Teacher Unions Should Stop Resisting In-Person Schooling
“If you had all of the funding you need to solve your problems, what would you do with it?” I asked the founding principle of New Visions Charter High School in our conversation in February 2021 about her school reopening. “...I’m not sure I could pay off the Union to leave me alone,” she said. My name is Daniel, and I'm a student activist for equality in New York schooling. Teacher unions are truly a detriment to students’ education during this pandemic, and here’s why. The UFT, also known as the United Federation of Teachers, is protesting in-person schooling and preventing quality education, even though the statistics show how badly we need teachers in school buildings.
The UFT refuses to allow teachers to go back to school in-person because they argue it would be “sacrificing themselves to coronavirus,” according to a Georgia teacher, when that’s extremely insensitive to students. It’s infuriating, and honestly saddening, that they didn’t take students’ needs into account. Although some schools have actually gone back to in-person, 400/1700 public schools in NYC haven’t. This has negatively affected many students and parents. Some children have abusive guardians, some depend on the school food, some don’t have reliable wifi, and there are many low-income parents and students in this city who need the services only found in school. Although unions can be helpful, they aren’t if their priorities are wrong.
However, it’s not too hard to fend off the virus if everyone cooperates, and there are many ways to keep yourself safe in classrooms. According to The Scientist News, you can keep the windows open for sunlight to get in and to get fresh air. You should separate the desks and make sure masks are on at all times. Make sure students get tested before coming back to school and, obviously, wash your hands. It needs to be a policy that everyone follows these rules so that the chances of getting coronavirus will be lowered. If students and teachers follow these rules, it will be healthy for everyone to be present.
In the recent news, President Biden has made plans to reopen schools within his first 100 days in office, but the union is fighting this. On Easter, Yes, coronavirus is dangerous but the idea of going in-person is a lot safer than they think. The UFT needs to make the right decision for the good of our generation. Children should come first.
CITATIONS
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