Safely Reopening Our Schools: A Status Report
A status report on what we’ve learned– and what lies ahead– for our schools during the pandemic.
Safety
7/27/20 School Board Meeting Guide
A revised, much-improved, health and safety plan for reopening East Penn schools has been approved. This and more news from last night’s board meeting.
Pandemic Education
Our schools, their approach to instruction, and their instructional practices were built around the very thing that spreads the virus the most: close, regular, sustained, interaction between diverse groups of children, teachers, parents, and staff. So what do we do now?
A Case for Keeping Schools Closed
What’s the most persuasive case for keeping our schools closed and teaching 100% remotely? I think it involves the national context, continued uncertainty, short vs. long term thinking, and the quality of education. Here’s why.
A Case for Reopening Our Schools
What’s the most persuasive case for reopening schools as fully as possible? I think it involves equity, quality, safety, and expert advice. Here’s why.
This is What Failure Looks Like
The impact of COVID-19 is not inevitable. To reopen our schools safely, we need to pivot from the public policy failures of recent months to embrace proven methods to beat back the pandemic.
The Least Bad Option?
Reopening the East Penn schools isn’t about choosing a good plan; it’s about choosing the least bad one. And not being sucked in by simplistic social media posts about the issue.
6/22/20 School Board Meeting Guide
A task force for safely reopening the schools, a plan for safely resuming school sports, and block scheduling coming to the high school this fall were key takeaways from last night’s school board meeting.
Grasping at School Safety Straws
Some schools now require clear plastic backpacks as a safety measure. Does anyone ever consider whether such policies actually work?
How to Judge School Safety Rumors
Lots of rumors of threats left many LMMS parents and students unsettled. Here’s some thoughts on how to judge stories we hear about school safety, the real-life dangers of safety rumors, and why it isn’t possible to share every single detail of every school incident.
