Teachers’ Association sets up online petition following last week’s Board approval of reopening plan that lets families choose between hybrid and remote learning
As the positivity rate increases in Illinois, it is more than reasonable to choose remote classrooms for students and teachers. We have no more protection against the virus now than we did in March when schools decided to close. Until a vaccine is developed, the interaction of thousands of people in one space is reckless - even with masks.
My wife and I were planning to attend this evening’s board meeting (9/24) in person however we were unexpectedly surprised with the announcement that not only was the board meeting not going to allow physical attendance but our interaction and opportunity to exercise our first amendment rights were to be limited to an emailed comment.
It is absolutely daunting what little regard our local governments have for its constituent's liberties and rights as American citizens.
Had we been able to attend in person our comments would have been as such:
No doubt the last six months have taken a toll on us all. Families kept from one another, limits on where and when we can go into the public space, fear of COVID 19, and in some cases sickness and even death.
One thing that has been tested more than ANYTHING has been trust. Do we trust our government and business leaders, do we trust our friends and neighbors, do we trust ourselves----trust to do what is right? The answer is we have NO CHOICE but to trust - - -but trust is a two-way street.
How can we trust local leadership when it appears based on their actions that leadership does not trust US??? And by us, I mean, parents, teachers, students, and entire communities.
Why has it taken five weeks to start at 25% capacity?!?! Why did we not start this procedure on August 21st?
Other districts and Catholic schools were starting their school years, with in-person attendance, on time, in some fashion. Some schools started with full attendance on day one.
North Palos SD 117
Palos CCSD 118
Providence Catholic Highschool
Palos Heights SD 128
Evergreen Park ESD 124
Lincolnway CHSD 210
Cardinal Bernadine School
These are just a few examples of other local school districts and/or institutes which are affording their students a higher rate of in-person attendance than is currently or will be provided by D230.
Is it that their institutes and districts were more prepared?
Is it because they had more competent leadership?
Or did they simply TRUST their communities more?
The most obvious answer is that it a combination of the three. If there was more trust by Districts 230's leadership, our schools would have started the year on time, with our students learning in person, in some fashion as long as we could TRUST that the process and its participants would ensure a safe, and healthy environment.
I can draw no other conclusion than that our D230 leadership has failed us.
Mr. Serratore, I compel you to lead your board to serve our district. To serve your community. To serve the parents, teachers, and students who are all suffering from your decisions.
The District sincerely needs to follow its own Mission Statement. Although the S4 Vision embodies this goal, it certainly does not appear that D230 trusts itself to fulfill it.
Students
Teachers
Parents
Community
I trust you. Together we can create an environment where our students and teachers can return to school, with 100% in person attendance TODAY.
The only question remaining is if Mr. Serratore and his board can trust in us.
There are many people who cannot get vaccines. The vaccine for Covid is not being safely studied. There is a treatment that is effective and pharmacies are preventing the prescriptions from being filled. Viruses and bacterial infection are impacting all people every day and always have. The scientific data for Covid is well known to be incorrect. Medical experts are those doctors who actually see and treat patients, not a the most prominent person (Fauci) if he has no current clinical experience with patients. The covid testing is known to give false positive results.
People who need to do solely remote learning should. Others should be permitted to teach in person. The same options should apply to students. If they choose remote learning, then there are obviously many who can provide remote learning. For those students who need to be in a classroom, then they need to have access to in person instruction. Whether or not a child receives in person instruction or remote is not a decision for teachers and adminstrations to make-it is the parents' decision.
No one is saying that masks and hygiene practices shouldn't be in place although these measures are not going to prevent the spread. What about those students who have had the virus and recovered? I have not seen one mention of this scenario.
Sadly, if protests are permitted, then we don't have a basis to support 100% remote learning. Under these circumstances, there needs to be school of choice options. Funds need to be directed by the parents who are ultimately responsible for ensuring the access to Education. The taxes provided by each primary residence need to be allocated to schools according to the decision of the parents for an educational provider that can best meet the needs of their child. The current educational policy in Illinois is not sustainable if no child can access classrooms in order for education to be provided.
Also, the dooms day mentality is irrational and unhealthy for children. Life has to move forward with precautions in place. There is no "only one" right way; therefore, there must be more options available for parents to be able to make the best decisions for their children. Sadly, based upon the views expressed by the individuals in this article, I would never want them near my child much less teaching him. They are unhinged, unrealistic, and irrational in these viewpoints that are quoted in this article.
