There has been a lot of news coverage about schools opening this fall.  Some states have announced that in person teaching will have to take place since distance learning isn't working as well for many students.  As a school teacher, I share the same opinion about teaching online.  Having done it since schools abruptly closed last March, I believe that nothing beats classroom teaching. 

However, with Covid 19 rates soaring again as soon as states all over the country began to reopen, I just wonder if it makes sense to open schools this August just as many people want them too.  This morning alone, I read an article on the net saying that children should be okay since they are not as susceptible to getting the virus like adults.  On the other hand, teachers who teach the kids are adults.  I am an adult.  Should we just think of the kids and not the school staff?

Do teachers not count any longer?  Having no car, I commute to work by BART, our intercity train which is packed both in the morning and afternoon rush hour.   I have gotten so scared of traveling in one since the pandemic began.   If companies like Facebook, Amazon, and many other businesses have told its employees to stay home until the end of the year out of an abundance of caution, why can't school districts decide and say that schools will just reopen at a later date and continue with distance learning.  That way, we, teachers, can plan our instruction in the fall and prepare for it better this time unlike when we all had to scramble for ways to keep the children engaged during the last trimester of last school year.

Unlike some people, I am scared of getting infected.  Others may think of the virus as mere flu.  but I don't.  I have already lost three friends to COVID 19 and it is not a joke.  Enough with taking teachers for granted.  We are human beings too!!!