*Disclaimer: This letter was sent to the school board but also figured the thoughts should be shared publicly so those outside the school system can read what this teacher feels about "phasing up." This comes from the perspective of a teacher but mainly a parent and doesn't necessarily represent the views of the HEA or HSD.
Good Evening Board Members and Dr. Ream:
Thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts.
I email you as a fifth year teacher in this district, the spouse of a 14-year veteran teacher and coach of this district, and - most importantly - a parent of three children in this district. I have seen this school community from almost every angle, except yours, a position I do not envy nor desire. You have a difficult decision before you and one that will frustrate a large portion of this community regardless of what you decide. Please be assured, there is little you can do to change that.
You can, however, listen to the reasoning, look at the research, then make a decision in good conscience that will benefit the center of our district the most - our children. That is all any of us can do.
In that vein, I urge you to phase us up to a five-day in-person school week. We are at a tipping point with our children. We have done our best to protect their physical well-being but it is time we look at their mental and emotional well-being as well. I don't say this as a "mushy" teacher. If you ask any of my students, they will be the first to tell you that I'm all about that tough love. I'm honest with them but also hopeful. I'm tough but genuine. I push them but with support.
I'm not being dramatic or a fear-monger when I say that our students are at the brink. They are surviving but one can only fight that for so long. Survival can and will eventually give way to denial and isolation. And that can be a slippery slope.
I do believe we made the right decision to be in the hybrid model for the first half of the year. It hasn't been easy - as a teacher, as a parent, or as students. But we did it. If we go back to five days a week and there is a spike that forces a school to go remote, we have all the tools in place to continue the education. If a student has to quarantine, they have the access to join classes remotely to avoid falling behind. But if we do not go back to five days, I truly fear what will become of many of our students.
A report was released recently by the 5th largest district in the United States - Clark County, Nevada. I'm sure some of you saw it. They stated they were making the decision to go back to in-person school because of the spike in youth suicides. In 9 months, 18 children killed themselves. The youngest was 9 years old. That is 3rd grade. In July, they installed a tracker on the school devices and in just a couple short months, they found over 3,000 red flag warning signs indicating a high risk of suicidal thoughts and plans. Some will want to say "that's not us" or "the kids just don't understand." Please believe me when I say the kids do know what they are doing. One student - who's suicide plan was flagged by the tracker system and therefore stopped - said "I miss my friends. I just don't have any."
When I read that, my heart stopped. Because just two hours previously, I sat at our kitchen island comforting my 12-year-old son who said the exact same words. "I have no friends." My fear is that I will miss the signs and one of my own children will join the hundreds of Montana kids who thought there was no other way, including several my husband and I have personally known at Helena High and elsewhere. Our children are already at the highest risk group for suicides in the nation. We don't need to exacerbate it.
I recognize that part of that thought process is typical middle school development. I remember thinking the same thing. But I had my peers all around me to show me differently at various moments. I didn't have to hear "In a non-COVID year, this would be different." To them, it doesn't matter the reason. This year is different. Our children are isolated and broken off from half of their friends then told to chat with them on a screen to "stay connected" - the very thing we know continues to isolate and draw them deeper into themselves.
We have to start emerging and figuring out how to live with this new "thing". I don't dispute its veracity or its danger. But I do recognize a more pervasive and insidious danger for our children if we continue this status quo.
Please do what you've done so often before: put our students', your children's', best interests at the center of your decision.
Thank you, sincerely, for your time.
Meghan Schulte
