Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Robert Redfield, speaking during a Task Force Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the Department of Education July 8, 2020, in Washington. When President Donald Trump put together a recent coronavirus table on how to safely reopen schools, the seats around him were filled with parents, teachers and local health officials. The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was demoted to secondary seats on the side. It was a telling statement about how Trump sidelined and underwent federal health experts. (AP photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta)
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the data supports many districts in reopening schools in Washington.
“As I said before, it is in the interest of public health children K through 12 to return to face-to-face learning,” Drs. Robert Redfield told the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH. “Not only is this important for their academic advancement it is really important also for services for mental health, often nutritional care, [and] emotional support for her and her families. ”
The recommendation comes as more districts refuse to reopen, instead pushing for distance learning that many parents, students and health care professionals warn.
Reopening schools in Washington
Redfield acknowledges that each school district needs to review the data and rethink decisions so that “there is trust between teachers and parents and students.” But when you look at the data, it makes sense to open schools reasonably and responsibly.
“But if you look at the overall… positive rates right now in Washington, across the state,
it’s less than 5%, “said Redfield,” … that would be something that, you know, will make us very confident about the limited spread of the community. “
For counties above that rate, Redfield says the districts need a stricter plan, “because if you open these schools, the risk is not that these children will transmit the virus if you find them in school. The risk is for the community, and they’ll get the virus in the community and bring it to school. ‘
Redfield understands the risks
Some parents and teachers have overestimated the risk of sending children back to school during the coronavirus pandemic. But Redfield understands her concerns.
“I lost one of my first children, not from COVID, but just in the events of life, and it was a big, big hit for my wife and I, to lose our first son,” Redfield said.
But he would never ask parents to put children in dangerous positions. According to the data, Redfield says that the chance of mortality among children is almost 1 in a million and that “serious illness is much less common in children.”
Otherwise, students venture in
Elders and students throughout Washington are embarking on plans to keep schools online.
While some are reluctant to send students back to class, many are not happy about keeping their children where learning is not ideal. Many have opted to keep home schooling instead of keeping their children in a digital learning environment.
Others struggle in the morning with something to do with their children. If parents have to enter the office, what should they do with their children who are meant to learn online? And what if you are just older? Some choose to leave their children at home for periods of time, while others have difficulty finding childcare. That’s expensive.
But Governor Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal offer little in the way of guidance, resources, or sympathy for struggling parents.
Listen to the Jason Rantz Show this afternoon from 3-6pm on KTTH 770 AM (as HD Radio 97.3 FM HD Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here. Follow @JasonRantz op Twitter and Instagram or like me on Facebook.
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