There were 45 responses to this week's TeleTalk question, "Should classrooms reopen regardless of the pandemic?" There were 12 responses saying yes, let schools reopen; 19 responses saying no, too risky to open the schools; and 14 responses that said the jury is still out or didn't answer the question directly.
Yes, school should resume in August. Plexiglass or similar divides could be installed between desks including cafeteria tables. Teachers could also be behind a shield. Face masks and face shields should be the standard as well as plenty of physical distancing.
kAm*6DP x E9:?< E96 <:5D ?665 E@ C6EFC? E@ D49@@=P x7 A2C6?ED 2C6 D42C65 2?5 H2?E E@ <66A E96:C <:5D 9@>6 E@ 5@ C6>@E6 =62C?:?8[ E96? =6E E96>] qFE D@>6 49:=5C6? ?665 E96 :?E6C24E:@? H:E9 <:5D[ E62496CD 2?5 DE277] !=FD D@>6 @7 FD A2C6?ED 5@?VE 92G6 E96 23:=:EJ E@ DE2J 9@>6] |6=:DD2[ }@CE9 r@?H2Jk^Am
kAmx’5 AC676C E96 C6=2E:G6=J C:D<\7C66 >6E9@5 H96? :E 4@>6D E@ @FC <:5D 2?5 E62496CDi E@ H:Ei FD6 2 G:CEF2= >6E9@5 E92E :?G@=G6D 2 +@@>\=:<6 2AAC@249 2?5 5@6D ?@E :?G@=G6 4=2DDC@@> 2EE6?52?46] s@ E9:D 7@C E96 7:CDE D6>6DE6C 2?5 E96? 6G2=F2E6 E96 C6DF=ED] }@CE9 r@?H2Jk^Am
kAm*6D :D @FC 2?DH6Cj 9@H6G6C[ A=62D6 <66A :? >:?5 E9:D C6A=J :D 32D65 @? <?@H=6586 H6 @3E2:?65 :? E96 E@F89 r@?H2J ?6:893@C9@@5D[ E96 324< DEC66ED @7 q2CE=6EE[ E96 ?68=64E65 324<J2C5D @7 y24<D@? 2?5 7C@> @E96C 7@=<D H9@ 92G6 ?@ :562 23@FE H9:49 E96J DA62<]k^Am
kAm~=56C 3FD 5C:G6CD 2?5 E96:C 72>:=:6D H:== 36 AFE 2E 8C62E C:D< :7 D49@@=D @A6? FA] |@C6 E9@F89E ?665D E@ 36 AFE :?E@ E9:DP {2?2 #@FDD6= (:==:2>Dk^Am
kAm%9:D :D 92C5[ 2?5 E96C6 :D ?@ C@25 >2A] }@ 564:D:@? 6G6C D2E:D7:6D 6G6CJ@?6j 3FE <?@H E92E J@F 92G6 @FC DFAA@CE :? J@FC 677@CED] #2J v:=>@C6k^Am
kAmx7 D49@@=D 2C6 C6@A6?:?8 H:E9 A9JD:42= 2EE6?52?46 D9@F=5?’E E9:D W$p& #6\t?ECJ r@>>:EE66X >66E:?8 36 96=5 A9JD:42==Jn (9J +@@>n x7 :E’D D276 6?@F89 E@ 8@ 324< 7@C <:5D 2?5 E62496CD 2?5 E96:C 4@?E24ED[ E96? :E’D D276 6?@F89 7@C E96 C6\6?ECJ 4@>>:EE66 2?5 25>:?:DEC2E@CD E@ >66E :? A6CD@?] y6DD6 |:I6Ck^Am
