Asked If Schools Should Reopen, Patch Readers Say Absolutely Not

NEW YORK CITY — More than half of the nearly 2,000 Patch readers who responded to a survey asking if New York City's schools should reopen this fall had a clear response: "Absolutely not."

The non-scientific poll, published on July 13, asked readers for their reaction to the mayor's plan to send kids back in September, which calls for students to spend one to three days in a classroom and the rest of the week learning remotely.

Of the 1,848 readers who answered Patch's question, "Do you think schools should reopen in September?" 958 readers — or 51.8 percent — said "absolutely not." Only 24.5 percent said schools should reopen, and 23.6 percent of readers said they were unsure.

Most readers said the expectation that kids could safely social distance in a school setting was unrealistic, with only 17.4 percent saying it was possible. Meanwhile, nearly 46 percent of respondents said it's unrealistic for children to wear a mask all day at school.

Students have not been in the classroom since March, when New York City became the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the city's school reopening plan, students and staff will be required to wear masks, schools will undergo deep cleanings every night, hand-washing stations will be installed and large spaces like cafeterias, gyms and auditoriums will be used in an effort to practice proper social distancing.

Parents also have the option to keep their kids at home for full-time remote learning, though they have to sign up by Aug..

Here's the current timeframe for reopening public schools in the fall:

• July 15: Parent portal opens for families to sign up for fully remote instruction.
• July 16: First virtual Family Information Session
• Aug. 7: Deadline for families to opt for fully-remote instruction.

Readers who filled out Patch's survey were also asked to share their concerns about the school reopening plan. Here's an unedited sampling of their responses:

• On the one hand it is important for children to have socialization but you cannot expect children not to touch things, each other and then touch their noses and mouths. That's how they learn. Unless it is a boarding school in which case the kids can quarantine before going-that can work. The teachers and students and parents are all at risk by sending kids back.
• As a teacher I fear for me and my children and students.
• The competence of the teachers in controlling or advising students is so poor I have no confidence in that environment.
• Younger kids should not be going because they can't be expected to effectively socially distance. Families with older kids should be able to opt in, with live classroom instruction reserved for materials that can't be taught remotely as effectively (e.g., science labs, gym, special services like speech or OT).
• Until there is an effective vaccine, schools are a great way to spread the virus between families, especially since kids are generally asymptomatic, so you don't know who has it until a parent or a more vulnerable family member is affected.
• Schools should be OPEN for 5 DAYS PER WEEK -- kids now playing together in street -- no need to do social distance.
• Long term health of all children requires that they attend school.