Boots & Sabers

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Owen

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0616, 11 Aug 20

Let the school year begin — and continue

My column for the Washington County Daily News is online and in print. Here’s a part:

Still, the schools in Washington County will be open for education and that is to be commended. It demonstrates that education truly is a priority when so many other schools across the state and country are choosing to eschew their duty to educate the adults of tomorrow. Opening our schools is not only vitally important for the education of our kids, it is also imperative for their social and emotional well-being.

But we must gird ourselves for the inevitable outbreak of COVID-19 when our schools open. Every parent knows that some sniffle or cough will ravage their household within a couple weeks of school opening every year. It is the unavoidable outcome of the commingling of hundreds of humans with questionable hygiene. The implementation of social distancing, thorough sanitation, masks, shields, and limited or coordinated movement will surely reduce the spread of disease, but nature has a way of finding holes in any defense. There will be outbreaks of various contagious diseases and, undoubtedly, one of those will be COVID-19.

Davy Crockett was fond of saying, “Be always sure you are right, then go ahead.” That is the attitude we will need from our school leaders and parents when outbreaks happen. The science is sound. Our kids need to be in school and they cannot afford to miss any more. The risk of kids suffering severe harm from COVID-19 or spreading it is low. The short- and long-term educational, emotional, and social harm our kids will suffer if they miss more school is immense.

When the outbreaks come, and they will, we must not panic. We must act, but we must not panic. And when we act to isolate the infected and mitigate the spread, we must do so with the overarching goal of keeping our schools open.

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0616, 11 August 2020

55 Comments

  1. Mar

    Panic is what most teachers are good at.
    That and getting things for free and doing as little work as possible.

  2. jonnyv

    MjM. You cited 3 “sources” the first is from the CDC. And organization that literally recommended one thing and then changed it based on the whim of the president. Regardless, the document says NOTHING about the safety of the virus and children. Just that kid’s education will suffer if they are not in school. It completely avoids talking about the virus at all.

    The 2nd one is some sort of study that LITERALLY says that there is not enough evidence on how susceptible children are to spread the virus as there isn’t enough data on it. Just that they are a lower risk for long term harm themselves.

    And the final link is actually the most logical one. Saying that in the UK the spread is less likely in schools. From a country that was able to actually stamp out most of the virus because they are adults and take it seriously. Unlike the whiny adult babies in the US complaining about masks like it is some sort of personal freedom they should have. Idiots.

    And then there is Owen’s post. Flat out LYING about kids not spreading or transferring the virus. Something he has ZERO evidence on. Feel free to point me to a legitimate study that says that kids are less likely to spread it than adults.  I was able to find one that said it is POSSIBLE, based on a very small sample size. But nothing confirmed yet. In fact the Wall Street Journal just said that they might be more susceptible that we initial thought.

    As much as it sucks for everyone, I like the approach of giving parents the option for virtual learning in areas that are not as hard hit. But I also support the MPS option to close the schools and take a more direct approach due to the size of the district and all the traveling that students do in the city.

  3. jjf

    The risk of kids suffering severe harm from COVID-19 or spreading it is low. 

    Says who?  And what evidence will change your mind?

  4. Jason

    >And then there is Owen’s post. Flat out LYING about kids not spreading or transferring the virus.

    I read his post here… I don’t see that.  Can you quote it please?   If not, then I think the adults in the room know who is is “Flay out LYING”, and it’s not Owen.

    >The 2nd one is some sort of study that LITERALLY says that there is not enough evidence on how susceptible children are to spread the virus as there isn’t enough data on it. Just that they are a lower risk for long term harm themselves.

    That’s a great reason to not close schools.  Not having evidence is not evidence to keep schools closed.  That’s likely the reversal of their guidance – more so than as you ascribe to President Trump’s whim.

    >And the final link is actually the most logical one.

    And your dismissal of that vast amount of evidence with your opinion on the reactions of the two country’s citizens shows your bias.  We can no dismiss your opinion on this going forward.   Thanks.

     

  5. jonnyv

    Correction… The link is in reference to a school DISTRICT. Not a single school. But the link should have tipped everyone off.

  6. Randall Flagg

    A few articles/studies on something that has been studied for less than a year mean the science is settled?  Really?

    Reminds me when anti-vaxxers said the science was settled after Andrew Wakefield’s.

    Or when the Catholic Church said the science was settled and the sun revolved around the earth.

    Also studies in other countries do not necessarily translate to the U.S.  In other countries there was much more voluntary compliance than in the U.S.  Also what measures put in place lead to these study results?  Are these same measures being done in every school district in the U.S.?  Unless the same measures are put in place in the U.S., both inside and outside school as well as in society in general, the results may not translate to U.S. schools.

  7. Jason

    >Jason, did you not read this part… “The risk of kids suffering severe harm from COVID-19 or spreading it is low.” This has ZERO basis in science or reality.

    I quoted you johnny, for a reason.

    >Flat out LYING about kids not spreading or transferring the virus.

