Our children have dealt with so many "new normals" this year. The inability to come to school without something covering the majority of their face. The strict protocols of what they can touch and when they can go anywhere. Most of all, the requirements of only being allowed to be around a small group within the school at all times. It has hurt them enough already. The emotional, physical, and intellectual scarring we are doing to this next generation is not only incredibly harmful, but also unbelievably hard to come back from. I have two young daughters in the school district. You would think time off from school to study at home would be celebrated. That is the furthest thing from the truth. They enjoy interacting with their friends, learning in person with their peers. They love the atmosphere that comes with school, and without it they feel punished and incredibly confused. This shutdown would have reverberating effects throughout the community. The parents of every one of these children will have to figure out how on earth to allow for their children to effectively learn, while still trying to keep their jobs. I continue to hear, the solution cannot be more detrimental than the problem itself. That is exactly where we are right now. We cannot let our children down.