As a retired teacher and grandmother of two young school children, I was heartbroken when school was abruptly canceled in the spring but knew it was necessary. COVID numbers were high but, by the end of May, those numbers had dipped significantly. It looked promising. Schools would certainly open in the fall. Then came the governor’s order moving us to Phase II. People relaxed, letting their guard down in response to pandemic fatigue. Memorial Day gatherings, Fourth of July get-togethers, happy hour at favorite haunts soon brought COVID numbers back to nearly what they’d been in the spring!
Now, instead of children heading back to the classroom, they’ll be back to remote learning from home, the word “learning” used loosely. Even for children in stable homes, school via computer is woefully inadequate. Motivation is tough to muster and most parents are the first to admit they are not teachers. The parent/child dynamic doesn’t often segue smoothly into teacher/child. Those problems are even more acute in children with learning disabilities. Children for whom school was a respite from dysfunctional, unsafe home environments are doubly at risk of falling behind.
What can we do to get kids back into the classroom? You know the drill. Wear a mask! Not just through the front door of the store, but the entire time you’re shopping! Stay six feet away from others. Do not let your guard down! Children are depending on you to do the right and safe thing. Their future depends on it! Stay strong. Please sacrifice a little of your own pleasure and convenience in the short term for a quality education for our children in the long term.
Sherry Haigh
Everett
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