(StraightShooterNews.com) – Bringing back memories of the worst case of government overreach in history, schools in Alabama and Tennessee had to temporarily close and go back to online learning due to rising COVID cases.
These schools had to send students home to learn remotely while they underwent extensive cleaning.
At Johnson-Abernathy-Graetz High School in Montgomery, the switch to virtual classes came quickly after 15 teachers tested positive for COVID, though it is unclear how many students were affected.
This high school, which serves 1,500 students from grades 9 to 12, shut its doors for two days—Wednesday, August 14 and Thursday, August 15.
Now that it has reopened, the school has made masks and disinfection wipes readily available in classrooms, although wearing masks is not mandatory.
Meanwhile, Stigall Elementary in western Tennessee experienced a similar situation.
The school, which teaches 246 young students through first grade, had to close for a day to manage an increase in COVID cases.
This sudden closure forced parents into tough spots, as they needed to either find childcare or miss work.
Jessica Williamson, a parent from the school, expressed her concerns to FOX13: “Everyone is like, ‘COVID is back, COVID is back.’ Those are little kids. They’re most prone to put things in their mouths, to touch each other, to just share germs.”
In response to the ongoing pandemic, teachers are now required to disinfect desks and surfaces each time classes change.
Despite these challenges, COVID cases are not as severe as before, with most people experiencing only mild symptoms due to vaccines and previous infections.
This resurgence of cases comes amid warnings from studies that revealed the significant downsides of remote learning on children’s academic and social development.
One such study from early 2022 highlighted declines in math and reading performances during 2020 and 2021 based on the analysis of 7.3 million exams.
Experts have also highlighted the severe, long-term impacts lockdowns have had on children’s education, suggesting these could have been avoided.
BREAKING: Covid surge forces schools to close and bring back pandemic-era measures- and more are at risk as millions head back to class next week. #Alabama and #Tennessee announced the closure of two schools just days into the new academic year – Daily Mail
— Breaking Alerter (@BreakingAlerter) August 27, 2024
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