Vaccine and booster site opens at Fenway Park today.
That is a step,forward. Sadly, as was the case last time, baker forgets there is a whole other part of the state. How do folks literally never learn
Daughter was exposed to yet A 3RD covid student. She is deathly afraid that she will test positive. 40 students at her
High School were sent home after testing positive yesterday alone!
It is out of control, yet they keep the damn school OPEN!
Leadership in this state is in full Ostrich mode!
I’ll repeat….someone needs to take the decisions away from Riley and put back in district control. Or just announce the state will go remote. But oh no……we never took the time last summer to make remote efficient. When we damned well knew we should have been doing just that.
Yesterday’s Covid Dashboard and my updated graph with a more
realistic trend line.
Mass Teachers Association BLASTS Baker and Riley!!!
These 2 individuals should be removed from office!
DISGUSTING!
Massachusetts Teachers Association Demands Immediate Action to Protect School Communities Amid Failures by DESE and the Baker Administration
Inadequate and incompetent actions in recent days by Governor Charlie Baker and state Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley have played a role in worsening a public health crisis in our school communities, threatening the well-being of students, educators and families throughout the Commonwealth. These failures – compounded by false statements by the governor and other top officials – have potentially compromised the ability of our schools to continue in-person learning, though it remains our goal to keep Massachusetts classrooms open.
The Massachusetts Teachers Association is demanding immediate corrective action to ensure that every student and educator in our public schools has access to reliable COVID-19 tests, adequate and effective personal protective equipment, and readily available vaccines and boosters.
“Since the start of the pandemic, Governor Baker and Commissioner Riley have demonstrated gross incompetence in their failure to take vital steps to keep students, educators and communities safe,” said MTA President Merrie Najimy. “They did not consult with educators last year when it was necessary to move to remote learning. They stymied efforts to promptly vaccinate educators until educators’ unions brought pressure to bear and the White House stepped in. And most recently, they bungled the distribution of COVID-19 tests while also distributing inadequate masks and making repeated false statements about the process and about public health.
“The time is now for others to step in and ensure that immediate steps are taken to keep students and educators safe,” she added.
Yesterday, Najimy testified before the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Education supporting a bill requiring the use of masks in public schools through June. Now the MTA has asked legislative leaders to investigate Baker’s handling of the pandemic as it pertains to keeping schools open and communities safe.
The MTA is advocating for an agency other than the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to take over COVID-19 testing and distribution of PPE, as well as ensure access to vaccines and boosters for students and educators.
“This is vital to all communities – but we are particularly concerned about communities of color, which have been the hardest hit by the pandemic,” Najimy said.
Najimy expressed outrage about the repeated inaccuracies that have emanated from the administration about the quality of masks distributed to school communities in recent days.
“The governor is putting public relations over public health,” Najimy said.
After MTA members questioned the quality of some of the masks that were distributed over the weekend, Baker adamantly stated that the educators were wrong. He and DESE spokespeople inaccurately claimed that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology had tested the masks that were distributed and that they were more than 87 percent effective.
“That has now been proven wrong, and to assert it was negligent and dismissive,” Najimy said.
In exchanges between educators and Gregory Rutledge, an MIT professor of chemical engineering, Rutledge has made it clear that MIT did not test the KN95 masks in question, which are manufactured by Fujian Pageone and labeled “non-medical.”
In the spring of 2020, MIT assisted in the effort to test the efficacy of KN95 and N95 masks – working to ensure that frontline medical workers were not being exposed to dangerous risks. Following the administration’s claims and the questions raised by educators, Rutledge reached out to state agencies to clarify that the Fujian Pageone non-medical KN95 masks in question were not among those tested by his lab.
In fact, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested the non-medical masks and found their efficacy rate to be between 25 percent and 45 percent – far lower than claimed by the state since they were distributed.
“Baker and Riley made false statements that put the public at risk even as the omicron variant spread like wildfire and COVID-19 cases soared,” Najimy said. “They either knowingly lied or they demonstrated gross incompetence – a product, at least in part, of their animus toward educators’ unions and their unwillingness to engage expert stakeholders in their plans to provide masks and tests on an urgent basis.
“Their actions are not only ineffective and inadequate, but also pose a clear danger to students, educators, and families,” she concluded. “Immediate action is warranted to put the process of protecting our school communities in responsible hands, and an investigation needs to be launched without delay.”
