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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP who works in the hospital. Let’s not attack our teachers. They are a huge part of the solution. Our kids will never go back to school and do not have a chance at decent growth without them. The previous teachers have legit list of problems. MCPS should come up with a plan to overcome those issues. If teachers don’t have access to hand washing for 4 hours, that reflects poorly of our whole system. Can we maybe think of a solution? Provide sanitizers in each classroom. Build a hand washing station with sink in each classroom with enough soap.

I realize that’s going to cost a lot of money. Can we prioritize our tax money for that? Can we have a in-person school benefit fundraising? As a parent, I am more than willing to give up my indulgences such as take out to support my kids’ growth.

We should hold our leaders accountable in why they cannot come up with a solution? We all know we have a problem, we do not need to hear about all our problems from our leaders. They need to come up with possible solutions. We as parents and teachers will have to support those solutions so they can be implemented well.

The point was that providing hand sanitizer to teachers does not exactly seem like an insurmountable problem. That sort of logic should not be used to simply keep schools closed forever.

I agree it will take a little effort and money, but let's get on with it so we can open schools already instead of whining how it's all too difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, the funniest part is that at my school we still have close to 10-15% of content teacher positions unfilled. Secondary. Yeah, we're laughing all the way to the bank. And so will you when your kid is being taught by a long-term sub with only 2 years of college and it isn't in the subject matter being taught.

Don't stress about it. "Content teacher positions" can be adequately filled by anyone with a HS diploma. You have vacancies because we pay teachers too little for any true professionals to take the position. We need to pay more and then expect more. Stop hiring blow-average slackers and paying them peanuts.

Why do you want schools to open, if not for your children to work with trained educators? It’s clear that so many of you with low opinions of teachers are really struggling to parent your children and are desperate for time away from them. It would be much easier to respect you if you would just admit to it.

And people like you will always scream it’s too unsafe to reopen schools, no matter how good the numbers are, because you just want to stay on the couch and get paid.

You don't know anything about me. I would happily go back to school with PPE, ventilation reports, and proof that all staff and students have been tested for COVID prior to opening. If schools can't or won't put those things in place, then they shouldn't open. Period.

It’s crazy that we’ve had all of these months and still don’t have widespread rapid testing. That would help so much- even if you could test all kids/teachers at the start of each week. Even if they are not 100% accurate you’d still catch a lot more and have a reasonable path forward. If we could get a good testing strategy down, I would go back (in this area, where numbers are good) without question.

I don’t think it’s realistic to expect to be provided hospital-grade PPE in schools. Plenty of people out there working to keep society going in cloth and surgical masks. Of my numerous family members in essential positions, the only ones being provided fitted N95s are a police officer and those working in hospitals (and even then they get one per shift). Who doesn’t have a proper supply of masks by now anyway? Have y’all been sitting at home since March?

Speaking as a self contained special education teacher, yes, we do need hospital grade PPE. We have students who bite and spit. We have been told our kids don’t have to wear masks. My kids need help blowing their noses, toileting, tying shoes, etc. so we have no choice but to be hands on with them. I’m not wearing a cloth mask to physically assist a student like that. Teachers should not be begging friends and family for money for PPE to fund an unsafe school opening, and I refuse to do that. I agree that gen ed teachers of older students don’t need N95s, face shields, etc.

Yet they’re good enough for the grocery store workers who need to deal with hundreds of people per day, including beligerant ones. Got it.

I just laughed when I read that. You spelled belligerent wrong. And grocery store workers don't assist customers in the bathroom, blow their noses, hold them when they cry, tie their shoes, or physically touch them in any way. They stand behind plexiglass and you have a 2 minute interaction with them. They can also throw out customers who aren't wearing masks. Give me a plexiglass barrier to stand behind, limit my interaction with students to 2 minutes, prevent me from having to touch them, and sure! I'll wear a cloth mask.
That is the worst analogy I've ever seen.

Yeah I laughed too- a SPED teacher is more analogous to a nursing home worker. Give teachers the same PPE as nursing home staff and then we can talk. Until then, the safest place for those kids and teachers is at home.

NP. I don’t work in a nursing home but I work in a hospital. We’re given one surgical mask for the whole day. One flimsy eyeglass that’s supposed to be one time used but are supposed to reuse it unless it breaks. We’re given N95s only if we need to go in a covid+ or PUI(person under investigation) room. And that’s only one N95 and one face shield per day. We do have enough hand sanitizers and hand washing stations with soap. We also have carefully regulated wipes to clean.

I think we should push for in-person learning for young kids who cannot benefit from DL. Super high risk kids should do DL, and parents should have an option for distance learning. We should push for budgeting that allows enough sanitizers and hand washing stations. Kids can and will wear masks. My 2year old will wear a mask if asked. Kids get used to it. Again, for higher risk kids needing accommodation, DL should be an option.

I don’t know how we can make totally fair, but I am more than willing to donate money and supplies for school. I am sure a lot of parents would prioritize this for in person learning versus spending money on other luxuries.

Hospitalizations has been a lot lower than what we saw a few months ago. Healthcare providers have learned a great deal in how to manage these patients. Not to minimize the gravity of what this virus can do to people.

The vaccines that are supposed to come out have cut so many corners in safety and efficacy studies. It takes years to develop effective and safe vaccines, not mere months. We can be sure that when and if it comes out, it won’t be this big end all be all of covid 19.

