To the editor:

I just read your article explaining the public schools’ plans to return to in-person learning soon. I was glad to see it; the sooner the better. I am terribly worried about the psychological and educational harm that the past year has caused. I also read your article on a previous Sunday, wherein a representative of the public school teachers’ union announced that the union has “no interest” in getting the kids back into school. For shame.

My son attends Lawrence Montessori School. At the beginning of the pandemic, the school closed for a few weeks. But the management and staff there recognize that children need social interaction and structured education opportunities. So they masked up, they enhanced their cleaning plans, and they altered the pick-up and drop-off procedure at the school, to mitigate the spread of germs while keeping the school open. They are helping my son thrive. Meanwhile, the students at the public schools struggle. That’s heartbreaking.

I see what the LMS crew has done. And I compare it to the smug selfishness we see from public school teachers unions. It’s clear that some educators are heroic, and some are not.

I am deeply grateful to the LMS crew.

Will Manly,

Lawrence