Should schools open in full in September?

[Santander]

It should depend on the situation in September, but school should definitely reopen before most other public spaces. The fact that some states have jeopardised full reopening by opening bars and restaurants first is scandalous. Education is more fundamental of a right than dining out.

That would be true if reopening a restaurant was remotely similar to reopening a school, and if kids were not getting educated at all. Classes will be held, just in a different mode.

I am for things opening up, even if cases inevitably increase, as long as it is balanced with healthcare capacity. But schools or any other environment full of children should be among the last places to open back up.

[Alcibiades]

It should depend on the situation in September, but school should definitely reopen before most other public spaces. The fact that some states have jeopardised full reopening by opening bars and restaurants first is scandalous. Education is more fundamental of a right than dining out.

That would be true if reopening a restaurant was remotely similar to reopening a school, and if kids were not getting educated at all. Classes will be held, just in a different mode.

I am for things opening up, even if cases inevitably increase, as long as it is balanced with healthcare capacity. But schools or any other environment full of children should be among the last places to open back up.

Of course there is a difference in opening restaurants and it is somewhat easier. But online schooling is nowhere near as good as the real thing and in particular increases educational disparities between the wealthy and poor, as well as being hugely detrimental to kids who have an unstable and/or abusive home. Some effort has to be made to have pupils in at least some of the time. Furthermore, while the scientific jury is out as to whether children can actually spread coronavirus or not, there have been very few (if any) outbreaks linked to schools in countries where they have reopened.

Here in the UK, restaurants and pubs were not reopened until last week, despite the fact that cases are far, far lower than in most US states where they were reopened a while ago (and despite the UK’s response being one of the worst in Europe). On the other hand, though, all schools are, barring a major spike in cases between now and then, going to reopen fully in September.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Unpopular opinion: Yes (but with social distancing and what not)

By September the pandemic will be controlled I think

Maybe in Spain.

[Former President tack50]

Unpopular opinion: Yes (but with social distancing and what not)

By September the pandemic will be controlled I think

Maybe in Spain.

Even in the US, if Trump and the various governors started a harsh lockdown now, the country would be ready to gradually reopen throughout September.

From the "first wave", it seems to take roughly 2 months for the pandemic to be gone enough that a country can gradually reopen with a ton of caution and social distancing.

Granted this puts a ton of unwarranted faith in Trump, but theoretically, it is possible

[Former President tack50]

Good luck getting a bunch of 1st graders to wear masks all day and social distance.

Wearing masks will admittedly be very hard, but I don't think social distancing would be that hard to keep outside recess? Basically, sit students as though they are going to have an exam all the time.

Of course, keeping social distance in recess for 1st graders (or really any students) will be impossible.

First graders do not sit still. That's just not how they behave — there is no way to get them to do this.

I mean, we are talking 6-7 year old kids here. They have at least some capability to follow instructions and what not.

A 1st grade class is certainly active to call it some way, but it is not complete anarchy. Or maybe I am overestimating 6 year old me and my classmates

At the absolute worst I suppose 1st and 2nd graders could be punished without recess and they stay inside a single classroom for the entire school day.

Or maybe only 3rd graders and up go to school or something like that

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

Good luck getting a bunch of 1st graders to wear masks all day and social distance.

Wearing masks will admittedly be very hard, but I don't think social distancing would be that hard to keep outside recess? Basically, sit students as though they are going to have an exam all the time.

Of course, keeping social distance in recess for 1st graders (or really any students) will be impossible.

First graders do not sit still. That's just not how they behave — there is no way to get them to do this.

You guys are seriously underestimating first graders. They are absolutely capable of understanding the importance of mask wearing and sitting six feet apart and as a general rule, adults should have higher expectations of young children.

[John Dule]

What the hell is wrong with using Zoom? We're going to end up putting all courses online before mid-century, so why delay the inevitable?

[scutosaurus]

Everybody, no matter their political affiliation, should be looking for the safest possible path to reopen schools this fall, and it's shameful that there's public officials out there who value bars and restaurants over our education. This should not be a partisan issue.

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

Good luck getting a bunch of 1st graders to wear masks all day and social distance.

Wearing masks will admittedly be very hard, but I don't think social distancing would be that hard to keep outside recess? Basically, sit students as though they are going to have an exam all the time.

Of course, keeping social distance in recess for 1st graders (or really any students) will be impossible.

First graders do not sit still. That's just not how they behave — there is no way to get them to do this.

You guys are seriously underestimating first graders. They are absolutely capable of understanding the importance of mask wearing and sitting six feet apart and as a general rule, adults should have higher expectations of young children.

You should volunteer to teach them then

Unfortunately, I have neither the qualifications nor the disposable income to do so, but that does not take away from my point. Plenty of other countries are reopening their K-12 education systems with masks and distancing and it works. There is nothing about American children, except our unfortunate inability to take them seriously, that would prevent similar measures being implemented here as well.

[jaymichaud]

Yes, but we're talking like 10 per class.

[morgieb]

For Americans? Probably not barring small rural states. Here they've been open for a couple of months.

Unis I'm a no.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Grammar school can be socially distancing. Pre adolescent kids need peers. But, HS and above are all internet learning.

HS and College athletics are taking a huge hit, and rightly so, there hasnt been a Pandemic since the 80s when we had Chicken Pox,  Measles, Mumps and HIV. We didnt have cyber learning. It was due, eventually, it took 35 years
Ivy league schools are already eliminating the minor sports, Harvard, Yale and Princeton.

Cricket, Wrestling and Track are on the chopping block