Our small kids are growing so fast and they are missing these important years where they learn about living in a community, following rules, be good citizens. At some point we have to take some risk so we don’t lock our kids inside our houses for years. This may very well last at least 2-4 years.

Can we all come together and come up with solutions instead of hiding and just saying nope can’t be done?

I’m not sure what to tell you. As a teacher, I don’t have a chance to wash my hands for four hours at a time. My workplace is not clean. My students are NOT wearing masks, because it has been deemed “developmentally inappropriate” for them to do so. My students come in sick and then their parents refuse to pick them up, so they sit in my class coughing all day (this continued to happen even mid March right before schools were closed, after COVID had been declared a pandemic). If my students WERE wearing masks, I had access to basic hygiene, there was a zero tolerance policy regarding sick students, and our schools were cleaned regularly then I think it would be fine. Because none of this is the case and there is no funding to do so, I don’t think we should. We can’t rely on parent donations. I work in a Title I school and we don’t receive any parent donations, which would mean that schools in wealthier neighborhoods would be significantly safer than mine. That’s immoral and wrong.

You really can't wash your hands for 4 hours? Ever heard of personal size hand sanitizer? It's so obvious you don't even want to try to make it work.

At least try harder the next time you come up with some BS excuse.

Screw you. You picked a single sentence and decided that it was “BS” because it doesn’t effect you. I’m not apologizing for wanting to wash my hands after I blow someone’s nose, tie a few pairs of shoes, touch a thousand surfaces, and do hand over hand with multiple children. Of course we use hand sanitizer. It is NOT the same thing. Your hands are not clean after you rub hand sanitizer on them. Notice how doctors and nurses have sinks in every room and physically scrub their hands with soap. One of the major problems is that people like you don’t care at all about MY health or wellbeing. I do. You think that your child won’t get sick and magically can’t transmit the virus to you, so everyone should just soldier through. No. I’m not sacrificing for you. Give me time and access to hygiene, cleaning supplies (I’m not purchasing them), PPE, and allow me to send sick students home without an argument. Otherwise I will not budge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, the funniest part is that at my school we still have close to 10-15% of content teacher positions unfilled. Secondary. Yeah, we're laughing all the way to the bank. And so will you when your kid is being taught by a long-term sub with only 2 years of college and it isn't in the subject matter being taught.

Don't stress about it. "Content teacher positions" can be adequately filled by anyone with a HS diploma. You have vacancies because we pay teachers too little for any true professionals to take the position. We need to pay more and then expect more. Stop hiring blow-average slackers and paying them peanuts.

Why do you want schools to open, if not for your children to work with trained educators? It’s clear that so many of you with low opinions of teachers are really struggling to parent your children and are desperate for time away from them. It would be much easier to respect you if you would just admit to it.

And people like you will always scream it’s too unsafe to reopen schools, no matter how good the numbers are, because you just want to stay on the couch and get paid.

You don't know anything about me. I would happily go back to school with PPE, ventilation reports, and proof that all staff and students have been tested for COVID prior to opening. If schools can't or won't put those things in place, then they shouldn't open. Period.

It’s crazy that we’ve had all of these months and still don’t have widespread rapid testing. That would help so much- even if you could test all kids/teachers at the start of each week. Even if they are not 100% accurate you’d still catch a lot more and have a reasonable path forward. If we could get a good testing strategy down, I would go back (in this area, where numbers are good) without question.

I don’t think it’s realistic to expect to be provided hospital-grade PPE in schools. Plenty of people out there working to keep society going in cloth and surgical masks. Of my numerous family members in essential positions, the only ones being provided fitted N95s are a police officer and those working in hospitals (and even then they get one per shift). Who doesn’t have a proper supply of masks by now anyway? Have y’all been sitting at home since March?

Speaking as a self contained special education teacher, yes, we do need hospital grade PPE. We have students who bite and spit. We have been told our kids don’t have to wear masks. My kids need help blowing their noses, toileting, tying shoes, etc. so we have no choice but to be hands on with them. I’m not wearing a cloth mask to physically assist a student like that. Teachers should not be begging friends and family for money for PPE to fund an unsafe school opening, and I refuse to do that. I agree that gen ed teachers of older students don’t need N95s, face shields, etc.

Yet they’re good enough for the grocery store workers who need to deal with hundreds of people per day, including beligerant ones. Got it.

I just laughed when I read that. You spelled belligerent wrong. And grocery store workers don't assist customers in the bathroom, blow their noses, hold them when they cry, tie their shoes, or physically touch them in any way. They stand behind plexiglass and you have a 2 minute interaction with them. They can also throw out customers who aren't wearing masks. Give me a plexiglass barrier to stand behind, limit my interaction with students to 2 minutes, prevent me from having to touch them, and sure! I'll wear a cloth mask.
That is the worst analogy I've ever seen.

Yeah I laughed too- a SPED teacher is more analogous to a nursing home worker. Give teachers the same PPE as nursing home staff and then we can talk. Until then, the safest place for those kids and teachers is at home.

NP. I don’t work in a nursing home but I work in a hospital. We’re given one surgical mask for the whole day. One flimsy eyeglass that’s supposed to be one time used but are supposed to reuse it unless it breaks. We’re given N95s only if we need to go in a covid+ or PUI(person under investigation) room. And that’s only one N95 and one face shield per day. We do have enough hand sanitizers and hand washing stations with soap. We also have carefully regulated wipes to clean.

