I am writing to express my opinion that all schools in and around large metropolitan areas, and rural areas with high infection numbers, should be closed for the duration of April. I come to this conclusion unwillingly.
I have tested positive for COVID-19 P1 variant, as have my four children and wife.
I contracted COVID-19 at school.
I am not alone.
Other teachers, and students and their families at my school are experiencing this. If the schools remain open these infections will continue. Dr. Hinshaw said on April 6 that children are more susceptible to contracting this variant of COVID. This will impact our society at large and create a strain on the hospitals that we all want to avoid.
Students learn best in school. It is more beneficial for their academic and mental success than learning at-home. However, this ping-ponging of— Some are in, some are out, most are in, most are out, this substitute is here, now they’re not, this bus is out, this sport is open, now it’s not, is creating stress on everyone and is not at all conducive to a productive learning environment. This is not what stability looks like. A short pause on in-school learning will hopefully reduce the transmission rate in schools and allow the province to catch up with vaccinations. We must be serious in our approach.
This will be hard, but it is necessary. No one likes it, but in the long run it will be good for us. This will make you unpopular in the short term, but in the longer term it will help all of us.
It’s time for the government to be serious and do what they know is right.
Impose stricter measures that will ensure our safety.
Thank you,
Adam Jamieson
