The CDC has finally unveiled its recommendations for reopening schools, providing a level of detail that was previously missing. However, as I review these guidelines, I can’t help but question whether anyone at the CDC has actually interacted with children, consulted educators, or stepped foot into a school restroom. My intention isn’t to undermine the CDC; I genuinely appreciate the importance of peer-reviewed research and the scientific approach they take to safeguard our students, teachers, and communities.
Nonetheless, the guidelines range from confusing to impractical, and at times appear disconnected from the realities of school life. Based on these recommendations, it seems that many families may continue with homeschooling their children.
Logistical Challenges of Social Distancing
To begin with, the CDC emphasizes the need for social distancing in classrooms—suggesting six feet between desks and that all desks face in the same direction. While this may sound straightforward, the logistics are daunting. It’s been weeks since I’ve entered my children’s classroom, but I doubt it can accommodate twenty-two desks spaced six feet apart. In terms of practicality, this is simply unfeasible in most settings.
Airflow and Health Risks
Another guideline involves keeping windows open to promote airflow, which is a commendable notion for diluting the virus. However, this recommendation becomes complicated when considering potential health risks, such as pollen or worsening asthma symptoms. The suggestion seems to imply that windows should only be opened if it is safe to do so, which raises questions about the practicality of the advice.
Minimizing Shared Materials
Furthermore, the CDC instructs schools to minimize sharing of commonly used materials, such as art supplies, by assigning them to individual students or limiting their use to one group at a time, with cleaning and disinfecting in between. While this is not impossible, it appears to overlook the chronic shortage of supplies schools face, especially cleaning materials—which many parents, including myself, have struggled to find throughout this pandemic.
Challenges for Special Education and Older Students
The guidelines also recommend keeping children in small groups with the same teacher throughout the day. This might work in elementary settings, but it seems to disregard the needs of special education students and older students who require varied support. For instance, how will students needing speech therapy or extra math help receive their services without creating a logistical nightmare? In middle and high schools, where students transition between classes, reorganizing the entire structure seems impractical and urgent.
Transportation Concerns
Another recommendation involves maintaining social distance on school buses, suggesting one child per seat and every other row. This poses significant logistical challenges and raises the question of enforcement. Can bus drivers effectively monitor students while ensuring safe transportation? And what about the additional time needed for sanitizing between groups of children?
Overwhelming Expectations on Teachers
The expectations placed on teachers are equally overwhelming. The CDC suggests that teachers should constantly disinfect and monitor students, all while teaching in an environment where movement is limited. This raises concerns about teachers’ own health and safety, as well as their ability to engage students effectively. If teachers feel unsafe, they cannot provide the nurturing environment that students need to thrive.
The Essence of School
Arguably, the most significant impact of these guidelines is the potential loss of the essence of school itself: the joy, laughter, and socialization that define the educational experience. With no field trips, assemblies, or even casual interactions with friends, students may face a starkly altered environment that could prove detrimental to their mental well-being.
While homeschooling presents its own challenges, returning to school under these guidelines could impose a different set of burdens on students, teachers, and parents. The choice facing many families will be whether to continue with homeschooling or to navigate a new and potentially overwhelming reality in schools.
Although I deeply value the education my children receive and eagerly anticipate their return to school, safety must be the priority. If these are the guidelines we must work with, it’s clear we are not yet ready in terms of safety, logistics, or practical application.
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In conclusion, while the guidelines might aim to ensure safety, their impractical nature will likely lead many to continue homeschooling rather than returning to traditional schooling with these protocols in place.