Are you sending your kids to school next month?

[lifesavacation]

Our district survey results were taken over a month ago before cases spiked. At the time, about 90% of teachers, parents, and students wanted in-person school. Since we’ve spiked and continue to rise, the district should really redo the survey. I would expect some change in the responses.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Our district survey results were taken over a month ago before cases spiked. At the time, about 90% of teachers, parents, and students wanted in-person school. Since we’ve spiked and continue to rise, the district should really redo the survey. I would expect some change in the responses.

They should. I felt our survey came out way too early. Things went downhill after they sent it out.

 

[SamFaniam]

Any person working is expected to do everything they are responsible for during their work day.

I don’t think anyone is disputing that. But, because our social support systems here in the United States have so many gaps, schools have had to pick up the slack for that. Students come without adequate nutrition, so schools feed them. Students come without adequate clothing, so schools clothe them. Students come without adequate supplies, so those supplies are provided for them. Especially in that last instance, these supplies often are paid for by teachers directly, despite the fact that teacher salaries aren't high. Classroom teachers have to monitor the physical health of their students, the emotional health of their students, check for signs of abuse and neglect, watch for signs of bullying, prevent fights, monitor the use of electronic devices, and manage to work in some teaching. They are also responsible for working with the parents of their students, which in the class of 20 elementary kids might mean 20 different sets of expectations. Not so long ago, teachers were responsible for instructing students in their classroom, but the job of schools has become so expansive those responsibilities have now become infinite. In addition to everything else, classroom teachers will now be responsible for monitoring social distance, supervising mask wear, and additional cleaning within their classroom. Some of that cleaning may very well be done with products that they have purchased out of their own pockets.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Our district survey results were taken over a month ago before cases spiked. At the time, about 90% of teachers, parents, and students wanted in-person school. Since we’ve spiked and continue to rise, the district should really redo the survey. I would expect some change in the responses.

This is exactly what I told the superintendents of the districts that my kids are in. That the way parents responded in May when numbers were low are much different than the way many of us would answer today. They both ended up switching to full remote learning, even before the state declared it, thankfully.

 

[Hikergirl]

I don’t think anyone is disputing that. But, because our social support systems here in the United States have so many gaps, schools have had to pick up the slack for that. Students come without adequate nutrition, so schools feed them. Students come without adequate clothing, so schools clothe them. Students come without adequate supplies, so those supplies are provided for them. Especially in that last instance, these supplies often are paid for by teachers directly, despite the fact that teacher salaries aren't high. Classroom teachers have to monitor the physical health of their students, the emotional health of their students, check for signs of abuse and neglect, watch for signs of bullying, prevent fights, monitor the use of electronic devices, and manage to work in some teaching. They are also responsible for working with the parents of their students, which in the class of 20 elementary kids might mean 20 different sets of expectations. Not so long ago, teachers were responsible for instructing students in their classroom, but the job of schools has become so expansive those responsibilities have now become infinite. In addition to everything else, classroom teachers will now be responsible for monitoring social distance, supervising mask wear, and additional cleaning within their classroom. Some of that cleaning may very well be done with products that they have purchased out of their own pockets.

We can go into why teachers have had to become surrogate parents instead of just educators but that will undoubtedly be too political.
And at the end of the day, teachers are expected to do their jobs just like people in other professions. If they can't handle the responsibilities of that job then they should look into changing their career.
They are not the only profession that has had to adjust and change things, and take on more responsibilities during this pandemic, and they certainly aren't the only people taking on added risks.

 

[gwynne]

We can go into why teachers have had to become surrogate parents instead of just educators but that will undoubtedly be too political.
And at the end of the day, teachers are expected to do their jobs just like people in other professions. If they can't handle the responsibilities of that job then they should look into changing their career.
They are not the only profession that has had to adjust and change things, and take on more responsibilities during this pandemic, and they certainly aren't the only people taking on added risks.

Certainly one opinion.

Others might believe that (particularly during a pandemic) teaching a class of 2nd graders differs greatly from supervising a group of adult workers.

 

[Hikergirl]

Certainly one opinion.

Others might believe that a teaching a class of 2nd graders differs greatly from supervising a group of adult workers.

Not quite sure what your point is here.
Since their job responsibilities are different are we supposed to not expect teachers to do them?
Or are you saying that teachers thought they'd have it easy in that profession but it turns out they have a lot of responsibilities and we should let them off the hook because it's more than they bargained for?
What other professions do you feel shouldn't be expected to do what the job entails? I'd love to know.

 

[dvcgirl67]

What a load of cow manure.

NJ teacher here, not making $100,000 and wanting to go back to work. Just the same as all of my colleagues. Nobody sat around not working but getting paid from March - June. We worked our butts off trying to make online learning work with, for many of us, no more than ONE day to get it together before going online. We pulled much longer hours and did it happily for the benefit of our students. Don't you DARE tell me we didn't work. Was it perfect? Of course not. There were huge hurdles. Some we could overcome, some we could not, especially in terms of parental support.

