My son’s first grade teacher went to a Trump rally yesterday. News footage shows a big crowd with very few masks. The teacher posted a photo on Facebook (my husband subs at the same school and is FB friends with her) and she’s not wearing a mask in the photo, but she might have just removed it for the photo.
In the classroom she always wears a mask and follows good procedures with the kids, and we’ve been otherwise really happy with the precautions she in particular, and the school in general, have been taking.
Lots of other teachers and students likely attended the rally. Community spread has been down, only one case in the school so far this entire school year.
Other than finding out your kid’s teacher is a rally-attending Trumper, how worried would you be about sending your kid to school next week?
Oof. This is hard but I think I would keep quiet about it. I think what teachers do on their own time is their own business though obviously it would be better if she didn’t do this.
Take Trump out of the picture...would you do something if she went to a BLM protest unmasked?
Oof. This is hard but I think I would keep quiet about it. I think what teachers do on their own time is their own business though obviously it would be better if she didn’t do this.
Take Trump out of the picture...would you do something if she went to a BLM protest unmasked?
I guess my question wasn’t “should I make a stink with the school” as much it as is “should I keep my kid home?”
I agree that what teachers do on their own time is more or less their own business. My husband and I both have to work in person, but we take as many precautions as we can to minimize the increased risk to our colleagues and the kids he teaches.
I think I would be contemplating keeping my kid home the same if it was a BLM rally or a Veteran’s Day parade or a large unmasked family wedding.
Oof. This is hard but I think I would keep quiet about it. I think what teachers do on their own time is their own business though obviously it would be better if she didn’t do this.
Take Trump out of the picture...would you do something if she went to a BLM protest unmasked?
It's not even kind of the same thing though. In addition to finding out the teacher isn't taking good covid-19 precautions, she also found out her kids teacher is a disgusting racist.
I'm not sure what I would do. I don't see how I could trust this teacher to fairly education a classroom full of students.
Post by expectantsteelerfan on Oct 24, 2020 9:41:59 GMT -5
So I think if we send our kids to school, we have to trust the precautions they are taking AT SCHOOL and try not to worry about what the teachers/rest of the students/families are doing outside of school, because otherwise we will make ourselves crazy.
There's a thread on ML about OTF, and a teacher responded that she has returned to working out there, and a bunch of people blasted her even though the gym is taking precautions and she is taking precautions at school. I'm just bringing this up because for the most part, we have no idea what everyone else is doing. So while I get the initial gut reaction of OMG I need to keep my kid home, as long as the teacher isn't showing symptoms and keeps wearing a mask and distancing at school, I would try not to think any more about their potential exposure and keep sending my kid to school. Otherwise, I think if I tried to consider every potential exposure, I'd end up just keeping my kid virtual entirely.
Unfortunately, what she does outside of school is her business. I would have a rough time knowing this about my kid’s teacher (tr Trump part more so than the mask part) but I don’t think there’s anything you can do except pull your kid if you’re able and willing to go that route.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
Unfortunately, what she does outside of school is her business. I would have a rough time knowing this about my kid’s teacher (tr Trump part more so than the mask part) but I don’t think there’s anything you can do except pull your kid if you’re able and willing to go that route.
Pulling him would mean my husband would have to quit his job, and virtual learning isn’t compatible with C’s IEP or learning style. As PP said, if it was a good option, we’d already be doing it.
I guess I’m overreacting a little bit, and trying to process all of my emotions and fears about this still. This is why the school takes precautions, and they’ve been working well so far.
Unfortunately, what she does outside of school is her business. I would have a rough time knowing this about my kid’s teacher (tr Trump part more so than the mask part) but I don’t think there’s anything you can do except pull your kid if you’re able and willing to go that route.
Pulling him would mean my husband would have to quit his job, and virtual learning isn’t compatible with C’s IEP or learning style. As PP said, if it was a good option, we’d already be doing it.
I guess I’m overreacting a little bit, and trying to process all of my emotions and fears about this still. This is why the school takes precautions, and they’ve been working well so far.
I hear you. I would have a tough time with this information as well. But the public health reports are showing that the precautions in schools are working well, so it would not be an automatic pull my kid for me. But shit, I’d have a hard time with that teacher.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
Post by pinkpeony08 on Oct 24, 2020 10:44:41 GMT -5
While I would have a hard time with the Trump rally part, I agree what she does on her own time isn’t really relevant.
