Schools Told to Prepare for Bird Flu

[Guest Guest]

Schools Told to Prepare for Bird Flu

 

Mar 22 7:48 AM US/Eastern

 

By BEN FELLER

AP Education Writer

 

 

WASHINGTON

 

 

The nation's schools, recognized incubators of respiratory diseases among children, are being told to plan for the possibility of an outbreak of bird flu.

 

Federal health leaders say it is not alarmist or premature for schools to make preparations, such as finding ways to teach kids even if they've all been sent home.

 

School boards and superintendents have gotten used to emergency planning for student violence, terrorism or severe weather. Pandemic preparation, though, is a new one.

 

They have a lot to think over, top government officials said Tuesday.

 

Who coordinates decisions on closing schools or quarantining kids? If classes shut down for weeks, how will a district keep kids from falling behind? Who will keep the payroll running, or ease the fear of parents, or provide food to children who count on school meals?

 

"Those are the kinds of issues that I don't think people have spent a lot of time talking about yet," said Stephen Bounds, director of legal and policy services for the Maryland Association of School Boards.

 

"But if New Orleans and Katrina taught us nothing else, it taught us you need to be thinking about things ahead of time - and preparing for the worst," Bounds said.

 

The urgency is about bird flu, the name for the deadly H5N1 strain of the avian flu.

 

It remains primarily a contagious bird disease. Typically spread from direct contact with contaminated birds, it has infected more than 170 people and killed roughly 100. None of those cases occurred in the United States, but officials say bird flu is likely to arrive this year in birds.

 

As outbreaks have hit Africa, Asia and Europe, officials have launched campaigns to educate the public. To help stop the spread of the disease, farmers have killed tens of millions of chickens and turkeys.

 

Experts fear the virus could change into a form that passes easily among people.

 

In North Carolina on Tuesday, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings joined Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt to encourage schools to prepare. Spellings said schools must be aware that they may have to close their buildings - or that their schools may need to be used as makeshift hospitals, quarantine sites or vaccination centers.

 

The government has created checklists on preparation and response steps, specialized for preschools, grade schools, high schools and colleges. The dominant theme is the need for coordination among local, state and federal officials.

 

Some of the advice is common sense, like urging students to wash their hands and cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze to keep infection from spreading. Other steps would take schools considerable time to figure out, such as legal and communication issues.

 

"I don't think that the issue of bird flu has resonated yet," said Reg Weaver, president of the National Education Association, which represents many of the country's teachers.

 

Weaver praised the federal government for providing guidance that can be plugged into a school district's crisis plan. But the sudden urgency on bird flu, he said, should not steal attention from the daily struggles schools face, like trying to keep their classrooms safe.

 

Children age 5 to 18 tend to be the biggest spreaders of flu viruses in the community, experts say. Schools may be ordered to close to prevent spreading the disease.

 

In Massachusetts, school administrators are considering using an automated phone bank to announce homework assignments and update parents. Another plan would use the Internet for communication between students and their teachers.

 

But those plans are limited, and many places have had budget cuts in technology, said Tom Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. "I don't think we're anywhere near having a systemic way of approaching this," he said.

 

Any school closing may not be for only a day or two. A shutdown would probably have to last a month or longer to be effective, said flu specialist Ira Longini, a faculty member at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle.

 

"The school itself plays a big role," said Longini. "It's just a massive mixing ground for respiratory illness."

 

At the college level, the American Council on Education, a higher education umbrella group, has alerted thousands of college presidents about the need to prepare for bird flu.

 

Federal health leaders have advised each college to establish a pandemic response team and plan for outbreak scenarios that could close or quarantine their campuses.