As for HOW we want to go back - we want to go back safely, for our students, their families, the communities, ourselves, and our families. The problem is that many of the districts' plans are not taking real concerns into account. We want nothing more than to be able to teach our kids face-to-face, but we don't want to risk lives to do so. Just because some people out there think that being in a room with "just" 12 kids for 7 hours straight is no big deal, doesn't mean it's actually safe. There is much more to it than just keeping kids desks 3-6 feet apart and wearing a mask when they walk into the classroom.

Stop comparing teachers, nurses, and retail workers. We all have different needs that must be addressed in order to keep everyone safe. Nobody should be expected to work unless they have the means to do so safely, whether they are in healthcare, retail, education, or literally any other profession out there. And contrary to your false claim, many in healthcare and retail have complained loud and long that they don't feel safe. And yet they go back to work. Why? Because many in our country doesn't give a crap about ensuring livable wages and health coverage, vote accordingly, resulting in these folks having to go back just to survive, even if they are scared to do so. Many teachers are in the same position.

Your comments are false and add nothing to the discussion. Welcome to my ignore list.

You're exactly right. Teachers are in a uniquely awful situation with schools reopening. I'm in NJ too, and in my county there's a spike in cases. I just heard about it today from my sister. Apparently, after the "outdoor graduation ceremonies"....a lot of these kids got together for "up-close and maskless" after-parties. We had 22 positives just last Friday, and there's a backlog in NJ on testing....7 days, and we have one of the lowest tallies in the nation right now. So, in my town they shut down fall sports practices for 2 weeks. Not because any of the kids even tested positive, but because some had been exposed.

Can someone please explain how they're going to open the schools safely?

 

[SamFaniam]

Not quite sure what your point is here.
Since their job responsibilities are different are we supposed to not expect teachers to do them?
Or are you saying that teachers thought they'd have it easy in that profession but it turns out they have a lot of responsibilities and we should let them off the hook because it's more than they bargained for?
What other professions do you feel shouldn't be expected to do what the job entails? I'd love to know.

You comment about teacher's thinking they would have it easy is rather disrespectful. Teachers have always had a lot of responsibilities. I do not see teachers saying they do not want to work, I see them saying they want to work safely and that they want their students to be safe.

I think the concern is that the job may become so different that it may not be successful. How many teachers received training in remote or hybrid learning or were they just expected to manage? How many teachers are working with students who cannot access online materials, so have to find ways to adapt to that? How many teachers have students who do have access to online materials, but choose not to access them? How many teachers have students with special needs where support services for those needs are now less available?

As I stated before, in addition to their actual job, it would appear that in some places, teachers will also be taking on custodial and health duties.

I do not know what you do for a living, but my job has job not changed in a way that has added responsibilities outside of my area of expertise. I am not expected to monitor anyone's social distancing or mask wearing except my own. I do not go to my office nearly as much as I used to, but when I do, I am not expected to provide extra cleaning materials or do any additional cleaning. Meetings that were previously held in person are now online, and we are engaged because we are adults.

 

[KittyKitty]

And at the end of the day, teachers are expected to do their jobs just like people in other professions.

I don't think " Active Pandemic" was in the contract they signed.

 

[Hikergirl]

You comment about teacher's thinking they would have it easy is rather disrespectful. Teachers have always had a lot of responsibilities. I do not see teachers saying they do not want to work, I see them saying they want to work safely and that they want their students to be safe.

I think the concern is that the job may become so different that it may not be successful. How many teachers received training in remote or hybrid learning or were they just expected to manage? How many teachers are working with students who cannot access online materials, so have to find ways to adapt to that? How many teachers have students who do have access to online materials, but choose not to access them? How many teachers have students with special needs where support services for those needs are now less available?

As I stated before, in addition to their actual job, it would appear that in some places, teachers will also be taking on custodial and health duties.

I do not know what you do for a living, but my job has job not changed in a way that has added responsibilities outside of my area of expertise. I am not expected to monitor anyone's social distancing or mask wearing except my own. I do not go to my office nearly as much as I used to, but when I do, I am not expected to provide extra cleaning materials or do any additional cleaning. Meetings that were previously held in person are now online, and we are engaged because we are adults.

I am asking that poster to explain what their point was in telling me that teachers have 'different' responsibilities now. What does that mean in terms of doing the job they are responsible for?

Taking care of students, making sure they follow the rules and making sure they are safe in the classroom is part of their job. Always has been, so COVID doesn't change that.
While your employer may not have assigned added responsibilities, to you during this time, that in no way means that it is the case for all people out there. Teaching is one of those professions that has.

