Concerns linger for teachers as students in WR return to in-person learning
Posted Feb 8, 2021 01:00:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Teachers and students in Waterloo Region will resume in-person learning Monday with a renewed enthusiasm – and perhaps some concerns regarding COVID-19 safety.
The region's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang has spoken in support of the decision to resume in-person learning, as the province brings in additional health measures to control the spread of COVID, though the head of the local association representing catholic teachers is speaking to what he sees as a lack of consultation with frontline educators.
Patrick Etmanski is the President of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association in Waterloo Region.
He said a more careful, structured and gradual return may have been a more effective way, and while public health and the school boards stand behind the decisions, Etmanski added that view likely differs from the perspective of teachers.
“We’re back – and the teachers are happy to be back with the kids,” he said, “But at the same time, they’re very concerned about the protocols and the safety of themselves, their students and their families.”
Etmanski expressed further concern, noting separate attempts to speak with Dr. Wang have been “politely declined.”
That gap in communication, he said, has left his colleagues concerned, as he feels as though teachers have not been consulted on their reservations regarding a return to the workplace.
“When she goes on the radio and says she’s consulted her education partners, she’s talking about the school boards – she’s not talking about the teachers, or the ECEs or EAs or any other workers who are actually on the frontlines,” Etmanski said.
He expects the adjustment from the screen to the classroom will be a pivot for both teachers and students.
As for the enhanced safety measures, Etmanski did not express confidence, but rather echoed the confusion felt by the clarity of the new system.
“It works on the idea that people are being honest and open and doing the right thing when it comes to having symptoms or being exposed to being somebody who maybe had tested positive,” said Etmanski.
“It’s just an honour system really – you do what you’re supposed to do. That’s the same as it’s been since we went back to school in September.”
Etmanski said plans regarding asymptomatic testing in the catholic school board remain unclear as well, as public health’s assurance that testing partners “remain ready” offers only a vague explanation as to who will be conducting testing.
He said he doesn’t imagine it’ll be our region’s catholic teachers administering testing, as no training has been provided.
But whether that duty falls on public health nurses or a private company remains unclear.
“I hate to say that there’s going to be cases this week, I hope there isn’t cases this week in our schools – but the potential is there: and what is the plan?” Etmanski questioned, “Is the plan that if there’s a case or two cases, somebody swoops in and tests the whole school? We don’t know, we haven’t heard.”
Etmanski said he’s also been fielding questions at his office from elementary teachers regarding what’s expected of them during classroom lunch breaks, as classes of 20 to 30 kids are expected to be taking of their masks and eating their lunches in the classroom – something Etmanski said “wouldn’t be allowed anywhere else in Ontario, except in schools.”
“Teachers have been told very clearly that they’re not to be eating their lunch in the staff room, to be congregating anywhere in the school, and teachers were calling and emailing me all weekend saying ‘where am I supposed to eat my lunch, in my car?” said Etmanski.
“The answer to that, for a lot of teachers, is yes…because there is no space in the school.”
Etmanski said the teachers he’s heard from are excited to be back in the same physical space as students, as teaching in the virtual environment can be a very difficult process.
Nonetheless, Etmanski added he believes concerns regarding safety will remain with teachers for a “long, long time”, as he hopes that school boards and public health “get it right” and not have to close again, which would be the “worst thing that could happen.”
“Bottom line here is that there isn’t a whole lot different happening today than there was in September, or in December when we left because things were getting worse.” he said.
“The protocols have not really changed. I hope that things go well, and teachers hope that things go well and that we can just continue this until June.”