I think we should push for in-person learning for young kids who cannot benefit from DL. Super high risk kids should do DL, and parents should have an option for distance learning. We should push for budgeting that allows enough sanitizers and hand washing stations. Kids can and will wear masks. My 2year old will wear a mask if asked. Kids get used to it. Again, for higher risk kids needing accommodation, DL should be an option.

I don’t know how we can make totally fair, but I am more than willing to donate money and supplies for school. I am sure a lot of parents would prioritize this for in person learning versus spending money on other luxuries.

Hospitalizations has been a lot lower than what we saw a few months ago. Healthcare providers have learned a great deal in how to manage these patients. Not to minimize the gravity of what this virus can do to people.

The vaccines that are supposed to come out have cut so many corners in safety and efficacy studies. It takes years to develop effective and safe vaccines, not mere months. We can be sure that when and if it comes out, it won’t be this big end all be all of covid 19.

Our small kids are growing so fast and they are missing these important years where they learn about living in a community, following rules, be good citizens. At some point we have to take some risk so we don’t lock our kids inside our houses for years. This may very well last at least 2-4 years.

Can we all come together and come up with solutions instead of hiding and just saying nope can’t be done?

I’m not sure what to tell you. As a teacher, I don’t have a chance to wash my hands for four hours at a time. My workplace is not clean. My students are NOT wearing masks, because it has been deemed “developmentally inappropriate” for them to do so. My students come in sick and then their parents refuse to pick them up, so they sit in my class coughing all day (this continued to happen even mid March right before schools were closed, after COVID had been declared a pandemic). If my students WERE wearing masks, I had access to basic hygiene, there was a zero tolerance policy regarding sick students, and our schools were cleaned regularly then I think it would be fine. Because none of this is the case and there is no funding to do so, I don’t think we should. We can’t rely on parent donations. I work in a Title I school and we don’t receive any parent donations, which would mean that schools in wealthier neighborhoods would be significantly safer than mine. That’s immoral and wrong.

You really can't wash your hands for 4 hours? Ever heard of personal size hand sanitizer? It's so obvious you don't even want to try to make it work.

At least try harder the next time you come up with some BS excuse.

Screw you. You picked a single sentence and decided that it was “BS” because it doesn’t effect you. I’m not apologizing for wanting to wash my hands after I blow someone’s nose, tie a few pairs of shoes, touch a thousand surfaces, and do hand over hand with multiple children. Of course we use hand sanitizer. It is NOT the same thing. Your hands are not clean after you rub hand sanitizer on them. Notice how doctors and nurses have sinks in every room and physically scrub their hands with soap. One of the major problems is that people like you don’t care at all about MY health or wellbeing. I do. You think that your child won’t get sick and magically can’t transmit the virus to you, so everyone should just soldier through. No. I’m not sacrificing for you. Give me time and access to hygiene, cleaning supplies (I’m not purchasing them), PPE, and allow me to send sick students home without an argument. Otherwise I will not budge.

Totally agree - let's do all that as far as sanitizer, washing stations and sending sick kids home. But to my prior point, none of those things are impossible, so let's do them already. And then get back to work!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, the funniest part is that at my school we still have close to 10-15% of content teacher positions unfilled. Secondary. Yeah, we're laughing all the way to the bank. And so will you when your kid is being taught by a long-term sub with only 2 years of college and it isn't in the subject matter being taught.

Don't stress about it. "Content teacher positions" can be adequately filled by anyone with a HS diploma. You have vacancies because we pay teachers too little for any true professionals to take the position. We need to pay more and then expect more. Stop hiring blow-average slackers and paying them peanuts.

Why do you want schools to open, if not for your children to work with trained educators? It’s clear that so many of you with low opinions of teachers are really struggling to parent your children and are desperate for time away from them. It would be much easier to respect you if you would just admit to it.

And people like you will always scream it’s too unsafe to reopen schools, no matter how good the numbers are, because you just want to stay on the couch and get paid.

You don't know anything about me. I would happily go back to school with PPE, ventilation reports, and proof that all staff and students have been tested for COVID prior to opening. If schools can't or won't put those things in place, then they shouldn't open. Period.

It’s crazy that we’ve had all of these months and still don’t have widespread rapid testing. That would help so much- even if you could test all kids/teachers at the start of each week. Even if they are not 100% accurate you’d still catch a lot more and have a reasonable path forward. If we could get a good testing strategy down, I would go back (in this area, where numbers are good) without question.

I don’t think it’s realistic to expect to be provided hospital-grade PPE in schools. Plenty of people out there working to keep society going in cloth and surgical masks. Of my numerous family members in essential positions, the only ones being provided fitted N95s are a police officer and those working in hospitals (and even then they get one per shift). Who doesn’t have a proper supply of masks by now anyway? Have y’all been sitting at home since March?

Speaking as a self contained special education teacher, yes, we do need hospital grade PPE. We have students who bite and spit. We have been told our kids don’t have to wear masks. My kids need help blowing their noses, toileting, tying shoes, etc. so we have no choice but to be hands on with them. I’m not wearing a cloth mask to physically assist a student like that. Teachers should not be begging friends and family for money for PPE to fund an unsafe school opening, and I refuse to do that. I agree that gen ed teachers of older students don’t need N95s, face shields, etc.

Yet they’re good enough for the grocery store workers who need to deal with hundreds of people per day, including beligerant ones. Got it.

I just laughed when I read that. You spelled belligerent wrong. And grocery store workers don't assist customers in the bathroom, blow their noses, hold them when they cry, tie their shoes, or physically touch them in any way. They stand behind plexiglass and you have a 2 minute interaction with them. They can also throw out customers who aren't wearing masks. Give me a plexiglass barrier to stand behind, limit my interaction with students to 2 minutes, prevent me from having to touch them, and sure! I'll wear a cloth mask.
That is the worst analogy I've ever seen.

