Mitchell Robinson is a professor at Michigan State University.
In this post, he reviews the issues involved in reopening schools in the fall.
Teachers should not be expected to return unless conditions are safe for both students and adults.
That means more resources, not budget cuts.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Hello everyone,
There were a lot of good questions in this article, and I’ve thought of many of them. I think one of the problems for teachers is the deluge of different online “stuff” that teachers could use. In my own teaching, I’ve tried to cut down on all of that stuff – apps, software with bells and whistles that is useless, etc. and just get back to basics and simplify. Learning a lot of new online “stuff” isn’t the answer, and it’s overwhelming. And people don’t realize this about teaching. I have so many materials that I have created over the years, and I now have to think about how I might be able to use this in an online format. Or, I have to think about doing something different. It’s not something you just hop on the computer and start doing. So , I’m thinking of what I’d like to have students do and then see if there’s an online way of doing it. I’m not thinking of learning to use every new online software or app or whatever you call these things nowadays! It would take be a lifetime to do so. Whenever I hear “Professional Development,” I cringe because I know it will be more useless stuff to learn that isn’t really going to help me. Thank you for indulging the frustrations of this teacher!
“I’m thinking of what I’d like to have students do and then see if there’s an online way of doing it. I’m not thinking of learning to use every new online software or app or whatever you call these things nowadays! ”
Congratulations.
You are taking the logical approach, trying to figure out how to use online teaching as a tool rather than as an end in itself.
The latter is what many tech companies get wrong.
Much of what is called “online learning” is a techno-illogical solution looking for a problem.
And a dollar (or million).
me too, Mamie.
I taught beginning band, fifth grade.
Exactly how is a band teacher supposed to teach band at any level? Nobody in band can wear a mask.
I also taught recorder classes? Masks anyone? Should band classes be terminated until this virus pandemic in the U.S. has ended?
As an elementary classroom teacher I would meet with every student in two schools? Schools opening is really putting music teachers at risk.
Would the mandate to open schools be different if teaching was done by men? Women are expendable? I imagine there is a bit of truth in that. Definitely there isn’t a backup of young people wanting to take teaching jobs.
Most of the people in Congress people are men. “Opening up schools’ is easy for them.
You could put a ” bandana ” around the bell opening of instruments.
Get it? A “band”ana.😀
It would be especially effective with the coron(a)ets, which are known for spewing a lot of droplets on anyone sitting in front of them.
Trombones are also notorious for that and would probably be best muted entirely.
SomeDaM Poet: All brass instruments have spit that comes out. That is why the slide comes out and brass can dump the spit on the floor. French horns usually have a cloth to put the spit on since it can ruin the carpet in the room.
Other than putting on a ‘Band-Ana” it is extremely difficult to play with a mask on.
I can’t imagine seeing kids singing with masks on. I’m really glad that I don’t have to deal with this.
I’d like to hear from some K-5 elementary band/classroom music teachers and what they are planning to do. Has to be extremely difficult.
I wish we had had a president who was a decent leader. Florida is planning to open up schools. That is a disaster in the making.
SomeDaM Poet; A “band”ana.
I GET it. Creative thinking! However, one size fits all doesn’t work. Flute vs tuba, for example.
Boy, I’m glad to have Some DaM on our side.
Sounds like a BANDaid solution to me.
…every student in two schools!! Opps.
Bravo Mr. Mitchell! Here is a person who is not hiding behind some wall of privilege either in academia or in business. He knows this will be expensive.
I would add to his suggestions: Let’s make testing frequent and required.
Should I assume by “Let’s make testing frequent and required.” you are referring to Covid 19 testing and not the completely invalid standardized testing that has been bastardizing the teaching and learning process this century?
Duane: You assume correctly. The irony is that some in the field who advocate testing (bragging on the results) of an academic kind, would oppose medical testing and refuse vaccinations.
yes
I have to disagree.
If the professor is reading all the reports, research studies, commissions and task forces not to mention district plans in process, nowhere would he read implications of his statement:
“One of the things that has bothered me throughout this process is the nagging realization that the premise of this “Reopen the Schools!” narrative is the assumption that teachers–those adults that work in schools along with all of those wonderful children–are somehow…expendable”
The AFT nationally and locals have been on the front end of researching and making expectations clear for the safety of children, the safety of adults, and trying to accommodate parents and caregivers’ desperate need to get back to work or look for work.
I expect (or hope) that the union local has representatives on those task forces and are monitoring every recommendation.
I have yet to read state, districts, and professional association reports that remotely infer “teachers will just show up” or are “expendable.”
Are teachers worried, anxious, and nervous? Absolutely.
