Please sign this petition to return Iowa’s kids to in-person schooling this August. This decision is detrimental to the students’ mental health and overall well-being. Face to face interaction between peers and with teachers is so important, promoting social skills and building relationships that online school can’t provide. Kids need the structure, accountability, discipline, and most importantly, the support and inspiration from teachers and peers that only face to face learning can offer. Passionate teachers, among other things, create a safe place and sense of belonging for students, especially for those who lack security at home. Trade experiences, business experiences, fine arts, sports, and other extracurriculars provide valuable lessons of resilience, dedication, and the importance of character, crucial to the development of young adults. Additionally, there will be extensive educational setbacks from what has been missed this spring and what may be missed in the fall.