Why are most teachers too scared to return to in person teaching, but most parents want schools open

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most parents do NOT want schools to open. They are well aware of the risks! Many parents are voicing sadness and frustration that their children's lives are still upended for the upcoming school year, but it doesn't mean they WANT schools to reopen with the pandemic uncontrolled as it is.

Every polls I’ve seen taken by a local school district Or private school in the last month has between 60 and 85 percent of parents in support of school reopening. National polls differ because of local covid situations.

source?

I'm a different poster but the polls done in NOVA such as FCPS, APS, and Falls Church showed 60% or more wanted to start school with the hybrid choice. That doesn't mean full time with packed classrooms, but they want some in-person option.

Why don't you sign up to teach at a school since its important to you? You are willing to risk our teachers lives but not your own.

I would if I wasn't already doing my OWN damn job. You know, the one I am hired to do and get paid to do.

So quit and change fields. You're obviously very knowledgable about education. Let's put that wisdom and passion to good use. Remember, if you love children you will accept any and all working conditions in order to go back to full time, face to face school. It's okay if kids don't have to wear masks! Let's pack thirty of them into a classroom. You're not getting any lunch or bathroom breaks-you can just teach while the kids eat, so they don't talk to each other. You're going to need a lot of new supplies because the kids can't share any materials, but we cut the entire supply budget so you can just purchase those out of pocket. And remember to smile!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most parents do NOT want schools to open. They are well aware of the risks! Many parents are voicing sadness and frustration that their children's lives are still upended for the upcoming school year, but it doesn't mean they WANT schools to reopen with the pandemic uncontrolled as it is.

Every polls I’ve seen taken by a local school district Or private school in the last month has between 60 and 85 percent of parents in support of school reopening. National polls differ because of local covid situations.

source?

I'm a different poster but the polls done in NOVA such as FCPS, APS, and Falls Church showed 60% or more wanted to start school with the hybrid choice. That doesn't mean full time with packed classrooms, but they want some in-person option.

Why don't you sign up to teach at a school since its important to you? You are willing to risk our teachers lives but not your own.

I would if I wasn't already doing my OWN damn job. You know, the one I am hired to do and get paid to do.

So quit and change fields. You're obviously very knowledgable about education. Let's put that wisdom and passion to good use. Remember, if you love children you will accept any and all working conditions in order to go back to full time, face to face school. It's okay if kids don't have to wear masks! Let's pack thirty of them into a classroom. You're not getting any lunch or bathroom breaks-you can just teach while the kids eat, so they don't talk to each other. You're going to need a lot of new supplies because the kids can't share any materials, but we cut the entire supply budget so you can just purchase those out of pocket. And remember to smile!

No one is asking you to 'accept any and all working conditions'. Stop trying to fan the flames and martyr yourself.
People are back at work. MILLIONS of people. People who don't want to die. People who aren't dying. Aren't getting sick.
Work places have adapted, changed, modified and allow PPE. How do you honestly NOT get this? It is NOT March 17th. We have learned more, know how to stop the spread and have learned how to triage cases before they get too severe. Do you really think we are where we were this Spring? Have you not read the news, read any studies, educated yourself at all? What have you done?
If offices and public businesses can open up with precautions there is no reason schools can't. My kids have worn masks since April and so have all of their friends, and family. You act like kids have been under a rock and will have no idea what the hell a mask is. They also wear hats in the winter. WE don't refuse to leave the house when it is cold becuase "how will my kid wear a hat???????". No. We put it on and say it needs to stay on. Done.
Will there be a learning curve for kids? Yup. But that is like anything new. You know, we TEACH them why it is important and how to properly wear one. Stop acting like all of our kids are dumb and can't figure a damn mask out and don't know how to wash their hands.

