A Letter From Another Teacher

Anyone who has not experienced this virus first-hand and who is naively adopting this herd-immunity mentality is, as you stated, completely absurd. After weeks of being sick with the virus myself and yesterday, learning that my best friend’s fiancé just died of this virus, I cannot emphasize enough that this illness is nothing to make light of. I am shocked to read our county leader’s approach to “reopen” our community using a herd immunity approach. There is no scientific proof that people who carry antibodies from the virus are in fact immune. In addition, even though wider-spread testing is available, the majority of it is faulty with many false-negatives. International research also shows prevalence of re-infection, even after recovering.

As teachers, our job is to create a safe and effective learning environment. I would hope the District has that same intention for its staff—to provide a safe and healthy working environment for teachers as well. Welcoming everyone back on campus before an effective vaccine or treatment is discovered is a breach to both of those premises, placing both students and teachers and all families involved in an exceptionally unsafe environment. 

As much as I value students and love teaching, I cannot risk my life to continue in a position that would place my entire health and the future well-being of my family in jeopardy. My parents are in the high risk categories and I am the sole family member who would be able to take care of them if they got sick. I want my parents to be alive ten years from now. In addition, I feel concerned about the blended learning approach, given how much the virus affected my respiratory system, and the uncertainty of being “safe” given no guarantee of immunity. If we move into a blended school model, I will need to take into consideration my position as it would place both my health as well as my family’s health at risk. 

In terms of instructional practices, I feel carrying out effective teaching on site during this time is unviable. So much time, energy and focus would be placed on enforcing social distancing protocol, disease prevention and germ elimination that, in essence, learning would fall to the wayside. It would be impossible to deliver quality material and carry out exercises in the classroom with so many restrictions and serious health risks looming in the background. A carefully thought out home learning model is the best way to ensure learning is streamlined and we can continue to deliver content effectively, while eliminating as many risks as possible. In addition, as research shows the long incubation period with relatively low symptoms for this illness coupled with the propensity for carriers to show no symptoms, returning to campus sets the entire community up for an even worse outbreak. I stand in solidarity with you and your message to the District leaders and board representatives. I hope they will reconsider any action to sanction anything but Distance Learning for Fall 2020.

Please feel free to share with any stakeholders involved. Thank you so much for all you are doing to lead our Union.

In solidarity,

Anonymous