csmonitor--2020-05-19--Another big job-loss wave looms: state and city workers

“ I want to be cautious because I don ’ t know how extensive this will be , ” he says .
“ Most of us are just grateful that we have a job.
” And government workers are cutting back .
One furloughed Cuyahoga County worker , near Cleveland , who asked not to be named due to concern about his job , has put a wedding , honeymoon , and new home purchase on hold this year .
Many fiscal-policy experts say the federal government should move ahead with a new aid package for states and cities – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the result could be a large new wave of unemployment .
In April , nearly 1 million state and local government jobs disappeared .
It 's a challenge for government employees echoing nationwide from California ( a proposed 10 % pay cut ) to Michigan ( two-day furloughs per pay period ) .
Ohio is in the thick of belt-tightening , with Republican Gov .
Mike DeWine asking state agencies to prepare for possible 20 % spending cuts .
As the pandemic-led lockdown slashes tax revenues , Mayor Nan Whaley of Dayton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter of her city ’ s workforce and closed two of its golf courses , which probably means eight more unemployed city workers .
It was an easy choice .
The two city-owned golf courses were already losing money before the pandemic , so Mayor Nan Whaley of Dayton , Ohio , closed them earlier this month to pare back expenses .
But the move is costing some workers their jobs .
And tougher decisions lie ahead .
Mayor Whaley is weighing cuts of up to 18 % for the city budget in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already had to furlough 25 % of the city ’ s workforce , as she struggles to maintain vital services in a city where the median household income , at $ 31,000 , is about half the national average .
Dayton ’ s challenge , though particularly acute , echoes in cities and states nationwide as they see their local economies contract because of the pandemic-led downturn and rising unemployment .
The upshot : At a time when the federal government is showering money on individuals and businesses , many states and cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds , and cut back services and perhaps school budgets .
And because they are obligated to balance their budgets , they will initiate a new wave of job losses – this time for public-sector employees .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
How severe the cuts and layoffs will be will depend on the speed of the economic rebound and the size of federal aid .
The House has passed and senators have introduced measures to speed aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the political spectrum expect a slow rebound .
“ The rapid drain on state and local revenues is generally unprecedented , ” says Brian Riedl , a fiscal policy expert at the conservative Manhattan Institute .
“ It ’ s almost guaranteed that states and cities are going to need another round of assistance.
” Democratic California Gov .
Gavin Newsom released a revised budget proposal last week , including a 10 % pay cut for state workers , after the state ’ s coronavirus lockdown turned a surplus into a projected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon are among the early states to furlough thousands of workers .
State employees have to take extra days off unpaid to save the state money .
Many other states face a double whammy : a plunge in general sales and income taxes , but also revenues from battered mainstay industries like oil ( for Louisiana ) , investment banking ( New York ) , or tourism ( Hawaii , Nevada , and Florida ) .
Ohio is on the leading edge of the problem .
Republican Gov .
Mike DeWine is asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 20 % .
Ohio cities and towns are also feeling the pinch .
“ The path forward without federal or state assistance is a very ugly path , and will be experienced broadly and deeply by the citizens of Dayton , ” says Dayton City Manager Shelley Dickstein .
Honeymoon and new house ?
Not now .
Cincinnati and Columbus are among the places furloughing workers .
So is Cleveland and the rest of Cuyahoga County .
“ I want to be cautious because I don ’ t know how extensive this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health and Human Services worker in Cuyahoga County , who asked not to be named due to concern about his job .
He ’ d planned this year to have a wedding , a honeymoon in St. Thomas , and a new house – dreams now on hold .
“ Most of us are just grateful that we have a job , ” he says .
Nationally , nearly 1 million state and local employees lost their work in April alone , out of a total 20 million such workers ( 13 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
The squeeze on the public sector can also dim the overall economy .
“ State and local governments buy office supplies , and cars and trucks ... from the private sector , ” says Elizabeth McNichol , a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities , a research group on the political left .
“ They give assistance to people who spend money in their local communities.
” She says a top priority for Congress , alongside general aid to states and cities , should be funds targeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t run short .
The CARES Act , passed by Congress in April , devoted $ 139 billion toward helping state and local governments , plus $ 11 billion to help U.S. territories , tribal governments , and the District of Columbia .
But those funds are largely intended to cover expenses directly related to the coronavirus outbreak .
So places like Cuyahoga County , which qualified alongside states for a chunk of that federal aid , see fiscal gaps going unfilled .
Then there are small cities like South Haven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round of federal relief targets localities with populations as small as 50,000 ( the threshold for CARES Act eligibility was 500,000 residents ) , South Haven wouldn ’ t qualify .
The lake-front community has barely 4,000 people and was already dealing with added budget pressures due to flooding caused by abnormally high water levels on Lake Michigan .
“ We started building the budget in January with the assumption of having to invest between $ 500,000 and $ 1.5 million to combat the high water , ” says Brian Dissette , South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ envisioned the COVID-19 situation or the potential for a recession.
” Amid all the uncertainty , he says , “ we have told city council to expect amendments [ to the proposed $ 46 million budget ] throughout the year.
” Budget cuts totaling $ 600,000 have already been made , including staff reductions .
Local governments are generally trying to make payroll cuts a last resort .
Not far from South Haven , Heidi Keister of Paw Paw , Michigan , is working limited hours as a legal secretary in the Van @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even as her hours have been cut , she is still drawing a full salary , which is very welcome to Ms. Keister ’ s family .
Two family businesses – a coffee shop and a concrete business – have been shuttered amid a state closure of all nonessential businesses .
“ This is really a good time to regroup and rethink life , ” Ms. Keister says , adding that she now has more time with a 3-year-old granddaughter who is awaiting a medical operation .
“ People need to find the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s more important in life ?
Is a job so important that it ’ s taking you away from your family ?
No , it isn ’ t. ” Some 250 miles away near Cleveland , the sidelined county employee takes solace in facing a furlough rather than outright severance from his job .
“ It ’ s definitely unfortunate that we are furloughed .
I definitely wish that we weren ’ t , ” he says .
“ But there ’ s so many people in worse situations than I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move forward the best I can.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“I want to be cautious because I don’t know how extensive this will be,” he says. “Most of us are just grateful that we have a job.”
And government workers are cutting back. One furloughed Cuyahoga County worker, near Cleveland, who asked not to be named due to concern about his job, has put a wedding, honeymoon, and new home purchase on hold this year.
Many fiscal-policy experts say the federal government should move ahead with a new aid package for states and cities – now under review in Congress. Otherwise, the result could be a large new wave of unemployment. In April, nearly 1 million state and local government jobs disappeared.
Just as in the Great Recession, a steep downturn in the private sector is poised to cause big job losses in state and local governments. Relief could come from Congress.
It's a challenge for government employees echoing nationwide from California (a proposed 10% pay cut) to Michigan (two-day furloughs per pay period). Ohio is in the thick of belt-tightening, with Republican Gov. Mike DeWine asking state agencies to prepare for possible 20% spending cuts.
As the pandemic-led lockdown slashes tax revenues, Mayor Nan Whaley of Dayton, Ohio, has already furloughed a quarter of her city’s workforce and closed two of its golf courses, which probably means eight more unemployed city workers.
It was an easy choice. The two city-owned golf courses were already losing money before the pandemic, so Mayor Nan Whaley of Dayton, Ohio, closed them earlier this month to pare back expenses.
But the move is costing some workers their jobs. And tougher decisions lie ahead.
Mayor Whaley is weighing cuts of up to 18% for the city budget in the next fiscal year. She has already had to furlough 25% of the city’s workforce, as she struggles to maintain vital services in a city where the median household income, at $31,000, is about half the national average.
Why We Wrote This Just as in the Great Recession, a steep downturn in the private sector is poised to cause big job losses in state and local governments. Relief could come from Congress.
