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Cathy Learoyd (Texas)'s avatar

The heroes in this are the school superintendents defying deSantis in order to save lives. Let's hope their sanity is contagious.

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Christine (FL)'s avatar

And even more so the teachers that are masked and, in the classroom, defy anyone their responsibility to keeping children safe. And refuse to gather in meetings where social distancing and masks are not present.

And, in some cases like Sarasota, school board members that have governance over superintendents and that order a mask mandate over a reluctant superintendent’s desire to do so.

And mayors such as NYC deBlasio ordering all Dept of Educ staff to be vaccinated by September 27th.

Whatever it takes.

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Grace Kennedy's avatar

I was just thinking about that mandate. Cuomo would have said it was not the mayor’s wheelhouse, and would have pushed back the date by a few weeks. What a relief that pettiness is over.

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Daniel Friedman (5 gen nyc)'s avatar

Not. Cuomo is one of the strongest proponents of mandated vaccinations.

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Grace Kennedy's avatar

Well, Cuomo was a proponent of smacking down deBlasio at every opportunity, just to show he was boss, even if he agreed with the proposal. His delaying the shut down in NYC likely cost thousands of lives.

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Daniel Friedman (5 gen nyc)'s avatar

Grace, do you live in NYC (and understand our situation...we are 5 generation NYCers)? Cuomo asserted himself to reign in our Mayor who insisted on closing all bridges and tunnels into NYC and the ensuing disaster. He certainly did not agree with the Mayor's proposal (and saying he did and spitefully disagreed to show off his power is false). Please stick to factual comments about something we here know to be different.

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Daphne Hill (NC)'s avatar

My little sister is a special ed teacher in NW Florida. At 57 she has serious chronic health problems but has too many years in to walk away and forfit her retirement. Sanitizing is left up to individual teachers. She must move from classroom to classroom daily to serve her students, no way she can keep her work spaces 'clean.' She's surrounded by a faculty of Trumpsters, all maskless, not following safe distance guidelines. She is hanging on by a thread, taking it one day at a time. I fear for her health, both mental and physical.

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Cathy Mc. (MO)'s avatar

How fortunate her students are. How can we help?

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Daphne Hill (NC)'s avatar

Cathy, I will think on it. I appreciate your concern.

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Pensa_VT's avatar

Maybe a letter campaign to red state school admins about teaching the Golden Rule right now?

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Daphne Hill (NC)'s avatar

Thank you Penelope. I have worked on letter writing campaigns before but none so focused. Maybe letters to the Santa Rosa School System superintendent or school board members would help.

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MaryPat's avatar

This is abuse and torture of teachers. This is criminal. Do their unions have any power? Or, more basically, does Florida allow teachers to unionize? Your sister may benefit from checking to see if she is eligible for disability. It is almost always a long process, but my friends who have needed it and been approved, have found ways to manage on it, plus whatever  retirement benefits they qualify for at that point. This is just heartbreaking. All the Best.

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Daphne Hill (NC)'s avatar

Mary Pat, thanks for your thoughtful suggestions. I will encourage her to go ahead and apply for disability. The treatment of teachers for learning disabled students in this school has been shameful for years. With Covid it has become so much worse. And of course not being one of the Red Pack singles her out for special 'treatment.'

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MaryPat's avatar

😣

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Cathy Mc. (MO)'s avatar

We should send THEM thank you postcards, or grocery gift cards so they can order food when they get home exhausted

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Beth's avatar

Great idea, Cathy! And let's fly planes over their towns with banners thanking them for masking, etc.

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Cathy Mc. (MO)'s avatar

Now you are talking!

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