Is it Really Safe to Return?

A few weeks ago I wrote this piece.  Although I submitted it to several newspapers none of them published it.  So since I took the time to write it I thought I would post it here .  

Is it Really Safe to Return? 

Teachers play a crucial role in society. We work tirelessly to create the most engaging lessons possible to grab our students attention and foster their love of learning. We find clever ways to help students who struggle so that they too feel successful in the classroom. We spend not only our time but money to make the best learning environment possible for all our students. We are entrusted to keep our students safe from the moment they enter our room until the moment they leave. Teachers are asked to do so much every school year and at times it feels that many overlook how important teachers truly are. 

When this pandemic started I had hoped that people would start valuing a teacher's job more, and at first it seemed that many understood just how difficult a teacher's job can be at times. However, now as decisions about starting to reopen schools starts, what I hear most is: What about the students' health and mental well-being? Don't get me wrong, the health, safety, and well-being of students are all so important. But my question is: What about the teachers, paraprofessionals, administration, and custodial and cafeteria staff? What about the teachers who have underlying health issues that put them at a greater risk for possibly contracting COVID, and possibly dying? What about the teachers who go home to family members with underlying health issues? What about the teachers who go home to older family members? This may sound selfish, but what about me? 

My life has already been impacted by this pandemic in the most unfortunate way possible. On April 29th my healthy, loving, and incredible husband died from complications from COVID, he was only 44 years old. His death has now left me to raise our two year old daughter and 9 month old son as a single parent. Returning to the classroom is quite frankly a very stressful idea presently, especially with cases increasing throughout the country . I am also a Type 1 Diabetic, which according to the CDC might puts me at a greater risk of getting seriously ill if I do get COVID. Knowing that my husband had no underlying conditions, but was unable to beat this virus is something that I think about quite often. I have seen first hand what this virus can do to a healthy person. My husband went from talking on the phone with his doctor to struggling to breathe within hours. Through FaceTime I saw how COVID ravaged his body for the 26 days he was in the hospital until his body could no longer fight. I have already lost so much and quite honestly why do I want to risk my life especially when I am now raising my two very young children by myself? Why would I want to risk going to work and possibly making my mother or mother-in-law sick because I was unknowingly exposed to the virus by a student, a parent, or another faculty member? My children have already experienced a devastating loss, my daughter is still healing from the realization that Papa isn't ever coming home again and my son will never get to know his Papa first hand. 

I think what should be made clear is that teachers love their work and miss their students terribly. We all want to go back to work and do what we love doing TEACHING. We just want to make sure it is safe for us, because let's face it all teachers are at risk. This virus doesn't care who you are, I reiterate I lost my healthy 44 year old husband. I love teaching. I love my students. I love my co-workers. However, as much as I love what I do and who I work with,  I don't want to be the one that ends up getting sick or possibly dying. I don't want to make someone I love sick. I don't want to lose anyone else I know or love. But most importantly, I don't want my children to lose me too.