Dayton’s challenge, though particularly acute, echoes in cities and states nationwide as they see their local economies contract because of the pandemic-led downturn and rising unemployment. The upshot: At a time when the federal government is showering money on individuals and businesses, many states and cities will have to dig into rainy day funds, and cut back services and perhaps school budgets. And because they are obligated to balance their budgets, they will initiate a new wave of job losses – this time for public-sector employees.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
How severe the cuts and layoffs will be will depend on the speed of the economic rebound and the size of federal aid. The House has passed and senators have introduced measures to speed aid to cities and states. Many economists across the political spectrum expect a slow rebound.
“The rapid drain on state and local revenues is generally unprecedented,” says Brian Riedl, a fiscal policy expert at the conservative Manhattan Institute. “It’s almost guaranteed that states and cities are going to need another round of assistance.”
Rich Pedroncelli/AP View caption Hide caption California Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses his revised 2020-2021 state budget during a news conference in Sacramento May 14, 2020. His proposal includes a 10% pay cut for state workers.
States are already cutting back:
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom released a revised budget proposal last week, including a 10% pay cut for state workers, after the state’s coronavirus lockdown turned a surplus into a projected $54 billion deficit.
Michigan and Oregon are among the early states to furlough thousands of workers. State employees have to take extra days off unpaid to save the state money.
Many other states face a double whammy: a plunge in general sales and income taxes, but also revenues from battered mainstay industries like oil (for Louisiana), investment banking (New York), or tourism (Hawaii, Nevada, and Florida).
Ohio is on the leading edge of the problem. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine is asking state agencies to plan for budget cuts of 20%. Ohio cities and towns are also feeling the pinch.
“The path forward without federal or state assistance is a very ugly path, and will be experienced broadly and deeply by the citizens of Dayton,” says Dayton City Manager Shelley Dickstein.
Honeymoon and new house? Not now.
Cincinnati and Columbus are among the places furloughing workers. So is Cleveland and the rest of Cuyahoga County.
That’s made many government workers nervous.
“I want to be cautious because I don’t know how extensive this will be,” says a furloughed Health and Human Services worker in Cuyahoga County, who asked not to be named due to concern about his job. He’d planned this year to have a wedding, a honeymoon in St. Thomas, and a new house – dreams now on hold. “Most of us are just grateful that we have a job,” he says.
Nationally, nearly 1 million state and local employees lost their work in April alone, out of a total 20 million such workers (13% of U.S. payroll employment as of January). The squeeze on the public sector can also dim the overall economy.
“State and local governments buy office supplies, and cars and trucks ... from the private sector,” says Elizabeth McNichol, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a research group on the political left. “They give assistance to people who spend money in their local communities.”
She says a top priority for Congress, alongside general aid to states and cities, should be funds targeted to ensure that Medicaid for the poor doesn’t run short. The CARES Act, passed by Congress in April, devoted $139 billion toward helping state and local governments, plus $11 billion to help U.S. territories, tribal governments, and the District of Columbia.
But those funds are largely intended to cover expenses directly related to the coronavirus outbreak. So places like Cuyahoga County, which qualified alongside states for a chunk of that federal aid, see fiscal gaps going unfilled.
Avoiding layoffs?
Then there are small cities like South Haven, Michigan.
Even if a new round of federal relief targets localities with populations as small as 50,000 (the threshold for CARES Act eligibility was 500,000 residents), South Haven wouldn’t qualify. The lake-front community has barely 4,000 people and was already dealing with added budget pressures due to flooding caused by abnormally high water levels on Lake Michigan.
“We started building the budget in January with the assumption of having to invest between $500,000 and $1.5 million to combat the high water,” says Brian Dissette, South Haven city manager. “No one envisioned the COVID-19 situation or the potential for a recession.”
Amid all the uncertainty, he says, “we have told city council to expect amendments [to the proposed $46 million budget] throughout the year.” Budget cuts totaling $600,000 have already been made, including staff reductions.
Local governments are generally trying to make payroll cuts a last resort.
Not far from South Haven, Heidi Keister of Paw Paw, Michigan, is working limited hours as a legal secretary in the Van Buren County prosecutor’s office. Even as her hours have been cut, she is still drawing a full salary, which is very welcome to Ms. Keister’s family. Two family businesses – a coffee shop and a concrete business – have been shuttered amid a state closure of all nonessential businesses.
“This is really a good time to regroup and rethink life,” Ms. Keister says, adding that she now has more time with a 3-year-old granddaughter who is awaiting a medical operation. “People need to find the positive in all this. ... What’s more important in life? Is a job so important that it’s taking you away from your family? No, it isn’t.”
Some 250 miles away near Cleveland, the sidelined county employee takes solace in facing a furlough rather than outright severance from his job.
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“It’s definitely unfortunate that we are furloughed. I definitely wish that we weren’t,” he says. “But there’s so many people in worse situations than I am in. I'm just trying to move forward the best I can.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-05-19--Art for water? How a Picasso raffle will bring water to Africa.

How 's this as an antidote for coronavirus blues : A genuine painting by Pablo Picasso on your wall .
After an eight-week delay caused by France 's COVID-19 lockdown , the Christie 's auction house in Paris is hosting a raffle draw Wednesday for `` Nature Morte , '' an oil on canvas that Picasso painted in 1921 .
Proceeds will help provide villagers in Cameroon , Madagascar , and Morocco with water – a basic need more essential than ever now for people to wash and protect themselves against the global pandemic .
Raffle organizers say they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5.4 million ) by selling 50,000 tickets online for 100 euros ( $ 109 ) each .
Their hoped-for sales target was 200,000 tickets , but the coronavirus crisis complicated the task .
Buyers have so far come from more than 100 countries , with the bulk sold in France , the United States , Switzerland , and Italy .
The winner of a similar raffle in 2013 was a 25-year-old fire sprinkler worker from Pennsylvania .
`` I hope this time it will be won by , maybe , somebody who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or the Middle East .
Just to diversify .
It is good that Picasso has spread all over the world , '' said David Nahmad , the billionaire art dealer who supplied the painting for the raffle at what he says is a knock-down price .
Originally , raffle organizers promised to pay 1 million euros ( $ 1.09 million ) for the work which Mr. Nahmad says is worth `` at least two , three times '' that .
But he told The Associated Press in an interview this week that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ euros to support the cause .
`` With the pandemic around the world and viruses , everybody must be clean , and to have clean water is so important , '' Mr. Nahmad said .
`` I appreciate all the people who have been generous and because of that I am going to give a deduction from my part , on the Picasso , of 100,000 euros to help in this particular difficult moment . ''
Organizers decided to pay Mr. Nahmad for the painting , rather than push for a free donation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collectors or galleries to also part with Picasso works for future charity raffles .
Mr. Nahmad , one of the art world 's most influential dealers , says he owns about 300 works by Picasso , the largest collection in private hands .
`` Nature Morte '' is the smallest of his Picassos .
The still life , which is signed `` Picasso , '' shows a newspaper and a glass of absinthe on a wood table .
The Spanish genius was a new father , to Paulo , with his Russian first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his 40th birthday when he completed the painting in June 1921 .
Mr. Nahmad believes the artist , who died in 1973 , would have been thrilled by the prospect of the raffle winner picking up one of his paintings for 100 euros .
`` He always wanted to be reasonably priced , that everybody can afford to buy Picasso , '' Mr. Nahmad said .
`` He wanted to be helpful to everybody . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

How's this as an antidote for coronavirus blues: A genuine painting by Pablo Picasso on your wall.
After an eight-week delay caused by France's COVID-19 lockdown, the Christie's auction house in Paris is hosting a raffle draw Wednesday for "Nature Morte," an oil on canvas that Picasso painted in 1921.
Proceeds will help provide villagers in Cameroon, Madagascar, and Morocco with water – a basic need more essential than ever now for people to wash and protect themselves against the global pandemic.
Raffle organizers say they have already raised 5 million euros ($5.4 million) by selling 50,000 tickets online for 100 euros ($109) each. Their hoped-for sales target was 200,000 tickets, but the coronavirus crisis complicated the task.