Yeah I laughed too- a SPED teacher is more analogous to a nursing home worker. Give teachers the same PPE as nursing home staff and then we can talk. Until then, the safest place for those kids and teachers is at home.

NP. I don’t work in a nursing home but I work in a hospital. We’re given one surgical mask for the whole day. One flimsy eyeglass that’s supposed to be one time used but are supposed to reuse it unless it breaks. We’re given N95s only if we need to go in a covid+ or PUI(person under investigation) room. And that’s only one N95 and one face shield per day. We do have enough hand sanitizers and hand washing stations with soap. We also have carefully regulated wipes to clean.

I think we should push for in-person learning for young kids who cannot benefit from DL. Super high risk kids should do DL, and parents should have an option for distance learning. We should push for budgeting that allows enough sanitizers and hand washing stations. Kids can and will wear masks. My 2year old will wear a mask if asked. Kids get used to it. Again, for higher risk kids needing accommodation, DL should be an option.

I don’t know how we can make totally fair, but I am more than willing to donate money and supplies for school. I am sure a lot of parents would prioritize this for in person learning versus spending money on other luxuries.

Hospitalizations has been a lot lower than what we saw a few months ago. Healthcare providers have learned a great deal in how to manage these patients. Not to minimize the gravity of what this virus can do to people.

The vaccines that are supposed to come out have cut so many corners in safety and efficacy studies. It takes years to develop effective and safe vaccines, not mere months. We can be sure that when and if it comes out, it won’t be this big end all be all of covid 19.

Our small kids are growing so fast and they are missing these important years where they learn about living in a community, following rules, be good citizens. At some point we have to take some risk so we don’t lock our kids inside our houses for years. This may very well last at least 2-4 years.

Can we all come together and come up with solutions instead of hiding and just saying nope can’t be done?

I’m not sure what to tell you. As a teacher, I don’t have a chance to wash my hands for four hours at a time. My workplace is not clean. My students are NOT wearing masks, because it has been deemed “developmentally inappropriate” for them to do so. My students come in sick and then their parents refuse to pick them up, so they sit in my class coughing all day (this continued to happen even mid March right before schools were closed, after COVID had been declared a pandemic). If my students WERE wearing masks, I had access to basic hygiene, there was a zero tolerance policy regarding sick students, and our schools were cleaned regularly then I think it would be fine. Because none of this is the case and there is no funding to do so, I don’t think we should. We can’t rely on parent donations. I work in a Title I school and we don’t receive any parent donations, which would mean that schools in wealthier neighborhoods would be significantly safer than mine. That’s immoral and wrong.

You really can't wash your hands for 4 hours? Ever heard of personal size hand sanitizer? It's so obvious you don't even want to try to make it work.

At least try harder the next time you come up with some BS excuse.

Screw you. You picked a single sentence and decided that it was “BS” because it doesn’t effect you. I’m not apologizing for wanting to wash my hands after I blow someone’s nose, tie a few pairs of shoes, touch a thousand surfaces, and do hand over hand with multiple children. Of course we use hand sanitizer. It is NOT the same thing. Your hands are not clean after you rub hand sanitizer on them. Notice how doctors and nurses have sinks in every room and physically scrub their hands with soap. One of the major problems is that people like you don’t care at all about MY health or wellbeing. I do. You think that your child won’t get sick and magically can’t transmit the virus to you, so everyone should just soldier through. No. I’m not sacrificing for you. Give me time and access to hygiene, cleaning supplies (I’m not purchasing them), PPE, and allow me to send sick students home without an argument. Otherwise I will not budge.

Totally agree - let's do all that as far as sanitizer, washing stations and sending sick kids home. But to my prior point, none of those things are impossible, so let's do them already. And then get back to work!

DP. OMG you are not listening. It IS impossible, especially with special ed students. I think if anything, those high risk kids need to be left out of any initial reopening plans. It's just not safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, the funniest part is that at my school we still have close to 10-15% of content teacher positions unfilled. Secondary. Yeah, we're laughing all the way to the bank. And so will you when your kid is being taught by a long-term sub with only 2 years of college and it isn't in the subject matter being taught.

Don't stress about it. "Content teacher positions" can be adequately filled by anyone with a HS diploma. You have vacancies because we pay teachers too little for any true professionals to take the position. We need to pay more and then expect more. Stop hiring blow-average slackers and paying them peanuts.

Why do you want schools to open, if not for your children to work with trained educators? It’s clear that so many of you with low opinions of teachers are really struggling to parent your children and are desperate for time away from them. It would be much easier to respect you if you would just admit to it.

And people like you will always scream it’s too unsafe to reopen schools, no matter how good the numbers are, because you just want to stay on the couch and get paid.

You don't know anything about me. I would happily go back to school with PPE, ventilation reports, and proof that all staff and students have been tested for COVID prior to opening. If schools can't or won't put those things in place, then they shouldn't open. Period.

It’s crazy that we’ve had all of these months and still don’t have widespread rapid testing. That would help so much- even if you could test all kids/teachers at the start of each week. Even if they are not 100% accurate you’d still catch a lot more and have a reasonable path forward. If we could get a good testing strategy down, I would go back (in this area, where numbers are good) without question.

