The CoVid-19 pandemic has walloped us in the head, in an obviously direct way. We, as a species, probably needed this kind of wake up call, as it seems no other method would get our attention. Starting from China, CoVid-19 has spread throughout the world. This, after 5 months of near lock down here in Toronto, is no longer news. Now we are faced with a new school year, the possibility that kids will return to their elementary school classes, become infected, and bring the virus back to their parents and grandparents. While we are still learning about this virus, what is clear is that it is highly infectious and no one is immune.
One of the benefits of CoVid-19 is that it has brought to the front social inadequacies that were previously hidden. Besides the very obvious issue of minority/Black economic disparities that lead to much higher infection and death rates, is the fact that our schools are falling apart.
If you have had any kids of school age within the last recent 10 years, you know that the conditions in the Toronto schools are pretty abysmal. There is a possibility of asbestos, schools both inside and out are falling apart, there is water infiltration and general neglect of buildings. There never was a time when school buildings were doing proper upkeep.
In a way this made some sense. The number of kids attending elementary and high schools is falling year on year. Most schools were built in the 1950s and 1960s, for the baby boom generation. Once this cohort had passed, along with their kids, it left a dearth of children in its path. The logical solution was to close down, sell or demolish old schools. Politics rears its ugly head in that past graduates and homeowners want these schools in their neighbourhoods, as it increases their property value. Graduates do not want their school to be destroyed. Thus, the TDSB has deferred the culling of schools that do not have sufficient kids.
The result is less kids attending, less education funding from the provincial government, but an increased cost for upkeep of existing but empty schools. This continues today.
CoVid-19 enters the fray with a grand entrance. Our governments seem to be caught flat footed with inaction, while our kids await the September school opening day, and parents are worried to tears. CoVid-19 guidelines stipulate social distancing of 2m, which will be impossible for kids to do. Kids will be kids. There is also the fact that elementary school classes are a 30 strong tornado of activity. It is not possible for a single teacher, or even two, to socially distance 30 kids.
Further is that CoVid-19 can spread through aerosol, a cloud of virus that wafts through the air and affected by the slightest breeze. Increased air circulation is required. This cannot happen in most schools because some of them are still having trouble providing adequate heat in the winter. The condition of Toronto elementary schools is so dire that it is impossible to even think about updating the ventilation system when all the other mechanical system are falling apart. Upgrading only a single part of a system that is falling apart is futile. Soon yet another part of the system will break. This is the case of the TDSB schools.
Worse yet is to pretend that kids can return to school, that they will not become infected, and if they do their symptoms will not be severe and they’ll be ok. This has proven false in the US and other countries, and will be proven false here in Toronto. Even if this was true and kids do not experience significant sickness, they will certainly pass CoVid-19 on to their parents and grandparents.
This virus knows no human social bounds and rules. It will infect any and all humans if possible and will not stop until it runs out of fuel, which is, us. The problem with kids returning to school is partially political in that with kids back at school then parents can return to work. Unfortunately the virus does not pay any heed to these social niceties. Social distancing, and even better, stay at home, is still required to suppress the virus. TDSB schools are not even close to being in good nick, to simply upgrade air circulation system.
A total rethink of education is required. Kids need education. Parents need to go to work. Society needs to return to some normalcy. Still, the virus is still with us, and we have no immunity. If an when we have an outbreak our only recourse will be to shelter in place, accept sickness and deaths and wait for a vaccine. All other human societal niceties will need to go on the back burner.
We might be lucky, open schools and we’ll all be safe from CoVid-19, but that is asking for too much. This has not proven to be an easy virus to overcome in any part of the world. Schools cannot open until we have eradicated the virus, as has Taiwan, China and New Zealand have. Only then can schools, and society at large, return to normal.