[Anonymous]

Its the constant hyperbole that makes parents roll their eyes at teachers. Just admit you don't want to work outside the home.
This constant "WE DON"T WANT TO DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" cry is just off putting given that almost everything is open and people are WORKING outside the home and doing so safely. I have been since April.
And no, not in a 1 person office. In a very public building with people with mental health needs and other barriers. I see hundreds of people a week, take the proper safety precautions, mask/shield etc. It is doable if you just try. My office looks nothing like it did, we are spread out, partitans between secretary and the public, more hand washing, more sanitizer etc. Our cleaning crew cleans every night now instead of 3x a week and our hours at the office are shorter to 9-3 instead of 8-5.
It can be done people. Just try, i promise it is scary but it can be done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its the constant hyperbole that makes parents roll their eyes at teachers. Just admit you don't want to work outside the home.
This constant "WE DON"T WANT TO DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" cry is just off putting given that almost everything is open and people are WORKING outside the home and doing so safely. I have been since April.
And no, not in a 1 person office. In a very public building with people with mental health needs and other barriers. I see hundreds of people a week, take the proper safety precautions, mask/shield etc. It is doable if you just try. My office looks nothing like it did, we are spread out, partitans between secretary and the public, more hand washing, more sanitizer etc. Our cleaning crew cleans every night now instead of 3x a week and our hours at the office are shorter to 9-3 instead of 8-5.
It can be done people. Just try, i promise it is scary but it can be done.

[phone]. The drama and hyperbole is embarrassing, and makes teachers look immature and childish. Let’s actually put some effort into education and TRY to get kids back into schools with PPE and precautions. Just throwing your hand up in the air and saying it’s too hard is not okay.

The worst example in my personal life is a friend who is an elementary teacher in SC. She has been extremely vocal about not wanting to DIE for your kids, not opening schools “until it’s safe,” on and on about how it is ludicrous for her district to even CONSIDER a hybrid option. And yet, her FB feed is full of pictures of her two kids playing soccer on teams (no masks), the three trips they took to FL beaches this summer (crowded beaches and pools, no masks), the indoor play dates and sleepovers she is hosting, and oh yeah - how happy she is that her kids are returning to in person schooling this week at their private school. The hypocrisy is painful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most parents do NOT want schools to open. They are well aware of the risks! Many parents are voicing sadness and frustration that their children's lives are still upended for the upcoming school year, but it doesn't mean they WANT schools to reopen with the pandemic uncontrolled as it is.

Every polls I’ve seen taken by a local school district Or private school in the last month has between 60 and 85 percent of parents in support of school reopening. National polls differ because of local covid situations.

source?

I'm a different poster but the polls done in NOVA such as FCPS, APS, and Falls Church showed 60% or more wanted to start school with the hybrid choice. That doesn't mean full time with packed classrooms, but they want some in-person option.

Why don't you sign up to teach at a school since its important to you? You are willing to risk our teachers lives but not your own.

I would if I wasn't already doing my OWN damn job. You know, the one I am hired to do and get paid to do.

So quit and change fields. You're obviously very knowledgable about education. Let's put that wisdom and passion to good use. Remember, if you love children you will accept any and all working conditions in order to go back to full time, face to face school. It's okay if kids don't have to wear masks! Let's pack thirty of them into a classroom. You're not getting any lunch or bathroom breaks-you can just teach while the kids eat, so they don't talk to each other. You're going to need a lot of new supplies because the kids can't share any materials, but we cut the entire supply budget so you can just purchase those out of pocket. And remember to smile!

No one is asking you to 'accept any and all working conditions'. Stop trying to fan the flames and martyr yourself.
People are back at work. MILLIONS of people. People who don't want to die. People who aren't dying. Aren't getting sick.
Work places have adapted, changed, modified and allow PPE. How do you honestly NOT get this? It is NOT March 17th. We have learned more, know how to stop the spread and have learned how to triage cases before they get too severe. Do you really think we are where we were this Spring? Have you not read the news, read any studies, educated yourself at all? What have you done?
If offices and public businesses can open up with precautions there is no reason schools can't. My kids have worn masks since April and so have all of their friends, and family. You act like kids have been under a rock and will have no idea what the hell a mask is. They also wear hats in the winter. WE don't refuse to leave the house when it is cold becuase "how will my kid wear a hat???????". No. We put it on and say it needs to stay on. Done.
Will there be a learning curve for kids? Yup. But that is like anything new. You know, we TEACH them why it is important and how to properly wear one. Stop acting like all of our kids are dumb and can't figure a damn mask out and don't know how to wash their hands.

