We often frame our own interests under the guise of 'doing what's best for children.' Especially in the world of education. However, politics have controlled the issue of vaccines. Both Political parties have wrapped their agendas in that same banner of doing what's best for kids. What if we actually DID whats best for kids?
As educators we all know about curriculum and classrooms and textbooks. However, ALL students learn more from what they see in their environment than any curriculum, classroom or textbook. They look at the adults in their world to take ques as to what is acceptable, or even desirable behavior. We all understand the importance role models play in a child's life.
Regardless of where you stand on the vaccine issue, what if we cared more about how our behavior and words are affecting our children? What if, instead of our politics, or personal opinions, we approached the issue of vaccines from the perspective of doing what's best for kids?
First, we should let them know that all perspectives are valid. NO ONE is evil. NO ONE is deserving of the kind of ostracization we are hearing and seeing in your district today. Children need to see adults stop behaving in such a way. They need to see adults who respect open, honest discussion. They are not seeing that right now...We are scaring the hell out of our kids, just to make a political point. That NEEDS to stop.
Second, before any student graduates high school they are 'taught' about ethics, morals, values usually using moral dilemmas. In the classroom they will often hear teachers talk about how difficult moral dilemmas can be. We are all faced with moral dilemmas. One of the strategies that teachers are SUPPOSED to teach is to filter out personal perspective, take a step back and consider the broader picture.
This requires that students understand the concept of objectivity. They learn this concept by developing the ability to inquire, investigate and gather facts that may inform them of any decision. While textbooks and classrooms can 'talk' about this process, the issue of vaccines is a great learning opportunity for our kids to demonstrate this process.
We should be modelling how to gather information. How to ask questions. How to investigate. And, most importantly, we should be modelling how we use the information we gather to inform our decision. We are NOT doing that for our children. We are taking a position and then telling the other side to shut up. That is NOT in the best interest of our children.
Teachers could very easily be in classrooms talking to students about this issue and helping them to frame probing, relevant questions. I will not presume to answer these questions, but we should ALL DEMAND these questions be answered. Students need to know that asking questions and getting answers from our elected representatives is part of our government, is part of our culture and, indeed, is what America is really about.
From protest to policy, holding elected representatives accountable should be in our DNA. That is NOT happening in your district. We can all hear questions, but there are no answers. While you may be following standard procedures for holding a 'public meeting', you are NOT solving a problem.
As this issue is exceptionally volatile, you should consider a more open format. Not in terms of who can ask questions, but in terms of getting answers in the public arena. You should hold a town-hall meeting that invites questions and GUARANTEES someone will be there to answer.
Here are some possible questions that should be asked and answered in public...in front of everyone. (However, helping students frame questions would be great way to show them what participation in the democratic process looks like. I think they would surprise you with their insights.)
What does the data say about the risk to children from the virus?
What does the data say about the risk to children from the vaccine?
What does the data say about children spreading the virus to adults?
What does the data say about asymptomatic people spreading the virus?
Is the vaccine the ONLY way to combat the virus?
What is the difference between J&J's traditional vaccine and the mRNA treatment?
What does the data say about each of the vaccine's efficacy?
What does the data say about any adverse affects of the vaccine or the mRNA treatment?
What kinds of therapeutics are being used around the world, and what does the data say about their efficacy?
What does the data say about natural immunity for those who have already had Covid?
What percent of any given population would have to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity?
Can herd immunity be achieved by combining those who have been vaccinated with those who have natural immunity?
These are just a suggested list of possible questions that we should ALL be asking and answering in public...in front of the children's eyes. We should be modeling how a caring, reasonable society would approach ANY issue. We are NOT doing that!
As the information on this issue can be very technical and very confusing, we should NOT have this discussion without medical doctors, or relevant scientists available to walk us through the data and to answer questions along the way. As this issue is so divisive, the doctors and scientists...who normally would be selected based off expertise...should be selected in pairs, one from each 'side' of the issue, in order to attempt to present a fair, open discussion.
If we are concerned about the health and safety of everyone, and if we are concerned about doing what's best for children, we should stop talking politics and start talking health and safety for children. Globally, there ARE treatments, other than vaccines, that have actually stopped the spread of the virus. If we are concerned about health and safety, shouldn't we be discussing these alternatives?
I would add, as a non-medical/science person, the data coming from the CDC website (This is from Monday, Oct 11), children under the age of 18 have a 99.9999953% survival rate. Conversely, again from the CDC, the highest risk group for the vaccine are children under the age of 12. I point this out only as a possible beginning to using data, not politics, to make informed decisions.
During any crisis the adults in the room are responsible for making decisions. However, it is the process used for making a decision that increases the likelihood of success for any decision.
What our children SHOULD be watching is a group of adults, calmly and rationally discussing this issue. They SHOULD be watching adults asking and answering relevant questions. They SHOULD be watching adults coming together to solve a problem. If that is what children were watching, that is what children would be learning.
That is NOT what children are watching right now. They are watching anger. They are watching hate. They are watching elected officials NOT answering questions. They are watching bullying by the State. They are watching a community at each other's throats. And, sad to say, THAT is what they are learning.