I finally figured out why the #SK back-to-school plan bothers me (aside from the lack of clarity on key points). Imagine you're a kid, you come down with covid (that's a when, not an if). You're likely terrified.
That first kid triggers dominos: isolation, quarantine, masks for everyone, loss of privileges, change and disruption.
That's a massive guilt complex, right there. Massive.
And face it: people can be mean. Finger-pointing and blame are real, and they define how people feel.
That's likely the key reason why I'd advocate for starting the school year with *more* controls and restrictions, not less. Let kids show their mettle, competence and self-awareness. They can use that to earn increased privilege (lessening of restrictions) as the weeks go by.
When you start from a position of great communal strength and purpose, with strong guidelines and protocols, the school year will stay F2F for longer.
I'd rather have the kids go to school, excited, and stay there longer with success, earning greater freedoms, not lose them.
And really, it's because I can imagine myself, or my own kids, nieces, nephews, neighbors, as that first, terrified, covid-positive kid watching their school year get derailed, and feeling bludgeoned by guilt.
That's too much to ask. /fin
You can follow @merlemassie.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: