Thread by @jillianteaching

A Thread- Requiring state testing during a pandemic is unconscionable, but the decision comes as more of a disappointment than a surprise for many educators. There are many factors at play here, so let’s take a minute to break it down. 1/18

Despite their jobs being turned upside down and reimagined, their workload doubled, the expectations changed daily at moments notice, and often not provided with basic precautions to keep themselves safe, teachers keep teaching. 2/18

Still, many in the greater community have vilified teachers because they dare to ask for simple precautions in line with those laid out by the CDC and medical experts. 3/18

Schools have not been a priority in our country for decades. While teachers have been shouting to better fund our education system, hardly anybody paid attention until the inadequate buildings, staffing, and funds became an inconvenience. 4/18

And STILL, they didn’t blame the government for reducing funding consistently over the past 50 years, or administrations, school boards, and elected officials who allowed our education system to crumble… 5/18

They blamed TEACHERS for trying to navigate upstream with a leaky canoe and no paddles. Some have gone so far as to say teachers have been paid to do nothing for almost a year and are personally at fault for their child “falling behind.” 6/18

Falling behind WHAT? An arbitrary set of standards we created and then regularly test with biased and racist assessments? And NOW, in the midst of a pandemic that has taken 500,000 lives in our country so far, we want to prioritize these tests? 7/18

Why? Because while most weren’t looking, our government placed the burden of fixing many of society’s issues on schools (most unrelated to curriculum). To compound things further, it repeatedly slashed school budgets as expectations increased. 8/18

Through lack of proper community funding and support systems, schools are now responsible for FAR MORE than educating children, and therefore have been deemed essential to the successful rebuilding of our economy. 9/18

Curriculum can be taught virtually. It’s not ideal, and I have yet to meet a teacher who prefers teaching virtually to in person, but it has protected school staff and students during the pandemic. But now… schools are more than curriculum. 10/18

People now shout about “children’s mental health” as if educators have not been screaming this for decades… where were they when teachers were begging for more than ONE part-time social worker, nurse and counselor per school? 11/18

We, as a society, don’t want to admit how much we have neglected our schools, nor do we want to reconcile with our epic failing of communities. Instead, we can find a much easier focus to help “get us back on track.” 12/18

Is it to pass a stimulus bill that pays small businesses to remain closed, offers rent relief so caregivers can stay home with their children, and opens essential grocery stores in inner-city food deserts? Nope! 13/18

The solution? Hyper-focus on the “widening gap” between where our students are performing amidst a pandemic, and the arbitrary standards (referred to earlier) that we hold students to under normal circumstances. 14/18

By focusing on the perceived gap, elected officials can prioritize standardized testing in order to assess student progress. In order to administer standardized testing, states will take this as their cue to demand that schools fully reopen. 15/18

If education were a true priority for our elected leaders, then teachers and administrators would not be forced to give up vital time on learning to accommodate this mandate. They also wouldn’t inhibit student learning by presenting additional stressors like test anxiety. 16/18

(As a reminder, it takes weeks of precious time teaching testing strategies and going over protocols, as well as several days to administer such assessments.) 17/18

This isn’t about education. This is about finding a reason to mandate schools reopen in order to boost the economy for a country that turned its back on the very institution it’s relying upon. It’s UNCONSCIONABLE, but I doubt there is a single educator who is surprised. 18/18