     

    You then quoted Owen, he did not say “NOT SPREADING OR TRANSFERRING”.  If you’re going to accuse someone of lying, you should be accurate before you do.   Else you’re the liar.  The rest of what you’ve said, dismissed… liars don’t get my time.

  8. MjM

    JohnBoy screams and hides under the bed: “ You could be like this school [district] and close down after 6 days.”

    The district isn’t closed. And those numbers you (and the LeftStream media) are squealing about are those being forced into quarantine, not infected. And there is a reason why the quarantine is being forced and why that ‘massive’ number is being trumpeted.

    In a district of 42,309 students and 4,900 staff, a total of 31 students and 7 teachers have tested positive. An infection rate of 0.08%. Georgia’s total infection rate is 1.9%, The US stands at about 1.56%. (Positives\total population). As such, being in school in Georgia is 23.75 times safer than not being in school.

    There is no indication that any of those positives are the result of attending the schools. Given a grand total of six days of school, it is impossible to claim anyone became positive at the school.

    And as usual (again, there is a reason) there is no information divulged about what type of tests were given, and how many, if any, are symptomatic and/or to what degree.

  9. Mar

    There will be more kids killed outside of school than those killed by the Chinese virus.
    Those are facts.
    Woll some kids get the Chinese virus?
    Yes.
    Will kids get the mumps, chicken pox, SARS, colds, the flu, measles and other contagious diseases?
    Of course.
    So, it’s time to open the schools.
    And if teachers don’t want to teach, then it’s time to get a new job.
    Many of whom have no skills to work in the private sector.

  10. jjf

    Mar, can kids bring it home to ma, pa and grandma?

  11. Le Roi du Nord

    “Those are facts”. Are they?

  12. MjM

    Nazi Nort remains ignorant:  ” Those are facts”. Are they?

    Yes, they are.   You could look it up, numbnutz.

    Georgia 2018 deaths, age 0-14:

    Homicide  30

    Suicide 20

    Traffic accidents 46

    Drownings 34

    Other injuries  79

    Influenza and pneumonia  12

    Georgia CCPVirus deaths 2020, age 0-17:   2

     

  13. MjM

    And here is the leading dumbass at the WI DNR:

    MADISON – The head of the Department of Natural Resources is telling employees to wear face masks on teleconferences — even when they’re not around others and at no risk of spreading the coronavirus.

    Natural Resources Secretary Preston Cole reminded employees in a July 31 email that Gov. Tony Evers’ mask order was going into effect the next day. That means every DNR employee must wear a mask while in a DNR facility, noted Cole, an appointee of the Democratic governor.

    “Also, wear your mask, even if you are home, to participate in a virtual meeting that involves being seen — such as on Zoom or another video-conferencing platform — by non-DNR staff,” Cole told his employees. “Set the safety example which shows you as a DNR public service employee care about the safety and health of others.”

    ~sniff!~   I am SO relieved public service employee Preston cares.

  14. dad29

    1)  JohnnnnyV:  please keep your kid/s at home.  Reading your endless whining about OTHER people’s kids is ……..well……are you really KarenV?

    2)  Saw a friend whose wife is in Da Union in another suburban district.  She’s thinking the teachers/administration will close down her district in about 6 days.

    They are determined to prevail.  We’ll see what the parents think of that.

  15. jjf

    Anyone:  Can kids bring it home to ma, pa and grandma?  And to Dad29?

  16. dad29

    Yep.

    So what?

  17. jjf

    That’s the spirit, Dad29!  Take the death cult into your heart!

  18. MHMaley

    Just don’t take your kids to Dairy Queen in Jackson
    after school .

    It appears on the Washington county Health Department web site as having a covid case(s) ?

  19. Mar

    Gee, jjf, the kids also brought home colds, chicken pox, mumps, measles, SARs, Swine flu and other diseases home to the family.
    What’s your point?

  20. jjf

    MHM, who runs that Jackson DQ?

    Mar, you’re a bit behind, there are vaccines that cover many of those.  And colds don’t kill the olds quite as well as this virus.  You’re so brave!  Why not run right out and catch it and bring it home?

  21. Le Roi du Nord

    jjf:

    Don’t confuse mar with facts, reality, and common sense. He gets really grumpy and starts calling the smart folks names.

  22. dad29

    the kids also brought home colds, chicken pox, mumps, measles, SARs, Swine flu and other diseases home to the family.
    What’s your point?

    Jiffy never has a point, and LeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeRoy–still short $6K due to “theft”—-cannot respond to common sense and logic.

    This is too easy.

  23. jjf

    Dad29, what do you remember about polio?

  24. dad29

    That I had it.

  25. jjf

    I’m sorry to hear that.

    It seems like today’s virus might have lasting effects for people who get it.  Sure, some get the sniffles, some a painful flu-like illness for a week or two, others are tossed into hospital, but others die.

  26. dad29

    Speculation is your forte, Jiffster?  “Might”  “effects”  “lasting”……..all are varying degrees of weasel.  And as CDC is just beginning to admit, “death from Covid” is not necessarily so.

    Realistically, it’s “death from old age complicated by effects of heart disease, overweight, diabetes, and Covid’ (in any order you like).

