Thursday, June 25, 2020

Armed With A Flawed Plan



The Governor rolled out the guidelines this week for Illinois student’s return to the traditional classroom. The details were lacking…

Imagine this: You are a first grade teacher with 20 students. You must keep them socially distanced and keep a mask on their face covering their mouths all day long. It’s a game changer. Everything about learning in the classroom has be re-thought. 

Coincidentally, I noticed this week that FCHS is looking for a new school nurse. That’s normally a tough job. Now it’s a daunting task.

The Governor’s announcement immediately prompted way more questions than answers. Immediately the teacher’s unions took notice and started discussing how their jobs will change. I read the words “working conditions,” and “collective bargaining” used by their leadership.

Here’s the biggest problem for us. We---here in rural Southern Illinois---don’t look like the urban areas of the state. We look like Jasper, New Hope and Geff. When union bosses in Chicago say there needs to be a school nurse in every building, you know that won’t happen here. We can’t afford it.  And yet, this Governor, who has no clue the disparity between his neighborhood and mine is pushing all of the buttons. He knows he has to return students to the classroom…he just doesn’t seem to know how.

You know my real career was in education.  I don’t envy anyone in local educational leadership right now.

The expectations for a fall return to the classroom are surrounded by formidable challenges.

No comments:

Post a Comment