A co-worker just posted a FB picture of herself and 3 other teachers out for lunch today. No distancing, and eating, so no masks. I work in the same hall with them. School starts in a few weeks - maybe. I'm high risk. How safe would you feel?
I'm in situations like that now, and it doesn't make me feel great. (And I don't think I'm high risk) But I hope that my safety protections will do their job.
I wouldn't want to spend a lot of time near other teachers who aren't social distancing off the job- I'm not sure how feasible that is for you. Things like planning meetings or time spent in the same, closed room with people who aren't protecting themselves to the same degree I would outside of school would make me nervous.
I know a lot of my colleagues have children living with them or visiting often, without social distancing. Their children are out and about, so who knows how many contacts they’ve made. They also were not good at wearing masks or distancing when we got together at the end of the year to clean up and pass out student belongings.
My P sent a reminder to the staff to remind them that masks are mandatory in the building unless you are alone in your room.
I plan on adding a filter to my mask as extra protection for myself. And when I meet my partner for planning, we will both wear masks and social distance. I don’t want to take any chances.
I know some teachers in my building will absolutely not wear masks during grade level meetings unless they are forced to (I guess I could ask, and see what they say, I'm really terrible about putting myself out there like that, but it may be needed in this case).
I'm honestly less worried about what my colleagues are/aren't doing outside of school since I know I'll probably have students who have parents who think this is all a hoax, and I teach K.
Honestly, right now that's the least of my concerns because I won't be in a classroom with them all day. I'm more concerned about what the kids and idiot parents are doing right now because I have serious concerns about the enforcement of the mask rules, how buildings are going to be cleaned and other things.
I was really ok with going back until about 1-2 weeks ago.
I’m with you. I too was OK with it until just recently. I live in AZ and I thought 115 degrees was to stop the spread, but nope, we are increasing at an alarming rate.
Last edited by azteach88; 07-13-2020 at 07:25 PM..
Reason: Typos
I plan to refuse to meet in person. Zoom works just fine. If I can't avoid students, that's one thing because it is unavoidable. But there is no reason for me to be in the same room with other adults.
I think the adults are definitely going to be an issue in my building. Before last school year, we had a ton of retirements and the vast majority were replaced with 1st-2nd year teachers, so a bunch of our staff is very young. They're not worried about the virus at all and they're taking zero precautions, including partying with each other this summer. Besides that, a few of our veteran teachers are in the crazy martyr types who won't want to take any precautions that cut into "good instruction" because they'll think higher DIBELS scores are worth dying over. I wish I were kidding.
One of my young teammates supports a certain politician who thinks this is all blown out of proportion . I worry because another of our teammates is very high risk. I don't think I'm very high risk, but I'm seeing more and more reports of younger and healthier people getting severely ill or even dying. Like the pp, I was okay with going back until a little bit ago when I saw how bad things are getting.
I'm not super social at work to begin with outside of my own team, so I'm not too worried about that part. I have no issue telling people they will not be in my room without a mask regardless of their personal beliefs. I do think that because of our staff make up we're going to see an outbreak very quickly. I'm honestly kind of predicting at this point that we'll be closed again before students even come back. Students will now be starting later and we have 3 weeks of PD at the beginning of the year. If somehow we get through that, then we're dealing with students whose families aren't taking any precautions.
I’m not overly concerned about my coworkers because I think they will do as they are asked to do. However, DH works with at least one teacher who has so far refused to wear a mask even at school events when told they are mandatory. DH teaches high school so there’s a chance he will share students with this teacher.
I wasn’t too happy to see one of the teacher’s at my kid’s school running around publicly with a very large group of parents close together at a touristy spot with no masks earlier in June. Also unhappy to see one of those parents also going out or having over tons of people not in her family...continuously...huge parties, vacation etc...her daughter was sat next to my kid ALL last year. Like I’d want my kid to return to school around a teacher who acts like that or kids’ whose parents don’t care.....
