District shouldn’t force teachers back By
announcement made by the district that all district teachers must return back to school to teach students in person. A student who has a compromised immune system, whether they have a heart disease, diabetes, asthma or are recovering from cancer, would be at risk if they were forced to go back to school. That’s why they have the choice to stay at home and learn remotely, rather than be robbed of their chance of getting education or attend in person while anxiously awaiting to leave. It shouldn't matter whether it is a student or teacher, parent or principal, health should always come first. If the district’s top-priority is supposedly to ensure the safety of others, why this sudden action against the well-beings of our educators? Students are given a choice, and even so not every student can return to school yet because of certain
Ashante Anderson Staff Intern Students are clearly fundamental in the school system, and as such, their safety is a high priority, especially during unprecedented situations. However, they are not the only important piece. What about the lesson constructors and class instructors? What about the safety of the teachers? A teacher’s safety is not any less important than a student’s by any means. Unfortunately, legal action had to be taken against those who needed to be reminded of that fact. During a press conference on Jan. 7, the Broward Teachers Union announced that it was intending to file a lawsuit against Broward County Public Schools, regarding an
guidelines put into place for their safety. Students are at home learning, so why risk the teachers when they can teach from home like they did before? Teachers should have a choice that works and benefits them, not one that forces them to choose between their job and their lives. Some teachers have gone into retirement or on leave out of fear. At the time of writing the 50-member faculty includes five interim subs. It simply isn't fair and the BTU has the right to pursue any means to protect the teachers of this county. In a Jan. 7 press conference, BTU president Anna Fusco said that it isn't a matter of whether or not teachers want to teach students, because of course they do. "They don't want to not return, but they are legitimately afraid that if they return, they might contract the virus and they are at the highest risk," Fusco said.
At the end of this dispute, the two sides had to get a third party, the arbitrator, to make a final decision on the case. The arbitrator ruled in favor of the district, but with certain rules put into place. The arbitrator decided that the principals of the schools are the ones who will make the decision on whether or not their school's teachers are allowed to stay home. The school relayed this information to our teachers on Feb. 2, and English teacher Jennifer Pliske was satisfied with the results, just as I was. "I'm happy that there will be accountability and it sounded like the arbitrator's ruling was that the principals would have to, in writing, explain the operational needs and the choices that they made in terms of which teachers stay home and work remotely and which ones continue to come to school," Pliske said. Continued on thetornadotimes.org
Turning cameras on respects teachers By
Matthew Shanbom Editor-in-Chief I know I’m in the minority here. Only 17% of students want cameras to be mandatory for attendance, according to a Broward Schools survey last year. This didn’t say students had to have their camera on all the time, or even just during instructional time, only for attendance. In spite of this survey, the district changed the policy, and students have been required since Dec. 2 to show presence in Teams to be counted present. Has anything changed though?
For teachers, cameras are not just a way to annoy students. Cameras allow them to see who they are talking to and whether they are comprehending the material. In the same district survey, 69% of teachers supported camera usage for attendance. Believe it or not, teachers, at least I hope, sign up to be a teacher not for the pay, but to work with students and help educate the next generation. I’m sure every student has seen their teacher beg for students to turn on their cameras and express their disdain when only a couple kids in the class follow through with their request. Teachers, of course, understand if there is some reason you can’t turn on your camera, but at least let them know. When you do, use your voice, not the chat. I’m sure teachers would appreciate that.
If you were on campus for school, guess what? You would have to show your face to other students and teachers at the school. Plus, your camera can only see your upper torso meaning you can wear whatever you want, with dress codes (mostly) being a thing of the past until you return to campus. I haven’t heard of a single student who has been dress coded virtually. Students, at least for attendance, turn on your camera and allow your teacher to get to know your face. I don’t personally keep my camera on the entire time, but I make sure to keep it on when I am talking to the teacher. Remember the survey mentioned earlier in the article, I, of course, responded yes to it, as I think everyone else should have. If you don’t have a working camera, reach out to the school, get it fixed and show respect to your teacher and students.
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