Massachusetts Teachers Association
2 Heritage Drive
8th Floor
Quincy, MA 02171
United States
If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.
Wow. They have been fighting for teachers and kids throughout. And they have been ignored. Correct me if I am wrong but aren’t folks who make vital decisions for our kids and teachers and staff supposed to respect those individuals.
If I may repeat….my mom never swore except for one exception. Her favorite saying when someone simply could not admit he or she was wrong when faced with overwhelming facts that he was…
“He wouldn’t say shit if he has a mouth full of it”
Love it!
We are in deep trouble and everyone id burying their heads in the sand. PATHETIC!!!@)#)@!(#(!@(!(@(#)@!(
While others pay the very sad price
I heard that some districts are looking toward retired teachers to return and fill slots. It seems they are desperate for “anybody” right now. One has wonder if teachers will be hired that wouldn’t have qualified in the past.
This is THE peak week for infections. Next week will be high, too. Though, I think that by the end of next week many areas will crest and some might decline a bit. To me, it made no sense to have school in session this week or next. Again, even in countries that have had in-person schooling almost the entire time since April 2020 – Denmark, the Netherlands, for example – they closed schools this week and next, in part, to prevent chaos. They’re making up for the 2 weeks with a shorter April (Easter) break and a shortened summer vacation. So, they’re also not going remote, either this week or next (except in a few instances, in which high school students have final entrance exams coming up in the spring).
What is a mask brand name that works and where can I get them? I got KN95 a bit ago that I researched and found well rated. But they say non medical ???
BTW both daughters listened to Baker when he said MIT had tested the masks. He was so good at the start. I get that he is overwhelmed. Step aside and put Lt Gov in charge
I’ll provide one alternative opinion–take it or leave it. I’ll also add that I’m the principal of a smaller independent elementary school with around 200 students–easier to navigate a pandemic in this environment I know.
I’ve been an elementary teacher and then principal for the past 21 years. This has been the hardest week I can remember. We caught many positive cases testing on Monday, but not all. We’ve had more positive cases in the past week then we’ve had cumulatively since March 2020. Teachers are anxious, parents are anxious, we’ve had several teachers out thrusting others into covering for each other. It’s all been worth it. The kids are so happy to be in school, in person. Not one of our teachers wants to go remote–even my most anxious. Being in person matters to the children. Zero Covid is not a reasonable goal or expectation–I’m saying be reckless–but we need to shift to a mindset that we’re going to need to live with this for the forseeable future and make sensible decisions that do involve some risk. There–that took 5 of the 15 minutes I have to eat today.
I can’t agree with deliberately exposing children to something that had a large chance if impacting their lives long term. I do know that smaller schools are not impacted anywhere near what the majority of schools face.
Id be interested in knowing why folks believe this is a form of education that is adequate. Teachers are missed. Those who are in school are teaching multiple classes. Subs are non existent. Nurses are nonexistent. Kids are out with little of no assistance for work
But more than that and what is far worse….. even in my small circle of friends, there are six who have severely compromised family members ranging from three to 60s. They are now all exposed to covid in their home.
We require healthcare workers to be vaccinated and then knowingly expose those their vaccination is intended to protect. Adding….simply allowing the virus to spread will continue to give it hosts in which to create variants.
That is just my opinion with reasons. I try to support my views with examples and numbers when possible I’d like to hear reasons why folks feel the current system is working and why closing for a period of time won’t work.
I think that stubbornly sticking to in person learning with the current health risks to students and staff is plain wrong.
As someone here said, they had all SUMMER to plan out
alternate methods of learning. Was anything done? NOPE!
In person learning ONLY! I am sorry, but this is LUNACY!
I am 100% with the MTA on this one.
I agree. Wonder who said that and said it all summer long….repeatedly.
To be really clear…..MTA isn’t asking for full remote. It is asking for known , logical safety measures to be put in place. I’d sure like to hear reasons that should not happen. Closing for a week or two to accomplish that is asking nothing.
At the very least, ALL schools should have remained closed for an additional 2 weeks following Christmas vacation and then re-evaluate. Would they do that?
Of course not! PATHETIC! What did they think would happen? A picnic in the park? GEEZ!
Thank you Dave. I agree with you.
As with Dave, I appreciate your input here. I can’t recall if you are with a public or private school. I’m curious about why Dave and maybe you feel private is working better. Other than small size that is. Also, I am curious why closing for a couple of weeks to implement a strategic plan for safety would not work. I have to assume schools all have an SP. I know everyone looks at something from different perspectives, so it’s important for me to understand what they are. Thank you!!!
