The governor of Rhode Island plans to open the schools in the fall. On the town Facebook page, most people seem to be happy with the idea, though they question how we can possibly get all our kids back in school while following all of the CDC guidelines (hint: we can’t). Some are concerned about kids wearing masks (they’re vehemently against it). They really don’t seem to worry much about the virus itself. I sense that they just want things to go back to normal.
I want everything to go back to normal, too. Normal is not on the horizon, though. So we have to pick from among the “abnormal” options.
My husband and I are agreed. Unless there is a large positive change regarding the virus, or unless someone comes up with a brilliant scheme that sounds safe enough, we will not send our children to school. If the school won’t provide distance learning, then we’re going to have a problem, because we are ill-equipped to homeschool on our own.
But, my guess is that the town will offer distance learning for those who want and/or need it. If enough parents take the offer, the number of children physically going to school might be low enough to meet CDC guidelines. I don’t see how else it could be done.
There are so many ifs, and the uncertainty is frustrating. We want to know the answers now. We want to prepare ourselves and our children for what they can expect in the fall.
But it’s just as well, I suppose. There’s a whole summer stretching out before us and no day camp to keep our kids busy, and that’s what we need to focus on right now. We’re just going to have to take it one season at a time.