luckyjune
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,685 
Location: In the rainy, rainy WA
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Post by luckyjune on Jan 28, 2021 0:21:24 GMT
Where to start. In December, there was a sudden push in my state (and in others, I know) to get kids back into school buildings, regardless of covid numbers. The governor of my state has always said, "We follow science in Washington. We base our decisions on science." Well, evidently we don't do that anymore because there was a press conference the other day, where the governor said teachers needed to stop being afraid and be like the grocery clerks and the bus drivers and get back to work in their buildings.
My school district, which has always been a good place to work, has gone to hell since we got a new superintendent three years ago. He is pushing for kids back in the building and says there is no such thing as "numbers too high" and there is nothing that will shut our schools down, once we are open again. K-2 starts back on Tuesday. Some teachers and kids will remain remote, by requests from staff and families.
It was casually mentioned in our building staff meeting today that cameras that follow us around the room are being installed in our classes so that when kids are back, we'll be able to teach kids at home while we are teaching in class! And isn't that wonderful and exciting! We've been told all along that when it was time to return, we'd have the chance to request remote teaching if we were not comfortable with being on site. Well, that just flew out the window. We will all be on site, unless we take medical leave. Our usually uber-strong district union has rolled over on this.
No teachers in our state have been vaccinated. They are behind on the current schedule. It looks like late winter/early spring is when teachers will get their shots.
And yet, our legislature and our school board continues to meet over Zoom. I wonder why?
The only thing saving me right now is the time I get to spend with my 7th graders each day. I adore them and that time with them is the only thing getting me through this wacko situation.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading. Just needed to vent.
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Post by ntsf on Jan 28, 2021 0:26:49 GMT
it sucks. big time
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Post by SockMonkey on Jan 28, 2021 0:30:14 GMT
I'm really sorry.
I'm in IL and they opened vaccinations to 1B, including teachers. Nobody can get an appointment. There aren't enough vaccines.
Our district has safety mitigations, but we're hybrid and teaching remote and in-person simultaneously via Zoom. We have a slate of school board candidates who just want us to reopen, hate our social justice work, and think we get paid too much.
Teachers are never going to forget how we're being treated.
If I could retire today, I think I would. I love teaching, I've loved working with students. But it really hurts to put everything into a career where people truly don't care if you live or die.
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Post by Merge on Jan 28, 2021 0:37:25 GMT
Your governor should be locked in a poorly ventilated room all day with 30 kids who cannot wear masks properly, and whose parents are under no obligation to share information about Covid infections in the family.
And so should my governor, because we’ve been back in person since October 19th. But it’s well known that Texas doesn’t believe in science. 🙄
The camera thing is nuts. I won’t have a camera in my room that I don’t control. I have lots of windows to the hallway and everyone can see in, and there’s no concern that I’m doing anything I shouldn’t be doing. So I’m not going have every action recorded all day like I’m a criminal. I fricking hate that for teachers.
I really wish there was a way we could all quit en masse. What’s being done to the teaching profession through this is a travesty.
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julie5
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,611
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Post by julie5 on Jan 28, 2021 0:41:43 GMT
I cannot imagine how stressful this is on you teachers. Like your job isn’t hard enough without a highly contagious virus.
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Post by mollycoddle on Jan 28, 2021 0:42:06 GMT
I really do feel for you all. It is ridiculous, especially given the new Covid variations.
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Jili
Pearl Clutcher
SLPea
Posts: 4,363
Jun 26, 2014 1:26:48 GMT
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Post by Jili on Jan 28, 2021 0:48:29 GMT
Where to start. In December, there was a sudden push in my state (and in others, I know) to get kids back into school buildings, regardless of covid numbers. The governor of my state has always said, "We follow science in Washington. We base our decisions on science." Well, evidently we don't do that anymore because there was a press conference the other day, where the governor said teachers needed to stop being afraid and be like the grocery clerks and the bus drivers and get back to work in their buildings. My school district, which has always been a good place to work, has gone to hell since we got a new superintendent three years ago. He is pushing for kids back in the building and says there is no such thing as "numbers too high" and there is nothing that will shut our schools down, once we are open again. K-2 starts back on Tuesday. Some teachers and kids will remain remote, by requests from staff and families. It was casually mentioned in our building staff meeting today that cameras that follow us around the room are being installed in our classes so that when kids are back, we'll be able to teach kids at home while we are teaching in class! And isn't that wonderful and exciting! We've been told all along that when it was time to return, we'd have the chance to request remote teaching if we were not comfortable with being on site. Well, that just flew out the window. We will all be on site, unless we take medical leave. Our usually uber-strong district union has rolled over on this. No teachers in our state have been vaccinated. They are behind on the current schedule. It looks like late winter/early spring is when teachers will get their shots. And yet, our legislature and our school board continues to meet over Zoom. I wonder why? The only thing saving me right now is the time I get to spend with my 7th graders each day. I adore them and that time with them is the only thing getting me through this wacko situation. If you made it this far, thanks for reading. Just needed to vent. Honestly, if you hadn’t mentioned Washington, I would have thought for sure you were in IL. It’s exactly the same here. They’re saying the same things. |
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Post by chaosisapony on Jan 28, 2021 0:50:48 GMT
As if it isn't bad enough I would be livid about the cameras. I would not be happy to have my every move recorded all day long. That whole thing is unacceptable. I'm sorry you're being put in this position.
