csmonitor--2020-06-12--As states reopen, COVID-19 cases make a comeback

States are rolling back lockdowns , but the coronavirus cases are rising in nearly half the states , according to an Associated Press analysis , a trend that some experts say could intensify as people return to work .
In Arizona , hospitals have been told to prepare for the worst .
Texas has more hospitalized COVID-19 patients than at any time before .
And the governor of North Carolina said recent jumps caused him to rethink plans to reopen schools or businesses .
There is no single reason for the surges .
In some cases , more testing has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local outbreaks are big enough to push statewide tallies higher .
But experts say at least some are due to lifting stay-at-home orders , school and business closures , and other restrictions put in place to stem the virus 's spread .
The increase in infections is one explanation for a sharp stock market decline Thursday on Wall Street , dragging the Dow Jones Industrial Average more than 1,800 points lower and giving the S & P 500 its worst day in nearly three months .
Analysts said Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to labor-market recovery helped to deflate recent optimism that the economy could recover quickly from its worst crisis in decades .
But by noon on Friday , the Dow Jones was up nearly 2 percent .
The virus is ebbing in some states , but also gradually spreading in others .
`` It is a disaster that spreads , '' said Dr. Jay Butler , who oversees coronavirus response work at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
`` It 's not like there 's an entire continental seismic shift and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
That is also happening globally .
Places that suffered early on such as China , Italy , and Spain have calmed down but Brazil , India , and other countries that were spared initially are seeing large increases .
The world is seeing more than 100,000 newly confirmed cases every day , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
The virus first landed on the U.S. coasts , carried by international travelers infected abroad .
For months , the epicenter was in Northeastern states .
More recently , the biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the West .
The AP analyzed data compiled by The COVID Tracking Project , a volunteer organization that collects coronavirus testing data in the United States .
The analysis found that in 21 states as of Monday , the rolling seven-day average of new cases per capita was higher than the average seven days earlier .
Some worry the situation may get worse as social distancing restrictions lift and more people gather .
One concern is that large recent racial justice protests across the country might spark some spread of the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he 's planning to hold rallies that may draw thousands of people .
He will hold them in four states – Arizona , Florida , Oklahoma , and Texas .
All of them are among the states with rising cases identified in the AP analysis .
Here 's a snapshot of some of the states with notable upticks : Republican Gov .
Doug Ducey ended Arizona 's stay-at-home order on May 15 and eased restrictions on businesses .
Arizona residents who were cooped up for six weeks flooded Phoenix-area bar districts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began seeing a surge of new cases and hospitalizations about 10 days later .
`` It seems pretty clear to me that what we 're seeing is directly related to the end of the stay-at-home order , '' said Will Humble , executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association .
It was n't just that the order ended : There were no requirements to wear face masks , no major increases in contact tracing to spot and stop evolving outbreaks , and no scale-up of infection control at nursing homes , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , if implemented today , could still make a big difference , '' said Mr. Humble , a former director of the state Department of Health Services .
Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego has criticized the governor for failing to highlight the `` seriousness of the growing public health emergency . ''
Testing has been increasing in Arizona , which raises the chance of finding new cases .
But the proportion of tests coming back positive has also been on the rise .
The AP analysis found Arizona had a rolling average of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the time the shutdown was lifted , but it shot up two weeks later and surpassed 1,000 new cases a day by early this week .
Hospitalizations have also risen dramatically , hitting the 1,200 mark last week .
The state also passed another grim milestone last week , recording its 1,000th death .
Meanwhile Arizona hospitals reported they were at 83 % of capacity Tuesday , which could force the cancellation of elective surgeries .
An executive order Mr. Ducey issued in April said hospitals wanting to resume elective surgeries had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their beds available .
In North Carolina , more testing plus more people out and about during reopening seem to be the main drivers of recent case upticks , said Kimberly Powers , an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina .
On Saturday , the state recorded its highest single-day increase , with 1,370 .
While testing has grown in the last two weeks , so has the rate of tests coming back positive .
`` These trends moving in the wrong direction is a signal we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Carolina 's top health official , Mandy Cohen , who along with Democratic Gov .
Roy Cooper has urged the public to take precautions to protect themselves .
Few states are rebooting faster than Texas , where hospitalizations surged past 2,100 on Wednesday for the first time during the pandemic .
That 's a 42 % increase in patients since Memorial Day weekend , when beachgoers swarmed Texas ' coastline and a water park near Houston opened to big crowds in defiance of Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott 's orders .
Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also jumped to levels that are among the nation 's highest .
State officials point to hot spots at meatpacking plants and prisons in rural counties , where thousands of new cases have cropped up , but have not offered explanations for a rise in numbers elsewhere .
Mr. Abbott , who has recently begun wearing a mask in public , has shown no intention of pumping the brakes on reopening a state where protesters in May pressured him to speed up the timeline on getting hair salons back in business .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lift even more restrictions and let restaurant dining rooms reopen at nearly full capacity .
In Alabama , outbreaks in nursing homes and poultry plants helped drive state numbers upward .
On Wednesday , the state recorded its largest number of new cases in a day , 849 .
The previous high was 640 on June 5 .
The capital , Montgomery , has become an emerging hot spot , said State Health Officer Scott Harris .
`` I think reopening the economy gave a lot of people the wrong impression ... that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's go back to normal , ' '' Mr. Harris said .
`` Clearly , it is not that way .
Really , now more than ever we need people to stay 6 feet apart , wear face coverings , and wash their hands . ''
Montgomery hospital intensive care units are as busy as during flu season .
`` I can assure you that Montgomery 's cases are not going down , and if our community does not take this seriously , the virus will continue to spread , and at some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its limit , '' Dr. David Thrasher , director of respiratory therapy at Jackson Hospital , said in a statement .
Arkansas has also seen increases – in cases , hospitalizations , and the percentage of tests that come back positive .
But the state 's situation is a complicated story of different outbreaks at different times , said Dr. Nate Smith , director of the Arkansas Department of Health .
After a peak in April , levels were low until spikes began about three weeks ago – mainly in the cities of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in De Queen further south .
The cases have been concentrated among Hispanics and those who work in chicken production facilities , which never were closed .
Republican Gov .
Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday said the state will move into a new phase of reopening starting Monday .
Experts are wondering what will happen in the next week or so , in the wake of nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police .
The protests were outdoors , which reduces the likelihood of virus spread , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other precautions .
But it 's a lot of people close together , chanting , singing , and yelling .
`` Hopefully we wo n't see a big spike .
But those data are n't in yet , '' Mr. Humble said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Reporters Bob Christie in Phoenix ; Paul Weber in Austin , Texas ; Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock , Arkansas ; Kim Chandler in Montgomery , Alabama ; Jay Reeves in Birmingham , Alabama ; and Bryan Anderson and Allen G. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