 

[wvjules]

The county I live in (Montgomery County, MD) has announced virtual only for the first semester (through 1/29/2021). All fall and winter sports have been cancelled.

MoCo has had over 16,000 cases and is the largest county in MD. Prince Georges County has had more cases with over 20,000. I expect them to go virtual for the first semester as well.

 

[gwynne]

I don't think " Active Pandemic" was in the contract they signed.

Amen.

 

[okeydokey]

I am asking that poster to explain what their point was in telling me that teachers have 'different' responsibilities now. What does that mean in terms of doing the job they are responsible for?

Taking care of students, making sure they follow the rules and making sure they are safe in the classroom is part of their job. Always has been, so COVID doesn't change that.
While your employer may not have assigned added responsibilities, to you during this time, that in no way means that it is the case for all people out there. Teaching is one of those professions that has.

I don’t think any teacher ever though they had it easy and I don’t think they ever considered that their job would be to expose themselves and their family to a deadly disease in order to do their job (teaching). I don’t think possibly killing themselves and their families should be an expected job responsibility. It’s no wonder many are quitting or retiring early.

 

[trvlgirlmq]

Today was day 2 of a greatly reduced band camp. Students are outside and in small groups of like instruments. Practice is only 4 hours and arrival/departure times are staggered by group. We received an email from the band director tonight that a student had tested positive! This means the kid and their parents knew they had taken the test but chose to attend camp anyway! Now several kids and 4 teachers have been exposed. This is only the start of what the school year is going to be like all over the country

 

[TipsyTraveler]

The county I live in (Montgomery County, MD) has announced virtual only for the first semester (through 1/29/2021). All fall and winter sports have been cancelled.

MoCo has had over 16,000 cases and is the largest county in MD. Prince Georges County has had more cases with over 20,000. I expect them to go virtual for the first semester as well.

PG County announced it last week. I know Anne Arundel is also doing virtual only. Not sure who else, but I would expect most of the state to follow.

 

[motherof5]

It's not that they are more "important." It's that we expect them to do EVERYTHING and it better be done perfectly. From active shooter drills to buying cleaning supplies when is enough enough? They at least deserve to have masks be mandatory in their classrooms.

As far as I know masks are mandatory. Grocery store workers, healthcare and everyone has gone back to work. I feel that teachers should go back, with proper PPE. Students need the social interactions and deserve a proper education. The hybird model doesn't work for those without chromebooks, internet, parents who don't speak english, student who are on a IEP and the list goes on. We are doing a injustice to these kids by denying them a proper education.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Come move to NJ, the teachers make $100K+ and they don't want to go back to work. My thoughts on teachers not wanting to go back to work, is to compare yourselves to nurses, cashiers and thousands of grocery stores/home depot workers etc. MANY worked thru the pandemic with precautions. Precautions and guidelines are being offered for the schools BUT the teachers still don't want to return. They have been getting full pay since March, many not even having to do anything. I don't hear medical workers/store employees/restaurant employees complaining like they are!

I looked this up and the New Jersey Districts that surpass 100k for a median salary are mostly in a corridor in New Jersey between across the river from New York City and across the river from Yonkers. 100k doesn't go extremely far there. And google earthed some of those areas and the houses in the districts that paid that much all looked quite expensive so I think the teachers would be pressed a bit to live in those areas even on that. Salaries are often quoted in these areas to make a claim teachers get paid a lot. But much of the time, it's not enough for them to live in the expensive areas they teach.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Today was day 2 of a greatly reduced band camp. Students are outside and in small groups of like instruments. Practice is only 4 hours and arrival/departure times are staggered by group. We received an email from the band director tonight that a student had tested positive! This means the kid and their parents knew they had taken the test but chose to attend camp anyway! Now several kids and 4 teachers have been exposed. This is only the start of what the school year is going to be like all over the country

Wow! This is the exact scenario that school staff is afraid will happen! All it takes is one irresponsible person, or even one person who didn't know they were or might be infected. Now what are these exposed teachers and kids supposed to do? Isolate from their families? Disrupt their entire households? For how long? How many people might they have infected without knowing? Getting tested the day after exposure won't tell the whole story. They'll need to wait a prescribed number of days before they'll test positive (if they contracted the virus). If only that person had kept their child home until their test results came back, a lot of people could have avoided the amount of anxiety, stress and possibly illness or worse.

 

[motherof5]

Amen.

"active pandamic" wasn't in contracts for grocery store workers and fast food workers. If we all stay home what will happen to the economy. People are dying from depression and lack of health care since they fear going out in public. These children are going to have a hard time catching up having had little to no education the last 4 months of school and all next year if this continues as virtual learning. Students need social interaction, they need to have the academic education that can only be achieved in classrooms. I'm a nurse and if teachers/schools are using proper PPE the spread of this virus will decline. Daycares have opened up and those children in daycare and the providers have remained safe. The same can be done for school.