Health workers, educators, DeWine need us all in fight
By now, the number of American coronavirus deaths exceeds 291,557, the total number of American combat casualties in World War II.
The number “wounded” in 2020? More than 18 million in this nation alone.
Our front-line healthcare workers, especially in hospitals and nursing homes, have shown courage in the face of grave danger to themselves and their families. They deserve medals of honor.
Another large group of people — educators — deserve our recognition.
They, too, have stepped into difficult circumstances, often in proximity to an insidious enemy that could take them down as well.
Let’s salute our teachers, especially the ones who have been in the classroom with students during this school year. Not only have they had to teach their subject matter to pre-schoolers on up to post-graduate university students, they have had to be models for masking, sanitizing and social distancing.
Teaching is a great and noble challenge under the best of conditions, but the situation we are in now doubles the scope of the task.
Administrators, an under-appreciated group, have faced difficult decisions about instruction since March. On a daily basis, they have had to monitor the situation in their districts and individual schools and change course (often instantaneously) between in-class and at-home learning, or the attempt to do both. Maintenance crews and bus drivers have also taken on an increasingly important role in creating a clean environment for young people.
We must recognize the absolutely critical role of parents in the educational process these days. They are truly stuck between a rock and a hard place. First, they must try to make ends meet and support their families in a depressed economy. Second, they must spend a lot more time at home while their kids participate in distance learning activities. Third, they have to become more involved in the educational process as tutors and mentors in order for children to succeed.
Coaches are also involved educators, and they have faced unprecedented protocols, restrictions and cancellations as they teach and lead student-athletes in their sports, again while serving as role models. As frontline health-care workers, let’s give a shout-out to school nurses. And let’s not forget the students themselves who strive to further their education. May they continue to complete their daily tasks.
Probably the No. 1 and most visible educator in
Ohio since early March has been our governor, Mike DeWine. He (along with Jon Husted, Amy Acton and her health-care successors) has used the radio and TV as his primary tools to patiently but urgently convey a clear, fact-based message of “Love Thy Neighbor” regarding the virus by establishing basic rules and recommendations for safety in workplaces, places of worship, restaurants, stadiums and, of course, schools. And guess what?
The 11 million citizens of the Buckeye state have displayed every type of response imaginable. Some have absorbed the message and have exceeded the call of duty.
Many have essentially gone with the plan for the greater good, others more reluctantly. Some have quietly ignored the reasonable advice and protocols.
And a small number have openly rebelled, including a few elected legislators, who have foolishly called for the governor’s impeachment. Why can’t everyone see by now that we must all be in this thing together along with our health workers and educators to defeat the viral enemy?