APS teacher says board needs to lead
AFTER THE Albuquerque Public Schools Board meeting Wednesday, or marathon-to-nowhere as it should be called, many concerns have surfaced. While watching the elected board members Zoom from their warm and comfortable homes with no lag time and clear internet, I was embarrassed to see such a lack of leadership from the team elected to lead. I witnessed a group so far detached from what is happening in the homes of thousands of students in the district making decisions based on emotions and fear. Families and students are struggling. Students are becoming babysitters at home, watching cartoons, playing video games instead of showing up to virtual school.
Data shows that virtual learning is failing our students while pushing our state’s education deeper into the ground. We are already at the bottom of every list, and digging our way out of this hole is going to take decades at best. We have thousands of students who have simply not shown up for school this year. Suicide rates are rising at alarming rates, and parents have clearly voiced their desire to return back to school. APS has surveyed parents, and the results have clearly shown a desire to return to in-person school. Yet the option to do so is still not available. The board seems to fear making a decision. Why do we ask for parents’ input when the results are disregarded? ...
The CDC has come out saying it is possible to start school safely without teacher immunizations. The unions do not speak for all yet they have the loudest voice. Teachers need to step up and do what is best for students. I fear that virtual school has created an underlying level of comfort which is morphing into laziness. Teaching from the couch in pajamas while drinking coffee is not in teachers’ contracts; teaching is. As educators, we are required by law to report educational neglect when families are not upholding their requirements. Maybe it is time the board needs to be reported to CYFD for the same. Stop failing our students and start making decisions . ...
JOHN JONES Concerned APS teacher and parent Corrales