Reply to Has Duran gone mad? (APS)

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Most people aren’t judging those who want to be back in the classroom. I’d love my kids to be back in the classroom. But there is still safety to consider. It’s not safe right now, even if it’s very important for your child to be back.  Just cause they should have been back in in September doesn’t mean they should be back in now. [/quote]

You are entitled to your opinion, but please know that keeping students home is not a harmless alternative.  Even beyond the learning loss for totally typical students, there are children who are now suffering from depression and engaging in self-harm.  There are suicides.  There is increased child abuse happening at home.  There are students with special needs who will age out of services this year or next who aren't getting necessary job training and other skills development, which will put them at increased risk of homelessness, substance abuse, and premature death.  So when you take that position, you are not advocating for a solution that is clearly safer overall, you have simply weighed the risks and made a value judgment about who you feel is expendable.[/quote]

So you are upset that teachers aren’t choosing themselves as the expendable ones?  Please stop with the moralizing.  If you want teachers to be happy about going back to the buildings without a vaccine, put your energies into fundraising for hazard pay and a healthy supply of N95 masks for them  That might work.  [/quote]

Why do you assume I haven’t?  Since late spring I have been advocating at the school, county and state levels for increased funding for PPE and other safety equipment to maximize our ability to reopen safely.  I have been hyper-diligent about masking, social distancing, etc., to make sure we don’t personally contribute to virus spread.  I want APS to choose the best option for this moment based on weighing the needs and risks of *everyone* involved, not just a single group.  Based on all of my own review of the available data and research, I believe that option is to reopen schools with an emphasis on safety precautions and leaving a virtual option for those who need it.  That includes teachers who need it because they are high risk.  Obviously there still need to be adults in the schools to supervise, but I’m fine with that being an aide to assist a teacher who is teaching remotely.  [/quote]

We're all glad that you're "fine" with it... it seems so long as you aren't the one putting your life on the line...  And I'm a parent responding to your post btw.  With people like you around no wonder teachers don't want to be in the buildings to teach.  I wouldn't be "fine" teaching your kids with you a parent to kids I teach either.  Yowza.[/quote]

I am an attorney who does a lot of work with clients who face barriers to remote engagement (e.g., technology for receiving, reviewing, signing and returning digital documents).  I could decline to represent such clients right now, but I don’t because I know how much they need the assistance and don’t have at alternative options.  So I meet with them in person as needed, taking all reasonable safety precautions, despite the risk to myself.  I am not a teacher, but I am walking the walk here.  [/quote]

I don’t think your situation is at all analogous to teachers teaching in person in the school buildings.  Be honest with yourself when doing a risk assessment of the two different work scenarios.

Also, while I am glad you can indulge a measure of selfless humanitarianism, it is unreasonable to expect everyone else to match or exceed your willingness to self sacrifice.  If I get seriously sick, I know I don’t have the funds or a support system that is going to come to the rescue.  Some of us live a little closer to the “just trying to survive and get by” line than others.  I am generous when I can be and I love my students, but I am realistic, this is America, and there is no safety net for some of us. [/quote]

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