Allegedly there are several options for the fall none of which include being back full time?
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Anonymous
Actually, in the context of normal human interaction, the WHO does not consider airborne transmission a risk: "In the context of COVID-19, airborne transmission may be possible in specific circumstances and settings in which procedures or support treatments that generate aerosols are performed; i.e., endotracheal intubation, bronchoscopy, open suctioning, administration of nebulized treatment, manual ventilation before intubation, turning the patient to the prone position, disconnecting the patient from the ventilator, non-invasive positive-pressure ventilation, tracheostomy, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation." https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/modes-of-transmission-of-virus-causing-covid-19-implications-for-ipc-precaution-recommendations I assume you do not have perform the procedures described above on your students. A mask will protect you from droplet transmission. |
Anonymous
It’s a dirty secret, but some have been —especially when PPE was not available. Our pediatrician’s office closed because the nurses and assistants demanded PPE. The doctors couldn’t get sufficient. So they closed in April and remain closed. |
Anonymous
Who is going to provide masks to teachers? |
Anonymous
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I just emailed the BoE and Jack Smith., with copies to my councilmembers, telling them that schools need to open on August 31. Elementary school, middle school, high school, every weekday, for the whole day.
The more emails they receive, the better. |
Anonymous
Their employer: MCPS. (Assuming that the teachers don't already have their own masks.) |
Anonymous
The school districts must. You aren't seriously trying to argue that the difficulty of getting masks to teachers should prevent us from opening schools, are you? |
Anonymous
I'm sure they will be reopened by September. |
Anonymous
Washing hands is important. Just like it does with the flu and colds. The virus can get on hands and then you get it when you touch your eyes and mouth. |
Anonymous
No. I assume the same thing will happen that happened in February and early March. Schools will be open and every day, teachers will be told that supplies are coming and will be distributed as soon as they arrive. I didn’t buy my own classroom hand sanitizer or wipes because I had nothing better to do with my money. I did it because my school did not distribute any cleaning supplies. I could get one box of facial tissues a week. That’s what I assume will happen. I really hope that I am wrong. |
Anonymous
Yes, but Covid wasn't around when teachers chose the career. So many people are commenting like teachers don't want to go back. They do. We would all like to reclaim the happy bliss that was last fall with normal operations. But now "there are unavoidable risks the job brings" and teachers will decide if they want to go back to the job. It's easy to say they should just quit, then. The problem is, if enough do, there aren't enough teachers to go back. Already at the normal rate of retirement and resignations, the county struggles each fall to start with full staffing. Simply doubling the retirees (next year's group retiring this year, for example) would be a real strain - not sure how easily they can fill those jobs at this point. More than that? It's a problem. Who is volunteering for their kids to start school with rotating substitutes for their teacher? We already have a sub shortage, and good grief is it hard to find long term subs. If you are busy writing letters to the BOE, at least make it clear that in-person is more important to you than a certified teacher, and as long as there is someone monitoring a class, you aren't worried about the quality of teaching. |
Anonymous
| I visited my school to pack. Not much had changed other than more people wearing masks. No extra soap, hand sanitizer, signs, plexiglass, temperature checks. Total lack of effort beyond staying away from the building. They were offering disposable gloves, but that was it. I think people should dramatically lower their expectations about what schools can do. Just getting masks will be difficult. If doctor's offices can't get it right now, then I don't think schools have much of a chance. I know we have three months, but I don't think it is enough time for distribution and planning to catch up. We are still under a stay at home order and that is tying our hands until it lifts. |
Anonymous
Even if the school district should fail to provide masks (I cannot imagine they will), don't all the teachers have their own masks by now? I mean, you wear them when shopping, right? Masks have become something like a piece of clothing, and teachers don't expect the school district to dress them. That said, I still think masks must be made available by the employer, and in September, this shouldn't be a problem anymore. |
Anonymous
So you are saying we must keep schools closed because the school districts are too incompetent to put even simple precautions in place? They'd rather sacrifice kids' education/socialization and families' livelihoods than get their act together to buy PPE and sanitizers? But somehow they can get Chromebooks and high-speed internet to all the kids in need? |
Anonymous
| If hairdressers and salons and restaurants can figure it out. So should schools. |
Anonymous
Salons are appointment only, one person at a time. Restaurants are outside or greatly reduced capacity. Neither of these compare to schools at all. |