Re: Got my shot today

I am a teacher and have been teaching in person since the first week of August. Our elementary schools have been five days a week the entire school year. The middle and high schools started on a split A/B schedule. Middle schools switched to five days a week at the end of October with high schools following in January. We have not closed a single school. So since the first week of January, our students have received in person instruction five days a week. Twenty percent of our students have opted to stay virtual. Our buildings and busses have Bipolar Ionization modules installed so our air is filtered every ten minutes. Masks are mandatory and desks are cleaned at every class change. I am not a spring chicken and have not been vaccinated. I will not be eligible until the second week of March. I did not hesitate one second when told to report to work. Teachers are essential workers and should be in the classroom. We currently have two pandemics going on. One is COVID and the other is mental health. Kids are struggling with the pandemic and need to get back to a normal routine.

TigersO

All-TigerNet [11478]

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Posts: 9412

Joined: 10/3/12

Feb 26, 2021, 9:43 AM

I'm with you all the way until you said you wish all teachers should follow the lead and report into the classroom.

In general that seems like a good idea until you take into account that some teachers are in very poor health, some are past retirement age and are very high risk for a bad illness but still love teaching, and some are the primary caregivers to others who are incredibly high risk.

For example: My parents both teach. They are older than 60 but not yet 65 to qualify for the vaccine. They are also the primary caregivers for my 91 year old grandfather who has finally had 1 shot but is waiting for the 2nd. We are 6 months into my parents teaching in person students and having worry like crazy that they will pass something on to my grandfather when visiting him multiple times a week to make sure he is doing well.

My parents did agree to teach in person without questioning what was asked of them, but without knowing individual circumstances it's not right to say everyone should have to do the same.

Just for information purposes on students being able to get the virus, there have been many positive tests for students and teachers at the high school where my parents teach.

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Got my shot today