NYT Op Ed from a pediatrician - again arguing against schools closures

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids ARE DYING.

You forgot the next step in the playbook is to link a story from halfway across the country and call it the norm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There is a vocal handful on these boards that clamor for school openings and quote dubious claims by people who are not pandemic experts.
We must ignore them. They are literally pushing for more deaths.

seek mental help

You need to seek mental help. We have had polls in other groups and the majority of families, including those with SN kids and low income will choose to continue DL. No one wants to risk their child's life but the few selfish folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/opinion/schools-closing-covid.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

I couldn't agree more and am really disappointed with MCPS and their non-scientific "health metrics" which we will certainly never meet, meaning no in-person school for our kids this year.

This isn’t about the kids. This is a workplace safety issue. The sooner you realize that and understand that your feelings as a parent are completely irrelevant, the sooner you will understand the reality of the situation.

Why the hell would a doctor write about schools? Maybe a teacher should write about the medical workplace?

Seriously. Unless teachers can be outfitted with covid floor level ppe, no way they should be forced to teach in person.

Yet somehow daycare workers and private school teachers and Catholic school teachers and German teachers are teaching in person ...

That other employees are exploited -- likely because they lack protections afforded by strong unions -- hardly means that others should similarly be exploited.

False! Plenty (all?) public/quasi-public sector essential workers are unionized and are on the job. Who else do you think are running utilities, trash pickup, transit, safety ... not to mention unionized private employees like nurses, truckers, longshoremen. All on the job. Teachers are unique in cowardly refusing to work n

MCPS made the call, not teachers. All those jobs require someone to go in. Teaching can and is being done online. Its the same quality for us. The issue is there is not enough teaching time but it would be the same issue in person. Grow up, figure out how to make it work and with all the time you spend slamming teachers, spend that time helping your kids.

If you like how Germany or Catholics are doing things, either move to Germany or pay for Catholic. Simple.

Why don't you sign up to work at a school? Interesting how you can volunteer others and you cannot even help your kids at home, which is your responsibility.

No, MCPS made the wrong call, and that will become apparent by the end of the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There is a vocal handful on these boards that clamor for school openings and quote dubious claims by people who are not pandemic experts.
We must ignore them. They are literally pushing for more deaths.

seek mental help

You need to seek mental help. We have had polls in other groups and the majority of families, including those with SN kids and low income will choose to continue DL. No one wants to risk their child's life but the few selfish folks.

Polls? Can you link two or more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/opinion/schools-closing-covid.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

I couldn't agree more and am really disappointed with MCPS and their non-scientific "health metrics" which we will certainly never meet, meaning no in-person school for our kids this year.

This isn’t about the kids. This is a workplace safety issue. The sooner you realize that and understand that your feelings as a parent are completely irrelevant, the sooner you will understand the reality of the situation.

Why the hell would a doctor write about schools? Maybe a teacher should write about the medical workplace?

Seriously. Unless teachers can be outfitted with covid floor level ppe, no way they should be forced to teach in person.

Yet somehow daycare workers and private school teachers and Catholic school teachers and German teachers are teaching in person ...

That other employees are exploited -- likely because they lack protections afforded by strong unions -- hardly means that others should similarly be exploited.

False! Plenty (all?) public/quasi-public sector essential workers are unionized and are on the job. Who else do you think are running utilities, trash pickup, transit, safety ... not to mention unionized private employees like nurses, truckers, longshoremen. All on the job. Teachers are unique in cowardly refusing to work n

MCPS made the call, not teachers. All those jobs require someone to go in. Teaching can and is being done online. Its the same quality for us. The issue is there is not enough teaching time but it would be the same issue in person. Grow up, figure out how to make it work and with all the time you spend slamming teachers, spend that time helping your kids.

If you like how Germany or Catholics are doing things, either move to Germany or pay for Catholic. Simple.

Why don't you sign up to work at a school? Interesting how you can volunteer others and you cannot even help your kids at home, which is your responsibility.

No, MCPS made the wrong call, and that will become apparent by the end of the school year.

MCPS has jobs available; I suggest you apply so you can be part of the process.

