1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. (In this article, 1st and 2nd paragraphs). List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)

2. a) For how long this school year did New York City public high schools meet in-person?
b) When did they return to all remote learning?
c) When will NYC middle and high schools re-open for in-person classes?

3. a) Who decides when the NYC schools will resume?
b) How did Mayor de Blasio respond when asked about resuming live classes?
c) What do you think of de Blasio’s response?

4. Besides missing out on playing sports with friends for the enjoyment of it, what negative impact will missing a season have on serious athletes?

5. On Febuary 3, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told reporters during a White House news briefing on Covid-19 that teachers do not need to get vaccinated against Covid-19 before schools can safely reopen. She said, “There is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen and that safe reopening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated. Vaccinations of teachers is not a prerequisite for safely reopening schools.”

Students, parents and others who support re-opening schools, as well as resuming school sports in those cities/districts/states that have so far not done so, assert that the mayors/governors will not give “permission” to resume in-person classes due to political reasons.

(Two days after Let Them Play Michigan filed suit against Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration for prohibiting winter sports, the Governor backed down and authorized winter school sports to begin. The parent/student coalition’s attorney, Peter Ruddell, said, “Unfortunately, there is no other place for citizens to appeal a decision that restricts the parents’ and student athletes’ ability to pursue a key component of their public education.”)

What do you think? With masks, social distancing, and other safety precautions put in place, as well as the distribution of vaccines and the newly developed therapeutics, should schools re-open? Should the districts that don’t allow school sports continue to do so? Explain your answer.