Attorney Steve Denying that there is an epidemic has so far not done much good. Further denial is only going to keep the number of new cases rising. The only logical way to approach this problem is to follow the science, and if that means we need to make some kind of adjustments, then that is what we need to do. It sucks, but so does catching a potentially debilitating disease...and I would wager that the disease sucks more than missing out on some in-person socializing. Herman Cain decided to pretend this virus wasn't a big deal, and things didn't work out so well for him. We should learn from his mistake and not rush our children into the petri dish out of a foolhardy desire for it to "just be over" when all indications are that it is not, in fact, close to being "over". Let's be honest: all of the available options are terrible. That's the nature of pandemics, though. We just have to pick the least terrible option to maximize our children's safety while trying to preserve as much of their educational opportunities as we can. Make no mistake: no matter what we choose, the kids are going to suffer. The question is really which kind of suffering do we prioritize: the kind where you may fall a little behind where you would normally be in your education, or the kind that can make people you love extremely ill or kill them?

Medical Mom Steve, I appreciate a differing opinion for sure. But I feel your assuming people like myself are willing to send their children to die over socialization. Thats grossly wrong and mislead. Us parents that are advocating for our kids love our children too. They are irreplaceable! But this is why they have offered two option in school or virtual. So why even argue your point. I feel like its political and fear based. So I guess youll do the virtual school? Thats your choice and I respect that. Also to insinuate that some of us parents dont worry about teachers etc.. is dead wrong. Teachers are essential part of this entire world. Our future depends on them. They are no less essential than the doctor treating an illness, or any other essential employee. Id almost go as far as to say they are more important. I suppose we will agree to disagree.

Attorney Steve I'm not sure how many more times this really needs to be explained. The mortality rate is not the issue with this virus; it's the hospitalization rate that is the cause for concern. Even if everyone who got infected lived, if a large enough percentage got sick enough to require hospitalization, then our health care system is overwhelmed. Even those who survive--even young children--can get very, very sick from this. It's not like a flu; it attacks the vascular system as well as the respiratory system and can cause healthy young people--even children--to suffer serious complications like Kawasaki syndrome and even strokes. It's not common, but it's also not rare. Even if those complications don't arise, it still causes kids to get extremely sick. So let's not focus on mortality; the problems with this virus are much broader.

Your willingness to place your child at risk, unfortunately, places other people at risk, as well. That's how epidemics work; if they were easily contained, they would not--by definition--be "epidemics". If we're all in the barn and all smart enough not to throw rocks at the hornets' nest--but one person wants to ignore the danger and knock it down with a stick--we're all going to get stung. The phrase "we are all in this together" is often mistaken for a team cheer....but it's really a warning. As we've seen demonstrated time and again in the last few weeks, foolish decisions made by some individuals affect everyone else.

I'm not saying I'm opposed to in-person classes. I would prefer it; my son has ADHD and it will take a Herculean effort on top of a miracle for him to keep up if he's not physically in a classroom. What I am saying is that if the science says it's safe but only under certain conditions, then we follow those conditions no matter how inconvenient they are. If the science says it's not safe, then we simply don't do it. But make no mistake: we are all in this together, so we don't get to decide on our own if we are going to knock down the hornets' nest.

Medical Mom Attorney Steve very defensive! While you are right with some points such as overwhelming hospitals you are wrong in other areas. Our hospitals in this area were busy, but never overwhelmed. Do you have medical expertise that your profile doesnt state? Currently we are not overwhelmed. I should know as I actually work at one. I dont assume to have all the answers, but my comments are based on actual living this thing out on daily basis. I live it, see it, and yes breath it! I am devastated for families affected. Im certainly willing to change my views at any time based on medical input from a medical professional, or a actual teacher who this is involving. Ill even say Im wrong if warranted. But your accusations are offensive and misguided. I thought this whole group was doing rather quite well expressing their thoughts and concerns. On both sides. We are still a country of free speech and I respect you, as you are entitled to have your opinion but dont judge the rest of us who disagree. Just do your virtual and wait if thats what you chose.

Attorney Steve The fact that we are not overwhelmed locally at the moment doesn't mean we should throw caution to the wind. That could change very quickly. That's the point.

I really don't see where I'm being defensive. In fact, the only person I see being defensive is you.

The problem with "you do your thing and I'll do mine" is that--as I said earlier--we are all in this together. What you do affects other people, so whatever is decided needs to be decided with a consensus and not a cavalier "you do you". I refer you again to the hornets' nest. That's not being offensive or judging people; that's just stating facts.

And, again: I would prefer in-person if we can safely do it...but that's the caveat. We need to let the science give us the best possible grasp of the situation and then proceed based on that information. I hear a lot of "my kids need to be with other kids" as justification for pushing to open up, and that's not a very wise basis upon which to make these kinds of decisions. We have to decide as a community how we deal with it and then follow that approach as a community to make sure it is done right.

Medical Mom Attorney Steve I guess Im just wondering what your point is? They are offering virtual. Some of the other parents including myself are suggesting they add more days at the high school level. Im not defensive other than you keep insinuating that us parents that hope for more days are speaking out of turn and leading our kids and educators to their demise.

I will be ok with the two days if thats what we get, but I think we can do more. Thats my view. If your view is to virtual why keep pushing.

Attorney Steve My point is that if people push the school to let anyone go in before it is safe to do so, it puts all of us at risk. It doesn't matter if I have the option to have my kids do school virtually if you go to work, get infected, spread the infection to your kid, and then your kid spreads it to twenty other people in the classroom. That's the point. I know your next response: "But if you're kid isn't at school, he won't get it." Maybe, maybe not....but that's not really the issue. It still perpetuates the spread, which will make this whole mess linger on for years. I am as anxious as the next person for us to open up--seriously, my income is down by almost two-thirds of what it was this time last year because of all of the closures, and I don't qualify for any kind of unemployment--but sending people in to places like schools too soon is going to cause us to continuously backside.

Honestly, my initial post was more of a response to the comments about people wanting to just open the schools up and not really take any measures. (And I see more of those comments have followed.) But the conversation has kind of drifted into one of the side issues: why it's important to have a plan that we all follow as a community. We, especially as a small community, can't afford to have someone knocking over the hornets' nest. As much as some people want to claim all of the rights and none of the responsibilities that come with them, we're all in this together. What one of us does affects all of us. If we have another big outbreak, we might end up with another "lockdown" or more restrictions on businesses or whatever else becomes necessary to get a handle on it again. It's not about you or me; it's about all of us. The school has to keep that in mind, and as parents we also have to keep that in mind.

Considering the Rules of:

Argumentation, what things is Attorney Steve doing correctly in stating his side of the issue? Did he do anything wrong?

Considering the Rules of

Argumentation, what things is Medical mum doing correctly in stating his side of the issue? Did he do anything wrong?