If schools have to continue online, shouldn’t teachers worry about their jobs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want to go back to teaching, because I think it is far better for my students.

I do have concerns about how we will protect students and staff from contracting the illness, since at my mid-century school building we are packed pretty tightly. I also have concerns about what will happen logistically when teachers become ill, since early covid looks like cold and flu. Most teachers go to work sick with cold and flu, but that won’t be advisable this year, so more subs will be needed in general to avoid combining classes and exposing students any more than necessary. In my district, we never have a sufficient sub pool.

The quality of subs is terrible also. They have no investment in the students, get paid a pittance, and are there mostly as a warm body to babysit your kiddos

[Anonymous]

I think people should extend the same understanding to teachers that they do to essential workers like delivery people and grocery store workers. When school begins in person, teachers will face much greater risks than them, because they are in closer physical contact with children than anyone is with customers, and children have poorer hygiene. People may say that children don’t get the coronavirus in great numbers, but clearly they are vectors. If I’m not supposed to pet your dog because he might transfer germs to me, I’m sure I shouldn’t be hugging the child you just hugged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think people should extend the same understanding to teachers that they do to essential workers like delivery people and grocery store workers. When school begins in person, teachers will face much greater risks than them, because they are in closer physical contact with children than anyone is with customers, and children have poorer hygiene. People may say that children don’t get the coronavirus in great numbers, but clearly they are vectors. If I’m not supposed to pet your dog because he might transfer germs to me, I’m sure I shouldn’t be hugging the child you just hugged.

+1 to all of this. It is very concerning for me as a teacher and a parent.

[Anonymous]

From what I'm hearing on online teacher groups, about 25% of teachers are considering taking a leave of absence or just leaving the field. They are choosing to put their own children first. Those jobs just won't be filled, class sizes will balloon though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think people should extend the same understanding to teachers that they do to essential workers like delivery people and grocery store workers. When school begins in person, teachers will face much greater risks than them, because they are in closer physical contact with children than anyone is with customers, and children have poorer hygiene. People may say that children don’t get the coronavirus in great numbers, but clearly they are vectors. If I’m not supposed to pet your dog because he might transfer germs to me, I’m sure I shouldn’t be hugging the child you just hugged.

You're not supposed to be hugging your students anyway, so....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people should extend the same understanding to teachers that they do to essential workers like delivery people and grocery store workers. When school begins in person, teachers will face much greater risks than them, because they are in closer physical contact with children than anyone is with customers, and children have poorer hygiene. People may say that children don’t get the coronavirus in great numbers, but clearly they are vectors. If I’m not supposed to pet your dog because he might transfer germs to me, I’m sure I shouldn’t be hugging the child you just hugged.

You're not supposed to be hugging your students anyway, so....

So many of the little ones and ones with SN hug us. Depending on your school system, accepting a quick side hug is kosher. I try to transition them to high fives, but I won’t do that either this upcoming year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people should extend the same understanding to teachers that they do to essential workers like delivery people and grocery store workers. When school begins in person, teachers will face much greater risks than them, because they are in closer physical contact with children than anyone is with customers, and children have poorer hygiene. People may say that children don’t get the coronavirus in great numbers, but clearly they are vectors. If I’m not supposed to pet your dog because he might transfer germs to me, I’m sure I shouldn’t be hugging the child you just hugged.

You're not supposed to be hugging your students anyway, so....

I teach kindergarten. Yes, I hug. All the time. The day my district tells me I cannot hug kids? I'll be done. But that won't happen because my district has sense. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. It makes sense not to be alone in a room with a child. It makes sense not to kiss a child. But hugging a 5 year old? Come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people should extend the same understanding to teachers that they do to essential workers like delivery people and grocery store workers. When school begins in person, teachers will face much greater risks than them, because they are in closer physical contact with children than anyone is with customers, and children have poorer hygiene. People may say that children don’t get the coronavirus in great numbers, but clearly they are vectors. If I’m not supposed to pet your dog because he might transfer germs to me, I’m sure I shouldn’t be hugging the child you just hugged.

