The complexities surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic—quarantines, vaccines, and safety measures—continue to confound me. For instance, why is it considered unbearable to wear a mask in stores like Target to prevent the spread of COVID-19, while healthcare professionals endure long hours in masks to save lives? Or why is it too much to expect people to enjoy football games from their own homes instead of gathering with a crowd of unmasked friends? We are still in the middle of a pandemic, after all.
Now that vaccines are being rolled out, I find myself questioning why teachers aren’t prioritized for vaccinations ahead of others who don’t shoulder the responsibility of educating and caring for numerous students, many of whom may carry the virus.
As we push for schools to reopen across the United States, countless teachers remain uncertain about when they will receive their first vaccine dose. We find ourselves in a familiar situation, once again asking educators to do more while providing them with less. Stories abound of teachers taking on extra jobs, using their own money for classroom supplies, and even going so far as to protect their students in dangerous situations. Their dedication is immense, yet they remain underappreciated.
This past year, we have placed an extraordinary burden on teachers, expecting them to juggle two roles simultaneously—teaching in-person and virtual students without any additional preparation, planning time, or compensation. They have had to overhaul their entire curriculum for online teaching, all while many students lack the necessary technology. Furthermore, while their own children participate in virtual learning from home, they are required to be physically present in empty classrooms, leading to the challenge of finding childcare during a pandemic. And shockingly, they have had no voice in these decisions.
Having been a teacher in the past, I can’t fathom the stress and morale devastation educators must feel as they are directed back to in-person instruction amid an ongoing pandemic without being vaccinated or consulted about their safety.
I know teachers who are navigating this chaos. One friend, who teaches in a large suburban district, shared a troubling account of a student who frequently removes his mask, a situation complicated further when a doctor’s note exempted him from wearing one. She also recounted how a student with COVID-19 symptoms was sent to the nurse but not reported to her as a positive case.
Another educator from an urban district faced the pressure of teaching full-time in person while her own children were at home. When she requested to teach virtually due to childcare issues, she was told that she would have to use a sick day—a baffling response considering she was fulfilling her teaching duties from home while managing her kids’ online schooling.
Despite consistently seeking teachers’ feedback through surveys and committees, no such opportunities were extended when it came time to discuss reopening plans. Instead, decisions were made without their input, prioritizing parents’ feedback over the very educators who are integral to the school system.
As we enter February 2021, nearly a year into this crisis, it’s disheartening to see teachers sent back to classrooms without adequate protections. Tragically, more than 500 teachers have died from the virus, including dedicated individuals like James and Laura Bennett, who both passed away within days of each other after serving their community.
In response to unsafe conditions, teachers in various locations have taken action. In Harris County, TX, educators participated in a nationwide sickout, demanding safer environments, while in Cobb County, GA, protests erupted following the deaths of teachers. Many schools lack the necessary resources to ensure safety during reopening, particularly in lower-income areas, which were already facing budget constraints before the pandemic.
While transitioning to virtual learning has been challenging, it has also proven effective, allowing education to continue while prioritizing safety. Reports from the CDC suggesting that schools can reopen without waiting for teachers to be vaccinated feel like a slap in the face to those educators. Instead of sidelining their concerns, shouldn’t we be advocating for their vaccination to facilitate a safe return to the classroom?
Ultimately, teachers should have a say in decisions impacting their work and safety, especially during such unprecedented times. We cannot continue to impose directives on these vital professionals without their input, particularly when their lives are on the line.
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In summary, the ongoing debate over reopening schools highlights the continued exclusion of teachers from crucial decision-making processes. As COVID-19 persists, it is critical that educators’ voices are included in discussions about their safety and working conditions.
Keyphrase: Teachers Excluded from School Reopening Decisions
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