Buyers have so far come from more than 100 countries, with the bulk sold in France, the United States, Switzerland, and Italy. The winner of a similar raffle in 2013 was a 25-year-old fire sprinkler worker from Pennsylvania.
"I hope this time it will be won by, maybe, somebody who is living elsewhere, for example South America or the Middle East. Just to diversify. It is good that Picasso has spread all over the world," said David Nahmad, the billionaire art dealer who supplied the painting for the raffle at what he says is a knock-down price.
Originally, raffle organizers promised to pay 1 million euros ($1.09 million) for the work which Mr. Nahmad says is worth "at least two, three times" that. But he told The Associated Press in an interview this week that he is now dropping the price to 900,000 euros to support the cause.
"With the pandemic around the world and viruses, everybody must be clean, and to have clean water is so important," Mr. Nahmad said. "I appreciate all the people who have been generous and because of that I am going to give a deduction from my part, on the Picasso, of 100,000 euros to help in this particular difficult moment."
Organizers decided to pay Mr. Nahmad for the painting, rather than push for a free donation, because they hope to encourage other collectors or galleries to also part with Picasso works for future charity raffles.
Mr. Nahmad, one of the art world's most influential dealers, says he owns about 300 works by Picasso, the largest collection in private hands. "Nature Morte" is the smallest of his Picassos. The still life, which is signed "Picasso," shows a newspaper and a glass of absinthe on a wood table. The Spanish genius was a new father, to Paulo, with his Russian first wife Olga Khokhlova and was months shy of his 40th birthday when he completed the painting in June 1921.
Mr. Nahmad believes the artist, who died in 1973, would have been thrilled by the prospect of the raffle winner picking up one of his paintings for 100 euros.
"He always wanted to be reasonably priced, that everybody can afford to buy Picasso," Mr. Nahmad said. "He wanted to be helpful to everybody."
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-05-19--Not a hardship, but a blessing: Back-to-basics Ramadan

“ There is no need to go to a salon or dress up every night from home , ” says Rana Masri , a nurse and mother in the West Bank .
“ This pandemic has been a reminder that outward appearances aren ’ t important .
It is your faith and your heart that matters.
” “ We don ’ t need extravagance for Ramadan , ” says Mohammed , a retired clerk in Amman as he shops for pita .
“ We just thank God for our health , a home , and food to eat.
” But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the door .
Salaries have been slashed , jobs furloughed .
Indeed , the coronavirus pandemic ’ s restrictions are stripping away a consumerist culture that recently had built up around an austere holiday of fasting .
In its place , spirituality is refilling the void in a back-to-basics Ramadan .
In recent years , many Arab families were expected to whip up or order an Instagram-able feast to break the fast each night of Ramadan .
To “ keep up with the neighbors ” and impress waves of guests , families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cushions , drapes , light fixtures .
A new television .
In some Arab countries , estimates of food waste during Ramadan reached 25 % to 30 % .
Traversing a downtown Amman market , Mohammed breezes right by what were once must stops for Ramadan : decor shops , sweets , colorful lights , tailors .
He is here only for the basics : bread .
With Muslims dealing with both social distancing and the growing economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic , many like Mohammed have a new perspective on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t need extravagance for Ramadan , ” the retired clerk says as he enters a bakery for a 75-cent-bag of pita .
“ We just thank God for our health , a home , and food to eat.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Indeed , the pandemic ’ s restrictions are stripping away a consumerist culture that recently had built up around an austere holiday of fasting and , with it , the social pressure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , spirituality is refilling the void : The core tenets of prayer , reflection , patience , and charity are again the focus of a back-to-basics Ramadan .
One of the places where this shift is most visible is the home itself .
On Instagram and Facebook , in lifestyle magazines and on Youtube channels , pressure had intensified on Muslim families to serve elaborate fast-breaking sunset iftar meals with a perfect decor that would put Martha Stewart to shame .
In some Muslim communities , in order to “ keep up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guests during the holy month , families would give rooms an entire makeover : new cushions , drapes , light fixtures , a fresh coat of paint , holiday-themed plateware , a new television .
Expenditures in Arab households would rise 30 % to 50 % during Ramadan , according to various estimates .
But this year , no guests are walking through the door .
Salaries have been slashed , jobs furloughed ; for some , there has been no income at all .
Local markets have shortages , and economies from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ My salary has been cut in half ; we don ’ t have savings to change the decor – and besides , no one is coming over , ” says Murad Seif , a Jordanian plumber who last year purchased a new sofa and chairs prior to the holy month .
He has only been back at work since last week , having had no income since March .
“ Instead of wasting what little savings we have this month on something we don ’ t need , we will donate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t meet their basic needs , ” he says .
Trips to the hair salon , manicures and pedicures , and new “ Ramadan fashion ” suddenly seem redundant and excessive .
“ There is no need to go to a salon or dress up every night from home , ” says Rana Masri , a nurse and mother from Nablus , in the West Bank .
“ This pandemic has been a reminder that outward appearances aren ’ t important .
It is your faith and your heart that matters.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of distractions for Abu Aamar ’ s family or for many others in the evenings following the iftar .
Nights , prime viewing time for Ramadan TV specials , were also filled with visits to shopping malls , amusement parks , cafes buzzing with live music , cinemas , street markets , friends and relatives , with some families splitting up to go their separate ways after clearing their plates .
Now Abu Aamar , whose insurance office has been shuttered since mid-March , spends his afternoons and evenings reading “ stories of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reciting with them the Quran .
“ This Ramadan has given me a chance to slow down and talk to my children about the Quran and what questions they had , ” he says .
“ We always took for granted that going to Friday prayers together each week was enough.
” The pandemic is also emphasizing patience , a critical trait for Muslims , particularly during Ramadan .
“ In Ramadan , you are making forbidden to yourself what is usually allowed , with the point of drawing yourself closer to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hellyer , the Arab world scholar and writer , says from Cairo .
“ It should not normally be forbidden to leave the house , to congregate with loved ones , or go to a restaurant , but that is exactly what is happening now , ” he says .
“ We are making these permissible acts also forbidden – and for many this is another lesson in self-control and reflection.
” “ By and large , Muslim scholars are encouraging Muslim communities to recognize that even in times of trial , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Meanwhile , restrictions that have meant the temporary loss of the mosque for communities have put prayer squarely back in the home .
Amid lockdowns and night curfews , many households are praying together regularly at home for the first time .
Muslims believe Ramadan is when the Quran was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad ; Quranic verses and sayings attributed to Muhammad urge Muslims to use the holy month as a chance to focus on scripture and its meaning .
Says Ms. Masri , the Nablus nurse : “ Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are rediscovering our holy text.
” Then there is the food .
In recent years , many Arab families were expected to whip up or order in an Instagram-able feast each night : stuffed roasted lamb , sushi , chow mein , custard tarts .
Large iftars featuring multiple main dishes , sides , appetizers , and salads – a far cry from the dates and yogurt that the prophet Muhammad and his companions would rely on to break their fast – would lead to an estimated 25 % to 30 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You would have huge , massive buffet-style iftars ; nobody can eat all that , so people threw away a lot of this food – which obviously is not in keeping with the spirit of Ramadan in the slightest , ” Dr. Hellyer says .
“ Now instead , you are seeing more people cooking just enough to eat .
There is a lot less waste happening , and people are spending less.
” Even in Saudi Arabia , where oil wealth fueled a mass-consumerist culture that spread throughout the region , frugality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open , but we are not ordering or purchasing expensive sweets .
Everything this year is from the home , ” says Ali al-Sultan , a marketing officer from Riyadh .
Like many Saudis , he has become anxious over an oil price plunge and an economic crisis in his country .
“ We are using local ingredients like wheat and yogurt and going back to the simple recipes of our grandparents from before there was wealth or restaurants , ” he says .
“ This is not a hardship .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aamar has gone from cooking international dishes such as chicken curry or Iraqi fish to carefully measuring ingredients and relying on what is saved up in her pantry .