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Jili
Pearl Clutcher
SLPea
Posts: 4,363
Jun 26, 2014 1:26:48 GMT
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Post by Jili on Jan 28, 2021 0:51:39 GMT
I'm really sorry. I'm in IL and they opened vaccinations to 1B, including teachers. Nobody can get an appointment. There aren't enough vaccines. Our district has safety mitigations, but we're hybrid and teaching remote and in-person simultaneously via Zoom. We have a slate of school board candidates who just want us to reopen, hate our social justice work, and think we get paid too much. Teachers are never going to forget how we're being treated. If I could retire today, I think I would. I love teaching, I've loved working with students. But it really hurts to put everything into a career where people truly don't care if you live or die. I found out that I can sign up under 1a, since I am a SLP. I did that, with mixed feelings because I honestly feel that the classroom teachers are assuming more risk. I chose to do it based on my age and a health condition that’s yet to be officially diagnosed. No matter. I haven’t been called to schedule. Our Supt. tells us today that the teaching staff in our consortium will start getting scheduling emails next week once 1a is finished in the county. Nope. That won’t be happening. There isn’t vaccine available. It’s really just gaslighting at this point in order to keep morale up. |
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Post by AussieMeg on Jan 28, 2021 0:54:30 GMT
I'm sorry. That really sucks.  I hope you're all able to stay safe. |
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,934
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Jan 28, 2021 1:02:22 GMT
I'm in Washington, as soon as Biden was elected and the first 100 days thing started, the levels to going back went from under 75 cases per 100,000 to under 350 cases per 100,000. At the time the numbers in my county were over 350/100,000 but apparently that doesn't matter for elementary school because they went back hybrid this week. They are "waiting to see what the numbers look like" for high school though...
The district started plans to go back at the end of September and the teacher's union said wait a minute, no way and put a stop to it. I guess they changed their minds...
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Post by kels99 on Jan 28, 2021 1:15:10 GMT
It was a big turn-around wasn't it? My local district has k-2 in class part time with more being passed in.
I'm glad I don't teach anymore, it stresses me out just thinking about it.
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Jan 28, 2021 1:20:48 GMT
This is very frustrating. I've never been so discouraged. I wish retirement was on the horizon, but I won't walk away now and lose it all so I'll wait 9 more years.
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Post by epeanymous on Jan 28, 2021 1:22:05 GMT
In Seattle, we received an email from the district (I think?) that K-8 teachers are being reclassified as 1B and will be eligible for vaccination now. It doesn't help today, because the clinics are out of vaccines for the most part, but when the clinics restock, hopefully teachers will get vaccinated. If not, I think it is absolutely ridiculous to think about reopening schools. And I say that as someone whose life is being wrecked because they are not open.
Our district is planning to reopen just K-2 in March. I don't believe the rest of the district is going back at all this school year. I will be completely honest and say that I am exploring options like private school and temporary relocation to another state if the schools and my work are still online in the fall, because I'm not confident my district is going to be reopening next fall at all.
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katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378
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Post by katybee on Jan 28, 2021 1:25:12 GMT
Yep....welcome to my reality.
I have to admit… I giggled a little bit earlier this week when they had to pull in district level admin to sub in classes because so many teachers were out, either sick or quarantined. It’s been a rough week, but I feel like maybe it’s settling down. We haven’t had a new positive since Monday... (we had multiple positives every day last week).
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Post by fiddlesticks on Jan 28, 2021 1:31:29 GMT
I am so glad I am not in the classroom anymore. I would have to choose my health over going back. I work for a virtual charter school (and did so before COVID) that works with homeschooling families. It works for me because I can homeschool my own kiddo and still keep my toe in education. Some days it sucks spending hours a day in front of computer but then I think about those of you that are begin forced back and tell myself to get over it.