You're not supposed to be hugging your students anyway, so....

I teach kindergarten. Yes, I hug. All the time. The day my district tells me I cannot hug kids? I'll be done. But that won't happen because my district has sense. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. It makes sense not to be alone in a room with a child. It makes sense not to kiss a child. But hugging a 5 year old? Come on.

+1

This is ridiculous. I wouldn't want my 5 year old in a class with an adult all year who shows no (appropriate) affection. Have you ever had a small child run up to you and give you a hug? It's really difficult to stop them. I teach high school and there are kids who hug me without me initiating anything. I keep my arms down at my side but they get excited about something and give me a hug.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people should extend the same understanding to teachers that they do to essential workers like delivery people and grocery store workers. When school begins in person, teachers will face much greater risks than them, because they are in closer physical contact with children than anyone is with customers, and children have poorer hygiene. People may say that children don’t get the coronavirus in great numbers, but clearly they are vectors. If I’m not supposed to pet your dog because he might transfer germs to me, I’m sure I shouldn’t be hugging the child you just hugged.

You're not supposed to be hugging your students anyway, so....

I teach kindergarten. Yes, I hug. All the time. The day my district tells me I cannot hug kids? I'll be done. But that won't happen because my district has sense. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. It makes sense not to be alone in a room with a child. It makes sense not to kiss a child. But hugging a 5 year old? Come on.

+1

This is ridiculous. I wouldn't want my 5 year old in a class with an adult all year who shows no (appropriate) affection. Have you ever had a small child run up to you and give you a hug? It's really difficult to stop them. I teach high school and there are kids who hug me without me initiating anything. I keep my arms down at my side but they get excited about something and give me a hug.

Same here. I'm a male high school teacher, and every year I have to give them the semi-joking speech about me not wanting to end up on the news due to a technicality. Without fail, I get a spontaneous hug whenever a scholarship or college acceptance letter comes in. I taught elementary when I first started, and they don't care about colds, flu, mucus, or any unidentified substance on their person. Their go-to is a hug.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to go back to teaching, because I think it is far better for my students.

I do have concerns about how we will protect students and staff from contracting the illness, since at my mid-century school building we are packed pretty tightly. I also have concerns about what will happen logistically when teachers become ill, since early covid looks like cold and flu. Most teachers go to work sick with cold and flu, but that won’t be advisable this year, so more subs will be needed in general to avoid combining classes and exposing students any more than necessary. In my district, we never have a sufficient sub pool.

The quality of subs is terrible also. They have no investment in the students, get paid a pittance, and are there mostly as a warm body to babysit your kiddos

And you know how many subs, PP? I am a sub, and I was at two schools multiple times every week. I have become very fond of many of the students in the classes I work in, and have developed friendly relationships with staff members. I take what I do seriously and am much more than a "warm body". The other subs I have met, for the most part, also care a lot about what they do and do feel invested in the students they teach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to go back to teaching, because I think it is far better for my students.

I do have concerns about how we will protect students and staff from contracting the illness, since at my mid-century school building we are packed pretty tightly. I also have concerns about what will happen logistically when teachers become ill, since early covid looks like cold and flu. Most teachers go to work sick with cold and flu, but that won’t be advisable this year, so more subs will be needed in general to avoid combining classes and exposing students any more than necessary. In my district, we never have a sufficient sub pool.

The quality of subs is terrible also. They have no investment in the students, get paid a pittance, and are there mostly as a warm body to babysit your kiddos

And you know how many subs, PP? I am a sub, and I was at two schools multiple times every week. I have become very fond of many of the students in the classes I work in, and have developed friendly relationships with staff members. I take what I do seriously and am much more than a "warm body". The other subs I have met, for the most part, also care a lot about what they do and do feel invested in the students they teach.

Just like with any other job there are good employees and bad ones. I’m a teacher and I’ve witnessed subs
-doing a great job, following lesson plans and delivering lessons
-doing an okay job, relying heavily on videos/free time but getting some work done
-doing a terrible job, as in barely keeping the kids safe (spending the day reading magazines in the back of the classroom or in the hallway...not an exaggeration)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to go back to teaching, because I think it is far better for my students.

