District shouldn't force teachers back

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announcement made by guidelines put into place for Ashante the district that all district teachers must return back their safety. Students are at home learning, so why risk Anderson to school to teach students in person. the teachers when they can teach from home like they did A student who has a before? Staff Intern compromised immune Teachers should have a system, whether they have choice that works and benefits a heart disease, diabetes, them, not one that forces them

Students are clearly funda- asthma or are recovering from to choose between their job mental in the school system, cancer, would be at risk if and their lives. Some teachers and as such, their safety is a they were forced to go back to have gone into retirement or high priority, especially during school. That’s why they have on leave out of fear. At the time unprecedented situations. the choice to stay at home and of writing the 50-member facHowever, they are not the only learn remotely, rather than ulty includes five interim subs. important piece. What about be robbed of their chance of It simply isn't fair and the BTU the lesson constructors and getting education or attend in has the right to pursue any class instructors? What about person while anxiously await- means to protect the teachers the safety of the teachers? ing to leave. of this county. A teacher’s safety is not any It shouldn't matter whether In a Jan. 7 press conference, less important than a student’s it is a student or teacher, parent BTU president Anna Fusco by any means. Unfortunately, or principal, health should said that it isn't a matter of legal action had to be taken always come first. whether or not teachers want against those who needed to be If the district’s top-priority is to teach students, because of reminded of that fact. supposedly to ensure the safety course they do.

During a press conference of others, why this sudden "They don't want to not on Jan. 7, the Broward Teach- action against the well-beings return, but they are legitimately ers Union announced that it of our educators? Students are afraid that if they return, they was intending to file a law- given a choice, and even so not might contract the virus and suit against Broward County every student can return to they are at the highest risk," Public Schools, regarding an school yet because of certain 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.