Let’s have some real talk about #ReopeningSchools. My view is from being a proud #publicschool mom + class volunteer for art, library, pumpkin fest, school spirit merch sales + field trips over the last 6 years. Cannnot imagine ANY of these activities being coronavirus safe. 1/?
What happens in a k-5 #publicschool classroom? Well you have the day begin with all the kids together on a rug - each criss-cross applesauce on their own designated square. Are YOU going to put 25 kids on a rug together anytime soon? 2/?
Wait you might cram the kids on the rug? OK then - let’s say a couple of them have hair lice. 🐛
The teacher will send them home. To come back, the kids need lice testing, treatment, and a clearance note. The whole class + teacher need testing (+ treatments if infected) 3/?
The teacher will send them home. To come back, the kids need lice testing, treatment, and a clearance note. The whole class + teacher need testing (+ treatments if infected) 3/?
Okay now let’s say the 25 kids are tested every day for covid19. Again, any positive results would send the class + teacher into testing + treatment. But now we include custodial staff and the other kids who interact with these. And room parents. Feel safe? 4/?
OK so let’s say we NIX the 25 kids on the rug because the CDC says we need physical distancing. So can we get 25 kids in a single room with desks 6 feet apart? No? OK how do we split this up? Into how many smaller groups at what intervals? 5/?
Let’s say we split the class so 12/13 kids are physically present + others zoom from home. Let’s say we do as Canada does and rotate them 2 weeks on/off. OK. And get them computers, free meals + individual school supplies. No communal crayons! And of course constant testing. 6/?
But wait - there’s more. We have to get to school. My 4 siblings and I took the SF MUNI (55 Sacramento/3 Jackson) so that’s 2 buses twice every school day. 4 buses full of germs - and possibly covid! When do we test and how fast do we get results? 7/?
Oh and did I mention the teachers para educators custodians and administrators all need the testing as well. Are they wearing masks and PPE? Who is paying for all that? 8/?
And now let’s bring in people with disabilities, teachers who are pregnant, educators who are older, kids who live with high risk grandparents to our school. Who is covid testing and treating them to address their enhanced exposure to risk? 9/?
ok let’s say we resolve all of this in the next 6 weeks and have constant testing and treatment for covid. We still need PPE for all on campus, highly restricted contact, NO communal meals or supplies, and NO enrichment programs (library art science fair gardening sports) 10/?
Does this seem doable to you? It won’t be school as we knew it until there is a MANDATORY vaccine. But it could be school centered on distance learning and CDC guidelines. And that is possible ONLY IF we have the testing treatment + PPE. Our children deserve nothing less. 11/11
