Issue 1 October 2020

4
NEWS
By GWYNETH CONGER ‘23
On September 11, Baldwin
marched forth boldly to “reopen”
for the first time since
Governor Wolf’s mandatory
quarantine this past spring. Accompanied
by other local schools, such as Shipley,
Haverford, and Agnes Irwin also standing
“at the end of the beginning” in Churchill’s
words, we set out this year ready to meet
the inevitable challenges with preparedness,
determination, and unwavering unity.
Across the nation, thousands of other institutions
did the same.
This year schools have been forced to
turn to the government for help, technology,
and equipment in order to reformat
their campus and create the safest environment
possible. Our Residence has been
transformed into the Middle School. This
“new norm” involves the entire class wincing
as the teacher’s microphone squeals
feedback, the words “my computer’s having
problems today” becoming commonplace,
and a student jumping to reply to her
friend during lunch but then realizing she
needs to put her mask on first.
Without other options, we must adhere
to enforced social distancing and consistent
mask wearing for our community’s safety.
Many schools employ similar measures
to those in use at Baldwin: separating the
grades, installing hand-washing stations,
decreasing room capacity, and frequently
disinfecting surfaces. Other schools also
do random COVID-19 testing, provide
distanced bus seating, place tape on the
sidewalks, and give spare facial coverings
for students who can’t change their masks
“
every day. These are all measures that were
previously unheard of before March 2020.
Unfortunately, despite all of the safety
precautions, the reopening of schools has
been catastrophic in America. In the first
month after institutions began reopening
in August, the Children’s Hospital Association
recorded that the amount of known
COVID-19 cases in children rose to 90%
more than the original average prior to re-
opening. Seven states paused reopening
because of health concerns, and nine states
went back to doing school completely virtually.
Despite the high number of cases present,
some states like Georgia, Florida,
and Missouri reopened their schools. In a
few rare instances, like in New York and
Washington D.C., the enforcement of CDC
In the first month after institutions began
reopening in August, the Children’s Hospital
Association recorded that the amount of known
COVID-19 cases in children rose to 90% more
than the original average prior to reopening.”
regulations among those under 18 has decreased
the amount of new COVID-19
cases per day. However, with the majority
of schools choosing to reopen rather than
risking defunding, coronavirus cases have
soared.
Yet in the rest of the world, where the
rules on social distancing, testing, and
containment are much stricter, COVID-19
rates are far lower, allowing for different reopening
conditions. For instance, Denmark
only has to institute “protective bubbles”
of space between classmates. Sweden has
reduced every class to 50%, and both Japan
and Germany have administered staggered
school-day schedules, to name a few.
The United States pales in comparison.
With slow testing results, rarely effective
instant containment, and consistent disregard
for social distancing, the U.S. has had
the most COVID-19 cases in the world. As
of October 21, we have had around 8.25
million infections and over 220,000 deaths.
While other factors undoubtedly play
a part in these numbers, more can always
be done in schools and other institutions to
reduce the number of COVID-19 cases. As
of now, the health and lives of 56,000,000
school children, as well as their teachers,
families, and friends, are at risk.
It’s necessary for many reasons that
students return to school. Going to school
regulates students’ physical and mental
wellbeing and develops their social skills.
Certainly, Baldwin’s preparations are
among the best that Coronamerica has to
offer. However, even Baldwin has to adapt
to ever-changing conditions. While I’m
scared of going back to virtual school, in
the end, we might not have a choice.
coronamerica
HOW SCHOOLS ARE REOPENING
DURING COVID-19
Students are returning to school while
the pandemic continues to rage across
the United States, a move that has
proven catastrophic in many states.
Photography by Megan Cooper ‘21
Graphics and design by Maggie Song ‘21