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| Version 16 | Version 17 |
|---|---|
| Grappling With How to Reopen Schools Safely | Grappling With How to Reopen Schools Safely |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| To the Editor: | To the Editor: |
| So students, parents, teachers and staff are worried about going back to school before it’s safe (“Week of Fear and Anger as Teachers Feel Pressure to Return to Class,” news article, July 12)? | So students, parents, teachers and staff are worried about going back to school before it’s safe (“Week of Fear and Anger as Teachers Feel Pressure to Return to Class,” news article, July 12)? |
| Let’s tell the president we’ll go back when we can do the same testing, tracing and quarantining at our schoolhouses as they do at the White House. | Let’s tell the president we’ll go back when we can do the same testing, tracing and quarantining at our schoolhouses as they do at the White House. |
| Our kids’ lives are worth as much as our leaders’ lives, aren’t they? | Our kids’ lives are worth as much as our leaders’ lives, aren’t they? |
| William HoelzelWeatogue, Conn. | William HoelzelWeatogue, Conn. |
| To the Editor: | To the Editor: |
| It is with difficulty but with firmness that I support the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation that we should move toward physical reopening of schools this fall. | It is with difficulty but with firmness that I support the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation that we should move toward physical reopening of schools this fall. |
| While no decision during this pandemic is an easy one, over the last few months our experience and data have taught us that school closures are harming more than benefiting our children. Furthermore, this is disproportionately affecting our children of color and of low socioeconomic status, further widening the lifelong disadvantage gap. | While no decision during this pandemic is an easy one, over the last few months our experience and data have taught us that school closures are harming more than benefiting our children. Furthermore, this is disproportionately affecting our children of color and of low socioeconomic status, further widening the lifelong disadvantage gap. |
| The precise timing of reopening must be individualized based on the local pandemic situation. When schools are deemed ready to reopen, I propose the following principles to do so as safely as possible: | The precise timing of reopening must be individualized based on the local pandemic situation. When schools are deemed ready to reopen, I propose the following principles to do so as safely as possible: |
| First and foremost, prioritize the reopening of schools above nonessential businesses. Second, consider opening first for those for whom physical school is most crucial and virtual school least effective, such as children with special needs and in younger grades. Lastly, put in place enhanced protective measures for essential educational staff to minimize risk. | First and foremost, prioritize the reopening of schools above nonessential businesses. Second, consider opening first for those for whom physical school is most crucial and virtual school least effective, such as children with special needs and in younger grades. Lastly, put in place enhanced protective measures for essential educational staff to minimize risk. |
| With these principles in addition to continued practice of distancing and hygiene, we can provide safe education for our next generation and avoid what could be detrimental effects for decades to come. | With these principles in addition to continued practice of distancing and hygiene, we can provide safe education for our next generation and avoid what could be detrimental effects for decades to come. |
| Stephanie WanamakerPhiladelphiaThe writer is a pediatrician. | Stephanie WanamakerPhiladelphiaThe writer is a pediatrician. |
| To the Editor: | To the Editor: |
| Re “Minimizing Risks, Trump Pressures Schools to Open” (front page, July 8): | Re “Minimizing Risks, Trump Pressures Schools to Open” (front page, July 8): |
| President Trump’s demand that schools reopen in the fall will have little impact on a majority of parents. They will decide for themselves when it is safe for their children to return. But ardent Trump supporters are being asked to make a decision: Are you willing to risk the life of your child to demonstrate your faith in him? | President Trump’s demand that schools reopen in the fall will have little impact on a majority of parents. They will decide for themselves when it is safe for their children to return. But ardent Trump supporters are being asked to make a decision: Are you willing to risk the life of your child to demonstrate your faith in him? |
| Paul RoudLeverett, Mass. | Paul RoudLeverett, Mass. |
| To the Editor: | To the Editor: |
| As it is now clear that breathing in what others breathe out is a significant route of transmission of the coronavirus, there should be a national push to improve ventilation in all indoor spaces. Keeping such places as bars and restaurants closed until that happens is a cost to society, but the costs of keeping schools closed are far greater. Therefore federal assistance to schools, including institutes of higher education, should be a priority. The benefits in improved performance and health will more than make up for the investment. | As it is now clear that breathing in what others breathe out is a significant route of transmission of the coronavirus, there should be a national push to improve ventilation in all indoor spaces. Keeping such places as bars and restaurants closed until that happens is a cost to society, but the costs of keeping schools closed are far greater. Therefore federal assistance to schools, including institutes of higher education, should be a priority. The benefits in improved performance and health will more than make up for the investment. |
