I'm so tired of the "think of the teachers and administrators" rhetoric on every thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn’t as simple a decision as many are making it seem. While most of you are the lucky ones with “typical” children that you want back in school, MCPS serves every child and has a number of programs serving special education students who are some of our most vulnerable. I work in a program where 6 of our students are not able to bathroom themselves- the staff changes them 2-3 times a day at minimum. 2 have feeding tubes. 5 drool. 0 are able to cover their sneezes/coughs. While a few families will make the difficult decision to keep their child home, because Covid may be devastating for them if contracted, others will choose to send their child if school re-opens. The staff working with this population faces a much different situation than a typical classroom. The county has to think about many more individuals than those that are low risk.

Interesting that the hospital workers who deal with this situation are still working huh? And the kids they come in contact with are also ACTUALLY sick-not merely have the potential to be.

But as it's been proven on multiple comments-teachers/other school staff don't believe they should have to be exposed to ANY risk.

NP It's a little different because they have PPE (which hopefully teachers will get) and they also are not in the same room for hours, they are in and out over the course of a day. They are talking to them for long periods of time.

Not to mention in a setting with strict cleaning and sanitation measures, as directed by experts, which school employees are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn’t as simple a decision as many are making it seem. While most of you are the lucky ones with “typical” children that you want back in school, MCPS serves every child and has a number of programs serving special education students who are some of our most vulnerable. I work in a program where 6 of our students are not able to bathroom themselves- the staff changes them 2-3 times a day at minimum. 2 have feeding tubes. 5 drool. 0 are able to cover their sneezes/coughs. While a few families will make the difficult decision to keep their child home, because Covid may be devastating for them if contracted, others will choose to send their child if school re-opens. The staff working with this population faces a much different situation than a typical classroom. The county has to think about many more individuals than those that are low risk.

Interesting that the hospital workers who deal with this situation are still working huh? And the kids they come in contact with are also ACTUALLY sick-not merely have the potential to be.

But as it's been proven on multiple comments-teachers/other school staff don't believe they should have to be exposed to ANY risk.

NP It's a little different because they have PPE (which hopefully teachers will get) and they also are not in the same room for hours, they are in and out over the course of a day. They are talking to them for long periods of time.

I have a child such as mentioned above. He will absolutely be staying home. However, I know many other parents of similar children will still be sending them. It stinks. Those are the same parents who send regardless of their child being sick... prompting my child to be home sick/hospitalized more.

[Anonymous]

I'm a teacher who is ready to go back to school but I worry about teachers who are older who may not be in the best health. In my school, we have some teachers who are diabetic, have MS and have autoimmune issues. None of them had these issues when they began teaching in their 20s. Do you expect someone to just quit their job in their 50s because they've developed these issues? Hell no. They need the insurance at the very least. What about the teachers who work with special ed students? There is not way they can not touch those kids. No way they can stay 6 feet apart and make sure they were masks, etc. Same with little kids. I'm dreading trying to make sure my 28 kindergarteners keep their masks on all day. You most likely work in an office with adults. That environment is like night and day from a school. Plus our schools are gross to begin with. Few working sinks, rarely do we have paper towels or soap in the bathrooms, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher who is ready to go back to school but I worry about teachers who are older who may not be in the best health. In my school, we have some teachers who are diabetic, have MS and have autoimmune issues. None of them had these issues when they began teaching in their 20s. Do you expect someone to just quit their job in their 50s because they've developed these issues? Hell no. They need the insurance at the very least. What about the teachers who work with special ed students? There is not way they can not touch those kids. No way they can stay 6 feet apart and make sure they were masks, etc. Same with little kids. I'm dreading trying to make sure my 28 kindergarteners keep their masks on all day. You most likely work in an office with adults. That environment is like night and day from a school. Plus our schools are gross to begin with. Few working sinks, rarely do we have paper towels or soap in the bathrooms, etc.

Exactly. My mom retired a few years ago from public schools/kindergarten/library work and the stories she had from non-pandemic times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher who is ready to go back to school but I worry about teachers who are older who may not be in the best health. In my school, we have some teachers who are diabetic, have MS and have autoimmune issues. None of them had these issues when they began teaching in their 20s. Do you expect someone to just quit their job in their 50s because they've developed these issues? Hell no. They need the insurance at the very least. What about the teachers who work with special ed students? There is not way they can not touch those kids. No way they can stay 6 feet apart and make sure they were masks, etc. Same with little kids. I'm dreading trying to make sure my 28 kindergarteners keep their masks on all day. You most likely work in an office with adults. That environment is like night and day from a school. Plus our schools are gross to begin with. Few working sinks, rarely do we have paper towels or soap in the bathrooms, etc.

Teachers in high-risk should get medical accommodations - i.e., distance teaching or other low-contact/no-contact duties.

[Anonymous]

Okay PP but where are we getting the teachers to replace those who decide not to turn to school in person? One of my colleagues has MS and he won't be returning in the fall. We can never get subs at our school and it seems like this year we won't be able to combine classes. Who will teach those students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay PP but where are we getting the teachers to replace those who decide not to turn to school in person? One of my colleagues has MS and he won't be returning in the fall. We can never get subs at our school and it seems like this year we won't be able to combine classes. Who will teach those students?

