FOR WHOM THE SCHOOL BELL TOLLS

IF NOT FOR WE...

I remember hearing the bell for the end of class, and almost always being happy to flee. But kids are really longing for school these days. Online learning has a place, but it cannot replace the actual classroom full of funky artwork, chemistry beakers, quotes from admired thinkers and all the stuff of learning and friendship.

So how about it?

Don't you think that priority should be given to opening the schools safely? It would be amazing for the economy, since parents could go back to work. It would be terrific for the kids, since they need the education, the socializing, the socialization, the lunch.

Putting the bazillions of dollars into the schools will help in bazillions of ways, too. Most who study the issue believe that smaller class sizes benefit students, and that would be a given in a coronavirus-savvy school. Cleanliness? Always a good thing. Kids miss their friends and many pediatricians say that the harm for kids not being in school is worse than the illness. Child and spousal abuse are sky-rocketing and getting the kids out of the house for most of the day cannot but help mitigate that situation. 

I've heard interviews on the news that say it can be done. The schools can be safe. Sure, tracking takes money and science--how's that for a teachable moment? If kids learned nothing except about the science of epidemiology, it would still be wonderful. 

Here is a cute example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-5BRf3cYWo

Schools can be better than ever. They can promote equality and diversity in a way never achieved. In this new awareness of Black Lives Matter, putting the money into the schools can be a good start to teaching, and learning, that centuries of harm to a group must be corrected. Can be corrected. It is amazing what knowledge and good will, and yes bazillions of dollars can do. Must do, and the time for doing is now. 

A lot can be done in our schools.

Our kids need good schools. We need them. What better place to put the money for economic recovery? And once we relieve parents of the job of teaching, which is driving them crazy, and which most are not doing well, and probably giving kids and parents both PTSD, they can take a breath.  And start thinking about the new ways we need to run our lives if we are to keep ourselves, the economy, and our planet safe.