Dylan Yoder
Columnist
With the beginning of school only several days away, it seemed only fitting to do an update article pertaining to what the heck that’s going to look like. With so many different institutions using different approaches to the COVID situation, it can be difficult to understand why some of those approaches exist. K-12 schools appear to be using a more government-issued approach across the board, while colleges instead, attempt to make the vaccine more lucrative to its students. A further in-depth explanation will be listed on the appropriate page, and with that being said, let’s take a look at education structures for the 21-22 school year.
At the high school level, not much has changed. In fact, many school districts are continuing their COVID policies since the fall of last year. In smaller school districts such as Nickerson, Haven, and Moundridge the policies are relatively lax for the beginning of the school year with hopes of it staying that way. ( Masks are recommended, classrooms and other areas are regularly cleaned, and safe health practices are highly regarded. Many larger schools are also retaining the policies just stated, except for Hutchinson, which is taking a more cautious approach to the beginning of the school year with masks being marked as required material for indoor settings. It’s not only large high schools that are being cautious with the beginning of this school year.
Many colleges are following suit to gear up for a very sudden influx of students. For those of you who are college parents, I’m sure you have already dealt with the constant confusion that is dorm move-in day. Furthermore, with COVID regulations in place, it was all the more chaotic. Regardless, as stated previously colleges across the nation are implementing an idea. An idea that will pay college students to get the vaccine. After all, what better to get an indebted young adult’s attention than money. Places like Cowley College, Bethel College, and Hutchinson Community College are all offering these incentives in hopes of creating herd immunity among their students and the campus itself. In addition to this, all colleges are on very high alert for any sudden increase in COVID numbers. As hundreds or even thousands of students flood campus, they’re trying to prevent an outbreak in every way possible, while still having that “college move-in feel” to it.
At the government level, not much has changed policy-wise, save for a number of public announcements via Twitter by the president and vice president. Although there have been bills recently passed by Congress, indirectly linked to education. When I say indirectly I mean it. The $1 trillion infrastructure bill will pave the way for better roads, better transportation, and better lives all around. “This is an investment in the roads and bridges we drive to get out kids to school…” VP Harris said in a recent tweet. Yes, I realize this doesn’t have anything to do with COVID, but too much talk about one thing is unhealthy for any individual in particular.
With that being said, I believe I can speak for everyone when I say, *lets out a massive sigh*. Or at least, that’s how I respond to most news on COVID nowadays. We shouldn’t be angry at one another simply because we believe different things about the whole matter. Rather, we should keep in mind that on the other side of these regulations and policies, are people, who want to keep other people safe. No one is actively trying to deceive you, we’re all humans, we should treat each other as such.
