Aging Teachers Ask Themselves, Do I Quit Or Risk My Life?

[BigmanPigman]

Aging Teachers Ask Themselves, Do I Quit Or Risk My Life?
"As school districts consider reopening, aging or immunocompromised teachers must balance financial, health and insurance concerns."
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/teachers-retirement-quit-coronavirus-schools-reopen_n_5f0dae3fc5b6df6cc0b15fc0

"The potential wave of retirements comes at a time when some schools are planning to lay off teachers and staff, as districts face potentially steep budget cuts. Due to these cuts, teachers are skeptical that their schools will have the resources to put proper safety protocols in place. Education groups have been lobbying for hundreds of billions of dollars in help. While President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos have been pressuring schools to fully reopen — something that many districts have already begun to reject — some teachers say they feel like casualties of a larger political agenda.
“People still want to work, but do people want to be on the frontlines of this pandemic?” he said. “Because that’s what they’re asking teachers.”

[duforsure]

1. I know one in her 30's that won't return now either , no matter what they try to force them to do.

And she said others are going to refuse to come back too.

[BigmanPigman]

2. I wouldn't either.

I know two teachers who hate teaching via tablet but would rather do it than take a chance. The teacher unions should have a voice in this.

[TNNurse]

3. I respect any teacher who refuses to go into the classroom now.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Darwin Award nominees

Cannon fodder for Trump's war on science. Not enlisting.

[3Hotdogs]

5. S.I.L. is thinking of not returning. He is 53. Two years away from full retirement benefits.

I don't know how he will choose. If he stays the 2 years, he gets all his medical insurance paid for the rest of his life.

I retired from the same state. My Medicare and supplemental insurance is paid by the state. No co-pays. Nothing. That has saved me around $20k since I retired.

He will be giving up that, plus lower retirement income.

[BigmanPigman]

8. My doctors made me stop reaching

since the classroom environment which mad me sick (black mold in ceiling of my classroom, it was soon torn down after I got sick). Then I kept getting sick constantly (90% of school year). I had to leave at 51 years old with no health insur except the ACA and 50% of my salary for the rest of my life (basically my health bills are 30% of my yearly income and I have multiple illnesses now). I get disability retirement since I can't teach....very limited, fixed income. Schools care about $$$ and the bottom line. They are a business I quickly learned. When my students and I were all on inhalers the school's health inspector gave me a can of Lysol for a classroom with no windows, he also told me to keep the door closed. I went to the union and they got REAL health inspectors out and they got the sick building torn down within the month.

[Midnight Writer]

6. Talked to a teacher in her forties (and 25 years experience) who says she won't go back.

She went to a planning meeting and found out there is no plan. "Try to keep students separate"? Ridiculous. Masks are optional.

[BigmanPigman]

7. Which city/district does she teach in?

[AwakeAtLast]

9. Yup, I'm 50!

Taking care of elderly parents.

Getting my will, burial plots and life insurance settled before school starts mid August.

{sigh}

[BigmanPigman]

10. I just read this article from a local paper

by an experienced teacher.

https://obrag.org/2020/07/the-widder-curry-opening-the-schools-during-the-pandemic-is-absolutely-insane-and-is-child-abuse/

Do you have a teachers union? What do they say?

[AwakeAtLast]

11. AFT union in my district

But our reps are batshit crazy Trump humpers.

[BigmanPigman]

12. Is there any way you can get a doctor's note

for a leave of absence? Even if you have mental distress/anxiety that is a valid reason for a temporary leave. Call around to different doctors. Sound hysterical if you have to...fake it! Many teachers are having issues like this now...it is worth a shot. You can even get COBRA.

I left teaching for a year to take care of my grandmom once. I didn't get pay or health insur though. If you have a copy of your contract check out various types of leave.

[AwakeAtLast]

13. Good advice, thank you!