20 percent of teachers not likely to return to classrooms if schools reopen in fall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even though teachers are saying they will quit, the reality is many will still need to find a job. Some will find great jobs and say adios, others are going to realize that they won't get their summers off, and long paid holiday periods (winter break, spring break, multiple days at thanksgiving, etc.). They'll be back.

Teacher here. This is true, I’m not putting too much stock in that 20% claim. A lot of people might say that now, but if push came to shove might not want to lose their income. Another thing to consider is that a lot of people will be more accustomed to going out and being around people at that point. Currently, we are just coming out of a strict shut down, a lot of people are still very fearful, after two months of being accustomed to being out and about, they will probably be more comfortable with the idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools will not be open in the Fall.

You are underestimating the power of political will. Everyone but some teachers and families with health issues want regular school back in the fall. Parents, businesses, politicians need public school to be in session.

Actually do we really? If schools were closed and everyone had to deal with the same childcare difficulties, wouldn’t society have to adjust in some way? Are employees really going to fire all their employees with school age kids? Who would they get to replace them?

All the unemployed recent grads?

Yeah, but there aren’t nearly as many of them as there are workers with school aged kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even though teachers are saying they will quit, the reality is many will still need to find a job. Some will find great jobs and say adios, others are going to realize that they won't get their summers off, and long paid holiday periods (winter break, spring break, multiple days at thanksgiving, etc.). They'll be back.

Teacher here. This is true, I’m not putting too much stock in that 20% claim. A lot of people might say that now, but if push came to shove might not want to lose their income. Another thing to consider is that a lot of people will be more accustomed to going out and being around people at that point. Currently, we are just coming out of a strict shut down, a lot of people are still very fearful, after two months of being accustomed to being out and about, they will probably be more comfortable with the idea.

I think a lot of the people who won't be returning are the part-time and/or support employees. In my district many of the reading/math specialists are part timers who are making supplemental family income. I'm a Sped assistant who dropped down to part time a couple years ago and I am on the fence. I enjoy the work and the money is nice but it basically pays for travel and extras and we aren't spending much in those categories right now. Having to find part-time care would be difficult and a financial wash. I am afraid of getting sick given the population I work with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools will not be open in the Fall.

You are underestimating the power of political will. Everyone but some teachers and families with health issues want regular school back in the fall. Parents, businesses, politicians need public school to be in session.

Actually do we really? If schools were closed and everyone had to deal with the same childcare difficulties, wouldn’t society have to adjust in some way? Are employees really going to fire all their employees with school age kids? Who would they get to replace them?

All the unemployed recent grads?

Yeah, but there aren’t nearly as many of them as there are workers with school aged kids.

It will also be an ongoing issue as those new grads will leave as soon as they find a "better" job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even though teachers are saying they will quit, the reality is many will still need to find a job. Some will find great jobs and say adios, others are going to realize that they won't get their summers off, and long paid holiday periods (winter break, spring break, multiple days at thanksgiving, etc.). They'll be back.

Teacher here. This is true, I’m not putting too much stock in that 20% claim. A lot of people might say that now, but if push came to shove might not want to lose their income. Another thing to consider is that a lot of people will be more accustomed to going out and being around people at that point. Currently, we are just coming out of a strict shut down, a lot of people are still very fearful, after two months of being accustomed to being out and about, they will probably be more comfortable with the idea.

I think a lot of the people who won't be returning are the part-time and/or support employees. In my district many of the reading/math specialists are part timers who are making supplemental family income. I'm a Sped assistant who dropped down to part time a couple years ago and I am on the fence. I enjoy the work and the money is nice but it basically pays for travel and extras and we aren't spending much in those categories right now. Having to find part-time care would be difficult and a financial wash. I am afraid of getting sick given the population I work with.

Different state here. All our part time teachers and staff got cut. Along with a number of our full time positions. We're in massive financial trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even though teachers are saying they will quit, the reality is many will still need to find a job. Some will find great jobs and say adios, others are going to realize that they won't get their summers off, and long paid holiday periods (winter break, spring break, multiple days at thanksgiving, etc.). They'll be back.

Teacher here. This is true, I’m not putting too much stock in that 20% claim. A lot of people might say that now, but if push came to shove might not want to lose their income. Another thing to consider is that a lot of people will be more accustomed to going out and being around people at that point. Currently, we are just coming out of a strict shut down, a lot of people are still very fearful, after two months of being accustomed to being out and about, they will probably be more comfortable with the idea.

+1

I don't believe the 20% either. Every year people say they are quitting at my school for a variety of reasons (don't like administration, parents are difficult, etc.). Then every fall those same individuals are back at school. I think some people will leave, but most are working because they need the income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree. Parents are just being lazy.

Teachers should not risk their lives when school can be online.

Hard not to get the sense that a lot of teachers don't want to work, ever.

Plenty of people work from home. My doctor and his staff are all still working from home and are not booking any appointments yet. And I asked about October! I don’t think they “don’t want to work, ever.”

Vaccine may never be available due to number of cases declining too fast. There won't be enough cases around to test. Per Oxford University. https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-oxford-scientists-predict-fifty-per-cent-vaccine-trial-success-2020-5

[Anonymous]

With the job market being what it is, I think attrition may be lower. A nice, steady paycheck with benefits and a pension is awfully attractive right now, even if the job is really tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even though teachers are saying they will quit, the reality is many will still need to find a job. Some will find great jobs and say adios, others are going to realize that they won't get their summers off, and long paid holiday periods (winter break, spring break, multiple days at thanksgiving, etc.). They'll be back.

