GHAPS Covid policies were extremely detrimental to the education and the mental health of children. Although some students may have struggled with anxiety and depression during recent years, mental health issues skyrocketed during Covid. Fear driven anxiety became prominent. Children fell behind in education due to quarantines. Speech issues rose steeply in young children because masks did not allow students to get verbal cues from facial features, and scheduling inconsistencies coupled with constant cancellations of extra-curricular events was devastating to student mental health. Throughout the shutdowns, students, teachers and parents were continually raising concerns regarding these issues. Unfortunately, these concerns fell on deaf ears.
District leaders looked to State and Federal agencies for guidance. After all, only $17 million of district funding comes from local sources whereas $55 million comes from State and Federal sources. Our elected officials chose to answer to those who provided funding as opposed to the children and parents who received their services. As an additional insult, GHAPS was the final district in the county to give up masking, long after some of the others ceased the dubious policy.
Today test scores comparing schools and their policies during Covid are making this more and more clear. This story '“What the Shocking Nation’s Report Card Scores Reveal About Catholic Schools” is just one example.
Here are some comments parents made on surveys when Covid protocols were in place.
“The district could grow in reevaluating what is truly best for our kids’ education- is it really putting a 5 year old in a mask with tape lines around their table that they cannot cross so that they cannot interact with their peers? These kids are afraid they will die if they take their masks off - an environment of fear is not one where learning is taking place. Thank you for giving the choice of at home learning for parents who do not feel safe with their kids at school, but for those of us who chose to send our kids in to school let them be social, not learn social skills by their teacher reading off a second step card.”
“The back and forth with Covid policies was terrible for mental health of kids.”
“Why couldn't the fourth graders do basketball? Other districts have figured it out for the younger kids.”
“The school allowed Covid protocols to trump what is best physically, socially and emotionally for our kids. Talking with my child’s pediatrician masks at the elementary level are doing more harm than good, as the kids are touching their faces more often and are like the rest of us aren’t trained in proper PPE wear. My children with speech concerns now cannot see mouths to help them form words correctly, so they aren’t receiving the services they need and are behind in skills. My kids have increased anxiety to the point where medication is warranted to help them with the effects of Covid on their lack of predictable schooling and the lack of peer relationships due to “social distancing” and being kept in a taped off area in their room not being allowed to interact with their peers. My children have shown a lack of academic growth as compared with other years and are behind in reading.”
“Understanding that seniors are feeling upset about all of the things they are missing and I felt that last years seniors were recognized a lot for all of the sacrifices they are having and this year it is not mentioned and no communication to the parents about prom, graduation or anything. Which leaves me thinking that it isn't a priority.”
“I have seen the school place the health and wellness of adults above the needs of the kids. Kids were placed in masks and kept segregated even though their risk for Covid is extremely minimal. The schools ignored the social needs of the kids, the physical needs and their need of consistent in person learning. Masks and other protocols have resulted in socially behind children who struggle with recognizing emotions, facial cues and phonics. Children were scared of dying and told that they would kill grandma if they took their mask off at school (yet they could do just that at Meijer.). I have seen focus on equity and inclusion where students can be anything they want to be…including cats and dogs. I have seen teachers encourage self exploration, to the point where kids are confused and don’t even know what gender they are (at an age where it’s hard enough find yourself, now they need to decide if they want to be a he, she, they, it or even be barked at for affirmation). I have seen surveys by teachers asking if they should call you something different when talking to parents. I have seen compensation for lack of growth during the school year by offering summer school. Why are so many kids not meeting grade level during the time given?”
“The heightened focus on health safety has actually begun to have a negative effect on students over the past 2 years. The soc/emotional wellness of our kiddos, from K on up to 12th grade, is fragile at best due to inconsistent instruction (virtual, quarantine, etc.), emphasis on physical symptoms (at the expense of belonging and inclusion), and emphasis on cultural issues over and above academic needs. Having subbed in almost all of your buildings this year, I have seen a profound relaxing of curriculum goals due to the endless additional requirements on our teachers in the above-mentioned areas.”
We are thankful that Covid is behind us, but we must never forget how and why this happened. This must never happen again. Grand Haven, we must work towards local funding of education. We must reduce our dependence on money from state and federal government sources and the loss of autonomy it brings because of the strings attached. If we continue to accept big government money, big government will continue to control our schools.