The other DrC educated public school teachers for most of her career, after being one herself for several years. Thus ours is a household that thinks about K-12 education more than a little.
Much discussion now ongoing focuses on whether or not the public schools should open in the fall and, if they do, following what set of precautions? While most teachers are not in the Covid-19 high risk group, certainly some are at or very near retirement age.
It seems to me at-risk-by-age-or-comorbidity teachers should be encouraged to retire, and those who refuse be required to sign waivers absolving the district of responsibility for their illness or death due to contagion. Even if the teacher her- or himself is willing to take the risk, there is still the trauma of having a (we hope) beloved teacher die during the school year to consider.
A way of increasing social distancing would be to hold full half-day double sessions with classrooms half full. This could require twice as many teachers, not something all districts could manage or afford.
Alternatively, a teacher might teach two groups - one morning, one afternoon - in a greatly pared down 3Rs format. This would trigger many parents and legislators whose pet subjects would be excluded. There are no easy answers.
Later ... I hear from a friend loosely affiliated with an AZ K-12 district that they've opted for the "alternatively" option. Teachers will teach the same material to two half-sized groups per day, with sterilize wipe-down of surfaces in between.
