Back to School During COVID?

By Erin Choi

Orange Lutheran High School

As summer is coming to an end, many schools are now choosing to either reopen their campus or keep teaching students online. Countless opinions are being shouted out as many are willing to attend school again or stay home safe, away from the virus. For example, Chris Choi, a junior attending Orange Lutheran High School, believes that schools should not reopen as more people in one space increase the possibility of cases. Another suggestion comes from Lois Chun, a freshman attending Cypress High School states, “I think that the best way to help students when reopening schools is to make schooling online. This would be the best way to make sure that the cases aren't increasing. Although it may be weird, this is what we should be doing when reopening schools.” 

I believe that schooling this year should be performed online with virtual streaming by using apps such as Zoom, until the vaccine is developed. Cases will instantly skyrocket if hundreds of students are together in a limited amount of space, which causes more danger to not only themselves but the bigger community. This will not only continue to lengthen the pandemic, but also step further away from the normal life the world is striving to achieve back again. To resolve this pandemic in the quickest way possible, people should keep their social distancing measures for the prevention of new causes. As a result, students should not attend school but be able to receive education through advanced technology. 

But what happens if schools choose to reopen? If this occurs, countless safety measures should be taken in place regarding the students and the teachers’ health. For example, a mask should be always worn when with one or more individuals. It is scientifically proven that masks can significantly reduce saliva coming out the mouth and decrease the possibility of respiratory viruses entering the body. Secondly, students should be separated from each other during break or lunch time as students will take their masks off in order for them to eat. The virus can spread in the short time the mask is removed from the face. For example, in South Korea, students are separated with transparent plastic walls, or borders when they are eating lunch in order to prevent the disease from spreading between the ongoing opening of the mouth. As these are a few measures that I think is required, schools should be taking further considerations of protective measures to protect their surrounding community and country.