Last week the White House Corona virus Task Force members testified on the Federal response to the pandemic. Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Stephen Hahn, Admiral Brett Giroir, and Dr. Robert Redfield tried to answer questions from a panel of senators. It was obvious if a question was politically or medically framed. The Task Force was constantly interrupted by the questioning senators. Don’t these people have manners?
As a teacher the first thing I wanted to do was blow my recess whistle, put everyone in detention, and send them to their counselor.
How disheartening and confusing for our students to watch this kind of rude and skewed behavior from our leaders.
New rules should govern the way the politicians are allowed to communicate. Just imagine if these folks were in one of our classes!
On the topic of reopening schools, Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the CDC, testified that he wants schools to reopen. A grandfather of 11, he feels comfortable sending them back to school. Dr. Redfield proceeded to list out all the reasons why students are better off at school than at HOME.
The list of services I am about to rattle off is no surprise to educators. Right or wrong schools have become everything for everybody.
Ready? Here it goes:
Students are better off at school than at home because schools provide:
- Nutrition Services.
- Mental and Emotional Services.
- Suicide Prevention.
- Child Abuse Reporting.
- Social Connections.
- Education.
Yes, education came last. Doesn’t it feel that way as a school staff member? We feed students and families with the free or reduced lunch program and provide food for the weekends. We support our students’ mental and emotional health in various ways including teaching them how to manage and recognize emotions in the body, conflict resolution strategies, and free professional counseling appointments.
Suicide has become frighteningly prevalent. Friends and teachers frequently recognize suicidal signs and are able to get support for the student. And schools frequently teach lessons about what the signs are and how to talk frankly to a student who might be considering suicide.
Educators and school staff are mandatory reporters of child abuse. Children sometimes confide in a trusted adult and teachers will see behavioral changes that could be a sign of abuse or neglect.
Social connections and interactions are vital to building healthy relationships. Daily engagement with peers creates life-long lessons about team building, friendship, and compassion.
Educational opportunities for students can feel rushed on the surface, or part of a check list. There is little time to slow down and go deep into topics and lessons because schools have become everything to everybody.
Apparently, child care is also high on the list. Parents can’t work if their kids are home also trying to do their homework.
What does this say about us as a country? Many kids are better off not with their families?
I don’t think we believe that. It just sounds so wrong.
How did we get here? If schools are that important then why do we EVER cut a budget and take away funding? Listening to the local and national news makes it sound like without schools reopening the entire country is at a stand still.
Now is the time to look at educational institutions and decide what we want them to do? Educate?
Maybe it is time to fund and not cut all the other social services that families and students need for success.
It is a sign of the inequity among the races and the classes. The impoverished, blue collar, middle class, upper class, and the in between class.
Why should parents have to both work, or work 2 jobs, in order to survive?
What if parents could take turns staying home with the kids so all the healthy things that come from family life has time to thrive?
There is a silver lining. Right or wrong America is realizing how important schools are to the success of our society.