In the last few weeks, several Facebook groups have "popped up" across the country pushing for schools to reopen and to disregard CDC Covid-19 recommendations for safe re-entry to school. Many of these are called 'Reopen <insert state name> schools'. These states include Colorado, Florida, Maryland, California, Minnesota, Utah, Illinois, Montana, Pennsylvania, and VIRGINIA.

The Merriam Dictionary definition of Astroturfing is ":organized activity that is intended to create a false impression of a widespread, spontaneously arising, grassroots movement in support of or in opposition to something (such as a political policy) but that is in reality initiated and controlled by a concealed group or organization (such as a corporation)
Classic astroturfing is the practice of disguising an orchestrated campaign as a spontaneous upwelling of public opinion."

The one in Colorado says in it's 'about section' that the CDC guidelines are unhealthy and unnecessary. Yet, evidence based scientific studies have proven that safety measures such as wearing masks (correctly), social distancing, and frequent hand limit washing/sanitizing limit the spread of the virus.  According to a June 20, 2020 article from the Washington Post, countries around the world are watching the United States with alarm and dismay that Americans are ignoring the evidence and showing up en masse to beaches and at least one rally with no mask wearing or social distancing. 

These reopen school efforts are being coordinated by the US Chamber of Commerce and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC is a coalition of corporations and special interest groups or their lobbyists who write fill-in-the-blank documents and shop them to state lawmakers. There are several Va. lawmakers who are members of ALEC. Both the Chamber and ALEC are lobbying groups for corporations and business. They do not exist to ensure the best interests of students and public schools. 

If students, teachers, faculty, and staff are allowed to return to schools with their pre Covid overcrowded classrooms and buses and no/not enough/non enforced safety precautions in place, they will quickly become Petri dishes for the virus to grow and expand to families and communities. With Fall around the corner, when flu season begins and respiratory illnesses are more prevalent, there will a sharp rise in infections as weakened immune systems are more susceptible to infection. 

We all want things to go back to normal. Every day my daughter tells me she misses her friends and is looking forward to going back to school to be able to see them in person and receive in person instruction. But she understands that the reason we wear masks every time we walk into a store, the reason we practice social distancing in these stores and actively avoid people who are not wearing masks, the reason we use hand sanitizer after each visit to the store is because we don't want to risk getting Covid and risk infecting others, including her brother, grandparents and others who are at higher risk for infection such as children and adults with autism (like her brother), who are obese, have diabetes, and/or have underlying health issues.

I agree with the world's countries: it is indeed alarming that so many Americans are so selfish that they go into public spaces with no mask, defying Gov Northam's order. It's beyond alarming that so many businesses do not enforce the mask wearing order even as many have signs on their windows saying MASKS REQUIRED TO ENTER. The irony of walking past such a sign with no mask on would be funny if it didn't put the health and safety of society at risk. The more people who do this-whether because they are laissez faire, defiant, selfish, and/or ignorant of the evidence-the more others are put at risk of Covid-19 infection. 

If the people and agencies that are charged with the well being of Virginia's public education are any of the above--selfish, ignorant, defiant, or casual--about the health and safety of the public schools and individuals who work and learn in them, then they should not have that job. Our children, our mothers, fathers, brothers, mothers, grandparents, communities are at risk of infection and death if schools are allowed to open before a clear safety plan is in place and enforced on school buses, in classrooms, and all other areas of our schools.

Thank you.