Open primary schools as a priority, teach in small social groups initially
There are many unknowns about the coronavirus, however one thing that is very clear is that the risk to school age children, and in particular primary-school age children, is essentially zero if they have no underlying health conditions. The reason to close schools to date is to reduce community spread and protect the health of teachers, and this was the correct course of action.
If children in general were a high-risk group, schools should remain shut until the pandemic is crushed, but thank goodness they are not a high-risk group (quite the opposite).
Schools should be opened as soon as community spread reaches an acceptable level. Pupil attendance in the initial weeks should be entirely voluntary to support those parents who do not wish their children to return immediately. In primary schools we should have smaller groups of children taught together, staggered arrival times etc... as Denmark - anyone who's had kids this age knows social distancing is not going to be 100%. Teachers with increased risk of any kind (including age) should work from home. PPE should be available. It will not be school as normal, but it will be something.
Why the contribution is important
1) The risk to children without underlying conditions is low - close to zero. Children at increased risk, or those were their parents wish it, should remain at home
2) Social justice. It is the most vulnerable children who will be most scarred by school closure. School closures will widen the attainment gap. And children will pay for the educational scarring they are experiencing for the rest of their lives.
3) Maintain public support for the lockdown and ongoing measures. In families where all parents work, or where furlough is not available or not offered (a very large proportion of the private sector), the choice is work and neglect your kids, or financial hardship and perhaps destitution. This will erode public support for the lockdown and ongoing measures. And support for these measures will be required to protect those at high risk from Covid, and keep overall death rates down
by mpiper on May 10, 2020 at 10:10AM
Posted by Tubsarooni May 10, 2020 at 10:57
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Posted by SStar May 10, 2020 at 11:10
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Posted by mpiper May 11, 2020 at 12:29
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