Can vs. Should

Discussion of whether or not most states should even be returning to in person schooling aside, let's talk band.

After the preliminary results of the Colorado study came out Monday, there are a lot of brainstorming posts going on to create instrument "masks." But what about the emphasis on the importance of good ventilation when most schools are stuck with aging HVAC systems or don't even have windows? And a lack of ability to distance? And the fact that the study was done with adults with years of experience in playing and singing, not a sixth grader with no control over their instrument?  And even before that came out, there were a lot of discussions of finding whatever ways we can to work around restrictions to play again.

I'll admit it. I've been looking at ways to figure it all out too. I've found different masks (for faces and instruments) that can work with instruments and singing and sent a ton of links to our department chair. I've brainstormed about how we can do small groups if it's allowed. Every part of my soul craves the experience of standing in front of or sitting with musicians and making music together again.

But...

In talking to a good friend this morning, we were discussing ways to have kids play, but kept coming back to "if we have to find a loophole to make it happen, is it right?"

I've been to funerals for students, colleagues, and students' and colleagues' close family members over my twelve years of teaching. Those days have been some of the hardest of my life. Not just my career. My life. And I want no part of potentially causing the need for another.

And deaths aside, we have no idea the long term impacts of the virus. Will it come back around like shingles later on? Ever had shingles? Because that is not something I would wish on anyone. There are plenty of other viruses that stick around and will continue to cause lifelong issues too. Is COVID-19 one of them? We don't know yet.

So to paraphrase that great philosopher, Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) in Jurassic Park, we're so busy figuring out if we can we're not considering if we should.

Being in school in person is going to be risky enough (and I'm in Michigan. I cannot fathom being a teacher in Florida right now and I'm sending you all lots of love). But it feels a lot like tempting what is apparently an angry Universe in 2020 by encouraging our students to participate in an activity that can actively aid in spreading the virus far more than "typical" activity. 

If we have to put a giant bag over an entire clarinet or a Crown Royal bag over a trumpet bell to make it safer, (not safe, just safer) then we shouldn't be playing yet. 

This is not forever. It may feel like it because there's no definable end in sight right now (it didn't have to be this way, but it's what we're stuck with...). But it's not forever. Hopefully things will look different later in the school year and a year from now, hopefully back to school will bring the usual excitement instead of crushing fear and anxiety.

We have to do what's best to help our students and ourselves right now to make it through to when we don't have to plot ways to play and sing and literally risk lives to do it.