|
|
|
The views expressed on this page are
solely
those of the author and do not
necessarily represent the views of County
News Online
|
 |
CBS Boston
Teacher Worries Masks, Distancing Will Lead To Stressful Learning Environment
By Anaridis Rodriguez
June 8, 2020
BOSTON (CBS) – A new Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
(DESE) memo is making the rounds across school districts. The letter,
sent out last week, details what superintendents might need to get
ready to re-open in the fall.
Among the possible rules, maintaining physical distancing, requirements
to wear face coverings and limits to class sizes — no more than 10
students assigned to one teacher.
“Now, in a time of crisis, when we’re laying off people like educators,
we’re gonna ask less educators to do more, enough, we’re tired,” said
Graciela Mohamedi, a Brookline High School physics teacher.
Mohamedi is one of more than 300 Brookline educators who were pink
slipped two weeks ago, after school officials realized their budget was
short $6.3M. She’s since been advocating the district recall those laid
off. Last week, the Brookline School Committee announced it found ways
to close much of the gap, but re-hiring all teachers who have received
notices is not guaranteed.
“To be in a community that I chose to move to as a parent because of
its firm commitment to education. To then be recruited from a stable
job to come and be part of this magical school system. To have that and
then without reason be let go, it’s heartbreaking,” said Mohamedi. “I
had to tell my daughter that her mother and her favorite school teacher
were laid off on the same day.”
Mohamedi’s classroom is in a converted gym space. She’s concerned
wearing masks and spacing out desks will make for a stressed learning
environment. “I can’t run a project based hands-on class if my students
aren’t allowed to touch things,” Mohamedi said. “I can’t run a
collaborative process if they aren’t allowed to be in the same room or
talking to each other at the same table.”
The DESE memo also calls for districts to buy their own supplies, like
masks, face shields, gloves, gowns and sanitizer. The education
commissioner says the state will help facilitate access to suppliers.
“This is madness. When we have an emergency in a society, like a
hurricane or a pandemic, we have a federal government and a state
government that sets aside emergency funds,” said Brookline Educators
Union President Jessica Wender-Shubow. “These funds need to be released
to the school systems so that we don’t have to cut into our curriculum
materials, our ability to retain our teachers, our ability to
anticipate the need for more educators.”
(DESE) has made $193.8 million in federal funds available to help
districts address needs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, such as
technology and safety supplies. A spokeswoman says the money, provided
by CARES Act Elementary and Secondary Education Emergency Relief Funds,
is allocated based on district poverty levels.
“In addition, DESE will be providing a bulk state ordering opportunity
through which districts can submit their orders and payment to make the
process as easy as possible,” said a department spokeswoman.
The president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association opposes the
guidance that would make districts responsible for purchasing its own
protective equipment. In a statement, Merrie Najimy likened the move to
“President Trump telling states they had to buy their own ventilators
and testing supplies. Rather than using the centralized authority and
purchasing power of the federal government to protect public health and
safety by making vital equipment available.”
Najimy said the move would also disproportionately impact communities
of color, “which have been historically subjected to structural racism
through disinvestment in their public schools and other crucial
services.”
The teachers union called the possible plan impractical, in particular,
the staff to student ratio of 10:2. Najimy said that while necessary it
“will necessitate at least doubling the number of staff, even as public
schools are on the verge of issuing large numbers of layoff notices, or
pink slips, to educators,” Najimy said. “None of this can be
accomplished safely if school budgets are cut and staff are laid off,
leading to larger classes and less ability to achieve physical
distancing, perform deep cleaning, and implement the other health and
safety measures required.”
|
|
|
|
