In July 2020 many US School districts were ordered to be closed for in-person instruction for the Fall 2020 semester. The closures were mandated by Governors and Mayors who responded to concerns from public school teacher unions. Proponents of school closings argue that cities that closed schools earlier and longer during the Spanish Influenza pandemic in 1918 had much lower mortality rate. They also argue that schools do not have the financial resources to adapt to safety guidelines recommended by the CDC. Opponents of school closures argue that people under 24 years of age make up approximately % .0015 of all Covid-19 deaths in the U.S. They also argue that in the U.S. every year an average of 190 children die of the flu, 436 from suicide, 625 from homicide, and 4,114 from unintentional deaths such as drowning.
@84ZWD6LLibertarian 6mos6MO
No, school districts should invest in infrastructure to safely allow schools to remain open with enough resources and testing to address any kids or family members who get infected
Yes, but let each individual state decide based upon their rates of contracted cases and hospitalizations
@8FNMW6N4yrs4Y
No, states have varying needs, risk, and budgets. School districts and/or counties should work with local and or state health officials and experts to identify the risk and make a decision that meets the needs of their constituency.
@8FN36P94yrs4Y
Schools should be required to OFFER online classes in conjunction with the option for in person
@8FMW6ND4yrs4Y
No, let each state decide.
@8FMT9VK4yrs4Y
It should be up to each student what to do and they should abide by CDC guidelines.
@8FMSQJYLibertarian4yrs4Y
Take a year off instead.
@8FMS5FC4yrs4Y
No, make it an option for both teachers and students. Also provide free internet to all, not just low income.
@8FMNPJ44yrs4Y
There should be a choice.
@8FM7WMCIndependent4yrs4Y
Make it an option, but still allow in class teaching as well
@8FMBFCD4yrs4Y
They should offer the choice of in-person or online learning and be ready to shift online at the drop of a hat
@8FM9HHC4yrs4Y
It should be offered alongside in-class support
@8FM88L84yrs4Y
There needs to be a universal plan.
@8FM2FBS4yrs4Y
Each school should decide, but those who choose online free internet access to low income families should be provided
@8FLZVWC4yrs4Y
No, but I think our current condition should be a huge wake up to America about the essential need of all Americans to have access to wifi and online connectivity - this is our new post office and telephone
@8FLFH294yrs4Y
This is a question for each individual state.
@8FKWNLLWorking Family4yrs4Y
Yes except for children with learning disabilities that need the face to face
@8FLJFXG4yrs4Y
when needed or for those that are in fear. but canot tell them how to run their household . like itms
@8FLCT5Z4yrs4Y
Yes, we cannot put teachers and staff members at risk, and especially not children.
@8FLCXS24yrs4Y
No because not every kid has access to a computer which means poorer kids will be at a significant disadvantage that is just unfair.
@8FLBTWP4yrs4Y
No, we need to expose ourselves to build up an immunity or we will keep having outbreaks
@8FKFFQ54yrs4Y
require them to provide the option but don’t mandate it’s use.
@33HHVJT4yrs4Y
Districts should be allowed to determine their rate of risk in their areas and act accordingly.
@8F3X4B6Constitution4yrs4Y
It should be offered but not mandated by a school for students to have to use it if they chose to do traditional instead
No, but a combination of on campus learning and distance learning.
@8FJQF4V4yrs4Y
No, it is alright to have a mix of both as long as precautions are being met. It may take a revision of the school system to do so, but sticking to online only classes will be detrimental to the students' education and work ethic, and the teacher will not be able to form a connection with the students needed to teach them efficiently
@8FJLTLQ4yrs4Y
There is no correct answer for this question. There are a lot of pros and cons to both sides. As a college student, classes have increased in difficulty, school servers constantly crash due to high influx of students accessing the websites, and it is harder to learn the material. However, we must keep people safe and schools should be more understanding about how the pandemic may affect students' personal life's, education, and especially mental health
@8FJLGWJ4yrs4Y
Should be up to the states.
@8FJCRWS4yrs4Y
Leave individual school districts to decide how to govern themselves
@8FJ648P4yrs4Y
Yes, but their should be the option to go back to the building or stay online. If student choose to go to the building they will be a requirement of wearing mask while in the building.
I think that kids with special needs should be provided an in-person option, and schools/government should provide ipads/computers and internet to those that can't afford it.
@8FHZVZG4yrs4Y
This should be decided at the district level with the education agency providing some sort of incentive for districts to stay closed
@8FHGBRS4yrs4Y
It should be up to the parents and students to decide what they each want to do.
@8FHFFLRLibertarian4yrs4Y
No, let each school decide and give the option for in-class or online
@8B594Q24yrs4Y
Listen to scientists and effective altruists
@8FGWYS74yrs4Y
No, each parent should decide what’s best for their children.
@8FGG3ZMLibertarian4yrs4Y
Virtual should be based on recommendation of health department, and scientist, Not politicians
@8FG26XJ4yrs4Y
It should be required for it to be an option for those families that deem it too risky for their immediate family.
@8FG22TG4yrs4Y
No, there should be a hybrid option for the parents to decide if they want their child to attend in-person on virtual
State and Federal Government should provide funding for schools to provide online education
@8FFQMG4Working Family4yrs4Y
No, I think it needs to cycle its course through America. I understand there are high risk people out there, but there are safety protocols in place in which if are followed properly should reduce the risk of it affecting them.
@8FFL9B94yrs4Y
If an area has had very low or no cases, then schools can re-open with proper social distancing and health measures. If an outbreak occurs in or near the district, then revert back to online-only school until the outbreak ends.
@8FF7SCN4yrs4Y
No it should be up the parent but internet access should be provided to those who are without and do not feel comfortable with in person
@8FFDR674yrs4Y
Let each school decide- if they choose to meet in person, they must have an online option for students who wish to stay at home. And if those students don’t have adequate internet access, that must be provided for them.
@8FF9ZJL4yrs4Y
Let each school district decide, but have state guidelines for making those decisions. Guidelines should be based on data and science, not politics.
@8FF86HR4yrs4Y
No but there need to be uniform guidelines from the CDC that are executable
@8FF6M3Z4yrs4Y
Schools should be required to provide and staff both in-person and online options.
@8FF3BZX4yrs4Y
This has to be managed relative to local outbreaks
@8FDYLZ34yrs4Y
If we want to go to school, let us go to school