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Opinion: Time to treat teachers like the professionals they are, says Potsdam resident

Posted 3/1/21

To the Editor: Open letter to representatives of the North Country: I am angry and frustrated at the sluggish pace that teachers, children and employees of the public-school system are being …

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Opinion: Time to treat teachers like the professionals they are, says Potsdam resident

Posted

To the Editor:

Open letter to representatives of the North Country: I am angry and frustrated at the sluggish pace that teachers, children and employees of the public-school system are being prioritized during Covid-19. It boggles my mind that 22,000 Superbowl fans get free masks while families are left to manage much of this health crisis on their own.

I realize the NFL and public schools are operating in two very different realms of society, but at what point will our leaders take a significant stand to protect those who are struggling to get through these challenging times? While the big boys play in the stadium our children are denied access to the playground.

The conditions created by COVID-19 and the impact they are having on children is alarming. Unstable homes with rising rates of substance abuse, violence, and lack of nutritional food, to the less obvious impacts like lack of exercise, supervision and increased isolation all contribute to a mosaic of complicated health issues on children that society will be dealing with for years to come. Most concerning, and telling, are the growing rates of suicidal ideation among youth. Reporting shows that children as young as 10 are having suicidal thoughts while the overall numbers of children being seen in the hospital setting for attempted suicide have increased.

Our children will forever be changed by this experience. My children, under the age of ten, are desperate to see friends, play soccer, and have birthday parties. Instead, they are allowed 2 five-minute masks breaks a day, eat lunch at their desk, and pick a library book from a cart. Add to that the unexpected closure of school on any given day, no extracurricular activities, and certainly no sports. Even in the most supportive of environments, our children are struggling.

I appreciate the many fronts that leaders are fighting under the threat of this pandemic. It is time, however, to treat teachers as the professionals they are. We trust them with our most precious resource. Advocate for teachers and school staff, prioritize them to receive vaccinations, and provide them with resources they need to protect our children against the many challenges they face. I applaud my local school for providing free meals, utilizing bus drivers to deliver school supplies on unexpected remote days, and the flexibility and patience my children’s teachers have shown. They need and deserve more support, not just for now, but going forward into the future.

I know you are aware of the challenges that upstate New York faces. Up here in the nose-bleeds we struggle with even the basics of getting reliable wi-fi. Use your decision-making power to aggressively fight for those who are too busy getting us through this crisis. Our children need strong support now more than ever.

Alison Brant

Potsdam