I don’t think it’s realistic to expect to be provided hospital-grade PPE in schools. Plenty of people out there working to keep society going in cloth and surgical masks. Of my numerous family members in essential positions, the only ones being provided fitted N95s are a police officer and those working in hospitals (and even then they get one per shift). Who doesn’t have a proper supply of masks by now anyway? Have y’all been sitting at home since March?

Speaking as a self contained special education teacher, yes, we do need hospital grade PPE. We have students who bite and spit. We have been told our kids don’t have to wear masks. My kids need help blowing their noses, toileting, tying shoes, etc. so we have no choice but to be hands on with them. I’m not wearing a cloth mask to physically assist a student like that. Teachers should not be begging friends and family for money for PPE to fund an unsafe school opening, and I refuse to do that. I agree that gen ed teachers of older students don’t need N95s, face shields, etc.

Yet they’re good enough for the grocery store workers who need to deal with hundreds of people per day, including beligerant ones. Got it.

I just laughed when I read that. You spelled belligerent wrong. And grocery store workers don't assist customers in the bathroom, blow their noses, hold them when they cry, tie their shoes, or physically touch them in any way. They stand behind plexiglass and you have a 2 minute interaction with them. They can also throw out customers who aren't wearing masks. Give me a plexiglass barrier to stand behind, limit my interaction with students to 2 minutes, prevent me from having to touch them, and sure! I'll wear a cloth mask.
That is the worst analogy I've ever seen.

Yeah I laughed too- a SPED teacher is more analogous to a nursing home worker. Give teachers the same PPE as nursing home staff and then we can talk. Until then, the safest place for those kids and teachers is at home.

NP. I don’t work in a nursing home but I work in a hospital. We’re given one surgical mask for the whole day. One flimsy eyeglass that’s supposed to be one time used but are supposed to reuse it unless it breaks. We’re given N95s only if we need to go in a covid+ or PUI(person under investigation) room. And that’s only one N95 and one face shield per day. We do have enough hand sanitizers and hand washing stations with soap. We also have carefully regulated wipes to clean.

I think we should push for in-person learning for young kids who cannot benefit from DL. Super high risk kids should do DL, and parents should have an option for distance learning. We should push for budgeting that allows enough sanitizers and hand washing stations. Kids can and will wear masks. My 2year old will wear a mask if asked. Kids get used to it. Again, for higher risk kids needing accommodation, DL should be an option.

I don’t know how we can make totally fair, but I am more than willing to donate money and supplies for school. I am sure a lot of parents would prioritize this for in person learning versus spending money on other luxuries.

Hospitalizations has been a lot lower than what we saw a few months ago. Healthcare providers have learned a great deal in how to manage these patients. Not to minimize the gravity of what this virus can do to people.

The vaccines that are supposed to come out have cut so many corners in safety and efficacy studies. It takes years to develop effective and safe vaccines, not mere months. We can be sure that when and if it comes out, it won’t be this big end all be all of covid 19.

Our small kids are growing so fast and they are missing these important years where they learn about living in a community, following rules, be good citizens. At some point we have to take some risk so we don’t lock our kids inside our houses for years. This may very well last at least 2-4 years.

Can we all come together and come up with solutions instead of hiding and just saying nope can’t be done?

I’m not sure what to tell you. As a teacher, I don’t have a chance to wash my hands for four hours at a time. My workplace is not clean. My students are NOT wearing masks, because it has been deemed “developmentally inappropriate” for them to do so. My students come in sick and then their parents refuse to pick them up, so they sit in my class coughing all day (this continued to happen even mid March right before schools were closed, after COVID had been declared a pandemic). If my students WERE wearing masks, I had access to basic hygiene, there was a zero tolerance policy regarding sick students, and our schools were cleaned regularly then I think it would be fine. Because none of this is the case and there is no funding to do so, I don’t think we should. We can’t rely on parent donations. I work in a Title I school and we don’t receive any parent donations, which would mean that schools in wealthier neighborhoods would be significantly safer than mine. That’s immoral and wrong.

You really can't wash your hands for 4 hours? Ever heard of personal size hand sanitizer? It's so obvious you don't even want to try to make it work.

At least try harder the next time you come up with some BS excuse.

Screw you. You picked a single sentence and decided that it was “BS” because it doesn’t effect you. I’m not apologizing for wanting to wash my hands after I blow someone’s nose, tie a few pairs of shoes, touch a thousand surfaces, and do hand over hand with multiple children. Of course we use hand sanitizer. It is NOT the same thing. Your hands are not clean after you rub hand sanitizer on them. Notice how doctors and nurses have sinks in every room and physically scrub their hands with soap. One of the major problems is that people like you don’t care at all about MY health or wellbeing. I do. You think that your child won’t get sick and magically can’t transmit the virus to you, so everyone should just soldier through. No. I’m not sacrificing for you. Give me time and access to hygiene, cleaning supplies (I’m not purchasing them), PPE, and allow me to send sick students home without an argument. Otherwise I will not budge.

Totally agree - let's do all that as far as sanitizer, washing stations and sending sick kids home. But to my prior point, none of those things are impossible, so let's do them already. And then get back to work!

DP. OMG you are not listening. It IS impossible, especially with special ed students. I think if anything, those high risk kids need to be left out of any initial reopening plans. It's just not safe.

You are the worst kind of human being. Just unbelievably selfish and spoiled. You really need to find another career and hopefully, soon you will be forced to.

