'Don't take the choice away': Md. parents rally to keep virtual learning as an option
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. (7News) — With just two school days left in the Prince George’s K-6th grade virtual learning program, a group of fewer than a dozen parents who want to keep it indefinitely rallied Wednesday at PGCPS headquarters in Upper Marlboro. The parents drove their cars around the building honking horns and waving signs.
The rally organizer, Danielle Wood, has also been collecting signatures on a petition. She is fighting to keep her 5th-grade son home where she believes it's safe.
“I think you give parents a choice. I think that’s the bottom line. You don’t take the choice away from parents on how to protect their children,” says Wood.
For nearly two full years now her choice has been virtual schooling for her son AJ. He says that’s fine with him.
“I don’t really miss being in school because I’ve been virtual since 3rd grade,” says AJ, “I’m used to being at home and not really seeing a friend every day.”
He is one of about 10,000 students remaining in the virtual program which was from the start scheduled to end now. System CEO Monica Goldson in a statement saying it was always supposed to be a bridge to when younger kids could be vaccinated and state law doesn’t permit continued remote learning.
So as it stands now 5th grader AJ is due back in a school be barely remembers Monday morning. His mom just doesn’t believe that is safe.
“I don’t think it’s fair we have to draw this line between our children’s education and their safety,” says Wood.
