Michigan's governor (click here) is ordering the closure of all K-12 school buildings to students starting Monday, March 16 through Sunday, April 5.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer's office issued the following release Thursday night:
LANSING, Mich. -- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that in order to slow the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan, she is ordering the closure of all K-12 school buildings, public, private, and boarding, to students starting Monday, March 16 until Sunday, April 5. School buildings are scheduled to reopen on Monday, April 6....
It is absolutely impossible to institute "social distancing" in Michigan's schools. These schools are where Michigan children socialize a great deal. They learn, but, they also make friends, join the band, become basketball players and the list is long. No one can ask children to "social distance" in any practical way while still in school.
Today, all of a sudden students became aware of a serious issue facing them and all others; how do we protect from a disease that could cause us a lot of illness? The best and quite frankly the only way is to separate them into their homes to have parents help them understand that their safety is very important.
The schools around Michigan are closing. Let me say that again. The school buildings in Michigan are closing, BUT, SCHOOL IS STILL NOT OUT. Children all over Michigan will experience how to attend classes online. The school teachers have already prepared classroom lectures, exercises and homework for their students.
GOOGLE CLASSROOM is going to get the test of endurance over the next few weeks when teachers all over the state will be logging on to present their material and receive student work. This measure already exists in schools. This is not a new skill for Michigan students, but, the online schooling AT A DISTANCE, is new to many Michigan children.
Teachers are looking forward to the success of every student to learn online and excel. I teach part time and was with a class today to help with the new ideas and an exciting challenge.
