GWINNETT COUNTY — Teachers gathered once again Thursday to protest the return of face to face learning in Gwinnett County.
They filled the parking lot and honked their horns as they sat in their cars protesting. The teachers said they do not believe the district is listening to their concerns, so they turned up the volume with protests.
“I not comfortable with other kids getting exposed or myself getting exposed,” teacher Dianna Carriollo said.
Ashley Newman who has a four-year-old son resigned from her teaching job last week once she found out virtual teaching was not an option. She believes this decision is too risky even if masks are required.
“If the teachers aren’t safe, then the students aren’t safe and the community is not safe,” Newman said. “We are trained for many different circumstances as educators, but we are not trained for health pandemics.”
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The Georgia Association of Educators represents 20,000 teachers in Georgia. It shares the same feeling with the teachers.
“At this time, it is not safe for any educators or the students to be in the buildings,” Lisa Morgan, President of the Georgia Association of Educators, said. ‘We don’t’ want a student in Georgia to pass away because they returned to their building and became sick.”
Many of the teachers wanted to be a part of the decision because they believe face to face learning should be postponed until the COVID-19 numbers decrease. Newman joined her former colleagues in the protest.
“This isn’t a teacher versus parent issue, this is a community concern,” Newman said.
The Gwinnett County School District reacted to the protests in statement, saying:
“Our district is having to make difficult decisions that we know will not be popular with everyone. We are committed to doing what we believe is best for students in terms of their health, safety and education. After all, that is our core business.”
Cox Media Group
