July 15, 2020 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Wednesday, July 15, 2020 The public has little faith Opinion Page “ElkCituNews in a return to school Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 Letter to By Francis Wilkinson, Bloomberg Opinion President Donald Trump muster even that lukewarm endorsement. More than a Ina USAToday/Ipsos poll in May, when the pandemic ers said they are considering not sending their children to third of the 1,450 principals outlook was brighter than school or childcare this fall last week began demand- who responded to the survey it is today, 87% of teachers even though 83% are wor- the editor ing that schools open in reported feeling “somewhat said they expected difficulty ried that their students are the fall. It’s a successor to unconfident” or “not at all enforcing social distancing falling behind. his demand last spring that confident.” among students. A robust the economy reopen full Principals are also wary of 18% said they would quit The lack of confidence throttle, and it looks like it the politics of Covid-19. working if their school were in school openings mirrors Food bank will be similarly ignored. “My fear is that the pub- to reopen. Among teach- a lack of confidence in the Both are excellent goals, of lic will be looking at each ers over age 55, that rose to president. Only 41% of re- course. Lots of experts, from measure as a political state- 25%. spondents to a Pew Research could use some pediatricians to economists, ment, and some will ignore So the majority of princi- Center poll last month said stress the importance of the advice of health officials pals express limited confi-they are confident or some- students returning to class. in regards to their kids just to dence in their ability to keep what confident that Trump But as long as Trump's safe- assistance prove a point,” one respon- schools safe, and almost can handle the “public health schools planning consists of dent said. one-fifth of the teaching an all-caps tweet, the presi- “T’m not looking forward corps said in May that they impact of the coronavirus dent is unlikely to convince to arguing with those who would abandon their jobs if outbreak.” By Ertis L. Johnson a few crucial constituencies don’t take this seriously,” schools reopen. It’s surely true that mil- I worked for one hour June 24 at Help Inc. food bank - principals, teachers, par- another said. OK. How’s it going with lions of parents are desper- ents - that he has their best And there are practical parents? ate to send their kids back at the Community Center here in Elk City. interests at heart. According to a_ parallel to school, and many teach- problems for which there are It was one of the most exhilarating hours I’ve spent re- Only 12.4% of school no real answers: “How do USA Today/Ipsos poll taken ers and administrators are principals say they are “ex- you tell a 4-year old to so- in May, 46% of Americans equally desperate to resume cently, seeing people coming in a line of cars to the north tremely confident” in their cial distance?” one principal (47% among parents with their vocations and a normal side of the building, waiting while being interviewed as school or district’s ability asked. at least one K-12 student) to “preserve the health of In California, where coro- support a return to in-person life. No doubt many would to how many were in the family and happily accepting staff and students” if school navirus cases are resurgent, schooling before there is a grasp at anything resem- a whole shopping cart of all kinds of food for each two opens in the fall, accord- officials are now in full re- coronavirus vaccine. bling a coherent plan from people in the family and knowing that they wouldn’t go ing to a survey released this treat from school openings. If schools reopen in fall, the White House. No such week by the National Asso- “Byery single school dis- 59% of parents said they plan exists. hungry for the next month. ciation of Secondary School trict at this point needs to would likely pursue at-home Francis Wilkinson writes All I had to do was move the boxes and bags of food Principals. Another 22.8% have plans in place to con- learning such as remote editorials on politics. and felt “somewhat confident.” tinue distance learning for school or homeschooling, US. domestic policy for from the cart to the table, while the people drove through Imagine the delight of par- 100% of the time,” Los An- and 30% said they would Bloomberg Opinion. He was and picked up their food from the table and put it in their ents and teachers upon learn- geles Public Health Director be very likely to do so. Ina executive editor of the Week. ing that their school princi- Barbara Ferrer told adminis- national survey of Hispanic vehicles and drove away. What was exciting to me was pal is “somewhat confident” trators this last week. parents and grandparents He was previously a writer greeting the folks and helping them lift a couple of cases of keeping disease and death Principals and health of- conducted this month by ‘for Rolling Stone, a commu- at bay. Now consider that the ficials are not the only ones Latino Decisions, 53% of nications consultant and a of food that might