15/01/2022
COVID-19 LESSONS NOT LEARNED
Editorial Opinion by José Rosario
Unprepared is the word that comes to mind as we see the Omicron variant disrupt daily life and the American economy, once again, long lines for testing, a record-breaking surge in infections and hospitalizations, students and teachers trapped in highly infectious environments, unavailable options for virtual learning, student walkouts, teacher shortages, superintendents resigning, and the learning curve still in decline. Add to that a muddled and pseudo-scientific messaging from the CDC and you got the recipe for the current disastrous response to the pandemic. Do ALL persons stop being infectious after 5 days? Many patients, including some of you reading, would differ. What was the purpose for that scientifically unsupported change?
The top priority for any leader should be the health and welfare of their constituents. Such does not seem to be the case at the moment. Playing a safe political game seems to be the priority, sacrificing not only the health and welfare of constituents, but also affecting the long term learning deficits of students.
While virtual learning still needs clear scope and defined parameters, the in-person learning environment is currently an operational mess, with students' and teachers' affective filters at a high level, many students absent, and regular teachers may not be available to provide effective, "normal" instruction. Classrooms have been considered super spreaders during the normal flu season. With most students still unvaccinated for COVID-19, schools become a veritable source of infection for surrounding communities.
Research into what works and what doesn't work in learning during a pandemic is not reliable at this point because of all the variables affecting each student. Some students were highly successful with virtual learning while others were not. What we do know is that putting students into classrooms during a surge of a highly contagious variant is a terrible idea. Parents should always be given the option of virtual learning for their children.
Not only are students walking out of classrooms, but Districts are forced to close temporarily because of high infections and/or lack of staff. Superintendents are resigning their positions as they face untenable positions. So far, these are the current superintendents resigning in North Texas:
Dallas ISD superintendent Michael Hinojosa (announced Jan. 13, 2022)
Fort Worth ISD superintendent Kent Scribner (announced Jan. 13, 2022)
Richardson ISD superintendent Jeannie Stone (announced Dec. 13, 2021)
Lewisville ISD Superintendent Kevin Rogers (announced Nov. 2, 2021)
Northwest ISD Superintendent Dr. Ryder Warren (announced Jan. 13, 2022)
DeSoto ISD Superintendent D'Andre Weaver (announced Nov. 15, 2021)
Mesquite ISD Superintendent David Vroonland (announced Dec. 13, 2021)
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD Superintendent Steve Chapman (announced Dec. 14, 2021)
Testing and vaccinations should be free and easily available at all points of sale by now (pharmacies, doctors' offices, and grocery stores), instead, once again we have a shortage of both and long lines.
Although Omicron presents us with a different variant, it is evident that we have not learned from the past years. We should listen more to our scientific community, especially doctors, nurses, and hospital administrators who battle in the trenches every day, and less from politically motivated "leaders." It is time to apply what we have learned from this pandemic, so we can be ready, flexible, and effective for the next one.