Deb, I do respect your position. I’m also glad you posted it. It’s important to have healthy debates about this.
I’m very much in favor of in-person schooling. But, I do think that there are circumstances – like the current surge – that warrant temporary school closures.
I do want to note one thing on Zero Covid. I am sure that the Dutch decision to extend Christmas vacation by 2 weeks was NOT made as part of a Zero Covid strategy. Dutch schools have been open since April 2020 (were only closed for a few weeks at the outset of the pandemic), longer than practically any school systems anywhere. However, in December (and now, too), the authorities there were and are concerned about impacts of this particular variant with respect to children, plus the incredibly contagious nature of Omicron. They are not pursuing a Zero Covid strategy, but do want to reduce peak spread to alleviate the burden of hospitals and prevent things from spiraling out of control. Looking at their numbers in recent weeks, they’ve been quite successful at doing so.
I’d like to illustrate the issue of an overstressed healthcare system with an actual non-Covid example that is directly impacted by Covid. A good friend of mine (67) was just diagnosed with liver cancer a few days ago. Prior to his diagnosis, I told him to go to the hospital. This was on New Year’s Day, as he had been suffering for weeks with terrible nausea, vomiting, and extreme lethargy. He had colon cancer 15 years ago and survived that. But clearly something was seriously wrong, which is why I urged him to go. He went on January 1st, was diagnosed with liver cancer on January 2nd, but the hospital cannot keep him there because they’re overburdened and need bed space. They’re effectively doing triage. While he’s sick and really can’t fend for himself at home, he’s `better off’ than some who need the bed more than he does. His staging and biopsies have been delayed, too.
I was remiss is not saying I appreciate Dave’s input. He is absolutely as entitled to an opinion and everyone. And it is important to also remember that it is all right to not agree.
Joshua, I’m heartbroken by your story. One I mentioned was born many weeks early and literally defied all odds to survive and still fights daily……always with a heart warming smile. Two siblings now have covid. 100% from school. Prayers for this little one and your friend, Joshua.
Dutch numbers – country of 17.5 million, so 2x Massachusetts
7-day average cases ~19,000 (despite being half the size, MA is ~ 15,000)
Current hospitalizations ~1,550 (despite being half the size, MA is ~2,450)
7-day average deaths 21 (MA, half the size, 30)
Overall death rate – deaths per million – is about 35-40% of the U.S. That number will likely drop to 25-30% by the time Omicron is over.
I’m sorry I got mixed up in names. I meant to say Dave, not Deb. Of course, I appreciate both of your posts. There are many viewpoints on this. It’s a really difficult issue to navigate and come to a solution that is satisfactory to everyone.
That’s okay Joshua. You kind of read my mind as I was planning to post, and then got distracted. I am filling in as an assistant principal in a public school (in an area with kind of high community transmission). It’s hard. Coverage is an adventure–but we not only cover, we do it well. Teachers leave detailed lesson plans; the principal, myself, our reading and math specialists pinch hit as needed. One day, the nurse covered a class (I thought we were in trouble then…) We only have one building sub. Schools are probably the most covid-compliant places in America (which some may say isn’t saying much). We all wear our masks; teachers are pretty much vaccinated; we try to maintain healthy distance; teachers pretty much eat by themselves; and now we’re testing ourselves. If kids quarantine, their teachers meet with them twice a day and provide assignments on-line; I know this is happening because I get copies of it all and it’s a lot of stuff.
I taught two remote sessions last year. Now, you need to know, I can teach reading all day, everyday–I’m really great–phonics, comprehension, fluency–oh boy! Those two remote sessions were awful; I cannot tell you how many times I checked the clock. And if I was bored, I assure you the kids were bored.
Parents have always had the option to home-school. I know this is true because I was the home/district liaison for a couple of families and this is going back a good 20 years. So, it is an option that remains on the table. I haven’t looked at the remote options from the state; I hear they aren’t great, but I assure you they must be at least as good as what I did.
So, I wake up each morning with more than a little bit of trepidation because who knows what I’ll be teaching today. I also know that I’ll be dealing with some interesting behaviors–we are seeing older kids with behaviors of a much younger child–kids who can’t share, take turns, wait, etc. But I also get to see happy faces, hear kids laughing and playing at recess, and hear success stories from teachers. And I absolutely hate hearing how teachers are afraid because there aren’t enough tests or masks or whatever. The teachers in my school are not afraid–they are bound and determined to make this work.
