Virus in the Classroom

One of the girls in my son's class was in contact with someone with the virus, which prompted her parents to give her a virus test to be on the safe side. This test came out positive despite her showing no symptoms, and this fact was communicated to everybody last night.

This led to a great deal of commotion. Everybody agreed to test their children, and the school sent out an e-mail with instructing on what to do. Being a private school, they have some flexibility in how to handle the situation.

The school made the decision to allow all children with a negative test to continue classes. Apart from that, it's up to the parents to decide whether to keep their children home or not. The school sends out homework assignments to the children that stay at home. Those that go to school will receive regular classes.

This incident is interesting in several ways. First off, it reveals that few families have had much experience with the virus. Two years into the plague, and many have had no direct contact with it. Their only knowledge of it has been through media sources.

Additionally, the school's response is typical of the flexibility inherent in Portuguese culture. They didn't slavishly refer to official guidelines prescribed by the state. They came up with something sensible on their own.

The incident will also reveal a full list of who's fearful and who's not. Showing up at school on Monday with my son, I'll make a note of who's there, and I'm going to be there without my mask, as is my habit these days. That way, I get to know where the parents stand, and they will get my position confirmed.

With the most fearful parents gone for ten days, as recommended by the state, there's an opportunity in this. My fellow fearless parents and I can expand our reach in the style of attrition warfare. I'll make the most of this by striking up conversations whenever possible. Ten days on, and we might know each other quite well, which will give us an advantage on the fearful who've been huddling at home in isolation.

When the fearful return, they will be met by people as unfussed as ever, and this will hopefully relieve any additional fear that they might have built up at home.

Conversely, if the fearless fail to make the most of this, we might see things deteriorate. The fearful will be more fearful, and with no counterweight on the part of the fearless, it will be them rather than us that gain ground in our struggle for influence.

Mask of the beast