Listen to the news one moment, and you’re warned about the new variants of the virus. There’s uncertainty about it and whether it’s more deadly than the current strain. Next, the media gives voice to critics who belittle teachers and their unions for not returning to school or being afraid.

There’s a dislike of teachers and disrespect in school districts across the country. When three Cobb County school employees died of Covid, the Superintendent and a school board member wouldn’t put on a mask when asked to honor one of the deceased victims who was a teacher.

Can’t everyone hang on until teachers and all school staff are safely vaccinated? Teachers have been working diligently with students remotely and in-person since the start of the pandemic. They deserve better.

The Media 

The Washington Post

Here’s an opinion piece. Teachers are vital public servants. Time for them to start acting like it. This title sounds like teachers are throwing a tantrum! The author expresses a dislike for online learning.

He understands teachers are worried about being in the classroom, but since they bargain for better pay, tenure, and a decent pension, that means to him that they’re essential workers and should be on the frontlines no matter the danger.

NBC

The network does former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s bidding by lavishing attention on a private school that has in-person learning during the pandemic and compares it to a public school district.

The private school has a new $300,000 ventilation system, small classes, and gigantic plexiglass barriers. These teachers don’t have union representation and could still catch Covid-19!

Private schools are also doing virtual learning. Private school teachers are also scared and prematurely retiring.

The New York Times 

The New York Times published a sad story about how, due to an increase in youth suicides in Las Vegas, teachers need to return to in-person school.

As far as Covid-19 and school closures go, there’s some confusion. A title by Nevada Current last November states Suicides among youth, adults not up during the pandemic.

In a USA Today piece Las Vegas plans to reopen schools as suicide fears grow they say Las Vegas schools are planning to reopen within weeks as anger and concerns grow over US student mental health and a possible surge in suicides since they closed due to Covid-19 last March. 

We’re reminded:

Former President Donald Trump repeatedly tried to pressure schools into reopening, while Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ex-director Robert Redfield cited “increases of adolescent suicide” among the costs of children missing school at a briefing last July.

A report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal from 2019. The suicide rate among Nevada children and teenagers nearly doubled between 2017 and 2018, according to the state’s Office of Suicide Prevention.

This is a serious concern. Nevada and likely Las Vegas appear to have a suicide problem, but is it clear that it is connected to Covid-19 and in-person school?

USA Today

Check out this title: Your kid might not return to a classroom this year. Are teachers’ unions to blame?

This report does present both sides. But that title…it’s an invitation to get parents upset.

Here’s a parent quote:

Of course, we all feel for the teachers, and we appreciate the work they’re doing, but it feels like the union is looking out for themselves, which is their job, but it’s at the expense of many kids and families.

They’re looking out for your children too, and you. If your child catches the virus, they will bring it home.

The virus is the culprit. Teachers didn’t cause it.

School Districts and Tennessee

Chicago

The Chicago mayor and school leaders want teachers back in the classroom. Instead of listening to teachers’ fears, they locked them out of their virtual platforms. They replaced them with substitutes who still taught remotely.

Chicago teachers have done a good job working with students online. Many parents recognize that and support them.  Why must they prove themselves during this dangerous time by protesting to stay safe, especially when vaccinations are right around the corner?

Chicago Public School principals put together this realistic list of problems schools face.

Denver

Teachers were worried about in-person classes in Denver, concerned that there wasn’t enough staff and that there wasn’t much of a plan for returning. School leaders were left to decide, and their public health directors said it’s fine to open.

Now it’s reported there are positive cases and staff quarantines. 

In Beaufort, Colorado they seem to have trouble reporting cases exactly. See: Beaufort Co. schools report 1,600+ quarantines, remove COVID case totals from website.

Fairfax County

In October, Fairfax County, Virginia, teachers, and staff were given 48 hours to decide if they were willing to return to in-person classes, apply for disability, or quit.

Tennessee

In Tennessee, the Gov. is pushing in-person schooling disregarding teacher concerns. He says he’s following the science, but now we learn that Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee Education Commissioner used old data about students falling behind.

He’s also pushing for a scripted reading program and tutoring corps.

Bellevue, Washington

In Bellevue, Washington, 1300 teachers voted to wait for schools to open until they received the vaccines, but the Bellevue superintendent deems it safe.

These are samples of the ways teachers are being scapegoated to return to in-person schooling, even though most will soon get their vaccines. The more teachers we lose due to premature retirement, or sadly Covid-19, the greater the chance parents will wind up relying on online learning in the future.

References

Bai, M. (2021, January 25). Teachers are vital public servants. Time for them to start acting like it. The Washington Post. 

Green, E.L. (2021, January 24). Surge of Student Suicides Pushes Las Vegas Schools to Reopen. The New York Times.