Friday, August 28, 2020

It Didn't Take Long

 My gut told me not to do it, but it's so hard to leave good money on the table when you're a teacher in the summertime.

So I went to a professional development meeting of 2 days duration in a room with 8 other teachers and a consultant.

I took my own hand sanitizer and never removed my mask while there. I didn't share pens or eat in the room, which was air conditioned to near-freezing.

We had ample room to social distance.

Ten days after the meeting, I got a notice from my district that a teacher who was there tested positive. Ten days. No contact tracing in all that time.

I had no symptoms, so I decided to ride it out.

Wednesday the 26th was the two-week marker for this event. Some of the other teachers got tested, but no one else tested positive.

This was 8 teachers. I can hardly wait for September 1, when I will be reunited with the other 60 teachers at my school. On September 8, students start arriving.

It's easy to be hyper-aware when you're bored and cold and well spaced. What about when you have 10,000 things to do, it's hot and humid, and you haven't seen your pals since March?

Well, at least I know that masks work. But now I have to buy plain-colored ones. I'm so bummed. I had a friend make me some beautiful weird ones. Can't use them.

Please continue to petition the Gods and Goddesses for me and all public school teachers. As far as Covid goes, I think it's when and not if.

7 comments:

anne marie in philly said...

I wish you could change jobs. teaching is a dangerous position right now.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Special prayers to Brigid to protect you! Please try to stay as safe as possible, dear friend.

Nan said...

Idiots here in Michigan are protesting because their adolescent boys can't play varsity football this fall. Other issues are irrelevant. Too bad pathogens don't care who they kill because it sure would be nice if COVID would cull only the stupid.

e said...

Petitions to the Goddesses and Gods continue!

yellowdoggranny said...

oh Anne, I worry so much for you and my other teacher friend Morgen..wish there were other job opportunities for you both..although I know you both love to teach, but judas priest ..it's fucking scary.

yellowdoggranny said...

plus you know I'm giving the goddess lots of shiny stuff for you all.

Anonymous said...

My daughter, who is an art teacher, was hired to teach part-time at a pre-school in July with an option for fulltime employemnt in August. On 3 different occasions during July she was told she was exposed to other teachers who were exposed and being tested for Covid. At the end of the month, she decided the risk and the emotional toll was too great and didn't move forward with a contract. She lined up a job with 1 family of 3 children who are staying home and she is helping with virual learning and supervision while the parents are teleworking. She said though fewer dollars, she found she is more comfortable doing the private job this year. She said her health and emotional well-being were just not worth the fulltime gig...