Lee Persuasive Letter
Synopsis:
This letter is written to Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos. I am requesting for her to push for better cleanliness in schools as well as to enforce stricter COVID-19 social distance guidelines. In order for her to accomplish this, I specifically want HEPA filters installed throughout schools and the use of UVC wands to disinfect campus buildings regularly. Additionally, I want her to implement a rule that allows the Federal government to deny a student’s federal aid if they do not follow proper social distancing guidelines. I chose the improvement of cleanliness in schools, because the infection rate of COVID-19 in college campuses is increasing rapidly. The reason I wrote to Betsy DeVos is due to the fact that she is the secretary of education, which means she is capable of getting my requests accomplished. Betsy DeVos’ stance is that she wants to keep schools open. I feel that she will be sympathetic to my concerns, because schools must become safer for students if she wants them to remain open. Only due to how schools will close if infection rates increase, I believe Betsy DeVos will agree with my requests.
I used logos to enforce my arguments by displaying the amount of COVID-19 infections and the improvement in air quality that HEPA filters provided. Using pathos, I appealed to the reader’s emotions by including a personal statement about how my father is an essential worker as well as how my family has underlying health problems. In addition, I used ethos to convey that I am a knowledgeable and concerned person. I did this by citing my sources, and providing a personal testimony on how I see my peers ignore social distance guidelines.
Changes that I made to my letter were the inclusion of more effective evidence and fixing my writing errors. If I had more time, I would have made my letter more persuasive. In conclusion, I would have tried to make my argument a lot stronger, so that I could mail Betsy DeVos the best solutions possible for keeping colleges safe.
Persuasive Business Letter Final Draft
Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education
Wall Street Journal
The Honorable Betsy DeVos
Secretary of Education
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington D.C. 20202
October 20, 2020
21 Claudia Ln
New Paltz, NY, 12561
Dear Secretary DeVos,
I am a business major at the State University of New York at New Paltz, though it certainly does not feel like it. Back in high school, going to college felt like it would be a much more free experience. Instead, the COVID-19 virus has forced many safety guidelines to be placed that restrict a lot of interaction on campus. Initially, I thought campus life would be meeting new people and hanging out around campus all the time. Now it is expected that everyone on campus will follow the social distancing regulations, so the campus is relatively empty. Because of the pandemic my schedule is very unusual: I have 2 in-person classes and the rest of my classes virtual. It is very disappointing to be a commuter driving to school for one class everyday, then going home to work on a computer. As the secretary of education, you want everyone in schools to receive an education that is the most beneficial toward their health and learning. Without providing this, the “world class education” for everyone you are striving for will not come true (DeVos). You have the power to advise the President and Congress about implementing safeguards to protect students against the COVID-19 virus. There should be policies created that will ensure students, faculty and staff are obeying proper social distancing measures. With an abundance of COVID-19 cases that are occurring in schools, it is most likely a result of the inability of people to properly social distance.
Since the emergence of the pandemic in December, John Hopkins University has reported 8,201,554 people have been infected with COVID-19 in the United States, as of October 19, 2020 (coronavirus.jhu.edu). After late July, there have been an additional 171,000 cases that were identified in colleges around the country (The New York Times). Such a rapid increase in the amount of confirmed cases only proves that there needs to be more protection against the spread of the virus. Schools are a hotspot for the virus, since a large number of students are in classrooms and residence halls. These are small spaces where they are likely to not social distance from each other and obey the safety guidelines. Across the United States, there have been over 178,000 cases in more than 14,000 colleges and universities (“Tracking Covid”). This evidence conveys that the students are infected with the virus in schools and has the potential to further spread if the appropriate safety precautions are not followed. After being opened for just a few months, colleges have already had close to 200,000 cases, which means that the virus has spread rapidly. According to my school, SUNY New Paltz, there have been 18 COVID-19 cases since reopening (newpaltz.edu). These statistics show that the virus is even present on my own campus, which worries me since I am a commuter. I do not want to contract the virus, then go home to give it to my family.
This semester, I have witnessed students choose not to wear their masks in the correct way and congregate in large groups with their friends on campus. As the son of an essential medical worker, I feel disrespected by my peers’ disregard for others’ safety. In order to preserve the safety of in person learning, the Department of Education and Federal government should establish stronger policies for social distancing, provide more federal aid, and more effectively clean colleges.