Are there districts or administrators who would put teachers in harms way? No. Ok there are administrators on other issues who may make uninformed decisions or requirements that do make not sense – – but putting a teacher in an unsafe health environment… well, only the president of the U.S. would do that.
From the reports I have read and articles about examples of districts across the country – – –
* All adults tested prior to return, every adult and child (including parents or specialists who must be in a school) temperature taken and screening questions asked daily, masks required, marked-on-floors distancing and more.
* All children temperature and questions (ok, that will be like “saying the Pledge of * Allegiance to the wall” ) daily. All children above age x (it varies in counties) masked.
* No activities (at least indoors) where “spray” is enhanced (tell your band teacher friend that).
* Shields, sanitizing and cleaning standards (city or county or state) adhered to and daily tracking posted…
Maybe we are reading different reports.
This excerpt from NSBA with advisory from NASN is representative of the reports:
Consider the following when making decisions:
“Impact of disease on vulnerable employees and students who may be at higher risk for COVID-19 adverse health complications, including early childhood students, older adults, and those with chronic medical conditions.
As for learning the technology, platforms, juried and vetted websites, and professional development – that is a absolutely a trial-and-error work in progress. Some has been good – some, learning from mistakes – but learning!
With few exceptions, every district in the country started with a blank piece of poster paper and a whole lot of administrators and teachers and… professors who didn’t know what they were talking about. I have been impressed seeing that learning curve accelerated and informed. It’s got a long way to go, but how impressive to see the generation of ideas, examples, and approaches published and posted everywhere.
Teachers have it tough enough with a federal mindset that teachers and unions are the problem (starting with the “three months off in the summer” narrative) not to mention conservatives in the suburbs and cities who blame salaries for their taxes. Generalizations pr perpetuating the narrative that teachers and all staff are not being considered in plans only gives the critics fuel to pour on their flames of disrespect.
I read this comment twice. I’m a slow reader and still tend to miss obvious things. But it strikes me that you cite AFT, school officials, etc. and not once cite or refer to medical/science professionals. To be clear, I could not give a damn about what a teacher’s union, school boards, administrators, teachers, or parents say about what this virus could or would do. Not one damn. What I care about is what epidemiologists, virologists, oncologists, respiratory specialists, emergency room physicians and nurses say. And you what they are telling us? We don’t know. We don’t know. We don’t know. So when non-medical people speak with certainty, ignore them. They do not know what they are talking about. It’s all, as my friend Duane reminds us all the time, horse manure.
Greg B
Your point is on target. I made an assumption and should have stated it. Unlike the feds and WH, educators know what they don’t know and who the experts are.
School districts do not do this work in a vacuum. District releases from around the country I have seen note they review their plans and communicate health departments and national agencies.
Schools read the research, they read practices in the US and from countries that have already opened (some worked; others not so much), and are advised by local, state, and national doctors, medical schools, and agencies. Actually, there is a compliance component with local health departments I presume everywhere just like everything else medical schools deal with (immunizations, outbreaks, and even lice).
A statement like this is common in districts
The Houston Independent School District remains in regular contact with local, state and federal health officials for the latest information and will continue to provide updates to the HISD Community when warranted.
In our region – local nationally recognized hospital networks (these are in practice research hospitals and medical schools) provide guidance as noted in local media coverage.
Look at NSBA, AASA, and other educational organizations with task forces – their task forces may be made up of respective member leaders but their documents all cite CDC, WHO, AMA, Johns Hopkins, and others for up to date information.
And, I expect every district has parents and teachers and students asking the same points you made: What medical advice did you base that decision on?
Thanks, WW. Upon rereading my comment, I now realize that it could have come across as a bit aggressive. That was not my intent and glad you recognized it as such. Appreciate your putting in some additional thoughts to round out the thought.
Duane E Swacker: “These sycophantic toadies (not to be confused with cane toads, adminimals are far worse to the environment) are infamous for demanding that those below them in the testucation hierarchy kiss the adminimal’s arse on a daily basis, having the teachers simultaneously telling said adminimals that their arse and its byproducts don’t stink.”
Duane, I keep saying we must have somehow been teaching in the same schools. I would ‘kiss an adminimal’s arse” and go back to the music office and kick myself. One does what one has to do to keep a job.
I truly respected the FEW principals who listened and took teachers’ advice.
I am very worried about what will happen once regular schools start. One district in Indiana has already announced that regular school will happen but parents who want online instruction can also get that.
How is a teacher realistically supposed to do both?
The U.S. is doing a rotten job of containing the virus. If we had had decent leadership this would not be happening. Over 11,000 confirmed cases were in Florida yesterday and schools there are supposed to open on time. Gov. DeSantis [R-FL] is a mini-Trump.
