Require 6’ social distancing in schools

I find I’m VERY concerned with the “return to school” plans that our school district has put in place. I want to keep my kids home because of a lack of social distancing in the schools. Having been in a classroom many times before, it’s nearly impossible to walk between the desks, let alone be able to place them 3 feet apart (which is the minimum stated by the CDC, but they prefer 6 feet). Unfortunately, we don’t really have the option of staying home. Three of my four boys are in the language immersion program, with one being in first grade, so he’s just starting the program. We’ve been informed that none of the virtual learning will be available in their language, but their language teachers will try to get in touch with them as much as possible. We won’t lose our immersion spots for choosing to stay home, but our kids will essentially lose at least an entire term of instruction in their language. Allowing a hybrid model, with an every other day schedule for students (such as the ones that Logan and Davis school districts now have), would allow my kids to be able to continue their language instruction and stay caught up with their peers, while also allowing more social distancing and a lower chance of being near someone with covid. My family has followed CDC guidelines, only allowing our kids to socialize with one other family that we trust, all summer long, because I’m very high risk. I’m hurt that it’s going to be a choice between my children’s education or my health. And I’m angry that teachers are being forced to choose between their health or their careers. There is no good option for them, and I’m afraid that you’ll lose a number of incredible teachers because of a lack of effort into protecting them.

First sent on July 30, 2020 by Shandra