Not being a parent myself, I can’t even imagine how difficult this past year has been for you and your children. Having taught children for twelve years, there is no doubt that socialization and connection with peers leads to a more healthy, well balanced child.
Respectfully however, there is one aspect of all of this I think you neglected to mention, that’s a huge factor in reopening schools. That of children clustered together in schools often being a spreader of illness. Ask any parent how often their family got a cold, the flu, pinkeye, lice or any other communicable childhood illness and they will report a much higher rate once their children entered school. Same for daycare workers and teachers. Children touch each other a lot, cough and sneeze without covering their mouths, then carry those germs back home to other family members, who then carry them to the workplace and so on.
Even if children are less likely to develop serious COVID symptoms, they can be asymptomatic carriers. Putting a bunch of children together in classrooms right now, before the majority of people have been vaccinated is like deliberately creating a super spreader event.
Do we need more mental and emotional wellness support for parents and children who are deeply impacted by this global health crisis?
Absolutely, I’ve heard next to nothing from any government about how to support people with PTSD from this situation. But that’s different than saying to hell with it and just throwing children back in the schools without knowing how much longer getting past this might take.
It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. But to simply blame it on teachers’ unions, is not looking at the big picture. Which often happens when it’s personal and emotional.
I’m sorry your child and you are struggling. I know this will have lasting impact on so many.
As a society, we’ve been so wrapped up in talking about the economic impact, we haven’t even touched upon mental and emotional health. There is no easy answer, but we do have to take our time to be thoughtful and consider all the consequences of decision-making. We have to consider the needs of your individual child and the needs of the collective.
Which as a progressive, you know was not the way of the former administration.
