Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
To the members of the Yarmouth School Committee and School Administration:
As the parent of a K-4 student in Yarmouth schools, I want to express my concerns regarding the actual implementation of the proposal presented by the Pandemic Instruction Task Force. While I am appreciative of the quick work of this dedicated group, I remain concerned that the risks of this proposal outweigh the benefits, particularly when it comes to younger school-aged children. This school year has been difficult for everyone, and I acknowledge that all parents—each and every one struggling under unique situations and various dynamics—are desperate to have their children back to a normal routine.
While this proposal is an attempt at normalcy based on increased in-person days alone, the way we understand that the CDC guidance will be implemented is such that teachers and staff will be required to enforce a school day that actually moves us much further away from “normal.” The days will be shorter and will confine movement and interaction between children and teachers, significantly limiting meaningful learning at a time they so desperately need it.
This proposal may be effective in the middle school and high school group, but the impacts would be disproportionately negative for younger children. Little bodies need to move and they have less control over their biological and emotional needs. The logistics of managing this strict environment with twice the number of children will result in lots of rule enforcement and not a lot of academic or social/emotional development. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that "reducing classmate interactions/play in elementary school-aged children may not provide enough COVID-19 risk reduction to justify potential harms." The implementation of the proposal for Rowe and YES would create potential harm that outweighs the actual COVID risk to this age group.
Furthermore, adding two additional in-person days actually removes the two relatively “high quality” days of our current hybrid model and replaces them with four “low quality” in-person days, which feels like a net loss. With only six weeks left in the school year once this proposal would become active, it seems like a lot of unnecessary change and angst for younger students. Our youngest learners are so dependent on routine and consistency, and this plan will upend that yet again, particularly if the already-delayed academic plan must be paused yet again to teach new safety protocols and routines. If that time is already built in at the beginning of every year, why go through it now when the systems they'll be learning in the fall may be totally different yet again?
Finally, with more students in school each day, one positive case will not simply double the resulting quarantines' size—instead, they would have an exponentially more wide-reaching impact. That fact alone seems like an unreasonable risk so close to the end of the year. This letter also comes to you just as Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said Monday that she feels a sense of "impending doom" over a rush to prematurely relax public health restrictions. "We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope, but right now I'm scared," Walensky said. So while the CDC is calling loudly for restrictions to be "maintained," how can we sanction such a move when summer is just a few weeks away? Walensky added: “As a wife, mother, daughter, physician & CDC Director, I ask you to hold on a little while longer.”
We are all looking forward to the time when schools can return to unrestricted in-person instruction, but the implementation of this proposal appears to require a huge cost at the expense of our children, with no clear payoff—and so much to lose. For this reason, I do not support the implementation model of the proposed plan for Rowe and YES. A one-size-fits-all approach does not benefit K-4 students and will potentially cause more harm than good.
Respectfully,
The Undersigned
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Updates
March 30, 2021
The School Committee is still refusing to acknowledge the developmental reality of our youngest students. Email your representative today and demand they prioritize instructional quality over simple attendance logs.
March 30, 2021
The momentum we have built shows the School Committee that we are united in our concerns for the youngest students. Now is the time to turn this energy into action. Email your representatives today and insist that they prioritize a hybrid model that actually works for our children.
12 Comments
I no longer have children in the Yarmouth schools but have worked at YES for 23 years. I am signing this petition for the following reasons: Due to the current construction, there is very limited space at YES. • There would be adjustments for the students (new class members and changes to their current schedule) and overcrowding. • Covid had us finish the 2019-20 school year with no end-of-year closure for students. Even with a hybrid schedule, there is the potential for that to happen again – greater odds if we are all in. • The cost, both financially and emotionally, is not worth 6 weeks of all in learning. September will bring us a new school with plenty of room and, hopefully, a high percent of vaccinated individuals. Just my opinion.........
I have a lot of mixed feelings, I appreciate all the efforts the committee has put forth to get the students back in school more days, but I think such a big change with only 6 weeks left in the school year and the pandemic still a large problem, I agree that it could do more harm than good. It pains me to say that because I’ve wanted this for so long, but my instincts tells me it’s not the right choice for my child.
I've got two kids one at Rowe and one at YES. While I was looking forward to them returning to school full time- and appreciate the efforts of the pandemic task force- I'm not sure that changing this late in the year is the right thing to do. My first grader is moving constantly and I don't think he's going to do well sitting much more. My third grader is a little less active than his brother but still needs to move around in order to focus best. We've all grown accustomed to the routine of hybrid learning , to change now might make this year harder on everyone than it has been. I feel so conflicted.
Thank you for the opportunity to support these concerns. I am signing on behalf of my family who work in and attend Yarmouth Schools, as well as the children and parents in our community who wish to close out the school year with a schedule that is familiar, consistent, and known.
Requiring my first grader to move from the existing hybrid model to the proposed 4 day model is not in her best interest. The proposed schedule and classroom structure do not provide our young learners any more time participating in the learning and socialization they are in need of most. Their bodies will be further restricted from their natural need for movement adding an additional layer of frustration and change to an already challenging school experience.
Thank you everyone for working so hard to take all things into consideration!
Let’s finish the school year in hybrid mode and focus our efforts on changing things for the 2021-2022 school year.
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Share this petition to help it reach more people.
