Back to school + COVID-19
Will you send your child or kids back to school?
For many parents, sending kids back to school amid rising COVID-19 cases is front and center on our minds right now. Schools here in the United States for example are busy surveying parents for their views while looking towards guidance from local governments and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
I recently joined a focus group to participate in discussions on this topic with school leaders and parents in my local school district. The perspectives were quite diverse. Some parents are eager to get their kids back to in-person school. They cited the need for not having their kids fall behind in their learning and the importance of social interactions. Quite frankly, for some working parents this view is also to ease their “burden” or in some cases a lack of choice, especially when parents may have to return to their workplaces or simply need a break from the months of home schooling. Fortunately, some employers are still able to offer remote working options, which is helpful for working parents. On the other end of the spectrum are parents who are extremely concerned about the rising coronavirus cases and risks of transmission even in a hybrid model of combined in-person and online learning. Some families have cited that underlying health conditions with kids, immediate family members at home, or close by relatives like grandparents, increases the risk for them to send their kids back to school.
A poll of American parents conducted in mid-July by Reuters/Ipsos reiterates the mixed views on how safe it is for kids to go back to school and whether parents would send their kids.
View on safety
Just 26% thought it was safe for schools in their community to bring students back
55% felt they were not safe
19% were not sure if it was safe
Sending kids to in-person school
40% parents said they would likely keep their children home if in-person teaching resumes
50% said they would send their kids to school
10% were unsure
In-person vs. online
20% said students should return for the full school calendar
37% felt students should begin an online-only curriculum
43% said students should follow a hybrid schedule with a blend of in classroom and online instruction
A one-size-fits-all approach will not make sense in the back to school decision. As the American Academy of Pediatrics along with educators state, ”Returning to school is important for the healthy development and well-being of children, but we must pursue re-opening in a way that is safe for all students, teachers and staff.”
Photo by Monkey Business Images | Shutterstock.