[Anonymous]

Do teachers really think the rest of us working in the world are washing our hands every 2 minutes?
I work with people with disabilities, intellectual and physical barriers. Do i wash my hands? Yes. When i can. Otherwise i use sanitizer and don't touch my face/eyes/nose/mouth.
I wear a mask and face shield. The people I work with do the same (those with disabilities). Really only 1 person has a medical need adn cannoot wear one but can wear a face shield and she does.

This is not rocket science. Does my job look the same as it did in March? Hell no. But you know what, in many ways it is better. Smaller group sizes, greater focus on sanitization and respect for personal space. PErfect? Nope. But if the people I work with can figure this out with a great deal of success I think our children can as well. You aren't even letting them try.
My kids don't touch people, touch their faces, blow snot everywhere, kiss, climb on people etc. THey just don't. They wear masks and shields consistently and have sanitzer to use when they touch something public.
NOt a big deal at all.

Just stop whining already about how NOTHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING can be done. Our children will kill you and can't follow basic rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do teachers really think the rest of us working in the world are washing our hands every 2 minutes?
I work with people with disabilities, intellectual and physical barriers. Do i wash my hands? Yes. When i can. Otherwise i use sanitizer and don't touch my face/eyes/nose/mouth.
I wear a mask and face shield. The people I work with do the same (those with disabilities). Really only 1 person has a medical need adn cannoot wear one but can wear a face shield and she does.

This is not rocket science. Does my job look the same as it did in March? Hell no. But you know what, in many ways it is better. Smaller group sizes, greater focus on sanitization and respect for personal space. PErfect? Nope. But if the people I work with can figure this out with a great deal of success I think our children can as well. You aren't even letting them try.
My kids don't touch people, touch their faces, blow snot everywhere, kiss, climb on people etc. THey just don't. They wear masks and shields consistently and have sanitzer to use when they touch something public.
NOt a big deal at all.

Just stop whining already about how NOTHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING can be done. Our children will kill you and can't follow basic rules.

Funny- we are asking for what you have. PPE. Proper ventilation. CLeaning supplies and hand sanitizer.

You are totally right, this isn’t rocket science, but people are protesting making their children wear masks.

I’m glad your non profit can get it’s act together. Ordering enough PPE for an entire school system week after week requires a magnitude of scale our country is finding difficult to provide.

I’m glad your kids can keep their hands to themselves and you have observed this behavior consistently across a school setting to make sure they do this when you aren’t around. Know that other parents aren’t able to ensure that their children are able to do these self care tasks and we have to take care of ALL kids not just yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do teachers really think the rest of us working in the world are washing our hands every 2 minutes?
I work with people with disabilities, intellectual and physical barriers. Do i wash my hands? Yes. When i can. Otherwise i use sanitizer and don't touch my face/eyes/nose/mouth.
I wear a mask and face shield. The people I work with do the same (those with disabilities). Really only 1 person has a medical need adn cannoot wear one but can wear a face shield and she does.

This is not rocket science. Does my job look the same as it did in March? Hell no. But you know what, in many ways it is better. Smaller group sizes, greater focus on sanitization and respect for personal space. PErfect? Nope. But if the people I work with can figure this out with a great deal of success I think our children can as well. You aren't even letting them try.
My kids don't touch people, touch their faces, blow snot everywhere, kiss, climb on people etc. THey just don't. They wear masks and shields consistently and have sanitzer to use when they touch something public.
NOt a big deal at all.

Just stop whining already about how NOTHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING can be done. Our children will kill you and can't follow basic rules.

Funny- we are asking for what you have. PPE. Proper ventilation. CLeaning supplies and hand sanitizer.

You are totally right, this isn’t rocket science, but people are protesting making their children wear masks.

I’m glad your non profit can get it’s act together. Ordering enough PPE for an entire school system week after week requires a magnitude of scale our country is finding difficult to provide.

I’m glad your kids can keep their hands to themselves and you have observed this behavior consistently across a school setting to make sure they do this when you aren’t around. Know that other parents aren’t able to ensure that their children are able to do these self care tasks and we have to take care of ALL kids not just yours.

Has anyone run the numbers on the cost of PPE per week? Some things could be reused (like face shields).

How do you propose we fund schools to redo the ventilation systems? This is not a covid-only problem, it's a long-standing problem. I think the union needs to make it super-clear that we will not go back until the ventilation systems are up to code period, even if a vaccine is available. A line needs to be drawn.

Hard line on asks too. ANyone who refuses to wear gets sent home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do teachers really think the rest of us working in the world are washing our hands every 2 minutes?
I work with people with disabilities, intellectual and physical barriers. Do i wash my hands? Yes. When i can. Otherwise i use sanitizer and don't touch my face/eyes/nose/mouth.
I wear a mask and face shield. The people I work with do the same (those with disabilities). Really only 1 person has a medical need adn cannoot wear one but can wear a face shield and she does.

This is not rocket science. Does my job look the same as it did in March? Hell no. But you know what, in many ways it is better. Smaller group sizes, greater focus on sanitization and respect for personal space. PErfect? Nope. But if the people I work with can figure this out with a great deal of success I think our children can as well. You aren't even letting them try.
My kids don't touch people, touch their faces, blow snot everywhere, kiss, climb on people etc. THey just don't. They wear masks and shields consistently and have sanitzer to use when they touch something public.
NOt a big deal at all.

Just stop whining already about how NOTHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING can be done. Our children will kill you and can't follow basic rules.

Funny- we are asking for what you have. PPE. Proper ventilation. CLeaning supplies and hand sanitizer.

