Only 31 deaths of children under age 15 involving COVID-19. Common flu-related child deaths from 37 to 187 during regular flu season. Should Governors

[Mister_Friscus]

Wow! Teachers step up and help society every single day! Schools, in the last number of years, have been expected to be all things to all people. We feed the kids breakfast and lunch, and in many cases we give them dinner and food to take home for weekends. We are expected to teach them social skills, manners, academics, and any number of things that they are not getting at home. I’ve been physically assaulted (and have a permanent, life altering injury because of it), verbally abused, and lied about. And I get up and go back to the trenches the next day because kids’ lives matter.

I know all of the puffy slogans. Some are applicable, others not, but that wasn’t what I was talking about.

We figured we would deal with lice and every day illnesses, but not deadly diseases that we could take home to our families.

This is what I’m talking about. Teachers, along with most others who work, already work with plenty of deadly diseases. Cold, Flu, etc. all kill people, they’re all “deadly”, it’s just by how much. We need to address ratios, not just flashy buzzword labels.

While COVID appears to spread more easily, it’s death rate is not massively high to cause the majority of people to walk in fear of death around every corner. If you’re under the age of 60, you’re VERY unlikely to die from this disease. It’s like dying in a car on the way to work. It’s highly unlikely, but it happens to a lot of people every day. Why aren’t we all freaking out about poor innocent people dying every day? Why are people not refusing to drive cars? Because we’ve accepted their deaths in the risk/reward scenario as what will unavoidably happen when hundreds of million of people drive around all the time for convenience or to support societal structures.

The exaggerations need to end. The small ratio of death doesn’t fit this narrative of massive death that is facing teachers in the face.

As for me, just like other issues such as guns in schools (I feel safer with an armed guard, not without one, and having a gun in school is safer than not having one), I’d gladly teach again and walk right in during COVID. However, I’m a Physical Therapy Asst during COVID. I’m not dead, and nobody around me is dying. Yet, we aren’t demanding that we stop working because we’re all going to die. We step up and help those in need even if it’s a little scary.

I invite teachers to . . . do the same. . . .

 

[pnewton]

. Since Trump wants schools open, they’ll fight to keep them closed here. Trump has been cast as a such an evil that agreeing with him, on anything is some sort of support of his supposedly evilness.

That is an odd phenomena. The president has done a few things I like, and I do agree in general that we need to work toward opening schools. But it is odd when I agree with him, those on this site that also agree, even those of us that will never support his re-election.

 

[Mister_Friscus]

I know anyone can say it about any president, there’s always resistance to the other side, I get it. But, I think the whole “resist the other guy” ante has been significantly upped.

I mean, the whole mask obsession? I think it all came from Trump refusing to openly wear one at times. Since he wouldn’t wear one, all who openly and aggressively oppose him had to suddenly jump on a vendetta that masks are of the ultimate importance, and if you don’t wear one, you’re astronomically dangerous and such a bad person. However, that oddly wasn’t the case during George Floyd Protests… if you recall. Whenever there are people out in public protesting against a shutdown, it’s outrage by the media of how they won’t wear masks. Whenever there are riots and protests for racial issues, it’s never outrage over masks at all. This double standard ensures that much of the leftist ideology isn’t about people, it’s just political maneuvering… and I wouldn’t expect anything else. It’s done on both sides.

I think that if Trump suddenly was 100% pro mask, there would be a TON of people looking for ways to discredit the mask… saying “it’s just a mask” and how he would need to do more. I think the one drug Trump promotes would be very accepted by many if someone else had supported it.

 

[Pattylt]

I have a slightly off topic question for any teachers here. I assume you had to switch to online teaching when the schools closed. Once the first couple of weeks of settling in and getting it figured out, did you find it easier or harder than being in the classroom? Also, did you find that the majority of students did well with online learning? I haven’t really heard this discussed much! Thanks for any opinions!

 

[TC3033]

I’m not a teacher, but my wife is…and I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. I’ll answer as best I can from her students POV (high school age)

Once the first couple of weeks of settling in and getting it figured out, did you find it easier or harder than being in the classroom?

It was always harder. Many of the students complained about how hard it was trying to pick up the concepts of biology and chemistry without in person assistance, not to mention the workload. I watched my wife put in 10-12 hour days (on Sundays) grading previous week’s assignments as well as prepping the next week’s.

Also, did you find that the majority of students did well with online learning?

They did terrible (in her senario). In ours, our kids did “OK”, our kids are younger and I have a job that allows me to walk away from my computer and help our kids out. We set up a process where we laid out the coming week and had a “check sheet” on our fridge to keep our kids on track.

