Houston teachers aren't pleased with the conditions they're expected to teach in amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and they staged a "sick-out" protest Thursday to demand a safer environment for themselves and their students.
Houston Public Media's Laura Isensee reported that teachers from at least a dozen schools participated in the protest, demanding no more than 15 students per class with six feet of social distancing required; meals be served outside or in well-ventilated areas; improved HVAC and air circulation for all classrooms; and mask policies be added to the student and staff code of conduct.
The planned sick-out happened on the same day that 16 Houston Independent School District schools reopened after being temporarily closed due to positive or presumed cases of COVID-19 on campus. The district said the schools have since been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
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Traci Latson, who teaches at Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School, addressed the reopening to Isensee, saying teachers really aren't sure if they have COVID-19 or not. Instead, they're openly "going into the building on a wish and a prayer that we are negative," she said.
“That’s simply frightening to me,” said Latson, as reported by Isensee. “Elementary, the students are pretty confined to one classroom. But when you’re on a secondary level, that’s a lot of exposure to a lot of students and educators in a building, so that’s frightening.” CONTINUE READING: Houston ISD teachers hold 'sick out' to protest COVID-19 protocols