The majority of Morton East teachers think it’s still too early to bring kids back safely into the classrooms because of rising Covid positivity rates.

Have you wondered, what the teachers think about reopening schools and having students back in their classrooms?   According to nytimes.com, many of the 3.5 million teachers across the U.S. felt they were being pressured by the White House, pediatricians, and even parents to return to normal classes. On 7/10/2020 the teachers union in L.A, which is the second-largest union, gathered and demanded full-time remote learning when the school year begins. Also, they had mentioned that President Trump’s push to re-open schools was excessively dangerous and puts the lives of the staff and students at risk. In a random survey of 10 Morton East teachers 8 out of the 10 teachers say that we shouldn’t have students back in classrooms again until things are flowing better through the community.

“Teachers are prepared and would like nothing better than to be in class with students again but the risks are just too great at this time.  The positivity rates in Cicero and Berwyn are simply to high to safely bring even small groups of students back into the classroom,” Morton’s teacher/clerical union president Anthony Lacivita said.

There are requirements for when and how the students can be in the building right now.

“Based upon the agreement made between the administration and the Union, students can be in a teacher’s classroom during Office Hours only and in groups of 6. As long as the students and teachers are more then 6 feet away from each other, are wearing mask at all times, and washing their hands hands frequently, the risk of spreading the virus is mitigated,“ teacher/clerical Union President Anthony Lacivita said.

But, some other of the staff members would disagree on reopening the schools and would rather have students stay home for precaution.

“No, I would be way too worried about everyone’s safety and masks and disinfecting to be an effective teacher. I also don’t see how teaching students in the classrooms and online is going to work simultaneously. It’s too many jobs at once,” French teacher Ms. Esposito said.

Many of the staff members have their reasons on why they wouldn’t want to have students in their classrooms until the infection rate decreases.

“No. At last count Cicero was at a 15.7% infection rate, three times the rest of the state. I WANT kids in school  for their education, but I DON’T want kids in school for their, my, and everyone’s family’s lives,” English teacher Mr. Robinson said.