Blame Game
Why are we ok with the blame game?
Problems should be presented with options and/or the want to fix things.
There are so many things that have been blamed on the covid restrictions for being lost or making things fail, etc. Specifically, I want to focus on blaming covid for poor school procedures and "causing" the rise in children suicide rates.
Let's be honest, before covid, people, teacher, students and everyone else has complained about issues in their schools, teacher pay, funding, suicides, bullying and so so much more!
Then covid happened! Now it's all blamed on covid. Kids having to do virtual school, not going to school, having to wear masks and more. Because of all the changing restrictions it has caused a lot of uproar about mental health and physical health. Both mental and physical health are so important to exercise.
So let me break things down.
Bullying was still a big thing pre-covid times.
Children and teen suicide was still worrisome pre-covid.
Failing grades was still a thing!
Kids not getting to school was still a thing.
Children not learning to read was a pre-covid issue.
Poverty and homeless kids was still a thing pre-covid.
Obesity was an issue before covid.
Kids still got sick pre-covid.
Teachers and schools have dealt with all of these things and more before covid.
COVID TIMES HAVE JUST HIGHLIGHTED IT FOR EVERYONE TO SEE!
These are individual children's lives we are looking at! They will grow to be adults and will be faced with other challenges. We want to set them up to be able to address and problem solve what they will face. Children’s parents and teachers will continue to grow and teach. Covid won't stop that. But we need to focus on how to continually change and update systems and strategies to reach each individual student and family to fit their needs.
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL!
The majority of teachers are: amazing, creative, qualified, caring, loving, under paid, over worked people. We expect and trust them to take care of and teach our children throughout the days. So why wouldn't we let them be the experts on the creativity of the best way through this. Most teachers solve daily challenges they are faced with. Teachers are pretty good at putting their opinions aside to solve each child's challenges to help them excel in life. Why not let them take this enormous challenge and find creative solution?
When the big shut down happened, we could have allowed teachers to network with in each school, then county, then to the district, region etc. Then allowing voting among the most qualified to make decisions in schools. Once the best solutions were voted on, let them be passed back to each school for administrators, parents and teachers to then administer. Schools would then apply them as they see fit for their community.
We as a country don't need to come up with new solutions. we need to look at past successes and failures, learn and rebuild the ideas to what would work now. There are systems in place that are needing major upgrades! We update our electronic devices frequently. So why are we not always thinking about ways to revise our education system? It doesn’t just stop with the education system though! There are a lot of systems that stem from education or feed into it. For examples, the social work system, other state programs like medical, specifically mental health needs work. Some systems need changes and upkeep where others need to be shaken up and reworked.
We don't want it to go back to how it was!
We still have major flaws that need to be addressed. Things have been broken for a while now. Covid restrictions and guidelines (whether for or against) highlighted all the cracks in systems from small town government to world wide organizations. School systems were forced to come up with quick band-aid solutions to get by. Those band-aid solutions need to be used only as a temporary system while we, as a country, figure out innovative solutions for the longtime coming . We need permanent change. The things teachers have been asking for, let their voices be heard and give them ehat they need! The teachers are there to fight for our kids, so let them!
This video is a great one. Nora Flanagan talks about one city, but it applies to all cities, towns and schools. Please watch it!
All that to say, if the prevention protocols aren't working, people should be trying to find a better way to fix it. Instead of finding things to compare to that are worse to make covid look less than, let's work to find solutions.
Don’t lean so hard on the government to fix things! We, the people of this country, are the ones who have the solutions to solve community issues. The government supports are supposed to be used as a tool to help, not the whole crutch.
Put big government ideas aside and start working to better your community! Start there! Care for your families and yourselves, your neighbors, local schools, businesses and care facilities.
We have to remember how losing a grandparent, parent, siblings, friends, classmates & teachers will affect the growth of our children. Get back to basics of how to help each other.
We can be better people! We can be better for our kids! We can be better for our communities!
According to this CDC article, BMI in children 2-19 years old has doubled. Give it a read. Apply your findings to your own family, find solutions and apply them. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7037a3.htm
Another CDC article. This one on child suicide attempts.
“In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, ED visits for suspected suicide attempts began to increase among adolescents aged 12–17 years, especially girls. During February 21–March 20, 2021, suspected suicide attempt ED visits were 50.6% higher among girls aged 12–17 years than during the same period in 2019; among boys aged 12–17 years, suspected suicide attempt ED visits increased 3.7%.” https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7024e1.htm
Here is an article about child survival in a pandemic. Basically, it isn’t all about death vs. survival rates. It shares how a pandemic affects the life of a child not just their physical health.
https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-survival/covid-19/