kAm}2>6 @?6 E9:?8 E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E 92D 5@?6 E@ @A6? E96 4@F?ECJ >F49 =6DD E96 D49@@=D] }@E 6?@F89 E6DE:?8[ ?@ 4@?E24E EC24:?8[ DE:== ?@E 6?@F89 >2D<D @C 92?5 D2?:E:K6C] %9:D :D 4C:>:?2= ?68=:86?46] xE’D 42G2=:6C 7@@=D H9@ DE2?5 :? E96 H2J @7 6C25:42E:@?[ ?@E :?7@C>65 >6>36CD @7 D@4:6EJ H9@ G2=F6 E96 =:G6D @7 E96:C 72>:=:6D] |:4926= r=2C<k^Am
kAm(6 4=@D65 5@H? D49@@=D H96? E9:D H2D?’E D@ 3:8 2?5 DH:E4965 6G6CJE9:?8 E@ @?=:?6 E@ 7:?:D9 E96 J62Cj 3FE ?@H H:E9 42D6D H2J 9:896C 2?5 4=:>3:?8 6G6CJ52J 2?5 E@FC:DED 7C@> 2== @G6C 4@>:?8 :?E@ @FC G2==6J H:E9 ?@ C6DA64E @C 42C6 E@ H62C >2D<D @C C6DA64E 3@F?52C:6D J@F H2?E E@ @A6? D49@@=D 282:?n x?E6C6DE:?8] z2D: |FCA9Jk^Am
kAmx 92G6 >F49 72:E9 :? E96 9F>2?D @? E96 4@>>:EE66 H9@ 2C6 H6:89:?8 AC@465FC6D[ AC@E@4@=D 2?5 @AE:@?D] %96JVC6 D>2CE[ 42C:?8[ :?G6DE65[ E9@F89E7F=[ 4@==23@C2E:G6 2?5 :?56A6?56?E E9:?<6CD H9@ H:== 4@?D:56C >F=E:A=6 D46?2C:@D 2?5 4@?E:?86?4J A=2?D] x 36=:6G6 E96J E2<6 E9:D 6IEC6>6=J D6C:@FD=J] #636442 pJ6CDk^Am
kAm{6E E96 <:5D 3F:=5 :>>F?:EJP %C:D9 !@E@D<Jk^Am
kAm%96 >6?E2= H6==\36:?8 @7 2 49:=5 H:== 36 D92EE6C65 :7 96 3C:?8D E96 G:CFD 9@>6 E@ E96:C 72>:=J] (@CDE 42D6[ @?6 @C >@C6 A2C6?ED 5:6 2?5 E96 49:=5 :D 2? @CA92?] }@E 2 C:D< xV5 36 H:==:?8 E@ E2<6] $FD2? u@CE:6Ck^Am
kAmx7 H6 @A6? D49@@=D 324< FA[ E96 G:CFD H:== @?=J 86E H@CD6 2?5 >@C6 49:=5C6? H:== 5:6] y@9? {2;@:6k^Am
kAm*6D] |6=:DD2 %:336EEDk^Am
kAm}@] xEVD 2 325 :562 E92EVD 8@:?8 E@ <:== 2 =@E @7 2E C:D< 7@=<] r2C@= p] uC@DEk^Am
kAm*6D] y6DD:42 |4pG@Jk^Am
kAmx7 z6G:? #:492C5 42?’E 2EE6?5 E96D6 >66E:?8D :? A6CD@? 5F6 E@ D276EJ 4@?46C?D E96? @FC <:5D 42?’E 2EE6?5 D49@@= :? A6CD@? 5F6 E96 D2>6 C62D@?D] |J 49:=5’D =:76 :D ?@E 6IA6?523=6 @C >@C6 H@CE9=6DD E92? z6G:? @C 2?J >6>36C @7 E96 D49@@= 3@2C5D =:76] s2H? y2>6Dk^Am
kAmx 766= E92E E96C6 2C6 72C E@@ >2?J F?<?@H?D H:E9 E9:D G:CFD DE:==] %96 =@?8\E6C> 962=E9 :DDF6D H:E9 6G6CJ@?6[ @=5 2?5 J@F?8[ ?665D E@ 36 36EE6C F?56CDE@@5 367@C6 49:=5C6? D9@F=5 8@ 324< E@ D49@@=] s2?2 w2=6Jk^Am
kAm|2J36 5@ 3@E9] w2G6 @?6 E62496C :? 6249 8C256 4@?E:?F6 E@ 5@ E96 C6>@E6 =62C?:?8 7@C A2C6?ED H9@ 49@@D6 ?@E E@ D6?5 E96:C <:5D[ 3FE =6E E96 D49@@=D @A6? E@ <:5D H9@ ?665 E@ A9JD:42==J 36 E96C6] p?? !6CCJk^Am