You are totally right, this isn’t rocket science, but people are protesting making their children wear masks.

I’m glad your non profit can get it’s act together. Ordering enough PPE for an entire school system week after week requires a magnitude of scale our country is finding difficult to provide.

I’m glad your kids can keep their hands to themselves and you have observed this behavior consistently across a school setting to make sure they do this when you aren’t around. Know that other parents aren’t able to ensure that their children are able to do these self care tasks and we have to take care of ALL kids not just yours.

You are the worst pretending this is impossible. All I hear is "dog ate my homework, dog ate my homework, dog ate my homework!"

Every other developed country has figured this out and is sending their kids back. And before you berate the failure of the federal government, rates in the DMV are pretty darn low and suggest we should reopen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do teachers really think the rest of us working in the world are washing our hands every 2 minutes?
I work with people with disabilities, intellectual and physical barriers. Do i wash my hands? Yes. When i can. Otherwise i use sanitizer and don't touch my face/eyes/nose/mouth.
I wear a mask and face shield. The people I work with do the same (those with disabilities). Really only 1 person has a medical need adn cannoot wear one but can wear a face shield and she does.

This is not rocket science. Does my job look the same as it did in March? Hell no. But you know what, in many ways it is better. Smaller group sizes, greater focus on sanitization and respect for personal space. PErfect? Nope. But if the people I work with can figure this out with a great deal of success I think our children can as well. You aren't even letting them try.
My kids don't touch people, touch their faces, blow snot everywhere, kiss, climb on people etc. THey just don't. They wear masks and shields consistently and have sanitzer to use when they touch something public.
NOt a big deal at all.

Just stop whining already about how NOTHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING can be done. Our children will kill you and can't follow basic rules.

Funny- we are asking for what you have. PPE. Proper ventilation. CLeaning supplies and hand sanitizer.

You are totally right, this isn’t rocket science, but people are protesting making their children wear masks.

I’m glad your non profit can get it’s act together. Ordering enough PPE for an entire school system week after week requires a magnitude of scale our country is finding difficult to provide.

I’m glad your kids can keep their hands to themselves and you have observed this behavior consistently across a school setting to make sure they do this when you aren’t around. Know that other parents aren’t able to ensure that their children are able to do these self care tasks and we have to take care of ALL kids not just yours.

Has anyone run the numbers on the cost of PPE per week? Some things could be reused (like face shields).

How do you propose we fund schools to redo the ventilation systems? This is not a covid-only problem, it's a long-standing problem. I think the union needs to make it super-clear that we will not go back until the ventilation systems are up to code period, even if a vaccine is available. A line needs to be drawn.

Hard line on asks too. ANyone who refuses to wear gets sent home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do teachers really think the rest of us working in the world are washing our hands every 2 minutes?
I work with people with disabilities, intellectual and physical barriers. Do i wash my hands? Yes. When i can. Otherwise i use sanitizer and don't touch my face/eyes/nose/mouth.
I wear a mask and face shield. The people I work with do the same (those with disabilities). Really only 1 person has a medical need adn cannoot wear one but can wear a face shield and she does.

This is not rocket science. Does my job look the same as it did in March? Hell no. But you know what, in many ways it is better. Smaller group sizes, greater focus on sanitization and respect for personal space. PErfect? Nope. But if the people I work with can figure this out with a great deal of success I think our children can as well. You aren't even letting them try.
My kids don't touch people, touch their faces, blow snot everywhere, kiss, climb on people etc. THey just don't. They wear masks and shields consistently and have sanitzer to use when they touch something public.
NOt a big deal at all.

Just stop whining already about how NOTHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING can be done. Our children will kill you and can't follow basic rules.

Funny- we are asking for what you have. PPE. Proper ventilation. CLeaning supplies and hand sanitizer.

You are totally right, this isn’t rocket science, but people are protesting making their children wear masks.

I’m glad your non profit can get it’s act together. Ordering enough PPE for an entire school system week after week requires a magnitude of scale our country is finding difficult to provide.

I’m glad your kids can keep their hands to themselves and you have observed this behavior consistently across a school setting to make sure they do this when you aren’t around. Know that other parents aren’t able to ensure that their children are able to do these self care tasks and we have to take care of ALL kids not just yours.

Has anyone run the numbers on the cost of PPE per week? Some things could be reused (like face shields).

How do you propose we fund schools to redo the ventilation systems? This is not a covid-only problem, it's a long-standing problem. I think the union needs to make it super-clear that we will not go back until the ventilation systems are up to code period, even if a vaccine is available. A line needs to be drawn.

Hard line on asks too. ANyone who refuses to wear gets sent home.

I call troll on the PP. Even for a teacher this is pretty crazy unreasonable. Stop stoking the flames.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do teachers really think the rest of us working in the world are washing our hands every 2 minutes?
I work with people with disabilities, intellectual and physical barriers. Do i wash my hands? Yes. When i can. Otherwise i use sanitizer and don't touch my face/eyes/nose/mouth.
I wear a mask and face shield. The people I work with do the same (those with disabilities). Really only 1 person has a medical need adn cannoot wear one but can wear a face shield and she does.

This is not rocket science. Does my job look the same as it did in March? Hell no. But you know what, in many ways it is better. Smaller group sizes, greater focus on sanitization and respect for personal space. PErfect? Nope. But if the people I work with can figure this out with a great deal of success I think our children can as well. You aren't even letting them try.
My kids don't touch people, touch their faces, blow snot everywhere, kiss, climb on people etc. THey just don't. They wear masks and shields consistently and have sanitzer to use when they touch something public.
NOt a big deal at all.

