A note from a teacher....😥

[Heartstrings]

Give us a minute.

I spent today removing my personal belongings from my classroom. I'm not alone. This is being required in many districts right now.
Chairs.
Pillows.
Lamps.
Bookcases.
Books.
Nothing but desks and chairs remained.
I left my empty classroom and cried all the way home.

Give us a minute.

Before you say that parents need to be able to work. That parents need a plan. That parents aren't teachers. Remember. Most parents aren't teachers, but most teachers ARE parents. We want what's best for your kids and OUR kids, too. We are in this together.

Give us a minute.

Before you spew your negative personal experience with virtual learning from the spring. Think. Do you have any idea how hard we worked to make it the best it could possibly be? Do you have any idea how it feels to read your words?

Give us a minute.

Before you rattle off your ideas about what will work in the fall. Understand. For every idea you have, we know a student and a family who needs something different. What works well in your house for your children is not necessarily the solution for all.

Give us a minute.

Teachers are not supposed to be working right now.
But we are.
Tirelessly.
As always.
There has never been a time before when we weren't ready to make it ok.
We use nights and weekends away from our families to make sure your children feel supported.
We go to sporting events and plays. We buy girl scout cookies and boy scout wreaths.
We buy supplies.
We buy food.
We visit homes. And hospitals.
We prepare for gunmen.
We do whatever it takes. Every single time.

But right now we're scared.
We are scared to death.
We are not sleeping. We are sick with worry.
We want to do what is right for our kids, and yours, because we consider them ours, too.
Give us a minute. Please.









* Credit to Sera Deo via Facebook

[LakeArenal]

1. Ironically, KA Conway chides us about opening too soon

Yet pressing forward to open schools?

[Frustratedlady]

2. All 3 of the teachers in my family could have written that.

They are all working their tails off (unpaid) on virtual teaching in the event they aren't going to be in the classroom. Each day, the plans are changed, so they are on a rollercoaster as to what to expect and when. The Feds say one thing and the state and local leaders say something else. The students don't know what to expect and the teachers don't know what to plan for, so they plan for everything.

In the meantime, COVID-19 rules the roost. Our state's positive readings decide the actions of the schoolboard and superintendent. Will we be open or closed?

[Cracklin Charlie]

3. Bless teacher's hearts.

I don’t want these special people to go to work this fall. It’s not safe.

And, p.s...it's not that stuff you took out of that classroom that makes you a good teacher. Your students know.

[crickets]

4. There is no reason in the world to whipsaw teachers and students around like this.

In person schooling is just not safe right now for students, teachers, or any of the other school staff. Also, every teacher in the country deserves a break and a raise. We can never thank them enough; asking them to risk death is just beyond the pale.

[colorado_ufo]

5. Years ago - seems like yesterday - I had a friend who had a favorite saying.

This Navy vet (now deceased), loved his Canadian Mist a bit too much. When he got lost in the "Mist," he often would say:

"Dammit to hell you people!"

That is the phrase that comes to my mind these days more than any other. What is wrong with these selfish, thoughtless, mean people?

[MontanaMama]

6. Kick.

[albacore]

7. When I was teaching...

...(30 years in a High School classroom.. seniors, mostly)... I referred to all that stuff this teacher removed from the room as my "brains". Files, books, supplemental materials, comfy chairs for a few kids to squabble over...
And thousands of copywrite-infringement xerox documents. Classroom sets of them.

A naked classroom is NOT a learning environment.

Keep 'em home until we at least sort this out a bit.

[Wednesdays]

9. I'm guessing your "copyright-infringement documents"... weren't

An exemption to the copyright law, "fair use," includes items used for educational purposes. It's likely your documents fell under the umbrella of that exemption.

[albacore]

10. What "documents" are you referring to? I don't know nuthin' 'bout no documents.

The school district lawyer made a presentation at a faculty meeting and explained what was legal and what wasn't.
It was an older staff.
We laughed and laughed.
Good times.

[Traildogbob]

8. Missing Freedumb

Very many trump humpers dying to get back daytime FreeDumb, can barely read and write, don’t even suggest math. (Like their orange prophet). Now their daytime FreeDumb has them trying to teach the cash babies made for gubment checks. Of course they want back free daycare and meals so the have the FreeDumb back to get out a spend that gubment checks, and get videoed as Karen’s. Not blaming those poor children, but they are headed to the same dead end, and will worship the next trump, as bright as their parent(s).
Can you imagine trump doing lessons with Baron? Pretty damn sure the boy toy first woman, nothing lady about her, can not teach lessons to Baron.
And we expect people that believe trump is a genius to teach their own kids.