 

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/03/22/D8GGKFE00.html

 

 

 

[CathyP]

Our school system has done nothing to get ready for the possibility of schools shutting down. We have a great number of inner city schools that can't even get a hold of parents when they need to, I can't imagine these parents would take the initiative to have their children study during a quarantine. There will be a great number of kids that will fall through the cracks once the schools are open. I have been looking into getting my own curriculum ready for my kids. When schools are back open, they will be farther ahead for it. I will fight the system if I have to, because I refuse to let the parents that won't do anything hold my children down just so the kids are on the same playing field when school resumes.So I'm wondering how the no child left behind will play into all of this. They will have to start retaining children again.

[Mother]

I'm glad they are finally getting this out and about but a couple of things comes to mind with this.

 

One, If schools decide to continue educating children via internet what happens to the internet servers and providers? The traffic would be extremely great if you consider the massive numbers of people on the net at that point anyway because they are quarantined or isolatiing themselves. Add internet schooling to that and it would be disasterous unless the providers and servers are prepared for it. I'm not sure mine is, is yours? Mrs S could be very distant for a lot of us.

 

And two, ditto with the phone system. With daily calls from schools to all students, the phone system could be down for even emergency usage.

 

There is not only the problem of meals to those children who depend on it but what about caregivers. If school shuts down but the parents still feel it necessary to work, or are key workers, what happens to the kids. Do we have a whole country full of home-a-loners? Babysitting services could be at a premium and even at a costly premium if people take advantage of it and on top of that, the children would then be just as exposed to viruses as if they WERE in school. Will they shut down day care centers also? Probably.

 

I suspect that most of the Mrs. S members are preparing to homeschool or otherwise care for their children but how many out there are totally unprepared for this possibility. So many have not even HEARD of the bird flu let alone know what all is happening within the government to try to prepare for it.

 

The depth of this pandemic's possibilities are almost unfathonable.

[twilap]

My dh is a school teacher. We have been talking and trying to figure out what would work if anything. Even though the internet and phone calls would be nice, I don't see that it would work. We are not sure what would yet either. I could see them cancel schools for a month or so and use their break time to make it up after the fear or concern is over. For Instance, teaching during summer break, Christmas break, etc. to make up the time. But, if the closer is much longer than that, I am not sure what they will do. His district hasn't said anything as of yet.

[Mother]

My Mom had a good thought on this. Why not use the Local Television Stations, if there is still electricity, to post assignments. There could be phone numbers for home work help also and the children would send their homework somewhere to be graded and for comments. That might be a hardship for some school kids, especially those with learning disabillities or those who would not have parental help, but it would be better than nothing for a lot of kids.

 

Of course that would mean that each child would have to have their books home with them and would have to have a supply of paper and pencils or even the actual tests sent to them perhaps. There would have to be plans made ahead of time but it could work for a lot of schools. It still doesn't help care for those who don't have parents at home and it doesn't feed those that depend on school food, but it's a start.

 

 

 

 

[Mother]

My DD just told me that there was an article in our local paper about the schools preparing for the bird flu. It sounded like there was much of the same info in the article as is in the above. I honestly believe that some in our area are starting to take this seriously finally. Now if we can get people to reallize that they might have to do something on their OWN to get prepared, we'll be lots better off.

 

 

[twilap]

Hey, that is a good idea about the local television. My dh teaches Special Ed (learning handicapped), so I know they would have a tough time, but like you said, most would not. His kids do not have motivation to even attempt to learn (at least a good portion of them) and do not have parents that care. It is so sad.

 

I am going to share this idea with my dh! Thanks!

[CathyP]

T.V. is a great idea, not trying to step on toes, but how would you send your homework. Would the post office still be delivering mail? What about the rural area's that have to drive to get their mail. That would put a whole new spin on the quarantine thing, when do you go out, and when do you stay in.h

[Mother]

I can forsee a problem with the mail also, Patches. Even if there is enough manpower to keep the postal system up and running, I can see germs coming in on every piece of mail. And perhaps going out on homework. I'm sure there will have to be some thinking on this subject but at least it's an option and would take far less toll on the airwaves than internet and phone usage would if you had hundreds of thousands of kids using a computer or phone.