I think they made the right call, and that will be apparent by the end of January.
Common sense is not common and a lot of people will be gathering in unsafe groups for the holidays. Over 1 million kids across the country have currently tested positive for COVID, and I am glad MCPS is not letting a few squeaky wheels make decisions for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/opinion/schools-closing-covid.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

I couldn't agree more and am really disappointed with MCPS and their non-scientific "health metrics" which we will certainly never meet, meaning no in-person school for our kids this year.

This isn’t about the kids. This is a workplace safety issue. The sooner you realize that and understand that your feelings as a parent are completely irrelevant, the sooner you will understand the reality of the situation.

Why the hell would a doctor write about schools? Maybe a teacher should write about the medical workplace?

Seriously. Unless teachers can be outfitted with covid floor level ppe, no way they should be forced to teach in person.

Yet somehow daycare workers and private school teachers and Catholic school teachers and German teachers are teaching in person ...

That other employees are exploited -- likely because they lack protections afforded by strong unions -- hardly means that others should similarly be exploited.

False! Plenty (all?) public/quasi-public sector essential workers are unionized and are on the job. Who else do you think are running utilities, trash pickup, transit, safety ... not to mention unionized private employees like nurses, truckers, longshoremen. All on the job. Teachers are unique in cowardly refusing to work n

MCPS made the call, not teachers. All those jobs require someone to go in. Teaching can and is being done online. Its the same quality for us. The issue is there is not enough teaching time but it would be the same issue in person. Grow up, figure out how to make it work and with all the time you spend slamming teachers, spend that time helping your kids.

If you like how Germany or Catholics are doing things, either move to Germany or pay for Catholic. Simple.

Why don't you sign up to work at a school? Interesting how you can volunteer others and you cannot even help your kids at home, which is your responsibility.

No, MCPS made the wrong call, and that will become apparent by the end of the school year.

MCPS has jobs available; I suggest you apply so you can be part of the process.

I think they made the right call, and that will be apparent by the end of January.
Common sense is not common and a lot of people will be gathering in unsafe groups for the holidays. Over 1 million kids across the country have currently tested positive for COVID, and I am glad MCPS is not letting a few squeaky wheels make decisions for everyone.

MCPS is not making decisions, period. They're sitting with their thumbs up their butts looking for guidance around the region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great article.

There may come a time when the pandemic has become so unmanageable that we need to close everything, including schools. (This was the case when I argued that closures were necessary back in March.) But schools are essential, and should be treated as such. When we prioritize, they should be among the last things to close. Almost everything else should be put on pause first. This is what Europe is doing. No one can explain why, once again, the United States is choosing its own path.

What? We do know why. $$$

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/opinion/schools-closing-covid.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

I couldn't agree more and am really disappointed with MCPS and their non-scientific "health metrics" which we will certainly never meet, meaning no in-person school for our kids this year.

MCPS has already decided to fail the students this year. It's a built-in feature of DL.

This statement couldn't be more true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/opinion/schools-closing-covid.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

I couldn't agree more and am really disappointed with MCPS and their non-scientific "health metrics" which we will certainly never meet, meaning no in-person school for our kids this year.

MCPS has already decided to fail the students this year. It's a built-in feature of DL.

This statement couldn't be more true

It's kind of shocking how apparently easy it was for MCPS (and other "progressive" city school districts around the country) to make this decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There is a vocal handful on these boards that clamor for school openings and quote dubious claims by people who are not pandemic experts.
We must ignore them. They are literally pushing for more deaths.

Literally every health expert thinks schools should reopen. This is not a "handful" of voices. The only ones against it are teachers' unions.

Wrong.

1. DH and I are in the field. NO ONE we know think schools should open at this time.
2. There was some talk during the summer of opening schools. At the time the nation was not in a death spiral. Pay attention to timing of interviews or articles.
3. There are certain professionals who seek media attention, and may choose to take click-bait views. Remember that they do not talk for their profession.

I agree. I don't know other health experts that want schools open...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There is a vocal handful on these boards that clamor for school openings and quote dubious claims by people who are not pandemic experts.
We must ignore them. They are literally pushing for more deaths.