As scientists are discovering, the COVID-19 virus is an airborne virus that is spread through cough droplets and sneezing (Won, et al.). The fact the virus is airborne contributed to the rapid spread to countries around the world. Out of 120,000 schools, 50 percent of them have indoor air quality issues (“Dealing With Schools”). As most people know, an airborne virus can easily be spread due to heating and air conditioning systems. Reusing air is common with these systems and leads to a high probability of infection (Marcone). These systems recirculate the infected air in the room they are heating or cooling, which spreads the pathogen further throughout the room. Thankfully, filters can be installed in the air conditioning system and placed in the return air duct. Filtering the pathogen out of the air can be used to better safeguard schools against the spread of the virus. HEPA is an acronym that stands for high efficiency particulate air and this type of filter is one that can filter pathogens and bacteria (Eisenlöffel, et al.). According to COMTEX News, “HEPA filters remove at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles 0.3 micrometers in diameter” (“Improving indoor air”). This means that essentially all of the particles in the air can be filtered out. Doing so will provide a 99.97 percent improved indoor air quality, as opposed to before. Overall, this data is demonstrating that pathogens can be removed from the air if the air is properly filtered. Additionally, using an air filter that consisted of a prefilter and fiberglass filter, proved to reduce the amount of airborne viruses by at least 70 percent (Eisenlöffel, et al.). This demonstrates the effectiveness of high quality filters when it comes to filtering viruses: HEPA filters and high quality filters are capable of circulating at least 70% of the virus out of the air. Without the use of an air filter, the whole air space in a room would be recirculating air filled with pathogens.
In addition, UVC modules are devices that are commonly used for the disinfection of hospitals through ultraviolet radiation (Bentancor, et al.). These devices are available in the form of a wand that emits ultraviolet light that is strong enough to destroy the bacteria. They can be held near surfaces that need to be disinfected for a short period of time in order to eliminate the bacteria and pathogens. Being implemented in schools along with HEPA Filters should provide a safer learning environment for those in attendance. With adequate cleanliness in schools, it will prevent the virus from infecting more individuals and being spread into homes. Because the virus is airborne, it is important to recirculate fresh air, as well as to remove the virus from the air to prevent it from spreading. Using UVC-sustained recirculating air filtration, “measures taken in front of and behind the UVC module revealed a reduction of 99.4% for airborne bacteria and 95.0% for total dust” (Eisenlöffel, et al.). Essentially all of the airborne bacteria was removed from the air, which made the barn much less likely to have an airborne virus that would infect someone. Through the use of the UVC module, it has greatly stopped the recirculation of the airborne virus by destroying it. Placing these UVC modules along with air recirculation in school classrooms would allow for an infected airspace to be wiped clean, reducing the probability of infection. (Eisenlöffel, et al.). This demonstrates how HEPA air filters can be used in the schools to most effectively remove the pathogen from the air in classrooms. Basically, this means that the viruses will always be destroyed in the air and those that are not will be filtered out. UVC wands need to be used and HEPA filters must be installed in colleges across the country. Of course the addition of these safety precautions will not be cheap. The installation will definitely cost millions of dollars to equip all of the schools throughout the country. The price of the filters to be implemented in central air conditioning is “$500-$3500” (“A Complete Central Air”). If HEPA filters are installed in all 5300 colleges and universities, the cost will total to over 26 million dollars. High quality UVC wands cost around 100 dollars, so the price will be over million dollars for multiple wands to be used in schools. Applying the filters through central air conditioning is the most efficient way to safely filter out the pathogens from schools.
Someone opposed to my claim may state that implementing all of these new safety precautions will be a waste of tax dollars. The need for millions of tax dollars to be implemented in schools may anger a lot of people. Some may think that implementing the safety devices in schools will not affect the amount of COVID-19 cases that occur and that will simply be a waste of money. Truthfully, students should be continuing online learning because the conditions in school are unable to protect the health of students. Across the nation, the reopening of schools has just led to more individuals being infected with COVID-19 virus and further spreading it to those they come in contact with. However, these safety precautions are meant to reduce the number of cases to almost none. Also, cheaper safety precautions are available to be implemented in schools if there is not enough in the Federal government’s budget or other’s strongly believe that schools do not need to have certain safety features. Salt-coated filters can be used in masks to provide much better protection against viruses. Being exposed to the high concentration levels of saline solution after drying, the viruses are then damaged by recrystallization (Quan, et al.). Making salt-coated filters will allow for better protection against the COVID-19, when compared to a regular surgical mask. These salt-coated filters are obviously much cheaper than installing a massive amount of HEPA filters and buying many UVC wands. The salt-coated filters are resistant to strong temperatures and rough storage conditions (Quan, et al.). Therefore, the filters are extremely durable in any environment, so they are reusable. Just following COVID 19 safety protocols could be an alternative to spending a large sum of money on new safety devices in colleges. However, there cannot be a price put on the safety of students. If these procedures will protect the students, you should do everything in your power to ensure the safety of all students on campus.
