Update: I said this in my original post but I’m changing the title. The point is not to close the schools. It is to get the most kids to stay home as possible. New York is not closing because they have 115K homeless kids to feed. That’s 100% correct to do, but it doesn’t mean we have to hold classes and keep everyone there causing more transmission. Let’s be reasonable.
Keep the schools open for food and childcare. Not for classes. If some schools can do remote learning, then fine, do that. If they can’t, fine, don’t and let kids stay home.
The point is that we have most of society realizing what is necessary. But we aren’t doing it with schools because they are crucial social safety nets. And they need to remain so. But they need to stop the requirement. Let parents keep their kids home. Right now If I do that I get a letter to come to court for violating the law. That must be lifted.
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END update
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The NCAA tournament is not allowing fans.
Most colleges and Universities are not in session starting next week.
Pro leagues are playing games without fans in Europe and in San Jose the sharks will not have fans.
Yet my son’s school in Pittsburgh is in full session.
I know we have to consider free lunch and childcare, but at least put a moratorium on truancy laws and let parents keep their kids home voluntarily.
This is not ok. The public schools are waiting and waiting and only closing when cases are already present in the area.
Kids get the virus and don’t show symptoms as often as they do. They are the perfect vectors to take it home to grandma and grandpa.
We are failing our kids and our elders.
Close the schools.
Nationwide.