Literally every health expert thinks schools should reopen. This is not a "handful" of voices. The only ones against it are teachers' unions.

Wrong.

1. DH and I are in the field. NO ONE we know think schools should open at this time.
2. There was some talk during the summer of opening schools. At the time the nation was not in a death spiral. Pay attention to timing of interviews or articles.
3. There are certain professionals who seek media attention, and may choose to take click-bait views. Remember that they do not talk for their profession.

I agree. I don't know other health experts that want schools open...

How many health experts do you know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There is a vocal handful on these boards that clamor for school openings and quote dubious claims by people who are not pandemic experts.
We must ignore them. They are literally pushing for more deaths.

Literally every health expert thinks schools should reopen. This is not a "handful" of voices. The only ones against it are teachers' unions.

Wrong.

1. DH and I are in the field. NO ONE we know think schools should open at this time.
2. There was some talk during the summer of opening schools. At the time the nation was not in a death spiral. Pay attention to timing of interviews or articles.
3. There are certain professionals who seek media attention, and may choose to take click-bait views. Remember that they do not talk for their profession.

I agree. I don't know other health experts that want schools open...

how about the Dean of the Brown School of Medicine?

"There’s no doubt in my mind that schools need to be bolder than they’re being. "

https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2020/11/03/schools-need-to-be-bolder-about-reopening.html

how about the policy lab a the Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania?

"In addition to protecting children and families from the damaging health effects of this virus, it is also imperative that we continue to safely reopen society, prepare for a potential resurgence of COVID-19 this fall and winter, and address the humanitarian impacts resulting from social distancing and disruptions to caregivers’ abilities to work and youth school attendance.:

https://policylab.chop.edu/project/responding-covid-19

how about these experts published in the New England Journal of Medicine?

"We believe that safely reopening schools full-time for all elementary school children should therefore be a top national priority ... Even under conditions of moderate transmission (<10 cases per 100,000 people),12 however, we believe that primary schools should be recognized as essential services — and school personnel as essential workers — and that school reopening plans should be developed and financed accordingly."

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMms2024920

How about the medical director of Children's Hospital here in DC?

""As a pediatrician, I am really seeing the negative impacts of these school closures on children," Dr. Danielle Dooley, a medical director at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., told NPR. She ticked off mental health problems, hunger, obesity due to inactivity, missing routine medical care and the risk of child abuse — on top of the loss of education. "Going to school is really vital for children. They get their meals in school, their physical activity, their health care, their education, of course."

https://www.npr.org/2020/10/21/925794511/were-the-risks-of-reopening-schools-exaggerated

How about these other experts published in JAMA?

"Given the limited resources of public schools, in the event of reopening, school districts should devote efforts to interventions that are well supported by public health officials and feasible to implement. First, mask requirements should be enforced for all staff and students for grade levels K-12 through new dress code policies. Second, districts should implement the practice of cohorting, a strategy for keeping small groups of students together, which in effect limits the exposure of students and staff to other contacts.8 Because school districts may not have the resources or budget to make extensive changes to their facilities, this practice coupled with modified scheduling could allow all students to have at least some in-person instruction each week while ensuring physical distancing. At a minimum, districts should prioritize offering in-person instruction to K-5 students, students with disabilities, students who might not be able to access remote instruction,3 and perhaps to students who were already having difficulty attaining proficiency at their grade level."

https://jamanetwork.com/channels/health-forum/fullarticle/2769782

How about this research from Europe?

"Nowhere, the research found, was there a spike that coincided with reopening: "What we found is that the school [being opened] makes absolutely no difference," Álvarez told NPR."

https://jamanetwork.com/channels/health-forum/fullarticle/2769782

[Anonymous]

Is Dr. Faiuci a pandemic expert cause he says “close schools as last resort” and “keeping schools open school should be the default” https://fb.watch/1PJP9OjROz/

Is the person who is going to lead Biden coronavirus task a pandemic expert? She says open schools https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/16/health/coronavirus-celine-gounder-biden.html?fbclid=IwAR26KiB_pEQmDCFXoXwSnjrm4OKsiDg6eiCtz3HfxD8H1W2aMiEirZu2ePU

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There is a vocal handful on these boards that clamor for school openings and quote dubious claims by people who are not pandemic experts.
We must ignore them. They are literally pushing for more deaths.