 

We have some of the most inovative minds going on Mrs. S. Let's think about this and see how it could work!

 

 

[shadypines]

To be very candid, I am very uncomfortable with some of the

posts made here.

 

I think that there is a need to look at the teacher when

we discuss this. No doubt the teacher has a family. She/he

might be very busy taking care of their family during an

outbreak of the bird flu. The idea of emailing, calling

or mailing homework during the period of a pandemic,IMO,

is highly unrealistic. If I was torn between taking care

of my family or checking homework and makng lesson plans,

I think you know what would come first.

 

Now, most schools do have a web site where teachers can

post assignments. IF the teacher remains healthy and her

family remains healthy, I see no reason why assignments

could not be placed on the web site. However to ask the

teacher to correct homework durng times of a pandemc

is totally unrealistic.

 

[CathyP]

I have to agree with schoolmarm. No matter how much respect I have for the teachers at my childrens school, I can't see them doing anything, but taking care of there own families. If in fact the 50% mortality rate is going to happen. Think of what they would go thru if they were trying to call a student that has not checked in only to find that they didn't make it.

[shadypines]

Quote:

I have to agree with schoolmarm. No matter how much respect I have for the teachers at my childrens school, I can't see them doing anything, but taking care of there own families. If in fact the 50% mortality rate is going to happen. Think of what they would go thru if they were trying to call a student that has not checked in only to find that they didn't make it.

Oh Patcges, your last statement I have thought about so
much. How do you tell a student that their friend didn't
make it? I have no answer. I just pray
the severity of the scenerio will soften as the pandemic grows closer.

[Synn]

Exactly.. This is why I have been saying we need to be prepared to teach our children at home..Or not at all.. If they are out of school say three months then what? They will probably start right back up where they left off.. For instance if it happened tomorrow.. There's still 3 months left in the school year.. Will your child if you teach them at home be able to advance to the next grade? What about other students in their classes who didn't have the same opportunities? Will the seniors be able to graduate? Or will they have to come back in the fall and finish up those 3 months? I am sorry I know I am rambling.. But this is the sort of thing I am trying to figure out in my head..

[shadypines]

I know if I had children, I would be definitely getting educational preps ready.

[Guest Guest]

hummmmmmmm a teacher getting paid for calling or emailing or running a chatroom class or not getting paid...

 

man that is a tough one! not.

 

A school geting paid for students being educated or not paid for them not being educated?

 

and if all these services are up.. you don't think my kid wouldn't know if one of here friends or classmates died? In a heartbeat!

 

 

 

 

[cartoongirl]

Most teachers will have their own thing to deal with within their own families. IMO, we will be on our own. I would prepare now to teach your kds at home without outside help.

 

For the time being we wait. We do what we can within our comfort zone.

 

Worst case scenero - Personally I think education of our children is going to be the last thing people are going to worry about IF this monster is set loose.

 

I will do what I can to educate my kds, BUT my focus will be on keeping my family healthy and Alive.

[Mother]

These are very valid considerations.

 

I took some time to talk to my two high school aged grand kids and to ask them their opinion of this situation. They are both very responsible young adults and I value their ideas. They suggest that there is no way that any of those suggestions would work for their school and they belong to a reasonably small school system in a farming community.

 

Their take is that the internet would be shut down because of traffic, most being dial up and therefore overtaxing the phone system also. TV would work if there is still electricity and stations running. They felt that their teachers would be willing to handle homework from their homes but that the students themselves would probably not accomplish most of it unless forced by their parents to do so, and that compliance would be very low.

 

They felt that illness would probably take it's toll on most families and that it might be more prudent of the states to allow the school systems to suspend school until such a time that it would be safe for students to return to school. In the mean time they suggested that if parents didn't want their students to fall behind they should take it upon themselves to teach them at home. One of them also suggested that schools would be the ultimate iformation source for parents to become prepared yet they have heard nothing about this at all so far at their school.

