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Should schools reopen?

Should schools reopen?

  • No

    Votes: 13 41.9%

  • Yes, but with very strict rules (50% capacity, masks, temperature checks, etc.)

    Votes: 9 29.0%

  • Yes, but with minimal rules (explain)

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Yes, with no rules (everything back to normal)

    Votes: 4 12.9%

  • Something else

    Votes: 5 16.1%
  • Total voters
    31
Josie

Josie

*probably reading smut*
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The hot topic of the day, right? What are your opinions?
 
I think the answer should vary from district to district, but strict guidelines are important in all cases. It also depends on how well the parents and those within the district set the examples and teach the kids about health guidelines. One of the healthcare companies in our area released an interesting article on it all:

Is school safe? 7 tips from a health expert - UCHealth Today

How to keep kids and schools safe
Krause said detailed plans will be critical in order for kids to safely go back to school.

“It’s going to depend on several factors, including community transmission of COVID-19 at the time, precautions put in place at individual facilities, hygiene practices, etc.,” Krause said.
Click to expand...
 
Josie said:
The hot topic of the day, right? What are your opinions?
Click to expand...

Depends.

I say follow expert's advise on community spread in your city. The problem now is we've waited until the very last minute and don't have solid guidance on what's going to happen on a variety of issues. We've had months to figure this out but every district, every school, every person involved in schools seems to be feeling anxious about what's going to happen and day to day things change.

All I know is our schools and everyone in them should not be guinea pigs to just throw them in and see what happens, especially where there is high transmission rates.
 
Yes. Don't go around hugging and kissing everyone, wash hands often. Parents need to be the first line of defense and recognize if their child is not feeling well, just stay home.
 
americanwoman said:
Depends.

I say follow expert's advise on community spread in your city. The problem now is we've waited until the very last minute and don't have solid guidance on what's going to happen on a variety of issues. We've had months to figure this out but every district, every school, every person involved in schools seems to be feeling anxious about what's going to happen and day to day things change.

All I know is our schools and everyone in them should not be guinea pigs to just throw them in and see what happens, especially where there is high transmission rates.
Click to expand...

I think parents are feeling like they've waited until the last minute, but I bet every school district's administration, leadership committees and school board have been discussing this since March.
 
Artymoon said:
Yes. Don't go around hugging and kissing everyone, wash hands often. Parents need to be the first line of defense and recognize if their child is not feeling well, just stay home.
Click to expand...

Even if a few kids die from the virus, it is well worth the risk of trying. We need our schools open.
 
Josie said:
I think parents are feeling like they've waited until the last minute, but I bet every school district's administration, leadership committees and school board have been discussing this since March.
Click to expand...

How do you feel about it?
 
It all depends on the level of spread in the community. Some will be fine to open. Some should start virtually with the eventual goal of providing face-to-face instruction. Because there is no way to eliminate risks, we must manage them best we can.
 
With strict social guidelines as mentioned by the poll, absolutely yes.

The kids who are marginal learners and struggling, special-needs children, the impoverished children who have poor access to WIFI need the schools open. Above all, all kids need social interaction with their peers for better mental health.
 
Bucky said:
Even if a few kids die from the virus, it is well worth the risk of trying. We need our schools open.
Click to expand...

I don't want anyone to die. But living life is not without some risk.
 
americanwoman said:
How do you feel about it?
Click to expand...

I'm nervous, but I feel like my district is doing a great job. I know the plan has been in the works for months now and the guidelines are very strict. They obviously are doing their best to make sure everyone stays healthy and safe. I'm excited to see my kiddos again since it's been for-e-ver, but still apprehensive about how things are going to go.
 
Artymoon said:
I don't want anyone to die. But living life is not without some risk.
Click to expand...

We need to stop with that idealistic type of thinking. A lot of these kids due to the pandemic aren't getting vaccinated, but life, in general, is tough.

These kids need to be brave and go to school. Everyone has to chip in.
 
Josie said:
The hot topic of the day, right? What are your opinions?
Click to expand...
My opinion is that our country, both in terms of government and citizens, have so royally screwed up our response to the pandemic that we've painted ourselves into a corner of no good option. We couldn't be bothered to not engage in activities which spread the virus for even a week or two, much less the 6-8 weeks we needed to, and so now we're in a situation where we have to decide between an action which has repeatedly shown to explode cases of coronavirus (sending kids to school) or damaging both our economy and children's future (not sending to school).

