The Teen View Forum

Sneha Subramani, 17, With COVID-19 being a very prominent issue across the world today, habitual and customary events like schools reopening for the year have come into question. I, personally, believe that although students go to school to learn standardized topics such as history and math, social interaction and skills also learned at school are some of the most important lessons learned. These lessons cannot be learned through virtual learning. However, I believe that students’ health should be the utmost top priority of any school system, especially during a global pandemic. Therefore, I maintain that in the US, the country with the largest number of coronavirus cases and climbing, schools for the fall semester, should give students an option to attend virtually/remotely. This would be done in the best interest of the students and their health. I also believe that schools should follow CDC guidelines and mandate the use of masks and social distancing if they do choose to open in the fall. However, communities of color that tend to be poorer communities, due to years of systemic racism and oppression, will not have the resources or money to implement these guidelines into their school, so hastily reopening schools in the fall will allow coronavirus to disproportionately affect people of color, more so than it already does. The plan set in motion by my school system does offer a virtual option for students, however, they tend to be lacking in information as to how students’ school life in the fall will seem. In trying times such information is the biggest help and will aid students’ decision of whether to attend school virtually or in-person. 

Sachi Ramachandran, 15, As the back to school season rapidly approaches, COVID-19 adds on to the usual stress of the season. As a student who personally learns better face to face, I would love to be able to say that I was comfortable with going back to school this fall, but I cannot say that with certainty. Due to the spike in cases in our state alone, online classes or a system that sends in students based on grade/last initial would be the best option. Schools should go through extra precautions by providing students with masks and strict rules on social distancing. It also might be in our best interest to model how we plan to go back to school in European countries such as France and Italy that have already mostly eradicated the virus’s presence. The plan set by our school district sounds decent, but I could only wonder if students will take it seriously or if the plan will change by the time August starts.

Aasim Musani, 14,  Heading into the third quarter of 2020, the prospect of school reopening was becoming ever more popular due to the decrease in new cases of COVID-19. But now a relapse of this horrible disease is here and I can only think of one thing. What about school? I personally want to go to school in person because I know I learn better when I am taught face to face. Also, having people around me is just better for everyday stress regardless of whether or not they are being forced to wear masks. If everyone follows the rules, we can mitigate incidents that will risk student health and everyone will have a good year of school. But, our school district needs to leave the ultimate decision to the guardians of the students. They should facilitate both an online and in school education and allow parents to change their mind if situations at school or anywhere else are not what they expect it to be. At the end of the day, no one wants to risk their health, regardless of the reason. I hope that the district continues to lead this situation well and will try everything possible to ensure both our safety and education are not compromised. 

Alex Butler, 15, As August approaches, many are wondering if schools should or will open back up. I believe that returning to schools and attending classes in person can be done safely, but it must be done properly. I trust our district to handle the situation adequately from what I’ve heard of the plan. Each district and school system should monitor the numbers of their county and form policies based on those numbers. Students attending school in person should have to wear masks, maintain a safe distance from other students, and wash their hands frequently. If the situation is handled properly and responsibly by both school staff and students, there would be minimal incidents of students being infected. Every student would have to wear a mask and follow the health guidelines set by the school for the educational environment to remain as safe as possible. Schools that are opening up in the fall should also offer an online option for those who don’t feel safe or comfortable returning to school. That being said, schools should only open to students if they have a safety plan, including the enforcement of masks, distance as possible, and safe health practices. 

Abby Percy, 15, While I am happy to have the opportunity to go back to school, I am also very fearful of what is going to happen to children whether they go back or not. I imagine it’ll be difficult for children at home to see their friends have social interaction. I am very grateful that our school is allowing an online option and I think that should be an option at every school. I think it is totally okay for parents to want their children to stay home, many of them could be at a higher risk by going to school. I think masks and social distancing should be required and that schools should do whatever they can to flatten the curve and mitigate the spread. I am worried about the continuous rise in cases and how that will affect students and teachers and I feel going online as a school would be a good idea but many schools have already given us hope of going back. I am satisfied with my school’s plan but am deeply upset with how this year is going to look, which isn’t the school’s fault by any means, I just think we could have handled this better as a country and been able to open schools normally like other countries. Northern states not opening schools as soon as we are in the South that puts us in the position of canaries in a coal mine to see what will happen.

Austen Wyche, 15, With the current uptick in cases that are going around the United States, I feel that in-person school should not be held in person right now. Most schools do not have enough money to conduct changes that implement safety practices and social distancing, and Congress has not allocated any additional funding. The threats to cut funding of schools from the President also are not beneficial, considering schools, especially public schools need the funding. I believe for the first semester, school should be conducted online, only in-person learning where the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines are met, as well as proper social distancing objects such as screens between the desks and limiting the number of children in a particular area. We need to stay at home, to mitigate the spread of the virus and prevent children from facilitating the infection of others. I am currently completely unsatisfied with my school system, Madison City Schools, plan to go back to school. The plan has no details in what online school would look like and does not adequately account for social distancing in spaces such as buses. My school system needs to account for the rise in cases and realize it is neither safe nor realistic to go back right now. Many people who go back to school may be asymptomatic, and they will spread the disease around the school unknowingly, something the school system has not accounted for. I do not think they will follow through with the plan when they realize a lot of people are going to come in person, due to the unfamiliarity and confusion with  the online programs they have not adequately explained. Our school system must do better, and plan for online classes for the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, as many other school systems have done.