Tag: Pandemic

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Current Events Education Local Government Poetry Teaching

A Lack of Teachers

Is not because of teachers

It’s becoming clear

That the teaching profession

Is in some trouble

Put very simply

There are not enough teachers

To man the classrooms

Conservatives say

This is a teacher problem

That “we” are too “soft”

This is not the case

The profession of teaching

Is treated poorly

Teachers have low pay

Combined with high education

Our hours are long

Our work is not just hard

It can also be dangerous

Not only covid

But we have angry students

We have poor buildings

On top of threats of shootings

And high expectations

We are not babysitters

We are professionals with

Very high expertise

And we are also

Often treated like shit from admin

And the public.

It’s not hard to see

Why teachers are leaving quick

With none in the wings.

So, don’t act as though

You’re suddenly surprised when

Your kids’ teacher quits.

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Current Events Haiku Health Care Local Government Poetry

Nearing the Second Year

The way states treat kids is reflective of the shits they give.

As Covid rages

Look to how states treated schools

No masks for the kids?

No testing in place?

The government doesn’t care

About the children

Which also will mean

That they won’t care about you

When you need their help

Categories
Current Events Haiku Health Care Poetry

Is it even an argument?

A reflection on Vaccine Requirements

Special session called

For vaccine requirements.

In large companies

It’s ridiculous

800,000 are dead

Yet, we still argue.

About whether jobs

should require employees

to get the vaccine.

The answer, is yes!

Your “freedom” shouldn’t kill me

Or my grandmother.

Another Christmas

Another new year has passed

And yet, here we are.

Categories
Current Events Haiku Health Care Poetry

800,000

And rising

800,000

The number of people lost

In the pandemic

Double World War Two

Almost triple World War One

These are civilians

Selfishness led here

American pride and greed

Is this “real” freedom?

We are held captive

Capitalism brought down

Because a virus

And…of course…because

Some refuse to help others

…get vaccinated.

Categories
Current Events Education Poetry

A Note on the Great Resignation

A free-write on the (lack of) intellectual property

Perhaps you know this, but in most jobs…or at least most of the jobs I’ve had, anything you create for that job is not your own intellectual property. Instead, your creative brainchild is the property of the company you work for. Depending on the rules or the fine print of a contract, that could mean that anything you created using company internet — or even a company computer — is not actually yours.

Since all the newspapers tell us that we are in the middle of a “Great Resignation” I thought it may be appropriate to discuss this a little bit.

I’m a teacher. Not only that, I’m a teacher that was hired as the first history teacher in a brand new Jr. High. Administration gave me full creative freedom. What this means is that I’ve created every stitch of Jr. High history curriculum. Now that the school has expanded, my curriculum is our curriculum. I pull extensively from the American Yawp, but I’ve also created power points and activities using unique knowledge that only I have. I’ve won awards for this curriculum and, suffice it to say, it’s been a boon for my school. It is, in essence, intellectual property.

However, it’s not technically my own. I didn’t get a stipend, or even a raise from doing this, I just…had to do it because that was the option. If I were to quit, *technically* my school could take all of what I created and leave me with access to nothing.

Now, you may say to yourself, surely they wouldn’t do that? Surely they would allow you to take curriculum that you created with you? Or, at least keep the curriculum and give you access to it.

I like to think that. And perhaps they would, however I’ve known teachers who, upon giving their notice, were locked out of all school files. Not at my school, but at others. Since I may move states this Summer, I’ve started to think about how I can protect myself, and all the work that I’ve done personally. Much of which was done outside of contract hours, on my personal computer.

Ok…So What?

As the article I linked to above explains, a lot of this “Great Resignation” is much more about “switching”, or rather, going somewhere that pays you more money and where you are more valued.

I know that a lot of teachers are contemplating their options right now. So many of us are unhappy in our circumstances and we are looking to go somewhere that will treat us better, or have better amenities.

If this is you, I would take care to save the things you have created. It is very likely that many teaching jobs won’t care…or even know…if you take curriculum with you. However, it is possible that if you plan on giving in your notice, you’ll lose everything you’ve done.

