As schools across Utah get set to open, safety concerns abound. It makes sense to move only in accordance with the strictest guidelines reflecting the advice of medical professionals. Strive to maintain the trust of parents and teachers.
Along those lines, some questions deserve consideration.
In a pandemic, and especially one in which Utah’s number of new infections remains high, how will schools be equipped to ensure classrooms don’t become petri dishes for an even larger surge? The concern covers every possible point of transmission within classrooms, including air filtration systems.
How will sickness manifested within the classroom be diagnosed and treated? With health concerns heightened, will common colds and other normal childhood ailments prompt children and teachers to miss much more class time than normal, and will this impede the education process? Will online learning be used to compliment classroom instruction in smart ways, allowing sick students to continue learning at home?
How will the governor’s school mask mandate be enforced, and will Utah’s crowded classrooms be able to keep students socially distanced?
A group of teachers, parents and others rallied at the State Capitol on Thursday, demanding schools follow the advice of medical professionals when designing plans for this return. This is more than a reasonable request. It ought to be a mandate from the State Board of Education.
Along those lines, a statement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ought to give pause. It said the resumption of “full-sized, in person classes, activities and events” are likely to spread the virus within schools. Parents and teachers are within their rights to ask how this will be avoided.
Unfortunately, simply closing schools is not a viable option. Online learning during the spring was uneven. Most importantly, it favored the wealthy — those with adequate computer equipment and internet access — and those with few children. Parents of large families struggled to make sure every child had enough computer time each day.
Also, keeping school closed would prolong economic hardships that prevent some parents from returning to work, and makes working from home too distracted for others.
Utah will not be pioneers when it comes to reopening schools. Worldwide, the results of this resumption have ranged from disaster (in Israel, an outbreak in schools was blamed for thousands of new COVID-19 cases, put 28,147 students in quarantine and forced a second shutdown) to success (Denmark reopened with strict hand-washing and social distancing rules and experienced few problems).
Given cultural and economic differences, among other factors, it may be difficult to draw any quick conclusions from such comparisons. However, Denmark’s more cautious approach toward safety measures seems prudent.
The Logan School District has announced plans for a split schedule, with half the students coming during the morning and half in the afternoon, and with internet instruction during the time at home. This will allow for better distancing. However, it also might create hardships for households, especially those whose children might be on different schedules.
Some have suggested using school libraries, gymnasiums, auditoriums and other large spaces as classrooms to allow for better distancing.
We urge school administrators and district leaders to think creatively, always with the goals of educating children and not overburdening teachers in mind. Teachers are not first responders. They also shouldn’t be put in situations that unduly endanger their health.
Thursday’s protest had the right idea. Seek advice from medical professions, then look for unique ways to apply that advice.