When It Comes To Returning To In-Person Learning, Stop Prioritizing The Wants Of The Most Priviledged

Montgomery Advisor

o, say that the 2020-2021 school year has been challenging would be a gross understatement. From attempting to pay attention during Zoom meetings and classes while your phone and Dunkin’ Donuts coffee are an arms-length away, to staying up into deep hours of the night watching TikTok on repeat. Beyond that, actually committing to getting “good” grades and making an effort to reach out to friends and stay in contact with peers was no light task. As hard as it has been this semester for students, staff, and faculty all across the globe, returning to in-person learning when we are not ready is intensely dangerous, and ultimately impacts historically marginalized students and families the most. While it seems like an opportune time to reopen districts, this would be a reckless and preemptive decision. Despite a decrease in the number of average daily COVID cases and deaths, it only appears as such due to the significantly high number of hospitalizations, deaths, and cases in November and December. Currently, there are an average of 1,072 cases and 29.7 deaths each day. Additionally, with COVID-19 vaccines in short supply, it is unlikely that all faculty and staff will receive even their first dose before they are required to return to in-person instruction. MMSD is forcing teachers and marginalized students and families to choose between their jobs or education, and their safety. 

School districts in the United States opening will be harming the most historically marginalized students in the district if it continues with the plan to reopen. We cannot prioritize the wants of the most privileged students and families over the needs of students who have to be in school because of external factors. Community leaders and public officials across the nation are continuously stating that this decision will be made to the detriment of students historically neglected. Students who need food, internet access, and a safe environment to learn may be denied that opportunity if we reopen schools and threaten their health and safety. Persons who are Black are 3.7 times and persons who are Latinx/e are 4.1 times more likely to be hospitalized due to COVID-19.

Community leader and activist in Madison, Wisconsin, writes in an editorial: “[I] understand the American Academy of Pediatrics encourages students to return to school to address their social-emotional needs. However, what has your local school said or done that suggests students’ social-emotional needs will be a priority?” From encouraging standardized testing to ignoring disparities between white students and students of color - particularly Black and Latine/x students, to creating spaces where LGBTQ+ students feel excluded. School districts across the nation have continuously shown their true colors when it comes to making the lives and wellbeing of students and families facet of their schooling. These administrators and districts are simply using marginalized students, students of color, students with disabilities, and low-income students as a prop to reopen schools with no intention of actually protecting said students and families. 

We can no longer let the most privileged dictate local policy at the whims of those most historically marginalized.