rynotalk

Let me be unambiguous: teachers, students, parents, and elected officials all want the same thing. We all  want to return to school buildings in a safe way. We all understand that students benefit from building relationships with peers and teachers, and we also understand the mental health challenges that come from quarantine. So how did we get here, with so much anger, frustration, and fear? Let's track the events that brought us to where we are now. My hope is to clear up some misconceptions along the way. In late July, teachers received a survey asking whether they would prefer to teach remotely. From this, the district should have been able to build a very good idea of their staffing situation for the fall. Keep this in mind when, later, the district blames staffing as the reason why their initial proposal fell apart. During the summer months, the teachers developed a plan for a safe, phased return that included testing  for staff and students, requirements  for safe buildings,

I have taught physics and math at Newton South High School since 2013, immediately following my graduation from MIT, broken only by a return to grad school for a year. There are two things that drew me in and I still love about Newton South: 1)  The people. My colleagues are *fantastic,* the parents are supportive, and I've experienced nothing but positive interactions and professional growth in my interactions with my department chairs. They are committed, competent, and deserving of respect. 2) Newton's commitment to teaching *all* students. Like my colleagues, I work hard to utilize anti-racist teaching practices, support LGBTQ+ students, and otherwise ensure that demographics that have historically been marginalized feel welcome and safe and have their voices heard. I did not grow up in such a community, so I consider it a privilege to squash the same kinds of ignorant beliefs that I once held all those years ago. While we certainly have more work to do, I'm proud to