Sure, you can probably re-create it to some extent. But, that’s a lot of time and energy. So, save it. Make sure you have access to it. Make sure that the things you’ve done you can keep to some extent.

And, if you’re not sure of the policies in your school or job…ASK. Information is power, so it’s often obfuscated. Be sure to know your rights and take steps to protect yourself.

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Education Poetry

Sick

A free-write on teaching and planning.

It started with a sneeze. And then my ears began to pop. I have inner ear issues anyway, so I thought it was the weather changing (I can predict snow based on how loud my tinnitus is — it’s totally true). I woke up and went to work.

I feel, at this point, obligation to say it’s not Covid. It’s just a cold. Because that’s what we all must say if we are sick from now until eternity. It’s not covid. It’s a cold.

At work, the fatigue set in. Still. I didn’t see the signs. I thought it was the 160 students I teach, or the coming break, or the angst and frustration I feel at administration. Besides, it was a Monday. Surely there are a million reasons I’m tired and annoyed. I wear a mask, I haven’t really been around anyone. Surely I’m just tired.

Then, the scratchy throat, the low voice, the coughs.

At this point I now feel obligated to say that I wear a mask all day everyday, even though I’ve had three covid shots. Even though my state doesn’t mandate it. I do it so I don’t spread germs.

Good thing I do. Because I’m sick.

In — almost — any other job, if you’re sick, you call in and that’s it. Other people may have to work a little harder, or take on some of your normal responsibilities, but you either go home, or you call in. You wash your hands and then go to sleep.

Not if you’re a teacher.

Once I determined that I was degressing, and not progressing, I decided to “call in” for the next day. But this is where the planning started.

Because, you see, someone can’t step in and just “work for me”. I have to leave them with a plan. I have to leave them with a plan they can carry out. I have to leave them with copies and a paper with instructions for each class and seating charts and procedures.

I have to leave them with a schedule, with a list of the kids to watch for. I have to plan it down to the minute so they know *exactly* what to do with each class.

Now, they could just “show the slides” I guess — but lets be real. I’m the one with information in my brain, and I can’t guarantee a sub will have that. So the plan ALSO has to be relevant but something that anyone who knows nothing about history can handle.

So. In essence, it’s off plan for me.

ok…so what?

Well. Number 1, I’m mad that I’m getting colds again. I miss how everyone used to wear masks and wash their hands. You know, the early days of the pandemic when people were still kind.

Number 2: It’s more work to plan to be sick, than to come in with a sickness. And therein lay the problem. I don’t have a strong solution. Sure – I could have thrown together some shit that the kids could have just done, but then I would have been ‘in trouble’ for not leaving a good enough plan.

I think this is what people don’t quite understand about teaching. I won’t lie, summers off is actually quite glamourous. But in return, it means that I’m around 160 teenagers with God knows what on their hands. Teachers do, and will, get sick. When that happens, we don’t get to just “call in”.

It’s planning and preparation, and it’s more than most professionals have to do.

So please, send your kid to school in a mask. It’s the responsible thing to do, because we are still in the middle of a pandemic.

/endrant

Categories
Current Events Poetry

Two Years

A free write on family

Laughter crashes around me as I stand in the corner of the room.

My family gathers around the dimly lit table. It’s only 5pm, but darkness comes early this time of year, skewing time and making it seem unnaturally late. Everyone is claiming their spot, laughing and speaking over each other, vying to be heard.

Smiles are not just in the eyes. They’re on faces. Faces that I can see fully. Smiles I haven’t seen in person for years.

I should be in the middle of it. I love family, and I love gatherings. Still, I detach myself and stand in the corner. I seek out the spaces close to windows, I’m Hyper-aware of any coughs or sniffles.

“You’ve had three shots. Three.” I tell myself, smiling at everyone while I wait my turn to slosh turkey and mashed potatoes on my plate. Unbidden, I wonder if this meal is worth getting sick over.

“Everyone here is vaccinated” I think, sitting down to my first extended family meal in two years. “Some of them have already had boosters.”

