It’s back to the classroom for K-12 students across the province today, but members of the Teachers’ Union are not comfortable with the plan according to a survey released this week.
The NLTA says 84 per cent of the 4,657 members who responded to a recent union survey believe the decision to have students return to in-class learning starting today is not the right choice.
The union says 89 per cent of respondents do not feel the current return-to-school plan adequately protects the safety of educators, students or their families.
President Trent Langdon says the message is clear—now is not the time to return to in-person classes. He says the overwhelming message is that teachers want their voices heard and the number of teachers and other school staff who will be unable to report to work today have concerns about how Public Health measures intended to protect them and students, can be met under the current circumstances.
Eighty-three per cent of members believe contact tracing and notification of COVID cases in schools is needed, and 76 per cent are calling for stronger enforcement of student masking.
Langdon says his members want to be back in the classroom with students, but only when it is safe to do so.
Meanwhile, 76 per cent said a reduction in class size is required to allow for physical distancing; 70 per cent want non-essential access to school buildings limited or eliminated; and, 70 per cent feel that medical grade N95 or KN95 masks should be available for all students and staff.
