Local schools are stuck between rock, hard place

ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor.

“If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all.” — Albert King, “Born Under a Bad Sign”

Or perhaps even more appropriate: “You’re damned if you don’t and you’re damned if you do.”

The second quote would apply better to what the Hopkins, Wayland and Martin school districts have endured since reopening for the 2020-21 academic year under the Sword of Damocles that is the Coronavirus.

School officials have been grappling with the very serious issue of getting teachers, staff and students back to the process of learning after a disastrous inert period between March and the end of the 2019-20 school year because of the serious health threats.

They can’t win.

Despite carefully taking comments from the public and consulting with other educators and with health experts, they’ve had to make the tough call about sending the kids back to the classrooms. Or not.

Hopkins and Wayland in August decided to compromise between face-to-face learning and on-line instruction. They opted for a hybrid system in which one group of students physically attend Mondays and Thursdays and the other Tuesdays and Fridays. And then Wednesdays are set aside for everybody to get their instruction on the Internet.

Wayland felt the sting of Murphy’s Law this week when the Internet service went down for “Wildcat Wednesday,” thereby limiting what learning would be made available.

This is not to mention the awful truth that less fortunate folks in rural areas either have poor Internet service or none at all. The awful truth is that in this case, education is available only to those who can afford it.

Then came news that some places such as the New Life Church would offer free Wi-fi weekdays after school. That might not help those who live in the sticks.

The Hopkins Board of Education Monday night heard heartfelt exhortations to drop all that Internet instruction and get the kids back into the classroom. I found the situation slightly embarrassing with the realization Martin decided to open up face-to-face learning five days a week because the school is small. Yet last week we learned that one staff member and one student have tested positive for Covid-19.

While it is true the vast majority of young people have a good chance of surviving the virus, who among us are willing to play Russian Roulette with our children? Apparently more than a few because the three local superintendents have indicated most parents want the kids physically in the classroom.

Teachers, staff and administrators, I am told, are very uncomfortable with the possibility their students could get sick and even die, even if it’s a small percentage. I certainly wouldn’t want to trade places with them. I’ve got enough stress in my life.