Thread by @Karnythia, The problem with "Just leave schools closed until the pandemic is over" [...]

The problem with "Just leave schools closed until the pandemic is over" in a series of articles. A. Abuse reports are down, but abuse hasn't gotten better. It's just that we can now only see the most severe cases. Not every home is safe for kids. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/04/30/child-abuse-reports-coronavirus/

With kids stuck at home, ER doctors see more severe cases of child abuse

As reports of child abuse plummet, doctors have reported treating more serious injuries in a week than they are used to seeing in a month.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/04/30/child-abuse-reports-coronavirus/

Child hunger rates are going up. Kids are literally going to starve. https://www.thenation.com/article/society/rural-childhood-hunger/

The Pandemic Has Sent Child Hunger to Record Levels

Ninety percent of US counties with high rates of childhood hunger are rural, a new study finds.

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/rural-childhood-hunger/

Domestic violence rates are climbing & even kids who are not in direct physical danger are living in traumatic environments with no escape. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/06/01/860739417/domestic-abuse-can-escalate-in-pandemic-and-continue-even-if-you-get-away

Domestic Abuse Can Escalate In Pandemic And Continue Even If You Get Away

Loosened quarantine restrictions have given some people an opportunity to flee violence at home, but cyberstalking and high unemployment have also made it harder to completely escape after moving out.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/06/01/860739417/domestic-abuse-can-escalate-in-pandemic-and-continue-even-if-you-get-away

We have no idea what impact the isolation is going to have on kids. But all the experts are deeply concerned. Because online classes are not going to replace the socialization of school, camp, etc https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/the-toll-that-isolation-takes-on-kids-during-the-coronavirus-era-11592236617

The Toll That Isolation Takes on Kids During the Coronavirus Era

Playing with peers has important developmental benefits, and doctors worry that children are missing out on them now.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/the-toll-that-isolation-takes-on-kids-during-the-coronavirus-era-11592236617

Essential workers have children & their children need care while they are at work. Childcare as an industry is in trouble which doesn't bode well for the "stay at home" plans. Because the way our food supply is set up... https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/07/14/40-of-us-child-care-centers-say-theyll-close-permanently-without-public-assistance/

40% Of U.S. Child Care Centers Say They'll Close Permanently Without Public Assistance

73% of child care programs indicated that they have or will engage in layoffs, furloughs, and/or pay cuts.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/07/14/40-of-us-child-care-centers-say-theyll-close-permanently-without-public-assistance/

Educational inequality was already a problem. The pandemic made it worse. Not opening schools at all (especially for kids who are at risk) is widening the gap further & arguably creating a generational public health crisis. https://hub.jhu.edu/2020/05/04/school-closures-inequality/

How school closures for COVID-19 amplify inequality

Annette Anderson, an expert in educational equity at the School of Education, discusses the unequal impact of COVID-19's disruption to public schooling

https://hub.jhu.edu/2020/05/04/school-closures-inequality/

This is not a problem with a single solution. And yes, the government should have done better. They didn't. But you can't sacrifice the kids with limited resources/without resources to save the ones with them. So please think past "Stay home"

There are no perfect solutions, but we are going to have to get on board with the idea that several imperfect ones at once is the best we can do right now. Yes, we need better systems in place. Kids don't have time for us to build them while they wait. That's our reality

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