 

Additionally, Schools could be used for hospitals, or the kitchens could be used for community food service to supply those who are ill or in need of food as long as there were well people to staff them and supplies coming in. The chance of infections spreading through these foods would have to be addressed but might be better than people starving.

 

I can tell that I will value these young people's input at our frinds/family meeting coming up in April.

 

 

[twilap]

You know, reading about them making schools into hospitals, feeding places, etc. sounds realistic with what honestly could happen. The first place in emergencies to house people, feed people, etc is always a school. So, that could happen. I don't know if they would ask teachers to help with this or not. They might, as they do have emergency plans for other things that involve teachers.

I guess only time will tell, if the BF does become H2H.

 

[kaseyb (Supermom!)]

My children homeschooled, but they did public school a few months. I learned from that experience some details that may help with brainstorming here.

 

First, as much as I appreciate teachers who are dedicated to helping their students, they can't accomplish nearly what a parent can educationally. That is proven statistically and without question. http://www.hslda.org/research/default.asp

 

That's not the purpose of this thread so I won't go there, but for anyone concerned about this it's an important point to take in for encouragement.

 

Secondly, a parent providing a bookcase loaded with good books, encyclopedias, reference guides and a Bible (along with pencils, erasers and paper) will give his child a huge advantage that he probably is not currently enjoying in public school settings. Add to this a parent reading to and talking with her child each day and you've got a recipe hard to beat.

 

Quote:

The Recipe

 

4 cups of prayer and reliance on God

2 cups of parental love and caring

1 cup of daily reading together

1/2 cup of child's time spent exploring and reading

3 tablespoons of time drawing, writing and doing math in the kitchen

1 full teaspoon play and just enjoying being a child

 

Mix all together, stir with a positive attitude and watch God water your olive plants around your table.

[twilap]

Teaberry, in an idealistic world what you have said is true, but remember, not all parents are like those who are on this website. Unfortunately, there are many, many parents out there who are into life for themselves, many who are not educated themselves (and I am not meaning college education), drug addicted, etc. Many of these parents do not know how to deal with their kids, how to even help with homework, much less teach their kids. It really saddens my dh and myself! It's amazing how many parents do not act as parents. Yes, maybe if the bf hits, people will get their priorities straight, but I am afraid that many of these parents will just let their kids do their own thing and not encourage them to read, work on math, etc. They will consider it a "time off." Then when schools start back up, these kids will need to go back and review what they learned previously in order to continue.

 

I admire homeschoolers, and my dh and I have talked that if we had children we would homeschool also, but there is a place for public school teachers and there are many, many parents who do not think that they are the ones that should teach their children (which is a very sad thing in my eyes). They have left the teaching up to the schools.

[kaseyb (Supermom!)]

Deblyn, you're right.

[CathyP]

Deblyn & Teaberry,

My youngest goes to a small neighborhood grade school. I see first hand how 75% of the parents leave the teaching up to the schools. Our PTO has offered special parenting events in the past and the only parents that show up are the same 10-15 parents involved in the PTO. One of the event was on Internet Preditors, I even held a raffle to get parents there. We have 250 kids in our school, 8 of there parents showed up. It's sad to think about this, but out of the parents at my school. I can pick which ones will help there children, and which ones will act like it's another summer break. The parents who choose to help there children will be the minority after all this is over. I have been an involved parent with our elementary for close to 14 years and have made great allies with the staff. As of yet the school system has not started to prepare, but I have been told I would have what I need when the time comes.

Untill then,I pray the school system gets there act together over the summer, and pulls something together.

for our children

[twilap]

Teaberry, I really do hope and pray you are right that parents will step up to the plate and realize what is important if the BF hits (or even if it doesn't).

 

Patches, we see the same thing in our schools here. So, sad, isn't it?