4 More Weeks

Photo by Nick Fewings via Unsplash.

In four more weeks I will be in a building
That will not be disinfected with regularity
Not because of staff
But funding

My colleagues, families, and students will be in our building
No masks required
The collection of droplets in the air may be lethal for us
Especially when you consider how people have been living

But there is no consideration
We are teachers
We serve the children
We will just have to fill in the gaps, as usual

Take temperatures
(And buy thermometers to take temperatures)
Disinfect classrooms
(And buy cleaning products to disinfect classrooms)
(And buy gloves)

Wash hands frequently
Hmm...where?
Only one staff bathroom
Kids' bathrooms run out of soap
And paper towels

Be a team player
Social distance
But don't make colleagues social distance
Or students

​Be a team player
Teach extra kids when colleagues are absent
Because there will be no subs
And teachers' increased risk is not a concern

But we must have school!
No school is bad!
Because babysitters are a must
Not because education is a must

I say: Why can't we do all virtual school?
​They say: What about the businesses?
To which I respond:

 Who will be left to patronize them?