I do have concerns about how we will protect students and staff from contracting the illness, since at my mid-century school building we are packed pretty tightly. I also have concerns about what will happen logistically when teachers become ill, since early covid looks like cold and flu. Most teachers go to work sick with cold and flu, but that won’t be advisable this year, so more subs will be needed in general to avoid combining classes and exposing students any more than necessary. In my district, we never have a sufficient sub pool.

The quality of subs is terrible also. They have no investment in the students, get paid a pittance, and are there mostly as a warm body to babysit your kiddos

And you know how many subs, PP? I am a sub, and I was at two schools multiple times every week. I have become very fond of many of the students in the classes I work in, and have developed friendly relationships with staff members. I take what I do seriously and am much more than a "warm body". The other subs I have met, for the most part, also care a lot about what they do and do feel invested in the students they teach.

Just like with any other job there are good employees and bad ones. I’m a teacher and I’ve witnessed subs
-doing a great job, following lesson plans and delivering lessons
-doing an okay job, relying heavily on videos/free time but getting some work done
-doing a terrible job, as in barely keeping the kids safe (spending the day reading magazines in the back of the classroom or in the hallway...not an exaggeration)

I subbed for years and agree with this. The people in the first two groups are going to be screening jobs very carefully, and I don't blame them. There's no way anyone in their right mind will agree to come into a classroom where the teacher is out with suspected Covid for $14/hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people should extend the same understanding to teachers that they do to essential workers like delivery people and grocery store workers. When school begins in person, teachers will face much greater risks than them, because they are in closer physical contact with children than anyone is with customers, and children have poorer hygiene. People may say that children don’t get the coronavirus in great numbers, but clearly they are vectors. If I’m not supposed to pet your dog because he might transfer germs to me, I’m sure I shouldn’t be hugging the child you just hugged.

You're not supposed to be hugging your students anyway, so....

I teach kindergarten. Yes, I hug. All the time. The day my district tells me I cannot hug kids? I'll be done. But that won't happen because my district has sense. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. It makes sense not to be alone in a room with a child. It makes sense not to kiss a child. But hugging a 5 year old? Come on.

+1

This is ridiculous. I wouldn't want my 5 year old in a class with an adult all year who shows no (appropriate) affection. Have you ever had a small child run up to you and give you a hug? It's really difficult to stop them. I teach high school and there are kids who hug me without me initiating anything. I keep my arms down at my side but they get excited about something and give me a hug.

Same here. I'm a male high school teacher, and every year I have to give them the semi-joking speech about me not wanting to end up on the news due to a technicality. Without fail, I get a spontaneous hug whenever a scholarship or college acceptance letter comes in. I taught elementary when I first started, and they don't care about colds, flu, mucus, or any unidentified substance on their person. Their go-to is a hug.

Middle school teacher. Middle school kids are huggers. Male teachers may be slightly more prone to a high five but there are male and female huggers up and down my hallway.

[Anonymous]

Most of the teachers I know are doing their damndest to reach and engage their students, especially the ones who are MIA. The abrupt switch to distance learning is a lift most of us don't have a comparison to. It's not the same as suddenly switching to WFH for a regular office job. I echo the poster who suggested if you're such an expert, homeschool your own kids so the teachers can concentrate on the neediest and hardest to reach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people should extend the same understanding to teachers that they do to essential workers like delivery people and grocery store workers. When school begins in person, teachers will face much greater risks than them, because they are in closer physical contact with children than anyone is with customers, and children have poorer hygiene. People may say that children don’t get the coronavirus in great numbers, but clearly they are vectors. If I’m not supposed to pet your dog because he might transfer germs to me, I’m sure I shouldn’t be hugging the child you just hugged.

+1 to all of this. It is very concerning for me as a teacher and a parent.

.03% is the percent of deaths in the population right now.