I am intending for you to authorize a much needed upgrade in the cleanliness of school, and strengthen the social distancing policies. Specifically, I want HEPA filters installed throughout schools and the use of UVC wands to disinfect campus buildings regularly. Along with this, I would like you ask the Federal government to provide more aid to colleges in order to purchase these devices. Additionally, you can implement a rule that allows the Federal government to deny a student’s federal aid if they do not follow proper social distancing guidelines.
I appreciate you very much for taking the time to read this letter Mrs. Secretary of Education, Nancy DeVos. With consideration, I hope you may implement some of these safety precautions into schools, in order to provide the best learning environment possible for everyone.
Respectfully,
Garrett Lee GL
Works Cited
“A Complete Central Air Cleaner Guide.” A Complete Central Air Cleaner Guide. 2020 Average Costs, Types and Choosing the Right Central Air Filtration System,
www.kompareit.com/homeandgarden/hvac-compare-central-air-cleaner-cost.html.
Bentancor, Marcel, and Sabina Vidal. “Programmable and Low-Cost Ultraviolet Room Disinfection Device.” HardwareX, Elsevier, 1 Nov. 2018, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067218300452?via=ihub.
“Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education — Biography.” Home, US Department of Education (ED), 27 June 2019, www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/devos.html?src=hp.
Conditioning, School Ventilation; Air. “Dealing With Schools’ Ventilation Problems.” National Air Filtration Association, 8 Aug. 2011,
www.nafahq.org/dealing-with-schools-ventilation-problems/.
Eisenlöffel, Lisa, et al. “Impact of UVC-Sustained Recirculating Air Filtration on Airborne Bacteria and Dust in a Pig Facility.” Plos One, vol. 14, no. 11, 2019,
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0225047.
“Home.” Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, coronavirus.jhu.edu/.
“Improving Indoor Air Quality Key to Breaking ‘Sickness Cycle’; HEPA air filter technology helps fight seasonal airborne bacteria, viruses and outdoor pollutants that make their way into homes and offices.” Marketwire Canada, 25 Nov. 2009. Gale OneFile: News, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A212849810/STND?u=newpaltz&sid=STND&xid=c143d fb9. Accessed 20 Oct. 2020.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/covid-college-cases-tracker.html.
Quan, Fu-Shi, et al. “Universal and Reusable Virus Deactivation System for RespiratoryProtection.” Scientific Reports, vol. 7, no. 1, 2017, doi:10.1038/srep39956.
The New York Times. “Tracking Covid at U.S. Colleges and Universities.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 26 Aug. 2020,
Valter Marcone. “Reduction of Contagion Risks by SARSCov-2 (COVID-19) in
Air-Conditioned Work Environments.” painphycianjournal.com, vol. 23, no. 7, August 2020, pp. 475-481, https://www.painphysicianjournal.com/current/pdf?article=NzEyNA%3D%3D&journal=129
Persuasive Business Letter Rough Draft
The Honorable Betsy DeVos
Secretary of Education
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington D.C. 20202
October 10, 2020
21 Claudia Ln
New Paltz, NY, 12561
Dear Secretary DeVos,
Like many others attending school across the country, I am concerned about returning to school during the ongoing pandemic. I am a business major at the State University of New York at New Paltz, though it certainly does not feel like it. The COVID-19 virus is a very contagious pathogen that is affecting many around the world, which warrants the need for more safety measures to be implemented in schools. As the secretary of education, you wish for every individual to receive “world class education” (DeVos). You have the power to advise the president to better safeguard schools against the virus, as well as create more policies that will ensure that everyone in schools is obeying proper social distancing measures. There is an abundance of COVID-19 cases that are occurring in schools and it is usually due to the inability to properly social distance from others. I have witnessed those who choose not to wear their masks the correct way, while they go into large groups with their friends on campus. As the son of an essential medical worker, I feel disrespected by the disregard for others safety. In order to preserve the safety of in person learning there should be stronger policies for social distancing and the cleanliness of schools.
The cleanliness of schools must be improved upon in order to effectively protect students and faculty from the spread of COVID-19. Since the emergence of the pandemic in December, there are currently 7,852,022, as of October 13, 2020 (“Johns Hopkins”). Such a rapid increase in the amount of confirmed cases only proves that there needs to be more protection against the spread of the virus. Schools are a hotspot for the virus, since there is a large abundance of students in a small space that are likely to not social distance from each other and disobey the safety guidelines. Among schools across 47 states, statistics have shown that there were “230 cases among just under 100,000 students, and 490 per 100,000 staff members, in the first two weeks of September” (Kamenetz, Anya, and Daniel Wood). This evidence conveys that the virus is very relevant in schools and has the potential to spread to even more people throughout the school if the appropriate safety precautions are not followed. SARS-CoV-2 or better known as the COVID-19 virus, is a new pathogen that has become an international pandemic. After tracing the virus, it was determined that it originated from a bat in Wuhan, China. It is an airborne virus that is spread through cough droplets and sneezing (“Development”).
