Will Social Distancing Work in Public Schools?

Recently I was interviewed by FOREST OF THE RAIN PRODUCTIONS An Educational Affairs Organization on social distancing requirements recommended by the CDC. 

Dr. Mike Robinson: How can schools practice social distancing when school reopens?
Jason B. Allen: Social distancing is to help improve health measures related to COVID-19. We have to stop and consider the fear of not only parents and students but teachers and their families when returning to school. As a 16-year educator, I know first hand that schools can be some of the dirtiest places. The idea of social distancing practices being implemented in schools could work in specific areas of practice such as the cafeteria, buses, front office, hallways, and classrooms. 

However, it will most definitely impact how traditional public schools are operated. It will also cost a significant amount of money. If we are going to ensure that all children, teachers and staff members are going to be safe public school districts will have to do the following:
1. Reduce the number of students per class by more than ½ , no more than 10-12 students in a class.
2. Consider moving grades 7-12 to virtual learning 3 days out of the week until social norms are gradually put back into place.
3. For students in 7-12 not able to be left at home must report to school but cannot be in classes larger than 12 students.
4. Improve environmental services which will require:
● More Custodians during the school day
● Each school will have to have a registered nurse/clinician
5. Transportation would have to be increased which means fewer students on buses at a time
6. Breakfast and Lunch schedules would have to be extended to accommodate the number of children that can eat at a time.
7. Schools would need to employ more paraprofessionals in elementary schools to assist with restroom breaks, recess, classroom activities, small group learning sessions, and regular school programming.

Social distancing due to COVID-19 is giving parents and teachers the open door needed to reform what education looks like. It must be a gradual process, but it can be done.

Dr. Mike Robinson:  Can schools effectively practice social distancing requirements?
Jason B. Allen: As our current public education system stands, it’s not possible for public schools to implement social distancing successfully. Most public schools are overpopulated, understaffed, and have no space for expansion. We would be basically sending Black and brown kids mostly in lower and working-class communities into death traps. We cannot forget that parents of children in public schools are still advocating for equitable resources. Based on current funding formulas of public school districts is that schools in lower-income communities receive fewer resources.

Dr. Mike Robinson: What are your thoughts on staggered start times, alternative weeks of student attendance, remote learning, etc.?
Jason B. Allen: We have schools that are on staggered schedules now. This will help with traffic but still won’t impact capacity. Public school districts are going to have to be more creative than just this. Vacant schools need to be reopened. Class sizes are going to have to drastically drop. We need to seek ways to partner with local colleges, universities, and work training programs for students in high school grades 9-12. This will help reduce the number of students in classes. Furthermore, students with learning challenges will need accommodations and smaller learning spaces.

Considerations for scholars with health conditions would need to be considered to be able to work from home and have varied days they come to school. Even with these alterations to schedules, literacy will still be a challenge. Public schools across America saw the extreme challenges students with low textile levels are having with virtual learning. In Georgia, school districts would seriously need to reconsider having Reading Teachers again. Virtual learning isn’t stopping students with learning deficiencies from falling behind academically.

Dr. Mike Robinson: How can we extend or commit to remote learning when parents return back to work?
Jason B. Allen: In Georgia, non-essential workers are being called back to work, even when numbers are still growing and all communities don’t have access to testing or medical relief. This decision will impact our children. Unfortunately more dis-proportionality in lower-income communities where childcare may not be an option with many seniors being at risk and childcare centers not being open. We know many of our students come from households where there isn’t health insurance. Resources for community and family survival are a struggle for schools throughout the year. Imagine how the inequities with healthcare, transportation, affordable housing, and food desserts are already impacting public schools.

This doesn’t even touch on a larger issue of homeless youth and children in public schools. Beyond this, parents are struggling with online learning. It’s not as easy people are making it out to seem. It’s also not as simple as ensuring that families have the technology, internet access, and other essential resources needed.

Dr. Mike Robinson: Will teachers wearing masks and other PPE in school be effective?
Jason B. Allen: Even if all faculty and staff members wore masks, what about the children? What about contractors, visitors, parents? Schools don’t have full-time nurses to even check the temperature of students. We can’t even begin to believe they’ll be able to provide masks. We have seen the difficulty of adults with managing social distance practicing. Implementing this in schools, especially with children in Pre K - 6th
grade will be very challenging.

Dr. Mike Robinson: What are the signs that social distancing is working with teachers and students when schools reopen?
Jason B. Allen: It will be hard to determine how effective social distancing will be. However, I do know that it’s not going to be an easy lift for educators, especially schools with large populations of new teachers and new school leaders. Adding the requirements of social distancing on top of the many responsibilities of teachers without the support and reformation of ineffective processes and procedures, we are sending teachers and students into a deadly situation.

Bio
Jason has worked in education for over 15 years as a teacher, blogger and community advocate. He speaks and writes primarily about the need to improve education for Black boys, particularly increasing the number of Black male educators in schools. In addition to blogging here at EdLanta, Jason is also a featured writer at Education Post.