Thread by @Mssarahmssarah

@MOREcaucusUFT @AnnieTangent @JenRoesch @rmc031 @TeacherArthurG @Jill_Jorgensen @ChalkbeatNY @go3snyc Thinking this morning (during my 9:15 lunch period) about this thread and a recent one by @lynnshon.

https://twitter.com/MikePerlberg/status/1327232677364322306

I was really anxious about the September reopening and had concerns about ventilation, instructional lunches, etc. Then we went back to school and I was blindsided by how absolutely it was to be with a group of ICT first graders again. I’ve loved it so much.

From a commitment ceremony between the letters q and u, the in person read alouds, the hug I got around my ankles from a child on his belly who said, “I really needed to hug you but don’t worry, I’m not breathing on you!”. All the laughter. It’s been so good. For all of us.

We all know how good in person learning is for so many kids, especially young kids and SWDs. I have nothing new to add there. The thought of having to go remote soon makes me so sad. But. I also feel so conflicted about staying indefinitely as things are now.

It’s reported regularly by the stay in school at all costs crowd that NYC is testing regularly at all schools. That’s just not true. Our school was tested once, 50 staff, no kids. There are plenty of schools in this spot. And so few kids that have permission to be tested.

My students’ masks are off 70-80 minutes a day. Air exchange hasn’t been tested in schools like mine. The fact that cases haven’t gone up is great, but it doesn’t mean things are safe in a second wave. It’s negligent to act like that’s the case.

I also can’t stop thinking about my colleagues across the city who are suffering under such an awful back to school plan (teaching wise). There are elementary teachers who are teaching 70 kids or more, across multiple grades, remote and blended.

So many of us feel caught like this, between wanting to be and stay at school, where we should be, and not trusting the people who want us to stay there no matter what. Cases in schools are going up. Classroom and school closures are going up.

(Adding: my school had a great permission return. Referring to cut percentages.)