…and Counting
Dear Governor Abbott:
What is the number?
As Texans and Americans, we have become desensitized to the numbers. The number of cases. The number of hospitalizations. The number of deaths. It is the elephant in the room so many lawmakers try to avoid directly acknowledging and yet the numbers are not going to disappear overnight. This pandemic may feel like it happened overnight, like one day children were in school and then the next, they were not, but the truth is, it was always in the numbers. The numbers are real. As of writing this there are over 5,192,698 cases in the U.S. and 165,924 Americans are dead. Despite this, schools all over the state are reopening.
As an educator, I fully understand the value and importance of education, but public safety and the safety of our students cannot be secondary to the perception of going back to normal. Many important voices have already pointed out that we understand the necessity of school, but not the necessity for in-person instruction. We understand the importance of our jobs, but it is time to rethink what teachers are tasked with doing. For years, it has been about more than teaching the younger generations. We have been tasked with keeping them safe from active shooters and now keeping everyone safe during this pandemic. Deep down everyone knows what is being asked is unreasonable.
We could not slow the spread during the summer when students were out of school, but suddenly we are supposed to slow the spread as students gather for in-person classes? I know about the rise in cases, positivity rate, and hospitalizations in Texas firsthand due to my mother being on the frontlines sacrificing her life for others at the hospital she has worked at for decades. She is burdened with the facts about how contagious, deadly, and nasty this disease is. Now schools in Texas are reopening as the danger and impact of this virus continues to touch millions of lives. We all wish this was over and we could go back to our normal lives, but we cannot ignore the dangerous reality of the situation. So, I ask you, Governor Abbott, what is your number?
How many students? Teachers? Staff? Custodians? Bus drivers? Cafeteria workers? How many human beings must get this deadly virus before in-person instruction seems unreasonable? How many people must die? How many children must fall ill instead of just being asymptomatic? No one wants to speak of these things, but we must if we are going to move forward with a fact-based, honest plan that acknowledges the risks and concerns of parents and educators. So, what is the number?
It should be zero. We have the technology and the resources to teach online. These are dire times and extenuating circumstances. There is no time for avoiding the questions about public safety, the health of our children, and the rapid spread of this disease. If we are uncomfortable talking about what the number is, maybe that in and of itself is our answer. So, what is the number?
Audre Anzaldúa teaches in higher ed educator in Texas. “Audre Anzaldúa” is a pen name for the purpose of this blog; this writer has chosen to remain anonymous. Click the pen name to learn more about the inspiration behind their choice of pseudonym.