“It’s like a children’s prison”: Parents criticize Florida school district video showing ‘apocalyptic’ classrooms reopened with teachers in coats and lab coats as US schools make similar preparations
- The Manatee County District shared a two-minute clip on its Facebook page last week that shows how its schools will reopen
- Images show teachers wearing face shields, students sitting alone at lunch tables, and staff stopped to be examined for illness
- Viewers criticized the clip, saying that the schools looked like ‘prisons’ and that plans to keep students socially apart were doomed to failure.
- Manatee County Schools are scheduled to reopen on August 18, and students can attend full time.
- Thousands of other schools are also reopening next month, meaning the scenes in the video are a taste of what’s to come for millions of students across the country.
A promotional video created by a Florida school district to illustrate what the reopened classrooms will look like has been criticized by parents who say it appears their children are being sent to ‘prison’.
Last week, the Manatee County School District, located on the state’s west coast, posted the two-minute clip on Facebook.
The clip, titled ‘2020-2021 Reopening Plan,’ shows teachers in protective lab coats and face shields, and features a montage of students sadly walking down the hallways six feet apart.
Another poignant moment in the video shows children sitting alone at the lunch tables to meet the guidelines for social distancing.
Manatee County Schools will reopen on August 18, and students will be able to return full time.
Thousands of other schools across the country are also reopening next month, meaning the scenes from the Florida video are a taste of what’s to come for millions of students across the country.
Last week, the Manatee County School District, located on the state’s west coast, posted the two-minute clip on Facebook that was criticized by parents and caregivers
The clip, titled ‘2020-2021 Reopening Plan,’ showed teachers in protective lab coats and masks.
The video also featured a scene showing students sadly walking down the halls while six feet apart.
A taste of what’s to come: scenes in the Florida video are likely to replay in most states starting next month, with a map showing that most parts of the country are preparing to reopen their schools at least partially
The Florida video sparked outrage, with a comment from viewers: “It looks like a children’s prison!”
Another wrote: ‘I’m glad they plan to open up for the mental health and well-being of young minds, but this is completely ridiculous. If they are to wear masks, the separation and jail rules should be overridden.
Meanwhile, a third viewer said he was sorry for kindergarten students whose first experience at school would be to greet teachers with facial masks.
‘New kindergarten students who are already so anxious about a new school and classroom will feel very comfortable and safe walking in this environment … NO! Children of this age need practical learning experiences and social interaction with others, ‘they criticized.
Another poignant moment from the video showed the children sitting alone at the lunch tables to meet the guidelines for social distancing.
“I’m not going to lie, it seems a little apocalyptic, a little from the Hunger Games!” a mom said of the promotional video
Meanwhile, a Florida mother flocked to TikTok to share her thoughts on the school district’s new promotional video.
“I’m not going to lie, it seems a little apocalyptic, a little from the Hunger Games!” She claimed.
According to the school district website, students can attend physical classes five days a week or continue learning from home full time.
A combination of face-to-face and virtual learning will also be offered, which means schools may be busier on some days than others.
Parents say they are still confused about how things will work logistically.
‘Will the same requests apply to middle and high schools? What is the plan to change the periods? one asked.
Will lunch hours be staggered? Will students have less time to eat? another asked, according to Buzzfeed.
Manatee County Schools will reopen on August 18, and parents will be able to choose how often their students attend.
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