Read on Twitter
Everything Wrong with Kim Reynolds Forcing Schools to Open: A Thread
I woke up this morning feeling somewhat hopeful that today's press conference and announcement on education from @IAGovernor @KimReynoldsIA would consist of some sort of "ah-ha" moment, and that #CovidKim had
I woke up this morning feeling somewhat hopeful that today's press conference and announcement on education from @IAGovernor @KimReynoldsIA would consist of some sort of "ah-ha" moment, and that #CovidKim had
come to her senses. Instead, one missed text from a teacher friend said everything I had feared: "Kim was a mess"
I grabbed my morning drink and cued up the video. I took notes, and I have some thoughts that I'd like to share with my fellow Iowans. Thanks for tuning in.
I grabbed my morning drink and cued up the video. I took notes, and I have some thoughts that I'd like to share with my fellow Iowans. Thanks for tuning in.
I should say up front that I'm not a teacher, but I do work in a public school in this state. Everything my governor said today directly affects me, my children, and the students I serve. I love my job; I wouldn't do it for so little pay otherwise. I've turned down offers
and stayed because my heart and soul are in this work and I am blessed to work with the best of the best kiddos on earth. Kiddos who are too high-risk to return to school. @IAGovernor will not mandate masks, but instead gave glib answers about wearing masks only "when
social-distancing guidelines can't be met" It leaves all the wiggle room in the world to just not wear a mask. Another point that has been made is that #CovidKim knows exactly what risk she's asking the teachers, associates and paras, food service workers, custodians, secretaries
school nurses, and bus drivers to take. This is evidenced by the fact that she made requirements for substitutes incredibly lax, reducing requirements from a bachelors to an associates degree, removing the limit on days a sub can teach, and removing limitations on how many
students a community college professor can have on their roster. These are all things that she spun as a positive step to handle an increased demand for subs amidst a sub shortage. But why would we need an increased substitute pool if it's "safe" for us to go back? Some co's
in this state that have adult employees in cubicles have chosen to set their "Return to Work" dates for Jan 2021. These are ADULTS capable of wearing and keeping a mask on, sanitizing their own respective areas, and understanding the import of social distancing...and they are not
going back to work in an office until next year. #CovidKim is forcing students and teachers to return to the classroom when we are considered a "red zone" state by the WH. I'd like to personally thank the man who asked about this at today's presser, because it flustered Kim
@IAGovernor couldn't answer why she's pushing forward when the recommendation is to literally shut down the state again because we have over 100 new cases per 100,000 citizens, and an infectious rate over 10%. #CovidKim did throw in a comment about how it wasn't anywhere near
the 30% infectious rate Iowa had at it's peak, but since she recently fired her IDPH Spokeswoman for saying too much, I don't really trust what she says. Also, in regards to the comment that "multiple countries have opened their schools".... Did she not get the memo on that tired
trope weeks ago? Yeah, they reopened, @IAGovernor @KimReynoldsIA -- because their case loads were DOWN. In Iowa, we had our HIGHEST CASES IN A SINGLE DAY....six days ago. Six. Days. Ago. That means that we are nowhere near ready to return to school. If we closed in March when
there were >100 cases per day, how do you justify forcing schools to open now, with cases per day numbering closer to 1000? Oh, I know @KimReynoldsIA, you like to use those buzzwords. I could turn the number of times you said "data" and "analytics" into a drinking game. Throw
in the soft patronizing voice of #DrNoKids saying "we're learning as a national community" and it was almost more BS than I could take in a single sitting. But NoKids is right. We are learning as a national and global community and what we are learning is that staying home works.
We do not need to "roll up our sleeves" and write our wills and obituaries, which is what some teachers are literally doing. I will not feel guilty for being adamant about putting the lives of my Self, my family, and my students ahead of concerns about missed lessons, and I will
not give weight to this idea that being an educator means I have to sacrifice myself at the alter for the "common good" of at-risk students. I have worked with, befriended, and even temporarily sheltered and cared for at-risk students. I understand and comprehend very well
that these children are at risk, and I support measures in which public schools continue to function as a community with outreach and meals and other programs that can assist with monitoring situations that we know to be less ideal...and believe me, we all know the kids who need
more of our attention and time and love because things aren't right at home. I support measures that identify and help at-risk students, but I don't support forcing educators back to school on a guilt-riddled false narrative that accuses educators of dereliction of duty if they
wish to protect their lives, the lives of their own children and families, and the lives of their students. It reminds me of the concept behind what @DrIbram defines as 'Racist Policies'. In this case, race is not the central question behind the policy, but the outcome is still
one is which a group is being taken advantage of in direct correlation with a lack of protections for that group. The policies and policy makers are a power against which educators need to stand tall. Iowa Legislature isn't protecting us. Federal legislature isn't protecting us.
@IAGovernor @KimReynoldsIA is not protecting us, and educators and their students deserve better than #CovidKim's forced march straight into the mouth of this pandemic.
/end
/end
