b'She is concerned that some students may have it, notas a teachers aide at an alternative school in Longs, report it because reporting it is not required, and sheSC.Initially,whenschoolsshutdownin-person may end up taking the viruslearning, Chestnut says that backhomeandinfectingshe was able to be at home, herfamily.Heradvicebutthisyearshereturned toschooladministratorstotheclassroom.Making andpoliticiansisthattheytheadjustmenttovirtual shouldbeconcernedaboutlearningwasachallenge everyoneshealthandgeteven with her being at home thestudentspointofviewwith her children, Chestnut about returning.says. She admits there were someassignmentsthatshe Imayasmom,Kendralynnwasnotabletohelpher Gore,isbothaparentandchildrenwith.Chestnut a teacher.She is in schooldescribedhowexcited fulltimewithstudentsherchildrenwerewhen cominginonalternatingtheywereabletoreturnto days.Fortunately,Goresschool for two days a week husband,whoisalsoaafterbeingoutofschool schooladministrator,workssincelastyear.Shesays from home and can monitorthatshefeelscomfortable some.Evenwiththisshewiththemgoingtwodays, indicatedthattheymustbutnotfivedaysperweek rely on their two daughters,becausetheclasssize ahighschoolerandawouldincrease.Inher middleschooler,toworkopinion,itwouldbeeven independentlywhenheismoredifficulttoadhereto busywithwork.However,socialdistancingandmask sheexplainedthatteacherswearingguidelinesand aregoodaboutsendingthere would be a greater risk email alerts if students missof contracting COVID 19.class and she can monitor their work online during the day to see how they are doing.Gore says she alsoWhilestateleadershipispushingforreturningto textsperiodicallyduringthedaytomakesuretheyschool five days per week immediately, Cheryl Harris are doing their work and not on their phones.Whileemphaticallydeclaresthatitwouldposeamajor Gore admits that she would prefer that they were inthreat to students, teachers and staff.According to schoolfulltime,shedoesnotsupportreturningtoHarris, elected leaders should be reminded that they school five days a week with the high positivity ratetook an oath to protect and serve and their number in SC.In the last two weeks three schools in myonepriorityshouldbetokeepstudentssafe,then districthadtoshutdownandeveryonequarantineto educate in a nurturing environment. It is not up because students are still getting sick with the virus,to the educators alone Harris explained.She firmly Gore says.Gore agrees with her daughter that thebelieves that it does take a villageeducators, parents, number one priority must be the health and safety ofpoliticiansandcommunitymembers.Some,she students, teachers and staff. continued, want to skip the village and put it all on theteachers,butwecantgetthroughCOVID19 Too Soon for Five Days a Week without everyone doing their part. Dana Chestnut is the mother of a middle schooler, highschoolerandcollegestudent.Shealsoworks(Article date February 2021)26IMARA'