I am so sorry for you all.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jan 28, 2021 1:33:36 GMT
That really sucks. I truly can’t understand why the schools are opening where we are either with all of the new more contagious strains currently circulating. And especially when so many other things are being allowed to even partially reopen. It all seems so shortsighted to me.
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luckyjune
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,685
Location: In the rainy, rainy WA
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Post by luckyjune on Jan 28, 2021 1:36:05 GMT
This is very frustrating. I've never been so discouraged. I wish retirement was on the horizon, but I won't walk away now and lose it all so I'll wait 9 more years. I said this very thing to DH not fifteen minutes ago. And I have 8 years until retirement. |
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Post by Skellinton on Jan 28, 2021 1:36:22 GMT
In Seattle, we received an email from the district (I think?) that K-8 teachers are being reclassified as 1B and will be eligible for vaccination now. It doesn't help today, because the clinics are out of vaccines for the most part, but when the clinics restock, hopefully teachers will get vaccinated. If not, I think it is absolutely ridiculous to think about reopening schools. And I say that as someone whose life is being wrecked because they are not open. Our district is planning to reopen just K-2 in March. I don't believe the rest of the district is going back at all this school year. I will be completely honest and say that I am exploring options like private school and temporary relocation to another state if the schools and my work are still online in the fall, because I'm not confident my district is going to be reopening next fall at all. I wonder if that is just locally. I am pretty sure Inslee said that only teachers 50 and older can be vaccinated now, other teachers (including this 49 year old lady) have to wait until May at the earliest to be eligible. My aunt lives outside Seattle and is eligible now but has not been able to get a vaccine. I stay up til midnight each night to try to get her an appointment, but no luck. I am fortunate that I work in Oregon because I was able to sign up yesterday and will be vaccinated tomorrow. It is obscene to even consider opening schools until teachers have been vaccinated. |
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Post by mom2rjcr on Jan 28, 2021 1:39:03 GMT
Well, rumor has it, that our governor will end all virtual learning after spring break...why because how else are all the students going to take the STAAR test?!?! Yet, teachers are not eligible for the covid vaccine unless they are 65 and older, or have underlying health issues!
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luckyjune
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,685
Location: In the rainy, rainy WA
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Post by luckyjune on Jan 28, 2021 1:41:13 GMT
In Seattle, we received an email from the district (I think?) that K-8 teachers are being reclassified as 1B and will be eligible for vaccination now. It doesn't help today, because the clinics are out of vaccines for the most part, but when the clinics restock, hopefully teachers will get vaccinated. If not, I think it is absolutely ridiculous to think about reopening schools. And I say that as someone whose life is being wrecked because they are not open. Our district is planning to reopen just K-2 in March. I don't believe the rest of the district is going back at all this school year. I will be completely honest and say that I am exploring options like private school and temporary relocation to another state if the schools and my work are still online in the fall, because I'm not confident my district is going to be reopening next fall at all. I wonder if that is just locally. I am pretty sure Inslee said that only teachers 50 and older can be vaccinated now, other teachers (including this 49 year old lady) have to wait until May at the earliest to be eligible. My aunt lives outside Seattle and is eligible now but has not been able to get a vaccine. I stay up til midnight each night to try to get her an appointment, but no luck. I am fortunate that I work in Oregon because I was able to sign up yesterday and will be vaccinated tomorrow. It is obscene to even consider opening schools until teachers have been vaccinated. Teachers 50 and older are supposed to be vaccinated in February. As of now, they are super behind with the previous group. I think I heard all teachers are in the same group now, but we should still not expect vaccinations until late winter/early spring. If the current plan for my district continues, we'll have been back to school for a month and a half before the first round of shots begin. |
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Post by epeanymous on Jan 28, 2021 1:52:03 GMT