Let the Corona Death games begin!
Who wants to take me up on a before/after date for the first death from re-opening before the epidemiological parameters are fulfilled?
Who wants to be the first teacher to die from Corona contracted from re-opening before the epidemiological parameters are fulfilled?
Who wants to show that the teachers are willing to listen to the advice of the idiot in the White House and the stupid all-knowing adminimals?
Who wants to . . .
How many more do I have to delineate to show the absolute effin nightmare of death and morbidity that is coming from re-opening before the epidemiological parameters are fulfilled?
Stupid arrogant homo supposedly sapiens that control public education are willing to kill and maim many.
Sad, so effin Sad!
Thank you, Dr. Robinson. Great analysis.
Many education policy makers are talking about opening schools with students on staggered schedules in order to maintain social distancing in the schools, as if that were at all possible, but even if it were, the staggered schedule doesn’t solve the child care problem for parents, which is, along with the poor quality of distance learning, driving the reopening mania. This staggered schedule business sounds, to me, like the worse possible solution.
We need to develop the capacity to test EVERYONE going back to school. And we need enough capacity to be able to do this testing pretty regularly–every two weeks or so.
A decision to reopen schools comes down to this: the lives that will be lost as a result aren’t worth the cost of developing the capacity to test everyone. That’s the ugly but unspoken argument.
So, we will reopen schools, the way we reopened Arizona and Flor-uh-duh and Texas, and then there will be a spike in cases in extended school communities, and then those schools will be closed again, which will be even more disruptive, because contact tracing for Ms. Mantis, the AP, who has the virus, will show that she came into contact with just about everyone in the school.
Dumb. Really, really dumb.
Bob Shepherd: How long before the virus spreads all over the school? One teacher or one student could be an asymptomatic carrier. A child in Singapore who was 2 years old got COVID-19 yesterday. Being young doesn’t mean a child cannot spread the disease.
Opening schools shouldn’t be happening until there is enough testing ability to test every teacher and child every two weeks. HA. I love the thought of teaching outside, especially in the winter. I’m sure some poverty level schools don’t have boilers that work so it would be the same to be outside as inside.
Independent testing done by the University of Indiana estimated that 186,000 Hoosiers have COVID-19 and that 44.8% of them are asymptomatic.
This is a disaster waiting to happen.
Looks like the mayor of Indianapolis is requiring masks for public places starting July 9th. He’s smarter than Gov. Holcomb [R-IN]or Trump. [I’d like Trump supporters to explain why it is acceptable to have rallies in which people are encouraged to crowd together and NOT wear masks.] Donald Trump Jr.’s girlfriend tested positive and they weren’t able to attend the Mount Rushmore speech in which nobody on stage wore a mask. Trump has everyone who gets near him tested before they can meet with him. It shows that he knows testing must be done to protect him.
Grr.
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Indianapolis students in 6th grade and above must wear face masks at school, new guidance says
By Dylan Peers McCoy Jul 2, 2020, 5:41pm EDT
Face masks are not required in Indiana, but Indianapolis is requiring them in public spaces.
Indianapolis teachers, school staff, and students in sixth grade and above will be required to wear face masks when they return to classrooms this year, according to guidance from the Marion County Public Health Department released Thursday.
Children in fifth grade and below are not required to wear masks or coverings under the recommendations. Other exceptions include students and staff with health conditions that make wearing a mask a risk and students who cannot remove a mask on their own. The guidance says that a face shield may be an appropriate alternative for teachers in pre-K through fifth grade if a mask is “determined to impede a student’s learning.”
Staff and students may remove masks when necessary, such as to eat or drink.
Although face masks are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, they are not required in Indiana. Masks will be required in public spaces in Indianapolis beginning July 9, Mayor Joe Hogsett announced Thursday.
The guidance offers new insight into what schools could look like as buildings reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. Indianapolis schools typically begin in late July or early August.
In addition to requiring masks, the guidelines also recommend keeping students 3 to 6 feet apart and teachers 6 feet from students; eliminating “pod” or group table seating and facing students’ desks in the same direction; moving classes outside if possible; and grouping students in cohorts as much as possible.
In a letter posted Thursday, the superintendents of Marion County’s 11 public school districts said that they would provide additional, district-specific guidance to families.
“These guidelines are the minimum standards and therefore, individual school corporations may develop procedures that are greater than, but not lesser than, these guidelines,” the letter said.
More than 150,000 students in Indianapolis public schools moved to remote learning in March due to the coronavirus. Districts and charter schools announced in June they would offer full-time, in-person instruction to any student who wished to attend or online learning for families who chose to keep their children home.
What you said, Duane, at 10:56 PM…