In a rural California town, schools try something extraordinary and risky: Classrooms with children

On the first day of school at Weaverville Elementary, third-grade teacher Saundra Murphy asked the 14 boys and girls in her class if anyone could define the phrase "social distancing." "Social distancing means staying 6 feet or more away from each other," said a boy in a "Minecraft" T-shirt, his voice muffled by a camouflage face mask. "Does that mean we don't like the person?" The students shook their heads. "Does that mean we're just trying to be safe and respectful of our situation?"