The New York Times declared that its coverage of the pandemic would not be locked behind a paywall, so I’m assuming this article is available for free use.
It focuses on the fight to contain the virus in Harris County (Houston). One obstacle is the defunding of public health services in this country, which left us unprepared for the pandemic. Another obstacle is the actions of politicians who follow Trump’s lead and minimize the danger to the public. A third obstacle is the stubborn refusal of a large minority who insist on their “right” to do what they want without regard to the community.
This combination has crippled the nation’s response to the pandemic and will cost many thousands of lives.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
. . . reminds me of recalcitrant smokers who never understood why they cannot continue to foul the air that others breathe; or my old uncle who refused to wear a seat belt when the law required it. There is “what I want to do” and there is “what is the right and best thing to do where all are concerned.” And for these folks, never the twain shall meet. CBK
And lest we not forget Jared Kushner and his procurement organization of business people. The US had tests back in March (a secret mission), but Jared decided that Blue states weren’t worthy of them because, well, they were run by Democrats. The tests either sat for so long in heat that they became inactive OR they were inactive to begin with when they were procured? We could have been so far ahead of this game but now, those of us in the North East states that locked down early and opened late are experiencing a Covid fatigue and weariness that this will never end. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/07/how-jared-kushners-secret-testing-plan-went-poof-into-thin-air I’m pretty steamed about this one!!!!!
There are many reasons while America has failed in its response to COVID, and the federal government should accept some of the blame along with some state leadership. “But like most public-health departments across the country, Harris County’s was grossly underfunded. ” We have refused to invest in services for people in this country, and Houston is no different. Harris County chief executive, Lina Hidalgo, a newcomer to politics, is someone to watch. She is bright, bilingual, and she has leadership skills. A native of Colombia, she is like the AOC of the west. She has has a trial by fire, but she has stood up to all the right wing naysayers. Like the rest of the country, Houston’s medical community is overwhelmed by the number of sick people, but fewer of the patients are dying because now we have a few more tools to help those afflicted. We would not be in such a vulnerable place if we had had leadership that valued science and acted early and decisively.
Was she on a recent PBS documentary, & She Could be Next about women of color running for–& winning–office?
(Excellent doc., BTW–can probably be seen on pbs.org)
In the infinite wisdom of Englewood, NJ Education Board, pre-k through 5th grade will be IN PERSON 4 days per week. Bergen county, home of the most Covid deaths.
Pre-K in Englewood NJ is comprised of 3, 4 and 5 year olds. Some have EIP classifications. Some come from broken homes and live with grandma. Some will soil themselves. Some will puke. Some in the past have been sent to school already sick. Some throw fits and require restraint. Some cry and require consoling – and I mean full on snot spouting crying. Explain how, with little to no supplies and support, teachers are supposed to keep 3, 4 and 5 year olds at 6 feet apart, and stay 6 feet from them as well? And teach them? Keep them safe?
How are 3, 4 and 5 year olds supposed to eat lunch under covid conditions? How are teachers going to keep the children and the supplies “individualized” where there is no cross-contamination? How are 8 to 10 kids supposed to line up 6 feet apart when walking in or out? How are 3, 4 and 5 year olds supposed to keep a mask on for 6 hours, excluding lunch, of course.
How are teachers going to clean toilet seats after each child uses it? Clean up after each child? It is like alligator wrestling. Meanwhile, the little ones who can abide by the covid restrictions the least are the ones getting sent to in-person instruction 4 days per week, with Wednesdays for “full cleaning” at the school, and online instruction provide by the same teacher who just exhausted his/her self trying to not only TEACH them, but wrangle and keep distant/safe 3, 4 and 5 year olds? 6th through high school will be taught online because, of course, at those ages, they can stay home alone.
Look to MLBaseball to see even with daily testing and precautions, Covid is rampant. Look to the summer camps to see the same. Same with schools that have already reopened.
Teachers armed with a canister of wipes are supposed to keep the youngest of children safe in Englewood. If it is not safe to eat in restaurants, or gather, how is it safe to send these children and teachers and assistants to spend 6 hours a day, 4 days a week, in buildings with insufficient andi-covid measures, lack of space, poorly circulated air, etc? This doesn’t even account for bus drivers, and the like.
We are sacrificing not only the children, but the lives of the teachers as well. BERGEN COUNTY has the most Covid deaths in New Jersey. Sure – send the youngest students and the teachers back so they can contract and spread the virus.
CHILDREN have many times more of the covid virus in their noses than adults. How do you think little Jimmy is going to feel knowing he killed his teacher and his grandparents?
How to stop this madness?
Your reality sounds like an unrealistic nightmare in a pandemic. You should demand that the district provide masks, PPP and goggles as per Dr. Fauci’s recommendation. If the district fails to provide those, you can take a local vote and strike, if necessary. Sometimes teachers have to make tough decisions, and we are in those times. Sadly, this is the only tool left that can keep you safe if the school district fails to protect you.
retired This points to one good reason to have unions–they can use group power to demand that teacher or worker safety be a top priority.
The requirement to sign away liability for being put in harm’s way OR losing your job is so transparently duplicitous as to be laughable if it weren’t so serious. What bothers me is the apparent shamelessness about it.
Fast forward to a bio of a present student when they are in their 60’s.
“I remember when my class gave the virus to my teacher, and I gave it to my Dad and my Grandparents, and they all died.” CBK
This is a very long NYT piece designed to get everyone’s rage hopelessly lost somewhere in the endless paragraphs of detail. But the devil is in there all right. The Pandemic story really is not a complicated tale. The average citizen-teacher Gets It. She is being hung out to dry. Same for her students and families, particularly in low income neighborhoods. They will be infected, hospitalized and/or triaged, as is happening now in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Unsafe return to school is genocide and it cannot be prettied up. It is unnecessary, calculated and cold-blooded. This is why masked, public schoolteachers have taken to the streets.
At least half of my teacher compatriots are not that serious about the Covid
Roy: Did you not finish your comment here? If not, please do.
Always interested in what you have to say.
If it’s finished–for the love of G-d–in what state are you & who are these people?!