kAmxV> 8=25 H6 H6C6 2=C625J 9@>6\65F42E:?8 @FC <:5D AC:@C E@ r~'xs 2?5 x <?@H >2?J @E96CD H9@ 2C6 D2J:?8 E96:C <:5D H:== ?@E 36 C6EFC?:?8 E@ D49@@= 2?JE:>6 D@@?] qFE E9:D 2=D@ >62?D E96 >@DE GF=?6C23=6 :? @FC 4@>>F?:E:6D W@FC A@@CX H:== 36 E96 H@CDE 9:E 3J E9:D A2?56>:4[ 3642FD6 E96J 766= E96J 92G6 ?@ 49@:46 3FE E@ C6EFC? E@ E96:C ;@3D 2E E96 D49@@=[ @C D6?5 E96:C 49:=5C6? E96C6 D@ E96J 42? H@C< 6=D6H96C6] |:496==6 {@?8=6Jk^Am
kAmx 766= E96 ;FCJ :D DE:== @FE @? C6EFC?:?8 E@ D49@@=] #:89E ?@H[ x H2?E E@ D66 E96 r~'xs\`h 42D6D 8@ 5@H?[ ?@E FA =:<6 :E D66>D E96J 2C6] s2G:5 #@3:?D@?k^Am
kAm$@ :EVD ~z E@ =6E !2F= |2?27@CE[ |:4926= r@96? 2?5 @E96CD @FE @7 ;2:= 3642FD6 @7 E96 4@C@?2G:CFD] *6E H6VC6 8@:?8 E@ D6?5 @FC 49:=5C6? 324< E@ D49@@= 2?5 AFE E96> 2?5 @FC E62496CD 2?5 A2C6?ED :? 52?86Cn %96C6 :D D@>6E9:?8 G6CJ HC@?8 H:E9 E9:D D46?2C:@ ]]] p= w@DA6CDk^Am
kAm$49@@=D D9@F=5 36 E@E2==J 567F?565] !2C6?ED 42? 9@>6D49@@= E96 <:55:6D] &D6 E96 >@?6J E@ 9:C6 E96 6I\E62496CD E@ 36 4@AD]k^Am
kAm}@[ x E9:?< H6 D9@F=5 =:DE6? E@ E96 rsr 2?5 5@ C6>@E6 =62C?:?8] tDA64:2==J D:?46 :EVD :>A@DD:3=6 E@ 86E =:EE=6 <:5D E@ DE2J 5:DE2?465 2?5 <66A >2D<D @? 2== 52J =@?8] p?5 2=D@[ E96 D49@@=D 96C6 D2:5 @?6 >6E9@5 E96J >:89E 5@ :D EH@ H66<D :? D49@@= 2?5 EH@ H66<D C6>@E6] (92E 2 A2:? :? E96 2DD[ 92G:?8 E@ C6>6>36C H9:49 H66< :D 7@C H9:49] yFDE A:4< @?6 @7 E96 @E96CP $2C29 }@J6Dk^Am
kAm%96 p>6C:42? p4256>J @7 !65:2EC:4D D2JD <:5D ?665 E@ 86E 324< E@ :? A6CD@? :?DECF4E:@?] %96 >6?E2= H6==\36:?8 @7 @FC D49@@= 2865 <:5D :D 36:?8 ?682E:G6=J :>A24E65 :? D@ >2?J H2JD] {@@< 2E E96 ?F>36CD 7C@> 4@F?EC:6D H96C6 D49@@=D 92G6 C6@A6?65] %96C6 2C6 ?@ DA:<6D :? r~'xs\`h ?F>36CD A@DE\@A6?:?8] {6E <:5D C6EFC? E@ D49@@=] x7 A2C6?ED >2<6 E96 49@:46 ?@E E@ D6?5 E96:C <:5D[ E92E :D E96:C @AE:@?] z:>36C=J !2EE6CD@? r2==6?k^Am
kAm|J <:5 92D 5@?6 36EE6C 2E 9@>6] p>2K:?8 9@H <66A:?8 2H2J 7C@> E96 F?4@?EC@==65 =@42= C:77\C277 96=AD] qFE D96 >:DD6D :?E6C24E:@? H:E9 96C A66CD] qC:2? w636CEk^Am
kAmtG6CJ@?6 <66AD D2J:?8 E96 “ADJ49@=@8:42=” C62D@?D <:5D ?665 D49@@=[ D@4:2= :?E6C24E:@?[ 6E4] ]]]x 36=:6G6 <:5D 42? 86E A=6?EJ @7 E92E ?66565 :?E6C24E:@? 2E 9@>6 H:E9 A2C6?ED 2?5 8C2?5A2C6?ED[ pF?ED[ &?4=6D[ 4@FD:?D] $>2== D@4:2= D276 4:C4=6] z66A 6G6CJ@?6 D276] (92ED 2 <:5D ADJ49@=@8:42= H6== 36:?8 8@:?8 E@ 36 =:<6 :7 E96:C >@> @C 525 @C 8C2?5A2C6?ED 5:6n s63 #@36CEDk^Am
