![]() The rash of student demonstrations comes at a time of intense tug-of-war between teachers and districts throughout the country, who remain sharply divided on whether to keep schools open as COVID-19 cases soar. "Many of these schools are already preparing to offer remote learning whether or not it gets counted by the state," Wu said. ![]() "What is Governor Baker actively condoning here? Are school districts so engrossed in maintaining 'normalcy' that they are unwilling to make a change for the health and safety of our communities?"īoston Mayor Michelle Wu likewise told an NBC affiliate that Baker's policy is too rigid and that she supports a remote option, given that 200 staff are already out sick due to COVID. Schools aren't even given the option of turning remote," Hu wrote in his petition. "The oppressive adamance of Governor Charlie Baker's words 'We count in-person school as school' is a horrifying example of a dazed and confused education system. RELATED: More than a year into the pandemic, our kids are not alright The petition, backed by over 7,200 signatories, encourages Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to permit students the option of remote learning until the spread of Omicron peters out. In Boston, a similar petition was launched by William Hu, a senior at Boston Latin School, amid an " extremely concerning" outbreak first identified at the school three weeks ago, according to The Boston Globe. "You are not following the guidance of the health department as you state in your mass communications." "Our community has reached record high active cases for four days in a row," petition organizers wrote to the board. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.Īn online petition signed by thousands of students is asking the board to "reevaluate and discuss COVID safety measures." This week, KOMU reported that roughly 187 students are currently out sick due to COVID. According to district data, the 14-day rate per 10,000 people in district boundaries jumped up last week from 123 to 139 in one day. The board's decision, handed down on January 4, reportedly came amid a significant uptick in cases throughout the state's school system. In Columbia, Missouri, over 120 Hickman High School students coordinated a similar effort, staging a walkout in protest of the Columbia Public Schools' decision to suspend its mask mandate, according to The Columbia Tribune. RELATED: Liberal parents are losing their minds over COVID-related school closures And on a national level, it might look like he doesn't have it under control – which frankly, he doesn't." "His approval ratings will go down, probably. He's a politician," Demel said in an interview. Theo Demel, a 14-year-old eight-grader who helped organize the demonstrations, told Salon Adam's stance is wrong-headed, suggesting that the mayor is downplaying the virus for political reasons. RELATED: With federal COVID sick leave gone, workers feel pressure to show up at work Despite these fears, Mayor Eric Adams, who assumed office at the start of January, has refused to impose school closures, stressing that the city "must learn to live with COVID." ![]() Since many New York City schools operate in close quarters, students and teachers have warned of the high potential for outbreaks. On Tuesday, the city reported over 7,000 student cases of coronavirus, along with roughly 1,200 amongst staff. Several student demonstrators told AMNY that they refused to attend classes because they were wary of bringing the virus home to their family members, many of whom are immunocompromised. According to the New York Department of Education, just 45% students showed up to class last Friday – roughly half the typical turnout. The demonstrations come at a time of uniquely low student attendance throughout the city.
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