States are rolling back lockdowns, but the coronavirus cases are rising in nearly half the states, according to an Associated Press analysis, a trend that some experts say could intensify as people return to work.
In Arizona, hospitals have been told to prepare for the worst. Texas has more hospitalized COVID-19 patients than at any time before. And the governor of North Carolina said recent jumps caused him to rethink plans to reopen schools or businesses.
There is no single reason for the surges. In some cases, more testing has revealed more cases. In others, local outbreaks are big enough to push statewide tallies higher. But experts say at least some are due to lifting stay-at-home orders, school and business closures, and other restrictions put in place to stem the virus's spread.
The increase in infections is one explanation for a sharp stock market decline Thursday on Wall Street, dragging the Dow Jones Industrial Average more than 1,800 points lower and giving the S&P 500 its worst day in nearly three months. Analysts said Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's of a "long road" to labor-market recovery helped to deflate recent optimism that the economy could recover quickly from its worst crisis in decades. But by noon on Friday, the Dow Jones was up nearly 2 percent.
The virus is ebbing in some states, but also gradually spreading in others.
"It is a disaster that spreads," said Dr. Jay Butler, who oversees coronavirus response work at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "It's not like there's an entire continental seismic shift and everyone feels the shaking all at once."
That is also happening globally. Places that suffered early on such as China, Italy, and Spain have calmed down but Brazil, India, and other countries that were spared initially are seeing large increases. The world is seeing more than 100,000 newly confirmed cases every day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
The virus first landed on the U.S. coasts, carried by international travelers infected abroad. For months, the epicenter was in Northeastern states. More recently, the biggest increases have been in the South and the West.
The AP analyzed data compiled by The COVID Tracking Project, a volunteer organization that collects coronavirus testing data in the United States. The analysis found that in 21 states as of Monday, the rolling seven-day average of new cases per capita was higher than the average seven days earlier.
Some worry the situation may get worse as social distancing restrictions lift and more people gather. One concern is that large recent racial justice protests across the country might spark some spread of the virus.
Another: President Donald Trump this week said he's planning to hold rallies that may draw thousands of people. He will hold them in four states – Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas. All of them are among the states with rising cases identified in the AP analysis.
Here's a snapshot of some of the states with notable upticks:
Arizona
Republican Gov. Doug Ducey ended Arizona's stay-at-home order on May 15 and eased restrictions on businesses. Arizona residents who were cooped up for six weeks flooded Phoenix-area bar districts, ignoring social distancing guidelines.
The state began seeing a surge of new cases and hospitalizations about 10 days later.
"It seems pretty clear to me that what we're seeing is directly related to the end of the stay-at-home order," said Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association.
It wasn't just that the order ended: There were no requirements to wear face masks, no major increases in contact tracing to spot and stop evolving outbreaks, and no scale-up of infection control at nursing homes, he said.
"Those are missed opportunities that, if implemented today, could still make a big difference," said Mr. Humble, a former director of the state Department of Health Services.
Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego has criticized the governor for failing to highlight the "seriousness of the growing public health emergency."
Testing has been increasing in Arizona, which raises the chance of finding new cases. But the proportion of tests coming back positive has also been on the rise.
The AP analysis found Arizona had a rolling average of fewer than 400 new cases a day at the time the shutdown was lifted, but it shot up two weeks later and surpassed 1,000 new cases a day by early this week. Hospitalizations have also risen dramatically, hitting the 1,200 mark last week.
The state also passed another grim milestone last week, recording its 1,000th death.
Meanwhile Arizona hospitals reported they were at 83% of capacity Tuesday, which could force the cancellation of elective surgeries. An executive order Mr. Ducey issued in April said hospitals wanting to resume elective surgeries had to have at least 20% of their beds available.
North Carolina
In North Carolina, more testing plus more people out and about during reopening seem to be the main drivers of recent case upticks, said Kimberly Powers, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina.
On Saturday, the state recorded its highest single-day increase, with 1,370. While testing has grown in the last two weeks, so has the rate of tests coming back positive.
"These trends moving in the wrong direction is a signal we need to take this very seriously," said North Carolina's top health official, Mandy Cohen, who along with Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has urged the public to take precautions to protect themselves.
Texas
Few states are rebooting faster than Texas, where hospitalizations surged past 2,100 on Wednesday for the first time during the pandemic. That's a 42% increase in patients since Memorial Day weekend, when beachgoers swarmed Texas' coastline and a water park near Houston opened to big crowds in defiance of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's orders.
Texas' percentage of tests coming back positive has also jumped to levels that are among the nation's highest. State officials point to hot spots at meatpacking plants and prisons in rural counties, where thousands of new cases have cropped up, but have not offered explanations for a rise in numbers elsewhere.
Mr. Abbott, who has recently begun wearing a mask in public, has shown no intention of pumping the brakes on reopening a state where protesters in May pressured him to speed up the timeline on getting hair salons back in business.
On Friday, Texas is set to lift even more restrictions and let restaurant dining rooms reopen at nearly full capacity.
Alabama
In Alabama, outbreaks in nursing homes and poultry plants helped drive state numbers upward. On Wednesday, the state recorded its largest number of new cases in a day, 849. The previous high was 640 on June 5.
The capital, Montgomery, has become an emerging hot spot, said State Health Officer Scott Harris.
"I think reopening the economy gave a lot of people the wrong impression ... that, 'Hey everything is fine. Let's go back to normal,'" Mr. Harris said. "Clearly, it is not that way. Really, now more than ever we need people to stay 6 feet apart, wear face coverings, and wash their hands."
Montgomery hospital intensive care units are as busy as during flu season.
"I can assure you that Montgomery's cases are not going down, and if our community does not take this seriously, the virus will continue to spread, and at some point, our medical capacity will reach its limit," Dr. David Thrasher, director of respiratory therapy at Jackson Hospital, said in a statement.
Arkansas
Arkansas has also seen increases – in cases, hospitalizations, and the percentage of tests that come back positive. But the state's situation is a complicated story of different outbreaks at different times, said Dr. Nate Smith, director of the Arkansas Department of Health.
After a peak in April, levels were low until spikes began about three weeks ago – mainly in the cities of Rogers and Springdale in the northwest and in De Queen further south. The cases have been concentrated among Hispanics and those who work in chicken production facilities, which never were closed.
Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday said the state will move into a new phase of reopening starting Monday.
Looking ahead
Experts are wondering what will happen in the next week or so, in the wake of nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.
The protests were outdoors, which reduces the likelihood of virus spread, and many participants have worn masks and taken other precautions. But it's a lot of people close together, chanting, singing, and yelling.
"Hopefully we won't see a big spike. But those data aren't in yet," Mr. Humble said.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. Reporters Bob Christie in Phoenix; Paul Weber in Austin, Texas; Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Arkansas; Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama; and Bryan Anderson and Allen G. Breed in Raleigh, North Carolina contributed.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-06-10--Summer school 2020: Hints for how the fall will go?

