Prayer for the Safety of Returning to School in a Pandemic

We need You to guide students, families, and educators through these difficult times

Welcome back to Weekly Prayer, a newsletter for today’s rapidly changing world. As back to school season rolls in for millions across the world, many concerns regarding the coronavirus still linger. Let’s dive in. 

News Item: Back to School -- Pandemic Edition

The fall 2020 school semester presents a unique challenge for parents. They are concerned with the problematic circumstances that the coronavirus presents and the lack of education that their children suffer from when they do not attend school.

A recent article from the Washington Post shared Katie Hurley’s perspective, one that is common across the US. Katie, a mother and adolescent psychotherapist, said that she truly wants her children to go back to school, but that safety is the first priority for her and her family. The article also mentions a rather disturbing fact that makes the decision to send children to school particularly difficult. Last spring, children “learned less than half the math and just under 70 percent of the language arts” that they would have learned if the semester had been a normal semester.

If next semester were online, we would probably see these numbers repeated. Numerous institutions don’t have the funding to buy the equipment to ensure a quality online education for their students. 

If the semester were in-person, there would be significant concerns about mask-discipline and availability of protective equipment. A poll by NPR concluded that “78% of teachers said that they are concerned specifically about accessing sufficient personal protective equipment.” A high school teacher of 40 years, Robin Stauffer, also stated that she doesn’t “trust the school districts to safeguard her health during this pandemic,” a common perspective of many educators across the United States.

Prayer: Prayer for the Safety of Returning to School in a Pandemic

“Father please hear us when we tell You of our concerns of sending our children and educators back to school this fall. Know that we are striving to make all of the right decisions and need Your love and power to help us overcome any difficulties. Please watch over everyone as times and routines are about to change once again. We know that we can do anything through You and You alone, so please help us ensure health and semi-normalcy in the coming months. We give our hearts to You, now and forever. Amen.”

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See you next week!

Eliza