What's worse is the complete lack of leadership in regards to going back to school. In my state of Missouri, there have been no guidelines, few suggestions, no state mandates from the government to help protect students or employees, and when our administration (who have essentially taken no breaks while trying to deal with covid responses) held a teacher's meeting to discuss how we were going to handle the school year, about half of the questions asked were met with shrugs, because they had been given either no information or conflicting information.

The whole thing is incredibly absurd and infuriating, that our country couldn't be responsible for a couple of weeks for public health of all citizens. A bunch of selfish, egotistical asses have put us in a no win situation, primarily because of partisan politics.


To answer the question, should they re-open? Unless we're willing to abandon an entire year of in-person education for children, the answer has to be yes. But, with that said, it sure would be nice for our government leaders to stop being such cowards and provide mandates to schools and students to protect everyone's health, such as mandatory masks for all, reducing class size (variety of ways this could be done), more robust financing for virtual education, etc.
Josie said:
I think parents are feeling like they've waited until the last minute, but I bet every school district's administration, leadership committees and school board have been discussing this since March.
Click to expand...
It has been non-stop in our school district for our administrators and our tech department (and many teachers as well). But given the fact public safety somehow became political, combined with the fact we keep learning more about the virus, there's only so much which can be done.
 
Josie said:
I'm nervous, but I feel like my district is doing a great job. I know the plan has been in the works for months now and the guidelines are very strict. They obviously are doing their best to make sure everyone stays healthy and safe. I'm excited to see my kiddos again since it's been for-e-ver, but still apprehensive about how things are going to go.
Click to expand...

Good luck and stay safe.
 
Josie said:
The hot topic of the day, right? What are your opinions?
Click to expand...

It depends. Each school district is in a different COVID data location, and with different financial circumstances.

One-size doesn't fit all. As we used to say in the Marines, make like Gumby (be flexible).
 
Artymoon said:
Yes. Don't go around hugging and kissing everyone, wash hands often. Parents need to be the first line of defense and recognize if their child is not feeling well, just stay home.
Click to expand...

Trust parents to make sure their children don't have symptoms..........the same parents who can't wear a mask for 20 minutes to get groceries?
 
Kreton said:
Trust parents to make sure their children don't have symptoms..........the same parents who can't wear a mask for 20 minutes to get groceries?
Click to expand...

Ha ha. Never said parents were smart. But as with most things, it needs to begin at home. Wishful thinking I'm sure.
 
Bucky said:
Even if a few kids die from the virus, it is well worth the risk of trying. We need our schools open.
Click to expand...
I wish everyone who felt risking the lives of children was worth trying were the ones who die from the virus.
Josie said:
I'm nervous, but I feel like my district is doing a great job. I know the plan has been in the works for months now and the guidelines are very strict. They obviously are doing their best to make sure everyone stays healthy and safe. I'm excited to see my kiddos again since it's been for-e-ver, but still apprehensive about how things are going to go.
Click to expand...
Our county health department is the one who will be making decisions on shutting down schools and sending kids home to quarantine. The guidance they've given our administration is that if a student in grades K-6 class gets it, then the entire class (including teacher) is to be sent home for 14 day quarantine. Students in classes which change rooms will have a more involved procedure, but essentially anyone who has been in relative close contact for 15 minutes or more (not at one time, but over a period of time) will be sent home for quarantine.

So a family of three with kids in grades 1, 4 and 7 who gets covid could potentially shut down the entire district.

Our administration have made the best plans possible, but it is ultimately out of anyone's hands.
 
americanwoman said:
Depends.

I say follow expert's advise on community spread in your city. The problem now is we've waited until the very last minute and don't have solid guidance on what's going to happen on a variety of issues. We've had months to figure this out but every district, every school, every person involved in schools seems to be feeling anxious about what's going to happen and day to day things change.

All I know is our schools and everyone in them should not be guinea pigs to just throw them in and see what happens, especially where there is high transmission rates.
Click to expand...

