Du Quoin Call survey: What you're saying about sending kids back to school
Our completely unscientific Facebook survey on how comfortable are parents sending their children back to school next month, produced 28 flat "yes," "Yes, full time," "definitely" and "Hell, yes" responses, without further comment. It also produced eight flat "no" responses.
Most interesting however, were the comments. Here's a sizable sampling:
I want my kids to go back but I am worried ... younger kids will not keep a mask on; they say they can't breathe and it's hot ... I am the same way about a mask, I feel panicky and I start to freak out. I don't like anything over my nose and mouth at the same time. But they do need to get back to school 'cause man I am losing my ever-lovin' mind but it all has to be safe.
- Misty Patterson
The statistics from 12 other countries with kids back to school has been very good, no outbreaks. MUST be done safely, to think that masks would not help would be in my opinion very foolish.
- Gabe Lewis
I'm going to home-school my two ... I'd really love for them to be around for their next birthday. I'm not much of a funeral person and if they start back too soon there is gonna be more spread of COVID and possibly many child deaths. If you all don't want your kids then send them!
- C.J. Jones
No! Keep them safe and their family at home! If my son came home with COVID I would just die.
- Sue E. Pyron
Yes, we need to find a way ... kids would get even more behind because there are so many parents that don't do much at home or had to work and didn't really have the option to spend the time on their education. Plus not every parent has a way to stay home so they might end up in the day care system anyway.
- Marianne Sweetin Born
Yes. The kids are not learning as much doing online classes. They only do what they have to do to get by.
- Rob Otto
Safely! Hybrid learning would be a great way to start. Only a certain percentage of kids in the building each day.
- Cheryl Clark
Only if it's safe. Remote learning part time, in-school learning the other part. Whatever it takes to keep our kids, our elderly and community safe.
- Wendy Ferguson
Yes, safely.
- Natalie Hubler
I say half days ... No P.E. and avoid lunch at school. Send meals home for those who need them, because if they have to wear masks how will that work? The smaller kids will not keep masks on for 6-7 hours. And the buses, how is that going to work?
What about water fountains and access to water if the fountains are off limits? And recess, how will they social distance and clean the equipment?
I'm not trying to sound like a fanatic but I do worry about my kid. And these requirements and safety measures ... and parents without access to masks, then what? Missouri's doing an every other day in-school/home-school approach.
- Andrea Gayle
Yes. The last couple of months of the last school year were not productive.
- Scott Meyer
No! Let's look at the bigger picture. If one teacher gets the COVID-19, the whole classroom will be exposed to the COVID-19. Everywhere the has been that day will be contaminated - teacher's lounge, restroom, halls, lunchroom, etc. Then the students will take it back home to each family.
There are not enough substitutes to cover all the teachers who may get COVID-19. Everyone knows that small children, younger adults, high school age will NOT leave the mask on. What about the families that have religious beliefs and they won't wear a mask.
Yes, there are students who will fall behind. But it is the parents' choice to work with their children, and keep them up with their classwork.
- Barbara Fann
My children won't be forced to wear a mask. It is against our religion.
- Maria Heape Spann
I think it should be a choice for each parent, for each student. I find it very hard to believe that they can keep our children safe 100% though. Choice 1) No school physically, continue to remote learn online only - if you have access to the internet and a laptop. Or Choice 2) Go back to school. This will decrease the amount of students returning to school.
- Shanda Lively