Schools Are Closed. Why?

[Bryce]

According to this chart, provided by the CDC, https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Provisional-C ... /9bhg-hcku from 02/02/2020 through 05/02/2020, the CDC reports a total of FOUR Covid-19 deaths in the five to fourteen year age group. Although I can't find the details, I will wager that those four had pre-existing conditions that put them in a high risk category. By comparison, Influenza counted for 41 deaths in the same age group.

While it may make some (but not much) sense to close schools in the Wayne, Oakland and Kent county areas, much like the state wide lock-down, I just can't find the logic in closing schools state wide.

Some will argue that they were closed to keep the children from bringing the virus home and spreading it to the elderly. OK, that's a good idea. Children that live with elderly family members should be allowed to learn remotely from home. Boom, problem solved.

Protect those of us that are at highest risk without impacting those that aren't.

[audiophile]

I have to differ with you here, in part.

Government can close government all they want (I do not feel they have the right to do that with the private sector).

DeBlasio keeping the schools open made it hard on NYC. Schools were never meant to be baby sitters. Schools being closed might make parents participate with there kids more, and that's not bad thing.

I have felt for a while that brick and mortar schools were outmoded.

[Bryce]

Schools were never meant to be baby sitters. Schools being closed might make parents participate with there kids more, and that's not bad thing.

On this we agree, however, many parents are ill equipped to educate their children. The children of these parents are being denied one of the most important things we should provide, after health and safety, an education. Or at least an opportunity for one.

Looking at the mortality rate for school aged children, there isn't a health and safety reason for closing the schools. Closing them for no reason fly's in the face of our State Constitution.

VIII, § 1. “The legislature shall maintain and support a system of free public elementary and secondary schools as defined by law. Every school district shall provide for the education of its pupils without discrimination as to religion, creed, race, color or national origin.

[bmw]

One COULD argue that it is to protect the adult school staff. When I used to work for a school district, we had approximately 1200 students and 100 staff members. One source says there are 56 million students nation-wide. Extrapolating that 12:1 ratio means roughly 4.5 million adults work for a public or private school.

On a side-note, my job was that of Technology Support Specialist. I touched more mice and keyboards than I care to think about - and no exaggeration, during my 4 year tenure, I caught some strain of cold or flu on average once every 3 months. Since then (2014), I've been sick just once. My job had to be one of the absolutely most dangerous jobs you could imagine during a pandemic if school was still in session.

[craig11152]

While it may make some (but not much) sense to close schools in the Wayne, Oakland and Kent county areas, much like the state wide lock-down, I just can't find the logic in closing schools state wide.

I think I read, or heard, somewhere early in the schools closed process that state law comes in to play. The law requires all kids in the state to have access to a free public education. So they can't just close some districts but not all. The same issue came in to play with rich districts able to move things on line. Because every district couldn't pull it off those that could were not getting official credit against the 180 day mandated school year. Once districts who weren't able to go 100% online were able to get packets in to homes for learning the 180 day clock could turn back on. Its an all or none thing by state law. That is what I think I read or heard several weeks ago.

[Bryce]

One COULD argue that it is to protect the adult school staff.

That is a valid reason. But, could we maybe mitigate risk by allowing teachers and staff that are over 60, and those with health reasons to stay at home? Combine that with safety procedures such as masks and frequent mandated hand-washing and I would think the mortality risk would be nil.

[Bryce]

While it may make some (but not much) sense to close schools in the Wayne, Oakland and Kent county areas, much like the state wide lock-down, I just can't find the logic in closing schools state wide.

I think I read, or heard, somewhere early in the schools closed process that state law comes in to play. The law requires all kids in the state to have access to a free public education. So they can't just close some districts but not all.

There must be some wiggle room in that law somewhere. When schools in Western Michigan close because they got 14 inches of lake effect snow dumped on them, they don't close schools state wide.

[craig11152]

While it may make some (but not much) sense to close schools in the Wayne, Oakland and Kent county areas, much like the state wide lock-down, I just can't find the logic in closing schools state wide.

I think I read, or heard, somewhere early in the schools closed process that state law comes in to play. The law requires all kids in the state to have access to a free public education. So they can't just close some districts but not all.

There must be some wiggle room in that law somewhere. When schools in Western Michigan close because they got 14 inches of lake effect snow dumped on them, they don't close schools state wide.

But those closings are short term AND they still have to hit 180 days by the end of the year. Most districts factor in some number of snow days so by the end of the year they may have more than the minimum 180 days of class.

[audiophile]

One COULD argue that it is to protect the adult school staff.

That is a valid reason. But, could we maybe mitigate risk by allowing teachers and staff that are over 60, and those with health reasons to stay at home? Combine that with safety procedures such as masks and frequent mandated hand-washing and I would think the mortality risk would be nil.

I think there will be lots of retirements this year. The old timers won't want to wear masks or use Zoom.

[TC Talks]

Oh good, the next thing to bitch about.

I would think you'd be happy schools are closed. They teach science and civics in schools.

[bmw]

Oh good, the next thing to bitch about.

I would think you'd be happy schools are closed. They teach science and civics in schools.

I've finally had enough of your bullshit. Back to my block list your dumb ass goes.

[Matt]

Oh good, the next thing to bitch about.

I would think you'd be happy schools are closed. They teach science and civics in schools.

The pretentious douche has spoken!

Perhaps in civics they'd learn that dictatorships are not a part of our system of government. They'd also learn that the three branches are co-equal. (Maybe they'd learn that the sheriff doesn't report to the prosecutor, although TCT apparently never learned that). They'd learn about math and statistics to analyze data instead of relying on natural science data that isn't tested. Finally, in their social science classes, they'd learn about the responsibility of elected officials to balance citizen needs and multiple data sets to make informed decisions.

[TC Talks]

Toodles snowflake. You can't accept the science and get offended when you are questioned about your failure to accept orders from your Governor but go blindly with every hare-brained scheme that comes out of any two bit hot talk prep websites.

What are they telling you at WhiteSupremacyToday.com?

[Matt]

Toodles snowflake. You can't accept the science and get offended when you are questioned about your failure to accept orders from your Governor but go blindly on every hare-brained scheme that comes out of any two bit hot talk prep websites.

"Can't accept the science" is a bullshit argument, but "accept orders from your Governor" takes the cake. The failed governor does not have the constitutional standing to do what she is doing, and there are MANY data sets to consider, not just the data that natural sciences have consistently been wrong on.

[Bryce]

I would think you'd be happy schools are closed. They teach science and civics in schools.

Well except for the scientific absolute of XX and XY or the importance of the COTUS.