This FULL EPISODE focuses on The reopening of schools during the pandemic, the precautions schools are taking to assure the safety of the Teachers, students, staff members and parents. Also, touching basis on the comments both Betsy Devos and Trump made about threatening to withhold federally approved money by Congress from schools if they didn't reopen for kids to physically be present in schools, the pros and cons of virtual learning, possible safety measures and testing for teachers, a waiver that has surfaced in some school districts that deflects all responsibility off of the school board and onto the parents and guardians of the students in the event they contract the virus and possibly die from it, a 15 year old student in south Georgia being suspended for outing the school by posting a picture of a very full hallway of kids transitioning from one class to the next, not socially distancing and not wearing masks, and the CDC's suggestions to reduce class sizes to 15 students or less to help reduce the likelihood of both teachers and students catching the virus.
My panel guest for this episode is Christopher Crater Community Engagement Associate/ Educator & Director of Community Programs for Urban Prep Academies in Chicago, Bernard Grace – high school teacher at Towers High School, & Amia Boykin – Project Manager/ Parent.