ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. This is an editorial by the editor.
I was astonished Monday evening when I learned that more than 80 percent of parents and citizens insist students attend Wayland schools in person in the classroom five days a week.
I was astonished over how many people are willing to send our children, educators and support staff into an arena that puts their lives at risk. Even if the death rate is low, it feels like we are condemning them to play Russian Roulette.
Therefore, I emphatically support the recommendation of Supt. Dr. Christina Hinds to stay the course with the hybrid model of attending school, blending small class sizes and on-line instruction. Dr. Hinds’ most important task and that of the Wayland Board of Education, is to assure the health, safety and welfare of the students, teachers and staff. She appears to be doing just that, over the objections of what has been presented as the popular will of the people.
Though I often bemoan federal and state lawmakers’ nasty habit of ignoring the wishes of the electorate, there are times in which the public servant must overrule the people. French philosopher Jean-Jaques Rousseau, one of the earliest champions of democracy, acknowledged times that the will of the people can err.
An interesting sidebar to this debate is that I so often hear from Constitutionalist Freedom Riders that the United States is not a democracy, but a republic. The former emphasizes the people deciding, the latter’s key component is choosing representatives to make those decisions on our behalf.
Yet the promoters of a republic in this case reject the deciders and opt for the will of the people.
I don’t think for a minute that parents and citizens wish teachers and students to become seriously ill or die. However, I charge them with lacking the wisdom to make a good choice and turn away from initiating a process that may be more convenient, but dangerous.
Perhaps the most egregious offender in this issue is athletics. Too many of us want the games to continue without proper attention paid to the health, welfare and safety of the kids. That’s just how much athletics has become more important than it should be in our modern society.
My son, Robby, is a physics and earth science teacher in Colorado Springs and he coaches cross country and track. He loves what he does, but when the Rampart School District in August seriously considered having in-person classes five days a week, he seriously considered resigning.
Now comes information that Martin High School, which had in-person classroom instruction five days a week, has shut down for two weeks and two varsity football games have been canceled. The very same thing happened to Plainwell High School.
All because of the threat of the Coronavirus.
It is no secret that the United States has 4.5% of the world’s population and nearly 25% of the Covid-19 cases worldwide. Some medical experts have suggested that we Americans have done a terrible job of taking the virus seriously by refusing the mask up, keep our distance and practice good hygiene habits.
And just when we thought we’ve flattened the curve and case numbers are reduced, the virus has regained its chops twice. Medical people now tell us we may be in for a really tough fall and winter.
America’s two greatest mistakes were refusing to wear masks indoors in confined areas and fighting the virus in 50 different ways in 50 different states. If it’s true we are fighting a war against a deadly invisible enemy, then we need to meet the challenge as if we are at war with one unified response.
Meanwhile, I am disappointed in those who have made the Coronavirus a political rather than a health issue and continue to spread it by not wearing masks. Some of them are elected officials guilty of a callous disregard for others’ lives.
I applaud Dr. Hines and hope she stays strong in the face of misguided popular will.
Ever so often I find myself agreeing with you Dave. I am also amazed that parents are wanting to send their children into greater danger of sickness. But then I remember that many around this area think wearing a mask and distancing is some kind of evil plan from the government to take away our freedom instead of a need to reduce the chance of catching or spreading Covid 19. Also the push for playing and attending sports shows where peoples priorities are which isn’t the safety of the children or themselves. Adding to the deniers of the virus is various officials such as the Barry County Sheriff, our local State Rep and many others. True leadership takes the heat and does what the experts in health recommend. Hopefully Dr. Christina Hines stays the course.
So in your worldview we should all stay in our basement like Joe Biden and shiver in fear that the Communist Chinese Coronavirus doesn’t find us?
Pray tell, how do you survive now?
More big talk from the faux patriot Don’t Tread On Me.
Remember this is the same big talker who was applauding a local parade organized before public health restrictions had been relaxed but admitted he’d be staying home or watching from the safety of a vehicle rather than participating in a local show of civil disobedience.
Why? For all the tough talk he wasn’t about to live up to his alleged tough guy beliefs and march exposing himself to the virus.
Mr. Couchman,
I have no recollection of any “parade” you reference, I don’t prefer to be around any public gatherings, now or before COVID19. But I regard your ranting and ravings about me residing in your head rent free as delusional Democrat Libtard blathering. Whatever.
Mr. Couchman,
Sir,
One more time you attribute things to people they did not say, something you do often. Please quote Mr. DTOM, when he said he was not going to a local parade and would watch from a vehicle? It must be in the archives of the Townbroadcast for you to quote.
You said “For all the tough talk he wasn’t about to live up to his alleged tough guy beliefs and march exposing himself to the virus.” So lets see the quote, or lets see a retraction if you have the intestinal fortitude to do it.
Mr. Couchman,
Sir,
Still waiting for you to publish the quote, or retraction.
Thank you in advance as we know you will be submitting the proof or retraction.
Crickets!!
Cheers!!
Mr. Couchman,
Where are you? We hope you are well and able to provide the quote and proof that what you say is true. Please send in the quote we are still waiting.
Mr Young
Once again on a rare occasion I must agree with you.
Currently, there is no solution for parents but send the children back to school. Most households need both parents working to maintain their current lifestyle. Single parent situations definitely need that parent working.
Hence school has not only become a place of learning, but also a safe place for your child (from preschool to graduation from high school) while you the parent(s) work.
I don’t agree with sending children back to school… but I also must sympathize with the parents. They must feel horrible knowing they have to put their child in a dangerous situation, just so the family can continue their current lifestyle.
People fail to accept the fact that even though masks, social distancing, good hygiene may not work 100% the percentage of protection is better than 0% by not wearing them, social distancing or proper hygiene.
The time of believing in “herd immunity” is long past. So much has been done to slow the spread that disregarding current or future protective measures will be a disaster. We should not be using our children to experiment on what will or will not work at school. Sadly, so many children will have no say about going to school or studying from home.
Hopefully, the decision the parents make… they will be able to live with… for currently they hold that child’s life in their actions.
According to the data provided by the COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Allegan County has a whopping total of 7 deaths where COVID-19 was present in the person (not necessarily the reason for the death). This equates to a 0.008% chance of death (if googles population of Allegan county is accurate). We’ve also had a reported 989 cases equating to a 0.8% chance of catching the virus at all. With a hospitalization rate of 183.2 per 100,000 cases (according to the CDC), if every single person in the county got COVID, only 216 people would end up needing to be hospitalized (spread out over the course of months I would expect). Comparatively, the average for the Flu is about 1/3 of that hospitalization rate. For people 65 or older, it has been almost exactly the same rate (up to 181.8 hospitalizations per 100k). So, the question should be raised: at what numerical values (science) is it safe to continue life as normal? For note: the odds of getting hit by lightning in your lifetime is 0.033% chance (or 4 times more likely than dying from COVID in Allegan County).
Mike,
Finally someone looking at the actual numbers and then applying common sense. Thanks for your contribution of facts verses feelings.
Cheers!!
If only this kind of information were available to public officials issuing blanket lockdown orders to the entire state while simultaneously exposing thousands of elderly nursing home patients in counties with high minority populations…Oh wait. Nevermind.
Did someone say “racism was a public health crisis”?