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Thinking about @e_tolley's legit concern about ensuring a safe and full return to face-to-face schooling (elementary, secondary) for the fall in Ontario (and same may apply elsewhere). Some super-rough, back-of-the-napkin math: 1/x
To ensure a safe & full return, staggering student & staff presence at school is key. Roughly, each student spends 1400 hrs in school (7 hrs x 5 days x 4 wks x 10 mos) per year.
For schools to operate at 1/3 capacity, we need 2800 more hrs.
2/x
For schools to operate at 1/3 capacity, we need 2800 more hrs.
2/x
Just doing math (no politics, logistics, or anything else), if schools operated 12 hrs daily, 7 days weekly, 4 weeks monthly (can't change that), & 12 months yearly, we'd be at 12x7x4x12=4032.
So, using all existing bldgs all the time, we'd be just short of needed 4200 hrs.
3/x
So, using all existing bldgs all the time, we'd be just short of needed 4200 hrs.
3/x
Close, but not enough. So, then we'd have to create more space by using city-owned buildings (or other gov't or private space?). No idea how many buildings are available but in my 'hood there's one TDSB bldg that is not currently used. Use it to chip away at the problem!
4/x
4/x
There are a nontrivial # of families that may prefer remote schooling for the coming year, either for health-risk or for other reasons. These students can & must be accommodated w/ remote learning options. Doing so will also reduce number of bodies at school at a given time.
5/x
5/x
Yes, there are TONS of political and practical issues involved, but the math indicates that it's theoretically possible to create the space/time required. How do we get there?
6/x
6/x
1. We need leadership in Ontario (as elsewhere) that understands how crucial it is for parents to be able to send their kids to face-to-face school safely. This is important for gender equity, social, educational, and economic reasons.
7/x
7/x
2. We need leadership in Ontario that realizes that the resources spent to shore up schools will easily be better than the social, health, and yes economic impact of botching a safe and full face-to-face school opening.
8/x
8/x
3. We need unions to understand the peculiar exigencies we're in. They should work w/ gov't to ensure that any accommodations offered (e.g., working odd hours) are non-precedent setting & clearly time-limited. I'm no lawyer or labour relations expert, but it seems doable.
9/x
9/x
4. We will need parents willing to send their kids to school at different times, different days, different months than they're used to. Not every family will be able to accommodate, so it's crucial that those of us with relative flexibility think of the commonweal.
10/x
10/x
5. We need employers to be obligated to accommodate changed work schedules for parents, unless doing so creates an undue burden on the employer. Again, bring in the laywers, but it strikes me that most employers during the pandemic have accommodated via work-from-home, etc.
11/x
11/x
All said, I am certain that a creative spirit and proactive measures (that yes will be very expensive, but the alternative will be worse, economically & socially & in terms of public health) can ensure a safe & full return in September and beyond.
fin
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