The U.S. has reported more than 22.9 million cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) disease and at least 383,500 deaths, according to data from worldmeters.info. In December 2020 alone there were 2 million children in the U.S. that tested positive for COVID-19, according to The Chicago Sun Times. During the midst of the raging virus, a group of medical doctors wrote a statement which read, “As medical doctors, we believe reopening Chicago’s schools is essential and safe”.
Parents of Chicago Public School students are not in agreement with the medical doctors who wrote the letter. The Chicago Teachers Union recently posted an article via twitter @CTUlocal1 about the CPS return plan. According to the Chicago Sun Times, “70 percent of CPS parents plan to keep their students home, learning remotely in January, regardless of the district’s promises”. Some Local School Councils have adopted a resolution opposing the back-to-in person school order.
Reopening Chicago Public Schools during a skyrocketing COVID-19 pandemic shows great insensitivity and endangers the lives of students, teachers, parents and the community at large. The unsanitary conditions, lack of basic necessities, deteriorated and crumbling buildings, overcrowded classrooms, and lack of nurses have resulted in an unsafe, dangerous environment.
Parents don’t trust Chicago Public Schools to protect children from contracting COVID-19. Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr.Allison Arwady and others said that things will get worse in the next weeks and months, reports the Sun Times. The mayor of Chicago continues to instruct city residents to continue social distancing. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said on Twitter last November “The virus is winning right now”. Since the governor made that statement things have gotten worse.
