How might research on schools’ responses to earlier crises help us in the COVID-19 recovery process?

A summary of Carol Mutch’s research into the role of schools in disaster response and recovery highlights the expectations that are placed on schools following a crisis. Her research shows that school staff undertake these extra demands willingly and conscientiously, despite the toll that it takes on their own health and wellbeing. In this article she first outlines the typical process that responses to a disaster or crisis goes through. She then shares some key findings, noting how schools become community hubs, principals become crisis managers, and teachers become first responders. Her final theme is the importance of assisting children and young people to safely process their experiences and provide opportunities to actively contribute towards their own and others’ recovery.