Taking Its Toll On Everyone…See The Light in the Shadows and Keep Reading

I’ve been pondering the subject matter of this article for a good many days…every time I sit down to write, both my heart and my mind hurt…but keep reading…

Here are the facts I have been reading/hearing about, and sights I am seeing confirming these facts:

• May is Mental Health Awareness Month
• The United States has now surpassed the reported 1 million casualties due to Covid
• Nearly 250,000 children have lost a loved one or caretaker due to Covid
• Increases in Kindergarten enrollment due to parents ‘waiting a year’ in 2020-21, as well as many more kindergarteners lacking appropriate readiness skills, which have resulted in more children in need of ‘catch up’ 
• ‘Covid Babies’ born 2020-2021 are slower to develop oral language skills
• Increases in 9th grade enrollment due to retention–many 9th graders were not able to accrue the credits needed in order to attend 10th grade due to Covid disruptions, as well as increases in chronic absenteeism and increases in adolescent mental health issues
• A steep decline in public school enrollment results in reduction in school funding

How do we begin to deal with these challenges? Is there a relationship amongst these facts? I think so.

Here are my ‘takes’:

Parents of School Age Children–Watch Your Children Carefully and Often–Do Notice:

After E’s grandmother passed, E’s mother watched her daughter’s grades slip. Her once-bubbly girl seemed withdrawn, weighed down by anxiety.

“[That kind of loss,] it’s something that you carry with you,” the mother told The 74. “It permeates into your very soul.”

Mrs. T, E’s Mother from The 74 The Children Left Behind From 1 Million Covid Deaths by Asher Lehrer-Small

Parents, I know how busy you are just getting through the week, or even the day, but hopefully, I’ve given you cause to pause. Take a breath, slow down so that you really notice your child(ren)’s behaviors. To make life easier, here are some lists of books for elementary kids and here for older kids recommended to work on SEL at home.

Teachers–Watch Your Students Carefully and Often–Do Notice:

Parents of Children Birth-Age 5

Advice For All Stakeholders:

1. Encourage your school district to have a ‘plan’ moving forward. Accept the fact that no school/school district is perfect. That said, many school districts around the country have chosen to spend their emergency Covid funding wisely. I write you from my home town of Akron OH, where Akron Public Schools appear to have a well thought out plan including monies spent on enhanced summer programming for the next three summers, elementary and secondary class size reductions resulting in the hiring of more teachers for the next two years, full time counselors in all buildings, expansion of on-line curriculum options, increased technology resources, and cleaning/sanitation supplies.
2. Send children to school–that is, unless they are ill. I well remember sending my own children to school unless they had fever, vomiting or diarrhea. Gone are the days when I  would send them if they had a sore throat or cold.  Additionally, I cannot tell you how many times I myself went to work (as a teacher, consultant, etc.) with a raging cold/sore throat—I know better now, so I do better! We all need to be mindful of increased self-care, as well as care for others so as not to make others ill. Regular school attendance, for all children (especially for 9th graders and kindergarteners) will hopefully alleviate the current issues of retention and ‘catch up’, thereby providing children the opportunity to achieve to their potential.
3. If a family decides to home school or send their children to a private school that is a personal choice, but now we all know declining enrollment translates into less funding for public schools

Finally, let me reiterate the importance of ‘tuning in’ with hyper-vigilance! Don’t assume that ‘everything is ok’ either mentally or physically (or academically for students) either for ourselves as adults or for our younger generation. If you are a parent, share this article with other parents and teachers. If you are a teacher, share this article with parents.

The pandemic is not behind us; it may be with us for a good long time! That flag at half-mast remains top of mind as a symbol that we all have to work together to minimize the consequences of the past two years. I’ve attempted to provide you with tools to ensure the physical, mental, and academic wellbeing of our children. 

As Charles Dickens so aptly said:   

Let’s help ourselves and our younger generation to experience those strong lights–this is my hope.

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Post Script: I wrote this article BEFORE the Texas school tragedy. Paying attention to our mental health needs is more important than ever. Click here and/or here for some resources to help explain this tragedy to our children.