“ The key is figuring out what each student needs , ” says Douglas Harris , a professor at Tulane University , “ and getting them what they need to get back on track.
” Some schools will end up with few or no summer offerings , facing limited budgets and challenges reaching students .
Still , educators say summer school could have a larger-than-usual impact this year , if districts are able to plan and fund it .
Educators in Worcester and across the United States are considering how best to use the summer to help students make up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , ideas for June , July , and August – traditionally a time for helping struggling students catch up and staving off learning gaps – include using the time as a trial run for more remote and in-person learning in the fall or creating programs that blend academics with play and social-emotional support .
Jonathan Echevarria , a single father in Worcester , Massachusetts , says it ’ s been a challenge to oversee schoolwork for his 6-year-old son during the pandemic , but he ’ s learned a lot about Jaevell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t know before .
He may even continue with online summer school .
“ I see his real potential and personality now , ” this father says .
Amanda Sonnenberg feels exhausted from overseeing the remote learning of her four kids .
As the school year draws to a close , she ’ s looking forward to a break and outside play .
But , for the first time , she ’ s also considering summer school for her children .
“ Summer is summer , ” she says , as she wears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in line outside Gates Lane School of International Studies to pick up meals distributed by Worcester Public Schools .
“ But given the circumstances that we just had COVID-19 ...
I would consider [ summer school ] just to help them be prepared for next year.
” Educators here , in New England ’ s second-largest city , and across the United States are considering how best to use the summer to help students make up for lost learning after the most disruptive spring for K-12 education in recent history .
This year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and August – traditionally a time for helping struggling students catch up and staving off learning gaps – include using the time as a trial run for more remote and in-person learning in the fall or creating programs that blend academics with play and social-emotional support .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Some schools will end up with few or no summer offerings , facing limited budgets and challenges reaching students .
Still , educators say summer school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if districts are able to plan and fund it .
“ To the extent that [ summer school ] can be done well and in ways that could reach students who ’ ve been missed previously by remote learning , it would be huge , ” says Kathryn McDermott , an education policy professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst .
She notes that , based on studies of previous disruptions of schooling , such as during natural disasters , student learning loss this year has likely been high for many .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible to start getting some of that time back for them , the better , ” Professor McDermott says .
It ’ s difficult to measure the amount of learning loss students have experienced from COVID-19 shutdowns because most end-of-year assessments were canceled .
A preliminary study by researchers at NWEA , a nonprofit in Portland , Oregon , that designs student assessments , suggests that students nationwide will start school in the fall with roughly 70 % of the learning gains normally made in reading during a typical school year and with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in math .
Educators also worry that “ summer slide ” will be greater this year– especially for less-affluent students who , without access to summer enrichment programs , fall behind their peers .
The Center on Reinventing Public Education recently analyzed summer school plans for 100 public school districts across the U.S. and found uneven programming , with 61 % of those districts offering summer school .
What is offered this summer should be based on student needs , which will vary by how much support schools and families could provide this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor at Tulane University in New Orleans who researches the economics of education .
“ The idea of the achievement gap widening in this scenario is most certainly the case , ” he says .
“ The key is figuring out what each student needs and getting them what they need to get back on track.
” Summer can also offer other opportunities , say educators .
While internet access offers challenges , online learning can open the door to more options and include “ community-based expertise , ” writes Thomas Del Prete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Urban Teaching and School Practice at Clark University in Worcester , in an email to the Monitor .
“ We have an opportunity to reimagine and broaden our thinking on what learning can look like in the summer ( and beyond ) and who can participate .
We might start this summer by thinking how to create opportunities for learning for a broader range of students , not just for purposes of remedial learning , for some form of enrichment , or to get a head start on reading for the school year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities curated by teachers including online bookclubs and museum tours , and online or phone interviews for oral history projects .
In Los Angeles , summer school is open for the first time to all students online , and the Los Angeles Unified School District is pairing with film studios and sports teams for enrichment classes .
Elsewhere , in Illinois , the governor signed an executive order allowing in-person summer school .
Massachusetts Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley released guidance last week allowing in-person instruction for groups of 10 students or fewer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the “ most feasible and safest ” option for many districts .
In Worcester , all summer school will be conducted online , and community groups are eager to form partnerships to enhance programming .
But detailed summer school plans have been slow to develop and there are concerns from the community and educators about being able to reach students who most need help .
“ There ’ s an opportunity to transform the way we do the business of teaching and learning in this moment , ” starting with summer school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the Worcester Education Collaborative , a nonprofit community group in the city of about 186,000 people .
“ We have to make sure we capture that opportunity.
” Located about an hour west of Boston and home to a dozen colleges , several museums , and spacious parks , Worcester has experienced rapid growth in the past few years .
The city ’ s school district , with about 25,000 pupils , has higher rates of economically disadvantaged students and students of color than the state average .
The district has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barack Obama calling Worcester Technical High School a model for the nation .
Maureen Binienda , superintendent of Worcester Public Schools , says the district plans to expand summer school to all students in grades 2 through 6 for the first time .
The district will also offer its typical programs for middle and high school credit recovery , English language learners , and special education students .
Most Worcester summer school programs will begin on June 17 , five days after the school year ends .
Ms. Binienda says she ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in summer school will increase this year with the expanded elementary school programs , but “ we ’ ll wait to see if parents are exhausted.
” She says the district doesn ’ t know the format yet of fall reopening , but summer school could help if it includes remote elements .
“ The more you do online learning , the better you get.
” On a recent morning , Jose Lehardy and his step-grandson pause outside Gates Lane to pick up a meal and talk about school .
They say they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the school .
Mr. Lehardy praises remote learning so far for keeping his 7-year-old grandson Ryan headed in the “ right direction.
” The second grader says he likes writing a letter to his teacher every day and practicing spelling .
Ms. Carey , of the Worcester Education Collaborative , says she ’ s working closely with community groups and cultural organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club , the Worcester Art Museum , and EcoTarium , a local children ’ s science museum , to create modules for students to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the year .
“ We have to come together as a community and essentially create learning [ opportunities ] anytime , anyplace , ” she says .
A key challenge for Worcester Public Schools , like other districts around the U.S. , is lack of internet connectivity and technology access for students .
The district has distributed 1,400 Chromebooks , giving all families one laptop for every two children .
Superintendent Binienda says the district is 6,000 laptops away from its goal of one device for every student , and plans to spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal CARES Act on Chromebooks and internet hot spots .
The district was still distributing laptops to students in late May , and families can keep them for the summer .
With the switch to remote learning has come a higher level of parent involvement with the education of students , says Ms. Binienda , who hopes that continues this summer and beyond .
That may be the case for Jonathan Echevarria , a single father in Worcester .
He says it ’ s been a challenge to oversee schoolwork , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his son Jaevell and his kindergarten education that he didn ’ t know before .
He may even continue with a special online summer school program offered for younger students .
“ I see his real potential and personality now , ” Mr. Echevarria says .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“The key is figuring out what each student needs,” says Douglas Harris, a professor at Tulane University, “and getting them what they need to get back on track.”
Some schools will end up with few or no summer offerings, facing limited budgets and challenges reaching students. Still, educators say summer school could have a larger-than-usual impact this year, if districts are able to plan and fund it.
After a major disruption to learning, what should summer school look like? As districts in the U.S. figure out logistics, the community in Worcester, Massachusetts, offers one approach.
Educators in Worcester and across the United States are considering how best to use the summer to help students make up learning lost to coronavirus disruption. This year, ideas for June, July, and August – traditionally a time for helping struggling students catch up and staving off learning gaps – include using the time as a trial run for more remote and in-person learning in the fall or creating programs that blend academics with play and social-emotional support.
Jonathan Echevarria, a single father in Worcester, Massachusetts, says it’s been a challenge to oversee schoolwork for his 6-year-old son during the pandemic, but he’s learned a lot about Jaevell and his education that he didn’t know before. He may even continue with online summer school. “I see his real potential and personality now,” this father says.
Amanda Sonnenberg feels exhausted from overseeing the remote learning of her four kids. As the school year draws to a close, she’s looking forward to a break and outside play. But, for the first time, she’s also considering summer school for her children.
“Summer is summer,” she says, as she wears a color-coordinated mask and Red Sox T-shirt in line outside Gates Lane School of International Studies to pick up meals distributed by Worcester Public Schools. “But given the circumstances that we just had COVID-19 ... I would consider [summer school] just to help them be prepared for next year.”
Educators here, in New England’s second-largest city, and across the United States are considering how best to use the summer to help students make up for lost learning after the most disruptive spring for K-12 education in recent history. This year, ideas for June, July, and August – traditionally a time for helping struggling students catch up and staving off learning gaps – include using the time as a trial run for more remote and in-person learning in the fall or creating programs that blend academics with play and social-emotional support.
Why We Wrote This After a major disruption to learning, what should summer school look like? As districts in the U.S. figure out logistics, the community in Worcester, Massachusetts, offers one approach.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Some schools will end up with few or no summer offerings, facing limited budgets and challenges reaching students. Still, educators say summer school could have a larger-than-usual impact this year, if districts are able to plan and fund it.
“To the extent that [summer school] can be done well and in ways that could reach students who’ve been missed previously by remote learning, it would be huge,” says Kathryn McDermott, an education policy professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She notes that, based on studies of previous disruptions of schooling, such as during natural disasters, student learning loss this year has likely been high for many.
“The sooner that it’s possible to start getting some of that time back for them, the better,” Professor McDermott says.
Determining the best approach
It’s difficult to measure the amount of learning loss students have experienced from COVID-19 shutdowns because most end-of-year assessments were canceled. A preliminary study by researchers at NWEA, a nonprofit in Portland, Oregon, that designs student assessments, suggests that students nationwide will start school in the fall with roughly 70% of the learning gains normally made in reading during a typical school year and with less than 50% of learning gains in math.
Educators also worry that “summer slide” will be greater this year– especially for less-affluent students who, without access to summer enrichment programs, fall behind their peers.
Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff View caption Hide caption Jennifer Christiansen holds her son, Ethan, 3, while waiting in line to pick up food from a meal program at Gates Lane School of International Studies in Worcester, May 29, 2020. Ethan attends a local Head Start preschool. His mother says she is glad his summer learning will mostly involve play.
The Center on Reinventing Public Education recently analyzed summer school plans for 100 public school districts across the U.S. and found uneven programming, with 61% of those districts offering summer school.
What is offered this summer should be based on student needs, which will vary by how much support schools and families could provide this spring, says Douglas Harris, a professor at Tulane University in New Orleans who researches the economics of education.
“The idea of the achievement gap widening in this scenario is most certainly the case,” he says. “The key is figuring out what each student needs and getting them what they need to get back on track.”
Summer can also offer other opportunities, say educators. While internet access offers challenges, online learning can open the door to more options and include “community-based expertise,” writes Thomas Del Prete, director of the Adam Institute for Urban Teaching and School Practice at Clark University in Worcester, in an email to the Monitor.
“We have an opportunity to reimagine and broaden our thinking on what learning can look like in the summer (and beyond) and who can participate. We might start this summer by thinking how to create opportunities for learning for a broader range of students, not just for purposes of remedial learning, for some form of enrichment, or to get a head start on reading for the school year,” he writes.
He suggests activities curated by teachers including online bookclubs and museum tours, and online or phone interviews for oral history projects.
In Los Angeles, summer school is open for the first time to all students online, and the Los Angeles Unified School District is pairing with film studios and sports teams for enrichment classes. Elsewhere, in Illinois, the governor signed an executive order allowing in-person summer school. Massachusetts Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley released guidance last week allowing in-person instruction for groups of 10 students or fewer. The guidelines also said remote learning might be the “most feasible and safest” option for many districts.
One example: Worcester
In Worcester, all summer school will be conducted online, and community groups are eager to form partnerships to enhance programming. But detailed summer school plans have been slow to develop and there are concerns from the community and educators about being able to reach students who most need help.
“There’s an opportunity to transform the way we do the business of teaching and learning in this moment,” starting with summer school, says Jennifer Davis Carey, executive director of the Worcester Education Collaborative, a nonprofit community group in the city of about 186,000 people. “We have to make sure we capture that opportunity.”
Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff View caption Hide caption Jennifer Davis Carey, executive director of the nonprofit Worcester Education Collaborative, poses on her porch May 29, 2020. She is working closely with community groups and cultural organizations to create material to complement student schooling this summer.
Located about an hour west of Boston and home to a dozen colleges, several museums, and spacious parks, Worcester has experienced rapid growth in the past few years. The city’s school district, with about 25,000 pupils, has higher rates of economically disadvantaged students and students of color than the state average. The district has earned some accolades, including former President Barack Obama calling Worcester Technical High School a model for the nation.
Maureen Binienda, superintendent of Worcester Public Schools, says the district plans to expand summer school to all students in grades 2 through 6 for the first time. The district will also offer its typical programs for middle and high school credit recovery, English language learners, and special education students. Most Worcester summer school programs will begin on June 17, five days after the school year ends.
Ms. Binienda says she’s hoping that the number of kids participating in summer school will increase this year with the expanded elementary school programs, but “we’ll wait to see if parents are exhausted.” She says the district doesn’t know the format yet of fall reopening, but summer school could help if it includes remote elements. “The more you do online learning, the better you get.”
Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff View caption Hide caption Jose Lehardy poses with his step-grandson, Ryan Diaz, 7, behind Gates Lane School of International Studies after getting food from a mobile meal program May 29, 2020, in Worcester. Ryan says he has enjoyed writing letters to his teachers, and would welcome more summer activities.
On a recent morning, Jose Lehardy and his step-grandson pause outside Gates Lane to pick up a meal and talk about school. They say they’re interested in more summer activities from the school. Mr. Lehardy praises remote learning so far for keeping his 7-year-old grandson Ryan headed in the “right direction.” The second grader says he likes writing a letter to his teacher every day and practicing spelling.
Ms. Carey, of the Worcester Education Collaborative, says she’s working closely with community groups and cultural organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club, the Worcester Art Museum, and EcoTarium, a local children’s science museum, to create modules for students to complement their schooling this summer and throughout the year.
“We have to come together as a community and essentially create learning [opportunities] anytime, anyplace,” she says.
A key challenge for Worcester Public Schools, like other districts around the U.S., is lack of internet connectivity and technology access for students. The district has distributed 1,400 Chromebooks, giving all families one laptop for every two children. Superintendent Binienda says the district is 6,000 laptops away from its goal of one device for every student, and plans to spend some of the funds it receives from the federal CARES Act on Chromebooks and internet hot spots. The district was still distributing laptops to students in late May, and families can keep them for the summer.
With the switch to remote learning has come a higher level of parent involvement with the education of students, says Ms. Binienda, who hopes that continues this summer and beyond.
That may be the case for Jonathan Echevarria, a single father in Worcester. He says it’s been a challenge to oversee schoolwork, but he’s learned a lot about his son Jaevell and his kindergarten education that he didn’t know before. He may even continue with a special online summer school program offered for younger students.
“I see his real potential and personality now,” Mr. Echevarria says.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-06-12--For ‘victory over the enemy,’ can Americans unite under pandemic?