+1. Fear alone is not a good enough excuse. Millions of people a facing their fears every day to help keep society running. It's a scary time, I get it. But we need to learn to adapt because this is not going away anytime soon. Many daycare centers are requiring all kids over two to wear masks- if they can do it, so can older students. It just becomes part of the routine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, I have no idea what most teacher thing but anecdotally, I can tell you that one teacher wants to stay home because it is much more convenient . She is only pissed now that she will actually be required to teach live during school normal hours - she wishes it was like during spring, or conversely, like in Mexico where they just have to post a video, have the students watch it and come to class with questions. She is really upset that she will have to actually sit down and teach during school hours.

If the borders were open, she would move to some other country during this time and try to enjoy it while "teaching." Hopefully, she is in the minority, but she is so tone deaf that it hurst sometimes. I have to contain myself to not come out to blows since at the end of the day, *I* had great experience with my own children's teachers during spring and I am pretty sure I will have again given our school principal.

Thank you for these insights. Motivations around convenience and personal lifestyle (like wanting to travel and work from the beach) are perfectly valid. Digital nomads in IT have done it for years to great success. I only wish teachers generally approached this discussion with more honesty and transparency, instead of hiding behind commentary like "I don't want to die!" and "Parents must really hate their kids!"

Oh my god. We aren’t hiding. We are scared. Teachers returning to work is not the same as people who work in individual offices returning to work. My husband is not returning to his office and he is not a teacher. They actually may never return to their office, because working remotely works for their industry. Teachers cannot wait until it is safe enough to return because this is not the way that we know how to teach. Distance Learning is more stressful and challenging for us, too. We have kids too. We want those kids to go back to school. Both of my kids want to go to school. I want to go to school. It’s just not safe yet.

I’m a teacher. I’m pretty sure I would go back into the classroom with the plans my district had in place but we are starting off with distance learning.

At what point do you think it would it be “safe”? I am genuinely curious because opinions on this vary greatly and I think there needs to be some official set metrics in this area, otherwise we are making decisions based on opinions and emotions.

[Anonymous]

I was ok with teaching in person at school even though hybrid is way more work than full DL or full-time in person. I changed my mind when the board said they wouldn't enforce mask wearing. If they aren't going to prioritize safety, then I don't want to go back. It's a pandemic. It's not politics and happy feelings. Being a teacher is tough enough already without having to worry one of my students might kill someone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most parents do NOT want schools to open. They are well aware of the risks! Many parents are voicing sadness and frustration that their children's lives are still upended for the upcoming school year, but it doesn't mean they WANT schools to reopen with the pandemic uncontrolled as it is.

Every polls I’ve seen taken by a local school district Or private school in the last month has between 60 and 85 percent of parents in support of school reopening. National polls differ because of local covid situations.

source?

I'm a different poster but the polls done in NOVA such as FCPS, APS, and Falls Church showed 60% or more wanted to start school with the hybrid choice. That doesn't mean full time with packed classrooms, but they want some in-person option.

Why don't you sign up to teach at a school since its important to you? You are willing to risk our teachers lives but not your own.

I would if I wasn't already doing my OWN damn job. You know, the one I am hired to do and get paid to do.

So quit and change fields. You're obviously very knowledgable about education. Let's put that wisdom and passion to good use. Remember, if you love children you will accept any and all working conditions in order to go back to full time, face to face school. It's okay if kids don't have to wear masks! Let's pack thirty of them into a classroom. You're not getting any lunch or bathroom breaks-you can just teach while the kids eat, so they don't talk to each other. You're going to need a lot of new supplies because the kids can't share any materials, but we cut the entire supply budget so you can just purchase those out of pocket. And remember to smile!

