Sorry about that, I didn't mean to do that. I think its events that were occurring in Melbourne are starting to wear me out I think, exacerbating my mental illness once more, which clouded my judgement. I'm trying very hard not let get to me, but it's difficult
You're right. It's still the preliminary stage in the studies and they haven't found a conclusion to it at the moment. It's true that surviving from COVID is not a spell of doom.
Even that's not the case, they still shouldn't open up schools. Especially when teachers and children are exposed to such dangers.
@goldstone Agree that they should not open schools. It is a dangerous disease. It boggles the mind that they would open the schools before they have a working vaccine but the GOP politicians eschew science. And they do not care about people. Let Ivanka and Melania send their kids to schools now. And McConnell, and Barr send their grandkids. In fact, I agree with @triciaCT that Betsey Devos and Donald Trump want people to die.
So my message to all the teachers and parents out there: don't jeopardize your life or your children's lives to help out the Republicans.
Our school system in Ohio (near Cleveland) is currently looking at 5 days a week for 5 hours per day. We have expressed our concerns to the Superintendent of Schools about opening this fall. They sent out a survey. We will not be sending our children.
An interesting statistic came out of the school survey - of all the parents who replied 73% said wearing a mask in school is important 22% said they didn't think it was important. When we read this statistic, , my husband and I looked at each other and said - well that's your risk factor. Those who don't think it's important will make it too risky. We were surprised it was that high. (22%)
Interesting to hear. Our public district here in Michigan announced a virtual start to the year last week. Our one daughter goes to a private school and they just sent out their plan for an in-person option (with lots of restrictions and precautions) and a virtual option. We will be doing the virtual option for her (fortunately, my husband and I can both work from home.) Our older daughter is in a public charter, so although we haven't yet received their plan, my guess is that it will be online or at least have an online option. Many of the schools in our area seem to be going online at this point.
@cc21 We have two children. Our daughter would very much like to go back in building. The district has lots of financial resources to put in place very good precautions. New Filters, masks and shields required. 15 kids max per classroom, in classroom lunch, movement through the halls single file, no lockers, staggered start times, frequent bathroom cleaning and cleaning. All this seems quite good - But I keep coming back to IS this a false sense of security? We can't control the virus. Staying home is safest. And yet, we know our daughter needs to be in the classroom. The start date has been delayed a week. It's now a "slow start on August 24. Meaning they will start with 2 days on and 1 day virtual. I wonder if this slow start is a way to get them introduced and send them out to virtual. There are two flaws in the well thought I back to school policy - IMHO - one is students changing classes. Although there will be required wipe down before leaving the classroom and 2ndly the teachers. Our dedicated hard working teachers being exposed to 200+ kids per day in their classrooms. I would like to see virtual learning for this fall. I say that and this little voice in my head asks "how will January be different?" UGH... SIGH....
Yes, I hear you when you say is this a false sense of security. It makes you wonder if it is enough or is it inevitable that things will go downhill? In our state, Michigan, we are in Phase 4 of a 6 phase reopening plan, but are waffling close to Phase 3. If things continue in that direction, the governor may declare Phase 3 and that would mean all kids go virtual (no in-person school allowed.) I think there is a lot of doubt that we can hold Phase 4 or continue to Phase 5, especially with college kids coming back. I feel for the families, like yours, whose kids really want to go back and/or feel they will do better in-person. It is a tough call and not going to be an easy or typical transition, regardless.
The private school our younger daughter goes to has a very thorough plan for the in-person option and I do appreciate all of the precautions for those that need/want to be there. For our daughter (who definitely is an empath), regular school can be draining, so with all of the additional changes to accommodate for COVID, we feel like it would just be too much of a distraction and draining for her. She is in total agreement with that and is willing to put in the effort to make the virtual option work. It will be an experiment for all of us, but I feel comfortable about our choice (which is saying something for me! I am always in constant doubt about what direction to go with the school situation...) I also have been researching and thinking about homeschool/unschooling for years, so this may be an interesting experience for our kids now that the allure of in-person (the extras and social aspects--for example, for now there will be no band or choir; no theater; strict protocols staying with your classroom cohort; not even interacting with the classroom of other kids in that same grade, etc.) is on hold. A different time for us all, for sure!
Saw a Tweet recently that said:
"You're gonna send your kid to school with that Paw Patrol mask, he's gonna come home with a Batman mask because he did a trade at lunch, and then they're gonna have to shut down your whole school."
I think that the deep cleaning once a week thing is a false sense of security, because we know that surface transmission is not really the problem - the problem is that COVID is true airborne - particles linger in the air for hours and can travel in the air.
So unless they plan to fumigate the schools nightly, I wouldn't be comfortable.
That being said, I recognize that some special needs kids will suffer in this, and my idea is to have just the special ed professionals go to the school building, and each only meet with one student at a time in 1 room, preferably with windows that open. Maybe just one or 2 visits per week would help these kids from falling too far behind.
As for social aspects at all levels - yeah, well, this is why I know kids who are dropping out of Ivy League colleges to go to CCs at home. Without the social aspects of schooling, there is little to no point in opening ANY school. Boarding schools that are locked down - maybe, but I think it's way too soon to reopen public schools unless a particular county has had zero cases (we actually have 2 counties in CA that have had zero - very rural), in which case I say go for it, but that's the exception, not the rule.