This is a terrible idea.

Both the Atlanta and Fulton County Public School systems will be cancelling classroom learning — what we used to refer to as “school” — from April 12th to 16th, because a majority of teachers and school staff have said they might travel, use public transit, or sleep in hotels over the spring break.

Superintendent Lisa Herring announced in a Thursday letter to parents that the district will switch to virtual learning for the week of April 12–16.

“As we continue our focus on protecting student and staff health and safety and in light of an anticipated high volume of student and staff travel during spring break, April 5–9, we are taking the precautionary step of transitioning to virtual instruction for the following week, April 12–16, to help maintain low rates of COVID-19 spread in our schools and buildings,” she wrote.

Herring said APS surveyed staff about their travel plans before making the decision. She said the district received 4,900 employee responses.

“Over 59% of our teachers and over 53% of all staff indicated that during spring break they will be traveling utilizing public transit and/or traveling overnight and in association with crowds outside their household,” she wrote.

Given the flu appears to be far more dangerous for children than COVID-19, will these metro Atlanta districts force their students into remote instruction after Thanksgiving and Christmas next year?