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
To the members of the Yarmouth School Committee and School Administration:
As the parent of a K-4 student in Yarmouth schools, I want to express my concerns regarding the actual implementation of the proposal presented by the Pandemic Instruction Task Force. While I am appreciative of the quick work of this dedicated group, I remain concerned that the risks of this proposal outweigh the benefits, particularly when it comes to younger school-aged children. This school year has been difficult for everyone, and I acknowledge that all parents—each and every one struggling under unique situations and various dynamics—are desperate to have their children back to a normal routine.
While this proposal is an attempt at normalcy based on increased in-person days alone, the way we understand that the CDC guidance will be implemented is such that teachers and staff will be required to enforce a school day that actually moves us much further away from “normal.” The days will be shorter and will confine movement and interaction between children and teachers, significantly limiting meaningful learning at a time they so desperately need it.
This proposal may be effective in the middle school and high school group, but the impacts would be disproportionately negative for younger children. Little bodies need to move and they have less control over their biological and emotional needs. The logistics of managing this strict environment with twice the number of children will result in lots of rule enforcement and not a lot of academic or social/emotional development. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that "reducing classmate interactions/play in elementary school-aged children may not provide enough COVID-19 risk reduction to justify potential harms." The implementation of the proposal for Rowe and YES would create potential harm that outweighs the actual COVID risk to this age group.
Furthermore, adding two additional in-person days actually removes the two relatively “high quality” days of our current hybrid model and replaces them with four “low quality” in-person days, which feels like a net loss. With only six weeks left in the school year once this proposal would become active, it seems like a lot of unnecessary change and angst for younger students. Our youngest learners are so dependent on routine and consistency, and this plan will upend that yet again, particularly if the already-delayed academic plan must be paused yet again to teach new safety protocols and routines. If that time is already built in at the beginning of every year, why go through it now when the systems they'll be learning in the fall may be totally different yet again?
Finally, with more students in school each day, one positive case will not simply double the resulting quarantines' size—instead, they would have an exponentially more wide-reaching impact. That fact alone seems like an unreasonable risk so close to the end of the year. This letter also comes to you just as Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said Monday that she feels a sense of "impending doom" over a rush to prematurely relax public health restrictions. "We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope, but right now I'm scared," Walensky said. So while the CDC is calling loudly for restrictions to be "maintained," how can we sanction such a move when summer is just a few weeks away? Walensky added: “As a wife, mother, daughter, physician & CDC Director, I ask you to hold on a little while longer.”
We are all looking forward to the time when schools can return to unrestricted in-person instruction, but the implementation of this proposal appears to require a huge cost at the expense of our children, with no clear payoff—and so much to lose. For this reason, I do not support the implementation model of the proposed plan for Rowe and YES. A one-size-fits-all approach does not benefit K-4 students and will potentially cause more harm than good.
Respectfully,
The Undersigned
Updates
March 30, 2021
The School Committee is still refusing to acknowledge the developmental reality of our youngest students. Email your representative today and demand they prioritize instructional quality over simple attendance logs.
March 30, 2021
The momentum we have built shows the School Committee that we are united in our concerns for the youngest students. Now is the time to turn this energy into action. Email your representatives today and insist that they prioritize a hybrid model that actually works for our children.
12 Comments
I want my kids back in school and truly hope for a full time return in the Fall. However, given all of the changes proposed as this letter nicely points out I feel that the continued hybrid option is the most prudent and safe choice.
I no longer have children in the Yarmouth schools but have worked at YES for 23 years. I am signing this petition for the following reasons: Due to the current construction, there is very limited space at YES. • There would be adjustments for the students (new class members and changes to their current schedule) and overcrowding. • Covid had us finish the 2019-20 school year with no end-of-year closure for students. Even with a hybrid schedule, there is the potential for that to happen again – greater odds if we are all in. • The cost, both financially and emotionally, is not worth 6 weeks of all in learning. September will bring us a new school with plenty of room and, hopefully, a high percent of vaccinated individuals. Just my opinion.........
I have a lot of mixed feelings, I appreciate all the efforts the committee has put forth to get the students back in school more days, but I think such a big change with only 6 weeks left in the school year and the pandemic still a large problem, I agree that it could do more harm than good. It pains me to say that because I’ve wanted this for so long, but my instincts tells me it’s not the right choice for my child.
I've got two kids one at Rowe and one at YES. While I was looking forward to them returning to school full time- and appreciate the efforts of the pandemic task force- I'm not sure that changing this late in the year is the right thing to do. My first grader is moving constantly and I don't think he's going to do well sitting much more. My third grader is a little less active than his brother but still needs to move around in order to focus best. We've all grown accustomed to the routine of hybrid learning , to change now might make this year harder on everyone than it has been. I feel so conflicted.
Thank you for the opportunity to support these concerns. I am signing on behalf of my family who work in and attend Yarmouth Schools, as well as the children and parents in our community who wish to close out the school year with a schedule that is familiar, consistent, and known.
Requiring my first grader to move from the existing hybrid model to the proposed 4 day model is not in her best interest. The proposed schedule and classroom structure do not provide our young learners any more time participating in the learning and socialization they are in need of most. Their bodies will be further restricted from their natural need for movement adding an additional layer of frustration and change to an already challenging school experience.
Thank you everyone for working so hard to take all things into consideration!
Let’s finish the school year in hybrid mode and focus our efforts on changing things for the 2021-2022 school year.
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I want my kids back in school and truly hope for a full time return in the Fall. However, given all of the changes proposed as this letter nicely points out I feel that the continued hybrid option is the most prudent and safe choice.