kAm{:EE=6 <:5D H:== ?@E DE2J 2H2J 7C@> 6249 @E96C 2?5 D@4:2= 5:DE2?46 2?5 <66A >2D<D @?] z:5D 2C6 2=H2JD D:4< A2DD:?8 E9:?8D 2C@F?5 E@ 6249 @E96C H96? E96C6 :D ?@E 2 G:CFD D@ x D2J ?@] {2FC:6 rC@FD6k^Am
kAm*6D] z:5D 2C6 ?@E 9:89 C:D<] %:?2 z:?8k^Am
kAmr9:=5C6? ?665 E@ 86E @FE D:56 2?5 =:G6] %96J ?665 E@ A=2J :? E96 5:CE 2?5 J6D 6G6? 62E D@>6 5:CE] r9:=5C6? ?665 E@ 36 6IA@D65 E@ 324E6C:2 :?DE625 @7 =:G:?8 :? 2 3F33=6] qJ <66A:?8 E96> 9@>6 2?5 ?@E 2==@H:?8 E96> E@ 32D:42==J 5@ 2?JE9:?8 E96J H:== 36 G6CJ G6CJ D:4< 25F=ED 3642FD6 E96J 92G6?’E 3F:=5 FA E96:C :>>F?6 DJDE6>] rC2:8 !6==6C:?k^Am
kAm~A6? E96> FAP t?@F89 @7 E9:D !=2?56>:4 w@2IP #:4< wFC5k^Am
kAm}@[ E96 D276EJ @7 @FC 49:=5C6? D9@F=5 4@>6 7:CDEP x? %6I2D[ E96 49:=5C6?VD 42D6D 2C6 @? E96 C:D6[ D@ J6D 49:=5C6? 42? 86E :E 2?5 36 27764E65] #@3:? %28=:6C:k^Am
kAm$:>A=6] #6@A6? H96? E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 C6DF>6D AF3=:4 E@FCD] (96? %CF>A :?E6C24ED H:E9 F?E6DE65 G:D:E@CD] (96? %CF>AVD 49:=5C6? 2?5 8C2?549:=5C6? C:56 AF3=:4 EC2?DA@CE2E:@? 2?5 2EE6?5 AF3=:4 D49@@=D] (96? u~) 3C@2542DED 7C@> DEF5:@D] (96? !2F= |2?27@CE 2?5 |:4926= r@96? C6EFC? E@ AC:D@?] $E6G6 %@C@D:2?k^Am
kAm~A6? E96 D49@@=DP r9:=5C6? ?665 DECF4EFC6 2?5 D@4:2=:K2E:@?] x’> 7C@> }@CE962DE r@??64E:4FE[ H96C6 H6 92G6 2 G6CJ =@H r~'xs C2E6] x’> @? >J E@H?’D D49@@= 3@2C5] (6 2C6 @A6?:?8] z2E9=66? $6?5=6J q2CCJk^Am
kAmp3D@=FE6=J ?@E]k^Am
kAm%96 E9:?8 E92E x H@F=5 5@ :D 4@?E24E y@6 q:56? 2?5 86E 2 AC@76DD:@?2= @A:?:@?] p r@?H2J E2IA2J6C]k^Am
kAmx 5@?VE E9:?< :E >2<6D 2?J 5:776C6?46 :7 E96J @A6? :E E96? @C H96?6G6C] x D66 6G6CJ 52J — 2?5 x >62? 6G6CJ 52J — 72>:=:6D H:E9 <:5D F?56C f[ g J62CD @=5[ ?@?6 @7 E96> H62C:?8 >2D<D] x D2J 367@C6 H6 H@CCJ 23@FE D6?5:?8 E96 <:5D 324< E@ D49@@=[ 7@C 6G6CJ@?6 @FE E96C6 E92E 5@6D?VE H62C 2 >2D<[ AFE E96> :? 2 76?465\:? 2C62 2?5 =6E E96> <?@4< 6249 @E96C @77 @?6 3J @?6]k^Am
kAm*6D[ x E9:?< <:5D D9@F=5 23D@=FE6=J 8@ 324< E@ D49@@=] %96C6VD ?@ C62D@? ?@E E@] %96 C:D< 2?2=JD:D D2JD E92E <:5D 5@?VE 86E D:4<] x F?56CDE2?5 E92E @=56C E62496CD >:89E 92G6 2 AC@3=6> 8@:?8 324< E@ E96 724:=:EJ[ 3FE J@F 42? 5@ 2 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 :?\D49@@= 2?5 C6>@E6 =62C?:?8] |@C6 92C> H:== 36 5@?6 E@ <:5D :7 E96J 5@ ?@E 8@ 324< E@ D49@@=] %9:D :D E96 !@H56C $=2D96C]k^Am