have been too heavy for them, maybe majority of principals can’t lacking confidence. Hispanic parents or caregiv- political media strategist. telling a joke or two, and then seeing the smiles on their faces. I like to help! Our food bank is in great needed of good, strong men Academic research can’t end the who will help the community, doing something like this, which will be a great blessing for everyone who works pandemic without private backing or stops by there. I saw dedicated ladies — they have a By Jon Soderstrom, Ph.D. novel virus infects a cell. If laborative model. Private subsequently make Zerit Scientists at Yale Universi- they discover something that pharmaceutical companies available at minimal cost in quite a few — making up the boxes, bags and carts on the ty and scores more research could have an application, bring such expertise, as well Africa, where it has helped inside. But the poor redhead on the outside was sweat- institutions nationwide are they may file an application as facilities to produce new save millions of lives. ing in this summer heat, and her face turned red from the working around the clock to to protect their intellectual technologies at scale while Such collaboration traces identify potential avenues of property. This intellectual maintaining the highest its origins to the Patent and temperature! diagnosing, preventing, and property can then be li- standards of safety and effi- Trademark Law Amend- Fellows, you can help the “outside girl.” That way, she treating COVID-19. Many censed to a private company cacy. This private-sector ex- ments Act of 1980, better of these projects are backed that commits to investing the pertise and capacity enables known as “Bayh-Dole.” doesn’t have to lift the heavy boxes herself and she can by the federal government’s time, expense, and expertise new medicines to get to pa- Over the past 40 years, the attend to her other job of interviewing those car drivers National Institutes of Health. required to try and translate tients as quickly as possible. United States has emerged Any one of them could lead the nascent discovery into a The same can’t be said of as the global leader in clear to the back of the line. Every Monday and Wednes- to a game-changing insight safe and effective therapy. either universities or the pharmaceutical innova- day, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., those ladies could sure use that helps end this pandemic. Bringing a new medicine federal government. Af- tion, responsible for two For any of these efforts to would be nearly impos- ter all, universities are de- your help! And COVID-19 is no problem — your work is in three new medicines. succeed, however, it will sible without this structure. voted to the creation and America’s unique drug outside. take more than government- Clinical trials alone can cost dissemination of knowl- development model has There are a number of “perks” along the way — like funded laboratory research. hundreds of millions of dol- edge - not to the intricacies The reality is that in the lars and take years to com- of pharmaceutical supply never been more im- having fun! — and meeting a bunch of people, plus pos- United States, medical prog- plete. And only about 12 chains and FDA regulations. portant to global health. ress depends on partnerships percent of drugs that enter This model has yielded The pace of COVID-19 sibly getting a few “treats” [like ice cream] for only an between academic scien- phase I clinical trials make breakthrough therapies, like research coming from sci- hour of your time. What would you really have to lose? I tists and biopharmaceutical their way to FDA approval. Taxol, a medicine for breast entists in American labs went away that day — after just one hour — refreshed and firms willing to risk millions University researchers have and ovarian cancer, and has been nothing short of to test whether a promising expert knowledge of the sci- Tovaxin, which treats mul- astounding. In partnership blessed. And you can always stay longer if you wish. insight actually pans out. ence they do in their labs. tiple sclerosis. Under license with the capital and exper- To volunteer, call the food bank at 580-243-0770. Help The process of drug dis- They do not typically have from Yale, the pharmaceuti- tise of the private sector, covery and development in the expertise and institu- cal company Bristol-Myers these discoveries will soon Inc. is in the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center, the United States follows a tional knowledge required Squibb developed Zerit, usher in global benefits. which is located at 609 W. E Avenue in Elk City. typical pattern: University to shepherd new drugs a key component of what Jon Soderstrom is the Man- researchers apply for federal through the FDA’s complex aging Director of the Office would become the com- See you there sometime! grants to study basic scientif- approval process. That’s bination therapy for HIV/ of Cooperative Research at Ertis L. Johnson lives in Elk City. ic questions, such as how the another benefit of the col- AIDS. Bristol-Myers would Yale University. Have a letter to the editor to share? Send your letter to the editor to [email protected]