The Struggle to Fully Reopen Schools
Medina Iljazi
With the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines now underway, there is a strong yearning in the United States for a return to normal once infection rates decline. In his first 100 days in office, President Joe Biden is working hard to ensure that schools are able to reopen for safe in-person instruction. However, push back to in-person learning out of the fear of creating an unsafe environment for students and teachers alike is going to be a serious roadblock for Biden.
Currently, the Biden administration is working to speed up the vaccine rollout to make in-person learning possible. A statement by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki to CNN outlines Biden's reopening plan: "His goal that he set is to have the majority of schools, so more than 50%, open by day 100 of his presidency. And that means some teaching in classrooms. So at least one day a week..." (CNN). The statement may come as a disappointment to those hoping for the possibility of a full week of in-person learning, but for teachers like those involved in the Chicago Teachers Union protest, the news is promising. Protestors expressed opposition to a full transition to in-person learning in fear of potential exposure to COVID-19 for both faculty and students who are ineligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has released new guidelines to demonstrate how schools should safely conduct the reopening process. The CDC recommends that schools institute a series of precautions in order to make school environments as safe as possible. One of the main pieces of advice given by the CDC is for parents to make certain that their children are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms. The CDC also emphasized the need for masks and regular handwashing, 6-feet distancing at all times, and ensuring COVID-19 cases throughout the community remain low. The guidelines have received positive support from teachers and school communities, giving students and educators the hope of returning back to normal, as long as the spread is contained.
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