OHIO — Uncertainty about back to school plans has many educators across Ohio a little uptight. A recent survey conducted by a teacher’s union shows that a large number would prefer to begin the year fully remote.
The Ohio Federation of Teachers sent out a survey to about 12,000 teachers. While only a fraction responded, results showed that many educators are skeptical about going back to school in person. The response is due in large part to the unknown factors about the spread of the coronavirus and the ability to make sure kids social distance.
Here are some key points of the survey:
- Less than 10 percent of educators don’t mind going back in person full time
- Too many unanswered questions about the implementation of district plans concern teachers
- There are doubts about whether schools will be able to fully supply everything needed like masks and hand sanitizer
Crestview Local Schools band teacher Jason Lozer recently hit the field with students in Convoy, Ohio. Lozer’s rooting for a blended learning model versus distance learning only.
“I just think that a partial reopening where we were, maybe staggering what students are coming into the building would be a good approach to keep the number of people in the building down, keep the hallway traffic down.” Lozer said.
Right now Crestview students may go back in person full time unless they choose the remote option. Trying to prepare for band classes and not knowing a concrete plan is tough.
“Honestly, little overwhelmed with trying to prepare for all the different possibilities,” Lozer said.
But it’s the in-person plans that have other teachers across the state like Karen Rego feeling uneasy. She teaches middle school in Cleveland Heights. She was fine when the state saw improvement with COVID-19 cases earlier in the year.
“Then as we started to get closer and closer and the numbers started to creep up, and they just weren’t getting any better. It just—my feelings about that completely changed, and I felt like the only safe way to do it was to be virtual,” Rego said.
And she’s not the only one.
According to the survey, 66 percent prefer distance learning only. Only 25 percent want blended learning, while less than 10 percent don’t mind going back in person full time.
The biggest concern from the educator survey is unknown long-term effects of COVID-19 on everyone and community spread.
For Rego, she said while her district’s restart plans are good, the implementing them could be an issue.
“They’ve ordered us masks, and yes, sanitizers and cleaners and all kinds of things like that. But how was that all going to be put into place? Too many unanswered questions.” Unanswered questions she and others hope get resolved before they consider reopening in person for the second quarter.
Well aware of what’s at stake, Rego and Lozer are both excited about the start of the new year, despite the overwhelming feelings of concern. Ultimately, they want to make sure everyone stays safe.
Only about 1,700 educators responded to the survey. Still, it helped union leaders understand that only a small percentage of educators were comfortable with their district reopening plans. The Ohio Federation of Teachers said they’ll now begin to reach out to members in school districts that are not yet planning to begin the year with remote learning, and encourage them to complete the survey.
