I know Peter's piped in a few times regarding the difficulties with teaching on a normal day in a normal place and time.  I can't imagine the stresses being experienced by teachers today.  The other day at a get together - I was second hand engaged in a conversation with the parents of a new baby (my wife, always the ambassador, was doing all the talking).  When the topic of schools came up - and I'm not sure why as the baby is 6 months old - the dad asked rhetorically if schools give out their curriculum prior to the start of the new school year. As soon as I heard 'curriculum' I knew what was coming. He said there was no way his now infant would be taught critical race theory. My wife sighed and he continued "you know, white bad".  I had to leave not saying a word.  Imagine that conversation times however many kids are in your class.  And here in my piece of Ohio, several of the local school boards have decided to continue their indoor mask mandates as was done last school year.  As someone who sees sick kids - I credit masks and social distancing for keeping many many kids in school and out of the clinic.  Last year - our clinic would normally see 10 or so flu cases a week during the winter.  This past winter - zero.  Zero for the whole season.  That is no lie.  Now granted we did have a quantity of positive Covid-19 cases - less than 50 -thankfully none requiring hospitalizations - although several of their family members did succumb.  And of the positives we did see - maybe 5% were unknown in origin with 95% being family member contraction.  That leaves maybe 2 kids who maybe caught Covid from school.  That's really really great.  Now imagine being told you can't mandate masks anymore?  And you need to stand in front of the class and risk your health for the sake of what? Not wearing a mask?

So Peter T -thank you and I hope you're doing well through all of this.

Dan