I am retired but I worry about friends & family in education. I have a niece whose employer has been firing people who are not being responsible. If you are seen without masks and/or snot ocial distancing they will let you go. So, the company would be seeing your social behavior on FB or Instagram. Not sure if someone sued if it would stand up in court, but it is something for people to think about.
My district has a form that staff must sign. It spells out what the district expects from staff concerning social distancing, masks, etc. They are providing each staff member with two masks and a shield.
I know this only pertains to in-school behavior, but I am hopeful the district and administrators will also have a coming to God conversation about responsible behavior out of school.
Honestly, right now that's the least of my concerns because I won't be in a classroom with them all day. I'm more concerned about what the kids and idiot parents are doing right now because I have serious concerns about the enforcement of the mask rules, how buildings are going to be cleaned and other things.
I was really ok with going back until about 1-2 weeks ago.
This is where I’m at right now, especially with the case numbers in Florida right now.
I am amazed at the number of adults I know that lie about what they are doing. Many of them teachers. They will talk about their concerns about safety at school while posting pictures of their partying. I would not have believed anyone would lie like this. My dd has many friends who claim to be social distancing but feel it’s ok to go to the homes of other friends because they are social distancing also.
I read that contact tracers are having problem with lies also. They will be given a list of people who have been identified as being at a party where someone had Covid. Instead of taking their advice to get tested and self isolate they insist they were not at the party.
I am feeling the same way. I will do everything in my power to not get this and to not spread it. It is really disconcerting the number of people who view it as a hoax. It feels like the world has gone crazy.
I know I work with some anti-maskers and I live in a community with plenty of people who think it's a hoax. Not only that but, as a music specialist, I think I'm going to have to have to move from room to room rather than having my own space. It's worrisome.
I'm just taking a wait-and-see line. I don't see that any firm decisions have been made about reopening except that we're planning to open at the usual time with face-to-face learning. That's six weeks away, now. Numbers are not too bad in my area (although I hear and see on social media that "hoaxers" are bragging about having symptoms and refusing to get tested so they don't drive the numbers up-they got their fearless leader's message loud and clear) but that could change in six weeks.
I've been focused on doing what I can to improve my own general health. Even if I don't go back to work, my grandson will and there's a limit to how much I can socially distance from him.
The incredible and dangerous idiocy of those who think this is a hoax just baffles me. Some of these are allegedly educated people but they truly believe there could be a world-wide hoax and not one person would spill the beans? Think about how many people would have to be in the know to perpetrate this "hoax". No way it would have stayed secret for six months.
I feel I am at risk, I am over 50 and have mild asthma. My spouse has medical issues that put him in the high risk category. I am afraid.
I also see coworker posting pictures on social media of big camping trips with at least 7 different families. One good friend who I refuse to see in person hosted a huge 4th of July party and figured since it was mostly outside it was safe—lots of drinking, no mask, no social distancing.
I know one person who got covid back in May and she still hasn’t fully recovered. She isn’t sure she will be able to make it back to school in August. She is young and was healthy.
My district set up a plan with 3 options. Right now we are full steam ahead with only extra cleaning— no reduced class sizes and NO required masks for anyone!
I am stocking up on high quality masks, I ordered a couple face shields and I have attached a mini hand sanitizer to my lanyard. Once school officially starts I plan to wear a mask at home too to try to protect my spouse as much as I can. If I could retire I would.
I'm a resource teacher and I'm sure I will have to push into rooms rather than taking groups out during the early stages. All teachers are different. I work with some that aren't very life smart and some that are overly cautious. If I need to distance myself I will. If a teacher hands me an N95 and a hazmat suit, I guess I'll wear it.
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07-13-2020, 05:21 PM
. I worry because another of our teammates is very high risk. I don't think I'm very high risk, but I'm seeing more and more reports of younger and healthier people getting severely ill or even dying. Like the pp, I was okay with going back until a little bit ago when I saw how bad things are getting. 
