Readers respond to last week’s Feedback Friday topic, which was:
High School Homecomings Postponed/Cancelled
On Wednesday evening at the Anne Arundel County School Board meeting, emotions were tense as many parents of high school students were vocal in their disappointment with the board’s announcement that all county high school homecoming dances would be postponed due to Covid-19. Other schools and colleges across the region and U.S. have also postponed or cancelled homecoming weekend celebrations because of pandemic precautions. And some have not.
Meanwhile, many celebrations and large-scale events continue as planned across the county, state, and nation.
Our questions to you:
Should high school homecoming dances and weekend celebrations be postponed/cancelled this fall? Why or why not?
If not, what, if any, precautions or protocols would you suggest being put in place to ensure the safety of all students, teachers, and personnel?
Here’s what you said:
My two teens were sad to hear that the events have been postponed/cancelled. Even with attending classes every day, following protocol, wearing masks, washing their hands, not sharing drinks, etc., etc., they have been looking forward to going back to school, seeing their friends again, joining clubs, and especially attending events. I do not think these events should have been postponed or cancelled.
V. Adams, Gambrills
These events should absolutely NOT be canceled! It is ridiculous what these children are being put through!! Including the use of face masks! How can it be okay to go to a restaurant, the store, a sporting event, a concert, etc. but not ok to go to homecoming? Also how is it okay to go to all the same places unmasked but our children are being masked? And do the school boards think these kids don't already hang out with each other outside of school? My heart breaks for the kids, they have missed so much and they are suffering academically, emotionally, and physically. This has to STOP!
Sarah Faulkner, Trappe
Our children are suffering the most from this pandemic. If you allow adults to have parties, go to sporting events, and all the other gatherings you are not being fair to all. Have someone at these dances monitoring temperatures at the door. Anyone who does not want to attend does NOT have to attend. Please give these students a break. They certainly deserve it, especially their parents.
Linda Deak, Annapolis
I strongly believe all high school homecoming activities should be permitted. If schools are open for academics in person, they should be open for other activities as well. The students spend their school days in crowded hallways and classrooms already. How is a homecoming dance or football game different? They are required to wear masks and the number of vaccinated students does not change.
If the schools are concerned about health, there are protocols that could be put in place for activities outside of the school day, similar to those recently added. Proof of vaccinated or negative COVID testing could be required for a dance or game attendance. Temperature checks could also be used.
If parents are concerned with their child attending events due to health safety, the decision should be left to them, not mandated by the the schools. Our children have lost so many experiences and dealt with the many changes COVID has brought to our day to day lives. We owe it to them to provide as many "normal" high school experiences and opportunities as possible.
Tracy Wells, Severna Park
Prom should not be cancelled and no restrictions should be imposed related to Covid-19. This age group is not in danger from Covid-19 any more than the normal flu. We need to get real and demand hard statistics before we go overboard on issues such as this.
Julia Jones, Edgewater
Just another sample of the insanity that is liberal, woke, social, political & cultural crisis management that our elected, appointed, and anointed local municipal bureaucrats create and implement every month after month…week after week. The reverse crossfire hurricane tornado of public opinion for dramatic change and disgust is only amplified by recent current events.
Gerard Hall, Annapolis
I believe that there is no reason not to have the homecoming dances. If they are concerned about Covid...move it outside...have it on the football field and use the sound system to blast music for kids to dance to. Kids are used to wearing masks at school and on buses, they can wear them at the dance too. They can get COVID testing done prior to the dance or show proof of vaccine. Many kids have gotten vaccinated for jobs and for school so they can have these events. So, they can "return to normal" whatever that looks like now. We are all navigating this together and we need to give the kids the same opportunities as the adults to have events while trying to be mindful of COVID in our area. We are all trying to recover financially and emotionally and emotionally the kids need these events.
Tiffany Jackson, Millersville
I think they can still have the Homecoming dance. Kids are in school already and cheering for football games and hanging out together anyway. Anyone worried about transmission should already be vaccinated or taking precautions as needed.
Carrie Hilliard, Millersville
With vaccines available to students 12 and older and the many effective precautions such as masks, fresh air, etc. it seems silly to cancel homecoming or prom or other events that could easily be modified to reduce risk. Schools are happily hosting football games with people packed into bleachers without masks or requirements for proof of vaccination. Schools could easily host dances outside on the football field, require proof of vaccination, limit the total number of tickets sold and/or require masks and achieve similar or better Covid results than the average lunch period. I am all for being cautious but at this point in the pandemic we risk our teens losing patience and abandoning all precautions.
Catherine Budd, Odenton