Ms. Hammon says her desire to serve is partly inspired by the selfless example of her mother , a Holocaust survivor , who taught her “ Don ’ t turn anyone away.
” Yet despite partisan divides , limited polling suggests that the majority of Americans see social distancing as necessary – and effective .
What ’ s more , legions of people like Barb Hammon , a Michigan nurse , have dedicated themselves to the front line .
She delayed her retirement this summer to continue work at her hospital .
Few recall the issues that divided the World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ What we remember is the shared sacrifice and the togetherness and the unity.
” The virus presents a protracted challenge that requires Americans to look beyond themselves , says James Kimble , professor and World War II expert at Seton Hall University .
But whether that shared adversary will give them the sense of shared purpose that developed during World War II , he says , remains to be seen .
Leaders from Democratic New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo to President Donald Trump have called the pandemic America ’ s greatest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comparisons between the events , experts say , show how much of the public yearns for a time when Americans displayed such pronounced unity .
Barb Hammon arrives at work a bit before her 7 a.m. shift each morning .
She makes coffee , reads reports , and dons her daily hospital gown , face shield , mask , and two pairs of gloves .
She spends the next exhausting 12 1/2 hours at a job she doesn ’ t need to work .
Ms. Hammon is a critical care nurse in Kalamazoo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her hospital unit , she had planned to retire in late May .
Then came the coronavirus outbreak , and Ms. Hammon decided she wasn ’ t going anywhere .
Postponing her retirement to July 2 , she has spent the past few months on the pandemic front lines .
Ms. Hammon says two things make her stay : love for her coworkers and a desire to play her part .
“ It ’ s part of that collective spirit , ” she says .
“ People want to be part of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They want to do more than just stay home .
They want to feel that they ’ re contributing.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
The United States has lost over 110,000 lives to COVID-19 – more Americans than the Korean War and Vietnam War combined .
Legions of people like Ms. Hammon have moved to help their neighbors during the pandemic , which leaders from Democratic New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo to President Donald Trump have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it entered World War II .
Widespread comparisons between the two events , experts say , show how much of the public yearns for a time when Americans displayed such pronounced unity .
The pandemic presents a protracted challenge that requires Americans to look beyond themselves , says James Kimble , a professor of communication and World War II expert at Seton Hall University in New Jersey .
But whether that shared adversary will give them the sense of shared purpose that developed during World War II , he says , remains to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think victory over the enemy is the solution that heals all ills , ” he says .
“ If you look back , we have largely forgotten those divisions from the [ World War II ] generation .
What we remember is the shared sacrifice and the togetherness and the unity.
” While partisan gaps exist on perceptions of the coronavirus , the public agrees on many key issues related to the public health crisis .
An early-May poll from the Washington Post and University of Maryland found that 86 % of participants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another 80 % thought that people needed to wear masks when in close contact with others outside their home .
Meanwhile , a May Pew Research Center survey showed that 88 % of respondents thought social distancing measures are decreasing the spread of COVID-19 .
Many may forget that at the start of the Second World War , America was a nation deeply divided , says Keith Huxen , senior director of research and history at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans .
Poverty and unemployment were rampant as the economy recovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial segregation was codified under the law .
A large isolationist movement , led in part by aviator Charles Lindbergh , chafed at entering the war – even after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor .
Following the attack , some 120,000 Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps on U.S. soil .
Franklin Roosevelt ’ s government also turned away Jewish refugees in the name of “ national security.
” Simply having an enemy like the Axis Powers , says Mr. Huxen , was not enough to unite the country .
It took an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million men and women in the military and almost the entire population mobilized on the home front – to mend some of those divisions , he says .
The war effort required tremendous sacrifice .
The government rationed items from coal to coffee to conserve supplies for the warfront .
Millions of women , the elderly , and people with disabilities entered jobs they had never before worked .
The public spent huge amounts of money on war bonds , and the draft inducted 10 million men into the military .
Experts interviewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wartime analogy .
Yet these sacrifices , says Professor Kimble , are not so different from those being asked of the public now .
Yesterday ’ s Rosie the Riveter is today ’ s Rosie the Mask-maker .
However the American response to the coronavirus pandemic , says Allan Winkler , a professor emeritus of history at Miami University in Ohio , has been far more tepid .
“ We ’ re all doing what we need to do , ” he says .
“ We ’ re self isolating .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks .
But it doesn ’ t feel like the same engagement.
” That seeming ambivalence , says Professor Kimble , has many causes : erratic leadership , confusion over appropriate public health responses , and even the nature of the virus itself .
“ When something is not definable , not visible , it ’ s difficult for us to picture or to talk about it , ” he says .
“ It can become easier to dismiss.
” In particular , says Professor Kimble , the lack of clear , consistent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of unity .
For a large group of people to band together under a single cause , he says , they need to know how they can contribute and why it ’ s important .
During World War II , says Professor Winkler , people often justified their collective sacrifice with a single phrase : “ There ’ s a war on.
” To this point , he says , the pandemic hasn ’ t been as powerful a rallying cry , leaving some without the sense of connection they desire .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense of collective engagement ” today , says Professor Winkler .
For Susan Coti , a former teacher in Arlington , Virginia , such a sense of shared purpose is key to the way she views collective sacrifice .
Eight years ago her son , Niall , died after stepping on an IED as a Marine in Afghanistan .
Life , says Ms. Coti , has never been the same .
A small piece of comfort , though , is that Niall died for a cause larger than himself , she says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort .
He was carrying on a family tradition shared by Ms. Coti ’ s father – a retired Marine colonel who used to play “ soldiers ” outside his home in Brooklyn , New York , while growing up during World War II .
The coronavirus pandemic is no war , she says , but she hopes it can help Americans find the same shared purpose – and make all the sacrifices of today , in their eyes , worthwhile .
“ We ’ re realizing that it ’ s possible we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We need to respect each other and hold each other up.
” Ms. Hammon , who is entering her last month at the hospital , learned that lesson long ago from her mother , a Holocaust survivor .
It was through the help of others that her mother escaped Germany as a teenager , earned a veterinarian degree , and made it to the United States .
Ms. Hammon says her mother spent the rest of her life paying that help forward .
Growing up , she says , their family often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need .
They could hardly get through a holiday without a call from someone who needed her mother ’ s help .
She was always willing to help , says Ms. Hammon .
It ’ s that same spirit Ms. Hammon says she tries to emulate in her own life , instilled by her mother since she was a child : “ Don ’ t turn anyone away.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

