In perhaps the most moronic comments ever to come from a White House Press Briefing (with the possible exception of Mr. Trump saying people should use disinfectant to combat the Coronavirus,) the White House Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany repeated the 2016 Popular Vote Loser's calls to reopen schools, saying at one point “the science should not stay in the way of reopening.”
She also, forgetting again that adults populate schools as well, cited that children are less likely to get the COVID virus (probably because they have been isolated at home and not in large gatherings like in-person contact at school.)
She also commented that other nations have been able to open schools while dealing with the virus. That is true but those are nations (see meme below as an example) that have markedly lower COVID 19 caseloads than the United States.
In one case, the premature opening of schools in Israel (whose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his government share the same ultra-right-wing world view as the Trumpists) have led to a surge in the Coronavirus.
Candidates running for School Board seats in Arizona shared their quite different perspectives to Ms. McEnany and responded to requests for comment by the Blog for Arizona.
Sarah James, running for a seat on the Tempe Union High School Governing Board wrote:
“Science is NOT a belief system. it is one thing we can and should rely on in the midst of a pandemic, and if we are to progress safely it is the one thing that should be uniting us. In Arizona the new school year is upon us, and educators and parents are feeling more unsure than ever. We are seeing a complete failure on the part of our leaders who have turned this into a game of feelings, beliefs, and recognizing “all sides.” However, to echo Dr. Jeff Hester (Professor Emeritus at ASU), COVID does not care about your beliefs or opinions. Unfortunately, the White House is saying “don't let the science stand in the way” of schools reopening. As absurd as that statement is, when we hear White House Press Secretary McEnany continue by stating that “the risk for critical illness is far less for children than that of seasonal flu” the disregard for our lives and the lives of the most vulnerable among us is made abundantly clear. It also simultaneously makes us realize how important it is to do what we always do - advocate for our students and check for evidence. Children can and WILL spread this. Educators WILL die from this. Children CAN and WILL die from this. The science points to this, and as educators, we will do what we do best - teach (and reteach), inspire, and advocate. We will stand united with scientists and medical professionals to ensure the safety of everyone in our communities. We have no other choice.”
Cindy Winston, a candidate for the Tucson Unified School Board stated:
“As a Science teacher of 28 years am, I surprised? Unfortunately, no. As a candidate running for school board am, I motivated to run to insure our kids and teachers are safe and that Science becomes more of a priority and not an afterthought, yes.”
Another Tempe Union High School Governing Board Candidate, Armando Montero offered:
"As a candidate for my local school board and leader in our community, my top priority is the safety and well-being of our students, teachers, staff, and families. The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in many new challenges for everyone in our community, especially surrounding our schools. I am deeply concerned by the comments made by Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany regarding schools re-opening. We need leadership at the local, state, and federal level that makes decisions based on science with the safety of everyone in our community in mind. The science has shown that re-opening our school buildings would not only contribute to the growing spread of COVID-19, but also put the lives of too many students, teachers, staff, and families at risk. We all want to return to normal, but that is not the reality at hand. Our teachers' and students' lives are not expendable - we cannot reopen our schools and attempt to return to normal until it is safe."
David Lujan, the head of the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, commented:
“So, the President wants students to go back to school but apparently students can sleep through science classes because he thinks science is meaningless. The President doesn’t seem to care much for math either since percentages showcases and deaths of coronavirus are rising dramatically. He should be listening to economists, because our economy will not be able to recover, and people will not get back to work until our country has a solid and safe plan for reopening our schools. And that plan absolutely needs to be guided by science, health experts and the teachers and other education professionals who actually have spent time in classrooms.”
Again, it should be clear that everyone wants schools to reopen for in person instruction.
But it should be done safely with all adequate COVID 19 preventive measures in place such as regular testing, social distancing in the classrooms and common areas, masks for all children and staff, and plexiglass dividing walls where needed.
No community in Arizona or the country should open up a school until the local health authorities say it is safe to do so.
Those authorities should base those decisions on public health guidelines and science, not wishful thinking from the Trump Zone.
Hopefully, Governor Ducey means it when he says he will be guided by public health concerns when the decision is made next week whether to delay in-person instruction beyond August 17.
One thing is certain. People know Superintendent Kathy Hoffman and most school stakeholders are not going to be guided by anything other than the public health or science.
Neither should Ducey or his team.
Neither should Donald Trump and his Fox Island cult followers.
So yes, Kayleigh McEnany, the Science should, if necessary, stand in the way of reopening schools.
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