School Closings…

Just last month, schools across the country were closed so that local, state, and federal officials could assess the health risks to students, teachers, school staffs and parents posed by the rising spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The closings were hoped to be temporary, but now, more than half of the students enrolled in U.S. public schools are learning remotely.  Indications are increasingly likely that a majority of states will close their school buildings and move to remote learning for the rest of the academic year.

     The reason?  Fear that sufficient funds and equipment are not available to ensure the health and safety of all students and personnel inside school buildings, and therefore, increase the likelihood of transmission of the virus and asymptomatic spread outside as well as inside school walls.

     Teachers , parents and students are now coping with anxiety over what remote learning is going to look like, how it will be delivered, how teachers will interact with their students and families.  In addition, parents will have to figure out how to facilitate learning for their kids and simultaneously manage their careers and day-to-day personal responsibilities. 

     We are heading into a strange world where parents are teachers, teachers are facilitators, and kids can interact and socialize only on a screen in a place called Zoom. A lot of patience, fortitude, and empathy will be demanded of us all.  Going forward, it is up to each of us to listen to the experts, support our kids, our teachers, and each other, to find joy in the moment, and to remain hopeful, positive, and flexible - intellectually and emotionally.