Ms. Hammon says her desire to serve is partly inspired by the selfless example of her mother, a Holocaust survivor, who taught her “Don’t turn anyone away.”
Yet despite partisan divides, limited polling suggests that the majority of Americans see social distancing as necessary – and effective. What’s more, legions of people like Barb Hammon, a Michigan nurse, have dedicated themselves to the front line. She delayed her retirement this summer to continue work at her hospital.
Few recall the issues that divided the World War II generation, he says. “What we remember is the shared sacrifice and the togetherness and the unity.”
Is yesterday’s Rosie the Riveter today’s Rosie the Mask-maker? As the pandemic persists, some scholars wonder what will spur more Americans toward collective sacrifice – just as the nation managed during World War II.
The virus presents a protracted challenge that requires Americans to look beyond themselves, says James Kimble, professor and World War II expert at Seton Hall University. But whether that shared adversary will give them the sense of shared purpose that developed during World War II, he says, remains to be seen.
Leaders from Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to President Donald Trump have called the pandemic America’s greatest challenge since World War II. Widespread comparisons between the events, experts say, show how much of the public yearns for a time when Americans displayed such pronounced unity.
Barb Hammon arrives at work a bit before her 7 a.m. shift each morning. She makes coffee, reads reports, and dons her daily hospital gown, face shield, mask, and two pairs of gloves. She spends the next exhausting 12 1/2 hours at a job she doesn’t need to work.
Ms. Hammon is a critical care nurse in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After 24 years in her hospital unit, she had planned to retire in late May. Then came the coronavirus outbreak, and Ms. Hammon decided she wasn’t going anywhere.
Postponing her retirement to July 2, she has spent the past few months on the pandemic front lines. Ms. Hammon says two things make her stay: love for her coworkers and a desire to play her part.
Why We Wrote This Is yesterday’s Rosie the Riveter today’s Rosie the Mask-maker? As the pandemic persists, some scholars wonder what will spur more Americans toward collective sacrifice – just as the nation managed during World War II.
“It’s part of that collective spirit,” she says. “People want to be part of this [response to the pandemic]. They want to do more than just stay home. They want to feel that they’re contributing.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
The United States has lost over 110,000 lives to COVID-19 – more Americans than the Korean War and Vietnam War combined. Legions of people like Ms. Hammon have moved to help their neighbors during the pandemic, which leaders from Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to President Donald Trump have called America’s greatest challenge since it entered World War II. Widespread comparisons between the two events, experts say, show how much of the public yearns for a time when Americans displayed such pronounced unity.
The pandemic presents a protracted challenge that requires Americans to look beyond themselves, says James Kimble, a professor of communication and World War II expert at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. But whether that shared adversary will give them the sense of shared purpose that developed during World War II, he says, remains to be seen.
“Ultimately, I think victory over the enemy is the solution that heals all ills,” he says. “If you look back, we have largely forgotten those divisions from the [World War II] generation. What we remember is the shared sacrifice and the togetherness and the unity.”
While partisan gaps exist on perceptions of the coronavirus, the public agrees on many key issues related to the public health crisis. An early-May poll from the Washington Post and University of Maryland found that 86% of participants felt that social distancing was necessary. Another 80% thought that people needed to wear masks when in close contact with others outside their home. Meanwhile, a May Pew Research Center survey showed that 88% of respondents thought social distancing measures are decreasing the spread of COVID-19.
Rosie the Mask-maker
Many may forget that at the start of the Second World War, America was a nation deeply divided, says Keith Huxen, senior director of research and history at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
Poverty and unemployment were rampant as the economy recovered from the Great Depression. Jim Crow-era racial segregation was codified under the law. A large isolationist movement, led in part by aviator Charles Lindbergh, chafed at entering the war – even after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Following the attack, some 120,000 Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps on U.S. soil. Franklin Roosevelt’s government also turned away Jewish refugees in the name of “national security.”
AP/File View caption Hide caption Women's Bureau women work as riveters at the Lockheed Aircraft Corp. plant in Burbank, California, in 1943, during World War II.
Simply having an enemy like the Axis Powers, says Mr. Huxen, was not enough to unite the country. It took an enormous multi-year war effort – with 16 million men and women in the military and almost the entire population mobilized on the home front – to mend some of those divisions, he says.
The war effort required tremendous sacrifice. The government rationed items from coal to coffee to conserve supplies for the warfront. Millions of women, the elderly, and people with disabilities entered jobs they had never before worked. The public spent huge amounts of money on war bonds, and the draft inducted 10 million men into the military.
Experts interviewed by the Monitor acknowledged some limitations to the wartime analogy. Yet these sacrifices, says Professor Kimble, are not so different from those being asked of the public now. Yesterday’s Rosie the Riveter is today’s Rosie the Mask-maker.
However the American response to the coronavirus pandemic, says Allan Winkler, a professor emeritus of history at Miami University in Ohio, has been far more tepid.
“We’re all doing what we need to do,” he says. “We’re self isolating. We were behaving. We’re wearing masks. But it doesn’t feel like the same engagement.”
That seeming ambivalence, says Professor Kimble, has many causes: erratic leadership, confusion over appropriate public health responses, and even the nature of the virus itself.
“When something is not definable, not visible, it’s difficult for us to picture or to talk about it,” he says. “It can become easier to dismiss.”
In particular, says Professor Kimble, the lack of clear, consistent messaging from policymakers has hamstrung a sense of unity. For a large group of people to band together under a single cause, he says, they need to know how they can contribute and why it’s important.
During World War II, says Professor Winkler, people often justified their collective sacrifice with a single phrase: “There’s a war on.” To this point, he says, the pandemic hasn’t been as powerful a rallying cry, leaving some without the sense of connection they desire.
“I just wish that there was that sense of collective engagement” today, says Professor Winkler.
Reflection of sacrifice
For Susan Coti, a former teacher in Arlington, Virginia, such a sense of shared purpose is key to the way she views collective sacrifice.
Eight years ago her son, Niall, died after stepping on an IED as a Marine in Afghanistan. Life, says Ms. Coti, has never been the same.
A small piece of comfort, though, is that Niall died for a cause larger than himself, she says. He was fighting in a country-wide war effort. He was carrying on a family tradition shared by Ms. Coti’s father – a retired Marine colonel who used to play “soldiers” outside his home in Brooklyn, New York, while growing up during World War II.
The coronavirus pandemic is no war, she says, but she hopes it can help Americans find the same shared purpose – and make all the sacrifices of today, in their eyes, worthwhile.
“We’re realizing that it’s possible we can fail,” she says. “We need to respect each other and hold each other up.”
Ms. Hammon, who is entering her last month at the hospital, learned that lesson long ago from her mother, a Holocaust survivor. It was through the help of others that her mother escaped Germany as a teenager, earned a veterinarian degree, and made it to the United States. Ms. Hammon says her mother spent the rest of her life paying that help forward.
Growing up, she says, their family often gave shelter and assistance to people in need. They could hardly get through a holiday without a call from someone who needed her mother’s help. She was always willing to help, says Ms. Hammon.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
It’s that same spirit Ms. Hammon says she tries to emulate in her own life, instilled by her mother since she was a child: “Don’t turn anyone away.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-22--COVID-19 and the (possibly) changing climate debate

The imperative – for authoritarian regimes and democratically elected governments alike – will be to get a battered economy back in action .
That could temper the appetite for greener initiatives .
In the United States , that includes how extensively to intervene to support the oil industry and airlines .
In France , President Emmanuel Macron , an advocate for international action on climate , confronts the expectation that the economy will shrink by at least 6 % .
In China , the economy has shrunk by 6.8 % in the first three months of 2020 .
By mid-March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nearly 20 % drop in carbon emissions in China .
In large cities in Asia , Europe , and the Americas , the air has been much clearer .
The main lesson for activists is that in crisis , with a scientific consensus , leaders can act decisively .
And their hope – reflected in an open letter last month– is that similarly , as leaders push to rebuild economies , greener priorities will prevail .
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised the question : “ What lessons will we learn ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change , it has brought a sense of a potentially pivotal moment .
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads worldwide , that question is being heard ever more widely .
Yet the potentially more critical question is what lessons we ’ ll learn .
And on at least one key policy challenge , climate change , the terms of debate have been getting clearer and starker .
Climate change will be far from the only subject of post-pandemic policy debate , given the sheer scale of the human cost of the COVID crisis and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are taking to constrain it .
Tug of wars are certain to surface domestically on issues like welfare provision , public health , economic security , or the trade-off between surveillance and individual rights .
Internationally , we 'll see them on the future of badly strained international institutions , the workings of the global economy , and relations with China .
Yet even as the pandemic continues to spread , the “ what lessons ” question has brought a dramatically new context and urgency to the debate around climate change .
Editor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
For those already urging a far stronger worldwide response – scientists , policy specialists , politicians , and the growing numbers of grassroots campaigners inspired by the teenage Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg – the pandemic is being viewed as a potentially pivotal moment .
They ’ re presenting it as important new evidence both of why action on climate change matters , and why such action is also possible if leaders summon the political will .
Exhibit A came in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mainland China in the wake of its economic shutdowns showing a dramatic drop in emissions of one toxic gas , nitrogen dioxide .
By midway through March , scientists were estimating a roughly 25 % decrease from the usual level of carbon emissions in China , the world ’ s single largest source of the pollutant .
Since then , millions of people across the world have seen and felt the environmental effects of COVID-related economic lockdowns .
In large cities from New Delhi to Bangkok in Asia , London to Rome in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Americas , not only were the streets suddenly quieter , the air was much clearer .
And in what climate activists see as an important signpost for the way forward , huge numbers of people have responded to COVID-19 – like global warming , a product of human interaction with the natural world – with generosity , altruism , and community-spirited action .
The main lesson climate activists are drawing , however , is that in times of crisis , with a scientific consensus on what is necessary and what will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For the advocates of stronger action on climate change , the takeaway is clear .
As Ms. Thunberg remarked on a recent Zoom call with fellow activists and supporters , “ every crisis needs to be treated like a crisis.
” The advocates of climate change action also know , of course , that the shutdown of wide areas of the world ’ s major economies is , in the longer run , neither sustainable nor desirable .
Their hope – reflected in an open letter last month by an alliance of scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate activists – is that in the push to revive and rebuild world economies , greener priorities become the drivers .
That ’ s where the other side of the debate , the pushback , is likely to come to the fore .
And there have already been signs of the tradeoffs that major governments are going to have to weigh .
Take the world 's largest economy , the United States .
The oil industry and the airlines , two major contributors to carbon emissions , have been severely hit .
Given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reduced air travel even when the worst of the COVID-19 crisis has passed , the federal government will have to decide how extensively to intervene in support of their recovery .
The signs from the Trump administration , at least so far , is that both are likely to receive high-priority attention .
In France , where President Emmanuel Macron has been an advocate of international action on climate change , it is clear he , too , will face difficult decisions .
In an effort last year to blunt the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had been staging street demonstrations across the country , he empowered a citizens ’ panel to come up with policy recommendations on reducing emissions .
He pledged not to ignore them .
But the agenda they ’ ve produced includes radical constraints on everything from air travel and automobile sales to telecommunications infrastructure – now coinciding with a COVID-19 crisis that is expected to shrink France ’ s economy this year by at least 6 % .
Nor is China immune .
In the first three months of the year , its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first such contraction since official quarterly GDP figures were first released nearly three decades ago .
In theory at least , President Xi Jinping could further re-burnish his post-crisis international image by prioritizing lower-carbon technologies in his drive to get the economy growing again .
There would be another potential advantage to doing that .
The main policy tool used to respond to the last major economic jolt – the 2008 world financial crisis – might not be as attractive this time around .
Back then , the answer was a huge financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also hugely raised the scale of debt inside China , a problem President Xi has in recent years been actively seeking to bring under control .
Still , the immediate imperative – for Mr. Xi ’ s authoritarian regime no less than for democratically elected leaders like President Trump or President Macron – will be to get a comprehensively battered economy back in action as quickly as possible .
So it ’ s at least as likely that the Chinese leader will focus on reviving his country ’ s existing economic machine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covering Climate Now , a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

