The purpose of this petition is to regain our rights to choose, as parents and tax payers in Lancaster, SC, to send our children to school utilizing the traditional classroom setting.

In July, the Lancaster County School Board informed the residents of Lancaster County that we would have 2 options from which to choose for the beginning of the  2020-2021 school year.  The 2 options available were face to face learning for 2 days only and 3 days virtual learning or full 5 days virtual. No option was given for a 5 day face to face learning even though Governor McMaster requested this for students. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “We recognize that children learn best when physically present in the classroom. But children get much more than academics at school. They also learn social and emotional skills at school, get healthy meals and exercise, mental health support and other services that cannot be replicated online…”.  Additionally, the current AAP recommendation for screen time per day is limited to 1 hour or less.  Virtual learning would far exceed this medical recommendation. 

The AAP also strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school. The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is already evidence of the negative impacts on children because of school closures in the spring of 2020. Lengthy time away from school and associated interruption of supportive services often results in social isolation, making it difficult for schools to identify and address important learning deficits as well as child and adolescent physical or sexual abuse, substance use, depression, and suicidal ideation. This, in turn, places children and adolescents at considerable risk of morbidity and, in some cases, mortality. Beyond the educational impact and social impact of school closures, there has been substantial impact on food security and physical activity for children and families.

Many families require both parents working outside of the home.  Virtual learning is not conducive to this kind of family structure as neither parent would be available to provide instruction.

Some children live in abusive situations where time spent at school is their only safety and reprieve.  Many others receive their only substantial meal while at school for the day.  Still other students have special needs that only a school setting with the properly trained staff is qualified to provide.  Personally, our children are very unsettled and upset by the decision to eliminate face to face learning; after nearly 5 months, they were looking forward to returning to the classroom.  

Furthermore, we pay hefty taxes for the privilege of being in one of the best school districts in the state of Lancaster, with some of the best teachers.  We, as parents, whether working from home or outside of the home, are not qualified, trained, or educated in the way these teachers are and cannot provide the quality of instruction and education that the classroom setting does.  It is truly detrimental to the children's education experience and will set them back academically, emotionally, and mentally for the coming years.

 For the reasons stated above, we, the Parents, petition to regain our choice of a 5 day face to face learning option for the 2020-2021 school year.