In Seattle, we received an email from the district (I think?) that K-8 teachers are being reclassified as 1B and will be eligible for vaccination now. It doesn't help today, because the clinics are out of vaccines for the most part, but when the clinics restock, hopefully teachers will get vaccinated. If not, I think it is absolutely ridiculous to think about reopening schools. And I say that as someone whose life is being wrecked because they are not open. Our district is planning to reopen just K-2 in March. I don't believe the rest of the district is going back at all this school year. I will be completely honest and say that I am exploring options like private school and temporary relocation to another state if the schools and my work are still online in the fall, because I'm not confident my district is going to be reopening next fall at all. I wonder if that is just locally. I am pretty sure Inslee said that only teachers 50 and older can be vaccinated now, other teachers (including this 49 year old lady) have to wait until May at the earliest to be eligible. My aunt lives outside Seattle and is eligible now but has not been able to get a vaccine. I stay up til midnight each night to try to get her an appointment, but no luck. I am fortunate that I work in Oregon because I was able to sign up yesterday and will be vaccinated tomorrow. It is obscene to even consider opening schools until teachers have been vaccinated. It's entirely possible that I misread the email, is another possibility. It's also possible that my district was wrong -- while the teachers and principals tend to be excellent, central district staff is a mess. |
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gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,079
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Jan 28, 2021 1:52:09 GMT
I'm really sorry. I'm in IL and they opened vaccinations to 1B, including teachers. Nobody can get an appointment. There aren't enough vaccines. Our district has safety mitigations, but we're hybrid and teaching remote and in-person simultaneously via Zoom. We have a slate of school board candidates who just want us to reopen, hate our social justice work, and think we get paid too much. Teachers are never going to forget how we're being treated. If I could retire today, I think I would. I love teaching, I've loved working with students. But it really hurts to put everything into a career where people truly don't care if you live or die. I am in Illinois and could have written every word of this. |
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Post by freecharlie on Jan 28, 2021 2:13:43 GMT
Your governor should be locked in a poorly ventilated room all day with 30 kids who cannot wear masks properly, and whose parents are under no obligation to share information about Covid infections in the family. And so should my governor, because we’ve been back in person since October 19th. But it’s well known that Texas doesn’t believe in science. 🙄 The camera thing is nuts. I won’t have a camera in my room that I don’t control. I have lots of windows to the hallway and everyone can see in, and there’s no concern that I’m doing anything I shouldn’t be doing. So I’m not going have every action recorded all day like I’m a criminal. I fricking hate that for teachers. I really wish there was a way we could all quit en masse. What’s being done to the teaching profession through this is a travesty. the cameras aren't there to record your actions, but to broadcast it to the kids at home. If they use the OWLs a neighboring district used, they didn't work well and the teachers hated them |
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slkmommy
Junior Member
Posts: 97
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Post by slkmommy on Jan 28, 2021 2:27:31 GMT
The same thing is happening in Pennsylvania. My husband’s 8th grade class went back in person some time in October, I think it only lasted 5 weeks. Our whole household (him, myself, and my 25yo DS) came down with Covid around the 5th of December although we didn’t know it until a few days later. My DH got very sick, very fast, and ended up in the hospital. After a week of trying to get oxygen into him, they placed him on the ventilator, and he began to improve. Then, about 10 days later, his body started giving out, and he passed away on New Year’s Day.
I was hospitalized as well during the latter part of his illness, and because I was in the same ICU, I at least got to see him one last time, although he was already gone.
He always said “ If I get Covid, it will kill me” because he had a heart attack in 2012 and was diabetic ( but well under control). He was scared the day he texted me about going on the vent. And I just kept telling him that it would be ok.
He had 4 years to retirement, and our board had offered an early retirement deal two years ago, which would have been perfect, and then rescinded it the day before it was to be approved.
There is no excuse for allowing so many kids with all their different ways of considering Covid precautions, to expose my husband, who was only 58 years old.
He is gone, I almost died, and people still aren’t thinking things through....
