On May 26, 12:36 pm, "John R. Yamamoto-Wilson"
<j...@rarebooksinjapan.com> wrote:
> MonkeyBoy wrote:
> > Some schools contend that if classes are canceled, students go
> > out in public, further spreading the disease.
>
> And they are right. Students from affected schools are being discouraged
> from doing "arubaito", etc., for the same reason.
>

They are not right.  This is where the concept of personal
responsibility comes into play, but apparently that lesson is one
thing not taught at some universities.  Regardless of that, though,
the same students doing arubaito would be doing it with classes
canceled or not - only it's that much worse when they become infected
in class and then go spread it around the restaurant they work at.

> > Right there they attempt to rationalize the idea that even if
> > students were sick, it's not only acceptable, but actually
> > preferable to have them attend school.
>
> I don't think any school is saying that. No school wants infected
> students in the classroom, and all schools will be warning anyone who
> might even possibly have symptoms to stay at home and see a doctor.
>
> The problem that schools and colleges have is not what to do with
> students who are sick (that is very clear; no one disagrees that they
> should be kept isolated and supervised by a doctor). The problem is what
> to do with the majority of students, who are not sick and show no symptoms.
>

Actually, the problem is that as long as classes continue to be held
during this outbreak, students are compelled to attend them whether
they are sick or not.  The same mentality of the sick salaryman who
jumps on a train to go to work because God forbid he eats a vacation
day when he's sick.

> The authorities are quite right to show concern that closing schools may
> actually help to spread the disease around the society more generally,
> and they are right to consider the educational implications of
> cancelling classes of students who are, as far as can be told, perfectly
> healthy just for the sake of a handful of students who are sick.

There is no reason to assume adverse implications for temporarily
delaying classes until such an outbreak of disease is under control.
It's actually just the opposite case.  This is not about such a noble
cause as education - it's about time, money and convenience.

> I'm not saying that they *shouldn't* consider closing the schools; I'm
> not a doctor or an expert on health issues. I'm just saying that the
> points they are making make sense to me.
>
> John

I am not a health care professional either, however this appears to be
common sense.

In any case, it seems there are at least some universities assuming a
more proactive stance against this:

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200705230113.html