School confessional: ‘There is no reason that virtual learning can’t continue'

The following is a response to our call for people to share thoughts and concerns about Michigan schools returning to in-person learning this fall.

“I’m a high school teacher. I have a 2-year-old son. I am very uncomfortable going to work every day surrounded by a couple thousand students and staff members, and then returning home to my family. There is just no way to keep everyone in the building 6 feet apart -- especially in my small classroom with myself and 30 students. Their desks are 2 feet apart at most. I don’t feel like any of the guidelines are being discussed with protection of teachers and staff in mind. There is no reason that virtual learning can’t continue until there’s a vaccine available. At the high school level these kids can handle zoom classes in place of in-person. It is reckless to pretend like virtual learning is such a huge difference.”

-- Anonymous

View more: School Confessionals

School confessionals: Share your thoughts, concerns about return to in-person learning

Michigan school districts, colleges and universities are working to prepare for a return to in-person classes this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In-person classes were stopped in March when the virus swept through Michigan. On June 30, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer revealed her plan to help schools across the state return to in-person learning this fall. The “MI Safe Schools Return to School Roadmap” is a 63-page document that outlines coronavirus (COVID-19) safety protocols for each phase of Whitmer’s reopening plan.

The governor’s order requires each school district to adopt a COVID-19 plan that lays out how it will protect students and educators across the various phases of the Michigan Safe Start Plan. Whitmer’s roadmap is to be used as a guide.

This has everyone -- parents, teachers and students -- wondering whether this is a good idea, how well it can be accomplished, how safe everyone can be kept, and what exactly the best to do this will be.

Please share your thoughts and concerns about returning to in-person learning this fall -- we want to hear from you:

Related:

• Here’s what Michigan school districts have planned for the fall amid the pandemic
• A look at how Oakland University is preparing campus for fall return amid pandemic
• What the new school year will look like for Detroit public schools
• A look at how Eastern Michigan University is preparing campus for fall return amid pandemic
• Return to School section