Also, did you find that the majority of students did well with online learning?

In her scenario, no. To be fair, she works in an under privileged HS where the kids really…really needed the “in house” help, because they weren’t going to get “pushed” at home to complete their work. She basically had a semester’s worth of homework dumped on her the last week as the kids finally figured out they were going to fail if they didn’t turn it all in (even though they were constantly reminded).

 

[Peaceable]

Why do we as a society think nothing of sending so many Doctors, nurses, therapists, etc. into the fray?

Some of these professionals do not appreciate being brought into this discussion . In the words of one: “ We never signed up for this, But at least we were aware that situations like this can happen. But teachers for sure did not sign up for this.”

It feels like it’s a new phenomenon in our society, that people sometimes have a low threshold to put other peoples lives in jeopardy for their own sake What is this?!?

 

[tuffsmurf]

Did people who work in grocery stores sign up for this?

 

[Peaceable]

No, but I also think theyare not having the same societal pressure being placed on them to return to work against their better judgment.

And this is the point. People should have a choice about whether or not they go back to work without societal pressure demanding that they do.

Also, they’re not sitting with a classroom full of children, who may not be able to maintain the precautions needed to prevent Covid spread. Store workers, at least in theory, should have some better way to protect themselves than teachers might.

 

[tuffsmurf]

Last I looked, teachers were free to quit their job.

 

[Peaceable]

This is about societal pressure, and how we treat teachers. Not the theoretical freedom to quit their jobs.

 

[TC3033]

Why do we as a society think nothing of sending so many Doctors, nurses, therapists, etc. into the fray?

Well…TBH, that’s kind of an apples to oranges comparison. Workers in the health care industry are accepting the possibility (however low it is) that they indeed do work in the health care industry and working with sick/contagious individuals is an inherent risk.

If you know a therapist that is currently doing in person treatment, that would be the first one that I know of. My son hasn’t had an “in person” session since…probably before Christmas.

I think teachers are playing possum here to avoid having to step up and help society, not to mention to continue to work from home.

I’m not going to say “no chance”, but I think it’s really…really…low, like to the point of preposterous. If there are teachers that A) would rather work from home than be in person with their students, they should find another line of work and B) It sounds like you really don’t know how much more work it was for educators to have to teach remotely vs. being able to be in their classrooms.

It’s interesting how school is supposedly so important to certain political ideologies until an orange president comes along… then it’s totally expendable.

I whole-heartedly disagree. I haven’t seen schools somehow become “expendable”, and I haven’t heard anything about Trump. When it comes to schools the only name that I hear come out of anyone’s mouth is “Walz” (the Governor of MN). It’s his decision/direction, and it’s dang near August. Parents need to figure out what to do. Curricula and teaching aids for the upcoming school year need to start NOW if the teachers are going to work remotely.

Did people who work in grocery stores sign up for this?

Again; Apples to Oranges.

Last I looked, teachers were free to quit their job.

Last I looked teachers also have a contract. Can you point me to the area within said contract where the portion is of accepting said inherent risk?

My assumption right now, is that the state is going end up leaving it up to the districts. Here, districts are already deciding to start school virtually because the state can’t figure out what to tell us.

 

[1CatholicGirl]

I found online teaching to be much harder for teachers (my colleagues at my school agree with this assessment). I was regularly staying up until 2-3am to prepare video lessons that students could view when they were able.

That was in addition to online live classes and trying to track the kids down to hand in their work (that is MUCH easier in person).

I’m sure online isn’t best for all kids (especially the youngest ones), but at the upper levels (6th grade and up), my particular school got a LOT of compliments from parents. In fact, we have a number of families transferring to our school for the upcoming school year because our school did an amazing job compared to their home districts. We had kids from other schools sit in on our online live classes to “shadow” for a day.

I think online learning was a lot easier for the kids than for the adults. With all of that said, even though online is much more time consuming and difficult, it is one million times better than getting very sick and/or dying. Some of my teacher friends aren’t scared of being back in school at all and can’t wait to get back to in person school. But, with underlying lung problems, I’m actually nervous about this until covid is more under control. But, with no other source of income, I’ll be there when school starts in a couple of weeks.

Thank you for asking!

 

[Pattylt]

My own experience as the grandma with an 11 yo and 14yo was mixed. Our school district was awesome in switching over in such a short period of time. Chrome books and free internet were provided to any child needing them and they came off as very organized about it all. My 10 yo is ADD and delayed in reading so having one on one sessions twice a week was an enormous help. My 14yo freshman was frustrated with online, however. He’s an A student and would quickly complete assignments then was bored. Mostly, he missed his friends as social activity is more important to them than anything else…and there isn’t much they can do about it!

