This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.
What about the parents?
I am a working parent of two kids, 4th- and 7th-graders. I understand the issues with reopening schools due to COVID-19 and am in full support of wearing masks, social distancing and the like.
What I want to know is what are the working parents supposed to do with their kids who will not be going back to school? This should have been addressed with a plan IN PLACE when the announcement of fall virtual learning was announced. The schools have had since June to figure out what to do with kids if people didn’t behave and follow the instructions of the leaders and medical community.
Parents are now being forced to choose either their jobs or taking care of their kids. If parents are forced to make this impossible choice they will be in danger of losing their homes, being unable to feed their families, unable to afford health care or risk having their children fall behind.
And what of the single working parents? Where are the kids supposed to go if the parents does have to continue working? Daycare? What’s the difference between sending kids to daycare vs. schools? And daycare will not be able to set up each kid with their computers and help each kid stay on task for the school days.
Colleen Connell
Spokane