Extra apples for extraordinary teachers

Alex Hargrave
Posted 9/2/20

Education is arguably the facet of American life most affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic, and definitely a crucial one. Half of a semester of learning was, let’s face it, completely eliminated, be

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Extra apples for extraordinary teachers

Posted

Education is arguably the facet of American life most affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic, and definitely a crucial one. Half of a semester of learning was, let’s face it, completely eliminated, because schools were not prepared for such a disruption. 

And why should they be? Who could’ve expected the events that have played out in the past five months?

When it came time to decide whether schools would reopen in person and whether masks would be worn all day inside them, the parents’ voices were heard by school boards across the nation, including here in Goshen County. They voiced concerns about children wearing masks and the shortfalls of last school year’s hastily assembled virtual curriculum, demanding better. And they should. 

But in conversations about navigating education amid COVID-19, it’s crucial to remember teachers, too.

You don’t want your child to wear a mask. The requirement to do so contradicts their and your constitutional right – supposedly. Yes, you do have the right to make healthcare decisions for you and your family. However, you don’t have the right to make healthcare decisions for those around you and their families, i.e. a classroom full of students and a teacher.

An argument for letting students roam mask-free at an unsafe social distance is the idea the virus does not affect young people as drastically, which is true. When they are infected, they tend to show no symptoms or minor ones such as low grade fevers, fatigue and cough, according to Harvard Medical School. This is usually the case, but not always. 

What we know to be true is the virus affects adults, particularly adults over 60, in the most adverse ways. There may not be senior citizens learning the alphabet, but they may be the ones teaching these kids, in the classroom with anywhere from 15-20 of them at once. Do we care about them?

GCSD’s Board of Trustees wisely voted to require students, teachers and staff to maintain six feet of social distance or wear a mask at all times. It’s likely for this reason that, as of press time, there’ve been just two confirmed cases in only one of the district’s schools within two weeks of opening. But teachers are still at risk each morning they walk into school.

They show up to enlighten the next generation, to give themselves so it may prosper. And we know the stories about teachers buying their own school supplies each year, even when there’s not a pandemic. 

On top of the health risks introduced into their daily lives, teachers are dealing with other novelties and challenges posed by the first school year in the temporary new normal.

I spent the morning of the first day of school with Trail Elementary fifth grade teacher Gwen Walsh. She graciously welcomed me into her classroom on what was one of the most difficult days of her 30 year career so I could observe what I considered an event of historical significance.

She was tasked with explaining why they had to either wear a mask or stay six feet apart, sanitize door knobs, wash their hands after leaving and reentering the room. Not only is this complicated for children to understand, but we all know the coronavirus has inevitably become one of many topics causing political divide, so she had to tread carefully.

She helped students with new laptops, found out half of them hadn’t charged, directed a second group of students, those learning remotely over Zoom, gracefully and with a sense of humor I could never match in such a moment.

When students left for music class and she could take her mask off, Walsh was able to finally breathe. She told me she felt like a first year teacher with all of the new procedures and nerves that come with teaching in such a strange environment. 

Thinking back to spring semester and stumbling through virtual learning, she was emotional thinking about how much effort she and every other teacher in the district put in to try to give students some sense of normalcy and a quality education. Admittedly, it did not go well, and how could it. 

What she’s worried most about while teaching a class of students, those both in-person and remote, is letting them down. Based on what I observed, she did anything but let them down on that first day. It was the most positive atmosphere I’ve experienced in months.

What I’m asking is that parents and students alike are patient with teachers. Everyone is in this situation for the first time, no exceptions. They’re in the profession they’re in to help your kids. If there are hiccups along the way, be understanding. 

You might even send your children in with two apples. (Actually, don’t send any, because it’s a pandemic).