Just stop whining already about how NOTHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING can be done. Our children will kill you and can't follow basic rules.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do teachers really think the rest of us working in the world are washing our hands every 2 minutes?
I work with people with disabilities, intellectual and physical barriers. Do i wash my hands? Yes. When i can. Otherwise i use sanitizer and don't touch my face/eyes/nose/mouth.
I wear a mask and face shield. The people I work with do the same (those with disabilities). Really only 1 person has a medical need adn cannoot wear one but can wear a face shield and she does.

This is not rocket science. Does my job look the same as it did in March? Hell no. But you know what, in many ways it is better. Smaller group sizes, greater focus on sanitization and respect for personal space. PErfect? Nope. But if the people I work with can figure this out with a great deal of success I think our children can as well. You aren't even letting them try.
My kids don't touch people, touch their faces, blow snot everywhere, kiss, climb on people etc. THey just don't. They wear masks and shields consistently and have sanitzer to use when they touch something public.
NOt a big deal at all.

Just stop whining already about how NOTHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING can be done. Our children will kill you and can't follow basic rules.

Funny- we are asking for what you have. PPE. Proper ventilation. CLeaning supplies and hand sanitizer.

You are totally right, this isn’t rocket science, but people are protesting making their children wear masks.

I’m glad your non profit can get it’s act together. Ordering enough PPE for an entire school system week after week requires a magnitude of scale our country is finding difficult to provide.

I’m glad your kids can keep their hands to themselves and you have observed this behavior consistently across a school setting to make sure they do this when you aren’t around. Know that other parents aren’t able to ensure that their children are able to do these self care tasks and we have to take care of ALL kids not just yours.

Has anyone run the numbers on the cost of PPE per week? Some things could be reused (like face shields).

How do you propose we fund schools to redo the ventilation systems? This is not a covid-only problem, it's a long-standing problem. I think the union needs to make it super-clear that we will not go back until the ventilation systems are up to code period, even if a vaccine is available. A line needs to be drawn.

Hard line on asks too. ANyone who refuses to wear gets sent home.

I call troll on the PP. Even for a teacher this is pretty crazy unreasonable. Stop stoking the flames.

I’m not the PP, but districts in MA are completely on top of the HVAC systems. They are making sure all schools have proper MERV ratings and recirculating rates.

Mind you this is a group of parents who are concerned and volunteered their expertise to help their children’s school district.

https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/cms/lib/MA01907509/Centricity/Domain/25/8_4%20SC%20Meeting%20-%20Reopening%20Update%20PresentationFINAL.pdf

If they can do it, why can’t we?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do teachers really think the rest of us working in the world are washing our hands every 2 minutes?
I work with people with disabilities, intellectual and physical barriers. Do i wash my hands? Yes. When i can. Otherwise i use sanitizer and don't touch my face/eyes/nose/mouth.
I wear a mask and face shield. The people I work with do the same (those with disabilities). Really only 1 person has a medical need adn cannoot wear one but can wear a face shield and she does.

This is not rocket science. Does my job look the same as it did in March? Hell no. But you know what, in many ways it is better. Smaller group sizes, greater focus on sanitization and respect for personal space. PErfect? Nope. But if the people I work with can figure this out with a great deal of success I think our children can as well. You aren't even letting them try.
My kids don't touch people, touch their faces, blow snot everywhere, kiss, climb on people etc. THey just don't. They wear masks and shields consistently and have sanitzer to use when they touch something public.
NOt a big deal at all.

Just stop whining already about how NOTHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING can be done. Our children will kill you and can't follow basic rules.

Funny- we are asking for what you have. PPE. Proper ventilation. CLeaning supplies and hand sanitizer.

You are totally right, this isn’t rocket science, but people are protesting making their children wear masks.

I’m glad your non profit can get it’s act together. Ordering enough PPE for an entire school system week after week requires a magnitude of scale our country is finding difficult to provide.

I’m glad your kids can keep their hands to themselves and you have observed this behavior consistently across a school setting to make sure they do this when you aren’t around. Know that other parents aren’t able to ensure that their children are able to do these self care tasks and we have to take care of ALL kids not just yours.

Has anyone run the numbers on the cost of PPE per week? Some things could be reused (like face shields).

How do you propose we fund schools to redo the ventilation systems? This is not a covid-only problem, it's a long-standing problem. I think the union needs to make it super-clear that we will not go back until the ventilation systems are up to code period, even if a vaccine is available. A line needs to be drawn.

Hard line on asks too. ANyone who refuses to wear gets sent home.

I call troll on the PP. Even for a teacher this is pretty crazy unreasonable. Stop stoking the flames.

There’s a long standing issue with mold in some buildings, I can only imagine how bad it is now with everything sitting idle for months.

[Anonymous]

I am the first to argue for money money for education. Even the money for education goes to the top however.
I think our education system needs a complete overhaul and this may just be the first step to do it.
However, teachers 100% should be doing their jobs in person for elementary students. there are so many vacant buildings not being used right now, why can't schools utilize those if the space isn't adequate at the actual school.

As for not going back without 100% building overhaul. Do you think every office, nursing home, care facility, etc has up to date new HVAC systems?? They don't. Yet here I am working in one and have since April and haven't died. No one I work with has had COVID (some have been tested) and we work with people with mental and physical challenges who are not always the most hygenic and need a fair amount of support when they come to us.