We are 18 months into a pandemic. Next week, school is restarting in North Carolina, full days, full classes, buses and music class and lines in the lunch room and all.
This week, all staff came to school, ate a group breakfast, and sat in a staff meeting for four hours, together.
In a pandemic, you are required to wear a mask, but not when eating.
Then, all teachers of various content areas went to various sites to be trained in their various content areas. All the music teachers from all the schools get to come together; the special ed teachers, the gym teachers. Masks are required; food is served.
In a pandemic, you are required to keep your distance, but not when queuing, or sitting, or eating. Apparently.
Then, there's an open house, where parents and children come to the school, and walk to their classroom, and then walk to the office, and then walk to the gym, then go home to their families.
In a pandemic, you are politely suggested to get a vaccine, unless you are under 12.
Then, if you get sick, you are required to quarantine for 14 days. "Covid leave" is ending, we will use normal sick days. Virtual learning is ending, the kids will just not learn.
In a pandemic, the only thing that is mandatory is spreading disease; otherwise it would not be a pandemic.