Logistics of reopening should make teachers, students uneasy

“Amateurs talk about tactics, but professionals study logistics.”

— Gen. Robert H. Barrow, U.S. Marine Corps

Calls for normalcy and a fast return to opening schools continue to grow louder. In many states, like Florida and Georgia, schools have already opened (some virtually). Some school systems are considering illadvised “parent choice” plans that seem to have more to do with quieting the demands for reopening the school buildings than education or public health.

Meanwhile, teacher’s unions are having to sue to ensure safe working and learning conditions; some educators are filling out their wills, taking early retirement, using extended leave or simply calling it quits in search of another profession.

This all increases the already dire teacher shortage in some areas. Who will replace these teachers? Who would accept a substitute position in these times? If kids are taught by long-term but unqualified subs, aren’t they better off learning online at home until we’re finally doing enough test-and-trace to make it safe? (Note:

Some substitutes are wonderful retired teachers, or new graduates looking for a position. Some have no experience at all.)

Many have been making the public health argument for not reopening schools until it’s safe. As an educator, though, I’d like to talk about the teaching and learning argument for remaining virtual until we’re sure it’s safe. I have taught graduate students virtually since 2010.

Let’s consider what we know about excellent, engaged teaching. For one, the best teaching is experiential. Especially for the youngest students, it’s hands-on. The brain is most engaged when the body is engaged, too.

How will teachers implement anything like this when safety guidelines mandate that students must remain at their physically distant desks? Unable to touch the books, the computers, the math manipulatives, the science-lab equipment?

How can a rational argument be made that the pedagogy, or method of teaching, is better in the school building when students will be asked to sit all day in front of a computer at their school desk to prevent spreading the virus?

Another consideration? Public health officials tell us that ventilation, and even open windows, are key if possible. But due to other safety mandates, the windows in some schools don’t open — or schools are forbidden from opening them due to policies for active-shooter prevention.

Next let’s consider the social and emotional impact on kids, since much has rightly been said about the need kids (and all of us, really) have for fresh air, activity and for each other. Opening before the pandemic is under control means mandating masks, as well as regular cleaning of desks and much more.

Professionals talk logistics, and education professionals know that much of this will fall on classroom teachers. This is time away from teaching. Some students will lose their masks. Younger students may even be afraid of them.

The virus remains unpredictable since it is so new. Logically, this suggests a series of back-and-forth openings and closings for schools that attempt to return to the buildings too soon. Within one week of opening on campus, over 300 U.S. universities had to succumb to reality and move to virtual learning. The number of K-12 classrooms already in quarantine grows.

What this means is that students, parents and teachers will be on a chaotic roller-coaster ride of openings and closures. This is far more disruptive for teaching and learning (not to mention the impacted workplaces and family life) than remaining virtual until it is safe would be.

Professionals, once again, talk logistics. While we debate what is in the best interest of America’s students in terms of teaching and learning, we have to consider the details and everyday logistics of what pandemic pedagogy will mean.

We know it’s not safe from a publichealth point of view; clearly until we have a much lower case count, it is not the best option for student learning either. The solution lies in the aggressive national test-and-trace plan our leading virus experts have called for.