Doylestown Rally To Protest No In-Person Schooling

DOYLESTOWN, PA — A Bucks County organization is putting together a rally in Doylestown this weekend to protest the lack of in-person schooling to start the fall 2020-21 school year.

Event organizers say they're concerned about the negative impacts of virtual schooling. They're gathering on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 11 a.m. at 55 E. Court Street.

"As a community, we are concerned about the harm our children are incurring through the denial of an in-person education, socialization, exercise, and extracurricular activities," organizers said. "We are frustrated at the lack of advocacy and consideration of the well-being of the children in our community."

The Central Bucks School District announced earlier this month they abandoned their initial plan to reopen school buildings due to staffing issues. The district had planned to offer a five-day, in-person learning option at the elementary level and a hybrid option for secondary students.

>>Central Bucks To Start Year Virtually Due To Staffing Shortfall

The virtual start to the year will extend until Nov. 11.

The upcoming "Rally for Kids" is put together by Stand Up For Kids: Bucks County, a group which says it is comprised of "parents, grandparents, students, teachers, friends, coaches, aunts, uncles, and essential workers."

Organizers added that all attendees to the rally are urged to practice social distancing, and said that anyone with any symptoms of coronavirus should stay home.

In addition to Central Bucks, many other area school districts have moved to start the year fully virtually. Some like Wissahickon in Montgomery County have cited similar issues with staffing, while others chiefly pointed to coronavirus concerns.