How the corona virus has destroyed children’s lives in America

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It was Friday and the date of June 12.

Catherine Smart, an elder from Virginia, had just returned home from a small trip with friends in South Carolina.

The family spent some time together in the living room. Catherine hugged the son and then he went to his room.

On Monday, this family of four members came to know that one of the friends with whom the son was on a trip in South Carolina has been found positive for Corona.

Son’s corona test was also done. The next day, Catherine’s little boy woke up as soon as he woke up.

“He was unable to stand and was dizzy,” says Katherine, who teaches German.

The family came to know that every man in the house is infected with Corona virus.

Catherine says that the next thirty days were so ‘spent in trouble’ that it was ‘the worst month of life’.

Catherine had been advocating for the reopening of the schools before this, but her outlook changed.

She says, “As a mother and a teacher, I saw the idea of ​​going back to school as a fear.”

Catherine explains, “I accepted what happened. I started thinking, what if my brain swells or the brain cells get damaged, as you might have seen in many corona patients.” It felt like going back to the classroom there was a danger of my mother being left without children and my husband would have to pay my debts as well. “

In the US, this epidemic has killed about 147,000 people so far. The number of coronas infected in the country has exceeded 42 lakhs.

Debate over school opening intensified

At a time when around 60,000 cases of infections are being reported in the country every day for the past few days, there is a huge debate in the US about whether schools should be fully opened or partially or August or September. When the new academic session starts, the entire system should be shifted to virtual education (online classroom studies).

President Trump, who is facing criticism for the way he dealt with the Corona epidemic, said, “We are definitely going to put pressure on the governors and the rest of the people to open schools.”

People pleading to reopen the school argue that keeping the children in the houses for more days causes them harm.

Casey Turnmire, who lives in Texas, says, “I have two healthy children. I’m not afraid of them getting sick.”

One child of KC studies in grade-2 while another in grade-8.

She says, “If they get the infection, we will deal with it. I have full faith in Jesus Christ. I know that they have answers to every question. Whatever they wish, it will happen.”

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But what about the fear of children getting infected and bringing the corona virus home?

Casey says, “I know it is feared. But at the same time I also believe that everyone is going to be infected by it, until its vaccine is prepared. The question is whether it will or not , The question is when will it happen. “

People who are supporting the opening of the school say that studying online for a long time will affect the mental and social development of children.

Fears of exploitation of children behind closed rooms are also being expressed.

Many times it is the teachers who guess such incidents and report the matter.

A second argument in favor of opening schools is also being given that the risk of corona infection on children is comparatively less.

White House spokeswoman Kelly McKenney cites a study saying, “The risk of children getting seriously ill with a corona infection is much lower than a maternal flu.”

But then there are reports of the death of a mother’s two children in Florida and the death of a newborn in Texas.

Emily Ayers from Nevada says on the video call, “You will get reports of newborns dying every year due to the flu.”

Next to Emily is her husband and daughter. This girl is going to start her pre-school class soon.

She says, “It is sad but it is not normal for a newborn child to die due to corona infection. Although there are always exceptions but it is sad. There are always exceptions.”

Marty Merrick of Milwaukee, USA says, “We allow our children to drive. We let them go to the swimming pool. We give them bikes to drive …. We live this life.” “

Another plea that is being reiterated is that by keeping schools closed, working parents have to stay at home to take care of the children. This will reduce the income of the people in the bad times of Corona crisis.

In the United States, about 30 million children are fed daily in schools at cheap rates and for free. Due to the closure of schools, children will be deprived of these facilities. The parents of many of these children are either from minority communities or they come from low income groups.

The corona epidemic has had the worst impact on the minority and people of the African American community.

‘Life before studies’

Those opposing the reopening of the school believe that there can be no substitute for training in online education school.

But at the same time they also say that life before education She comes.

Jennifer Hartline of Texas is a teacher and she cares about it.

She says, “We are worried that a small section of the children will not be able to recover from the corona infection and it is possible that they will die from the disease.”

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There are also fears that children and teachers and school staff may also be infected.

Jennifer says, “Teachers are scared that they have to choose one of their jobs or lives … Some people have chosen the way to resign.”

“Some small districts have decided to reopen the school. They have not given any guidelines regarding masks or social distancing. They have fixed the last date for opening of the school around 15 August. “

Millions of teachers and children affected

This is a debate that will affect about 37 lakh teachers, 50 million school children and millions of school staff in America.

Among these children are students from primary to high school.

Both the supporters and opponents of the opening of the school have held protests to keep their points.

According to an estimate, more than one million teachers of government and private schools come from the age group which is most vulnerable to corona infection.

American schools are considering several options from when the studies can be resumed.

These options include online classroom, schooling and a hybrid model in which children can share their time in real and virtual classrooms.

Schools are thinking of options such as outdoor classrooms, morning and afternoon classes, skipping class one day and taking classes the other day to prevent the spread of corona infection.

It is believed that if the children do not already have any health problems, then their condition does not worsen in the case of infection.

There are very few cases of hospitalization of children. But some children fall seriously ill and they infect others as well.

Deborah Berks, a doctor at the Corona Virus Task Force at the White House, says, “From other studies, we know for certain that children under ten years of age are corona infected. It is unclear how quickly they Infect. “

Are the schools ready?

Questions are also being raised about how ready the schools are to deal with the corona virus?

Phil Reyner, principal of Wisconsin Lutheran High School, says: “In a recent survey, over 70 percent of parents wanted their children to return to classroom education. All the arrangements we have made to prevent infection So many parents were convinced or satisfied. “

Phil, the principal of this Milwaukee school, wants his school to be opened for classroom education.

Phil insists, “We are following the principles of science.”

But Teacher Jennifer Hartline puts the other side to the contrary, “Some schools have told their teachers that they will be provided with two masks during the entire epidemic. Also, if something is necessary, they will have to arrange it themselves.”

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“Many of our teachers teach in classrooms where there are no windows. And we have been told that air purifiers (air cleaner) will not be provided …. We are asking for things like lyzols, hand sanitizers Huh….”

There are more questions. What if a student gets infected? Will the entire school be closed and for how many days? Will students, teachers and other staff be tested regularly? If something happens to a child, whose responsibility will it be? Will the children coming to the classroom be called in the shift and who will pay the price for all this?

How will social distancing follow in the classroom?

Another challenge is to implement the rules of social distancing in the classroom.

“Many teachers, especially high school teachers, come in contact with hundreds of children a day. It is difficult even to ask children to bring a dress code, a pencil to the classroom,” says Jennifer.

Jennifer has recently started a Facebook group called ‘Texas Teachers Safety Initiative’, in which around nine thousand people are connected.

Not only this, politics is also going on on the issue of reopening the school.

Presidential elections in the US are just three months away and in many election polls, President Trump is trailing his rival and Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden.

And among all this, the issue of health has been politicized.

Andy Rotherham, the co-founder and partner of Belvedere Education, a non-governmental organization working in the field of education, says, “People want to see the economy going on. And if the kids don’t go to school, the economy is really on track Will be difficult. “

He says, “School is the place where parents send children during the day. These children are looked after by adults and adults. And if you don’t do that then it will be difficult for you to go to work.” “

This gives an idea as to why President Trump is keen to reopen the school. They have even threatened to cut federal allocation for education.

However, experts say that this is unlikely.

But the way Corona infection cases are increasing in America, it seems that the efforts of the Trump administration to open schools face challenges.

Meanwhile, more than a month has passed and Catherine Smart’s family is still recovering from Corona.

She says, “If our children were young or we were living in rural areas, I would not know how we could have survived.”

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