For weeks I have been watching in horror this game of chicken between two locomotives on a track: schools are not safe in a pandemic. But people need schools. Is this the collision? https://twitter.com/DCWard7teacher/status/1283546447657472000

People are screaming, "Pull the brake! Pull the brake!" But the drivers have legitimate concerns about the comfort and safety of the people in the cars in the train. Of course, when the crash happens, all will be violently derailed anyway. What will it be, a pileup now, or later?

On the "people need schools" train, you have families whose circumstances make it impossible for kids to learn at home. They don't have the tech, the infrastructure, the living space. Parents unable to maintain their livelihood while supervising kids.

There are also children whose learning needs can not be met without in-person instruction. I think I understand why some parents would be willing to risk their family's safety to get kids back in school.

But on the "schools are not safe in a pandemic" is COVID-19, the health and safety of teachers and staff, students, parents and grandparents, and the broader community that is connected to all of those people. All are susceptible and those who are not afraid are delusional.

I have been watching this hoping someone is going to pull the switch and throw the train on to the siding and avoid a deadly crash. But perhaps others don't see it? The siding is right in front of us.

If school opens on the hybrid plan, people will die. If you think children's mental health is harmed by boredom and isolation, just imagine what the death of their teachers and family members would do to them. Imagine if your child were the vector of the contagion.

Teachers should not go back into schools. They should teach from the safety of their homes, where they can protect their family members, students, communities, and their own children whose schools and day cares may not be open.

We can't afford to sacrifice our teachers. Not their lives nor their careers.

Anyway, if all the teachers are in classrooms, who is going to be teaching all the children who are staying home? Those who are infected (tested positive) or quarantined (exposed to someone who tested positive), or whose family members are infected or quarantined?

This thread is already more tweets than I've ever written in my life. I am writing it because I think there is an obvious solution that people are missing. It would take some additional resources, but avert potentially catastrophic harm and chaos.

Teachers should conduct "school" remotely only--this should include as much direct personal (phone/online) interaction with students as possible. All students who are able to adequately access that interaction from home should stay home.

Students who need daytime supervision because their parents can't work with them at home; or those who don't have the tech or space to access school from home (including homeless)--should be able to use school buildings to support their access (if not infected or quarantined).

Somebody--not necessarily teachers--will have to be there to supervise them and give them access to computers, supplies, spaces, etc., and make sure they stay safely distanced and masked. It's a risk to go into a congregate setting and all precautions should be taken.

To minimize the number of kids who need to use the school buildings, the district should work with every family to see if there is an alternative way to meet their school access needs. Do they need internet? A computer? Child care assistance? Food?

Whatever happens in-person, on-site at schools is going to be subject to frequent disruption as people become infected, exposed and quarantined (sent home pending determination of infection status after exposure). Plan for this and do most of the teaching and learning remotely.

If we don't put health and safety first, nothing good can follow. #OnlyWhenItsSafe means only when community spread has declined, and our ability to test and trace increased, to the point that nobody walking into a school can be contagious. That is nowhere near next month.