Quote:
Originally Posted by davem4616
Wow, talk about a $50K question...
It has to be tough being a parent with school age kids right now...you aren't sure if you should be buying back to school things, or just more wine
I spoke with an elementary principal yesterday...all 12 of the custodians at her school are currently out for 14 days due to one of them testing positive earlier in the week for the virus....although the custodians have been working for awhile, there's no way the building will be ready to open for the deadline.
At least one teacher is in quarantine as are a couple of aids
Do I personally think it's safe...to a degree yes, but this is not a yes or no question. It's a no for anyone (young of old) with a health issue.
It's critical that kids education continue...and they need to get out of the house and socialize with their friends...
IMHO there are too many open questions for those of us that are "beyond arm's length" to make an informed decision on this. I do believe that the adults will be the ones that will be most at risk though, as kids bounce back quickly.
So what happens when a significant number of teachers and aids in a school test positive? Or there's an outbreak among the bus drivers or the custodians? or the cafeteria staff?
Is there a contingency plan...most likely not.
If a teacher tests positive...does the whole class go into quarantine? If the teachers all share a lunch/break room, how many peers would have to go into quarantine?
If someone refuses to wear a mask because this is a free country...what's the school's position?
Are teachers, staff and students going to be screened upon entry daily, will they all wear masks? and will those that show signs of the virus be sent home? (or quarantined somewhere in the school until a parent can come for them)
What's the deal with meal programs? Many families depend upon the school meal program...will the school cafeteria practice social distancing?
Are the classrooms large enough so that the desks can be arranged in a social distancing pattern...or do class sizes need to be smaller?
Will every school have someone empowered to make the right call on all of the above?
We can't continue to 'give up' teaching the arts, history, geography, shop, home economics and gym...these are important too
It's time that a 'new model' for learning is introduced at all levels in the system....a blend of f2f and virtual most likely needs to be embraced. There should be enough folks in the higher ranks in the educational hierarchy to focus on designing a new approach for learning. Universities have done it...no reason that public school systems can't.
The younger generation has grown up with technology...it's the old adults that will have the most challenge making any shift from the traditional f2f format
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"If someone refuses to wear a mask because this is a free country...what's the school's position?"
Wearing a mask has - or should - have nothing to do with being a free country. It is about public health, the common good and protecting others, and others protecting us.