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Closing schools due to the coronavirus pandemic makes sense

Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and other states have closed schools to help slow the spread of COVID-19

MEMPHIS, Tennessee —

As coronavirus cases continue to mount, the decision by Mid-South governors to close public schools for the remainder of the school year is the absolute right call. School buildings – including classrooms, cafeterias and hallways – are some of the last places you’d think of – to practice social distancing.

And while medical experts agree that the coronavirus has not stricken children nearly to the degree it has older adults, young people can still be carriers. And could spread the virus to others – including loved ones at home.

So shutting down schools with less than six weeks to go in the semester – makes perfect sense. The one challenge that it presents is that thousands of children who are already considered at risk for academic success will likely fall farther behind. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves acknowledged as much yesterday – in announcing that schools in the Magnolia State will remain closed. The governor emphasized that distance learning would continue. But that involves the kind of technology that many students don’t have – and cannot afford. And Reeves conceded that some school districts are better than others in reaching children through technologically advanced distance learning.

This is just one more example of how the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the many inequities in our society – racially, socially, geographically and economically. It underscores how important it is to make equal opportunities a reality everywhere – in good times as well as bad. And that’s my point of view. I’m Otis Sanford, for Local 24 News.

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