I have so much respect for the way our teachers have managed the last 18 months. And such frustration with those making teachers' and students' lives harder right now. Per @devalpatrick, we too often yell our hatred as we whisper our love. The case for yelling our love (thread):
1/ First, respect for our teachers who during the past year have had to figured out how to keep students engaged in person, fully remote, hybrid and all flavors in between with spotty wifi and health uncertainty. They are heroes.
2/ Second, respect for parents (especially moms!) who've had to adjust their own lives to accommodate kids at homes, no busses, no childcare and COVID ever-present in their family and communities.
3/ Third, respect for the kids - especially in the younger grades, where no one is cooler than your teacher. They've missed the exercise, the social development, the changing locations. They have no "normal" to evaluate this new baseline against and are disoriented.
4/ So here we are, 18 months later. We still haven't vaccinated enough people to reach herd immunity. The vaccine isn't available for kids under 12. Lots of teachers, students and their families have someone in their life who is immunocompromised.
5/ What's the most responsible thing to do in that situation if you're a healthy kid, finally getting back to school after a year off? This is not a question. Just wear a mask. It slows the spread and buys us time. It makes it safer for everyone to get back to nearly-normal.
6/ What's the most responsible thing to do as a parent of those kids, or teacher, or caregiver? Again, this is not a hard question. Wear a mask. It's the right thing to do scientifically.
7/ And if you're down on science (or you just like post one of those "follow the science - ignore science!" signs in your yard, it's the right thing to do for moral and religious reasons. Matthew 25:40 comes to mind.
8/ "Whatever you did for the least of these, you have done for me."
9/ This shouldn't be controversial. And yet all across the country, hate-mongers and political dead-enders are putting up signs, yelling at school board members, even yelling at children on their way to school. Just because they are wearing masks and trying to keep people safe.
10/ So here we have children, wearing masks, being responsible and loving their neighbors as they love themselves. Thanks, kids.
And here we also have maladjusted adults yelling at them, mocking them with stiff-armed salutes. Shame on them.
And here we also have maladjusted adults yelling at them, mocking them with stiff-armed salutes. Shame on them.
11/ I would call this behavior childish, except that would disrespect the kids who are showing the way. It is evil, perpetrated by people who's hatred for schools, science and teachers surpasses any shred of morality that might remain in their charred, shrivelled souls.
12/ If any of those haters are still reading, give this a read. Show some decency. Show some empathy. Model the behavior you expect from others. washingtonpost.com/health/2021/09…
13/ But for everyone else, know that decency is ascendant. Nearly 2/3 of the country has gotten at least the first dose. Most of you are wearing masks. We will beat the virus because most folks are good, decent and loving people.
14/ We're not there yet. But to all the good folks in that majority, take a moment to stand up. Thank a teacher. Check in on the kids who are getting dragged into this. If the knuckleheads in the minority are going to yell their hatred, drown them out with our love. /fin
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