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Thoughts on Reopening Schools from a HS Principal

Jul 27, 2020, 11:30 AM

“To say you have no choice is to relieve yourself of responsibility.” ? P?atrick Ness

School and district leaders have been working tirelessly to create plans to reopen schools in the midst of a global pandemic. While these leaders should be commended for the work that they are doing, I fear that it covers over a glaring disparity. That disparity lies between the power and authority of our civic and elected leaders--which is great--and their actual contributions in leadership during this crisis--which is minimal. The function of public education is to create an educated populace who can think critically and independently, discern credible information from falsehoods, and instill within young people an ethic of hard work and dedication to improving the world around them. As an educator, I will concede that this work is done best in a face-to-face model of schooling. However, the effectiveness and feasibility of this traditional model is contingent upon the environment surrounding the school. For example, it would be difficult to instill the aforementioned qualities and skills in the midst of a hurricane or any other external force or act of nature happening outside the walls of the school. Likewise, it is difficult-- in some ways perhaps more so--to effectively educate students within a school when there is an invisible force that is very real, contagious, and dangerous moving within the classrooms.

Of course the invisible force to which I am referring is the COVID-19 virus which has been crippling our country and world since the beginning of 2020. This virus led to the closure of schools from mid-March to the end of the year in the 2019-2020 school year. This sudden school closure forced teachers and educational leaders to quickly adapt to a distance learning model on a scale that has never before been seen. State leaders took decisive action as the virus began to spread to close most of our economy, close schools and government offices, and create some safety nets for those who were placed out of work. As pressure mounted, however, these same leaders set aside data, guidelines previously followed, and logic and reason, to move swiftly to reopening our economy with little to no forethought on how this could be done safely and responsibly. The next step in this insanity was to make a blanket statement requiring that schools reopen fully in the fall with no guidance, resources, support, or even a simple recognition of the reality in our state and country--that the virus was spiraling out of control again.

In this moment, educational leaders across the state did what they are well-accustomed to doing--filling in the gap left in the wake of the cowardice, political expediency, and dishonesty of our state and local civic leaders. They began creating plans that tried to meet the nebulous and incredulous demands being dictated by our Governor, President, and Conservative leaders to reopen schools--consequences be damned. Meanwhile, these same leaders made no efforts to address the inequities, lack of internet access, and discrepancies in educational funding for our most vulnerable communities so that schools could take seriously their commands and move toward fulfilling them safely and responsibly.

It makes one wonder if these leaders in fact even believed what they were saying? The fact that many schoolchildren in South Carolina do not have access to high speed internet was quickly glossed over in a July 15th press conference led by Governor McMaster and presented as an irrefutable reason for why schools needed to reopen fully. These same leaders stated that there were many schoolchildren in South Carolina who were being abused within their own homes and this was presented as another unquestionable reason for schools to reopen fully. Schools were presented as bulwarks of our society and critical vehicles for ensuring the mental, social, emotional, and physical health of our students--particularly our students living in poverty. While I do not disagree with these services which are provided by public schools, the sheer weight of this responsibility being placed squarely on the shoulders of an underfunded public school system in South Carolina should make clear the dire situation that we have created by a lack of responsible and courageous leadership and responsibility.

What I gathered from Gov. McMaster’s press conference is that he, much like our president, takes no responsibility for his failures to lead. He takes no responsibility for these failures because we do not ask him to. Instead, we shift his responsibility and accountability to a school system that serves as universal daycare, healthcare, food service, mental health provider, social worker, law enforcement official, and athletic club that can occasionally focus on developing independent thinkers.

By shifting the focus from his own failure to the mandatory reopening of schools--so long as Molly Spearman does his bidding for him--a sleight of hand was deftly acted out for anyone who was paying attention to see. While the hypocrisy, lack of integrity, and intellectual dishonesty was plain to be seen, what came next was perhaps just as disheartening. Rather than speaking truth to power in this moment and holding Gov. McMaster accountable for his inaction, school districts across the state moved to acquiesce to his unfunded, ill-conceived, and unsafe plan almost immediately. Sadly, Molly Spearman followed suit by giving orders to school districts to include face-to-face without referencing the dire reality of COVID-19 spread in our state due to the ineffectiveness of our state leadership to create safe conditions for South Carolina schools to provide their essential services to the youth of our state. Moreover, these plans were shared with the stakeholders in our school districts as plans which were going to be put into effect regardless of the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.

This communication was directly caused by the pressure placed on school districts by McMaster and legislators pushing for an unconditional reopening of schools. It also gave the same effect as McMaster’s July 15th press conference--an unrealistic view of reality for the general public. What I mean by this is, if you tell people that schools are reopening as usual even though the situation on the ground is dangerous and cases are on the rise, people are much more likely to be complacent in their efforts to combat the spread of COVID in their communities thinking, “if schools are reopening, I guess everything must be fine”. This is dangerous, irresponsible, and shows a dreadful lack of leadership and responsibility on the part of McMaster and our state leaders. Unfortunately, our school districts are playing right into their hands and will ultimately take the blame when students, teachers, and communities are impacted by the spread of COVID caused by unsafely reopening schools.

I don’t want to simply share what has not been done and what shouldn’t done; however. What if the communication coming from school districts and the state department of education was unified and went something like this:

“As educators, we are unequivocally committed to the success of each student as they grow within our educational system as effective learners, ethical people, and contributors to a better world. We also know that our educational system functions best and has the most experience functioning in a face-to-face model where teachers are able to build strong relationships with their students, inspire students to pursue important questions about their lives and the world around them, and to equitably provide services to students with a wide range of needs. Unfortunately, we are living and working in a state that has been let down by its elected leaders.