I eat quickly and move to the outskirts again. Away from the screams and laughter. Away from the games. I find a spot with one or two people who, like me, can’t seem to join the crowds.

Overall, it’s a pleasant evening. It seems like no one has changed.

Except me.

Of course that’s incorrect. Of course we’ve all changed. Of course we’ve all experienced the pandemic in similar, yet completely separate ways.

Isolated. Grieving and frightened, but alone.

And now that we’re together, how do we come back from that feeling? How do I move forward?

Each new variant is frightening. Each gathering feels like a risk. Even with vaccinations.

And I wonder if I’ll be standing in corners for the rest of my life

Categories
Current Events Haiku Health Care Local Government Poetry

Let’s Do This Thing!

Children over Five

Can now get vaccinated

Do it fast and now

Covid is still here

And there is a solution

It’s…vaccination

Ok…So What?

The pandemic has

Impacted children so much

See, for example:

A loss of parent

Schools with rolling qurantines

And anxiety

To “save the children”

We must vaccinate children

Like…we’ve been doing

That’s why we don’t have

Polio and Chicken Pox

So, let’s do this friends!

He Man GIF - HeMan Thundercats MastersOfTheUniverse GIFs | Pop culture references, Masters of the universe, 80s cartoons
Actual Image of the power of vaccination
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Current Events Education Local Government

Can’t is Different than Won’t

On October 25, the New York Times released a visual story on their Instagram page with pictures and short blurbs of men and women who were making the choice not to get vaccinated. The stories discuss their reasons which ranged from hesitancy regarding the safety of the vaccine to fears about breastfeeding to religious reasons.

However, what they did not include were pictures and short blurbs about men and women who could not* get vaccinated. This is an important part of the puzzle and leaving out this piece of information glorifies the idea of choice, rather than the idea of social need.

Because you see, by choosing for non-medical purposes to refuse the vaccine, the unvaccinated are making a choice for those who can’t get the vaccine for medical purposes.

*The Times did release an opinion piece that went into more detail – but let’s be real, people get their news from social media

Barriers and Misinformation

Before I go further, I want to note that I’m very aware of the barriers that prevent people in the United States from getting the vaccine. Not having a car, living in a rural space, communities mistrusting medical providers for various reasons – I understand these. Additionally, there’s been a raft of misinformation – largely for political purposes – regarding the Coronavirus and Vaccines. I get it. Don’t at me.

Can’t is different than Won’t.

Recently I had a student break down in my class because his mask broke. He’s a student with underlying medical conditions already. As he descended into panic mode, he told me he was afraid he was going to die because he was only able to get one shot. He had a bad reaction to the first one, and the doctor said he couldn’t get the second. This wasn’t a choice that he and his family made – they tried to protect him. However, he’s only partially vaccinated because of necessity, not a choice.

Ok…So What?

The conversation regarding vaccination often revolves around those who are making a choice to remain unvaccinated. I think this is in an effort to humanize and understand the various reasons so many refuse the vaccine. However, there are people who actually can’t get vaccinated. Up until recently, that meant any child under the age of 12. It also means those who had an allergic reaction to the first shot, those who are undergoing chemotherapy, or those who have other underlying health conditions.

This is important because vaccination provides a shield for the most vulnerable people in the nation. While an unvaccinated person may feel comfortable taking risks with their own health and their family’s health; those who can’t get vaccinated are forced to remain in isolation. Telling the stories of the vaccine-hesitant glorifies that choice, and leaves out an incredibly important piece of the puzzle.

The unvaccinated are preventing children from going to school, preventing families from seeing their loved ones, and very literally may cause the death of another person.

The voices of the medically vulnerable deserve to be heard. Large news outlets like The Atlantic and The New York Times should do better, and flip the narrative.

And, if you aren’t vaccinated. You should get vaccinated.

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It’s a serious post, so here’s a dog eating pasta.

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Haiku

Haiku Review – Vacation

The need to recharge

After eighteen months of shit

Was very needed.

And yet I have found

That at home or on the beach

I am still tired.