My district was one of the first in our region to go back to school face-to face this year. We began a “hybrid model” on September 14, with seniors and K-3 going four days a week, and all others going twice-a-week in cohorts (Monday/Thursday and Tuesday/Friday). On Wednesdays we delivered online material and caught up with our work, while reinventing it simultaneously. Some of our students opted for full-time distance learning, but the vast majority excitedly prepared for the first day of school.
Our neighbor districts were watching us intently. Would we pave the way for others to follow us, or would we cause an outbreak in our tiny town?
One week in, “it” happened. A student, who later tested positive for Covid-19, attended the first day of school. Dozens of staff members and students were subsequently quarantined due to contact with the student, and the decision was made to suspend school until the 14-day quarantine period was over, giving the health department time to do all of the necessary contact tracing. Our schools and buses were disinfected, and our teaching staff pivoted to all online learning, something we were told was likely to happen from the start.
Not an auspicious beginning, you might say. But let me elaborate.
When our school board voted 3 to 2 to adopt the face-to-face hybrid model, I was against it, preferring a fully remote model. Most of my students come from households that scoff at mandatory mask orders. Some locals proclaim the whole pandemic a hoax meant to damage the upcoming election. Would their kids even wear masks? How many uncomfortable, science-denying conversations would I have to manage?
Despite my misgivings, I prepped my classroom, updated my curriculum, and enthusiastically greeted my students as they returned. I embraced what was good in the situation, and that was the feeling of being a real teacher again.
For one week, I was back in the saddle again. I was poignantly reminded of what teaching does for my soul. A thousand Zoom meetings will not replace one day with live youngsters asking questions and making you laugh.
They were so excited to be there. We wore our masks. We left the doors open. We sat 6’ apart. We used hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes. And it was worth it.
Well, if we don’t get sick, it was.
Then a big city news team came to tell the whole state about Mossyrock’s unlucky first week. They opened by emphasizing that the district had gone against the health department’s recommendations when they voted to go face-to-face. Shifting to a chopped up interview with our superintendent, they showed an out-of-context clip of him saying “I don’t feel any regret at all.” Then they got his name wrong.
They showed shots of classrooms, our beautiful school grounds, and then the reporter went “downtown” for some quotes from some local senior citizens. Finally, they cut back to our superintendent, asking about his regrets – again. “You’ll probably have to ask me that question after our second or third restart.” Again, an out-of-context statement that made his reaction to the crisis seem trite. Instead of focusing on his explanation of our systems to keep everyone safe, they painted a picture of an administration that is not aware of the possible consequences of their actions.
I cry foul. If these reporters were my students I would question their sources and their bias. This little district is trying very hard to be of service to its students and families, and that is what you saw when you visited? People ignoring good advice and seeming nonchalant about the consequences? Shoddy reporting, if you ask me. I’m saving the clip for future media literacy lessons about bias and intent.
Yes, I am aware of the risks. Yes, I took my temperature ten times a day for a week in quarantine. Yes, I am even less willing to listen to 12-year olds tell me why masks don’t work. I’m not at all happy with putting my health on the line. But, I’m ready to go back, nonetheless.
The truth is that I am seeing the best of my colleagues at Mossyrock right now. I have never seen such professionalism, such compassion, such genuine outreach to the community. We are creating a far more equitable system through technology and improved communications with our families. Our leadership, particularly my superhuman principal, has taken on immense pressure and commitment. We are all stepping up, and we are making a difference.
It does get a little old that schools have to step in to heal and support their communities in crisis, often with little to no credit given. Our jobs are so big, and even bigger now. But, if not us, who?
So, big city news, next time you come to town, you should cover the real story. Mossyrock may be taking risks, and we may regret it later. But the story of today is that everything we do, we do for our kids.
Links for your further enlightenment on our plight in Mossyrock:
Our district’s reopening Q & A page
Your thoughts and opinions on this are welcomed. It’s a tough subject, but one worth the conversation.
I agree with you, the number of new cases makes a new record day by day, I feel like the doctor, nurse and everyone working in hospital have no day off since March, they are exhausted. I’ve heard many doctors who died of overwork in this pandemic, and although they are infected, they still have to to their job. Wearing masks helps many countries lower the number of new cases, and the scientists said people should wear mask as well.
We as a nation are sure struggling. It is hard to find a silver lining in everything that has happened and that will happen moving forward. Thank you for your openness and honesty. I admire that.
Lynne, the is so beautifully written. Many, many good points here-my favorite ..”what teaching does for my soul”. When I hear the stories from friends and family involved in teaching and speech therapy, I am in awe of the efforts you all- and parents too- are making for the kids.
Thank you so much for this, Lynn Bishop
Thank you, Lynn. How nice to see a local friend and educator here!
The details about the news station failure is so incredibly troubling. Yes, I am troubled by death and illness, but I blame the death and illness on deliberate misinformation and the resulting politicization. It’s a vicious circle we seem incapable of learning our way out of as a society.
We’re essentially fully remote right now, with small groups of high need or housing unstable students cycling through my building (starting just this week) on the Mo/Th, Tu/Fr type of schedule you described. Remote learning is working for the small minority of my students. As many of my students have said, it is just so much easier not to do anything…but when they’re face to face, they have the routine, the proximity, the care and support, the peers…all things that make “not doing anything” less easy.