Denver Public Schools should reopen with strict social distancing measures and designate specific days and times for each grade level to experience in-person learning. It is important for the development of social skills that kids have the opportunity to be in a physical classroom. Online school is draining for children, and many parents struggle having to juggle a job with homeschooling.
It is pertinent to recognize that shifting school to a completely online format is the safest option. In September, Denver Public Schools announced that 30% of families enrolled in completely virtual schooling. However, with specific regulations and guidelines in place, DPS has the opportunity to provide an enriching educational experience while keeping students and staff safe. Many parents work nine-to-five, and having the option to send their kids to an after-school program helps them maintain a work-life balance.
Laura Landgreen, who is a teacher in the Denver area, struggled with the frustration of teaching her own kids during COVID-19. She discussed that she “needs to teach other children.”
It is healthy for students to have a break from their home lives, as it gives a sense of independence to both parents and children. Due to COVID-19, many parents have not been able to have this needed respite
. To learn and grow, it is crucial for children to experience environments outside of their homes. A major downside of not having an in-person institution is the lack of after-school programming. Many children get their exercise from these programs.
Ruopeng An, an assistant professor, stated that by “having schools closed nationwide, children in the U.S. have missed their opportunity to participate in physical education classes and other school-based physical activities, such as recess and after-school sports programs.”
By having only online instruction, these kids miss out on social interactions as well as a consistent exercise schedule. If schools continue to be closed until December, the childhood obesity rate may increase by 2.4%. Many kids get their breakfast and lunch through DPS. Although these schools still provide curbside pick-up for meals, many parents work during the day and don’t have time to pick them up.
Lauren Bauer, a researcher at the Brookings Institution, said that “among low-income households with children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, only about 15% are getting those meals.”
Stress is already high from a rise in unemployment, and now many parents must figure out how to provide meals for their kids when they are not able to eat at school. In our present world, students need technology to succeed in online schooling. This has proven to be a struggle for low-income families around the country. Although some schools provide computers for students, many families do not have access to strong internet or any internet connection at all.
According to the Colorado Education Initiative, about 10% of Colorado students (K-12) do not have a reliable internet connection, which makes up about 90,000 students. This causes education inequality for children who do not have access to these resources.
Although there are advantages of going back to school, safety concerns are omnipresent. Even with strict social distancing in place, how will we contain this highly-contagious virus? Kids have trouble keeping their masks on and washing their hands for an entire 30 seconds. Teachers can be put in a life-threatening situation if they bring the virus home from school to their families. 24% of teachers have a condition that puts them at risk of serious illness if they were to get COVID-19. Students or parents may be immunocompromised, and going to school might not be the best option for every family’s safety.
It is crucial to understand the risks of returning to the classroom. But if schools have strict social distancing, temperature checks, symptom monitoring and cleaning procedures in place, this will mitigate the risk of a coronavirus outbreak. There are virtual options for those who are immunocompromised and significant developmental benefits to returning to the classroom.
These are tough decisions that will affect children’s overall well-being and social skills. However, this is a society that knows how to adapt. Denver Public Schools should reopen two to three days a week. They must enhance students’ educational experience, while enforcing social distancing and strict sanitization protocol.
