Teachers are front-line, essential workers and heroes, most especially so during the ongoing Covid Pandemic. Though caught in the ever-churning quagmire of political positioning and squabbling, they have done their best to provide a safe, effective learning environment for our children. They are worthy of our support and encouragement.
Time recently interview teachers across the country about “What It’s Like to Be a Teacher During the Coronavirus Pandemic”. Here’s a few of their quotes:
- I am teaching in an empty classroom, and it’s kind of sad
- This whole situation is a reflection of all the things that were wrong with education before COVID hit
- Teaching virtually was a lot more work than actually teaching in class
- It’s better than being in person and crossing our fingers, hoping no one dies
- We don’t want our kids to get the short end of this pandemic
- I’m afraid of students just sitting there in silence
- It’s just an awful situation to be in
No one argues that online instruction is easy or more effective. It’s much harder for students, teachers and parents. However, in many countries, online instruction isn’t even available. Unicef reports that at least a third of the world’s schoolchildren – 463 million children globally – are unable to access remote learning during school closures.
Covid 19 is also exacerbating education inequality in the United States caused by the burgeoning digital divide between the haves and the have-nots. The Brookings Institute recently offered an optimistic report, Beyond reopening schools: How education can emerge stronger than before COVID-19.
How can we support our teachers during this perilous time? GoFundMe offers some good suggestions. There are Grants, Scholarships and Crowdfunding opportunities. Perhaps the best idea is to start or join a fundraiser for your local school. Here’s help from Adopt a Classroom, on how to do it.
Give. Pray. Post. 