I work in health care, and if we are with a co worker (both masked) who tests positive, it is considered non exposure because the masks work. They don’t recommend testing those who were around the person if both are masked. So in that sense, if she really is wearing her mask all the time, the likelihood of her exposing the kids is very low.
As I noted in the OTF thread, there are probably a lot of parents at those events or doing other risky things. Keep wearing your masks and manage your own exposure outside of school. That has been our plan, at least.
I understand feeling conflicted over this. In this kind of scenario I think to myself “what would I know if social media didn’t exist?” In my role, I see posts that teachers and parents make all the time and sometimes it’s hard to separate that from what you see day to day. However, they are also following the procedures we’ve put in place at our school to keep everyone safe and healthy and that’s all I can control.
Post by cricketwife on Oct 24, 2020 11:01:13 GMT -5
I would panic, probably post on here and then try to sleep on it and think about it more rationally tomorrow. In the end, I think PPs are right. You can’t control or worry about what people do outside of school, which is why following the protocols at school is so important. I’m sorry. I totally get your concern.
Our schools have been in person since just after Labor Day, and there has been no spread. If you feel good about the precautions your school is taking I would try not to think about it. We have no idea what anyone is doing on their free time.
Thinking about the photo - was she in a tightly packed crowd, or was it just her and the people she went with in the photo? Not that there's anything you can do about it either way, but you mentioned that she might have just taken the mask off for the picture. I do that, and I have my son take his off if I'm taking the picture. I don't do this in a sea of people, I am not one to be in a sea of people anyway.
Post by maudefindlay on Oct 24, 2020 11:51:33 GMT -5
What if she is going to a rally every weekend? It's not sustainable to pull your kid every week. It stinks, but there will be many future teachers that your kid will encounter. Some will line up with you well and others will not.
So I think if we send our kids to school, we have to trust the precautions they are taking AT SCHOOL and try not to worry about what the teachers/rest of the students/families are doing outside of school, because otherwise we will make ourselves crazy.
This exactly. I’m sorry, VillainV. I dealt with a similar situation last week when I discovered a significant amount of staff attending a large indoor wedding last weekend with no masks and posing behind a Trump 2020 banner with the bride. DD1 had only one day this week in the building and as angry as I we were, we did send her in. At the end of the day, we usually have no idea what *anyone* is doing outside of work/school but we trust the safety protocols in place, which are supposed to protect against transmission of idiocy to my kid (and teacher husband). It also helped that DD1’s teacher did not attend and this apparently is not her co-worker social circle.
In your case, if it was outdoors I’d feel a little better, though again, she could be doing far riskier things indoors that you just don’t know about. The Trump support? Yes, that’s a huge issue for me too but union leader husband has to always remind me that there is absolutely no way we can complain about someone’s political beliefs.
I’d still send my kid, and I’d be keeping an eye on what’s being taught in that room.
Same. I mean, teachers should be smarter than posting that crap, but I would be worried about what she’s verbally or non-verbally teaching.
I’m so used to keeping quiet about politics because of my job, that I’m always amazed at those that have public jobs not acting the same.
From what I hear from C (and from H who sees her at work) she, and all of the teachers, are very careful not to overtly talk about politics. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there were lots of microagressions, but that happens with teachers across the political spectrum. We see a lot of the worksheets that come home and haven’t seen anything questionable so far.
However, many of the other students are VERY open about who their parents plan to vote for, and say some pretty inappropriate things. C knows exactly how we feel about Trump (he’s a liar and a criminal who only cares about himself) and just laughs that his friends say things that are so wildly wrong about Trump.
I’d still send my kid, and I’d be keeping an eye on what’s being taught in that room.
Same. I mean, teachers should be smarter than posting that crap, but I would be worried about what she’s verbally or non-verbally teaching.
I’m so used to keeping quiet about politics because of my job, that I’m always amazed at those that have public jobs not acting the same.
Ha. I’m the exact opposite as someone who has a public facing job, I’m super loud (at work and on twitter) about politics.
OP sorry you have to feel stressed about this. I think that unless you’re going to switch to virtual learning fully you should keep your kid in school. Unfortunately, people are going to partake in higher risk activities. It seems like safety protocols such as masking and some distancing are causing schools to not lead to a lot of transmission of COVID.
