In Knox County, Tennessee, some parents are looking to pressure local and state educational leaders by keeping their students home on the first day of school in an attempt to pressure leaders into improving COVID-19 safety protocols.
The protest, being called the "sickout," is being organized by parents like Eric Moore. The parents are fighting to force administrators to follow guidance from the Knox County Health Department and CDC, USA Today reported.
"What we really need to be doing is listening to our public health experts at the CDC and the American Association of Pediatrics and the Knox County Board of Health. And, so, you know, what I would like to see is for Knox County schools to make a commitment to following the best practice guidelines as delineated by those organizations," Moore told Knox News.
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With seven children, including three in elementary being homeschooled, Moore said he doesn't feel safe having his younger kids attend in-person school. Although Moore does have two kids attending in-person learning at the middle school level, both are vaccinated.
Moore shared that this demonstration isn't just about masks, social distancing, or any other COVID-19 safety strategy. Instead, the demonstration is about listening to medical experts as they learn new information on the virus for these parents.
"I don't want to advocate for a certain procedure or policy, specifically, but rather that we will commit to doing what public health experts in our country are telling us we should be doing to keep our children safe," Moore said.
The sickout was put together by nearly 3,500 parents who collaborated through a Facebook group. Their efforts have been seen by school administrators and Knox County Board of Education members. On Friday, a special school board meeting was announced to discuss the COVID-19 safety protocols.
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As of Friday, there were 905 cases of COVID-19 in the district.
Even with the spike in cases, Carly Harrington, a Knox County Schools spokeswoman, discouraged parents from taking part in the sickout but still said isolated and quarantined students should stay home.
Moore said he thinks the board of education, superintendent, and governor are passing the blame around.
"If, as the board claims and as Bob Thomas and Bill Lee all claim, that they're concerned about learning loss, then the biggest problem contributing to learning loss right now is that students have to be out. And yet there is not good provisions for virtual learning or support for children while they are out."
The decision on whether or not to change safety protocols has yet to be made as parents continue to keep their students at home. With cases continuing to rise, who will break first, parents or education leaders?