No one is asking you to 'accept any and all working conditions'. Stop trying to fan the flames and martyr yourself.
People are back at work. MILLIONS of people. People who don't want to die. People who aren't dying. Aren't getting sick.
Work places have adapted, changed, modified and allow PPE. How do you honestly NOT get this? It is NOT March 17th. We have learned more, know how to stop the spread and have learned how to triage cases before they get too severe. Do you really think we are where we were this Spring? Have you not read the news, read any studies, educated yourself at all? What have you done?
If offices and public businesses can open up with precautions there is no reason schools can't. My kids have worn masks since April and so have all of their friends, and family. You act like kids have been under a rock and will have no idea what the hell a mask is. They also wear hats in the winter. WE don't refuse to leave the house when it is cold becuase "how will my kid wear a hat???????". No. We put it on and say it needs to stay on. Done.
Will there be a learning curve for kids? Yup. But that is like anything new. You know, we TEACH them why it is important and how to properly wear one. Stop acting like all of our kids are dumb and can't figure a damn mask out and don't know how to wash their hands.

YEP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most parents do NOT want schools to open. They are well aware of the risks! Many parents are voicing sadness and frustration that their children's lives are still upended for the upcoming school year, but it doesn't mean they WANT schools to reopen with the pandemic uncontrolled as it is.

Every polls I’ve seen taken by a local school district Or private school in the last month has between 60 and 85 percent of parents in support of school reopening. National polls differ because of local covid situations.

source?

I'm a different poster but the polls done in NOVA such as FCPS, APS, and Falls Church showed 60% or more wanted to start school with the hybrid choice. That doesn't mean full time with packed classrooms, but they want some in-person option.

Why don't you sign up to teach at a school since its important to you? You are willing to risk our teachers lives but not your own.

I would if I wasn't already doing my OWN damn job. You know, the one I am hired to do and get paid to do.

Yes, and please tell us of the conditions of your job. Are your co-workers climbing onto your lap and hugging you tightly whenever they see you? Do they routinely sneeze and cough into your face? Are you in a room with them for 8 hours straight, no breaks? Are you constantly needing to remind them not to touch their private parts, pick their noses, etc? Are they constantly sticky, grimy, or smelling faintly of poor bathroom hygiene?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most parents do NOT want schools to open. They are well aware of the risks! Many parents are voicing sadness and frustration that their children's lives are still upended for the upcoming school year, but it doesn't mean they WANT schools to reopen with the pandemic uncontrolled as it is.

Every polls I’ve seen taken by a local school district Or private school in the last month has between 60 and 85 percent of parents in support of school reopening. National polls differ because of local covid situations.

source?

I'm a different poster but the polls done in NOVA such as FCPS, APS, and Falls Church showed 60% or more wanted to start school with the hybrid choice. That doesn't mean full time with packed classrooms, but they want some in-person option.

Why don't you sign up to teach at a school since its important to you? You are willing to risk our teachers lives but not your own.

I would if I wasn't already doing my OWN damn job. You know, the one I am hired to do and get paid to do.

Yes, and please tell us of the conditions of your job. Are your co-workers climbing onto your lap and hugging you tightly whenever they see you? Do they routinely sneeze and cough into your face? Are you in a room with them for 8 hours straight, no breaks? Are you constantly needing to remind them not to touch their private parts, pick their noses, etc? Are they constantly sticky, grimy, or smelling faintly of poor bathroom hygiene?

Actually I work with adults with mental health needs and sometimes intellectual disabilities so yeah. They do want to hug, get high 5s, hold hands etc. Yes, i do work with a group of them at one time.
You know what? Part of this new way of life is TEACHING people new social norms. New ways to great, new ways to say hi, new ways to get needed attention. And yes, they ALL wear masks for over 8 hours a day. OMG how is this done you ask? We teach them it keeps them and us safe. You know, the people they care about as well and they do it. Do some need reminders? Yup. Do some need to try 10 different masks before finding one that doesn't pinch or hurt their ears? Yup. Do they need to go to the restroom to wash their hands a lot? Yup. Do they use sanitizer? Yup. Do they need to step in a hall to take their mask off for a minute sometimes? Yup.
Is all of this ok? Yup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most parents do NOT want schools to open. They are well aware of the risks! Many parents are voicing sadness and frustration that their children's lives are still upended for the upcoming school year, but it doesn't mean they WANT schools to reopen with the pandemic uncontrolled as it is.

