By Aubrey de Guzman

With spring break coming up, controversy has been floating around regarding the return of in-person students at school. It is not the right choice for students to continue their courses fully in-person rather than remote or hybrid. The safety of all children is not ensured if they are allowed back in-person full time.  

“And even if they understand that the vast majority of children don’t get seriously ill from COVID-19, they are worried about them spreading it to grandparents who are at greater risk.”

If schools require students to go back, they could still pass the virus onto others at greater risk such as grandparents. Numerous children have grandparents living with them, putting them at risk regardless of protocols taken at the school. It is important for families to have a choice because this is only one of the things not being put into consideration. 

“In guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, schools are called a ‘potential source of COVID-19 outbreaks, due to the number of individuals intermingling in close proximity for extended periods of time.’In guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, schools are called a ‘potential source of COVID-19 outbreaks, due to the number of individuals intermingling in close proximity for extended periods of time.’”

With the increased number of children that will be in the same space, it will make it more difficult to follow all safety procedures. Teachers will have more students to watch over and teach while having to make sure they all stay extra safe at the same time. There will always be students who do not cooperate and break rules. This is not like before and in this case, when they break rules, it puts their health and others at risk.

Some may argue more information will be retained with their in-person attendance. Remote or hybrid learners may feel it is hard to focus or learn only through the use of their technology without having hands-on experience. While this may create bad habits, it is not worth putting health at risk. Bad habits are a temporary issue, while damaged health can be permanent and dangerous.

Due to this information, it is an extremely unwise decision to reopen schools for full-time in-person students. The health of students, families, and teachers will be put at risk and more factors need to be put into consideration rather than opening up too soon. 

Quotes courtesy of https://www.wbez.org/stories/only-37-of-cps-students-say-theyll-go-back-to-school-in-person-and-white-students-are-overrepresented/df3b37f4-24ec-4b21-ba1b-e26026a275f4