Telegram - Serving Metropolitan Detroit Since 1944

Last year was a huge concern to the world when we experienced a modern day pandemic, named Covid 19. Our students had to leave school houses; colleges and universities emptied out, and we all went inside, shut the door and turned on our computers.

No more face to face meetings, we became instant members of the Zoom family. In fact, there were telephone conference calls and zoom sessions going on at every level, you could hardly get in to your call because there were so many users, the line was often busy.

With orders from governors and mayors, all I could think of was Yolanda Adams song released in 1995 entitled "What About the Children.” It seems to sum up our situation by saying What about the children. To ignore is so easy. So many innocent children would choose the wrong way. So what about the children. Remember when we were children. And if not for those who loved us and who cared enough to show

us, where would we be today.

We’re heading back to school for another year of a pandemic that seems to be taking on more children than ever before. It is said to be one-thousand times worse. I can only equate this new strain to a severe hurricane heading our way; we’ve been warned; and it has picked up steam during these past couple months. Yet, here we all are, teachers, school administrators, school bus drivers, poised for the first day of school in the DMV.

Many have already gone back in other parts of the country, and not all of them are doing so good. We're hearing horror stories of massive numbers of kids infected with the Delta variant. Quarantine is nearly the order of the day.

Associated Press reported a few weeks into the new school year, growing numbers of U.S. districts have halted in-person learning or switched to hybrid models because of rapidly mounting coronavirus infections.

More than 80 school districts or charter networks have closed or delayed in-person classes for at least one entire school in more than a dozen states. Others have sent home whole grade levels or asked half their students to stay home on hybrid schedules.

The setbacks in mostly small, rural districts that were among the first to return dampen hopes for a sustained, widespread return to classrooms after two years of schooling disrupted by the pandemic.

In Georgia, where in-person classes are on hold in more than 20 districts that started the school year without mask requirements, some superintendents say the virus appeared to be spreading in schools before they sent students home.

“We just couldn’t manage it with that much staff out, having to cover classes and the spread so rapid,” said Eddie Morris, superintendent of the 1,050-student Johnson County district in Georgia. With 40% of students in quarantine or isolation, the district shifted last week to online instruction until Sept. 13.

Back in the DMV, it was reported that the first week back to school wasn't going well for hundreds of Fairfax County families who find their children already in quarantine, reported by NBC News 4. They reported Fairfax County Public Schools reports 160 confirmed cases in the past two weeks -- most of them students.

Not very encouraging for a second career retirement teacher like myself, scheduled to begin teaching elementary children who have not even been vaccinated, with no vaccine for this age group as of now.

Yet, DC Public Schools and Montgomery County Public Schools are opening full stop. Prince George’s County Public Schools has lots of options for virtual classes, if preferred and in-person also as an option.

Let us all pray, and think about the scripture which says “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14.

It’s praying time Saints.