Letters: Schools are 'superspreading institutions,' check on your child's air

Letters to the Editor
·2 min read
The stress of the pandemic and virtual learning is taking its toll on a third of college students, mental health experts say.
The stress of the pandemic and virtual learning is taking its toll on a third of college students, mental health experts say.

Why should I have to pay for your college education

My wife and I worked and saved to send both of our children to college as did our parents for us both and my wife’s four siblings.

It is important to understand that our parents did that on a barber’s and a coal miner’s wage in southwestern Pennsylvania.

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My parents actually paid, as agreed and on time, a loan needed to cover my college costs.

After witnessing such great role models and following their example we now get to possibly pay for either the forgiveness or cancellation of student debts via President Joe Biden's plan.

If the loans are forgiven or cancelled they do not disappear but add to a growing national deficit.

The resulting debt will be assumed by every taxpaying citizen in this country, current and future. Is that fair to people who did not attend college or could not afford the cost of tuition or books or room and board?

It would be an interesting exercise to see the actual number of citizens without a degree that will now be taxed with paying for this growing national debt line item.

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The Biden Administration is wildly out of touch with average, hard working Americans.

Hopefully they will get to the polls during the upcoming mid-term elections and voice their opinions loud and clear.

Gary J. Madich, Westerville

Ask about the air your kids will breathe

TyShawn Fowler, 8, puts on his face mask. The day camps don't require kids to wear face masks outdoors, but social distancing is adhered to.
TyShawn Fowler, 8, puts on his face mask. The day camps don't require kids to wear face masks outdoors, but social distancing is adhered to.

All known SARS-CoV variants are air-borne viruses.

School starts soon, but masking up has become mostly passe.

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All parents should be inquiring of school boards and administrators whether anti-microbial HVAC filtration elements (MERV rating of 14 or 16 for 0.3 micron particulates) are installed in all buildings.

Additionally, there should be at least five air changes per hour in classrooms (per ASHRAE) where windows are not generally open.

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Yes, these are technical specifications, but disease mitigation is a technical field.  Schools are by their nature potentially "superspreading" institutions.

More: Here's why you should be using an air purifier

Let's keep our communities, and our children, as safe as we possibly can this school year.

James Walker, Massillon

Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: Student loan forgiveness is a terrible plan