Literally every health expert thinks schools should reopen. This is not a "handful" of voices. The only ones against it are teachers' unions.

Wrong.

1. DH and I are in the field. NO ONE we know think schools should open at this time.
2. There was some talk during the summer of opening schools. At the time the nation was not in a death spiral. Pay attention to timing of interviews or articles.
3. There are certain professionals who seek media attention, and may choose to take click-bait views. Remember that they do not talk for their profession.

I agree. I don't know other health experts that want schools open...

How many health experts do you know?

What field are you in corn or something else? We will come help you find your way home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There is a vocal handful on these boards that clamor for school openings and quote dubious claims by people who are not pandemic experts.
We must ignore them. They are literally pushing for more deaths.

Literally every health expert thinks schools should reopen. This is not a "handful" of voices. The only ones against it are teachers' unions.

Wrong.

1. DH and I are in the field. NO ONE we know think schools should open at this time.
2. There was some talk during the summer of opening schools. At the time the nation was not in a death spiral. Pay attention to timing of interviews or articles.
3. There are certain professionals who seek media attention, and may choose to take click-bait views. Remember that they do not talk for their profession.

I agree. I don't know other health experts that want schools open...

how about the Dean of the Brown School of Medicine?

"There’s no doubt in my mind that schools need to be bolder than they’re being. "

https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2020/11/03/schools-need-to-be-bolder-about-reopening.html

how about the policy lab a the Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania?

"In addition to protecting children and families from the damaging health effects of this virus, it is also imperative that we continue to safely reopen society, prepare for a potential resurgence of COVID-19 this fall and winter, and address the humanitarian impacts resulting from social distancing and disruptions to caregivers’ abilities to work and youth school attendance.:

https://policylab.chop.edu/project/responding-covid-19

how about these experts published in the New England Journal of Medicine?

"We believe that safely reopening schools full-time for all elementary school children should therefore be a top national priority ... Even under conditions of moderate transmission (<10 cases per 100,000 people),12 however, we believe that primary schools should be recognized as essential services — and school personnel as essential workers — and that school reopening plans should be developed and financed accordingly."

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMms2024920

How about the medical director of Children's Hospital here in DC?

""As a pediatrician, I am really seeing the negative impacts of these school closures on children," Dr. Danielle Dooley, a medical director at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., told NPR. She ticked off mental health problems, hunger, obesity due to inactivity, missing routine medical care and the risk of child abuse — on top of the loss of education. "Going to school is really vital for children. They get their meals in school, their physical activity, their health care, their education, of course."

https://www.npr.org/2020/10/21/925794511/were-the-risks-of-reopening-schools-exaggerated

How about these other experts published in JAMA?

"Given the limited resources of public schools, in the event of reopening, school districts should devote efforts to interventions that are well supported by public health officials and feasible to implement. First, mask requirements should be enforced for all staff and students for grade levels K-12 through new dress code policies. Second, districts should implement the practice of cohorting, a strategy for keeping small groups of students together, which in effect limits the exposure of students and staff to other contacts.8 Because school districts may not have the resources or budget to make extensive changes to their facilities, this practice coupled with modified scheduling could allow all students to have at least some in-person instruction each week while ensuring physical distancing. At a minimum, districts should prioritize offering in-person instruction to K-5 students, students with disabilities, students who might not be able to access remote instruction,3 and perhaps to students who were already having difficulty attaining proficiency at their grade level."

https://jamanetwork.com/channels/health-forum/fullarticle/2769782

How about this research from Europe?

"Nowhere, the research found, was there a spike that coincided with reopening: "What we found is that the school [being opened] makes absolutely no difference," Álvarez told NPR."

https://jamanetwork.com/channels/health-forum/fullarticle/2769782

As decision to not educate children for a year was not science-based, the scientifically rigorous links you have provided are not going to persuade the posters who do not want kids educated.