New hires? Just like any other time when teachers retire or otherwise leave the system?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay PP but where are we getting the teachers to replace those who decide not to turn to school in person? One of my colleagues has MS and he won't be returning in the fall. We can never get subs at our school and it seems like this year we won't be able to combine classes. Who will teach those students?

New hires? Just like any other time when teachers retire or otherwise leave the system?

A lot of kids who want to be teachers graduated this past year. Hire them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher who is ready to go back to school but I worry about teachers who are older who may not be in the best health. In my school, we have some teachers who are diabetic, have MS and have autoimmune issues. None of them had these issues when they began teaching in their 20s. Do you expect someone to just quit their job in their 50s because they've developed these issues? Hell no. They need the insurance at the very least. What about the teachers who work with special ed students? There is not way they can not touch those kids. No way they can stay 6 feet apart and make sure they were masks, etc. Same with little kids. I'm dreading trying to make sure my 28 kindergarteners keep their masks on all day. You most likely work in an office with adults. That environment is like night and day from a school. Plus our schools are gross to begin with. Few working sinks, rarely do we have paper towels or soap in the bathrooms, etc.

Teachers in high-risk should get medical accommodations - i.e., distance teaching or other low-contact/no-contact duties.

I agree and think this could be possible with advocacy of well-organized teachers unions. I would point out that there are many fields where no such accommodations have been granted- you accept the risk associated with work or quit.

I have to say, as an ES teacher I’m more concerned about my DH’s risk as he commutes and works downtown. We only have one car so he usually takes metro but has been able to drive since I’m at home. We will probably have to get another car. And right now there are fewer people in his office but it will likely increase soon. And at school I’d be more concerned about staying away from other adults than kids. As long as there is a good system in place to make sure symptomatic kids aren’t allowed to come to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I agree and think this could be possible with advocacy of well-organized teachers unions. I would point out that there are many fields where no such accommodations have been granted- you accept the risk associated with work or quit.

I have to say, as an ES teacher I’m more concerned about my DH’s risk as he commutes and works downtown. We only have one car so he usually takes metro but has been able to drive since I’m at home. We will probably have to get another car. And right now there are fewer people in his office but it will likely increase soon. And at school I’d be more concerned about staying away from other adults than kids. As long as there is a good system in place to make sure symptomatic kids aren’t allowed to come to school.

That's generally a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

By the way, there's plenty of evidence that it's safe to take public transportation.

[Anonymous]

I think parents would be less annoyed if the distance teaching was more than an hour a day and actually felt like it wasn't making our kids fall far behind. Teachers have to understand any part time school solutions = layoffs and budget cuts. No way you can justify fulltime staff with what they've been doing to date.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree and think this could be possible with advocacy of well-organized teachers unions. I would point out that there are many fields where no such accommodations have been granted- you accept the risk associated with work or quit.

I have to say, as an ES teacher I’m more concerned about my DH’s risk as he commutes and works downtown. We only have one car so he usually takes metro but has been able to drive since I’m at home. We will probably have to get another car. And right now there are fewer people in his office but it will likely increase soon. And at school I’d be more concerned about staying away from other adults than kids. As long as there is a good system in place to make sure symptomatic kids aren’t allowed to come to school.

That's generally a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

By the way, there's plenty of evidence that it's safe to take public transportation.

Um, no. Being old is not a disability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay PP but where are we getting the teachers to replace those who decide not to turn to school in person? One of my colleagues has MS and he won't be returning in the fall. We can never get subs at our school and it seems like this year we won't be able to combine classes. Who will teach those students?

New hires? Just like any other time when teachers retire or otherwise leave the system?

A lot of kids who want to be teachers graduated this past year. Hire them.

In a normal year, they are a drop in the bucket and most won’t stay. In a year in which 20% of experienced teachers might leave? Welcome to class sizes of 45 under the direction of substitutes. Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree and think this could be possible with advocacy of well-organized teachers unions. I would point out that there are many fields where no such accommodations have been granted- you accept the risk associated with work or quit.

I have to say, as an ES teacher I’m more concerned about my DH’s risk as he commutes and works downtown. We only have one car so he usually takes metro but has been able to drive since I’m at home. We will probably have to get another car. And right now there are fewer people in his office but it will likely increase soon. And at school I’d be more concerned about staying away from other adults than kids. As long as there is a good system in place to make sure symptomatic kids aren’t allowed to come to school.

That's generally a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

By the way, there's plenty of evidence that it's safe to take public transportation.

Um, no. Being old is not a disability.

I think they person meant denying asymptomatic kids the right to attend classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree and think this could be possible with advocacy of well-organized teachers unions. I would point out that there are many fields where no such accommodations have been granted- you accept the risk associated with work or quit.

I have to say, as an ES teacher I’m more concerned about my DH’s risk as he commutes and works downtown. We only have one car so he usually takes metro but has been able to drive since I’m at home. We will probably have to get another car. And right now there are fewer people in his office but it will likely increase soon. And at school I’d be more concerned about staying away from other adults than kids. As long as there is a good system in place to make sure symptomatic kids aren’t allowed to come to school.

That's generally a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

By the way, there's plenty of evidence that it's safe to take public transportation.

Um, no. Being old is not a disability.

No, but being at high risk of dying from an infectious disease during a pandemic is.