I'm A Teacher, My Kid Is Staying Home by Dr. Michael Flanagan

To hell with that. 

To hell with self centered and corrupt malfeasance of science denying politicians. Blue and red. 

In the blue states we have governors who will not tax billionaires, but issue unfunded mandates to reopen schools that can never possibly be met. During this pandemic they attempt to use the lives of our children, and those of my colleagues, as pawns in their political game. 

In the red states, we have outright manslaughter. There is not even the pretense of protecting the lives of the most vulnerable. They wallow in belligerent ignorance holding the Bible wrapped in a flag bellowing “freedom”. Yet refusing to even wear a simple mask to protect others. 

It is for this reason that today—Monday August 3rd—We, The People, will speak out and protest against the unsafe reopening of schools. 

Some of us anyway.

Those who exist in a world of logic and reason. Where facts and evidence still inform an opinion. We who understand that freedom isn't the ability to enter a Walmart and have a tantrum because the workers there require that you wear a mask in order to buy your Cheetos and Oreo cookies. Because they, who spend 8 hours a day as essential workers in that store do not want to die. They have the right to be protected from the stupidity and depraved indifference of others. It is self defense, the right to stand your ground. 

The right to life. 

In a civilized society the mark of humanity is the caring for the well being of others. Unfortunately, many in America must have missed out on that most basic of all lessons. Compassion and empathy are seen as a weakness in a world of white privilege. Where the basic rights of others is seen as a threat to those unearned advantages. 

As a teacher, who values both my career as an educator and my job as an employee of the City of New York, I will return to the unsafe schools when they reopen. I will teach the children who do not have the luxury of staying home and being safe. I will do my best to make sure they are as protected as humanly possible during this plague.

I will educate them, console them, and possibly give my life to do what is right for them. 

As a teacher I will be there, in the schools if/when they reopen. Wearing my mask and enforcing social distancing. Pretending to educate, while all around are scared of contracting a deadly virus, and held hostage to the corruption of politics and the greed of capitalism. 

As a parent, my child will not set foot in a public school building until it is safe to do so. Period. 

Our children are not pawns. They should not be used to place more money in the pockets of billionaires. I will not even condone the illusion that reopening the schools is somehow for the benefit of my daughter or her classmates'. 

As a parent, I urge all who can, to keep their children home. Do not let these imbeciles, these fools who deny basic science, experiment with the lives of that which is most precious. Our children. 

I know that many will not be able to keep their children home. That we are being held hostage by poverty, and that there will be no choice but to potentially sacrifice our children in order to work. 

So for those who will have no choice but to risk the lives of their children, I will protest. I will resist, and strike if need be, in order to stop this injustice. Stopping the unsafe reopening of schools  is not a question of political ideology, it is life and death. 

These are our children, and their lives should not be an experiment, to be callously risked by failed humans whose greed and prejudice is worn on their sleeves. Keep your children home. Refuse to return them to school until it is clearly, and provably safe. 

#RefuseToReturn

#OnlyWhenItIsSafe