By Paul Waldmiller
Did you know that this past week Florida teachers from all across the state picketed or otherwise protested the opening of schools for the 2020-2021 school calendar year?
While President Trump has made opening of schools mandatory, recent poll numbers since his declaration, shows Trump trailing against Joe Biden. After seeing these poll numbers, one would assume that parent’s want schools to be closed but that is not the case. During the month of June, a Hillsborough County poll was taken which showed that of 52,883 parents asked, a full 52.7% of parents said they were comfortable with their kids returning to class this month. Hillsborough County parent’s do not speak for every parent across the state, but poll numbers from across the country show parents want to have their children return to school for a myriad of reasons.
There is a contrast of beliefs between what parents and teachers want in regards to “when” as well as “how” schools should open. The loudest voices appear to be coming from members of teachers union. They have held rallies and marches protesting the opening of schools. Also, the Florida Education Association is suing Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, the Florida Department of Education, the Florida State Board of Education and the Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez “to safeguard the health and welfare of public-school students, educators and the community at large”, according to the association in a press release.
As of August 9, 2020, the State of Florida has announced over 6,000 new cases and 77 coronavirus deaths but how many of these are children? What the teacher’s union and those pushing to keep schools closed aren’t telling parents is what the lack of interaction among children is doing to their emotional growth and well-being. Keeping children isolated from other children for long periods of time has consequences. Some educators are reporting that, children cannot “get it back” a year after the pandemic has subsided! “It’s lost, gone forever”, to their opinion, and why reopening the schools is so important.