I think what is becoming a matter of policy in some schools in the country is the idea "children are not competent in maintaining masks on their face."
The reality of "childhood" becomes starkly clear when thinking about a classroom of compliant children wearing face masks in any elementary school in the USA. That isn't going to happen.
Kindergarteners are getting used to school, their cubbies, and leaving the family for a period of time to buckle down and learn. 5-year-olds are busy singing and taking playground breaks. Most teachers are delighted with young students that take their lessons seriously as well as homework. There is just no way any rational adult not interested in an election result will expect young children to wear masks or comply with any other treatment regime, such as testing regularly.
How much is the USA willing to scar their young children in order to pretend there is no real virus that can attack?
When putting the pieces back together in the USA, there is no reason to pretend. This is a horrible situation the country finds itself. So, the idea behind making REALISTIC decisions for the education of American children is that students are not necessarily adults in their behavior, priorities, and willingness to be mature enough to comprehend the danger of SARS-CoV-2.
All the classrooms HAVE TO WEAR MASKS, otherwise, the safety behind this measure can be lost. Young children will never be that compliant. It is questionable that Junior High School students will also be compliant. And then when it comes to High School, ie: Spring Break. There are High School students now stating this is nothing to worry about and DO NOT WANT TO BE BOTHERED by MORE RULES to protect their health.
Adults, school board members, parents, and teachers can make all kinds of decisions. They can make all kinds of elaborate plans. Good plans. Plans out of love for the children and older students, but, I guarantee you those plans will not hold up for grades less than ninth grade. And without sincere behavioral penalties the grades 9 through 12 will not be bothered by such a paradigm within their learning environment.
SARS-CoV-2 will interfere in the high school classroom and during the first grading period, don't expect the best grades from students. There will be behavioral problems and family will be called in to deal with that behavior. So, the transition of a High School that is SARS-CoV-2 proof will require education of the family as well as the students BEFORE school begins.
I don't expect much different from the 1st year/Freshman year of college. I would expect those Freshmen to be at risk for contracting the virus. They may be living off-campus and the school has no control over that environment. Then there are fraternities and sororities with risky behavior in their new member induction. What does anyone do about that?
The country had a primarily successful Spring semester throughout the country by sheltering at home. The idea that children will be "at-risk" as parents return to work isn't going to change if they are in classes during the day. As a matter of fact, if children are home for the virtual classroom, the parents will still feel the virus's presence and be more cautious than if the home has returned to more normalcy than not.
When decision-makers are planning for classrooms reopening, they have to consider behaviors that are REALISTIC for students and how danger could enter into the classroom because of NORMAL behavior. I don't care what grade it is or what year in college the students are engaged, the behavior of students could compromise the safety in the classroom and/or campus.
Teachers are people, too. They need as safe an environment as the children. They are not referees to insist on compliant behavior that is unrealistic. The demographics of the teacher pool must be assessed and older teachers should be allowed to retire early if their are schools reopening this fall.