The imperative – for authoritarian regimes and democratically elected governments alike – will be to get a battered economy back in action. That could temper the appetite for greener initiatives.
In the United States, that includes how extensively to intervene to support the oil industry and airlines. In France, President Emmanuel Macron, an advocate for international action on climate, confronts the expectation that the economy will shrink by at least 6%. In China, the economy has shrunk by 6.8% in the first three months of 2020.
Many climate activists see the world's community-spirited response to the coronavirus as potentially shaping a more robust response to another collective challenge: global warming.
By mid-March, amid economic shutdowns, scientists calculated a nearly 20% drop in carbon emissions in China. In large cities in Asia, Europe, and the Americas, the air has been much clearer. The main lesson for activists is that in crisis, with a scientific consensus, leaders can act decisively. And their hope – reflected in an open letter last month– is that similarly, as leaders push to rebuild economies, greener priorities will prevail.
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised the question: “What lessons will we learn?” And for those trying to address climate change, it has brought a sense of a potentially pivotal moment.
“Will we learn the lessons?”
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads worldwide, that question is being heard ever more widely. Yet the potentially more critical question is what lessons we’ll learn. And on at least one key policy challenge, climate change, the terms of debate have been getting clearer and starker.
Climate change will be far from the only subject of post-pandemic policy debate, given the sheer scale of the human cost of the COVID crisis and the unprecedented economic and political actions governments are taking to constrain it. Tug of wars are certain to surface domestically on issues like welfare provision, public health, economic security, or the trade-off between surveillance and individual rights. Internationally, we'll see them on the future of badly strained international institutions, the workings of the global economy, and relations with China.
Why We Wrote This Many climate activists see the world's community-spirited response to the coronavirus as potentially shaping a more robust response to another collective challenge: global warming.
Yet even as the pandemic continues to spread, the “what lessons” question has brought a dramatically new context and urgency to the debate around climate change.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
For those already urging a far stronger worldwide response – scientists, policy specialists, politicians, and the growing numbers of grassroots campaigners inspired by the teenage Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg – the pandemic is being viewed as a potentially pivotal moment.
They’re presenting it as important new evidence both of why action on climate change matters, and why such action is also possible if leaders summon the political will.
Exhibit A
Exhibit A came in late February, with satellite photos of mainland China in the wake of its economic shutdowns showing a dramatic drop in emissions of one toxic gas, nitrogen dioxide. By midway through March, scientists were estimating a roughly 25% decrease from the usual level of carbon emissions in China, the world’s single largest source of the pollutant.
Since then, millions of people across the world have seen and felt the environmental effects of COVID-related economic lockdowns. In large cities from New Delhi to Bangkok in Asia, London to Rome in Europe, and New York to Bogota in the Americas, not only were the streets suddenly quieter, the air was much clearer.
And in what climate activists see as an important signpost for the way forward, huge numbers of people have responded to COVID-19 – like global warming, a product of human interaction with the natural world – with generosity, altruism, and community-spirited action.
The main lesson climate activists are drawing, however, is that in times of crisis, with a scientific consensus on what is necessary and what will work, leaders can act decisively. For the advocates of stronger action on climate change, the takeaway is clear. As Ms. Thunberg remarked on a recent Zoom call with fellow activists and supporters, “every crisis needs to be treated like a crisis.”
The advocates of climate change action also know, of course, that the shutdown of wide areas of the world’s major economies is, in the longer run, neither sustainable nor desirable. Their hope – reflected in an open letter last month by an alliance of scientists, politicians, religious leaders, and climate activists – is that in the push to revive and rebuild world economies, greener priorities become the drivers.
That’s where the other side of the debate, the pushback, is likely to come to the fore. And there have already been signs of the tradeoffs that major governments are going to have to weigh.
ESA/Reuters View caption Hide caption A combination image distributed by the European Space Agency on March 27, 2020, shows the average nitrogen dioxide concentrations from air pollution across France in March, 2019 (l.), and from March 14-25, 2020. The ESA says the reduction is due to the strict quarantine measures during the coronavirus disease outbreak.
Oil and airlines
Take the world's largest economy, the United States. The oil industry and the airlines, two major contributors to carbon emissions, have been severely hit. Given the prospect of continued low oil prices and reduced air travel even when the worst of the COVID-19 crisis has passed, the federal government will have to decide how extensively to intervene in support of their recovery. The signs from the Trump administration, at least so far, is that both are likely to receive high-priority attention.
In France, where President Emmanuel Macron has been an advocate of international action on climate change, it is clear he, too, will face difficult decisions. In an effort last year to blunt the “direct democracy” demands of yellow-vest protesters who had been staging street demonstrations across the country, he empowered a citizens’ panel to come up with policy recommendations on reducing emissions. He pledged not to ignore them. But the agenda they’ve produced includes radical constraints on everything from air travel and automobile sales to telecommunications infrastructure – now coinciding with a COVID-19 crisis that is expected to shrink France’s economy this year by at least 6%.
Nor is China immune. In the first three months of the year, its economy shrank by 6.8% – the first such contraction since official quarterly GDP figures were first released nearly three decades ago.
In theory at least, President Xi Jinping could further re-burnish his post-crisis international image by prioritizing lower-carbon technologies in his drive to get the economy growing again.
There would be another potential advantage to doing that. The main policy tool used to respond to the last major economic jolt – the 2008 world financial crisis – might not be as attractive this time around. Back then, the answer was a huge financial stimulus. It worked. Yet it also hugely raised the scale of debt inside China, a problem President Xi has in recent years been actively seeking to bring under control.
Still, the immediate imperative – for Mr. Xi’s authoritarian regime no less than for democratically elected leaders like President Trump or President Macron – will be to get a comprehensively battered economy back in action as quickly as possible. So it’s at least as likely that the Chinese leader will focus on reviving his country’s existing economic machine.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was published as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-03-17--A pandemic's generous responders

A pandemic's generous responders

In a pandemic , everyone is a responder , even if he or she is self-isolating .
Yet for many people during the coronavirus outbreak , the response has been outward .
According to the research group Candid , global giving to combat the outbreak and deal with the economic fallout has reached $ 1.3 billion in a matter of weeks .
That ’ s far higher than for recent disasters such as the Australian bushfires or the 2014 Ebola outbreak .
The current tally of private charity may be low compared with what governments are spending .
But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will probably make a difference .
For one , it shows the spirit of generosity remains high despite the gloom of contagion and predictions of long lockdowns .
And it speaks to a confidence that the virus and its effects can be licked by the creativity and nimbleness of charities and foundations .
Givers themselves have had to be nimble during this unusual crisis .
Gone are the public fundraising galas , walkathons , and people soliciting on the street or door to door .
Volunteers are few .
Instead , donors have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Venmo , GoFundMe , and Kickstarter .
Twitter threads often elicit instant charity .
Giving is often targeted to specific people in need , with donors making sure their money has the intended impact .
One example is a Facebook group in North Dakota called Neighbors Helping Neighbors .
Within days of its launch it had more than 1,400 members donating money and goods to at-risk people in the community .
So far , the bulk of giving is from big donors , such as South Korea tech companies or the Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Organization along with a few partners set up a COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund .
In U.S. cities where the virus first showed up , local foundations have sped up grant giving , often to meet the needs of low-income people .
In Pittsburgh , the United Way has surveyed local charities to pinpoint specific requests for help .
Meanwhile , food banks in many cities are setting up drive-through distribution points for people in cars to pick up food through a window .
For such groups , hope is more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Giving fills many of the gaps left in government response to the virus .
At a time when people think the world is going to pieces , generosity helps them feel whole again .

