To the editor:

What if we regarded students as initiators rather than subjects of ideas to promote learning in a COVID-19 environment? What if we truly accepted students as responsible actors who are concerned not only for their own health, but the health of their peers and teachers? What would that mindset produce? Think of something simple. Ask students who ride buses to schools, “How can we make your bus ride safe for you?” At some level/age we should expect that a student could contribute to the answer to that question. In the classroom, “How can we protect you, your friends, your teachers from the virus and still accomplish your learning goals?”; “What are you willing to do as a sorority/fraternity member to protect yourself, your brothers/sisters from the virus?; “What are you willing to do to protect the teachers who will come in contact with you?”

How about we all accept responsibility not only for our own behavior but for developing norms that we are willing to adhere to?

John Nalbandian,

Lawrence