School confessional: ‘Online learning is what is going to keep kids safe'

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.

“It’s crazy to me that any school system thinks that in-person learning is a good idea. My son brings home every virus, every sniffle, every little cold that runs through his classroom, and so do the other students. With an Illness as highly transmissible as COVID, I don’t have any faith that teachers and other education workers can keep my son safe. It’s not what they do or are trained for, and that’s understandable -- they aren’t nurses or doctors. Online learning is what is going to keep kids safe. I understand families have difficulties with kids not being in school all day, but as far as I’m concerned health and safety come first.”

-- 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