Schools are re-opening way too soon

 

Schools are starting soon, if they haven't started back already. There are teachers and staff who are afraid to go back to work. It's because this virus, COVID-19, is NOT under control. I saw on CNN that there was this one student who took a picture of her school's crowded hallway. There was no social distancing and hardly anyone was wearing a mask. There are reports that students and staff are testing positive for the virus.

There are some places that are offering virtual learning as well as in-person learning, but in-person learning should not be available at this time. Not until the cases are much lower than they are. These are kids and teens, we should not be taking risks with their lives. There are also children and teenagers who may have health issues and have greater risks of getting the coronavirus.

All schools should move back to virtual learning for the time being. I know, it may be tough for some people, but this is a tough time for everyone, in several ways. We can get through this together if we follow the CDC guidelines.

I know I've said this before on my blog, but this pandemic is not over, and if we continue to open up this country, it's only gonna get worse. We're in this together, and if we work together, we can beat this virus. I think we need to lock this country down again for a little while in order to get this virus under control. 

Anyways, that is all I have to say.

Until next time, stay safe, stay healthy, and God Bless.

- Chloe

There's a new TikTok trend that needs to stop

 

I do not know much about TikTok. All I know is that there is a trend that I found out about that needs to stop. It is disturbing and it is teaching kids to be scared of people who look different. I found the article on Twitter from someone I follow, Lizzie Velasquez, she is a disability activist and motivational speaker who is talking about it. I'm not linking that specific article because it is behind a paywall, so I did a little research and found another article which I will link below, as always.

In this trend, parents are pranking their children by pretending to facetime with someone with a disability then showing their child. I saw a video of one such prank and the parent was pretending to facetime with none other than the disability activist I mentioned. The parent then shows their son, telling him that she's his teacher for the year and the son looks scared. Sometimes, the picture would be of a baby who was born different. It's disturbing! It's cruel!

I remember as a kid, I was taught early on by my mother to be accepting for two main reasons. One reason was that I had a disabled uncle. The other reason was that I'm disabled myself. I went to two schools for people with disabilities and my best friends have disabilities. So, believe me when I say, disability is not a thing to joke about.

Stop joking about disabled people or disability in general. Stop teaching children to fear disabilities. Children are naturally curious. Fear is only taught. So, teach your child, not fear, but acceptance.

- Chloe

Sources:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/disability-activist-condemns-facetime-tiktok-trend-211905157.html

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/lizzie-velasquez-tiktok-trend-facetime_ca_5f32b80fc5b6960c066cdd7a

https://www.unilad.co.uk/viral/anti-bullying-activist-lizzie-velasquez-asks-parents-to-stop-using-her-face-for-cruel-tiktok-prank/

Netflix is adding two documentaries about deaf communities

 Yeah, you read that right, and I, for one, am so happy about that. It's about deaf communities in America. The documentaries are gonna be called Deaf U and Audible.

Deaf U is about a group of students at Galludet University in Washington DC. Galludet is a well known private college for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. The show follows the students' lives as they navigate college life while giving us a good look at what the deaf community is like. This documentary will be on Netflix October 8th or 9th, 2020. That information was conflicting, the article said the 8th while the video description (if you click the video title) says the 9th.

Audible is about a high-school athlete, Amaree McKenstry-Hall, who went to the Maryland School for the Deaf high school. This show follows him and his friends as he goes through his senior year while grappling with going into the hearing world. The article did not say when this documentary was coming out, unless I missed it.

Of course, I have included the article I found this information in. It is linked below. I am excited for Deaf U. I am hard of hearing, but I have never known the deaf community. I am just learning about it now. Well, I first learned about it a few years ago. I want to learn more. I'm also glad that the deaf are getting more representation in media, proper representation.

Well, I'm gonna leave this here...

Until next time, God Bless

- Chloe

Source:

https://deadline.com/2020/07/netflix-two-documentaries-about-deaf-community-america-1202994593/