Dave, I hope you ate your lunch. And I hope it was a good one.
Great response. Before I respond, can you tell me how many positives in your school the week before Christmas please
I’m sorry, Vicki, I don’t know.
I can give you a link for all MA schools.
Also are you n MA?
I’m in Mass. This may be Pollyanna-ish, but I don’t look at the numbers. When I stop and think about the possibility of “catching COVID”, it’s actually pretty good, so I just try not to think that way. I’m careful–vaccinated and I wear my mask (and no, not an N95 or a KN95 because, I have noticed that the teachers who use them are forever fussing with them which can’t be a good thing.) And when I start to make myself crazy, I remind myself–my husband is a dentist and he’s been digging in people’s mouths this whole time; my son is an emergency room physician so there’s that; my daughter is an anesthesiology resident at a COVID hospital in Brooklyn, for crying out loud; my sister-in-law is an ICU nurse. They are the real heroes; I just go to school.
Then with teachers’ absences–they could be out because they themselves have tested positive or have symptoms; or maybe it’s their kids or maybe they just need a day off and frankly, I don’t want to know because that kicks in the covid-related/personal/sick day thing. Don’t ask/don’t tell–my new motto.
Best wishes to your husband and family. I know of two dental practices that just had to close for a few weeks.
Thank you for your post, Deb.
Thank you very much for your post, Deb. All very fair comments and I will read again after my zoom meeting tonight. I appreciate that you took so much time to answer.
On home school. Very true. Both my girls are home schooling. And with tremendous support from the schools. And at their expense. All are currently ahead of their peers who are in-school. That makes sense because teaching is one on one and absolutely no reflection on in-school teachers. For the cases I mentioned, Home school is impossible where remote would be possible. In several cases both parents are at daily chemotherapy sessions while Others are behind the eight ball with the care for loved ones and also financially strapped due to hospital expenses or simply needing a job to cover those expenses
I’m always sorry to hear that a remote option was not adequate last year in some districts. Five of my grands were full remote all year. Three have IEPs. All three ended the year considerably better than they had the previous full school year. We had an exceptional remote program….both towns….and I know others did. But it requires absolute buy-in from admin and staff. Just a reminder, I have not once advocated for all to be remote this year. I have advocated and will continue to do so for an option for all. That does not mean teachers teach both in school and remote. I have too much respect for teachers to suggest that. MA has only one remote option DESE considers acceptable and a child had to enroll last April…..but no one knew this.
On schools being safe. My niece is working on her PHD in speech pathology…I think that is the right term,….she works at a school and at a hospital in an area of CA that has done well. She said she feels far safer and less exposed when in the hospital. Schools are a breeding ground. Literally. My niece is very good at what she does. She is in demand enough that both school and hospital are vying for her to become full time.
Can you clarify this. “And I absolutely hate hearing how teachers are afraid because there aren’t enough tests or masks or whatever.” I think you mean you hate that teachers do not have what they need and not that you hate that they say the are afraid.
As far as kids being happy, I suspect you know the number of kids who are struggling mentally is extremely high. There are many reasons. Some do not want to be on zoom. Others do not want to be at school and see friends and teachers test positive. Others see the world around them in chaos. Again, one size simply does not fit all.
There are three Elephants in the room and would like to understand thoughts in them
One. Im trying to understand what harm closing for two weeks can cause. See my question on this in a previous post.
Two. I do not understand how we can knowingly expose children to something that has a very high chance of impacting them for months or even years
Three. I also do not understand how we can continue to spread covid through schools and stress our hospitals.
