The School World During the Covid-19 Pandemic

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My daughter, Joni, is principal of a large suburban middle school.  Here is her Feb 6 note about how it is a her school during this year of Covid-19.  Her sister, my daughter, 45, has recently been diagnosed as positive for Covid-19.

“[Our sister/daughter] continues to only have mild symptoms, but my personal school experiences with this virus keeps me cautiously optimistic. I’m the one that has to send out “the letter” to and follow up with families and staff when there’s been an exposure, so I know there is no “normal” in who will be just fine , who develops symptoms or their severity, who will be hospitalized, and who will live. I’ve had no reported student or staff deaths at my school of just about 1100, but there have been many grandparents and extended family members and a few parents and siblings who have passed. I manage those communications as well, as no one need to get an attendance call or “Joey hasn’t been doing his work” call when they’re dealing a health crisis or planning a funeral.

From the school perspective, there are so many changes. Classroom and bus seating charts and tracking attendance has become a non-negotiable as we have to know who gets a high-risk exposure (= quarantine and get a test) letter vs. low-risk exposure (= monitor for symptoms but can still attend work/school) letter and don’t miss someone.  We seem to have the system down now which is helpful as we plan to reopen with a hybrid model on 2/16. Basically we’ll be at 50% capacity with teachers supporting students in person and from home.

The stress is palpable among my staff, and I am doing my best to shield them from the “not good enough” message that plays in the background all the time.  My focus has definitely shifted from providing instructional leadership to anticipating and managing the day to day. Everyone is tired of “this”, and “this” is different for everyone. I’m reminded of that  daily.

If you stuck all the way to the end of my reply, I’m sorry for the unrequested verbal vomit and thank you for listening. I promise future replies will focus on Heather’s Heath (or at least stick to the point!) My best to you all!”

My response (Dad): For sure, try not to consider your thoughts/feelings to be “verbal vomit”!

It is actually very important for us, and for you, to know your facts/feelings “from the trenches”.  I think of the war analogy quite often, and your profession, like medical, like the people in grocery stores, etc., are very much like front-line combat troops in this war, who don’t know when/where/how the ‘bullet’ [may] come to kill them.

America’s deadliest war by far was the America’s Civil War.

In real general terms, just a very fast fact check on the internet, here’s some very rough data which I think is pretty close to accurate…as I say a “very fast” fact check.
Civil War deaths 620,000.  U.S. population then was about 30 million (four years data)
World War II deaths  407,000. U.S. population was about 130-140 million, about 40% of present population (Deaths occurred over four years of war).
Covid-19 U.S. deaths to date about 460,000.  U.S. population 330,000,000 (and this is only one year data)
Deaths in war traditionally have been the young men – kids in their teens and 20s.  Defining exact cause of death in war is not always easy.   For instance, a good share of the Civil War deaths were civilian and from things like untreatable infections and diseases attributable to the war.  Others can argue this.
The Covid-19 demographic  of death data is different as we all know.  We know who has died, and how, and from what.
It’s no fun to be a “combat death” in the days of Covid-19.  The death to population ratio from Covid is fast approaching WWII levels.  This is no small time deal.  And this in just a single year, while WWII was four years, 1942-45; the Civil War 1861-65.
So, try to keep it in perspective.  Hopefully, the vaccinations will begin to slow the rate of dying – we don’t know that yet.  But what I just wrote I think about every time I go in the post office, a grocery store, the drug store, my coffee shop…and think of the people at the cash register, etc.  My encounter with them is a matter of seconds; they have hundreds of these encounters every day.
If you have an interest, a few years ago [grandson] Spencer developed an interest in history, and as part of some assignment he asked me something about war.  I put together a single sheet for him, which is here: War Deaths U.S.002.  He and his teacher found it interesting.
Have a good day, and days.  We love you all.  Dad.
Final word: I noted to a friend Sunday that the need to communicate about Covid-19 reminds me of the need to communicate after 9-11-01.  We were all confused, angry and needed to talk.  In my garage box of old newspapers I took the below one out this morning, just to remind everyone, we were there, and we are again.  The death toll for 9-11-01: 2996, 372 who were not U.S. citizens.

Joe Biden

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Occasionally, in my little corner of the universe, I have to make a decision, as yesterday, when Kathy sent a comment she had seen responding to a Heather Cox Richardson blog.  The comment was long and I include it as sent.  I also agree with it, but that is extraneous…I publish even items I disagree with.

