By Ruth Ogunsanwo
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Is it safe to return?
That is the question that many parents, teachers and students are asking themselves as schools throughout the state begin to re-open in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Those who were interviewed had mixed feelings about the safety of schools, with some parents and students saying it is too early to open schools while others say it about time to go back to the classroom.
Damian Stocks, a father of a Hereford Middle School eighth grader, believes students should go back to school but he worries if it is safe.
“I am sure that a lot of households where both parents work have had to deal with their kids learning and staying home by themselves,” Stocks said. “I wouldn’t have wanted that if my daughter was younger.”
Stocks added that his biggest worry is the mental state of students after missing out on a whole year of in-class learning. “You never truly know how someone is doing or how this will affect them long term.”
“Something has to be done,” Stocks said. “We have to take these steps to see if we are going to be successful. Nothing beats a failure but a trial. I am fearful if they never get the chance to go back.”
Other parents who were interviewed expressed their worries about their kids returning back to school.
Monica Barrientos, a mother of a Montgomery College freshman, said she believes that it would be difficult for students to adjust to their new lifestyle.
“The biggest challenge would be kids having to deal with the fact that things can’t be the way it used to be before the pandemic,” Barrientos said. “They have to keep in mind that they can’t touch their face or interact with other students as they used to do before. I am not ready for them to go back.”
Scovia Euzubi, a mother of a Milbrook Elementary School third grader, said sending students back to school is putting them into harm’s way, but it takes the pressure off her as a parent.
“I want them back in school, but it has been difficult to decide,” Scovia said. “I do want them to go back to school as I don’t feel that they are learning enough at home.”
Gov. Larry Hogan has been pushing the state to re-open the schools for several months.
Some teachers and students who were interviewed said they were concerned about proper health guidelines not being followed.
Franklin High School junior Logan Dubel, a candidate for student member of the Baltimore County Board of Education, who will be returning in April as part of the county’s phase-in plan, said he would love to go back and see friends, talk to teachers again and have interactions with people.
“There are still many risks involved,” Dubel said. “It’s important that kids who do want to go back are given the opportunity because of the social, emotional and academic effect it has had on some students have been terrible.”
Eastern Technical High School junior Christian Thomas, who is also a candidate for student representative on the school board who will be returning in April is concerned about the safety of both students and teachers.
“Not all students would be able to follow these guidelines,” Thomas said. “We can’t say for sure that students will wear a mask or stay home when they are feeling sick. I think it can be safe if teachers and staffs ensures that all these guidelines are being followed.”
Cindy Sexton, the president of the county’s teacher’s union, said the biggest challenge for both teachers and students is the way the instructions would be presented.
“Teachers will be teaching students at home, the same time and same way as teaching students in the classroom,” Sexton said. “No educator in Baltimore county has been trained on how to deliver instructions that way.”
Of the 8,500 members of teacher’s union, roughly half stated that they believe it’s safe for students to go back, while the other half are concerned for their own personal health, Sexton said. She said depending on student’s personal situation at home, different areas of the county have different numbers of students going back.
Emily Hall, a visual arts high school teacher for the county, said if everyone follows the science and adheres to low class sizes, six-feet spaces and masks, she thinks it could be safe to return.
“For some, home life dominates educational life and being at home doesn’t separate that,” Hall said. “I do see the merits in students going back. For some, it could be that they need a break from their home life and need that interaction.”