On boosters, yet again the U.S. is dropping on the world rankings like a brick. And this is another reason why Omicron will leave an indelible mark on the U.S.; worse than our peers. See tweet below. We’re already a laughing stock when it comes to vaccination rates. We’re at 62% while every peer is over 70% and the median percentage of our peers is 83%! Now, boosters, also for the vulnerable. This is INEXCUSABLE. And yes, I do blame the Biden Administration in part. There is no messaging in prime time on the need to boost. None. No highway signs. No letters from the president and/or CDC officials mailed to U.S. citizens’ homes. Nothing. I also blame the states for not using mass vaccination sites to boost, at least not until this week. Here, the federal government could have encouraged the states to do so back in November, but I have not heard a peep from the feds on this. It’s extraordinarily inefficient to boost via pharmacies. https://twitter.com/EricTopol/status/1479132160736972805
Frustrated and very puzzled. I see SO many clever, top-ranked epidemiologists saying they’re “surprised there isn’t as much decoupling in the US between cases and hospitalizations and deaths.” It’s almost as if they’re caught up in the epidemiological weeds, if you will, and not examining – big picture – the totally dysfunction US public healthcare system. Our vaccination rate stinks. Full stop. No excuse for it being as low as it is. Our booster rate is even worse. Full stop. No excuse for that either. Our public health `system’ is fragmented, extraordinarily inefficient (clumsy, even), and not worthy of a great nation like the US. And our population’s underlying health conditions are comparatively bad. Period. It’s not rocket science. You don’t have to delve into the Omicron or Delta variant details of which S-gene dropout occurred where, with which mutation, and what kind of neutralization titers exist. Good God, sometimes stop with all the nerdy stuff, and take a bird’s eye view of the system before you, namely, the US, with so many warts you can’t count them all. Even if Omicron is 70% less severe, it’s still going to cause a lot of damage here, for the reasons mentioned.
I very much enjoy the diverse perspectives offered today. For me it seems that there isn’t enough real discussion regarding long covid when we talk about schools etc – my understanding is the early data indicates an estimated rate still of 1:3 cases of all omicron cases – some say as low as 20 percent but still! – of even completely asymptomatic cases that will develop some form of long covid. To me the huge risk of developing long covid is why we can’t just settle for “we’re all going to get it anyhow..”. I agree that absent long covid perhaps in person is important- but long covid is completely debilitating 100 million + globally now I believe – elephant in the living room?
Also early data suggests vaccines & boosters aren’t decreasing this likelihood for long covid.
The ADA had certified long covid as a disability and from what I read it can often be completely debilitating- yet it’s not really seemingly factoring into the discussion re in person or remote. Thoughts Deb, Dave, Vicki, Joshua?
I worry as it doesn’t seem to manifest until several weeks post infection that we aren’t factoring it in enough with this insane wave.
I thoroughly enjoy the discussion today. It is very important to hear views of others. Regardless of whether everyone is on the same page, we all learn from discussion. I admire anyone willing to jump in with a view.
Mama – elephants two and three are my largest concerns while both circle back to elephant one. Absolutely, no one is putting long covid on the front burner. And that is worrisome.
I also very much appreciate the back-and-forth. It’s important. We each have a perspective.
By the way, the U.S. surged past its previous high water mark for hospitalizations (125k), with 6,000 more today we’re now at 126,000 (~20,500 in ICU).
Globally, there has been a significant decoupling between cases and deaths. But, daily worldwide deaths are yet again above 8,000 (8,168 to be precise). I did not think we’d get back over 8,000 a day. Nothing endemic about this. Not yet, anyway. And with India in full-fledged ascent, we could very well see 10,000 a day soon. Unbelievable.
I heard on the tv news that a 15 year old Gloucester high school student died of Covid-19.
38,887 students 12,213 staff from 12/23-1/5. 51,100 total
In many cases this was four days.
If five days is the total number of days ans that is being generous, the PER DAY positive number is 41,339 in schools PER FREAKING DAY.
For the ENTIRE three ish months leading up to Christmas vacation the total positives were 60,293 and I was shocked at that.
Despite DESE trying to pass this off as two weeks…..there was a Christmas vacation in the middle.
In my wildest dreams, I could not have imagined those numbers.
The daily average is 10,220. I’m sorry. I’m way to upset about this to get anything right. I was disgusted when we have that many in five days
Walmart briefly had BinaxNow tests available a minute ago and then they were gone…. The price is now $19.88 up from $14
Our 13 year old nephew caught COVID just before Christmas, passed it on to his 2 year old nephew who passed it on to his diabetic mother. Fingers crossed for no long COVID.
We’re laying low these day. It’s pretty dull.
Thanks to everyone for the great discussion.
The BinaxNow tests are back in stock at Walmart…
If you are on FB or if anyone is who lives in the Grafton area, there is a great resource page for tests and test kits and boosters. I can share link here if anyone has interest.
I hope you don’t mind. I have a number of folks I add to my prayers before I get up each morning. I will add your nephews and the two year olds mom. Hugs to you!
2 articles re: my new primary concern that we are overlooking the risk of long covid in our new acceptance of “everyone will get it eventually…”
If it’s 30 percent of Omicron patients who develop long covid (or anything even close to that percentage) YIKES!! It will be a sh*t show in 2 months…
Thanks TK.
