Read on Twitter
I consider myself a public servant through and through. I do feel it’s right to open schools, particularly for our most vulnerable and those for whom remote learning was not working. My school welcomes back about 35 students who are switching from remote to in-person today. 1/
Along with the close to 300 who were already learning in person. And yet ... the operational lift to bring students back, to open our building on a daily basis with health protocols in place has taken all of my time, plus far more of my personal time than is the norm. 2/
Working your “contracted hours” is not something that any educator ever does. Despite all of the time I spend working, I have not devoted nearly enough time to thinking about/providing support for remote instruction, in which 80% of my school’s Ss spend 100% of their time.3/
(And the remaining 20% spend half their time.) Finally, I couldn’t help but take note of my own rising anxiety, which is increasing along with the COVID numbers. I personally know more people who have COVID now than at any point in the pandemic. 4/
I know this isn’t March. I follow the data and know that schools are generally safe. I know that I am unlikely to have a serious case of COVID. I know that our young Ss are unlikely to be sources of transmission.5/
I deeply understand the long-term consequences of students missing the structure and routine of school for months and month. It is entirely possible those consequences will be — long-term — absolutely terrible. And yet, I can’t help but wonder if we are doing the right thing. 6/
Opening our buildings as we face down what will likely be the most dangerous point in this pandemic. Devoting nearly all of our time and resources to the students who are learning in person. It’s enormously complex (and Twitter may not be the place for expressing complexity). 7/
Mostly this: stay safe to all of my fellow NYC educators returning to their buildings today. You are all heroes. 8/8