So…special thanks to Kathy V, and to the commenter, Scott Krasner, and to Heather Cox Richardson who’s a prolific and outstanding blogger at Letters from an American (the link goes to her post which includes Scott’s comment).

Scott K:

Scott M. Krasner11 hr ago
I’ve seen many memes where Biden is smiling or laughing, usually with Obama, that imply he’s a fun loving prankster – not that there’s anything wrong with that.
However, since the election there’s been a sobriety or gravitas, or maybe it’s earnestness, in his addresses, and even press releases, that’s both striking and gripping. Why is this grabbing my attention?
“I value your expertise and I respect you, and I will have your back. This administration is going to empower you to do your jobs, not target or politicize you.”
One, Biden rarely uses the pronoun “I” unless he’s assuming responsibility. He doesn’t use it to focus on himself or to elevate his role or skills or knowledge above those of his staff, government employees, or the citizens of the US, not just his “followers.” Two, he doesn’t single out or denigrate individuals or organizations to blame for this lousy state of affairs, but offers a better vision by comparing where he wants to be against specific perceived failings that exist today. Three, he offers belief in, and respects the value of, both his nominees and all the people who come to work each day for the government, on behalf of all citizens AND residents of America. Four, his tone exudes belief and confidence in the hope and ability of collaboration to take on and resolve the challenges facing us. It’s not “us vs. them,” even in the face of recalcitrant Republican Senators and representatives. Five, there’s a resolve to make things happen. While he didn’t say “it’s my way or the highway” about his COVID relief proposal, he did make clear that he’d use whatever levers possible to pass this bill, even if he would’ve preferred a fully bipartisan effort. Six, he’s not castigating his political foes. When 10 GOP Senators asked to speak to him about a counterproposal, he accepted the request without any prior public condemnation. I’m sure he used a side by side comparison to evaluate each point of difference, and when deciding that their counter was insufficient to meet his goals, he didn’t call out that group as stupid or radical or lazy or do-nothings.
I could go on but the contrasts with Trump are clear. Compared to Trump’s wealth, arrogance, and hastily and performatively adopted “Christian family values” alliances with Evangelicals, Biden is more informed by the experiential difference of his humble origins, his personal losses, and his lifelong, but not outspoken, religious faith. Stylistically, Biden’s quiet resolve stands out against Trump’s bombastic threats. I’d characterize his approach to transition as “do no harm but take no shit.” There are times to appease and times to move ahead without worrying about his detractors. He seeks counsel from those who agree with him as well as those who differ, but when he makes a decision he’s politely but clearly saying “your opinion counts but your vote doesn’t.”
Look, Joe’s not an angel. He’s not a saint. He failed to stand up to Clarence Thomas’s racist card when Thomas declared his Supreme Court hearing as “a high-tech lynching for uppity blacks” despite credible charges of sexual harassment. His mouth got ahead of him during the debate on the 1994 crime bill when he warned of “predators in the streets” and “lock the S.O.B.s up” in a tone eerily prescient of Trump’s 2015 announcement of his candidacy. And he courted well known and unrepentant racists like James Eastland and Strom Thurmond.
Does he regret those things deep down or only for the sake of political expedience? I don’t know, but they’ve not been consistent or current hallmarks of his public persona in the way that Marjorie Taylor Greene’s social media posts have been. There are few, if any, concerns about questionable moral or ethical actions. He’s not known as a liar or adulterer or megalomaniac.
In short (sorry, too late!), despite some human flaws, foibles, and failings, Biden doesn’t attempt to impose a vision of America predicated on isolation, xenophobia, and disdain for those without privilege. After almost five years of the alternative, it’s remarkable to hear the English language being used to unite instead of divide, and to call the nation to action on behalf of each other instead of for the white donor class. Welcome aboard, Joe, it’s time to kick some ass and reintroduce the better angels of America.

COMMENT from Dick:  “Joe’s not an angel.  He’s not a saint.”  Of course, he’s not.  First, he’s human.  Most importantly, though, he’s been in public office for, I think, 47 years, most of those as U.S. Senator, Vice-President, and now, President.  He’s long been in the most public of positions, having to deal, daily, which most of us mere mortals would gladly avoid.  It is inevitable that he will make decisions I wish he hadn’t – likely he’s already done such.  But he’s working to preside over the most unruly motley crew in the universe, and I’m glad he’s the person whose predecessor, Harry Truman (also previously a Senator and Vice-President) had the sign which said “The Buck Stops Here.”