Every polls I’ve seen taken by a local school district Or private school in the last month has between 60 and 85 percent of parents in support of school reopening. National polls differ because of local covid situations.

source?

I'm a different poster but the polls done in NOVA such as FCPS, APS, and Falls Church showed 60% or more wanted to start school with the hybrid choice. That doesn't mean full time with packed classrooms, but they want some in-person option.

Why don't you sign up to teach at a school since its important to you? You are willing to risk our teachers lives but not your own.

I would if I wasn't already doing my OWN damn job. You know, the one I am hired to do and get paid to do.

Yes, and please tell us of the conditions of your job. Are your co-workers climbing onto your lap and hugging you tightly whenever they see you? Do they routinely sneeze and cough into your face? Are you in a room with them for 8 hours straight, no breaks? Are you constantly needing to remind them not to touch their private parts, pick their noses, etc? Are they constantly sticky, grimy, or smelling faintly of poor bathroom hygiene?

Actually I work with adults with mental health needs and sometimes intellectual disabilities so yeah. They do want to hug, get high 5s, hold hands etc. Yes, i do work with a group of them at one time.
You know what? Part of this new way of life is TEACHING people new social norms. New ways to great, new ways to say hi, new ways to get needed attention. And yes, they ALL wear masks for over 8 hours a day. OMG how is this done you ask? We teach them it keeps them and us safe. You know, the people they care about as well and they do it. Do some need reminders? Yup. Do some need to try 10 different masks before finding one that doesn't pinch or hurt their ears? Yup. Do they need to go to the restroom to wash their hands a lot? Yup. Do they use sanitizer? Yup. Do they need to step in a hall to take their mask off for a minute sometimes? Yup.
Is all of this ok? Yup.

It is like people forget that not everyone sells insurance for a living or something. Teachers don't realize there are jobs out there that have conditions similar to the ones they are crying about. And those workers are back at work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most parents do NOT want schools to open. They are well aware of the risks! Many parents are voicing sadness and frustration that their children's lives are still upended for the upcoming school year, but it doesn't mean they WANT schools to reopen with the pandemic uncontrolled as it is.

Every polls I’ve seen taken by a local school district Or private school in the last month has between 60 and 85 percent of parents in support of school reopening. National polls differ because of local covid situations.

source?

I'm a different poster but the polls done in NOVA such as FCPS, APS, and Falls Church showed 60% or more wanted to start school with the hybrid choice. That doesn't mean full time with packed classrooms, but they want some in-person option.

Why don't you sign up to teach at a school since its important to you? You are willing to risk our teachers lives but not your own.

I would if I wasn't already doing my OWN damn job. You know, the one I am hired to do and get paid to do.

Yes, and please tell us of the conditions of your job. Are your co-workers climbing onto your lap and hugging you tightly whenever they see you? Do they routinely sneeze and cough into your face? Are you in a room with them for 8 hours straight, no breaks? Are you constantly needing to remind them not to touch their private parts, pick their noses, etc? Are they constantly sticky, grimy, or smelling faintly of poor bathroom hygiene?

DP, and come on. That does not describe all school-aged children, not by a long shot. Your description does remind me a lot of preschool and younger kids, MANY OF WHOM HAVE BEEN IN DAYCARE FOR MONTHS WITH NO OUTBREAKS.

Yes, I'm shouting. Yes, I know it's not a direct parallel. But FFS, enough with the "these kids will snot all over me all day long and that never happens anywhere else but in elementary schools" schtick. It's not accurate and it undermines your credibility.

[Anonymous]

Parents generally do not.

[Anonymous]

yeah I know my kids wear masks no problem and have great bathroom hygiene in fact they wash their hands and you sanitizer more than 98% of adults I know. but oh let's talk about 1 5 year old who has attachment anxiety and wants a hug from a teacher as a reason no one can ever return to school again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because the teachers don't want to die while the parents just want childcare.

C'mon, man, read any of the 29034723 threads on this topic that exist already.

Exactly this!