Let’s put a year of school in perspective

In reply to a letter of July 6: yes, kids do need and deserve fulltime schools. However, this may be a time such as during World War II when some of the normal things in people’s lives must be put on hold for the greater good.

As a single elder, with risk factors, raising a child, my hope is to live until he reaches adulthood. In the big picture, while kids apparently are less vulnerable to the virus, as every parent knows, they certainly carry home illnesses they pick up at school. I’m sure missing one year of in-person schooling would be far less devastating to a child than losing a parent or custodial grandparent.

A vaccine seems likely to be available before the 2021-22 school year. If an entire cohort of children lose some schooling for a year they will remain on equal footing going forward and the long-term effects will not be severe — certainly not as devastating as adding to the death toll from school contracted illness.

As for the working families who need child care, let’s look for innovative solutions. How about assistance to pay older high school or college students to do child care and/or tutoring while they also are out of school? It would help the economy and would give those students valuable experience.

Local infection rates are continuing to rise alarmingly. As scientists continue to learn more about how the virus spreads, decisions should be based on calculated risks and current conditions.

— Lucy Sperlin, Chico