Very well written. A quick note for some of those in favor on In Person Learning. I am completely terrified of Covid-19. I have been trying to watch and control me and my son’s interactions as much as possible. I would avoid sending my child to school if at all possible. Unfortunately, it came down to 2 choices……will he be able to pass his classes enough to be able to graduate by Distance Learning? OR do I take the risk, hope that I have taught him well and the school tries to remind and/or help enforce the safety guidelines enough? By making the selection to send him back to school, to be in person, was a choice of his education. For my child, it is the only way for him. I don’t speak for anyone else, except our situation. He is a very intelligent child who has a high IQ but is with an IEP. His disabilities do not allow him to accomplish tasks well, especially when computer related. I don’t envy any of those involved in making these decisions, watching the numbers and dealing with the endless parent questions, comments, issues and complaints. Those Administrators, Principals, Staff, Teachers, etc are utterly exhausted!!! AND I thank them for everything they are doing. I wish EVERYONE luck as we work to get through this Pandemic.

In response to Jason at 6:20, please refrain from calling out Abbey. She is an amazing West student and deserves better. In fact, as she eloquently states, she deserves a voice. While the district has hosted numerous thought exchanges and surveys for teachers and parents, to my knowledge, we have never asked students to weigh in on what would make their educational experience better in these times. As she points out, the enemy is not the decision but the INDECISION and the reversal of plans.

Perhaps we should have asked and listened.

Do you know what is causing students stress? Isolation? The cramming of 18 weeks into 9? Uncertainty regarding college plans? Worry for siblings who are away at school? Thoughts of the health of family and loved ones? Do you know? Has anyone asked them?

The editorial staff of Pathfinder, as well as the students who have commented on this story, are some of the brightest minds I have had the honor of teaching at West. I urge you to listen to them and I applaud each of them for speaking truth to power.

I am so proud of all the students who worked so hard on this piece. For some of us, we were unable to have our voices heard over the yelling from the adults who seem to know what’s better for us than we do. I understand everyone has their own opinions, but I feel the opinions of those like me, were overshadowed by people with louder, more demanding and privileged, voices. I can tell you that my mental health has been more damaged by the wish washyness and entitlement of the Parkway community than being in or out of school. It’s incredibly upsetting to sit by and watch the loud voices of few outweigh the quiet voices of many. Fantastic job students. You represent us well. Thank you.

This piece is so well-written that people think students couldn’t right it. Kudos to the students that presented an accurate and excellent piece with journalistic integrity. This made me proud to be a parent and mental health provider in the district. There words will ring true as time goes on and data is gathered. I have sick friends who work in those St. Charles districts.

Extremely well written article with very valid viewpoints. For anyone to suggest that it was not the work of students is insulting to their hard work and abilities.

Parkway teacher 9:50 PM, yes, I do speak strongly about the kids returning to in person, because that is exactly what should happen. Most of the country has realized that hiding in one’s basement is not the way to keep this country functioning and our kids learning, developing work ethic, maturing, socially developing and dealing with adversity. I was particularly disturbed by on of Dr. Marty’s early comments in favor of virtual learning being that students, parents and faculty are enjoying more sleep and flexible schedules.
That’s not what the working world they will need to function in is about. As part of the ownership group of an essential business that keeps the supply chain going, my company has never closed it’s doors and our employees have been onsite in the office, with normal business hours, providing our customers with the services and goods they need to keep their businesses going. We have, of course, adhered to all guidelines and taken the necessary precautions to protect our employees and customers. So yes, I have been on the front lines, “in the line of fire”, since this “pandemic” began. We have had no employees get seriously ill and I have not brought death to my family. My wife has also continued to work her job as a social worker, virtually through her employers choice not her choice. When work is over, my wife has continued her normal routines socially outside the home, in person with people, using mandated and prudent precautions. She to has not brought death down on the family. My kids have continued their normal social interactions, with mandated and prudent precautions, save school. My son, for example, is on two baseball teams that have continued their seasons in spite of Sam Page. He also just completed his Parkway South cross country season in spite of ridiculous rules like only one spectator per runner over a 3.1 mile course, outside, in a public park. The irony is that for every baseball game we have to travel at least 30 minutes outside of St. Louis County wasting fuel, time and significantly increasing our carbon footprint. It’s time for this madness and rampant paranoia to end.

Thank you, Pathfinder Editorial Board, for publishing this piece. You presented fact-based reporting with many supporting links, and you kept your argument logical and thoughtful. The quality of writing that frequently comes from Pathfinder rivals that of many professional news outlets. Keep up the good work!

As a longtime (now retired) Parkway teacher, I wholeheartedly agree with the opinions expressed in this piece.

As a former editor of the Pathfinder (40-plus years ago, yikes), I couldn’t be more proud of the journalistic standards you’ve all upheld. I’m so impressed with the quality of your writing and research — bravo to you all.

This was exceptionally well-written, and thank you for your thoughtful engagement with this issue. I hope all of the leaders of all the schools in our region listen to you.

I think we all realize that schools will reopen. The key is it be done in the safest possible manner? Students learn best with little disruption as possible. So it would have been logical to open schools in January, after the major communal holidays. A solid plan could be created and all teachers would be able to prepare for the new classes and possibly new buildings the will be in. Students were not “isolated” at home. Many have been playing sports, hanging out and going to parties. Others who did not had opportunities to meet with friends outside or in small groups. Doing school at home does not require someone cloister themselves away. That is a choice. Because of the rapid change from virtual to in person, many teachers will be teaching new subjects or teaching in person and virtually, possibly simultaneously. Students will required to sit in desk for 90+ minutes at a time. There will be no small group work. This quick change actually diminishes the quality education for all students. Virtually students could learn at her or his own pace. That won’t happen in person because every teacher has to stay on track in case they or class needs to quarantine. This has become a political game as opposed to a logic puzzle. If safety was a concern every person would be tested prior to in person and there would be random testing for everyone in the buildings. This is how many universities have stayed open and safe. It’s possible to do both with a good plan. Comparing actual Covid cases is also a misnomer, because when students isolate for close contact, the do not have to test, not do the have to test to return. So, take the time time to make a good plan. Listen to all parties, and stop treating others as enemies. We ALL wants what’s best for kids. Teachers give their live for that belief, for more and more that has happened literally.

It’s not entirely true that we have the choice of either distance or in person learning. My student S and I have been trying for the past few weeks to change to distance learning, due to the lack of confidence in the district’s plan, as well as some newly emerging health issues my student is now facing, and the fact that there are three adults in the home with numerous health underlying health issues that make them at great risk if my student were to bring the virus home.

It’s only somewhat true that we could choose virtual if we were concerned.
– Teachers could NOT choose virtual. Some were allowed to due to heath concerns, but those that are healthy but desired to teach from home generally did not have a choice.
– Families could only choose virtual if they were privileged enough to have a stay at home or working from home parent, or a friend/relative/nanny who could watch their children during the day. Many families who shared childcare lost that option when school started.