Same. I mean, teachers should be smarter than posting that crap, but I would be worried about what she’s verbally or non-verbally teaching.
I’m so used to keeping quiet about politics because of my job, that I’m always amazed at those that have public jobs not acting the same.
Ha. I’m the exact opposite as someone who has a public facing job, I’m super loud (at work and on twitter) about politics.
OP sorry you have to feel stressed about this. I think that unless you’re going to switch to virtual learning fully you should keep your kid in school. Unfortunately, people are going to partake in higher risk activities. It seems like safety protocols such as masking and some distancing are causing schools to not lead to a lot of transmission of COVID.
Post by purplepenguin7 on Oct 24, 2020 17:10:00 GMT -5
This place is weird. So many people think it’s nbd for a teacher to be unmasked at Trump rally (aka around others who likely don’t care about covid), but another teacher working out, in a mask, with the place sanitized every 45 mins was super problematic and she was putting all her students at risk.
I will say, I agree with others in this thread that unfortunately this is one of the many risks of in person school and it sucks majorly. I hate these decisions have to be made and I’m sorry you are in this position.
This place is weird. So many people think it’s nbd for a teacher to be unmasked at Trump rally (aka around others who likely don’t care about covid), but another teacher working out, in a mask, with the place sanitized every 45 mins was super problematic and she was putting all her students at risk.
I will say, I agree with others in this thread that unfortunately this is one of the many risks of in person school and it sucks majorly. I hate these decisions have to be made and I’m sorry you are in this position.
That thread was partially why I asked this question. But I will say I’m feeling a bit like people are telling me “whatever, you asked for this by sending your kid to school in person, so don’t be shocked if he gets sick.” Perhaps I’m still being overly sensitive.
I mean, I know we are accepting a higher level of risk, but assumed (hoped?) the school community would be committed to following CDC recommendations about mask wear and large gatherings both inside and outside of work.
Also, I see a HUGE difference in a teacher going to a gym that is taking (imperfect) precautions to maintain her physical and mental health, and a person who would knowingly attend a large unmasked political rally whose attendees are known for flouting all the rules because ‘Merica.
This place is weird. So many people think it’s nbd for a teacher to be unmasked at Trump rally (aka around others who likely don’t care about covid), but another teacher working out, in a mask, with the place sanitized every 45 mins was super problematic and she was putting all her students at risk.
I will say, I agree with others in this thread that unfortunately this is one of the many risks of in person school and it sucks majorly. I hate these decisions have to be made and I’m sorry you are in this position.
That thread was partially why I asked this question. But I will say I’m feeling a bit like people are telling me “whatever, you asked for this by sending your kid to school in person, so don’t be shocked if he gets sick.” Perhaps I’m still being overly sensitive.
I mean, I know we are accepting a higher level of risk, but assumed (hoped?) the school community would be committed to following CDC recommendations about mask wear and large gatherings both inside and outside of work.
Also, I see a HUGE difference in a teacher going to a gym that is taking (imperfect) precautions to maintain her physical and mental health, and a person who would knowingly attend a large unmasked political rally whose attendees are known for flouting all the rules because ‘Merica.
If this year has taught me anything, you can’t expect anything good from most people. ‘Merica is full of selfish people. Maybe I’m jaded because I’m smack dab in the middle of rural trump country. We just had a bunch of parents in a school district by me allow their kids to have a huge unmasked indoor party for fun which resulted in the high school closing down because of a large number of covid cases traced back to the party.
This place is weird. So many people think it’s nbd for a teacher to be unmasked at Trump rally (aka around others who likely don’t care about covid), but another teacher working out, in a mask, with the place sanitized every 45 mins was super problematic and she was putting all her students at risk.
I will say, I agree with others in this thread that unfortunately this is one of the many risks of in person school and it sucks majorly. I hate these decisions have to be made and I’m sorry you are in this position.
I don't think that's a fair comparison. If OP's teacher came on the boards talking about going to a trump rally unmasked she would get flamed.
So I don't think people are saying it's no big deal, but as a parent who has to/chosen to send their child to school it's not realistic to pull your child from school every time you find out your child's teachers went to the gym unmasked or a protest or a wedding, etc.
At the same time if OP choose's to pull her child then I wouldn't blame her if she doesn't comfortable.
