Within the span of a few days, PHS students received two emails: one regarding the third confirmed COVID case at our school, and the other outlining a new “In-Person Schedule.” This plan will implemented at Deering High School and Casco Bay High School as well. We think this decision is premature and unsafe. Increasing the number of students who attend school each day is not a smart move right now.

Maine is currently experiencing a spike in cases. Numbers are increasing faster than anywhere in the US. If three people at Portland High School have already tested positive, the current plan is not safe enough. Why would we add more people to the equation? We should not be prioritizing socialization over safety.

Over the holiday break, many families will come into contact with people from other areas. While some families may be taking extra safety precautions, there is no way to ensure that everyone will. After Thanksgiving, there will be a greater likelihood that students will be carrying COVID-19 into school. This should not be a risk we are willing to take.

Last spring, schools were shut down with fewer cases in the city than we currently have at PHS. We should not make sweeping decisions that will affect hundreds of staff and students because we are emotionally tired of this pandemic. We need to base our decisions on scientific facts and community — specifically student —input.

We have heard various students and parents advocating for in-person learning. However, the district needs to consider students’ learning needs over their wants. We all want things to be normal again, but that’s impossible right now. The freshman experience has been radically altered; group work is more challenging, students have to stay six feet apart, and classes are short. Going back to school will not change much in terms of our education. Also, no matter what, some students will be in-person and some will be online. This will create an uneven playing field for the student body. This divide will make communication much more difficult than it already is.

Students who are struggling with online learning have the opportunity to utilize Learning Center time. Our personal experience with Learning Center has been productive and crucial to our success this quarter. Students who want more in-person time should be utilizing this block, not making it a requirement for others. If made required, it would not contribute to the quality of our education. It would simply create a higher risk for an outbreak in our community.

Anxiety is high right now. But we should not be making students choose between online and in-person. We believe it is unsafe to bring students back into the classroom, but also that it is unfair for teachers. Teachers are already working tirelessly to make virtual learning work. Their hard work and dedication deserves to be recognized. Bringing hundreds of kids back into classrooms will not solve any problems, it will only create more. Going back into school will not eliminate the anxieties people are facing during this pandemic. Students and teachers should not have to choose between going into school or keeping their families safe. 

It is a privilege to not worry about the dangers of getting sick; which is something high-risk students and teachers have to worry about every day. We need to put the well being of our community above the desire for normalcy. The struggles of online learning are very real but it is something we must adapt to. Learning Center should be kept open to those who need or want it; not made a requirement. We have to stop the spread of this pandemic and keep our community safe.