Vaccine and booster site opens at Fenway Park today.
That is a step,forward. Sadly, as was the case last time, baker forgets there is a whole other part of the state. How do folks literally never learn
Daughter was exposed to yet A 3RD covid student. She is deathly afraid that she will test positive. 40 students at her
High School were sent home after testing positive yesterday alone!
It is out of control, yet they keep the damn school OPEN!
Leadership in this state is in full Ostrich mode!
I’ll repeat….someone needs to take the decisions away from Riley and put back in district control. Or just announce the state will go remote. But oh no……we never took the time last summer to make remote efficient. When we damned well knew we should have been doing just that.
Yesterday’s Covid Dashboard and my updated graph with a more
realistic trend line.
Dashboard
https://ibb.co/mqntpT1
Graph
https://ibb.co/s5vRZnZ
Mass Teachers Association BLASTS Baker and Riley!!!
These 2 individuals should be removed from office!
DISGUSTING!
Massachusetts Teachers Association Demands Immediate Action to Protect School Communities Amid Failures by DESE and the Baker Administration
Inadequate and incompetent actions in recent days by Governor Charlie Baker and state Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley have played a role in worsening a public health crisis in our school communities, threatening the well-being of students, educators and families throughout the Commonwealth. These failures – compounded by false statements by the governor and other top officials – have potentially compromised the ability of our schools to continue in-person learning, though it remains our goal to keep Massachusetts classrooms open.
The Massachusetts Teachers Association is demanding immediate corrective action to ensure that every student and educator in our public schools has access to reliable COVID-19 tests, adequate and effective personal protective equipment, and readily available vaccines and boosters.
“Since the start of the pandemic, Governor Baker and Commissioner Riley have demonstrated gross incompetence in their failure to take vital steps to keep students, educators and communities safe,” said MTA President Merrie Najimy. “They did not consult with educators last year when it was necessary to move to remote learning. They stymied efforts to promptly vaccinate educators until educators’ unions brought pressure to bear and the White House stepped in. And most recently, they bungled the distribution of COVID-19 tests while also distributing inadequate masks and making repeated false statements about the process and about public health.
“The time is now for others to step in and ensure that immediate steps are taken to keep students and educators safe,” she added.
Yesterday, Najimy testified before the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Education supporting a bill requiring the use of masks in public schools through June. Now the MTA has asked legislative leaders to investigate Baker’s handling of the pandemic as it pertains to keeping schools open and communities safe.
The MTA is advocating for an agency other than the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to take over COVID-19 testing and distribution of PPE, as well as ensure access to vaccines and boosters for students and educators.
“This is vital to all communities – but we are particularly concerned about communities of color, which have been the hardest hit by the pandemic,” Najimy said.
Najimy expressed outrage about the repeated inaccuracies that have emanated from the administration about the quality of masks distributed to school communities in recent days.
“The governor is putting public relations over public health,” Najimy said.
After MTA members questioned the quality of some of the masks that were distributed over the weekend, Baker adamantly stated that the educators were wrong. He and DESE spokespeople inaccurately claimed that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology had tested the masks that were distributed and that they were more than 87 percent effective.
“That has now been proven wrong, and to assert it was negligent and dismissive,” Najimy said.
In exchanges between educators and Gregory Rutledge, an MIT professor of chemical engineering, Rutledge has made it clear that MIT did not test the KN95 masks in question, which are manufactured by Fujian Pageone and labeled “non-medical.”
In the spring of 2020, MIT assisted in the effort to test the efficacy of KN95 and N95 masks – working to ensure that frontline medical workers were not being exposed to dangerous risks. Following the administration’s claims and the questions raised by educators, Rutledge reached out to state agencies to clarify that the Fujian Pageone non-medical KN95 masks in question were not among those tested by his lab.
In fact, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested the non-medical masks and found their efficacy rate to be between 25 percent and 45 percent – far lower than claimed by the state since they were distributed.
“Baker and Riley made false statements that put the public at risk even as the omicron variant spread like wildfire and COVID-19 cases soared,” Najimy said. “They either knowingly lied or they demonstrated gross incompetence – a product, at least in part, of their animus toward educators’ unions and their unwillingness to engage expert stakeholders in their plans to provide masks and tests on an urgent basis.