This place is weird. So many people think it’s nbd for a teacher to be unmasked at Trump rally (aka around others who likely don’t care about covid), but another teacher working out, in a mask, with the place sanitized every 45 mins was super problematic and she was putting all her students at risk.
I will say, I agree with others in this thread that unfortunately this is one of the many risks of in person school and it sucks majorly. I hate these decisions have to be made and I’m sorry you are in this position.
That thread was partially why I asked this question. But I will say I’m feeling a bit like people are telling me “whatever, you asked for this by sending your kid to school in person, so don’t be shocked if he gets sick.” Perhaps I’m still being overly sensitive.
Did anyone say that in this thread? I personally think that school is generally pretty safe, especially when masks and some distancing are observed, which is what you mentioned in your post. Anytime you do step outside even precovid you take some risk of getting injured or sick, so I think that's just a fact of life. So if people mention there is a risk in schools, that is not a blame but a fact. I don't think people are classifying people who choose to send their kid to school which is essentially a necessity as bad parents AT ALL. I think you're doing great and what's the best for your family!
This place is weird. So many people think it’s nbd for a teacher to be unmasked at Trump rally (aka around others who likely don’t care about covid), but another teacher working out, in a mask, with the place sanitized every 45 mins was super problematic and she was putting all her students at risk.
I will say, I agree with others in this thread that unfortunately this is one of the many risks of in person school and it sucks majorly. I hate these decisions have to be made and I’m sorry you are in this position.
I don't think that's a fair comparison. If OP's teacher came on the boards talking about going to a trump rally unmasked she would get flamed.
So I don't think people are saying it's no big deal, but as a parent who has to/chosen to send their child to school it's not realistic to pull your child from school every time you find out your child's teachers went to the gym unmasked or a protest or a wedding, etc.
At the same time if OP choose's to pull her child then I wouldn't blame her if she doesn't comfortable.
I think it is a fair comparison. At least 3-4 posters in this thread said what the teacher does on her own time is her own business...except if she posts about it here I guess? I felt this post had a different tone like “well too bad that is a risk you take with in person school”. And that IS a risk we take with in person school/care but it seemed like this teacher was getting a benefit of the doubt and saying things like masks works, school is taking precautions and the like, whereas in the other post that teacher was made out like an irresponsible person for doing something a lot less inconsiderate.
I don't think that's a fair comparison. If OP's teacher came on the boards talking about going to a trump rally unmasked she would get flamed.
So I don't think people are saying it's no big deal, but as a parent who has to/chosen to send their child to school it's not realistic to pull your child from school every time you find out your child's teachers went to the gym unmasked or a protest or a wedding, etc.
At the same time if OP choose's to pull her child then I wouldn't blame her if she doesn't comfortable.
I think it is a fair comparison. At least 3-4 posters in this thread said what the teacher does on her own time is her own business...except if she posts about it here I guess? I felt this post had a different tone like “well too bad that is a risk you take with in person school”. And that IS a risk we take with in person school/care but it seemed like this teacher was getting a benefit of the doubt and saying things like masks works, school is taking precautions and the like, whereas in the other post that teacher was made out like an irresponsible person for doing something a lot less inconsiderate.
Yes exactly. We absolutely cannot do anything as individuals about what other people do in their own time whether that's teachers, doctors, nurses, etc even though we have to interact with those people. That doesn't mean that we don't think it's wrong or they shouldn't be flamed. If my friend who is a teacher told me they were regularly working out I'd tell them the exact same thing that I don't think it's a good idea, but that doesn't mean I think that their students/student's parents should be able to get them fired for engaging in such activity.
So the choices are to accept the risk by going to school, the doctor, etc because you don't know what people are doing in their free time or completely isolate yourself. Unfortunately you cannot dictate what other do in their free time.
Totally agree with wanderingback. I would flame the shit out of that teacher if she posted here but this is a completely different question.
VillainV I don't think you asked for this or are getting what you deserve. First of all, it sounds like you didn't have a great option in the first place. Second, I think the teacher is a real inconsiderate jerk. I just don't see any recourse and I agree more broadly that this kind of thing is happening in other school families and to some degree we all (whether we have family members in a school building or not) have to rely on masks and distancing and other precautions and hope for the best.
But I would be so frustrated and disillusioned with that teacher. I'm sorry. It really sucks.