“ Last night we just cooked leftover fava beans , scrambled eggs , and put olives , hummus , and labneh on the table for iftar , ” she says .
“ We never felt so full or satisfied .
Our children said , ‘ Let ’ s do this every Ramadan.
’ ” In Tunisia , where many have been hit by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been pooling their resources .
“ If we have extra chickpeas , we share with our neighbors ; others distribute dates , others share their olive oil , ” says Fadi , a driver , via phone from his home near Gabès in southern Tunisia .
“ Between all of us , we are full – thank God.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“There is no need to go to a salon or dress up every night from home,” says Rana Masri, a nurse and mother in the West Bank. “This pandemic has been a reminder that outward appearances aren’t important. It is your faith and your heart that matters.”
“We don’t need extravagance for Ramadan,” says Mohammed, a retired clerk in Amman as he shops for pita. “We just thank God for our health, a home, and food to eat.”
By design, Ramadan is a soulful time of fasting, reflection, and charity. But for many in recent years, it’s also become a time of conspicuous consumption and competition. The pandemic has stripped that away.
But this year, no guests are walking through the door. Salaries have been slashed, jobs furloughed. Indeed, the coronavirus pandemic’s restrictions are stripping away a consumerist culture that recently had built up around an austere holiday of fasting. In its place, spirituality is refilling the void in a back-to-basics Ramadan.
In recent years, many Arab families were expected to whip up or order an Instagram-able feast to break the fast each night of Ramadan. To “keep up with the neighbors” and impress waves of guests, families would give rooms an entire makeover: new cushions, drapes, light fixtures. A new television. In some Arab countries, estimates of food waste during Ramadan reached 25% to 30%.
Traversing a downtown Amman market, Mohammed breezes right by what were once must stops for Ramadan: decor shops, sweets, colorful lights, tailors.
He is here only for the basics: bread.
With Muslims dealing with both social distancing and the growing economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, many like Mohammed have a new perspective on the holy month.
Why We Wrote This By design, Ramadan is a soulful time of fasting, reflection, and charity. But for many in recent years, it’s also become a time of conspicuous consumption and competition. The pandemic has stripped that away.
“We don’t need extravagance for Ramadan,” the retired clerk says as he enters a bakery for a 75-cent-bag of pita. “We just thank God for our health, a home, and food to eat.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Indeed, the pandemic’s restrictions are stripping away a consumerist culture that recently had built up around an austere holiday of fasting and, with it, the social pressure to host and impress.
In their place, spirituality is refilling the void: The core tenets of prayer, reflection, patience, and charity are again the focus of a back-to-basics Ramadan.
From feast to frugal
One of the places where this shift is most visible is the home itself.
On Instagram and Facebook, in lifestyle magazines and on Youtube channels, pressure had intensified on Muslim families to serve elaborate fast-breaking sunset iftar meals with a perfect decor that would put Martha Stewart to shame.
In some Muslim communities, in order to “keep up with the neighbors” and impress waves of guests during the holy month, families would give rooms an entire makeover: new cushions, drapes, light fixtures, a fresh coat of paint, holiday-themed plateware, a new television.
Expenditures in Arab households would rise 30% to 50% during Ramadan, according to various estimates.
But this year, no guests are walking through the door. Salaries have been slashed, jobs furloughed; for some, there has been no income at all. Local markets have shortages, and economies from Saudi Arabia to Lebanon are in crisis.
“My salary has been cut in half; we don’t have savings to change the decor – and besides, no one is coming over,” says Murad Seif, a Jordanian plumber who last year purchased a new sofa and chairs prior to the holy month. He has only been back at work since last week, having had no income since March.
“Instead of wasting what little savings we have this month on something we don’t need, we will donate it as zakat to someone who can’t meet their basic needs,” he says.
Trips to the hair salon, manicures and pedicures, and new “Ramadan fashion” suddenly seem redundant and excessive.
“There is no need to go to a salon or dress up every night from home,” says Rana Masri, a nurse and mother from Nablus, in the West Bank. “This pandemic has been a reminder that outward appearances aren’t important. It is your faith and your heart that matters.”
Refocusing on prayer
In recent years there was no shortage of distractions for Abu Aamar’s family or for many others in the evenings following the iftar.
Nights, prime viewing time for Ramadan TV specials, were also filled with visits to shopping malls, amusement parks, cafes buzzing with live music, cinemas, street markets, friends and relatives, with some families splitting up to go their separate ways after clearing their plates.
Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters View caption Hide caption Before the pandemic, and during: Residents of Ezbet Hamada in the Mataria district gather to eat the sunset iftar meal during Ramadan in Cairo, May 20, 2019; the same area on May 1, 2020, as mass iftars were canceled due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Now Abu Aamar, whose insurance office has been shuttered since mid-March, spends his afternoons and evenings reading “stories of the prophets” to his children and reciting with them the Quran.
“This Ramadan has given me a chance to slow down and talk to my children about the Quran and what questions they had,” he says. “We always took for granted that going to Friday prayers together each week was enough.”
The pandemic is also emphasizing patience, a critical trait for Muslims, particularly during Ramadan.
“In Ramadan, you are making forbidden to yourself what is usually allowed, with the point of drawing yourself closer to the consciousness of God,” H.A. Hellyer, the Arab world scholar and writer, says from Cairo.
“It should not normally be forbidden to leave the house, to congregate with loved ones, or go to a restaurant, but that is exactly what is happening now,” he says. “We are making these permissible acts also forbidden – and for many this is another lesson in self-control and reflection.”
“By and large, Muslim scholars are encouraging Muslim communities to recognize that even in times of trial, there are opportunities to deepen the spiritual life.”
Meanwhile, restrictions that have meant the temporary loss of the mosque for communities have put prayer squarely back in the home.
Amid lockdowns and night curfews, many households are praying together regularly at home for the first time.
Muslims believe Ramadan is when the Quran was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad; Quranic verses and sayings attributed to Muhammad urge Muslims to use the holy month as a chance to focus on scripture and its meaning.
Says Ms. Masri, the Nablus nurse: “Instead of discovering a new TV series, we are rediscovering our holy text.”
Food revolution
Then there is the food.
In recent years, many Arab families were expected to whip up or order in an Instagram-able feast each night: stuffed roasted lamb, sushi, chow mein, custard tarts.
Large iftars featuring multiple main dishes, sides, appetizers, and salads – a far cry from the dates and yogurt that the prophet Muhammad and his companions would rely on to break their fast – would lead to an estimated 25% to 30% food waste in Arab countries.
“You would have huge, massive buffet-style iftars; nobody can eat all that, so people threw away a lot of this food – which obviously is not in keeping with the spirit of Ramadan in the slightest,” Dr. Hellyer says.
“Now instead, you are seeing more people cooking just enough to eat. There is a lot less waste happening, and people are spending less.”
Even in Saudi Arabia, where oil wealth fueled a mass-consumerist culture that spread throughout the region, frugality is in vogue.
“Restaurants are open, but we are not ordering or purchasing expensive sweets. Everything this year is from the home,” says Ali al-Sultan, a marketing officer from Riyadh. Like many Saudis, he has become anxious over an oil price plunge and an economic crisis in his country.
“We are using local ingredients like wheat and yogurt and going back to the simple recipes of our grandparents from before there was wealth or restaurants,” he says. “This is not a hardship. This is a blessing.”
In Amman, Um Aamar has gone from cooking international dishes such as chicken curry or Iraqi fish to carefully measuring ingredients and relying on what is saved up in her pantry.
“Last night we just cooked leftover fava beans, scrambled eggs, and put olives, hummus, and labneh on the table for iftar,” she says. “We never felt so full or satisfied. Our children said, ‘Let’s do this every Ramadan.’”
In Tunisia, where many have been hit by the loss of tourism, some families have been pooling their resources.