“Their actions are not only ineffective and inadequate, but also pose a clear danger to students, educators, and families,” she concluded. “Immediate action is warranted to put the process of protecting our school communities in responsible hands, and an investigation needs to be launched without delay.”
Massachusetts Teachers Association
2 Heritage Drive
8th Floor
Quincy, MA 02171
United States
If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.
Wow. They have been fighting for teachers and kids throughout. And they have been ignored. Correct me if I am wrong but aren’t folks who make vital decisions for our kids and teachers and staff supposed to respect those individuals.
If I may repeat….my mom never swore except for one exception. Her favorite saying when someone simply could not admit he or she was wrong when faced with overwhelming facts that he was…
“He wouldn’t say shit if he has a mouth full of it”
Love it!
We are in deep trouble and everyone id burying their heads in the sand. PATHETIC!!!@)#)@!(#(!@(!(@(#)@!(
While others pay the very sad price
I heard that some districts are looking toward retired teachers to return and fill slots. It seems they are desperate for “anybody” right now. One has wonder if teachers will be hired that wouldn’t have qualified in the past.
This is THE peak week for infections. Next week will be high, too. Though, I think that by the end of next week many areas will crest and some might decline a bit. To me, it made no sense to have school in session this week or next. Again, even in countries that have had in-person schooling almost the entire time since April 2020 – Denmark, the Netherlands, for example – they closed schools this week and next, in part, to prevent chaos. They’re making up for the 2 weeks with a shorter April (Easter) break and a shortened summer vacation. So, they’re also not going remote, either this week or next (except in a few instances, in which high school students have final entrance exams coming up in the spring).
What is a mask brand name that works and where can I get them? I got KN95 a bit ago that I researched and found well rated. But they say non medical ???
Thank you
Don’t know if this will help you.
https://www.rollingstone.com/product-recommendations/lifestyle/n95-vs-kn95-masks-1044184/
Thank you very much
BTW both daughters listened to Baker when he said MIT had tested the masks. He was so good at the start. I get that he is overwhelmed. Step aside and put Lt Gov in charge
I’ll provide one alternative opinion–take it or leave it. I’ll also add that I’m the principal of a smaller independent elementary school with around 200 students–easier to navigate a pandemic in this environment I know.
I’ve been an elementary teacher and then principal for the past 21 years. This has been the hardest week I can remember. We caught many positive cases testing on Monday, but not all. We’ve had more positive cases in the past week then we’ve had cumulatively since March 2020. Teachers are anxious, parents are anxious, we’ve had several teachers out thrusting others into covering for each other. It’s all been worth it. The kids are so happy to be in school, in person. Not one of our teachers wants to go remote–even my most anxious. Being in person matters to the children. Zero Covid is not a reasonable goal or expectation–I’m saying be reckless–but we need to shift to a mindset that we’re going to need to live with this for the forseeable future and make sensible decisions that do involve some risk. There–that took 5 of the 15 minutes I have to eat today.
I can’t agree with deliberately exposing children to something that had a large chance if impacting their lives long term. I do know that smaller schools are not impacted anywhere near what the majority of schools face.
Id be interested in knowing why folks believe this is a form of education that is adequate. Teachers are missed. Those who are in school are teaching multiple classes. Subs are non existent. Nurses are nonexistent. Kids are out with little of no assistance for work
But more than that and what is far worse….. even in my small circle of friends, there are six who have severely compromised family members ranging from three to 60s. They are now all exposed to covid in their home.
We require healthcare workers to be vaccinated and then knowingly expose those their vaccination is intended to protect. Adding….simply allowing the virus to spread will continue to give it hosts in which to create variants.
That is just my opinion with reasons. I try to support my views with examples and numbers when possible I’d like to hear reasons why folks feel the current system is working and why closing for a period of time won’t work.
I think that stubbornly sticking to in person learning with the current health risks to students and staff is plain wrong.
As someone here said, they had all SUMMER to plan out
alternate methods of learning. Was anything done? NOPE!
In person learning ONLY! I am sorry, but this is LUNACY!
I am 100% with the MTA on this one.
I agree. Wonder who said that and said it all summer long….repeatedly.
To be really clear…..MTA isn’t asking for full remote. It is asking for known , logical safety measures to be put in place. I’d sure like to hear reasons that should not happen. Closing for a week or two to accomplish that is asking nothing.
At the very least, ALL schools should have remained closed for an additional 2 weeks following Christmas vacation and then re-evaluate. Would they do that?
