This is a false choice: we don’t have to either open school buildings OR not have school at all. We could use this time to envision new ways of delivering services that protect the health of everyone in the school community.

If the economy needs schools to open, then corporations need to start paying for it and cut a little of those profits. That I paid more taxes to support public education last year than a lot of corporations is a clue that something is amiss here.

Corporations subsidize their profits not only by not paying taxes but by paying workers wages so low they can’t afford childcare. The cost of clothing yourself, feeding yourself, and housing yourself to go to work the next day isn’t being covered by wages. This is a problem.

If it’s a daycare problem, you need a daycare solution. During World War II, the US govt provided universal childcare because the economy needed it. Corporations put childcare on site to support employees. Where is that now? Why aren’t we imagining NEW solutions to old problems?