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Anita
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,647
Location: Kansas City -ish
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Post by Anita on Jan 28, 2021 2:32:33 GMT
The same thing is happening in Pennsylvania. My husband’s 8th grade class went back in person some time in October, I think it only lasted 5 weeks. Our whole household (him, myself, and my 25yo DS) came down with Covid around the 5th of December although we didn’t know it until a few days later. My DH got very sick, very fast, and ended up in the hospital. After a week of trying to get oxygen into him, they placed him on the ventilator, and he began to improve. Then, about 10 days later, his body started giving out, and he passed away on New Year’s Day. I was hospitalized as well during the latter part of his illness, and because I was in the same ICU, I at least got to see him one last time, although he was already gone. He always said “ If I get Covid, it will kill me” because he had a heart attack in 2012 and was diabetic ( but well under control). He was scared the day he texted me about going on the vent. And I just kept telling him that it would be ok. He had 4 years to retirement, and our board had offered an early retirement deal two years ago, which would have been perfect, and then rescinded it the day before it was to be approved. There is no excuse for allowing so many kids with all their different ways of considering Covid precautions, to expose my husband, who was only 58 years old. He is gone, I almost died, and people still aren’t thinking things through.... I am so sorry! Am I am enraged for all the teachers. I keep hearing people in government touting how it's "not that deadly" for kids (which is chilling enough), but who the hell do they think are teaching the kids? It's utterly ridiculous and there should be no in-school instruction until teachers are vaccinated. Period. |
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luckyjune
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,685
Location: In the rainy, rainy WA
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Post by luckyjune on Jan 28, 2021 2:34:07 GMT
The same thing is happening in Pennsylvania. My husband’s 8th grade class went back in person some time in October, I think it only lasted 5 weeks. Our whole household (him, myself, and my 25yo DS) came down with Covid around the 5th of December although we didn’t know it until a few days later. My DH got very sick, very fast, and ended up in the hospital. After a week of trying to get oxygen into him, they placed him on the ventilator, and he began to improve. Then, about 10 days later, his body started giving out, and he passed away on New Year’s Day. I was hospitalized as well during the latter part of his illness, and because I was in the same ICU, I at least got to see him one last time, although he was already gone. He always said “ If I get Covid, it will kill me” because he had a heart attack in 2012 and was diabetic ( but well under control). He was scared the day he texted me about going on the vent. And I just kept telling him that it would be ok. He had 4 years to retirement, and our board had offered an early retirement deal two years ago, which would have been perfect, and then rescinded it the day before it was to be approved. There is no excuse for allowing so many kids with all their different ways of considering Covid precautions, to expose my husband, who was only 58 years old. He is gone, I almost died, and people still aren’t thinking things through.... I am so sorry for your loss. And angry as hell at what happened to your family. This is not okay. |
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Post by scrappinmom3 on Jan 28, 2021 2:35:46 GMT
Yep. We went back in person last week. It sucks.
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Post by compeateropeator on Jan 28, 2021 2:37:50 GMT
The same thing is happening in Pennsylvania. My husband’s 8th grade class went back in person some time in October, I think it only lasted 5 weeks. Our whole household (him, myself, and my 25yo DS) came down with Covid around the 5th of December although we didn’t know it until a few days later. My DH got very sick, very fast, and ended up in the hospital. After a week of trying to get oxygen into him, they placed him on the ventilator, and he began to improve. Then, about 10 days later, his body started giving out, and he passed away on New Year’s Day. I was hospitalized as well during the latter part of his illness, and because I was in the same ICU, I at least got to see him one last time, although he was already gone. He always said “ If I get Covid, it will kill me” because he had a heart attack in 2012 and was diabetic ( but well under control). He was scared the day he texted me about going on the vent. And I just kept telling him that it would be ok. He had 4 years to retirement, and our board had offered an early retirement deal two years ago, which would have been perfect, and then rescinded it the day before it was to be approved. There is no excuse for allowing so many kids with all their different ways of considering Covid precautions, to expose my husband, who was only 58 years old. He is gone, I almost died, and people still aren’t thinking things through.... I am so sorry. I know that no words can help or ease your pain and grief but I am sending hugs to you and your family. |
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Jili
Pearl Clutcher
SLPea
Posts: 4,363
Jun 26, 2014 1:26:48 GMT
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Post by Jili on Jan 28, 2021 2:39:20 GMT
The same thing is happening in Pennsylvania. My husband’s 8th grade class went back in person some time in October, I think it only lasted 5 weeks. Our whole household (him, myself, and my 25yo DS) came down with Covid around the 5th of December although we didn’t know it until a few days later. My DH got very sick, very fast, and ended up in the hospital. After a week of trying to get oxygen into him, they placed him on the ventilator, and he began to improve. Then, about 10 days later, his body started giving out, and he passed away on New Year’s Day. I was hospitalized as well during the latter part of his illness, and because I was in the same ICU, I at least got to see him one last time, although he was already gone. He always said “ If I get Covid, it will kill me” because he had a heart attack in 2012 and was diabetic ( but well under control). He was scared the day he texted me about going on the vent. And I just kept telling him that it would be ok. He had 4 years to retirement, and our board had offered an early retirement deal two years ago, which would have been perfect, and then rescinded it the day before it was to be approved. There is no excuse for allowing so many kids with all their different ways of considering Covid precautions, to expose my husband, who was only 58 years old. He is gone, I almost died, and people still aren’t thinking things through.... I’m so sorry for your loss. This is beyond awful. This should not have happened. |
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I hope you're all able to stay safe. 