I dunno' Jose,
What happened to personal and prudent common sense ? Why do people now need someone
who probably know less to tell them exactly what to do... why an elaborate plan that rarely allows for immediate response to a particular situation/experience ?
What's wrong with people when they replace personal judgement for another's dictate ?
it seems the pathos of pusillanimity has overtaken many/most of the country.
opps .. turned into a rant...
have a great day Jose
 
Josie said:
The hot topic of the day, right? What are your opinions?
Click to expand...

Schools should be OK to reopen based on the conditions of their area, which would be different everywhere, even in the same states.
 
I want them open but only safely and capacity reduced. Would add that highschool students can easily learn remotely for the most part.
Now, a question someone brought up Yesturday, what are the guidelines determining if a school needs shutdown, anyone have any idea what the criteria is?
 
Slyfox696 said:
My opinion is that our country, both in terms of government and citizens, have so royally screwed up our response to the pandemic that we've painted ourselves into a corner of no good option. We couldn't be bothered to not engage in activities which spread the virus for even a week or two, much less the 6-8 weeks we needed to, and so now we're in a situation where we have to decide between an action which has repeatedly shown to explode cases of coronavirus (sending kids to school) or damaging both our economy and children's future (not sending to school).

What's worse is the complete lack of leadership in regards to going back to school. In my state of Missouri, there have been no guidelines, few suggestions, no state mandates from the government to help protect students or employees, and when our administration (who have essentially taken no breaks while trying to deal with covid responses) held a teacher's meeting to discuss how we were going to handle the school year, about half of the questions asked were met with shrugs, because they had been given either no information or conflicting information.

The whole thing is incredibly absurd and infuriating, that our country couldn't be responsible for a couple of weeks for public health of all citizens. A bunch of selfish, egotistical asses have put us in a no win situation, primarily because of partisan politics.


To answer the question, should they re-open? Unless we're willing to abandon an entire year of in-person education for children, the answer has to be yes. But, with that said, it sure would be nice for our government leaders to stop being such cowards and provide mandates to schools and students to protect everyone's health, such as mandatory masks for all, reducing class size (variety of ways this could be done), more robust financing for virtual education, etc.

It has been non-stop in our school district for our administrators and our tech department (and many teachers as well). But given the fact public safety somehow became political, combined with the fact we keep learning more about the virus, there's only so much which can be done.
Click to expand...
Great post! :thumbs:
 
Josie said:
The hot topic of the day, right? What are your opinions?
Click to expand...
I voted no.

Until a truly safe and affordable vaccine against COVID-19 is given to everyone who wants it and truly effective immuno-therapy treatments for cases of COVID-19 are developed, working, and affordable ..

.. Then in the name of protecting our older teachers, bus drivers, students' parents and grandparents, etc. ..

.. And because the first death of a bus driver or teacher will generate a shutdown from union lawsuits anyway, and parents may sue if their child or their parents fatally contract COVID-19 from their child's schoolmates ..

.. No on-site school.

I know, that's going to be difficult for a lot of people for roughly the full school year.

But it will likely be for just this one 2020-2021 school year.

In the name of saving lives from a disease that's proven to be 16.57 times more deadly than the flu, let's endure distance learning for just this one year.
 
Casper said:
Now, a question someone brought up Yesturday, what are the guidelines determining if a school needs shutdown, anyone have any idea what the criteria is?
Click to expand...
I mention our guidelines in an earlier post. Here's ours (in Missouri):

Our county health department is the one who will be making decisions on shutting down schools and sending kids home to quarantine. The guidance they've given our administration is that if a student in grades K-6 class gets it, then the entire class (including teacher) is to be sent home for 14 day quarantine. Students in classes which change rooms will have a more involved procedure, but essentially anyone who has been in relative close contact for 15 minutes or more (not at one time, but over a period of time) will be sent home for quarantine.

So a family of three with kids in grades 1, 4 and 7 who gets covid could potentially shut down the entire district. As far as a specific situation which would automatically shut down the district, we've been given no information.
 
It very much depends on where the schools are. Given that the USA has handled the Covid-19 contagion in the worst way possible and that the rate of infection is the worst in the world, American schools should not add to the spread of infection by opening. In other countries, it will depend on the status of the virus and then only with the precautions of social distancing, pod groups, ventilation, and strict protocols of hygiene and disinfection.
 
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