Here is why teachers are scared

[Nevilledog]

[Aussie105]

1. Think of the children!

that explains the first part of the graph. Close the schools, protect the children!

Second part . . . Meh, reopen the schools, pretend it's not happening, herd immunity, think of the economy, etc.

But I have just the one question:

In a huge pandemic, where lots of people are incapacitated and die, how did the economy do?
The bubonic plague, the Spanish flu?
Anyone studied the effects of those on the economy that followed them?

(Yeah, ok, that's quite a few questions.)

But seriously, it's a head in the sands approach. Let's pretend it's not happening.
Result?
More deaths, and think of the children - the ones that catch it and die, the ones that catch it and survive, but end up with lifelong organ damage.

(Of course teachers and other adults working in schools are a dime a dozen, expendable work units, right?)

EDIT:
Some info from: https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2020/jun/economic-effects-of-the-spanish-flu.html

"Research on the economic effects is limited
Research on the economic effects of the Spanish flu is limited by the lack of economic statistics for this era. Garrett (2008) instead uses historical newspaper reports to gauge the effects of the pandemic on US businesses. The effects were large. For example, the Arkansas Gazette in October 1918 was reporting a 30 per cent fall in grocery sales and a 40–70 per cent fall in sales at merchants and department stores. At the same time, sales of medical drugs and mattresses were surging. The Commercial Appeal (Memphis) was reporting that severe labour shortages were affecting industrial output."

Worth a read.

Lots of info if you Google 'spanish flu effects on the economy'

[Moostache]

2. Think of this too...

There are teachers who will catch this from their students, asymptomatic carriers and spreaders. There will be a percentage of them that die and classrooms FULL of kids who hear one day that their teacher is sick and has COVID-19 and then another announcement that that same teacher has died - alone, separated from everyone and in agony.

That is some seriously mentally damaging material, in the least.

Extend that to classmates, friends, boyfriends infecting girlfriends (or their parents or grandparents), chains of unnecessary illnesses and deaths and partial recoveries into an unknown hellish future.

WHY?

Why is it so fucking urgent to flaunt that graph? to double down on a losing bet (the early re-opening 'strategy')?

This is pre-meditated murder and just because we don't SEE the victims faces (YET), it does not absolve us as a society. I truly thought that Sandy Hook was the assassination of the nation's soul...I guess I was wrong, because this is far worse because it is being allowed in all of our names, collectively. It is hideous and evil and should not happen...

[Aussie105]

3. Hopefully

state education policy makers will ignore the Toad in the White House and make the right decisions.

If not, hopefully parents will decide for themselves to keep their kids at home - and for their own protection.

As a teacher, if I was told to go back to work my response may well be . . . Errr, NO!

[Alliepoo]

14. The back to school push is a big clusterf*** here.

The schools finally backed off of business as usual to offer a hybrid 2 days in class 3 in virtual learning. IMO that’s still not good enough. Other local districts are offering full time distance learning- no reason ours can’t, too. So far they don’t seem willing to move past this offering. My daughter has organized a driveway meeting for neighborhood parents interested in pursuing a K-12 online homeschooling program for this school year. She invited a mom whose kids have been in this program for their entire education. Although our area is pretty red it seems parents aren’t all clamoring to send their kids back to school yet. There have been several instances of band kids and a cross country kid testing positive for covid this summer with no official info from the district but word has spread and distrust is growing of officials not keeping parents truthfully and fully informed. I’m thinking that there might just be an exodus from our schools by parents seeking a safe way to educate their kids this school year. My daughters driveway meeting idea seems to be taking off- other parents commenting that they like the idea and will be hosting their own! Maybe if the district sees that a lot of tax dollars will be following the students to the online classes that they might offer the same safe solution. They’re one of the hypocritical districts that are offering board meetings on line and not in person. We shall see what happens.

[rusty quoin]

4. All I can say is fuck Trump for giving us no options.

He did this. He killed 135,000 Americans. He made us the pariah of the world.

We cannot do anything but stay at home. He did it.

[roamer65]

5. It's law suit time.

From teachers and concerned parents.


Sue their fucking doors off if they put any kids in classrooms together.

[Nevilledog]

6. Is even more complicated then that.

School districts make the final call. If it's not in accordance with state mandates they get no funding. Funding is based on kids in school (average daily membership). No money, no teachers and support staff paid. Contracts for food services breached.... On and on. School districts are in an unwinnable situation right now.

[roamer65]

7. U go right at the state boards of education with the suits.

Get someone like Geoffrey Fieger to coordinate it.

[Nevilledog]

8. AZ Superintendent is fighting against Ducey.

It's day to day on decision making.

[asiliveandbreathe]

9. With two teachers, my son and DIL in AZ I am totally against them going into

a classroom..he is 52, DIL is 40..I am still his mother, and if he was 5-20 or 21-52..I would NOT let him go to school..nope, not my son..and now not my DIL..He is Ret. Navy Chief 21 years..grad ASU..nope..school is closed for the forseeable future..I don't care what we have to do..AZ is in trouble..my heart is heavy for those who are sick or have passed..their families must be devastated..

We did not come this far, just to come this far..glad to hear the AZ Sup is fighting back against those braindead so-called leaders..they suck!!!

[lostnfound]

10. Where did image go?

[demtenjeep]

11. you have teachers on this board. you do not need to speculate

just listen to them

[Nevilledog]

16. It was a somewhat rhetorical question. Hubby has been in education 20+ years.

[demtenjeep]

12. https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213729961

personal experience

[duforsure]

13. Have a teacher in the family who is scared to death of this , they may refuse to do it,

And others who used to be for trump now think a lot differently , and switched to Biden now. So now all teachers and people in education are turning on trump from trying now to do this creating more spreading of this virus. Its backfiring badly on trump and the gop , and there's another group he's turned against them. This will turn some states blue. People are getting fed up with trumps and the gop's lying , and his threats, and he's self destructing now.

[Fyrefox]

15. Keeping the wolves at the door...

Trump regards teachers as expendable, and conservatives in general have long regarded teachers with thinly-veiled contempt. After all, schools are seen as hotbeds for "secular humanism" and "critical thinking." They regard education as a fatted calf ripe for the slaughter, and would love to pirate teacher pension funds to lower taxes! They relish in a variety of chestnuts such as, "a good teacher can teach in a barn!" One local school board member voiced during a contract dispute that "teachers are a dime a dozen." The callousness of Republican thought is perhaps best exemplified by former NJ governor and presidential candidate Chris Christie, who counseled the country to "open, and expect more deaths."