As the positivity rate increases in Illinois, it is more than reasonable to choose remote classrooms for students and teachers. We have no more protection against the virus now than we did in March when schools decided to close. Until a vaccine is developed, the interaction of thousands of people in one space is reckless - even with masks.
Listen to medical experts - not politicians.
My wife and I were planning to attend this evening’s board meeting (9/24) in person however we were unexpectedly surprised with the announcement that not only was the board meeting not going to allow physical attendance but our interaction and opportunity to exercise our first amendment rights were to be limited to an emailed comment.
It is absolutely daunting what little regard our local governments have for its constituent's liberties and rights as American citizens.
Had we been able to attend in person our comments would have been as such:
No doubt the last six months have taken a toll on us all. Families kept from one another, limits on where and when we can go into the public space, fear of COVID 19, and in some cases sickness and even death.
One thing that has been tested more than ANYTHING has been trust. Do we trust our government and business leaders, do we trust our friends and neighbors, do we trust ourselves----trust to do what is right? The answer is we have NO CHOICE but to trust - - -but trust is a two-way street.
How can we trust local leadership when it appears based on their actions that leadership does not trust US??? And by us, I mean, parents, teachers, students, and entire communities.
Why has it taken five weeks to start at 25% capacity?!?! Why did we not start this procedure on August 21st?
Other districts and Catholic schools were starting their school years, with in-person attendance, on time, in some fashion. Some schools started with full attendance on day one.
North Palos SD 117
Palos CCSD 118
Providence Catholic Highschool
Palos Heights SD 128
Evergreen Park ESD 124
Lincolnway CHSD 210
Cardinal Bernadine School
These are just a few examples of other local school districts and/or institutes which are affording their students a higher rate of in-person attendance than is currently or will be provided by D230.
Is it that their institutes and districts were more prepared?
Is it because they had more competent leadership?
Or did they simply TRUST their communities more?
The most obvious answer is that it a combination of the three. If there was more trust by Districts 230's leadership, our schools would have started the year on time, with our students learning in person, in some fashion as long as we could TRUST that the process and its participants would ensure a safe, and healthy environment.
I can draw no other conclusion than that our D230 leadership has failed us.
Mr. Serratore, I compel you to lead your board to serve our district. To serve your community. To serve the parents, teachers, and students who are all suffering from your decisions.
The District sincerely needs to follow its own Mission Statement. Although the S4 Vision embodies this goal, it certainly does not appear that D230 trusts itself to fulfill it.
Students
Teachers
Parents
Community
I trust you. Together we can create an environment where our students and teachers can return to school, with 100% in person attendance TODAY.
The only question remaining is if Mr. Serratore and his board can trust in us.
There are many people who cannot get vaccines. The vaccine for Covid is not being safely studied. There is a treatment that is effective and pharmacies are preventing the prescriptions from being filled. Viruses and bacterial infection are impacting all people every day and always have. The scientific data for Covid is well known to be incorrect. Medical experts are those doctors who actually see and treat patients, not a the most prominent person (Fauci) if he has no current clinical experience with patients. The covid testing is known to give false positive results.
People who need to do solely remote learning should. Others should be permitted to teach in person. The same options should apply to students. If they choose remote learning, then there are obviously many who can provide remote learning. For those students who need to be in a classroom, then they need to have access to in person instruction. Whether or not a child receives in person instruction or remote is not a decision for teachers and adminstrations to make-it is the parents' decision.
No one is saying that masks and hygiene practices shouldn't be in place although these measures are not going to prevent the spread. What about those students who have had the virus and recovered? I have not seen one mention of this scenario.
Sadly, if protests are permitted, then we don't have a basis to support 100% remote learning. Under these circumstances, there needs to be school of choice options. Funds need to be directed by the parents who are ultimately responsible for ensuring the access to Education. The taxes provided by each primary residence need to be allocated to schools according to the decision of the parents for an educational provider that can best meet the needs of their child. The current educational policy in Illinois is not sustainable if no child can access classrooms in order for education to be provided.
Also, the dooms day mentality is irrational and unhealthy for children. Life has to move forward with precautions in place. There is no "only one" right way; therefore, there must be more options available for parents to be able to make the best decisions for their children. Sadly, based upon the views expressed by the individuals in this article, I would never want them near my child much less teaching him. They are unhinged, unrealistic, and irrational in these viewpoints that are quoted in this article.