A lot of Washington educators were frustrated Wednesday after hearing Gov. Jay Inslee’s recommendations for return to in-person learning, although many students are falling behind learning remotely.
Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal said there is a grim reality to virtual learning that is hurting students in a way he has never seen before.
“We are checking the suicide data every single month… that’s how crass we have to be here,” said Reykdal.
Reykdal’s own son is failing remote learning classes and he said something desperately needs to change.
“He’s struggling like hell right now because this is a s_ _ _ system,” said Reykdal.
On Wednesday, the governor announced new recommendations for schools during the pandemic that could get students back in the classroom.
In counties with COVID-19 cases greater than 350 per 100,000 residents, Inslee recommends kindergarten through 5th graders return in limited numbers. King County has a recent average of 409 cases, so it would fall under the category.
And in counties with 50 to 350 cases per 100,000 residents, high school students will be allowed to return to the classrooms. He also recommends all students return to in-person learning when cases are fewer than 50 residents per 100,000.
Shannon McCann, the president of the Federal Way Education Association, said many teachers are not prepared to risk in-person learning despite what the governor recommends.
“We’ll do anything we can for our students but that starts with going back to school when it’s safe,” McCann said.
The state may now say in-person learning can be safe, but many educators remain split on whether it is the right call.
“The time, the training, the resources to make sure we can go back safely, that focus really wasn’t there today,” said McCann.
“We know what best practices look like. They are in place. The districts are following them and a lot of districts have said we’re not willing to take that risk,” Reykdal said.
While Gov. Inslee has the power to close schools in an emergency, he does not have the power to order them to reopen. That power belongs to the individual school districts.