Noted Covid Law expert Judge Covid has issued his ruling — finally — on the issue of kids going back to school. Here’s an excerpt:
SCHOOLS ARE VITAL TO KIDS’ HEALTH
THEY PROVIDE MORE THAN JUST ACADEMICS
Such as?
MENTAL HEALTH, EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, SOCIAL WELL-BEING
SCIENCE SHOWS MISSING SCHOOL IS HARMFUL
FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST HUNGER, ABUSE, HOMELESSNESS
First line of defense is strong language. By all means, then, let’s get kids back in school!
NOT MUCH RISK FROM IN-PERSON SCHOOL
PEDIATRICIANS AND HEALTH EXPERTS AGREE
Yes.
SCHOOLS ARE LOW-RISK SETTINGS FOR SPREADING VIRUS
NOT MUCH RISK AT ALL
Right. Full-time, in-person school. It’s clearly supported by science and data, it’s the choice by experts on children’s health, and it’s vital to children for so many reasons outside of learning their ABCs. Finally, a clear and obvious —
I’VE CHANGED MY MIND
Click here for the full ruling.
Covid Court watchers took note of the following from Judge Covid’s rulings. He seemed moved by Gov. Roy Cooper and DHHS Sec. Mandy Cohen’s many fine words and phrases praising and stressing the importance of in-person instruction and the science and data. You could see these things crop up in his comments:
- “The most important opening is that of our classroom doors. Our schools provide more than academics; they are vital to our children’s health, safety and emotional development,” said Governor Cooper.
- “After looking at the current scientific evidence and weighing the risks and benefits, we have decided to move forward with today’s balanced, flexible approach which allows for in-person instruction as long as key safety requirements are in place in addition to remote learning options.” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD. “We will continue to follow the science and data and update recommendations as needed.”
- “As pediatricians and other health experts tell us, there is much risk in not going back to in-person school,” [Cooper said].
- Both Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen stressed that outside of learning, schools also provide mental health resources for children, and are the first line of defense if a child faces abuse, hunger, or housing insecurity.
Judge Covid was strongly influenced, however, by Cooper and Cohen’s revealed preference concerning in-person instruction:
Consider the frustration of parents who 1) waited months for Gov. Roy Cooper to announce his school reopening plan; 2) subsequently selected an in-person or hybrid instructional option offered by the district or school; and 3) then just weeks before the start of the school year were told that all children would be compelled to use remote learning for, at minimum, several weeks.
These were not isolated incidents. According to Keung Hui of the News & Observer, at least 29 school districts and 15 charter schools, representing around 40% of all public school students, have imposed full-time remote learning on families. Others may follow suit in the coming weeks.
Make no mistake about it. Working families are victims here, and their anger is justified. And the plight of teachers is nothing compared to the hardships that some of our most disadvantaged populations will encounter when their school districts and charter schools initiate full-time remote learning plans in August.
You can see how implacable the judge became as he ascertained from Covid Law what the real intent was for school kids. It certainly isn’t to get them back in school — despite the science, data, and Cooper and Cohen’s rhetoric about schools being “the first line of defense” for children and there being “much risk in not going back to in-person school.”
