Can you believe we are already done the month of March. Where did the time go? As we approach the Easter long weekend there are many thoughts running through my mind. As I work through my emotions, it really gets me thinking about the times before COVID. We took so many things for granted before this pandemic. It's given me a lot to think about. First and foremost, during this year long and counting pandemic, I am so grateful for my family and friends. Although I haven't been able to physically be with many of them, just knowing I have so many people in my life that love me and care for me is beyond amazing. I have tried my best to really be there for my friends and family during these difficult times to the best that I can based on the limitations and restrictions. I know everyone is struggling and have been struggling since the beginning. I know that many people are "over this" and believe me I am too, but that doesn't mean that life goes on as "normal".
Yesterday at work we were informed about possible school closures after the Easter long weekend. Nothing is set in stone, nothing has been verified, but due to the short notice of the previous lock down our admin wanted us to be aware so we could prepare. We were also made aware of some new positive cases at our school. Bringing our total to 4 confirmed cases and 4 class shutdowns. This also means any siblings of students in the closed classes must remain home too. Now you can imagine how many students are home right now. Think back to the time that kids used to come to school, noses running, fevers, coughs. And us teachers who would come to school with tea, medicine and lozenges to get through the day. Things are so so different now. There is no such thing as coming to school sick, you have a runny nose; you have to go get COVID tested. It's insane and so heartbreaking to know that these poor kids have to endure these tests in order to come back to school. Either that or wait 10 school days. I have been very lucky to not have had any symptoms since working in schools, nor ever having to get a COVID test and I hope I never have to. After the staff meeting last night I was immediately anxious. Hearing the names of the classrooms that have closed and knowing that I have walked passed these teachers in the hallway and chatted with them in the staff room, what does this mean for me and for the many other teachers in the same boat. Unfortunately we are in the dark until a confirmed COVID test comes back.
Now back to the comment about schools closing, we have no idea. We are informed at the same time as the public is informed. Now my opinion on this matter goes back and fourth. Meaning I'm against it but then am for it. There are so many reasons why in person learning is the ideal option but health and safety is also a huge contributing factor. As someone who has first hand experience what is going on in our schools, I can tell you without a doubt we are unsafe. While the students eat, I stay to supervise them. Which means I’m sitting at my desk, at the front of the classroom while 15 students take off their masks to eat. They are not six feet apart and their lunch period is 30 minutes long. Which means if any of my students has COVID I’d be at risk due to the long period of contact with their masks off as well as the rest of the students. All I have is a non surgical mask and a shield. We do not scan students foreheads and we do not scan staff foreheads. We do a self screening tool that we hope staff and families are filling out honestly. That’s the only thing we go by, trust? I have a family at home that I could potentially be putting at risk, I have an elderly grandfather who my dad visits every week because he lives alone and cannot get his own groceries. What also doesn’t make any sense is that my school has a before and after school program. The students that attend the before and after school program get their forehead scanned by the staff but the rest of my students who get dropped off by family members do not. Last week I had a child who at 10:30 at snack time told me that she wasn’t feeling well and when we scanned her forehead she had a fever and was sent home. So for 2.5 hours she was potentially putting the entire classroom at risk. Thankfully she came back negative and we were able to move forward with our classroom but that’s not always the case. If her forehead was scanned before she arrived into the school we could’ve potentially limited that risk. The other issue is that we have prep teachers that go to every class in the school. So if a teacher comes into a close contact from one of their other classes and then comes to do his or her prep in my classroom they are continuing to spread the virus to the whole school. How is that sticking to cohorts ? And because of all the class closures and because people are scared to be supplying we have a shortage for coverages that we have lunch time supervisors stepping in for teachers and other educational staff.
I completely understand the importance of in school learning. The reason I got into the field of early childhood education is because I know the benefits of early learning for children. The first 5 years of a child’s life is the most crucial for further learning and development. We set the foundation for their future success as a student. Which bring me to my next point. Why a do early childhood educators make significantly less money than teachers. I understand our differences but I put it the same amount of time, work, and effort into my job. Especially right now during Covid we should be getting some type of wage enhancement to compensate for putting ourselves at risk. Right now I am in a short term contract which has been amazing because at least I get to stay in one school and in one classroom. However at the beginning of the school year I was a supply therefore I was going from school to school from class to class, potentially coming into contact with hundreds if not thousands of staff and students and I was making $17.43/hr - do you think that equates to an appropriate wage for the risk I was encountering ?
Until we are able to either bring the case numbers down or get staff and students vaccinated we should be at home. I understand the inconvenience this has on families - having to find alternatives to watch their child at home or potentially losing their jobs but the flip side if we stay in person we would continue putting staff and students at risk especially with the new variant and how quickly it can spread. We don’t even have appropriate PPE and students also don’t really follow the protocols. Children don't really understand the severity of this virus and in a way that's good because we do not want to frighten them. But at the same time it's not good because they are not taking it seriously enough which puts them at risk.
So to reiterate until it is safe to be physically in school I believe for the safety of staff and students we should switch to virtual learning. When it is safe to return; ECE’S‘s should be getting a wage increase, masks should be mandatory for all ages, classroom sizes should be made smaller so that children can actually social distance, children and staff should be forehead scanned before entering the building and greater PPE should be provided for staff. I understand this sounds like a tall order but I’m really not asking for much. I am just asking to feel protected and to feel safe when going into my workplace. Many people have had the luxury of working from home during the pandemic and many people have lost their jobs because of the pandemic. So I am not trying to justify that my job is more high risk then someone else’s and I’m also not trying to sound unappreciative of being able to have employment. I know that our Frontline workers have really stepped up to protect us and keep us healthy and safe during this pandemic but I also believe that us as educational staff have really been left in the dust.
I really hope that the Premier and the Minister of Education really take into consideration the numbers of COVID cases in the schools and how these numbers are effecting the overall numbers in our province. If we do remain in person I hope they can implement better protection protocols to actually make it as "safe" as they are claiming.
As of an hour ago it seems that our province is going into "lock down". So schools remain open, with hundreds of staff and students but hair salons that take one person at a time and nail salons that only have a 10 person capacity have to close. The decisions being made are absolutely ridiculous, frustrating and unsafe. I am very upset with this news, after a week of prepping booklets, making sure the students have supplies and their laptops ready to go, for them to say we are back to in person Tuesday?
Anyway I need some much needed relaxation so thanks for reading my little rant today. As always it is much appreciated. Stay well. Until next time.
Deanna
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