Teacher here. This is true, I’m not putting too much stock in that 20% claim. A lot of people might say that now, but if push came to shove might not want to lose their income. Another thing to consider is that a lot of people will be more accustomed to going out and being around people at that point. Currently, we are just coming out of a strict shut down, a lot of people are still very fearful, after two months of being accustomed to being out and about, they will probably be more comfortable with the idea.

+1

I don't believe the 20% either. Every year people say they are quitting at my school for a variety of reasons (don't like administration, parents are difficult, etc.). Then every fall those same individuals are back at school. I think some people will leave, but most are working because they need the income.

Actual statistics from the SBOE, dated 9/29/2019: https://sboe.dc.gov/sites/default/files/u65602/2019-02-26-FINAL-Teacher-Retention-Fact-Sheet.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:at some point, the public's patience with everything being closed will end. people won't live like this forever. the idea that we're going to keep doing all this, and we'll just do distancing learning, until a vaccine is widely available is not realistic.

+1

I am one of those people losing patience. And I am a teacher who would like to return to full time in person school in the fall (we at least can dream, right?)

Has anyone started a petition to reopen DC schools next year? I'd love to sign it. Seems like Bowser is determined to go as slow as possible - and her plan is for schools to not reopen fully until there is a vaccine or an effective treatment (whatever that standard is). Haven't heard a peep out of the Council. Feels like there is an unorganized groundswell out there that has not had a collective way to voice their opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:at some point, the public's patience with everything being closed will end. people won't live like this forever. the idea that we're going to keep doing all this, and we'll just do distancing learning, until a vaccine is widely available is not realistic.

+1

I am one of those people losing patience. And I am a teacher who would like to return to full time in person school in the fall (we at least can dream, right?)

Has anyone started a petition to reopen DC schools next year? I'd love to sign it. Seems like Bowser is determined to go as slow as possible - and her plan is for schools to not reopen fully until there is a vaccine or an effective treatment (whatever that standard is). Haven't heard a peep out of the Council. Feels like there is an unorganized groundswell out there that has not had a collective way to voice their opinion.

Good idea to get more views out into the public but do you think that reopening is really a political decision vs a health/safety one? If the Department of Health or the CDC says it is ok to open schools under whatever conditions, schools will open. If Department of Health or CDC says that it is not ok, schools won't. How would a petition or organized effort change that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:at some point, the public's patience with everything being closed will end. people won't live like this forever. the idea that we're going to keep doing all this, and we'll just do distancing learning, until a vaccine is widely available is not realistic.

+1

I am one of those people losing patience. And I am a teacher who would like to return to full time in person school in the fall (we at least can dream, right?)

Has anyone started a petition to reopen DC schools next year? I'd love to sign it. Seems like Bowser is determined to go as slow as possible - and her plan is for schools to not reopen fully until there is a vaccine or an effective treatment (whatever that standard is). Haven't heard a peep out of the Council. Feels like there is an unorganized groundswell out there that has not had a collective way to voice their opinion.

Good idea to get more views out into the public but do you think that reopening is really a political decision vs a health/safety one? If the Department of Health or the CDC says it is ok to open schools under whatever conditions, schools will open. If Department of Health or CDC says that it is not ok, schools won't. How would a petition or organized effort change that?

NP. It shouldn't be a political decision, but it also shouldn't be ONLY a health/safety decision. We should be weighing the health/safety risks against the harms that closing schools does to kids and working families. It doesn't need to be (and never will be or ever was) risk-free to operate schools.

[Anonymous]

Working parents, would you be okay returning to your offices as they once were? This means the large communal spaces, or times when you were crammed into a smaller room for meetings. Or maybe much of you day is spent at a desk next to or amongst numerous colleagues for hours on end. How about your commute on a packed metro train?

If returning to normal with no change isn’t okay with you, then why are you asking teachers and school staff to do the same? If you plan on continuing to work from home, then why not give that same courtesy to teachers? We are in close proximity to students all day. For high school teachers that means sometimes hundreds of people daily. Not many other jobs can say the same. Put yourself in our shoes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Working parents, would you be okay returning to your offices as they once were? This means the large communal spaces, or times when you were crammed into a smaller room for meetings. Or maybe much of you day is spent at a desk next to or amongst numerous colleagues for hours on end. How about your commute on a packed metro train?

If returning to normal with no change isn’t okay with you, then why are you asking teachers and school staff to do the same? If you plan on continuing to work from home, then why not give that same courtesy to teachers? We are in close proximity to students all day. For high school teachers that means sometimes hundreds of people daily. Not many other jobs can say the same. Put yourself in our shoes.

So tired of this hyperbole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Working parents, would you be okay returning to your offices as they once were? This means the large communal spaces, or times when you were crammed into a smaller room for meetings. Or maybe much of you day is spent at a desk next to or amongst numerous colleagues for hours on end. How about your commute on a packed metro train?

If returning to normal with no change isn’t okay with you, then why are you asking teachers and school staff to do the same? If you plan on continuing to work from home, then why not give that same courtesy to teachers? We are in close proximity to students all day. For high school teachers that means sometimes hundreds of people daily. Not many other jobs can say the same. Put yourself in our shoes.

Some jobs can be done from home (albeit not with young kids around on a "distance learning" regimen), and others can't. Teaching school falls in the latter category. If you have reason to believe, or believe anyway, that the risk is too high for you, find a new job.

And yes, I would be fine returning to my office, since I am not in a high-risk category. If I was and my job could not be done remotely, I would need to look for alternatives.