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A thread on re-opening schools:
Much of the discussion about re-opening schools has been about keeping children safe.
This is good; the well-being of children should be among our highest concerns, now and always.
1/19
Much of the discussion about re-opening schools has been about keeping children safe.
This is good; the well-being of children should be among our highest concerns, now and always.
1/19
One of the arguments for reopening schools is that it is in children’s best interest to attend in-person schools again.
I agree with both the premise (It’s best for kids) and conclusion (Therefore we should reopen schools).
2/19
I agree with both the premise (It’s best for kids) and conclusion (Therefore we should reopen schools).
2/19
So if that’s our goal: To reopen schools (because it’s best for kids, it’s necessary to restart the economy, etc), how might we accomplish that goal?
3/19
3/19
Before we can address that, let’s think for a minute about what we mean when we say “reopen school.”
4/19
4/19
I think we mean “put teachers and students back in their classrooms,” which also means “put two dozen people together in a small indoor space for hours at a time.”
This, we know, is problematic.
5/19
This, we know, is problematic.
5/19
Amid the reopening discussions, much has been made of children’s resistance to the worst symptoms of Covid-19, and the unlikelihood of their death. This is heartening. But what of the adult staff?
Adults seem not to share children's asymptomaticity.
6/19
Adults seem not to share children's asymptomaticity.
6/19
I raise this concern about school staff not simply as a teacher, but as someone who wants to succeed in the school reopening project.
Schools cannot open without staff. To successfully reopen, you need healthy adults in the building.
7/19
Schools cannot open without staff. To successfully reopen, you need healthy adults in the building.
7/19
Consider: If enough teachers get sick, schools will re-close:
We see this every year during flu season. The schools don’t close during flu season because students are sick; they close because there aren’t enough healthy teachers & subs.
8/19
We see this every year during flu season. The schools don’t close during flu season because students are sick; they close because there aren’t enough healthy teachers & subs.
8/19
Any plan for reopening must not only account for keeping children safe, but for keeping adult school staff safe.
Remember: Sick staff results in a failure of the reopening project.
9/19
Remember: Sick staff results in a failure of the reopening project.
9/19
So, how do we keep staff and students safe?
Two essential elements in preventing spread of the virus seem to be physical distancing and face masks.
10/19
Two essential elements in preventing spread of the virus seem to be physical distancing and face masks.
10/19
Face masks are easy enough: a reopening plan that is likely to be successful will require everyone in the school to wear one at all times. “Everyone” includes students.
11/19
11/19
Yes that’s hard. Especially for younger students, and especially during lunch.
The alternative is a room full of potentially virus-laden respiratory droplets and an increased likelihood of sick students and staff.
Sick staff = re-closed schools.
12/19
The alternative is a room full of potentially virus-laden respiratory droplets and an increased likelihood of sick students and staff.
Sick staff = re-closed schools.
12/19
But if face masks are hard, physical distancing is….um...really, *really* hard?
We cannot put our normal number of students in their normal classroom while maintaining physical distancing.
Space is a very real constraint.
13/19
We cannot put our normal number of students in their normal classroom while maintaining physical distancing.
Space is a very real constraint.
13/19
To maintain physical distancing, we need more space.
Assuming we have adequate space, we then need more staff to supervise and teach in those spaces.
To hire more teachers, we need more money.
Space and money. That’s what we need.
14/19
Assuming we have adequate space, we then need more staff to supervise and teach in those spaces.
To hire more teachers, we need more money.
Space and money. That’s what we need.
14/19
[The funny (I don’t mean funny, I mean sad) thing is that is what we’ve always needed.
Budgets reveal values.
Our education budget reveals our values.
If we're serious about a problem, we'll devote serious resources to solving it.]
15/19
Budgets reveal values.
Our education budget reveals our values.
If we're serious about a problem, we'll devote serious resources to solving it.]
15/19
If we want to reopen schools - and stay open - we need space and money.
Without these two things, we’re engaging in magical thinking:
“The virus will go away in warmer weather”;
“We’ll soon be down to zero cases”;
“School staff won’t get sick.”
16/19
Without these two things, we’re engaging in magical thinking:
“The virus will go away in warmer weather”;
“We’ll soon be down to zero cases”;
“School staff won’t get sick.”
16/19
Any successful reopening plan - any plan that succeeds in reopening schools and keeping them open - must plan to not only keep kids safe, but to keep the schools staffed.
No staff; no school.
17/19
No staff; no school.
17/19
So when folks push for reopening schools, ask:
- How are you going to keep kids safe?
- How are you going to keep staff safe?
- How are you going to ensure adequate staffing to remain open?
18/19
- How are you going to keep kids safe?
- How are you going to keep staff safe?
- How are you going to ensure adequate staffing to remain open?
18/19
If the plan doesn’t adequately account for all three of these things, it’s not a plan. It’s a wish.
Wishes cost a penny at the fountain.
Plans cost a whole lot more.
19/19
Wishes cost a penny at the fountain.
Plans cost a whole lot more.
19/19
