Nonprofit Mississippi News A teacher from a public school in Mississippi asked the question bluntly at a rally on Friday morning: “How many kids need to die before your take action?” Parents, teachers, and supporters gathered outside of the Capitol to ask state and school leaders to not make the “selfish, foolish, and dangerous” decision to reopen schools for the fall without it being safe. Mississippi Teachers Unite asked leaders for several items on Friday. They requested that schools be reopened by Sept. 1, ensure schools meet current Centers for Disease Control safety guidelines, and disallow schools from conducting in-person classes while they address these needs; and fully finance public schools so they can buy the necessary supplies. As coronavirus numbers in Mississippi are rising, the rally is timely. Mississippi had the highest average number of new cases this week. This week, Mississippi broke single-day records for confirmed positive cases on several days. Hospitalizations and deaths due to Coronavirus are also on the rise. So far, the Department of Education offered three options to school districts: traditional in-person education, virtual learning, and a combination of both. The information must be made available to the public by the end the month. Although not all districts have a plan, many are planning to return to school in person, according to Mississippi First. This non-profit organization tracks each district’s plans. The rally was attended by many people, including some who wore masks. They chanted phrases such as “Too soon to classrooms!” and circled the Capitol, performing a demonstration of what a distant classroom might look like. Chandler Rogers, a high school student in Rosedale aged 17, said that the West Bolivar School district’s conditions are not conducive to ensuring people can be socially distant and safe. He is concerned about his ability to return to school, as well as the responsibility that he would have to bear if he was infected and caught the virus. Rogers stated that his mother is suffering from late-stage breast cancer and that he worries about returning to school and the responsibility he would have to take on if he got infected. Lynne Schneider, a high school teacher, just started dialysis six months ago. She is worried about what might happen when she returns to the classroom with her students. Schneider stated, “I don’t want to die from a stupid reason or of a preventable cause.” Schneider stated that if there ever was a time when teachers could speak up and not be intimidated to do so, Friday’s rally was it. Erica Jones, president of the Mississippi Association of Educators, attended Friday’s rally and wrote a letter this week to the governor, state superintendent, and members of the state board of education asking for a delay in school starting and protocols regarding safety and mask requirements. She advocated for waivers of state accountability and testing requirements for the next school year. Jones wrote, “While we had hoped that school buildings would open within a few weeks, it has now become abundantly obvious that we are not in a position to proceed as scheduled.” Jones wrote, “We can’t, and shouldn’t, rush back in buildings to comply with this calendared start time when students’ safety and health are at risk.” A separate letter was written by “Mississippi Teachers”, a group that reiterated the demands of the rally. It requested that school openings be delayed until at most Labor Day and that the Legislature fully fund schools. Mississippi Today spoke with teachers throughout the state over the past few days to find out their concerns about returning to school. Erica Scott is a Spanish teacher in Ocean Springs High School. Although she said that she felt the district communicated well since March’s schools were closed, she was concerned about the safety of her students, colleagues, and her children when school resumes. You know what about teachers? Although students have the option of virtual academy, I have four children. She said that if I am exposed to COVID-19 and expose it to my children, it will put us in a difficult position since no one wants to become sick.” Scott was uncertain of the impact of social distancing and masks on teaching and learning in a foreign language classroom. She said that there are 1,900 students at the high school. My classes are full of 30 students, but it isn’t a large classroom like a lecture hall. There’s a lot going on in my class, including a lot speaking, talking and rolling of the R. I want to ensure I can hear them clearly but that will not be the main focus. Alison Rausch, middle school special education teacher at Prentiss County Schools said that whatever choice is best for students is the best. She is unsure about the district’s plans as the COVID-19 case load continues to increase. She said that although she was told that we would resume the original schedule from a few weeks ago, if there are more cases, it is not clear if this will change. “As we approach August, I feel a little anxious. My class is small, so I can only work with 11-14 students. We are still waiting for general education teachers to complete their lesson plans and other things in order to prepare our students. There are so many unknowns, it makes you anxious. Micalya Tatum, a Vicksburg-Warren middle school teacher, said that there is no way to prepare for students without the help of general education teachers. Tatum also stated that more resources at the federal and state levels regarding distance learning, training, PPE, and other related topics are necessary. Tatum stated that all of these districts plan to do XYZ but we don’t know what will happen. “We need the funding to ensure we are safe and have internet access… We must make sure that we have enough money to support families. Vicksburg did a wonderful job supporting families. However, I also know that not everyone in the state has equal access to resources. Support this work by making a recurring gift today to celebrate our Spring Member Drive.