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“If we have extra chickpeas, we share with our neighbors; others distribute dates, others share their olive oil,” says Fadi, a driver, via phone from his home near Gabès in southern Tunisia. “Between all of us, we are full – thank God.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-05-14--Europe’s schools face new test: Teaching safely in a pandemic

Countries are weighing a combination of factors that include science , besides elements such as cultural priorities , as they work out the best path forward .
“ No one knows exactly what ’ s going to happen , ” says François Dubet , a sociologist and professor emeritus of the University of Bordeaux .
“ If the number of sick people goes down , we ’ ll return to normal life , but if in 10 days that number goes up , it ’ s going to get very complicated.
” European governments have been unrelenting with logistical and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ otherwise allowed schools to make their own decisions about how lessons should be delivered and physical space partitioned .
And they have put a premium on creativity and patience in an environment that has changed vastly since before the shutdown .
Two months after most countries in Europe began closing down in response to the coronavirus , many are cautiously reopening schools alongside their economies , welcoming tens of millions of students back into the classroom in staggered shifts .
Denmark was the first to reopen schools in mid-April , followed by France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ever since the Danish government decreed its youngest children could go back to school , the principal of Marie Mørks School has been up late , planning logistics and sorting how to communicate with the families he serves .
The youthful father runs a private school 30 miles north of the Danish capital of Copenhagen , and , with a toddler at home and a 12-year-old at the local public school , he understands the anxiety around bundling kids off to school during a pandemic .
“ Of course , you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
“ But the children have missed school and their friends , and for them a month is an eternity .
Their smiles take away most of my fears and reservations.
” Two months after most countries in Europe began closing down in response to the coronavirus , many are cautiously reopening schools alongside their economies , welcoming tens of millions of students back into the classroom in staggered shifts .
Denmark was the first to reopen schools in mid-April , followed by France , Germany , Austria , and others .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s health , while teachers worked overtime to serve both students in classrooms and those at home who are waiting for a return date .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
In Denmark , logistics around hygiene have been painstaking .
Door handles , washbasins , and school tables are wiped down three to five times daily .
Classes have been halved , so students can maintain a 2-meter ( 6-foot ) distance .
Outdoor spaces are subdivided into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one portion during recess .
Even Legos posed a challenge , explains Mr. Christensen – “ until a math teacher came up with a brilliant idea !
” The Legos are now separated into four boxes , he says , with each set in use only every fourth day , since the virus is believed to die out after 48 hours on solid surfaces .
Indeed , European governments have been unrelenting with such requirements , and officials are watching health metrics closely .
But most countries have otherwise allowed schools to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be delivered and physical space partitioned , putting a premium on creativity and patience in an environment that has vastly changed since before the shutdown : • In Germany , one Berlin school has divided each class into four groups to maintain a required 1.5 meters of space between students .
This means teachers are delivering the same lesson four separate times .
• In Denmark , a tiny country with 1 million primary and secondary students , classes are advised to be held outdoors where possible .
Outside Copenhagen , one school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and has staggered recess so equipment can be sanitized between shifts .
Public trust in the Danish prime minister surged from 39 % to nearly 80 % at the end of April .
• In France , a reopening of schools is purely voluntary , as the national government has shifted decision-making power to mayors and principals .
Even so , the Education Ministry expects nearly 85 % of its schools to reopen in some fashion by May 15 .
Countries are weighing a combination of factors that include science , besides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they work out the best path forward .
“ No one knows exactly what ’ s going to happen , ” says François Dubet , a sociologist and professor emeritus of the University of Bordeaux .
“ If the number of sick people goes down , we ’ ll return to normal life , but if in 10 days that number goes up , it ’ s going to get very complicated.
” Germany : Back to school before summer , but no mandates In Berlin , where schools began reopening in late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 900 mostly public schools are staggering students ’ reentry to school .
That means some children are coming back for as little as two shifts a week for 150 minutes each time , so that a required 1.5 meters of distance can be maintained between students .
Teachers report excitement to be back on campus , but also a sense of exhaustion , as they ’ re taking on new duties including acting as “ supervisor ” to how students move around the building .
“ As in , ‘ Hey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close to each other .
Don ’ t walk towards each other !
Use that exit , not this one , ’ ” says Lydia Puschnerus , who teaches at a public gymnasium ( equivalent to an American secondary school ) in the Schöneberg district of Berlin .
“ It ’ s worked so far , but over the long term it ’ s stressful and unnatural.
” Björn Nölte , who teaches at a public school just outside Berlin , says daily routines have completely changed .
“ There ’ s always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bathrooms ; there are always colleagues in all of the corridors , to make sure students don ’ t accidentally get close.
” Disinfectant has been dropped off at schools , and Berlin ’ s government has granted teachers a one-time payment of €16 ( $ 17 ) to buy masks .
Yet aside from “ must follow ” hygiene rules , Berlin has been reluctant to issue mandates , letting schools decide how to alter their curriculum , whether to skip exams , and how to stagger classes .
That comes out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diverse population , with varying degrees of income and digital access , says Ryan Plocher , a Berlin social studies teacher and teacher ’ s union representative .
“ Principals really have to weigh [ how to reopen ] , because schools in richer districts can do the whole thing by distance , ” says Mr. Plocher .
“ But in poorer areas , some students haven ’ t been in contact with schools at all during the shutdown .
Their parents can ’ t or won ’ t help , as in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to download PDFs over my private data plan.
’ ” Like the principal in Denmark , administrators at Mr. Plocher ’ s school have halved class sizes to maintain social distance .
They ’ ve also eliminated or decided to monitor heavily the times that children might be in contact without masks .
“ That ’ s toileting , eating , drinking , ” says Mr. Plocher , meaning that kids come onto school grounds only for a few hours at a time , with no lunch .
Bathroom breaks are taken one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s school has subdivided some classes even further , into four units .
With the help of co-teachers and supervisors , Mr. Nölte is teaching all four groups of a single German class simultaneously , shuttling between four rooms , which each houses five or six children .
Ultimately , Berlin ’ s guidelines are flexible enough that some schools – particularly those with enough space to maintain the required distance – could go back to full capacity .
In France , the Ministry of Education has left the decision to open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school leaders .
That ’ s revolutionary , say experts , in a country where education is “ extremely centralized.
” The French education minister expects about 1 million students to return to school , with most of France ’ s 50,500 schools slated to open in some form .
Still , about 10 % of towns aren ’ t expected to reopen schools yet .
“ The pandemic is forcing us to decentralize a bit , ” says Mr. Dubet .
“ We ’ re going to go from a national policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to local policies .
This is a new experience for us.
” What is not new , however , is a long-standing familiarity with having to occasionally miss school .
In 1968 , a social movement led by university students brought the country to a standstill .
Earlier this academic year , students of all ages missed class intermittently over the course of about two months due to nationwide strikes against the government ’ s pension reform plans .
In 1968 , no one recorded negative effects of time away in terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and most likely no one will now .
“ The major concern [ now ] is that students can see their teachers and friends again , that their parents can start working again .
Not the education itself.
” For schools opening this week , a 56-page guideline lays out 1 meter ( 3 feet ) of distance between desks and a maximum of 15 students per class .
Teachers must wear masks ; no ball-playing is allowed .
And while preschools and elementary schools open this week , middle schools will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a yet-to-be named date .
Education will look completely different , says Laadja Mamadi , director of a Paris elementary school .
“ It ’ s not going to be school as we know it , ” says Ms. Mamadi .
“ We teachers will need to adopt new habits , and so will the students.
” At the 7ème Art public preschool in Paris , for example , teacher Justine Cocquerelle is scanning her classroom to see what needs to be moved , removed , or replaced .
Tiny tables host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classroom that usually hosts 25 children will now only take seven at a time , each at his or her own table .
Building blocks have been tucked away , and a blanket has been tossed over the books .
“ I can ’ t leave out anything that ’ s shared between children , ” says Ms. Cocquerelle , who returned to school a few days ahead of Thursday ’ s official reopening .
Even the class rabbit , Susie , has been removed from the classroom now that cleaners will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least twice a day .
