The Great Viral Debate
Reporting to you from Georgia, the Atlanta area to be exact. An intense environment where political and racial tensions are through the roof. Right this moment there is a virus that not much is known about and a bunch of conspiracy theories related to it. I have to say, I have never in my life seen so many self-proclaimed scientists, doctors, virologists in my life! Our President of the United States and the U.S. Secretary of Education Betsey DeVos, made it clear that despite the rise in numbers regarding the virus, despite the fact that there is not a vaccine, despite the fact that so much is unknown about the virus and its effects on children or adults — they wanted the schools to open in person and 100%. There were threats regarding defunding the schools if they did not open, the general public was told that the schools would be in shape to open, the general public was told that children were not able to get sick from the virus.
Georgia is a state that is riddled with racial tensions. This debate has become divided amongst color lines. As I read articles from the Atlanta Journal Constitution that are posted on Facebook, you see the majority of black moms that are afraid of the virus and many white moms that are saying not to live in fear.
According to Sherita Hill Golden M.D. in her article for Johns Hopkins Medicine, “The coronavirus pandemic is having an impact all over the world, but a disturbing trend is evident in the U.S.: People of color, particularly African Americans, are experiencing more serious illness and death due to COVID-19 than white people.” Keeping up with the news and the numerous articles being written by scientists world wide, the following conditions contribute to the disproportionate rates in the black community: Living in crowded housing conditions, working in essential fields, inconsistent access to health care, chronic health conditions, and stress and immunity. Golden goes on to state that “Instituting fair housing policies, improving employment opportunities and taking other steps to mitigate economic inequality will benefit people of color in the next health emergency, she states that there are ways to reduce sickness and mortality in vulnerable populations right now.”
It would not be a surprise that members of the black community that are educators would be more likely to be vocal regarding certain school districts decisions to get them back in the classroom. As the numbers continue to climb in the state of Georgia, the talk is all about the students. Many educators are either silently or loudly saying “What about me, do I not exist”?
School districts in the Atlanta Metro area are making decisions as well that are split down color lines. On July 15th, the Atlanta Constitution hosted an AJC Community Conversation that featured the metro area superintendents. I watched this event in its entirety. Superintendents of school districts with majority black students and black superintendents such as Clayton County, Atlanta Public Schools, and Dekalb County were totally against opening their buildings for face to face instruction.
Dr. Morcease Beasley, Superintendent of Clayton County Public Schools which serves a diverse population of over 55,000 students, dominated the conversation. He spoke about putting the safety first of both staff and students. He reminded his colleagues as well as the public watching that school is not a babysitting service. “The safety of my staff and students come first” stated Dr. Beasley.
The plans were in place in regards to virtual learning for students of the districts until the numbers decreased. Districts with white superintendents such as Fulton County, Gwinnett county, and Cobb county were either undecided or had plans in place for face to face instruction or having teachers work in the school building.
As educators, we are also aware of the struggles from year to year to keep items like hand sanitizer, and even simple items such as soap in the bathrooms. The school districts in Georgia are providing parents with unrealistic promises regarding the cleanliness of school buildings that they are assuring will suddenly take place. Where will this soap come from, these paper towels, this endless supply of cleaning supplies? If these items were available to districts before why has it never been provided?
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution on June 28th, 2020, the Georgia House, and Senate agree to a budget with $950 million in school cuts.
We barely had tissue in the restrooms before such cuts. Where would it come from now? During this time many teachers with underlying conditions are being forced to resign from their jobs and find other means to make a living all the while the state unemployment rate soars to a record 7.6% according to Dyana Bagby for Atlanta Business Chronicle.
Teachers are being forced to decide whether their life is more important than their ability to make a living. Teachers are being forced to make a choice whether to speak out in defense of their families and their lives or face retaliation from school districts. Students have also faced retaliation from school districts for speaking out about how the virus is affecting their schools. North Paulding High School student Hannah Watters was suspended in August for posting a photo and video to her Twitter page showing the lack of social distancing measures and mask wearing in the hallway during a class change. The district has since reversed the suspension when Watters went viral and her story started circulating various National media outlets. The district opened on August 3rd for in person classes despite reports of positive COVID-19 cases among both students and staff. Students and teachers have been threatened with discipline for criticizing the school and sharing photos on social media.
This great debate is one for the record books indeed. The safety and security of students and staff should be paramount at any time. The districts should listen to their teachers and not allow parents and other entities that are unfamiliar with what working in a school building is like to influence their decisions.
The teachers are the professionals and they should be treated as such. It takes a teacher to know that we only receive possibly two bottles of sanitizer a school year and that bottle normally comes from the one of two parents that bothered to look at the supply list. As the band director, I am lucky to get one from a parent as any purchases from the supply list normally go to the students homeroom teacher. Lysol and any other items needed for effective cleaning will most likely, like everything else be purchased from the teachers pocket. Only a teacher knows that the students will have a hard time socially distancing. Only a teacher knows especially in lower elementary that a kindergartener will have a hard time keeping a mask on their face all day. This teacher would spend more time fussing about the mask and having the kids to keep their hands to themselves then actual teaching and learning. I taught elementary music for 7 years and I can only imagine. The instruments in an elementary music classroom, the coveted Golden Egg that is the instruments to elementary students that are shared in the classroom. The many, many aerosol studies regarding band are confusing to educators. Regardless of the debate, we can all agree that we would like to have normalcy and get back to the business of teaching music.
Works cited:
