Letters: Reader urges choices for in-person, virtual learning

Dear Editor,

Education is an essential service! Our ability to compete in the global economy, to carry influence in world affairs, to compete in technology advancements, to compete in medical advancements, etc., – all depend on a strong educational foundation. Without a strong and equitable public education, the wealth and achievement gap will continue to grow wider.

What followed the closing of our schools was disjointed online learning, and in-turn, a massive learning loss among Virginia’s children, and in particular, low-income, minority and rural students were impacted the most.

The goal of the shutdown was never to eradicate the virus. It was to flatten the curve as to not overwhelm hospitals and healthcare workers. That goal has been achieved. We now know the strategies needed to mitigate exposure and spread.

There is no doubt that we are facing an unprecedented time and significant health risk for Virginia, our nation, and the world. Each of us knows someone impacted by Covid-19 and our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones. Covid-19 cases in 0-19 year olds account for under 11% of cases in Virginia, and under 2% resulted in hospitalizations with ZERO deaths.

At the same time, approximately 1,000 daycare centers have remained open in Virginia, and while there have been few outbreaks, none have resulted in deaths. In Henrico County, specifically, there have been ZERO outbreaks from daycare centers. Daycares show that it is possible to reopen schools and effectively mitigate the transmission of Covid-19 outbreaks.

The hybrid model will lead to continued learning loss for Virginia’s children, and especially low income, minority, and rural students. The hybrid model actually puts students, staff, and teachers at an increased risk of exposure to Covid-19 than having the same children in the classroom five days a week. The hybrid and Virtual-Only models will further strain working parents, single-parent households that cannot have an adult stay home during the day to help with schoolwork, and families that cannot afford supplemental childcare, if they can even find it.

While Virginia’s public schools remain closed, or only half-open, private schools are planning to reopen five days a week this fall. We are failing Virginia’s children by not fully reopening the doors of our public schools and widening the income and achievement gaps.

Now is the time for creativity, flexibility, and leadership. There is nothing political about getting Virginia’s children back in the classroom. Essential businesses were allowed to stay open during the pandemic, and other industries have now been allowed to reopen, but the doors of our public schools remain closed.

Education is essential. Another disrupted school year will mean that most students will continue to fall farther behind, many children may never read on grade level, and others will have lifelong social and emotional impacts that are difficult to measure.

Again, the goal of shutting down was never to eradicate the virus. The goal was to flatten the curve and learn how to mitigate exposure and outbreaks. The science, research, and data we now have, four months in, shows that students can safely and consistently return to school.

The reopening of schools should provide parents and teachers with a choice – students who want/need a virtual path, should be able to get it. Teachers who need a virtual path, should be accommodated. Parents who want five-days, face-to-face instruction, should get that choice.

Education is essential. Teachers are not babysitters – they are educators, and education is about so much more than just academics.

Sincerely,

Yael Levin