Member-only story

Adulthood, the Three Gates, and Reopening Schools

Steven Barnes
6 min readJul 26, 2020

--

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/06/29/884638999/u-s-pediatricians-call-for-in-person-school-this-fall?fbclid=IwAR0G8srKgh1FQsweewkMoze4NwmaZCOXIJOIbv8_xOYVoX0wlkG3CBHVzlk

“The nation’s pediatricians have come out with a strong statement in favor of bringing children back to the classroom this fall”

I’ve seen this article referenced at least three times, and need to address it, as the USE of it, as I’ve seen so far, doesn’t pass the Three Gates: “Is it true? Is it useful? Is it kind?’

Well, first: is it TRUE? I’d say it gets “half true” status, because you HAVE to look at the other half of that sentence: “The nation’s pediatricians have come out with a strong statement in favor of bringing children back to the classroom this fall wherever and whenever they can do so safely.”

Wherever and whenever they can do so safely.

More clearly the statement says: “It is critically important to develop strategies that can be revised and adapted depending on the level of viral transmission in the school and throughout the community and done with close communication with state and/or local public health authorities and recognizing the differences between school districts, including urban, suburban, and rural districts.”

How would I interpret this, if my primary concern was the welfare of the children?

--

--

Steven Barnes
Steven Barnes

Written by Steven Barnes

Steven Barnes is a NY Times bestselling author, ecstatic husband and father, and holder of black belts in three martial arts. www.lifewritingpodcast.com.

No responses yet