Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston, Florida: house, pharmacists, licensed)

[NewfieMama]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

My wife has told me this has been her most difficult year of teaching. She is in classroom, and has been juggling remote teaching for some students as well on top of that. She works more hours than I do now and has frequently been working well into the evening to prep the remote work students for the next day. Parents never see the prep work that goes into preparing for a day of teaching. It’s to the point where she’s been the most stressed I’ve ever seen her. All she wants to do is go back to normal.

I don’t know a single teacher who is enjoying this school year.

It's been such a hellish year for teachers and parents.

In our town I feel like things really came to a head right before the 2020/2021 school year started. The spring was really quite a disaster and it honestly was not anybody's fault. Schools were not prepared for in-school learning to stop so abruptly and not resume for the remainder of the school year. And parents were reeling from job-related stress and suddenly had school-aged children at home full-time. Honestly, March - June was EXTREMELY challenging.

So when discussions around what would happen for the 2020/2021 school began (full-time in person vs. hybrid vs. remote), I think emotions were running high. The school board meetings I attended were very tense. Teachers were not feeling supported by the parents and the parents were not feeling supported by the teachers...and nobody wanted a repeat of what happened in the spring.

I think as this school year has moved along, most parents have found their footing with the schedule and have a routine that works relatively well. I also think the teachers are starting to feel more supported by parents--I think many parents went above and beyond over the holidays to show appreciation toward the teachers, which is nice to see.

None of us are happy. Teachers are stressed and exhausted. We as parents are stressed and exhausted...and we are worried about our kids' educations. I do think my first grader is behind--it's hard not to compare her to her older sister who was doing quite a bit more at the same age. But we are all just doing our best. Even if our best is just barely limping along!

I know I'm sure as hell happy to slam the door on this dumpster fire of a year. I'm trying to be grateful for the extra time I had with my kids, for friendships that were forged when it was needed most, and for...well, less traffic. But all in all, it was truly awful. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[brightdoglover]

Originally Posted by bizcuit

This is what I've been hearing as well and what I was trying to get at with my post. To call teacher lazy and to put them down during this time is very disrespectful to what they are going through.

Really. I'll have to pass this on to a friend who is 40, teaching Spanish to second grade at home, and ended up in the E.R. with chest pains from the stress of learning new ways of teaching and his unfailing fear that he wasn't doing a good enough job.

Love how people do not respect teachers and, in the case of personal behavior and beliefs acted on, healthcare workers who are pleading for people to observe public health practices. Appalling and stunning.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

Really. I'll have to pass this on to a friend who is 40, teaching Spanish to second grade at home, and ended up in the E.R. with chest pains from the stress of learning new ways of teaching and his unfailing fear that he wasn't doing a good enough job.

Love how people do not respect teachers and, in the case of personal behavior and beliefs acted on, healthcare workers who are pleading for people to observe public health practices. Appalling and stunning.

One outcome of this whole disaster, is that the true colors of many have come to light (in my own sphere and society likewise). While it's often disappointing if not disheartening to see the weakness, moral failure and lack of judgement in those who I previously had more faith in; in a sense it's better I find that out sooner than later.

[brightdoglover]

Originally Posted by massnative71

One outcome of this whole disaster, is that the true colors of many have come to light (in my own sphere and society likewise). While it's often disappointing if not disheartening to see the weakness, moral failure and lack of judgement in those who I previously had more faith in; in a sense it's better I find that out sooner than later.

Yes. And a lot of we learn is a deal-breaker for that relationship, I've found.

[Cantabridgienne]

Agreed, this year has shown who is NOT good in a crisis, who does NOT have any interest in their community.

However, the inverse is true, by ten-fold. I’ve seen so much grace, determination, hustle, compassion, grit and plain old decency displayed by friends, colleagues and strangers. So there’s that, at least.

[brightdoglover]

Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne

Agreed, this year has shown who is NOT good in a crisis, who does NOT have any interest in their community.

However, the inverse is true, by ten-fold. I’ve seen so much grace, determination, hustle, compassion, grit and plain old decency displayed by friends, colleagues and strangers. So there’s that, at least.

I do hope you're right about the ten-fold!

[bizcuit]

Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne

Agreed, this year has shown who is NOT good in a crisis, who does NOT have any interest in their community.

However, the inverse is true, by ten-fold. I’ve seen so much grace, determination, hustle, compassion, grit and plain old decency displayed by friends, colleagues and strangers. So there’s that, at least.

Well said, I completely agree.

[OutdoorLover]

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis set up vaccine distribution in his state as a Darwinian competition between senior citizens for too-few doses. Old folks are camping out overnight in lines of lawn chairs and fights break out after dark as people try to cut in lines.

https://apnews.com/article/public-he...e554dac055bff6

[BostonMike7]

Just saw news coverage on Florida’s distribution. Wow. Traffic backups for miles and huge crowds. Seems like common sense to NOT distribute it that way.


But then again it’s Florida.

[rach5]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis set up vaccine distribution in his state as a Darwinian competition between senior citizens for too-few doses. Old folks are camping out overnight in lines of lawn chairs and fights break out after dark as people try to cut in lines.

https://apnews.com/article/public-he...e554dac055bff6

Considering how scientists managed the scientific part in record speed (which, really, is the true miracle of 2020) - the distribution part should not have been the limiting factor, with a large inflow of money and logistical support in advance. But of course we have to fail at that, too.