Actually, Fauci said "Close the bars and open the schools." Atlanta hasn't closed the bars or the restaurants. Yet, they still want to open the schools.
"The CDC says it's safe to open schools, especially elementary schools."
Actually, the CDC said that when community spread was low to moderate, schools could open with strict mitigation efforts in place. Those mitigation efforts were repairs to aging ventilation systems, consistent mask wearing, constant social distancing, hand washing and repeated disinfecting and cleaning. Both the county where I live and the county where I work are in the the highest level of community spread. No ventilation remedies have taken place in my school. Even if the kids respect mask wearing and social distancing protocols, every day we have to be in a closed room with them for thirty minutes while they eat lunch, with their masks off. No one even mentions temperature checks or a testing program any more. Yet people keep saying that the CDC says it's safe to open schools, and ignore the rest of the statement.
I am to return to work in person on Wednesday. I will be given a spray bottle of disinfectant, a rag and a pair of gloves. If I forget my mask, one will be provided, but I have been advised not to do that all of time. If I want plexiglass for partitions or some sort of air ventilation, I have to buy it myself. If I want one of those plastic face shields, I am also welcome to buy it myself. I am required to mark off desks that students can't sit in in, in accordance with social distancing protocols. And guess what? I get to buy the tape myself. There are two closet-sized faculty bathrooms in the entire school and they have been placed on an hourly cleaning schedule. We are required to be in the building, starting Wednesday, even if students aren't there. We even have to be in the building on the COVID deep cleaning days, when the students don't even have live lessons.
I have another real kicker. I have not had COVID yet. If I get it when I return to the building, I have to use my sick day bank in order to get paid, though the obvious common denominator would be my return to the school building. Additionally, if I am informed that I have been exposed at school and must isolate, I have to use my sick bank to do it. When a teacher asked if we could teach virtually if we are forced to isolate because of school exposure, the answer was no. You have to use your sick bank. What if I feel fine and have been forced to isolate by the school and don't have any sick days left? someone asked. Well, you just don't get paid.
I watched a red-faced white man on television, screaming into a microphone.
"MY GARBAGE MAN HAS BEEN BACK AT WORK! THOSE TEACHERS NEED TO GO BACK IN THERE TOO!" he howled.
He was very demanding. Because he pays property taxes, the man seemed to suddenly transform from an ordinary person into a lord, demanding that his serfs get their asses back on the manor. He felt very empowered. At that moment, he wasn't whatever shitty low wage worker that he normally was. He owned the place, and he certainly felt like he owned me.
I pay property taxes, too. About two thousand dollars a year, and a small portion of that actually goes to public schools. That's quite a low bar for king-making. And, I hope his garbage man kicks his ass. I'd help.
This is my fifteenth year teaching public school. I have never thought about quitting so much in my entire career.
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