In a pandemic, everyone is a responder, even if he or she is self-isolating. Yet for many people during the coronavirus outbreak, the response has been outward. According to the research group Candid, global giving to combat the outbreak and deal with the economic fallout has reached $1.3 billion in a matter of weeks. That’s far higher than for recent disasters such as the Australian bushfires or the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
The current tally of private charity may be low compared with what governments are spending. But it comes with a number of differences that will probably make a difference. For one, it shows the spirit of generosity remains high despite the gloom of contagion and predictions of long lockdowns. And it speaks to a confidence that the virus and its effects can be licked by the creativity and nimbleness of charities and foundations.
Givers themselves have had to be nimble during this unusual crisis. Gone are the public fundraising galas, walkathons, and people soliciting on the street or door to door. Volunteers are few. Instead, donors have had to go online, tapping sites like Venmo, GoFundMe, and Kickstarter. Twitter threads often elicit instant charity.
Giving is often targeted to specific people in need, with donors making sure their money has the intended impact. One example is a Facebook group in North Dakota called Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Within days of its launch it had more than 1,400 members donating money and goods to at-risk people in the community.
So far, the bulk of giving is from big donors, such as South Korea tech companies or the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. The World Health Organization along with a few partners set up a COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
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In U.S. cities where the virus first showed up, local foundations have sped up grant giving, often to meet the needs of low-income people. In Pittsburgh, the United Way has surveyed local charities to pinpoint specific requests for help. Meanwhile, food banks in many cities are setting up drive-through distribution points for people in cars to pick up food through a window.
For such groups, hope is more than a thought. It is love in action. Giving fills many of the gaps left in government response to the virus. At a time when people think the world is going to pieces, generosity helps them feel whole again.


csmonitor--2020-05-04--North Korean gunfire at DMZ follows Kim's public reappearance

North and South Korean troops exchanged fire along their tense border on Sunday , the South ’ s military said , the first such incident since the rivals took unprecedented steps to lower front-line animosities in late 2018 .
Violent confrontations have occasionally occurred along the border , the world ’ s most heavily fortified .
While Sunday ’ s incident is a reminder of persistent tensions , it didn ’ t cause any known casualties on either side and is unlikely to escalate , observers said .
The exchange of fire came a day after North Korea broadcast video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reappearing in public after a 20-day absence amid intense speculation about his health .
KCNA said Mr. Kim attended Friday ’ s ceremony marking the completion of a fertilizer factory near Pyongyang along with senior officials .
State TV showed Mr. Kim smiling and walking around factory facilities .
The Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said in a statement that North Korean troops fired several bullets at a South Korean guard post inside the border zone .
South Korea responded with a total of 20 rounds of warning shots on two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it said .
South Korea suffered no casualties , the military said .
Defense officials said it ’ s also unlikely that North Korea had any casualties , since the South Korean warning shots were fired at uninhibited North Korean territory .
The North ’ s official Korean Central News Agency , or KCNA , did not immediately report about the incident .
A preliminary South Korean analysis showed that North Korea ’ s firing was probably not a calculated provocation , though Seoul will continue examining whether there was any motivation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official said .
He spoke on condition of anonymity , citing department rules .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also said it was believed that North Korea 's firing was not intentional .
“ We think those are accidental , ” Mr. Pompeo said on ABC 's “ This Week.
” “ South Koreans did return fire .
So far as we can tell , there was no loss of life on either side.
” Farming activities around the North Korean area where the firing occurred continued throughout Sunday and North Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any other suspicious activities after the gunfire , the South Korean defense official said .
He said there was thick fog in the area at the time of the incident .
Later Sunday , South Korea sent a message to North Korea to try to avoid an escalation , but the North did not immediately reply , according to South Korea ’ s military .
Meanwhile , North Korean leader Mr. Kim did not undergo surgery or any other medical procedure , a South Korean official said Sunday , amid speculation about his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he reappeared publicly in recent days .
While North Korean video showed a smiling Mr. Kim moving around Friday , cutting a red ribbon and smoking quelled intense rumors that he might be gravely ill or even have died , some media outlets and observers still raised questions about his health , citing moments when his walking looked a bit stiff at the factory .
A senior South Korean presidential official told reporters Sunday that the government had determined that Mr. Kim did not have surgery or any other procedure , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whose name was n't disclosed by the Blue House , refused to provide the basis for the intelligence assessment .
South Korea has a spotty record in confirming developments in North Korea , one of the world ’ s most secretive countries .
But when rumors about Mr. Kim ’ s health surfaced in recent weeks , the South Korean government steadfastly dismissed them as baseless and maintained there were no unusual activities in the North .
Mr. Kim earlier vanished from the public eye after presiding over a Politburo meeting of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 to discuss the coronavirus .
Speculation about his health began swirling after he missed an April 15 event commemorating the birthday of his grandfather and state founder , Kim Il Sung , something he had never done since inheriting power upon his father Kim Jong Il ’ s death in late 2011 .
The Korean Peninsula remains split along the 155-mile-long , 2.5-mile-wide border called the Demilitarized Zone .
It was originally created as a buffer after the end of the 1950-53 Korean War .
But unlike its name , an estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near the DMZ , which is also guarded by barbed wire fences , tank traps , and combat troops on both sides .
Under a set of agreements to reduce border tensions reached in September 2018 , the two Koreas destroyed some of their front-line guard posts and began removing mines from the DMZ later that year .
But the efforts stalled amid a deadlock in negotiations between Mr. Kim and President Donald Trump meant to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear arsenal .
The diplomacy hasn ’ t made any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vietnam in early 2019 broke down due to disputes over U.S.-led sanctions on North Korea .
Earlier this year , North Korea carried out a slew of missile and other weapons tests , but they were short-range and none posed a direct threat to the U.S. mainland .
The last time there was gunfire along the Korea border was in November 2017 , when North Korean soldiers sprayed bullets at a colleague fleeing to South Korea .
The defector was hit five times , but survived and is now living in South Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire .
Previously , the two Koreas traded gunfire along the DMZ numerous times , but no deadly clashes have occurred in recent years .
A 2015 land mine blast that maimed two South Korean soldiers pushed the Koreas to the brink of an armed conflict .
South Korea blamed North Korea for the explosion .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .

North and South Korean troops exchanged fire along their tense border on Sunday, the South’s military said, the first such incident since the rivals took unprecedented steps to lower front-line animosities in late 2018.
Violent confrontations have occasionally occurred along the border, the world’s most heavily fortified. While Sunday’s incident is a reminder of persistent tensions, it didn’t cause any known casualties on either side and is unlikely to escalate, observers said.
The exchange of fire came a day after North Korea broadcast video of its leader, Kim Jong Un, reappearing in public after a 20-day absence amid intense speculation about his health.
KCNA said Mr. Kim attended Friday’s ceremony marking the completion of a fertilizer factory near Pyongyang along with senior officials. State TV showed Mr. Kim smiling and walking around factory facilities.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said in a statement that North Korean troops fired several bullets at a South Korean guard post inside the border zone. South Korea responded with a total of 20 rounds of warning shots on two occasions before issuing a warning broadcast, it said.
South Korea suffered no casualties, the military said. Defense officials said it’s also unlikely that North Korea had any casualties, since the South Korean warning shots were fired at uninhibited North Korean territory. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, did not immediately report about the incident.
A preliminary South Korean analysis showed that North Korea’s firing was probably not a calculated provocation, though Seoul will continue examining whether there was any motivation for the action, a South Korean defense official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing department rules.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also said it was believed that North Korea's firing was not intentional.
“We think those are accidental,” Mr. Pompeo said on ABC's “This Week.” “South Koreans did return fire. So far as we can tell, there was no loss of life on either side.”
Farming activities around the North Korean area where the firing occurred continued throughout Sunday and North Korea’s military didn’t display any other suspicious activities after the gunfire, the South Korean defense official said. He said there was thick fog in the area at the time of the incident.
Later Sunday, South Korea sent a message to North Korea to try to avoid an escalation, but the North did not immediately reply, according to South Korea’s military.
Meanwhile, North Korean leader Mr. Kim did not undergo surgery or any other medical procedure, a South Korean official said Sunday, amid speculation about his health that continues to linger even after he reappeared publicly in recent days.
While North Korean video showed a smiling Mr. Kim moving around Friday, cutting a red ribbon and smoking quelled intense rumors that he might be gravely ill or even have died, some media outlets and observers still raised questions about his health, citing moments when his walking looked a bit stiff at the factory.
A senior South Korean presidential official told reporters Sunday that the government had determined that Mr. Kim did not have surgery or any other procedure, according to the presidential Blue House. The official, whose name wasn't disclosed by the Blue House, refused to provide the basis for the intelligence assessment.
South Korea has a spotty record in confirming developments in North Korea, one of the world’s most secretive countries. But when rumors about Mr. Kim’s health surfaced in recent weeks, the South Korean government steadfastly dismissed them as baseless and maintained there were no unusual activities in the North.
Mr. Kim earlier vanished from the public eye after presiding over a Politburo meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party on April 11 to discuss the coronavirus. Speculation about his health began swirling after he missed an April 15 event commemorating the birthday of his grandfather and state founder, Kim Il Sung, something he had never done since inheriting power upon his father Kim Jong Il’s death in late 2011.
The Korean Peninsula remains split along the 155-mile-long, 2.5-mile-wide border called the Demilitarized Zone. It was originally created as a buffer after the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. But unlike its name, an estimated 2 million mines are peppered inside and near the DMZ, which is also guarded by barbed wire fences, tank traps, and combat troops on both sides.
Under a set of agreements to reduce border tensions reached in September 2018, the two Koreas destroyed some of their front-line guard posts and began removing mines from the DMZ later that year. But the efforts stalled amid a deadlock in negotiations between Mr. Kim and President Donald Trump meant to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear arsenal. The diplomacy hasn’t made any headway since the second Kim-Trump summit in Vietnam in early 2019 broke down due to disputes over U.S.-led sanctions on North Korea.
Earlier this year, North Korea carried out a slew of missile and other weapons tests, but they were short-range and none posed a direct threat to the U.S. mainland.
The last time there was gunfire along the Korea border was in November 2017, when North Korean soldiers sprayed bullets at a colleague fleeing to South Korea. The defector was hit five times, but survived and is now living in South Korea. South Korea didn’t return fire.
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Previously, the two Koreas traded gunfire along the DMZ numerous times, but no deadly clashes have occurred in recent years. A 2015 land mine blast that maimed two South Korean soldiers pushed the Koreas to the brink of an armed conflict. South Korea blamed North Korea for the explosion.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-05-05--Overcoming fear of the unknown

Overcoming fear of the unknown

Of all the fears that nag at us , fear of the unknown can seem the most terrifying .
The COVID-19 pandemic is a case in point .
Media reports often magnify the uncertainty many already feel .
“ There ’ s a lot we just don ’ t know , ” experts tell us .
By contrast , God is described in the Bible as all-knowing .
Psalm 139 begins : “ Lord , you have examined me and you know me .
You know everything I do ; ... You are all around me on every side ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( verses 1 , 2 , 5 , Good News Translation ) .
Each of us has the God-given capacity to know what God knows – to perceive the one true reality of God ’ s spiritual creation and to know ourselves as safely tucked into this creation .
There are no unknowns to God , who is infinite Mind , or to us as God ’ s spiritual offspring , who express this Mind .
This idea came into fresh focus for me as I read this definition of “ unknown ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures ” by Mary Baker Eddy , the discoverer of Christian Science : “ That which spiritual sense alone comprehends , and which is unknown to the material senses .
“ Paganism and agnosticism may define Deity as ‘ the great unknowable ; ’ but Christian Science brings God much nearer to man , and makes Him better known as the All-in-all , forever near ” ( p. 596 ) .
Here , in a few words , the author pinpoints fear as a product of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God as the result of letting the five senses ( “ the material senses ” ) dictate one ’ s view of life and health .
Christian Science helps us address fear by looking deeply into the very nature of God .
This “ looking ” involves spiritual sense , which is everyone ’ s God-given ability to think , see , and feel spiritually – to discern what God , Spirit , is communicating to us .
There are powerful examples of this in the Bible , especially in the life of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God intimately but also verified God ’ s wholly good and spiritual nature by healing people .
Is it any wonder he was not only the most loving and insightful man on earth but also the most fearless ?
People came to Jesus in desperate situations , but he resolved each of them quickly and peacefully .
In one case , Jesus is described as “ asleep on a pillow ” as waves crashed into the vessel he and his disciples were in ( see Mark 4:35-39 ) .
The disciples awakened him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care that they were all about to drown .
Was Jesus just a sound sleeper ?
Or was he so conscious of the presence of God , divine Love , that he literally wasn ’ t “ in ” the storm ?
He rose and said with authority , “ Peace , be still , ” and the waters became still .
“ Peace , be still , ” is what God is saying to each of us through the Christ , the divine message that ’ s just as present today as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christ , Truth , is here to help us see the reality of what God always sees and knows .
When we receive the Christ message into our hearts , a great spiritual peace sweeps over us , removing fear and opening the way for healing .
I felt this deep peace unmistakably one night when our young son became suddenly ill. What began as a mild fever quickly intensified , and I was gripped with fear in spite of my prayers .
A Christian Science practitioner agreed to come right over and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I had of course been praying , but we were so grateful for the practitioner ’ s support .
I was prepared to call 911 if the situation worsened , but the moment this spiritually minded woman entered our home , I felt the Christly assurance that God was holding my son safe .
Within minutes , the fever dissolved and he was breathing and acting normally again .
It was one of the most immediate and sacred healing experiences I have ever had .
This experience and so many others over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowing that the very substance of our being is created and maintained by God .
And they show us that God loves and preserves us – not so much by rescuing us from evil , including disease , but by helping us see that evil is never the reality it seems to be .
The Christ is here today telling us , “ Do not be afraid ” ( Mark 5:36 , NKJV ) – your true identity is spiritual , upheld by the one perfect Mind that is God .
As we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Helps us know what our creator knows about us : that we exist as divine Mind ’ s very knowing of its own perfect selfhood .
And heals our fear of the unknown .
Adapted from an article published on sentinel.christianscience.com , April 30 , 2020 .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all the Monitor ’ s coronavirus coverage is free , including articles from this column .
There ’ s also a special free section of JSH-Online.com on a healing response to the coronavirus .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Of all the fears that nag at us, fear of the unknown can seem the most terrifying. The COVID-19 pandemic is a case in point. Media reports often magnify the uncertainty many already feel. “There’s a lot we just don’t know,” experts tell us.
By contrast, God is described in the Bible as all-knowing. Psalm 139 begins: “Lord, you have examined me and you know me. You know everything I do;... You are all around me on every side; you protect me with your power” (verses 1, 2, 5, Good News Translation).
Each of us has the God-given capacity to know what God knows – to perceive the one true reality of God’s spiritual creation and to know ourselves as safely tucked into this creation. There are no unknowns to God, who is infinite Mind, or to us as God’s spiritual offspring, who express this Mind.
This idea came into fresh focus for me as I read this definition of “unknown” that appears in the Glossary of “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science: “That which spiritual sense alone comprehends, and which is unknown to the material senses.
“Paganism and agnosticism may define Deity as ‘the great unknowable;’ but Christian Science brings God much nearer to man, and makes Him better known as the All-in-all, forever near” (p. 596).
Here, in a few words, the author pinpoints fear as a product of not knowing God. And not knowing God as the result of letting the five senses (“the material senses”) dictate one’s view of life and health. Christian Science helps us address fear by looking deeply into the very nature of God. This “looking” involves spiritual sense, which is everyone’s God-given ability to think, see, and feel spiritually – to discern what God, Spirit, is communicating to us.
There are powerful examples of this in the Bible, especially in the life of Christ Jesus. He not only knew God intimately but also verified God’s wholly good and spiritual nature by healing people. Is it any wonder he was not only the most loving and insightful man on earth but also the most fearless?
People came to Jesus in desperate situations, but he resolved each of them quickly and peacefully. In one case, Jesus is described as “asleep on a pillow” as waves crashed into the vessel he and his disciples were in (see Mark 4:35-39). The disciples awakened him and asked why he didn’t care that they were all about to drown.
Was Jesus just a sound sleeper? Or was he so conscious of the presence of God, divine Love, that he literally wasn’t “in” the storm? He rose and said with authority, “Peace, be still,” and the waters became still.
“Peace, be still,” is what God is saying to each of us through the Christ, the divine message that’s just as present today as it was in Jesus’ time. Christ, Truth, is here to help us see the reality of what God always sees and knows. When we receive the Christ message into our hearts, a great spiritual peace sweeps over us, removing fear and opening the way for healing.
I felt this deep peace unmistakably one night when our young son became suddenly ill. What began as a mild fever quickly intensified, and I was gripped with fear in spite of my prayers. A Christian Science practitioner agreed to come right over and pray for our son. My wife and I had of course been praying, but we were so grateful for the practitioner’s support.
I was prepared to call 911 if the situation worsened, but the moment this spiritually minded woman entered our home, I felt the Christly assurance that God was holding my son safe. Within minutes, the fever dissolved and he was breathing and acting normally again. It was one of the most immediate and sacred healing experiences I have ever had.
This experience and so many others over the years confirm the healing power of knowing that the very substance of our being is created and maintained by God. And they show us that God loves and preserves us – not so much by rescuing us from evil, including disease, but by helping us see that evil is never the reality it seems to be. The Christ is here today telling us, “Do not be afraid” (Mark 5:36, NKJV) – your true identity is spiritual, upheld by the one perfect Mind that is God.
As we glimpse this, it restores calm. Helps us know what our creator knows about us: that we exist as divine Mind’s very knowing of its own perfect selfhood. And heals our fear of the unknown.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Adapted from an article published on sentinel.christianscience.com, April 30, 2020.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all the Monitor’s coronavirus coverage is free, including articles from this column. There’s also a special free section of JSH-Online.com on a healing response to the coronavirus. There is no paywall for any of this coverage.