7. January 2022

Volume 3 | Issue 1 January 2022 Dear MES-ites, 2. Schools are not super-spreaders as they are made out to be. Studies have in fact shown the contrary. ‘Happy 2022, Happy for Kids Too' “For instance, a study in Spain looked at data from over 1 million children of all ages in schools and I have borrowed this greeting from an article by found that the R-value (rate of virus spread) is well Bhaskaran Raman in The Hindu of Jan. 25, 2022 less than one for all schoolchildren. Furthermore, titled “The devastating impact of school closure”. the R-value is lower for lower ages, as low as 0.2 Raman is a PhD from the University of California at for pre-primary children. So, the practice of Berkeley and is Professor at the Dept. of Computer shutting Anganwadis and primary schools, which Science and Engineering at IIT, Bombay. I feel that many States have done, is unscientific.” he makes a strong case against closing schools at the slightest provocation and backs up his claims with 3. The belief that schools will be safe only after the science and logic. I feel that the article must be read children are vaccinated defies logic. Some medical by every concerned teacher, parent and school professional support this on the ground that management. So, in this first newsletter of 2022, I unvaccinated children may carry the infection propose to outline the arguments of Raman in the back home to the adults. This raises ethical article referenced above. questions as to why children should be jabbed to protect the adults. “… such a stance is also quite TheArguments for Closing Schools unscientific, as it is known now that the current 1. The first reason given for closing schools is that it COVID-19 vaccines (even boosters) do not prevent infection or transmission. While no one protects children. This is as specious as arguing can argue against a vaccine that is shown to be safe that children and effective for after rigorous trials for children, should not there is no case for linking schools and education travel in cars or to a vaccine still under clinical trial.” motorbikes. “Now, data show that the risk of COVID- 19 for those under 25 years is much lower than the risk from traffic accidents.”

The Consequences of Closing Schools 4. The other serious consequences of extended 1. Schools are an easy target for policy makers. By school closures are malnutrition and child labour. The nutrition situation has worsened by the closing them down, they seek to convey the shutting down of the mid-day meals programme. impression that the administration is serious about The 2011 Census estimated the children in child containing the pandemic and is “doing labour at 10.1 million. Many more would have something”. “But this is an emotional reaction and regressed into child labour during the pandemic not rooted in reason and fact. Even before the years. second COVID-19 wave, experts across the board advised that schools should be the last to close Education as a Constitutional Right and first to open. Ignoring all this advice has Raman ends his article by suggesting that in closing brought us the ignoble distinction of being among schools for unduly long periods and providing online the countries with the longest school closures education as a poor substitute, policy makers may during the pandemic.” have violated children's rights. He then cites the “Happy 2022, Happy for Kids Too” initiative of 2. Online education is not education. It is well which he is a part, along with many epidemiologists, known that children, particularly those I pre- doctors and educationists. primary and primary classes and learn and develop only through personal interaction with He concludes with these hopeful words. “We hope their peers and the teachers in a classroom. The that 2022 and the years from now are normal for outcome of the experiment with online education children in all respects, including a good school have been devastating. “A detailed survey report life and happy childhood. Children have from September 2021 shows the extent of the needlessly suffered for too long, not from COVID- impact. The reading and writing levels of children 19 which has thankfully spared them, but from have declined, with nearly half of them being irrational and disproportional restrictions and unable to read more than a few words. More than a school closures. We urge all concerned citizens to third of them were not studying at all.” join the Chain-for-Children's Cheer at https://happy22kids.org/ to make this wish come 3. Apart from learning, mental health issues are true.” deeply concerning. “Despite a shorter school closure than India, the UK has reported alarming Tathaastu! So be it! My New Year Greetings and Best increases in mental Wishes to each and every one of you. health issues among kids. Likewise, the Sincerely, American Academy S. Krishna Kumar, of Pediatrics called Hon. President, the mental health Mysore Education Society, crisis among children a national emergency.” 31st January 2022 Email: [email protected]