Please Don’t Simplify the Stay-At-Home Order

The current stay at home orders have, of course, spurred all sorts of comments. While many of us are still working, we are more isolated, so what do we do? In an effort to connect, we turn to social media more than ever before. Socialmedia.com reports that app use is up 20% since these quarantines have started. According to my observations, many of the posts, on Facebook at least, are in favor of staying home to avoid the spread. I will not weigh in on the necessity of almost completely shutting society down because, well, my opinion doesn’t matter, but as a public school teacher, I am bothered by the simplicity with which most people I’ve seen are commenting on what is happening.

I will start off by saying that I am enjoying time spent with my family. I know that not having constant outside activities is good for many of us, as we often feel we are failing as parents without providing all of these extra activities for our children. We are forced to slow down and appreciate time together. All of these are good things. And, my own children are fine. While they miss their friends and teachers desperately, my own children are doing their work without a fight. Granted, I can help them with their work because I am around, and I only have two children who don’t have special needs.

I am bothered though, by the simplicity with which many people are simplifying what is happening. While my own family is trusting the Lord for what is happening, this stay-at-home order is not all roses, and “just stay positive” does not help the fact that I am heartbroken that I am not teaching right now for a few reasons:

1. Not EVERYONE is safe at home. Our hometown gazette reported a few weeks ago that police are worried about abuse cases rising during this time. A friend of ours who handles child abuse cases for our county says there are some students who simply need to be at school and is worried about the increase of reports she is getting, and will get, during this time. Simply put, parents are laid off, and liquor stores and medical marijuana shops are essential (in my state anyway). Add to that that some homes are toxic for various reasons such as drug and alcohol use. So, young children in toxic homes are not safe, and teens in these homes are, unfortunately, not able to work for their own money, which many of them need, or keep busy with work avoiding toxic home environments and temptations of drug use or inappropriate internet use.
2. Homeschooling is for a small minority (approximately 3 percent of the population according to https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d18/tables/dt18_206.10.asp) for several reasons. Yes, some people simply choose not to home school, but many reasons include: single-parent homes in which the only parent has to work to make ends meet, two-parent homes in which both parents need to work to make ends meet, homes where parents who do not have the time or training to properly educate a middle school or high school student in order to ready for them college or the adult world, and, of course, homes with students (sometimes more than one) with special needs who require intensive physical care and require one-on-one help to do any or a lot of their education. This stay-at-home order is stressful for many of these folks as I have witnessed by the emails I have gotten from students and parents.
3. I have to say that it is truly remarkable that our politicians and healthcare providers have been so concerned with the increase in inactivity, obesity and mental health disorders until now. Now, we are asking most of our population to stay inside. Even in “good” home environment, a large majority of my students report sleeping a lot, and not getting outside. To boot, all of their sports are cancelled, and they can’t even play basketball at the local park (our city actually took down the basketball courts in some of our parks). Many of my students are not seeing their school or outside counselors or therapists while stuck inside with no outlets. Yes, I know we are dealing with a health concern, but we are exacerbating many more.

So, while most of us can do nothing about this current situation, necessary or not, I am asking that we not simplify a complicated situation with many factors. I am heartbroken daily that I can’t be there teaching some of my students who need me and other school staff to be there with them physically and emotionally during this time. I, personally, am praying for this stay-at-home order to end as soon as possible. “Safe-at-home” is a catch-phrase, not a reality for many.