Because of COVID-19, many families are searching for online schools as an alternative to traditional schools for their children. Ideal School is an online interactive, bilingual (Spanish & English) elementary school. Since the appearance of the Coronavirus in Wuhan, China, the world has collapsed in the face of a disease that has infected hundreds of thousands and killed thousands of people just along in the Asian country. We have all debated during the last month regarding the measures we must take to prevent it or the duties that the state must fulfill to protect us but we have forgotten a very important aspect: education.

In this sense, we, Ideal School, take a part of our time to answer a concern that you probably have in mind…

What is the role of schools in the fight regarding the emergence of deadly viruses?

To understand the seriousness of the matter, we must talk about numbers. According to various media outlets, by February 25 of the current year, only 57 cases of COVID-19 in the US had been confirmed. All these people were evacuated on a cruise to Japan to spend their quarantine period. So far, the government has managed to handle the situation but what we must understand is that the real problem lies in the spread of the virus.

Are we even aware of how important this is? The United States constitutes a bridge of commerce and international relations between hundreds of countries throughout the planet, which means that the virus will not be contained within its territory. In fact, the virus has now infected more than 1,200,000 people worldwide and has killed nearly 69,000. These figures are alarming, especially if we consider that cases multiply daily.

Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases commented: “As more and more countries experience community spread, successful containment at our borders becomes harder and harder” and this is the real alarm we are facing.

The outbreak and the spread of the virus are inevitable. And our life will change because of it. So, what should we do? Messonnier urged families, schools, businesses, and communities to prepare. And, although for many it sounds exaggerated, this is the first step that we must take to be able to counteract the negative effects of an epidemic that we can hardly stop.

“The disruption of daily life might be severe,” Messonnier stated. Schools will close, businesses will be affected, there will be much fewer people working, shopping centers will not provide services, among many other aspects.

That is why we must pause a moment to think…

What will happen to my children’s education?

In 2009, when the H1N1 virus outbreak happened, a large number of schools closed their doors and implemented measures to ensure the education of their students. This is precisely what the authorities and representatives of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention want us to take into consideration.

We must be prepared. In case of a massive expansion, we must do everything possible to safeguard our integrity and, for this, we cannot neglect education.

“These are things that people need to start thinking about now. I should think about what I would do for childcare if schools or daycare centers closed,” Messonnier said, claiming that, as a health professional, she also cares about the welfare of their children.

What can schools do?

In addition to being a place where children and adolescents can be informed about the current situation and everything they need to know about the current Coronavirus, all educational entities must design plans and strategies that help preserve the education of their students. Among the options are online learning methods or “tele-schooling”

The role of schools is not only related to information. They also have a moral duty with their students, they should help them raise awareness about universal extension problems, such as deadly viruses, and encourage them to take precautions to prevent infection. Each school must ensure the education of its students and provide them with the necessary support so that they can continue to grow personally.