There are no easy answers when it comes to the issue of reopening our schools in September.
Parents who need to work are justifiably upset with the plan to open for in-person learning with only one day a week in the classroom. Let’s face it; most families include parents who both have jobs. Not everyone can work from home. What are those people supposed to do?
Educators are justifiably scared about the risks. We all are. Somewhere in-between one day a week and five days a week, we need to find a solution.
If we can’t return to five days a week in the classroom, the state has a moral obligation to create and fund learning centers for students whose parents do not have the ability to stay home and work while managing online learning for their children. It’s a critical piece of infrastructure that we need right now. It’s urgent.
This virus has drawn back the curtain on the socio-economic imbalances in our society. It is the responsibility of state leadership to make sure these imbalances aren’t worsened if parents quit their jobs to stay home with their children and then end up on the state’s welfare and unemployment rolls.
The virus has demonstrated far too clearly that government-sponsored child care is absolutely critical – even without a pandemic.
According to state officials, Vermont’s virus levels are currently so low that a full return to schools should be possible with appropriate precautions, but we know that could change in a heartbeat.
But children need the social and emotional components of in-person learning. They need their peers. They need their teachers. They need breakfast and lunches. They need sports and music and school plays.
Our obligation, as members of our community and society is to make sure we do everything possible to reduce the transmission of the virus by adhering to state and federal guidelines – including wearing masks. That’s our moral obligation to school children. They need and deserve in-person learning.
If we can’t behave like the grownups in the room, generations of kids will suffer permanently.
