We are in this together, come on — start acting like it

I am writing today with frustration at the implications of two respective articles that were published this week, one from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation — Newfoundland and Labrador, and one from The Telegram, about the role of educators in the delivery of education during COVID-19.

Times are stressful — for many people and many reasons.

Our way of life has been altered, and will not return to the way we abruptly left it.

We need to evolve, on many levels, for many reasons. I would like to think we are all in this together. Neighbours being neighbours, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians being Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

However, after reading those two stories it has led me here, to the belief that not everyone appreciates the challenges our educators are facing.

As stated and understood, our way of life is not as it was a month ago.

Everybody — in every industry — in most of our world is working towards a new normal, evolving and trying to figure out their place. The English School District is no exception.

A balance needs to be met between realistic and unrealistic expectations.

Understandably, parents want the best for their children, I am not faulting anyone for that.

Our educators that work in the English School District have needed to evolve and begin new practices without a running, or even a walking start.

Perfection should not and cannot be expected. We need to appreciate the difficulties we all face in meeting the challenges of the new normal.

Unfortunately, the implications of these two stories imply that educators are doing less than their best.

Frankly, that is upsetting, considering we need to all be in this together.

Educators are doing their best, they are trying to provide resources to bridge the gap left after the abrupt closure of schools in the middle of March.

Just like the students, our educators are learning to adapt to our new normal from home.

I recommend reading the Newfoundland and Labrador Teacher Association’s press release.

And with that, I will leave you with these words: we are in this together, come on — start acting like it.

Matthew K. Babb

St. John’s