  27. jjf

    Well, heck, if it’s only going to affect people with varying degrees of pre-existing conditions, screw them!

  28. dad29

    Well……..if they are old with co-morbidities, they have a MUCH better chance of survival if they are not in New York, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania, where the Governors are determined to cut their losses paying for nursing-home care.

  29. jjf

    What’s MHMaley talking about here, claiming COVID at a Dairy Queen in Jackson?

  30. Jason

    TOPIC CHANGE!

  31. jjf

    Original post is about coronavirus.

    Spin the wheel – now we’re talking about neck beards.

  32. Jason

    Try to pay attention Johnny, I know technology is hard, but please try. No one mentioned neck beard until you…TOPIC CHANGE 2.

  33. Mar

    “Sure, some get the sniffles, some a painful flu-like illness for a week or two, others are tossed into hospital, but others die.”
    Just like any other disease.

  34. jjf

    Mar, what’s an exponent?

    Jason, I trim mine several times a week, probably according to a guideline I saw once upon a time.  Trim up the neck two fingers above the Adam’s apple.  No neck beard.  Why do you keep talking about neck beards?  Insults about appearance make your arguments stronger, make you feel more powerful?  Are you feeling threatened or unsafe?

  35. Jason

    >Mar, what’s an exponent?

    Oh you want to get back to science? How many Americans have contracted Covid? How many have died from it? Do your numbers exclude the exceptions such as what you completely ignored earlier such as the State of Washington counting gunshot victims as Covid deaths? I thought you were logic, facts, science. Instead you want to lead with your feelings about Covid.

  36. Jason

    Hey Mar, before you answer what an exponent is, we should find out if jjf knows what a denominator is. Remember back in March, he dismissed the denominator- it didn’t matter to anything. If the denominator doesn’t matter, how could the exponent? If an actual count of the numerator also doesn’t matter, how could the exponent?

    Hell, how can one even define the exponent if the numerator or denominator are unknown.

    Only Johnny would ask what he did.

  37. jjf

    Jason, you sure do like it when I pay attention to you, and sure do get agitated when I don’t.

    Go ahead, use the denominator and the numerator on those Washington gunshot numbers, and tell me what you get.  Is it significant?

    Let me know when you posted your real name, LinkedIn, and Reddit handle, and then we can estimate whether I’ve had more semesters of college math than you have.

  38. Jason

    Doesn’t bother me either way Johnny, I’ll correct you whether you respond or not. It’s a lot of work, but when its so easy and fun, its enjoyable.

    So why the sudden focus on an unknown exponent? You were all hyped up in March about the denominator not being important. Do we know the denominator now? Do we know the numerator now?

    More semesters might just mean having to retake some classes, hardly evidence of anything, Bookshelf.

  39. jjf

    Point me to something I said here in March and we can discuss it.  Until then, it’s not as fun to discuss your memory.

    Come on, Jason, tell us all about yourself.  Why not?

  40. Jason

    Back track from your own statements. Not proud of them now are you? So what is the denominator? The numerator? How many Americans have had Covid? How many have died from it? Can we also exclude the people who died in Hospice in IL from that number? The numbers are shut as we have said since March, so you don’t get to use numbers now.

  41. Mar

    Bvc ccx

  42. Mar

    “Bvc ccx”
    Don’t ask.
    A dog actually posted it.

  43. jjf

    Jason, I asked you to pick a statement and then we could talk about it.  In what way shape or form does that mean I’m back-tracking?  I suspect if you went back to what I actually said in March, it’s all on-target and prescient.

  44. jjf

    Mar, this explains a lot about your previous posts.

  45. Jason

    So what is the denominator? The numerator? How many Americans have had Covid? How many have died from it? Can we also exclude the people who died in Hospice in IL from that number? The numbers are shut as we have said since March, so you don’t get to use numbers now.

  46. Mar

    “whether I’ve had more semesters of college math than you have.”
    An educated idiot: An Educated Idiot is a person that went to college, but is dumber than a rock. The Educated Idiot feels like he/she is smart, but they screw up everything they get involved in. They have a hard time getting dressed, driving a car, or eating. And they lots of participation trophies.

  47. jjf

    You tell ’em, Mar!  Your ignorance is just as valid as my knowledge!

    Jason, I mentioned exponents not because of numerators and denominators, but because of the concept of rapid growth.  Can you see why Mar’s “Just like any other disease” made little sense?

  48. Mar

    jjf, funny.
    Except you were wrong on almost everything about the Chinese virus.
    But hey, continue to cheer for deaths.
    You know,the dead taking one for the Biden/Harris team.

  49. jjf

    Mar, show me.  Show me where I was wrong.  Otherwise we’re just arguing about your memories, right?  Woof!

    Deaths?  There are deaths?  There’s deaths every day, what’s unusual about this virus?  It’s just like anything else, like lightning strikes and people killed by cows.

  50. Jason

    >Jason, I mentioned exponents not because of numerators and denominators, but because of the concept of rapid growth.  

    There’s still time to get some more college semesters of math in, you’re not too old.

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