This upcoming year, the now 11 yo will be in class 5 days a week. For her, this is exactly what she needs but also increases Covid risks. The high schooler will be in class twice a week and home twice a week and fridays are a flex day…we’ll see what that means later…they are still working out details.

Elementary school kids? I feel for teachers having to daily take temperatures, keeping masks on and social distancing. Good luck to all of them. Talk about a group that deserve huge raises, it’s teachers. I never became more aware of it than when trying to keep the ADD learner focused on task in a home environment! Bless all of you!

 

[Peaceable]

Death rate in one state with significant social distancing laws in place for people under 60 is approximately 17% of the total deaths from Covid. At least some of us think this isn’t trivial.

I think it’s important to look at states have significant amount of social distancing laws in place, because this gives sort of a best case scenario.

Also the reason that there are concerns about spread have to do with overwhelming the ICU system. This is already happening in Texas. The fear is having a system where doctors have to determine who gets a ventilator who goes home to die. This shouldn’t be happening in America!And it wouldn’t have to, if people take social distancing and other approaches seriously.

This is typically not an issue with car accident related deaths—I suspect because you don’t have the surge is happening all at once, and people don’t linger for extended periods of time on a ventilator like they do with the same frequency as they do with this infection.

Moreover, car accidents aren’t contagious. There’s also a concern of infecting healthcare workers and overwhelming the healthcare system. Whatever number of unfortunate patients end up in the hospital or in an icy you do in a car accident or not putting the entire healthcare team of nurses physicians, respiratory techs, medical assistance, physician assistance, radiologist radiology and other techs At risk for dying. Again, this is a particularly a problem because many healthcare systems still have shortages of PPE.

 

[Peaceable]

mean, the whole mask obsession? I think it all came from Trump refusing to openly wear one at times

Actually comes from the medical field. Prior to Trump making any decision about whether he wanted to wear a mask or not.

 

[Peaceable]

Why do we as a society think nothing of sending so many Doctors, nurses, therapists, etc. into the fray? Why are they fine to be supposed guinea pigs

Actually I think there are some concerns here too. I don’t think Anyone is thrilled with these people being guinea pigs either!

But this is why social distancing and masks is important, to not burden the medical system, and keep these Frontline workers safe.

As an aside, if PPE is stretched thin for medical workers, what makes us think we have adequate PPE for teachers?

 

[pnewton]

It is not as stretched as it once was, and that is just N95’s. Other facial covers are readily available. I doubt seriously, at least where face masks are required, there are many people without a working supply already.

 

[JoeFreedom]

What you are seeing here in the United States is that nearly everything that is being done or said by the left is an attempt to stop Trump from being reelected. If Trump were to say the sky was blue, the left would claim it was cloudy. If Trump claimed gravity pulled things towards the earth, they would claim it is with any object that has mass. If he claimed gravity is caused by any object with mass, they would say he is lecturing us. He cannot do anything right, whether he is right or whether he is wrong, or whether it is just a matter of subjectivity.

There is a reason why Google has suppressed nearly ALL conservative search results for years and has really upped the ante lately. Information is freedom.
There is a reason why the leftist governors and mayors do not stop the riots. Chaos sows distrust.
There is a reason why the left wants COVID to remain. Lockdowns hurt the economy and people’s pocket books and people vote their pocket books.

The left has no actual ideas and couldn’t debate a topic if it was their last way out of a paper box. Our country is founded on the best idea winning, not obfuscation and mistrust.

 

[JoeFreedom]

Exactly. Hydrychloriquine may work. But is isn’t about Hydrychloriquine. He could have said acetaminophen and the left would have done the exact same thing. This is why GOOGLE pulled ALL videos of the doctor expressing her opinion on the drug. I honestly don’t give a flying pants suit if someone hates Trump, but when you support the suppression of thoughts, ideas, and information, not only have you undermined our US constitution, but ultimately undermined your own ability to espouse free speech and ideas, because eventually, things a person might say now that are acceptable to the left may change and that person may find themselves the ugly consequence of the actions they took to suppress some other people’s speech.

Edit; this is not directed at you Mister_Friscus, but to piggyback a general reply.

 

[JoeFreedom]

I can only speak for my wife, as she is a public school teacher. She absolutely abhors online learning. It is not effective, and it is not for her lack of trying. She is one of those teachers that goes so far above and beyond. (She actually won teacher of the year not too long ago).

She wants to go back to school. She wants to teach in the classroom. She is not scared of COVID.