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APS teachers question the
return to in-person instruction
By Charlotte Spears
Whether students will be back in classrooms in late January was still unknown
as this issue of INtown went to press. COVID-19 cases were still on the rise even as
initial doses of two vaccines arrived in the state, which left many APS teachers skeptical
and questioning the system’s decision to resume in-person instruction.
Joseph Doughtery, a sixth grade social studies teacher at David T. Howard Middle
School, questioned the timing of the return when we spoke to him in mid-December.
“I think we should
remain virtual, because the
reason we are virtual in the
first place is for the safety
and health of students,
teachers and staff, and
that hasn’t changed. The
pandemic is at its worst,”
Dougherty said. “The only
argument to be made is
there is a certain level of
education the students are
losing, and the farther in
the school year you go, the
more detrimental it can
be, but I don’t think that
outweighs the health and
safety of everyone involved
at all.”
Another APS teacher,
who chose to remain
anonymous for fear of
repercussion, has “no faith”
in the administration’s
ability to bring students
back.
“I don’t get it. If we are this close to a vaccine, why are we going back at all?” the
APS teacher asked. “I am not satisfied with an answer I have received on the safety of
going back. What happens if a kid brings in Covid? There are so many unanswered
questions. I haven’t heard anything. I haven’t heard any type of protocol other than ‘we
are going back.’”
Among teachers, health and safety is one of the biggest concerns. Andrew
Copeland, a psychology teacher at Grady High School, understands the “greater need”
to go back in-person.
“There are kids that need places to stay, they need stability, they need food,
especially younger kids,” Copeland said. “Personally, I have been very cautious with
Covid. I have done a lot of stuff to prevent it. My opinion is always going to be that I
am scared, and it’s definitely increasing my risk of getting it.”
David Dorsey, an eighth grade social studies teacher at David T. Howard Middle
School has mixed feelings about seeing his students for the first time and keeping his
family safe.
“On one hand, no job is worth your life or your family’s life. On the other hand,
I am so ready to meet my students,” Dorsey said. “I am worried about bringing
something home. I couldn’t live with myself if I brought something home to my kids.”
The responsibility of caring for students during a pandemic is a heavy burden.
Doughtery recognizes “it’s a super big challenge to be public health officials and
teachers in a school.”
Some teachers feel as though APS is not doing enough to prepare for the return to
school buildings.
“We are four or five weeks away, what are the actual plans in place, what does
that really look like and how often does cleaning happen?” asked Tracy Holmes, an
eighth grade English teacher at David T. Howard Middle School. “You need to have
something like that already in place, we don’t want to come back face to face, then two
weeks later have to go back to virtual.”
36 January 2021 |
AtlantalNtownPaper.com