“ I ’ m trying to figure out how I ’ m going to do this.
” She plans lots of written activities , reading , and singing .
Art projects mean individual portions of paint , glue , and tape .
Bathroom procedures are still a work in progress , as the four small toilets don ’ t allow enough distance .
What ’ s clear is that Ms. Cocquerelle will now have double the workload , since she ’ ll be prepping both in-class activities and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return .
“ It ’ s super-complicated , ” says Ms. Cocquerelle .
“ But we hope [ the government ] sees that it ’ s working and they open things up a little more.
” France and Denmark have prioritized getting their youngest children back to school .
The little ones might be harder to socially distance , they ’ ve noted , but they need more guidance from an adult , and are still learning social competencies and how to organize work .
Plus , young children seem to be less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and some anecdotal research has suggested that they 're less likely to transmit it to adults .
By contrast , other countries like Germany have decided older students should return to schools first , as they ’ re closer to exams .
“ That ’ s not necessarily a pedagogical decision , because tests at the end of ninth grade have been canceled [ in Berlin ] , ” says Mr. Plocher , the social studies teacher .
Yet Dr. Karen Wistoft , a Danish education professor , has found that teenagers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolation than their younger peers .
“ The learning potential of teens is so connected to their mental well-being , ” she says .
Back at Marie Mørks School near Copenhagen , Principal Christensen is trying to decide whether a ball is a toy or an “ educational tool.
” “ If it ’ s defined as a toy , it has to be wiped down every time it changes hands , ” says Mr. Christensen .
“ But if it is an educational tool , it only has to be cleaned after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules are less strict.
” He declared the ball a “ tool.
” “ We have to balance the rules with common sense !
” he says .
The Danes are feeling so confident with their reopening strategy that the government announced a second phase of reopening that allows high schoolers to return on May 18 .
The health authority has also reduced the required social distance in schools from 2 meters to 1 .
In Berlin , schools are a few weeks behind Denmark ’ s reopening , but Mr. Nölte , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Berlin , has noticed there ’ s plenty of joy in coming back together , even in staggered format .
“ I ’ ve noticed how happy the students are to see each other , ” he says .
“ Even between my colleagues , I think we will grow closer.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

Getting children back to school is a top priority in most countries as they ease their pandemic lockdowns. But they are taking a variety of different approaches to reopening classrooms.
Countries are weighing a combination of factors that include science, besides elements such as cultural priorities, as they work out the best path forward. “No one knows exactly what’s going to happen,” says François Dubet, a sociologist and professor emeritus of the University of Bordeaux. “If the number of sick people goes down, we’ll return to normal life, but if in 10 days that number goes up, it’s going to get very complicated.”
European governments have been unrelenting with logistical and sanitary requirements. But most countries have otherwise allowed schools to make their own decisions about how lessons should be delivered and physical space partitioned. And they have put a premium on creativity and patience in an environment that has changed vastly since before the shutdown.
Two months after most countries in Europe began closing down in response to the coronavirus, many are cautiously reopening schools alongside their economies, welcoming tens of millions of students back into the classroom in staggered shifts. Denmark was the first to reopen schools in mid-April, followed by France, Germany, Austria, and others.
Henrik Christensen looks tired.
Ever since the Danish government decreed its youngest children could go back to school, the principal of Marie Mørks School has been up late, planning logistics and sorting how to communicate with the families he serves. The youthful father runs a private school 30 miles north of the Danish capital of Copenhagen, and, with a toddler at home and a 12-year-old at the local public school, he understands the anxiety around bundling kids off to school during a pandemic.
“Of course, you are a bit nervous,” Mr. Christensen says. “But the children have missed school and their friends, and for them a month is an eternity. Their smiles take away most of my fears and reservations.”
Why We Wrote This Getting children back to school is a top priority in most countries as they ease their pandemic lockdowns. But they are taking a variety of different approaches to reopening classrooms.
Two months after most countries in Europe began closing down in response to the coronavirus, many are cautiously reopening schools alongside their economies, welcoming tens of millions of students back into the classroom in staggered shifts. Denmark was the first to reopen schools in mid-April, followed by France, Germany, Austria, and others. Parents expressed concerns about their children’s health, while teachers worked overtime to serve both students in classrooms and those at home who are waiting for a return date.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
In Denmark, logistics around hygiene have been painstaking. Door handles, washbasins, and school tables are wiped down three to five times daily. Classes have been halved, so students can maintain a 2-meter (6-foot) distance. Outdoor spaces are subdivided into five units, with each class appointed one portion during recess.
Even Legos posed a challenge, explains Mr. Christensen – “until a math teacher came up with a brilliant idea!” The Legos are now separated into four boxes, he says, with each set in use only every fourth day, since the virus is believed to die out after 48 hours on solid surfaces.
Jon Kaldan View caption Hide caption Marie Mørks School principal Henrik Christensen stands in his almost-empty schoolyard in Hillerød, Denmark, May 2020.
Indeed, European governments have been unrelenting with such requirements, and officials are watching health metrics closely. But most countries have otherwise allowed schools to make their own decisions about how lessons should be delivered and physical space partitioned, putting a premium on creativity and patience in an environment that has vastly changed since before the shutdown:
In Germany, one Berlin school has divided each class into four groups to maintain a required 1.5 meters of space between students. This means teachers are delivering the same lesson four separate times.
In Denmark, a tiny country with 1 million primary and secondary students, classes are advised to be held outdoors where possible. Outside Copenhagen, one school is tapping the gym as a classroom, and has staggered recess so equipment can be sanitized between shifts. Public trust in the Danish prime minister surged from 39% to nearly 80% at the end of April.
In France, a reopening of schools is purely voluntary, as the national government has shifted decision-making power to mayors and principals. Even so, the Education Ministry expects nearly 85% of its schools to reopen in some fashion by May 15.
Countries are weighing a combination of factors that include science, besides elements such as cultural priorities, as they work out the best path forward. “No one knows exactly what’s going to happen,” says François Dubet, a sociologist and professor emeritus of the University of Bordeaux. “If the number of sick people goes down, we’ll return to normal life, but if in 10 days that number goes up, it’s going to get very complicated.”
Germany: Back to school before summer, but no mandates
In Berlin, where schools began reopening in late April, many principals at the city’s 900 mostly public schools are staggering students’ reentry to school. That means some children are coming back for as little as two shifts a week for 150 minutes each time, so that a required 1.5 meters of distance can be maintained between students.
Axel Schmidt/Reuters View caption Hide caption A teacher welcomes students before the start of their high school graduation exams, during the spread of the coronavirus, at the Gymnasium Steglitz school in Berlin, April 20, 2020.
Teachers report excitement to be back on campus, but also a sense of exhaustion, as they’re taking on new duties including acting as “supervisor” to how students move around the building.
“As in, ‘Hey! You can’t stand that close to each other. Don’t walk towards each other! Use that exit, not this one,’” says Lydia Puschnerus, who teaches at a public gymnasium (equivalent to an American secondary school) in the Schöneberg district of Berlin. “It’s worked so far, but over the long term it’s stressful and unnatural.”
Björn Nölte, who teaches at a public school just outside Berlin, says daily routines have completely changed. “There’s always a colleague sitting in front of the bathrooms; there are always colleagues in all of the corridors, to make sure students don’t accidentally get close.”
Disinfectant has been dropped off at schools, and Berlin’s government has granted teachers a one-time payment of €16 ($17) to buy masks. Yet aside from “must follow” hygiene rules, Berlin has been reluctant to issue mandates, letting schools decide how to alter their curriculum, whether to skip exams, and how to stagger classes.
That comes out of the need to serve an incredibly diverse population, with varying degrees of income and digital access, says Ryan Plocher, a Berlin social studies teacher and teacher’s union representative.
“Principals really have to weigh [how to reopen], because schools in richer districts can do the whole thing by distance,” says Mr. Plocher. “But in poorer areas, some students haven’t been in contact with schools at all during the shutdown. Their parents can’t or won’t help, as in, ‘I’m not going to download PDFs over my private data plan.’”
