We live in a rural area of Oregon, and when Governor Kate Brown announced in late December that individual districts would determine when to resume in-person schooling, my partner, Jessica, and I had no doubt that our children’s small charter school would reopen as soon as possible. Honestly, the thought of this made us uneasy. Jessica works at the school teaching gardening classes and as a teaching assistant, so we were well aware that the school administration was eager to return students to the classroom, regardless of the alarming COVID-19 statistics. At that time, we were witnessing the highest death tolls yet, with nearly 4,000 reported in one day.
Unfortunately, the trend showed no signs of reversing, as cases continued to rise nationwide, Oregon being no exception. While a vaccine was being rolled out, the process was slower than anticipated, and it would likely take months before it had a significant impact. Talks were underway to prioritize teachers in the next phase of vaccine distribution, but a timeline remained uncertain. Meanwhile, hospitals filled with COVID-19 patients due to widespread carelessness during the holidays. With over 350,000 deaths reported in the U.S. from COVID-19, our community still operated under the dangerous misconception that this virus was merely a bad flu. All these factors caused Jessica and I to seriously reconsider sending our children back to school, especially since Jessica is now at high risk for severe COVID-19 complications.
In the early stages of the pandemic, Jessica was not considered high risk. During the fall, when our two older kids were attending school remotely, she was teaching from the classroom. Our first grader was allowed to attend in-person classes, and it felt relatively safe at that time. I worked from home managing remote schooling for our 11-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son. However, things took a drastic turn in late October when Jessica was hospitalized due to a severe case of pneumonia that escalated into septic shock. After three weeks, including three days in the ICU, it felt as though I was on the brink of losing her. Thankfully, she recovered.
Jessica did not contract COVID-19 during her hospitalization, but her doctor has now advised us to stay home, keep our kids home, and avoid any potential exposure due to her high-risk status. Just like that, we found ourselves as one of those families for whom COVID-19 restrictions were intended to protect. By the time Jessica was released from the hospital, the school had transitioned to completely remote learning, even for younger grades. Although it was challenging to have all five of us learning from home, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the safety it provided.
However, the situation soon shifted again. Jessica and I faced the difficult choice of either ignoring our doctor’s advice and sending her back to work and our children back to school, risking a life-threatening COVID-19 infection, or keeping our kids home and making the best of the situation. As we deliberated, we heard similar stories from other families at our children’s school. Some had elderly relatives living with them; others were about to undergo significant surgeries. Many teachers were also anxious about potential exposure and the risks it posed to their own households.
I want nothing more than for our children to return to school. I yearn for a return to normalcy for all of us. But I refuse to put Jessica’s life at risk. The lives of my community members are equally important. I believe that the decision to reopen our children’s school at this time is premature.
Despite my concerns, our children’s school is moving forward with reopening. The only aspect I can control is my family’s safety, so we have decided to keep our children home. The school will provide homework packets, and Jessica will handle grading and online work from our house, which we appreciate because her income is crucial. I will continue working remotely, albeit with minimal instruction from our kids’ teachers. However, we firmly believe this is the right choice.
I’m aware that many families, both in our community and across the nation, are grappling with similar decisions. It’s a tough choice, one that shouldn’t have to be made. If you find yourself in the same situation, know that I’m with you, my friend. For more insights on navigating these challenging times, check out this other blog post we have on home insemination.
Summary
As schools in Oregon prepare to reopen amid rising COVID-19 cases, a family decides to keep their children at home due to health risks. The narrative reflects the challenges many families face during the pandemic, balancing the need for education with the safety of high-risk individuals. They express gratitude for remote learning while recognizing the tough choices other families are making in similar situations.
Leave a Reply