| Rick ReibsteinLexington, Mass.The writer teaches environmental law and policy at Boston University and in Harvard’s continuing education program. | Rick ReibsteinLexington, Mass.The writer teaches environmental law and policy at Boston University and in Harvard’s continuing education program. |
| To the Editor: | To the Editor: |
| Re “New York City Set to Stagger Classes in Fall” (front page, July 9): | Re “New York City Set to Stagger Classes in Fall” (front page, July 9): |
| We have two complementary problems: not enough space in schools for social distancing and too much space that won’t be reopened in restaurants and corporate buildings. Why not let schools negotiate with their neighbors and neighbors’ landlords to take over these spaces for the school term and assign groups of children to them? | We have two complementary problems: not enough space in schools for social distancing and too much space that won’t be reopened in restaurants and corporate buildings. Why not let schools negotiate with their neighbors and neighbors’ landlords to take over these spaces for the school term and assign groups of children to them? |
| For corporations already paying for more space than they currently can use, they could receive a tax break treating the rent as a donation. For restaurants it could forestall bankruptcy if the city was paying some of the rent. For teachers there’s a large force of substitutes and educated unemployed people who could be put to work. | For corporations already paying for more space than they currently can use, they could receive a tax break treating the rent as a donation. For restaurants it could forestall bankruptcy if the city was paying some of the rent. For teachers there’s a large force of substitutes and educated unemployed people who could be put to work. |
| Updated Aug. 20, 2020 | |
| The latest on how schools are reopening amid the pandemic. | |
| Leslie ParyzerBronx | Leslie ParyzerBronx |
| To the Editor: | To the Editor: |
| Sometimes a large step backward may be what is needed to move forward. I refer to the difficulties in deciding how best to reopen large school systems across the country. | Sometimes a large step backward may be what is needed to move forward. I refer to the difficulties in deciding how best to reopen large school systems across the country. |
| For large urban areas there may be a solution that goes back hundreds of years — the one-room schoolhouse. In a time of pandemic, it has the advantage of small class size, one or maybe two teachers, and the ability to locate very near where the students live. Furthermore, if any student or staff should become ill, the number of people needing to be isolated would be limited. | For large urban areas there may be a solution that goes back hundreds of years — the one-room schoolhouse. In a time of pandemic, it has the advantage of small class size, one or maybe two teachers, and the ability to locate very near where the students live. Furthermore, if any student or staff should become ill, the number of people needing to be isolated would be limited. |
| For a large apartment building, or even city block, as long as there are more than six schoolchildren below high school age, they could make up one or several one-room schoolhouses. They could meet in a space in the building, if available, or in a commercial space on the block that is available because of small business closings. | For a large apartment building, or even city block, as long as there are more than six schoolchildren below high school age, they could make up one or several one-room schoolhouses. They could meet in a space in the building, if available, or in a commercial space on the block that is available because of small business closings. |
| This old form of schooling may be an appropriate temporary solution for our times. | This old form of schooling may be an appropriate temporary solution for our times. |
| Bart J. ZoltanOld Tappan, N.J. | Bart J. ZoltanOld Tappan, N.J. |
| To the Editor: | To the Editor: |
| Reopening school in the fall will be at great risk to the health of students, teachers and other school personnel. Since there is concern about the time in school that our children are missing, why not, when it is safe to reopen, add a 13th (or 14th) grade to school to make up for the lost year (or years)? One advantage would be that students would be more mature when they begin college. | Reopening school in the fall will be at great risk to the health of students, teachers and other school personnel. Since there is concern about the time in school that our children are missing, why not, when it is safe to reopen, add a 13th (or 14th) grade to school to make up for the lost year (or years)? One advantage would be that students would be more mature when they begin college. |
| Ellen Shaffer MeyerWilmington, Del. | Ellen Shaffer MeyerWilmington, Del. |