So hear me out: When teachers are on social media raising a stink about going back to school, it’s not because we don’t want to go back or we like teaching at home better or we want to “do less work”
Because let me tell you- teaching at home is brutal

Teachers are raising a stink on social media because we are SCARED. We are being asked to step into an unknown. We don’t know who these 20-30 students placed in front of us have been exposed to or if that mask is clean or if they had a fever this morning that Tylenol is hiding

What we do know is what has happened before: I can’t tell you how many students in my 2 years of teaching have come to school in yesterday’s clothes because nothing is clean and family can’t do laundry. Or how many kids are so sick but mom can’t take time off work.

I also know that I would do anything for these kids- (do you know how much teachers spend of their paycheck on their class?) And if have to make the choice between keeping my job or keeping myself and my family safer- I’m not in a position where I could give up that paycheck.

And I’m not alone in that. Teachers are turning to social media because in these district, state, and country wide decisions- we are not being invited to the conversation and given a place to make our concerns heard.
So when you see a teacher ranting, I ask you to listen.

We shouldn’t be asked to choose between our safety and our job. We shouldn’t be asked to walk into what is already a “petri dish” of germs just so that the economy goes back.

In summary, listen to teachers and invite them to the table to join the conversation