Has the Canary in the Coal Mine Become the Canary in the Classroom?

Most of us have heard the phrase “Canary in the Coal Mine” at least once in our lives. You may be familiar with the meaning behind the phrase, but for those of us who might need a reminder, I’ll quickly explain.

The freedictionary.com definition behind the phrase is this: “Something or someone who, due to sensitivity to his, her, or its surroundings, acts as an indicator and early warning of possible adverse conditions or danger.”

The story behind the phrase refers to a practice that was once used by miners who worked deep inside the mineshafts. Toxic gas, like methane and carbon monoxide posed a real danger to miners because the gases could not be detected. To solve this, the miners would bring a caged canary into the mine with them; if the bird suddenly died it was a warning to the miners that toxic gas was present, and that they needed to evacuate immediately.

Thankfully, new technology exists that can detect toxic gas fumes, so the use of canaries has become part of the past. However, the “Canary in the Coal Mine” phrase may still be relevant today. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on people worldwide. Restrictions and lockdown measures were put into place to protect as many people as possible, or so we have been told. But what if these new measures are actually doing…