its ludicrous attempts to continue the 2020 season. The proposed "quarantine hubs" system with its obvious risks would prove to be a disaster.

George Norrish, Essendon

Education politicised

The federal government's move to provide advance funding to encourage independent schools to act against the advice of state government, while at the same time doing very little to support higher education and protect the economically important international student sector, shows that this government would rather politicise education than act in the interests of Australia's future. Is this good leadership?

Chris Pakes, Flemington

AND ANOTHER THING ...

School incentive

Well the federal government certainly went to the heart of private schools in offering them money.

James Lane, Hampton East

By offering a monetary incentive to private schools to resume, isn't the PM effectively offering an incentive to break the law?

Graeme Gardner, Reservoir

More money for private schools. Will state schools get the same or more after COVID-19?

Pat Rivett, Ferntree Gully

Money to "incentivise" schools. Don't you mean bribe and bully, MrTehan? To offer more to private than public schools really shows how much you care about all children's education.

Shirley Barbara-Heyworth, Northcote

Coronavirus

If 16.5 million flu jabs have been secured where are they? If the shortage of vaccine is just a problem of distribution that can be fixed in a trice.

John Walsh, Watsonia

This crisis has driven some impressive pivoting. Acquaintances that were once climate scientists pivoted to epidemiologists and are now education experts.

Steve Melzer, Hughesdale

There are no longer any poor people in Australia. They have all become members of lower socio-economic groups.

Roy Arnott, Reservoir

My AFL team is having a great season. It's nearly May and so far they are undefeated.

Greg Lee, Red Hill

Can Clive try a massive dose of his purchase just to prove it has no side effects?

Michael Mckenna, Warragul

Annoying phone calls from call centres have been silenced. Social distancing is working?

Jan Lowe, Greensborough

Finally

At last a silver lining to this whole mess, this year's Logies have been cancelled.

Peter Venn, East Bentleigh

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