我們從大人們那裡聽說了許多關於重新開放學校的事情:教師提出了安全問題，政治家提出了政治問題，健康專家提出了健康問題，父母提出了養育子女的問題，等等。

然而，到了9月份，真正坐在教室裡(或不坐在教室裡)的人會怎麼想呢？

我們想直接從學生們的感受，所以我們邀請讀者們去詢問他們孩子對重返校園的感受，如果他們真的重返校園，他們認為學校應該採取什麼預防措施。

孩子們不能設定自己的就寢時間；他們沒有辦法決定各州重新開放的時間。但是他們確實是利益攸關者，他們還有有很多話要說。600多位家長代表他們5到17歲的孩子寫下了這些話。絕大多數情況下，我們聽說學生們都非常緊張和困惑，很多時候，他們為自己、父母和老師們擔心。

還有許多人對遠端上課的想法不感興趣。15歲的安東尼說，”網上學習糟透了，但這總比得了新冠死了好。“

然而，他們也非常想念他們的朋友、圖書館和教室裡的儀式感。11歲的尤金·科斯梅傑總結道:“我覺得去學校上課的感覺比較棒。”

以下是來自全國各地學生的評論，都是他們的原話。為了清晰起見，我們做了一些編輯和壓縮。

英文原文：

We’ve heard from the adults about reopening schools: Teachers have presented safety concerns, politicians have presented political concerns, health experts have presented health concerns, parents have presented parenting concerns, and so on.

But what about the people who will actually be sitting in classrooms (or not) come September?

We wanted to hear directly from the students, so we invited readers to ask their kids how they felt about going back to school, and if they do go back, what precautions they think schools should be taking.

Kids don’t get to set their own bedtimes; there’s a good reason they aren’t determining state reopening timelines. But they do have a lot at stake, and a lot to say. More than 600 parents wrote in on behalf of their children, ages 5 to 17. Overwhelmingly, we heard that students were nervous and confused and in many cases, afraid for themselves, their parents and their teachers.

Many were uninspired by the idea of more remote classes. Online learning “sucks,” said Anthony, 15, “but I’d rather do that than die!”

And yet they also missed their friends and the library and rituals of the classroom. Eugene Koesmadjie, 11, summed it up like this: “What I feel about going to school is that I think it is wonderful.”

Below is a selection of comments from students across the country, presented in their own words. They have been condensed and edited for clarity.

I personally do not think that it is safe to go back to school. Although I love school because it is the best place to enhance my mind in knowledge, I know that after one virus the world has totally turned upside down. Times are really dangerous now because this new virus is killing thousands of people in seconds, even though they don’t feel it until it’s too late. Although there are mixed feeling about this topic, I truly believe that if we continue the distance learning even during the school year, we can gradually cease the flow of the virus.

Online learning is honestly not so bad because it is a way to help us learn while protecting our lives, and during this grave crisis this is the best way to learn. As the schools are starting to reopen, I feel that the teachers and principals should continue doing the distance learning because although this virus is not spreading so much, the pandemic is not over. — Jediael Chintha, 12, Hanover Park, Ill.

I’ll feel sad if the library is closed because of bacteria and germs. All of my teachers have said, “You have a great mind for reading.” Reading is what I do in my free time. Another thing I do is writing stories for fun with my friends.

To make school safer I will want smaller classes. There should be different times for lunch. When going outside, there should be only one or two classes outside at the same time. At the end of the day the teachers should sanitize everything. Teachers and children should wear masks except when we eat. Also, we should only do two days of distant learning and three days of real school. Students should bring their own pencil sharpeners, tissues and sanitizer to school to keep things safer.

Teachers should record what they are teaching. Then they can give the videos to parents if their children don’t understand the lesson. The teachers should make a game out of what we are learning. It can be a fun review so students can learn and have a good time. Students and teachers should have one on one meetings. One on one meetings would help improve their grade if they do it right. Teachers can do their best with games for online learning and sharing screens so it can be fun during this hard time. — Mia Greene, 9, Philadelphia

While I wish we could go back to school feeling safe and sure of ourselves, I don’t think it’s a very realistic idea. It is impractical to have teachers be the “mask police” in addition to their teaching responsibilities.

If we were to go back to school, however, I would suggest staggering the number of students on campus each week. Presumably, water fountains would be removed and doors would be kept propped open to help students avoid contact with door handles. Because classrooms would be unable to accommodate as many students, public and outdoor venues such as parks, beaches and amphitheaters could be used to teach students, too.

Online learning has been difficult for me. It is much more challenging to connect with teachers and peers through a screen. But overall, I realize that I am extremely lucky to have a computer to learn with and a quiet space to work in this troubling time. — Anya Shah, 13, Los Angeles

I don’t feel comfortable returning to in-person classes. Living in N.Y.C., between relying on overcrowded public transit lines and school buildings that are undersized for the number of kids they serve, it is inevitable that I will bring the virus home to my family. I don’t see how they can cut the education budget and still hire people to do testing, extra teachers and extra cleaning staff.

I’m typically a pretty antisocial person and even I find online learning very isolating. It’s very hard to meet people online, because typically meeting people in person happens through some shared experience like being at the same table or working on a project together. Those opportunities are no longer available.

I wish they could fund schools better in the first place. I have thought about this a lot but there is no silver bullet. — Wilson Prieve, 15, Brooklyn

I am not super comfortable returning to class. This is mainly because I do not have confidence that everyone in my area has been in quarantine. While I am not super worried about dying from the virus, I do not want to get it. Also, while I will not go to school without wearing a mask, I find masks hard to breathe in and am not looking forward to long school days in them. However, I acknowledge that health care workers do it every day and really appreciate it.

I think that if everyone in each school isolated for three weeks before school started, and social distanced from all strangers, then the risk of having an outbreak in a school would be pretty low. Masks and distancing in the school should still take place just in case. Americans are not good at giving up their freedom for the greater good. Citizens of the United States will continue to get sick with Covid-19 until there is a vaccine. That is just the sad truth.

Online school is not the end of the world. It has turned out to be mediocre. Some teachers adapt well, while others do the bare minimum. But I can’t say that isn’t true with in-person school. Some teachers and classes are better than others. Overall, I would say that online school is comparable to in person. The main difference is that after-school activities and electives are not the same.— Oliver Stockman, 16, Swarthmore, Pa.

Being a senior was something that I’ve looked forward to since my freshman year. Taking the hardest classes, having a spot in the senior parking lot and being able to get the best out of high school all in one year. Now, many of the typical “back to school” activities like homecoming, senior fun day and painting cars are no longer able to take place. My school has over 2,000 students in attendance, with about 500 kids per grade. This large number of students means that I will only get to attend school once a week in person, and with a group of people grouped by last name.