kAm%92E H@F=5 36 H@F=5 36 2 G6CJ[ G6CJ 325 >:DE2<6 7@C E96 J@F?8 A6@A=6 2?5 ?@E E@@ 8@@5 7@C E96 7@=<D 2E 9@>6 H96? E96JVC6 2E 9@>6 7C@> D49@@=] x 8F6DD :7 :E :D >256 A@DD:3=6[ x 8F6DD J@F 42? @?=J 3=2>6 E96 #6AF3=:42?D] %96J 2C6 92AAJ E@ 36 E2<:?8 5@H? p>6C:42 2?J H2J E96J 42?] %96J C2:D6 E96:C 92?5D 4=2A 2?5 4966C 7@C ;@J 3642FD6 E96J E2<6 8C62E6DE 4@F?ECJ :? E96 H@C=5 5@H?] }@H E96J H2?E E@ E2<6 E96 =:EE=6 <:5D H:E9 E96>[ E@@] r6?E6C r@?H2J]k^Am
kAmxE :D 2 ?@\3C2:?6C] x 5@?VE 6G6? <?@H H9J E92E BF6DE:@? H2D 3C@F89E FA] xEVD @FC D276EJ] (6 86E 6?@F89 D:4<?6DD 3C@F89E :? 7C@> }6H *@C< 2?5 |2DD249FD6EED A6@A=6] s@ ?@E @A6? E96 D49@@=D — 6G6? :7 :EVD 2 D6=64E>6?VD 564:D:@? @C D@>6 4@>>:EE66 @C H92E6G6C] }@ H2J] &D6 J@FC 9625 2?5 E9:?< E9:D @?6 E9C@F89] #@4<J %9@>AD@?[ }@CE9 r@?H2J]k^Am
kAm}6H w2>AD9:C6 2?5 '6C>@?E 92G6 8@E E96 EH@ =@H6DE C68:@?D :? E96 4@F?ECJ] {6EVD <66A :E E92E H2J] s@ ?@E AFE E96 J@F?8 <:5D[ E96:C A2C6?ED[ E96 E62496CD 2E E92E 9:89 C:D<] q642FD6 E96J H:== 86E :E 2?5 E96J H:== DAC625 :E E@ D@>6@?6 2E 9@>6 2?5 D@ @? 2?5 D@ 7@CE9] }@] r6?E6C r@?H2J]k^Am
kAm*6D[ :E D9@F=5 567:?:E6=J C6@A6?] x H@F=5 AC676C E@ D66 :E 27E6C {23@C s2J[ H9:49 8:G6D E96 D49@@=D >@C6 E:>6] ~?6 @7 E96 @E96C @AE:@?D H@F=5 36 DA=:E 4=2DD6D — >@C?:?8 4=2DD6D[ 27E6C?@@? 4=2DD6D qFE 567:?:E6=J[ E96 <:5D D9@F=5 8@ 324< E@ E96 D49@@=] r6?E6C r@?H2J]k^Am
kAmp== xVG6 8@E E@ D2J :D 2 5F>3 <:5 :D 36EE6C E92? 2 5625 <:5] x H@F=5 ?@E D6?5 >J 49:=5C6? 324< E@ D49@@=] }@ H2J] %9:D :D !2F= :? t77:?892>]k^Am
kAmx ;FDE =:DE6?65 E@ q6EDJ s6'@D[ 2?5 2== D96 42? <66A D2J:?8 :D E92E 49:=5C6? >FDE 36 324< :? D49@@=] (9:=6 x 28C66 H:E9 96C[ x 5@?VE E9:?< E92E H6 2C6 C625J]k^Am
kAm%92E :D 2 564:D:@? E92E D9@F=5 36 =67E FA E@ D4:6?E:DED 2?5 >65:42= DE277 5@4E@CD[ ?@E A@=:E:4:2?D H9@ <?@H ?@E9:?8 23@FE H92E E96JVC6 E2=<:?8] |J BF6DE:@? :Di (92E 23@FE uCJ63FC8 p4256>J[ H:E9 DEF56?ED 7C@> @E96C 4@F?EC:6Dn (@F=5 E96J 6G6? H2?E E@ 4@>6 96C6[ D66:?8 @FC C6DA@?D6 E@ E9:D A2?56>:4nk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.