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19 Feb, 10 tweets, 5 min read
Today saw a really good case for @alexanderrusso’s recent blog on education writing around school reopening, c/o @Stephen_Sawchuk’s latest piece.

1/
 kappanonline.org/russo-the-case…
.@alexanderrusso:

“The tendency has been to accept narratives about logistics, costs, & risks. As a result, lawmakers, parents, and teachers aren’t sufficiently aware (or reminded) of the feasibility of reopening safely, without expensive measures or additional delays.”

FACTS.
TL;DR on @Stephen_Sawchuk’s piece:

Superintendents have A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

3/
 edweek.org/leadership/6-b…
The #1 question is at the heart of issues named by advocates:

Can districts go below 6 feet?

Good question!

There are answers... yet no Ed reporter has thought to synthesize the expert opinions on the most desperately-asked question.

🤔 Image
The best insights we get (very good insights, in fact) come via OpEds.

By @j_g_allen @DrBleich:
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/…
We also get some good lunchtime distancing tips, and super ventilation insights, in @j_g_allen’s comments in this convo.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if someone synthesized all this for desperate superintendents?
EdWeek specializes in surveys. What about @educationweek surveys of the reopened districts to ask how much they are distancing, to tell us whether districts are running with 3-ft versus 4-ft?

Just one example of where journlists could illuminate solutions.
.@alexanderrusso wants a deeper dive into the big shifts at the CDC, DOE, etc. And more accountability journalism. I want those things, too. Badly.

But right now, I’d settle for efforts to aggregate the info superintendents need to reopen schools.

Both of my ideas above...
Are straightforward. Not audacious challenges here. Also, not new needs... the field has needed these things a while.

I co-sign all of @alexanderrusso’s thoughts in the OP. Endlessly hoping for a renewed approach to COVID-era coverage.
Anyone who wants to synthesize the ventilation info can start here:

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More from @karenvaites

Karen Vaites Profile picture
21 Feb
Many are talking about the softball interviews of Randi (and Psaki) today. But all is not lost!

Tonight, @danprimack interviews Randi for Axios.

Remember when the Axios interview of Trump was the first to properly hold him accountable?

🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞
axios.com/axios-on-hbo-p…
Here are some questions that we need @danprimack to ask.

1. Why is Randi holding up NYC as a model for reopening (below and this morn) when most of its schools are closed?

See parent replies for details...
Here is a briefing note on the two-disconnected-cases closure rule from NYC moms @daniela127 @MiaEG_PD @ElgaCastro @ylrac_m.

Between these arbitrary closures, NYC’s excessive distancing norms (close to 8 ft), and closed middle and high schools, NYC’s 👎.

openschoolsus.medium.com/open-letter-to…
Read 7 tweets
Karen Vaites Profile picture
21 Feb
THE CDC GUIDANCE DOESN’T ALIGN WITH EVIDENCE, A 🧵

You won’t find a better takedown of the closure thresholds and 6-foot distancing, together in a tight, handy read, than @VPrasadMDMPH @vkoganpolisci’s new piece.

💯

Note use of the CDC’s own studies!
statnews.com/2021/02/20/new…
Also excellent: @j_g_allen of the Harvard Chan school of public health destroys the rationale for closure based on community spread in 5 minutes.

He makes a few additional points, like the high compliance with masking by kids.

npr.org/2021/02/19/969…
Let us never forget that the lead author of the CDC’s Wisconsin study, @TracyBethHoeg, has critiques these same details, noting the high community spread in WI during tneis study, which established virtually no spread in schools.
Read 10 tweets
Karen Vaites Profile picture
21 Feb
Advocates for #openschools were exactly 0% surprised by the Oakley School Board incident.

Honestly, their hot mic comments were tame compared to the barbs lobbed #onhere.... by teachers.
Parents are accused of not caring of teachers die... when in fact, we have simply read @CDCgov studies like this one: cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/7…...

Of being sick of their kids...

Parents who talk about kids w/ mental health issues are told that better parenting would address it... Image
And of course my favorite, that they want to kill their own kids.

This gem is from a SLP.
Read 9 tweets
Karen Vaites Profile picture
19 Feb
So disappointing.
Also disappointing.
Let’s not forget this from yesterday...
Read 5 tweets
Karen Vaites Profile picture
19 Feb
Today’s must-listen – AND call to action for journalists!

@j_g_allen on @NPR, explaining the issues with using community spread as a closure mechanism.

Best 5 minutes you will spend today.

Journalists, please listen to the end for CDC’s defense...

1/
 npr.org/2021/02/19/969…
The CDC does respond to NPR’s inquiry about Allen’s critique, to say that studies validate its approach.

We need to ask the CDC: which ones, *specifically*, validate that there is risk at the low levels they have named as triggers for hybrid learning?
Two points of note:

Walensky has come up light on her ability to cite evidence for the guidelines in interviews to date, and...

Read 6 tweets
Karen Vaites Profile picture
19 Feb
My 9YO daughter does a Zoom play date ~3x a week with her best friend, who has not been allowed to socialize in-person with anyone since March.

In summer, I tried everything to get them to meet in a park together...

1/
I offered that both parents could chaperon a play date in a park, insisting on masks and distancing. (At the time, COVID rates were well below 1%, maybe .1%, in our area.) No luck.
I think a lot about this lovely girl & her lovely family. The fears they are experiencing. The effect on a 3rd grader of seeing no other kids for a year, BC they are that strict, I believe.

I have the highest hopes for the post-vaccine era. Yet my high hopes are often dashed.
Read 4 tweets

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