Like the principal in Denmark, administrators at Mr. Plocher’s school have halved class sizes to maintain social distance. They’ve also eliminated or decided to monitor heavily the times that children might be in contact without masks. “That’s toileting, eating, drinking,” says Mr. Plocher, meaning that kids come onto school grounds only for a few hours at a time, with no lunch. Bathroom breaks are taken one student at a time.
Mr. Nölte’s school has subdivided some classes even further, into four units. With the help of co-teachers and supervisors, Mr. Nölte is teaching all four groups of a single German class simultaneously, shuttling between four rooms, which each houses five or six children.
Ultimately, Berlin’s guidelines are flexible enough that some schools – particularly those with enough space to maintain the required distance – could go back to full capacity.
France: A voluntary return
In France, the Ministry of Education has left the decision to open in the hands of local government and school leaders. That’s revolutionary, say experts, in a country where education is “extremely centralized.”
The French education minister expects about 1 million students to return to school, with most of France’s 50,500 schools slated to open in some form. Still, about 10% of towns aren’t expected to reopen schools yet.
Eric Gaillard/Reuters View caption Hide caption An employee cleans a corridor of a primary school on the eve of its reopening in Nice as France softens its strict lockdown rules during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, May 11, 2020.
“The pandemic is forcing us to decentralize a bit,” says Mr. Dubet. “We’re going to go from a national policy, which is extremely powerful in France, to local policies. This is a new experience for us.”
What is not new, however, is a long-standing familiarity with having to occasionally miss school. In 1968, a social movement led by university students brought the country to a standstill. Earlier this academic year, students of all ages missed class intermittently over the course of about two months due to nationwide strikes against the government’s pension reform plans.
In 1968, no one recorded negative effects of time away in terms of learning gaps, says Mr. Dubet, and most likely no one will now. “The major concern [now] is that students can see their teachers and friends again, that their parents can start working again. Not the education itself.”
For schools opening this week, a 56-page guideline lays out 1 meter (3 feet) of distance between desks and a maximum of 15 students per class. Teachers must wear masks; no ball-playing is allowed. And while preschools and elementary schools open this week, middle schools will follow next week, and high schools at a yet-to-be named date.
Education will look completely different, says Laadja Mamadi, director of a Paris elementary school. “It’s not going to be school as we know it,” says Ms. Mamadi. “We teachers will need to adopt new habits, and so will the students.”
At the 7ème Art public preschool in Paris, for example, teacher Justine Cocquerelle is scanning her classroom to see what needs to be moved, removed, or replaced. Tiny tables host only one miniature chair each; a classroom that usually hosts 25 children will now only take seven at a time, each at his or her own table. Building blocks have been tucked away, and a blanket has been tossed over the books.
“I can’t leave out anything that’s shared between children,” says Ms. Cocquerelle, who returned to school a few days ahead of Thursday’s official reopening. Even the class rabbit, Susie, has been removed from the classroom now that cleaners will be using bleach to disinfect the room at least twice a day. “I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to do this.”
She plans lots of written activities, reading, and singing. Art projects mean individual portions of paint, glue, and tape. Bathroom procedures are still a work in progress, as the four small toilets don’t allow enough distance. What’s clear is that Ms. Cocquerelle will now have double the workload, since she’ll be prepping both in-class activities and online lessons for those who might not return.
“It’s super-complicated,” says Ms. Cocquerelle. “But we hope [the government] sees that it’s working and they open things up a little more.”
France and Denmark have prioritized getting their youngest children back to school. The little ones might be harder to socially distance, they’ve noted, but they need more guidance from an adult, and are still learning social competencies and how to organize work. Plus, young children seem to be less susceptible to serious complications of the coronavirus, and some anecdotal research has suggested that they're less likely to transmit it to adults.
By contrast, other countries like Germany have decided older students should return to schools first, as they’re closer to exams. “That’s not necessarily a pedagogical decision, because tests at the end of ninth grade have been canceled [in Berlin],” says Mr. Plocher, the social studies teacher.
Yet Dr. Karen Wistoft, a Danish education professor, has found that teenagers are feeling more lonely and understimulated during isolation than their younger peers. “The learning potential of teens is so connected to their mental well-being,” she says.
Denmark: Phase 2 of reopening
Back at Marie Mørks School near Copenhagen, Principal Christensen is trying to decide whether a ball is a toy or an “educational tool.”
“If it’s defined as a toy, it has to be wiped down every time it changes hands,” says Mr. Christensen. “But if it is an educational tool, it only has to be cleaned after the school day has ended. The rules are less strict.”
Jon Kaldan View caption Hide caption Fourth grade students are socially distancing in the gym, which has become a classroom at Marie Mørks School in Hillerød, Denmark, May 2020.
He declared the ball a “tool.” “We have to balance the rules with common sense!” he says.
The Danes are feeling so confident with their reopening strategy that the government announced a second phase of reopening that allows high schoolers to return on May 18. The health authority has also reduced the required social distance in schools from 2 meters to 1.
In Berlin, schools are a few weeks behind Denmark’s reopening, but Mr. Nölte, the teacher at a public school near Berlin, has noticed there’s plenty of joy in coming back together, even in staggered format. “I’ve noticed how happy the students are to see each other,” he says. “Even between my colleagues, I think we will grow closer.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-05-08--When can I go see a movie? Hollywood and theaters ponder what’s next.

“ People really want to get together , ” says Ms. Tallman .
“ I don ’ t see that desire , that human desire to collect and share experiences , ever going away.
” With no new films in the pipeline , theater owners are taking their time considering the best way to reopen , even in states where they are allowed to do so .
The future of moviegoing depends on the effectiveness of movie-house practices , says Katherine Tallman , executive director and CEO of the Coolidge Corner Theatre , an independent art-house cinema in Boston .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ return .
The coronavirus has brought a number of changes to Hollywood , including a recent announcement that movies that have gone straight to streaming can be considered for Oscars .
James Bond has narrowly escaped sharks , tigers , and even a tsunami .
But in March , 007 finally met his match in the coronavirus .
The 25th Bond film , “ No Time to Die , ” was the first movie to delay its release .
Originally scheduled for April , James Bond will return in November .
As COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with no summer blockbusters planned until mid-July .
How will social distancing change going to the movies , one of the most popular leisure activities of the past century ?
The coronavirus affects every aspect of the big-screen business , from release dates to cinema attendance .
Your popcorn may be on hold for a while .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
How has the COVID-19 shutdown affected Hollywood ’ s schedules ?
James Bond has narrowly escaped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tsunami .
But in March , 007 finally met his match in the coronavirus .
The 25th Bond film , “ No Time to Die , ” was the first movie to delay its release .
Originally scheduled for April , James Bond will return in November .
As COVID-19 escalated , other movies followed suit .
“ I told somebody at Paramount ... ‘ When are you moving ‘ Top Gun 2 ’ to Christmas ?
’ ” recalls Pete Hammond , chief film critic for Deadline .
“ He got all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two days later , they ended up moving ‘ Top Gun 2 ’ to Christmas.
” As of now there won ’ t be any summer blockbusters until Christopher Nolan ’ s action flick “ Tenet ” on July 17 , followed by the belated arrival of a pair of heroines : the live-action “ Mulan ” ( July 24 ) and “ Wonder Woman 1984 ” ( Aug. 14 ) .
Mr. Hammond wonders if those dates will shift again .
When cinemas reopen , studios will likely avoid bunching the releases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will give each film space to maximize its audience share .
That ’ s why “ F9 ” ( or “ Fast and Furious 9 ” ) , Disney ’ s “ Jungle Cruise , ” and “ Ghostbusters : Afterlife ” have been pushed back a full year to 2021 .
Rescheduling release dates in global markets has created a multiyear domino effect .
For example , Indiana Jones – originally due to return in a fifth movie next summer – will now crack his whip in July 2022 .
