Virtual Option For NJ Students In COVID Surge? Patch Readers Respond

NEW JERSEY — The end of the winter holiday break has schools throughout New Jersey resuming instruction, most of them in person as they have been all year, even as there has been a sharp rise in the number of positive coronavirus cases.

Some districts announced they would shift to remote instruction before schools closed for the break. A few have moved to remote instruction for this week because of staffing issues that have arisen from a number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19.

In districts that resumed (or will resume after Monday's snow day) fully in-person instruction, some parents are not happy with that decision, and have again called for the option for virtual instruction for those who want it.

It's a request that has fallen on deaf ears at the state level since May, when parents first started a petition asking Gov. Phil Murphy to include a virtual option for individual students who have significant health issues that put them at greater risk for complications if they become infected.

Patch asked readers for their thoughts on the matter, and more than 1,300 responded to the following question:

With coronavirus cases reaching record levels in the last week and pediatric hospitalizations rising, do you think New Jersey's schools should be offering parents an option for remote instruction when classes resume Monday?

The majority — more than 1,000 of the respondents — said remote instruction should be an option for parents. For some, it is a very personal issue.

"We have a 9-year-old disabled son with autism who is non-verbal. He cannot tell us if he isn't feeling well," one mother wrote. "Without the virtual option, my son's life is seriously at risk."

"As a parent and a teacher in Somerset County I feel it is important to give parents and their child the option," another parent wrote. "We don't, as teachers, know the status of our students' vaccinations or not. By putting us (teachers, administration, custodial staff, clerical staff and students) at high risk with this new virus on the rise. Make a decision sooner than later so that the teachers can make arrangements. It always seems to be a last-minute decision and it puts stress on the teachers."

"With the rise of cases I think that a temporary virtual teaching option should be a parent's choice," a reader wrote. "So even if a child has to quarantine they would still be able to log onto classes. I know this is hard to do but something needs to be planned to keep teachers and students safe. Many companies have opted to keep their workers home. Unfortunately there are many workers that need to continue to go to work. If all of us do our part we can manage, especially if KN95 masks are used by everyone along with hand-washing and common sense."

Some supported a virtual option, but expressed concerns about the potential impacts.

"Parents should have the option. However, many problems are occurring amongst students who have been holed up in their rooms for over a year now, one of which is social anxiety," one reader wrote. "All factors affecting our students should be taken into consideration."

"As long as it won't interfere with the students who would be attending in class," another said. "Also there should be no special privileges to the virtual students."

"If parents want it then yes, it should be a choice just like getting the shot," another wrote. "But it’s been two long years and from day one we know children are not the risk but they are making them the burden. All businesses are open and schools should be no different. If anything they are safer in school. It’s here to stay time to get back to normal. Let’s move on already."

About 300 people felt kids should stay in school no matter what.

"Absolutely not," one reader wrote. "This variant is very mild particularly for young children. I’m a teacher and remote instruction was a disaster. Students need to be in school."

"I don’t believe virtual should be an option for some, it should either be all or nothing," another reader wrote. "The children learn better in the school environment and making a teacher try to teach in person and virtually isn’t fair."

"Children are the clear victims of this pandemic! They are behind cognitively/emotionally & have paid a tall price for being deprived of meaningful social connections with others & modeling via teacher relationships that are vital for their well-being," another reader said. "It’s time for the whole country to move on & learn to live with the situation as it presents. No more 'options' for remote instruction should be offered. No more excuses should be tolerated nor accepted. Children should be present in schools. Enough is enough!"

Though the question focused on an option for individual families, a number of people said schools should be moving to remote instruction until the omicron wave passes.

"Schools should be virtual for at least two weeks to mitigate the spread," a reader said. "We shouldn’t be needlessly putting the lives of students and school employees at risk. If state offices are switching, so should schools. There should not be an option to elect virtual. All schools should just be virtual until students and staff can safely return to schools."

"All schools should be virtual for 2 weeks after holiday break," another wrote. "Too many positive cases, families have traveled and parents send their children to school sick."

"I absolutely think we should be going remote for at least January," another reader wrote. "My whole house right now is suffering from strand and I have already lost 2 weeks of work. Why should we remain open just to keep giving it to each other. This is insane."

Others were adamant that schools should not be shut down again.

"Kids should be in school! No virtual!!!! Some people need to work. Schools close and I’m out of a job again. I have bills to pay!!!!" one parent wrote.

"Absolutely not. Keep our schools open. Virtual was a disaster the last time and it would be a disaster again," another said.

"No!!! Kids should be in school. And people back to work," another reader wrote. "Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Keep sick ones home. If you want to have your kid home then HOMESCHOOL THEM!!! People need to work! Schools close and I’m out of a job again. Be clean and you won’t get sick! People wearing a mask. I have gone 2 winters without getting the damn flu. See what happens when people are clean. I’ve always washed my hands. But still get the flu every year due to inconsiderate people going out when sick. They sneeze or cough and don’t cover their face, there germs stay there and I walk through it not knowing. Keep the damn mask on. Stay at home when sick. And wash your damn hands."

Thank you to all of the readers who participated in the survey.

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