Rather than taking decisive action to protect our most important asset--our children and their future--as the COVID-19 virus began spreading at a higher rate this summer, there was a paralysis of leadership caused by politics, a lack of courage, and a lack of moral will to do what is right over what is politically expedient. In addition, state leaders have responded recently with unfunded and patently absurd mandates to reopen schools fully. This inaction and unwillingness to accept responsibility for their failures has brought us to a situation where it is simply not safe to reopen schools in the way that best serves students.

Thus, we will be beginning the school year in a virtual setting that seeks to identify unique needs that students have (e.g. parents working outside of the home, lack of internet access, special needs, etc.) and providing differentiated and individualized support for all students to safely access their educational experience. If we work together in the coming weeks and months, we can achieve what is needed in spite of the inaction of our elected leaders and slow the spread of COVID-19 to a level that provides a safe environment for reopening schools for some face-to-face delivery of instruction. As we come together by wearing masks, limiting unnecessary exposure by dining outside or using take-out, not participating in large gatherings, and monitoring our symptoms closely, we can create the change that we want and give our students what they so desperately need--to return to school.”

While I recognize that this statement sounds lofty and seems to advocate for educational leaders treading into areas reserved for public health officials and elected officials, this simply brings to light the reality that there is no one else willing to take up this mantle of responsibility. The failure of Governor McMaster to take needed steps to address systemic inequities tied directly to a lack of funding and political will to remedy in our educational system is not a problem for school leaders to fix. The failure of Governor McMaster to take courageous action to stem the tide of COVID-19 cases and preventable deaths is not a problem for school leaders to fix. School leaders should create plans that do not attempt to pick up the slack from Governor McMaster and our elected officials, rather, they should be focused on creating plans which place the health and safety of their teachers, staff, and their families above all else.

Finally, there is a false choice that is being presented by our cowardly leaders--this choice pits people against teachers by saying that one has to choose between protecting the health and safety of teachers and offering students a “normal” educational environment. Thus, teachers are supposed to willingly move into uncharted waters by working in an environment that is not being replicated anywhere in our country at this time. Corporate offices are not having in-person meetings with 20-25 people in a closed room setting for 75-80 minutes at a time because it is unsafe! Yet, teachers are being told to do this for 6-8 hours per day. Government officials are not having in-person meetings of this size in closed settings because it is unsafe!! Yet, they are providing a call to action for teachers to do this for 6-8 hours a day. It’s time to simply look at this for what it is...our elected leaders are in a rush to get teachers and students back into the classroom so that they can forget about them and their needs again and go back to business as usual.

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and were impacted when schools closed. Some had family that could watch them and others couldn't find anything for their kids and had to be out on extended FMLA at 2/3's pay.

A lot parents make special summer arrangements for their kids...summer church programs, camps, etc...which, of course, a lot aren't happening this summer. There are a lot of parents in really tough positions right now.

We had to let a lady go today because she ran out of extended FMLA time and used up all of her PTO and vacation time (and then some). She wanted to work, but had no one to watch her daughter. Horrible situation, because she didn't want to quit and we didn't want to lose her, but we also couldn't run the production line with her position missing all of the time.

Respectfully, I think "teachers aren't your kid's babysitters" is a pretty naive and simplistic view.

Thoughts on Reopening Schools from a HS Principal

Every elected official should be required to send their kids

More smuggery from an Educator

The part you’re missing is that those workers are at risk

Not missing anything

And which risks are worth taking? Schools in this

Maybe...or flu season could be a lot more mild...

I’m hopeful for that. No one is rooting for the virus here

Sure, but like any other case, caution has limits/...

School zones have speed limits of 25***

Look up high....

I understand what you’re saying. We’ve increased speed

Makes sense. Had to speed read. But....from the governor's

Agree hole-heartedly! Also, some hot spot areas

Re: Agree hole-heartedly! Also, some hot spot areas

Yur a #######, balm, read Tigg's post

To be fair, he's argued to me that elementary schools should

Balm misread mine and Tiggity’s posts

Your last paragraph sums up his thoughts on it.***

^^^ 100% aligned. HS hybrid schedules are good options

They’re alternating two days in, three days virtual

I'm just curious what these parents do during a normal

Re: I'm just curious what these parents do during a normal

A lot of our workers have kids...

"If you can't support your kids then you shouldn't

So are tax refunds being issued?

Teachers are paid to educate

Parents during a normal year:

This might shock you, but most of them

People that are working from home....

We had a baby sitter. Just like normal. Things were fine.

Re: Thoughts on Reopening Schools from a HS Principal

It’s been considered.***

One statement made sense...

You really think that's going on in SC public schools?

Since this is a friend of yours, can you pass along

I tried, but he chose free will.***

You can choose from phantom fears like a

I have to admit, I have a hard time lending credence...

Re: I have to admit, I have a hard time lending credence...

Occam's razor IMO based on past actions from the state

Is that really true though? They tore down my middle and

Per pupil funding from the state yes. Local districts may

Wait...so it's more simple/believable....

It's a bit of an abrasive ending yes, but based on the

He votes Republican and is a churchgoer***

and?***

Meaning it’s possible to not tow the party line

*toe****

Voice to text goat Med again***

I miss the old days

still "and?" what does that have to do with the a-hole....

It’s the simplest explanation to me but then I’m cynical

I'm not cynical at all, but I hear you say you're cynical

OK..liking robertn a little more but remember this virus or another

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