@DrMikeRobinson, I am not in favor of returning to in-person learning for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. I believe the best and most effective way to get students back in the classroom is to return in the fall of 2021. I see limited benefits associated with the restart of in-person learning. However, I see significant challenges regarding the rush to meet artificial deadlines imposed by state and local officials on school systems.
Is it safe to place students into closed environments such as classrooms and school buses from communities with high COVID positive levels? My answer is a resounding NO! Schools will open for two maybe three months and close again for three more months for summer break. I do not see a benefit to students with this strategy. I understand the concern families have related to learning loss, despite schools having been open since the fall of 2020. I know educators and administrators share similar concerns. However, putting the entire system at risk for what will amount to just eight to twelve weeks seems risky. The long-term effect on children exposed to SARS-CoV-2 is unknown.
The CDC Guidelines suggest the following steps schools can do to reopen schools for in-person learning:
The CDC guidelines offers many explanations for why and why not to consider in-person learning during the pandemic. One of the comments that stuck with me can be found in the "Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Mitigation" section of the report. I strongly recommend everyone read as much of the CDC guidelines as humanly possible as COVID-19 is a disease with deadly consequences for many.
"On the other hand, certain racial and ethnic groups have borne a disproportionate burden of illness and serious outcomes from COVID-19. These health disparities are evident even among school-aged children11, suggesting that in-person instruction may pose a greater risk of COVID-19 to disproportionately affected populations. For these reasons, health equity considerations related to in-person instruction are an integral part of this complex decision-making."
The report speaks to the issue of health equity. We know the problem is health care inequity and lack of access. One of those health (in)equity issues for communities of color is the lack of access to the vaccine. In some communities, less than 25% of the eligible minority residents have received the vaccine. Given the absence of the vaccine, combined with decades of neglect of school buildings maintenance, and limited new school construction, I see the return to in-person learning for 2020-2021 as a potential super spreader that can result in a lock-down at the start of 2021-2022 school year.
The CDC guidelines ask schools to base their reopenings for in-person learning on the levels of COVID-19 in their communities. When you examine the data, Red Zone communities, as they are referred to by researchers, represent where nearly 90% of American students live. Schools are the hub of most schools. We want students back in them, but they have to return safely and in a manner that will not increase the community spread of COVID.
In the CDC guidelines, they purport students (children) can and have become infected with COVID. The Guidelines states students (children) can become ill due to the exposure, but less than 10% of the COVID-19 cases in America are children between the ages 5-17. We do not know how these numbers will change when we add nearly 30-45 a million students and their teachers, bus drivers, school staff, and community members students will pass on their way to and from school to the pot.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky stated that not all schools can do all the steps right now. I say not all schools can do the steps right now and effectively deliver in-class instruction. Dr. Walensky references the American Rescue Plan as a resource for school systems aspiring to reopen in-person learning. In my opinion, the best resource for communities, schools, students, and families is to get as many people vaccinated and reopen schools for in-person learning starting in the fall of 2021.
Dr. Michael Robinson is the Founder and CEO of Forest Of The Rain Productions an Education Affairs Organization. Dr. Robinson is the host of Parent Talk Live a weekly radio show with emphases on educational topics germane to parents and educators. Dr. Robinson is known as an advocate for social Justice, education, housing, parents and students. He has worked in the areas of community outreach, housing and education for 30 years. He is an authority in community outreach, fair housing, organizational branding, parental engagement, fatherhood issues, at-risk youth and program development.
Is it safe to place students into closed environments such as classrooms and school buses from communities with high COVID positive levels? My answer is a resounding NO! Schools will open for two maybe three months and close again for three more months for summer break. I do not see a benefit to students with this strategy. I understand the concern families have related to learning loss, despite schools having been open since the fall of 2020. I know educators and administrators share similar concerns. However, putting the entire system at risk for what will amount to just eight to twelve weeks seems risky. The long-term effect on children exposed to SARS-CoV-2 is unknown.
The CDC Guidelines suggest the following steps schools can do to reopen schools for in-person learning:
- Wear a Mask
- Social Distance
- Cleaning of Surfaces
- Hybrid Learning for K-5 students (Cohorting/Podding)
- Continue Virtual learning for middle and high school students
- Contact Tracing
- Diagnostic Testing
The CDC guidelines offers many explanations for why and why not to consider in-person learning during the pandemic. One of the comments that stuck with me can be found in the "Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Mitigation" section of the report. I strongly recommend everyone read as much of the CDC guidelines as humanly possible as COVID-19 is a disease with deadly consequences for many.
"On the other hand, certain racial and ethnic groups have borne a disproportionate burden of illness and serious outcomes from COVID-19. These health disparities are evident even among school-aged children11, suggesting that in-person instruction may pose a greater risk of COVID-19 to disproportionately affected populations. For these reasons, health equity considerations related to in-person instruction are an integral part of this complex decision-making."
The report speaks to the issue of health equity. We know the problem is health care inequity and lack of access. One of those health (in)equity issues for communities of color is the lack of access to the vaccine. In some communities, less than 25% of the eligible minority residents have received the vaccine. Given the absence of the vaccine, combined with decades of neglect of school buildings maintenance, and limited new school construction, I see the return to in-person learning for 2020-2021 as a potential super spreader that can result in a lock-down at the start of 2021-2022 school year.
The CDC guidelines ask schools to base their reopenings for in-person learning on the levels of COVID-19 in their communities. When you examine the data, Red Zone communities, as they are referred to by researchers, represent where nearly 90% of American students live. Schools are the hub of most schools. We want students back in them, but they have to return safely and in a manner that will not increase the community spread of COVID.
In the CDC guidelines, they purport students (children) can and have become infected with COVID. The Guidelines states students (children) can become ill due to the exposure, but less than 10% of the COVID-19 cases in America are children between the ages 5-17. We do not know how these numbers will change when we add nearly 30-45 a million students and their teachers, bus drivers, school staff, and community members students will pass on their way to and from school to the pot.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky stated that not all schools can do all the steps right now. I say not all schools can do the steps right now and effectively deliver in-class instruction. Dr. Walensky references the American Rescue Plan as a resource for school systems aspiring to reopen in-person learning. In my opinion, the best resource for communities, schools, students, and families is to get as many people vaccinated and reopen schools for in-person learning starting in the fall of 2021.
Dr. Michael Robinson is the Founder and CEO of Forest Of The Rain Productions an Education Affairs Organization. Dr. Robinson is the host of Parent Talk Live a weekly radio show with emphases on educational topics germane to parents and educators. Dr. Robinson is known as an advocate for social Justice, education, housing, parents and students. He has worked in the areas of community outreach, housing and education for 30 years. He is an authority in community outreach, fair housing, organizational branding, parental engagement, fatherhood issues, at-risk youth and program development.