“[We] are calling for the return to distance learning this fall unless there is a dramatic improvement in the disease-prevention measures inside the schools in Saint Paul and Minneapolis and policy changes to make the schools more effective for students of color,” SPFE, MFT, and Education Support Professionals (ESP) expressed in a joint statement.
A recent survey of 20,000 educators in Minnesota revealed 49% of educators preferred to teach remotely this year. It’s a near 50/50 split of those who are ready for in-person teaching and those who would rather teach from home; however, 60% of respondents who preferred remote teaching were educators of color.
“When you look at the size of our districts and the fact that we serve a majority Black, brown and Indigenous population, for whom this disease disproportionately affects, we cannot put our students, families or school staff at risk,” said Shaun Laden MFT member and ESP president.
Union action across the nation
While significant, Minnesota isn’t the only state where teachers are taking matters into their own hands. Unions in New Jersey, Maryland, and Florida have made their own efforts to stall in-person teaching in favor of distance learning.