Along with the unawareness of the virus, the fact that it airborne contributed to the rapid spread to countries around the world; the high rate of infection has led many countries to issue a quarantine to shut down all workplaces that are not essential. However, there are some devices that can be used to better safeguard schools against the spread of the virus. HEPA is an acronym that stands for high efficiency particulate air and this type of filter is one that can filter even pathogens and bacteria (Eisenlöffel, Reutter, Horn, Schlege,Truyen, Speck). In addition, UVC modules are devices that are commonly used for the disinfection of hospitals through ultraviolet radiation (Bentancor, Marcel, and Sabina Vidal). Both of these devices can be implemented in schools to provide a safer learning environment for those in attendance. With adequate cleanliness in schools, it will prevent the virus from infecting more individuals and being spread into homes. Because the virus is airborne, it is important to recirculate fresh air, as well as to remove the virus from the air to prevent it from spreading. Using UVC-sustained recirculating air filtration, “measures taken in front of and behind the UVC module revealed a reduction of 99.4% for airborne bacteria and 95.0% for total dust” (Eisenlöffel, Reutter, Horn, Schlege,Truyen, Speck). Essentially all of the airborne bacteria was removed from the air, which made the barn much less likely to have an airborne virus that would infect someone. Placing these UVC modules along with air recirculation in school classrooms would allow for an infected airspace to be wiped clean, reducing the probability of infection. Additionally, using an APP air filter achieved the highest reduction in the amount of pathogens in the air (Eisenlöffel, Reutter, Horn, Schlege,Truyen, Speck). This demonstrates how APP air filters can be used in the school filters to most effectively remove the pathogen from the air in classrooms. Basically, this means that the viruses will always be recycled out of the air.
There needs to be a higher influx of money into schools for better safety precautions. Using this money, there could be UVC modules and HEPA filters installed in schools across the country. Of course the addition of these safety precautions will not be cheap. The addition of HEPA filters and UVC modules will need to be installed all throughout the schools, so the installation will definitely cost millions of dollars to equip all of the schools throughout the country. The price of the filters to be implemented in central air conditioning is “$500-$3500” (“A Complete Central Air”). Including the filters through central air conditioning is the most efficient way to safely filter out the pathogens of schools.
Someone opposed to my claim may state that it is their right to go attend school however they please. They may have religious or moral objections toward wearing a mask and following other safety guidelines in schools. However, there can be no one breaking the safety rules in schools because of the severity of COVID-19. They will have to continue remote learning if they have objections to any of the social distancing guidelines in schools. Truthfully, students should be continuing online learning because the conditions in school are unable to protect the health of
students.
Across the nation, the reopening of schools has just led to more individuals being infected with COVID-19 virus and further spreading it to those they come in contact with. I am intending for you to authorize a much needed upgrade in the cleanliness of school, which will better aid in protecting those in attendance for school. Specifically, I want some HEPA filter installed throughout schools and the use of UVC modules to disinfect regularly.
I very much appreciate you for taking the time to read this letter Mrs. Secretary of Education, Nancy DeVos. With consideration, I hope you may implement some of these safety precautions into schools, in order to provide the best learning environment possible for everyone.
Respectfully,
Garrett Lee GL
Works Cited
“A Complete Central Air Cleaner Guide.” A Complete Central Air Cleaner Guide. 2020 Average Costs, Types and Choosing the Right Central Air Filtration System, www.kompareit.com/homeandgarden/hvac-compare-central-air-cleaner-cost.html.
Bentancor, Marcel, and Sabina Vidal. “Programmable and Low-Cost Ultraviolet Room Disinfection Device.” HardwareX, Elsevier, 1 Nov. 2018,
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067218300452?via=ihub.
“Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education — Biography.” Home, US Department of Education (ED), 27 June 2019, www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/devos.html?src=hp.
Christopherson, David A., et al. “High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filters in the Era of COVID-19: Function and Efficacy.” Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, 2020, p. 019459982094183., doi:10.1177/0194599820941838.
Eisenlöffel, Lisa, et al. “Impact of UVC-Sustained Recirculating Air Filtration on Airborne Bacteria and Dust in a Pig Facility.” Plos One, vol. 14, no. 11, 2019,
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0225047.
“Home.” Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, coronavirus.jhu.edu/.
Kamenetz, Anya, and Daniel Wood. “New Dashboard Tracks Coronavirus Cases In Schools Across 47 States.” NPR, NPR, 23 Sept. 2020, www.npr.org/2020/09/23/915738935/new-dashboard-tracks-coronavirus-cases-in-schools-across
-47-states.