Spacing out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to complete movies whose filming was suspended by COVID-19 .
The scrambled production timelines may create conflicts for in-demand talent , who might have to turn down other movie opportunities because of prior commitments .
What will moviegoing look like when cinemas reopen ?
That is literally a multimillion dollar question .
Cinemas will have to incorporate stringent social distancing measures – think fewer seats available in each theater – as well as boost disinfection procedures .
No one knows yet whether cinemas will uniformly implement policies such as taking customers ’ temperatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of moviegoing depends on the effectiveness of movie-house practices , says Katherine Tallman , executive director and CEO of the Coolidge Corner Theatre , an independent art-house cinema in Boston .
“ We want to make sure that people have a perception that everything is really carefully handled , really clean , ” says Ms. Tallman .
The last thing anyone needs , she adds , is a false start in which theaters open and are blamed for spreading the virus .
The three largest movie chains – AMC , Regal , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Theater owners in Georgia have expressed reluctance to reopen even though the state permitted them to do so in late April .
And in Texas , only a handful of small cinemas have taken advantage of the green light to resume business .
Evo Entertainment opened a couple of its theaters near San Antonio and instituted checks of customers ’ temperatures .
The Santikos company opened 3 of its 9 locations in San Antonio , but capped capacity at 25 % .
All eyes will be on Germany ’ s biggest state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to reopen on May 30 .
Most movie theaters aren ’ t in a rush to reopen because there aren ’ t new movies to screen .
For many owners , it will likely only make sense to open when they know enough customers will attend .
Drive-ins may benefit first .
Long term , it ’ s unlikely that COVID-19 will put an end to moviegoing .
After all , cinemas have survived the introduction of television , videotapes , and streaming .
“ People really want to get together , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t see that desire , that human desire to collect and share experiences , ever going away .
In fact , I think that now that none of us can have it , it ’ s even more evident.
” How will the Oscars be affected ?
In recent years , the Academy Awards decided to forgo a host .
Will the 2021 ceremony eschew a theater audience ?
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has had more immediate concerns than whether to , say , bring back Billy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late April , the academy ’ s board of governors voted to waive its long-standing requirement that movies must screen in a Los Angeles theater for one week to qualify for consideration .
The temporary rule change will benefit contenders that have had to skip a theatrical release and go straight to streaming .
Once theaters reopen , the academy will also allow movies to screen in several other cities across the U.S. to meet eligibility requirements .
“ The bigger question is , when will this really get ramped up again to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season , where you have the ability to get all these movies out and seen ?
” asks Mr. Hammond .
“ Will they have to move the Oscars [ from February ] back to April ?
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“People really want to get together,” says Ms. Tallman. “I don’t see that desire, that human desire to collect and share experiences, ever going away.”
With no new films in the pipeline, theater owners are taking their time considering the best way to reopen, even in states where they are allowed to do so. The future of moviegoing depends on the effectiveness of movie-house practices, says Katherine Tallman, executive director and CEO of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, an independent art-house cinema in Boston. Even so, she anticipates audiences will return.
How long until moviegoing returns? Hollywood and theater owners are weighing a host of issues, including when to distribute films and the logistics of gathering indoors in groups.
The coronavirus has brought a number of changes to Hollywood, including a recent announcement that movies that have gone straight to streaming can be considered for Oscars.
James Bond has narrowly escaped sharks, tigers, and even a tsunami. But in March, 007 finally met his match in the coronavirus. The 25th Bond film, “No Time to Die,” was the first movie to delay its release. Originally scheduled for April, James Bond will return in November. As COVID-19 escalated, other movies followed suit, with no summer blockbusters planned until mid-July.
How will social distancing change going to the movies, one of the most popular leisure activities of the past century? The coronavirus affects every aspect of the big-screen business, from release dates to cinema attendance. Your popcorn may be on hold for a while.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
How has the COVID-19 shutdown affected Hollywood’s schedules?
Why We Wrote This How long until moviegoing returns? Hollywood and theater owners are weighing a host of issues, including when to distribute films and the logistics of gathering indoors in groups.
James Bond has narrowly escaped sharks, tigers, and even a tsunami. But in March, 007 finally met his match in the coronavirus. The 25th Bond film, “No Time to Die,” was the first movie to delay its release. Originally scheduled for April, James Bond will return in November. As COVID-19 escalated, other movies followed suit.
“I told somebody at Paramount ... ‘When are you moving ‘Top Gun 2’ to Christmas?’” recalls Pete Hammond, chief film critic for Deadline. “He got all mad at me. Then, only two days later, they ended up moving ‘Top Gun 2’ to Christmas.”
As of now there won’t be any summer blockbusters until Christopher Nolan’s action flick “Tenet” on July 17, followed by the belated arrival of a pair of heroines: the live-action “Mulan” (July 24) and “Wonder Woman 1984” (Aug. 14). Mr. Hammond wonders if those dates will shift again.
When cinemas reopen, studios will likely avoid bunching the releases of delayed movies. A measured rollout will give each film space to maximize its audience share. That’s why “F9” (or “Fast and Furious 9”), Disney’s “Jungle Cruise,” and “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” have been pushed back a full year to 2021. Rescheduling release dates in global markets has created a multiyear domino effect. For example, Indiana Jones – originally due to return in a fifth movie next summer – will now crack his whip in July 2022.
Spacing out the release dates also gives studios time to complete movies whose filming was suspended by COVID-19. The scrambled production timelines may create conflicts for in-demand talent, who might have to turn down other movie opportunities because of prior commitments.
What will moviegoing look like when cinemas reopen?
That is literally a multimillion dollar question. Cinemas will have to incorporate stringent social distancing measures – think fewer seats available in each theater – as well as boost disinfection procedures. No one knows yet whether cinemas will uniformly implement policies such as taking customers’ temperatures before allowing entry. But the future of moviegoing depends on the effectiveness of movie-house practices, says Katherine Tallman, executive director and CEO of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, an independent art-house cinema in Boston.
“We want to make sure that people have a perception that everything is really carefully handled, really clean,” says Ms. Tallman.
The last thing anyone needs, she adds, is a false start in which theaters open and are blamed for spreading the virus. The three largest movie chains – AMC, Regal, and Cinemark – remain closed for now. Theater owners in Georgia have expressed reluctance to reopen even though the state permitted them to do so in late April. And in Texas, only a handful of small cinemas have taken advantage of the green light to resume business. Evo Entertainment opened a couple of its theaters near San Antonio and instituted checks of customers’ temperatures. The Santikos company opened 3 of its 9 locations in San Antonio, but capped capacity at 25%. All eyes will be on Germany’s biggest state, North Rhine Westphalia, where cinemas are due to reopen on May 30.
Most movie theaters aren’t in a rush to reopen because there aren’t new movies to screen. For many owners, it will likely only make sense to open when they know enough customers will attend. Drive-ins may benefit first.
Long term, it’s unlikely that COVID-19 will put an end to moviegoing. After all, cinemas have survived the introduction of television, videotapes, and streaming.
“People really want to get together,” says Ms. Tallman. “I don’t see that desire, that human desire to collect and share experiences, ever going away. In fact, I think that now that none of us can have it, it’s even more evident.”
How will the Oscars be affected?
In recent years, the Academy Awards decided to forgo a host. Will the 2021 ceremony eschew a theater audience? The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has had more immediate concerns than whether to, say, bring back Billy Crystal to host via videoconference. In late April, the academy’s board of governors voted to waive its long-standing requirement that movies must screen in a Los Angeles theater for one week to qualify for consideration. The temporary rule change will benefit contenders that have had to skip a theatrical release and go straight to streaming. Once theaters reopen, the academy will also allow movies to screen in several other cities across the U.S. to meet eligibility requirements.
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“The bigger question is, when will this really get ramped up again to the point where you have an awards season, where you have the ability to get all these movies out and seen?” asks Mr. Hammond. “Will they have to move the Oscars [from February] back to April?”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.