Of course not! PATHETIC! What did they think would happen? A picnic in the park? GEEZ!
Thank you Dave. I agree with you.
As with Dave, I appreciate your input here. I can’t recall if you are with a public or private school. I’m curious about why Dave and maybe you feel private is working better. Other than small size that is. Also, I am curious why closing for a couple of weeks to implement a strategic plan for safety would not work. I have to assume schools all have an SP. I know everyone looks at something from different perspectives, so it’s important for me to understand what they are. Thank you!!!
Deb, I do respect your position. I’m also glad you posted it. It’s important to have healthy debates about this.
I’m very much in favor of in-person schooling. But, I do think that there are circumstances – like the current surge – that warrant temporary school closures.
I do want to note one thing on Zero Covid. I am sure that the Dutch decision to extend Christmas vacation by 2 weeks was NOT made as part of a Zero Covid strategy. Dutch schools have been open since April 2020 (were only closed for a few weeks at the outset of the pandemic), longer than practically any school systems anywhere. However, in December (and now, too), the authorities there were and are concerned about impacts of this particular variant with respect to children, plus the incredibly contagious nature of Omicron. They are not pursuing a Zero Covid strategy, but do want to reduce peak spread to alleviate the burden of hospitals and prevent things from spiraling out of control. Looking at their numbers in recent weeks, they’ve been quite successful at doing so.
I’d like to illustrate the issue of an overstressed healthcare system with an actual non-Covid example that is directly impacted by Covid. A good friend of mine (67) was just diagnosed with liver cancer a few days ago. Prior to his diagnosis, I told him to go to the hospital. This was on New Year’s Day, as he had been suffering for weeks with terrible nausea, vomiting, and extreme lethargy. He had colon cancer 15 years ago and survived that. But clearly something was seriously wrong, which is why I urged him to go. He went on January 1st, was diagnosed with liver cancer on January 2nd, but the hospital cannot keep him there because they’re overburdened and need bed space. They’re effectively doing triage. While he’s sick and really can’t fend for himself at home, he’s `better off’ than some who need the bed more than he does. His staging and biopsies have been delayed, too.
I was remiss is not saying I appreciate Dave’s input. He is absolutely as entitled to an opinion and everyone. And it is important to also remember that it is all right to not agree.
Joshua, I’m heartbroken by your story. One I mentioned was born many weeks early and literally defied all odds to survive and still fights daily……always with a heart warming smile. Two siblings now have covid. 100% from school. Prayers for this little one and your friend, Joshua.
Dutch numbers – country of 17.5 million, so 2x Massachusetts
7-day average cases ~19,000 (despite being half the size, MA is ~ 15,000)
Current hospitalizations ~1,550 (despite being half the size, MA is ~2,450)
7-day average deaths 21 (MA, half the size, 30)
Overall death rate – deaths per million – is about 35-40% of the U.S. That number will likely drop to 25-30% by the time Omicron is over.
I’m sorry I got mixed up in names. I meant to say Dave, not Deb. Of course, I appreciate both of your posts. There are many viewpoints on this. It’s a really difficult issue to navigate and come to a solution that is satisfactory to everyone.
That’s okay Joshua. You kind of read my mind as I was planning to post, and then got distracted. I am filling in as an assistant principal in a public school (in an area with kind of high community transmission). It’s hard. Coverage is an adventure–but we not only cover, we do it well. Teachers leave detailed lesson plans; the principal, myself, our reading and math specialists pinch hit as needed. One day, the nurse covered a class (I thought we were in trouble then…) We only have one building sub. Schools are probably the most covid-compliant places in America (which some may say isn’t saying much). We all wear our masks; teachers are pretty much vaccinated; we try to maintain healthy distance; teachers pretty much eat by themselves; and now we’re testing ourselves. If kids quarantine, their teachers meet with them twice a day and provide assignments on-line; I know this is happening because I get copies of it all and it’s a lot of stuff.
I taught two remote sessions last year. Now, you need to know, I can teach reading all day, everyday–I’m really great–phonics, comprehension, fluency–oh boy! Those two remote sessions were awful; I cannot tell you how many times I checked the clock. And if I was bored, I assure you the kids were bored.
Parents have always had the option to home-school. I know this is true because I was the home/district liaison for a couple of families and this is going back a good 20 years. So, it is an option that remains on the table. I haven’t looked at the remote options from the state; I hear they aren’t great, but I assure you they must be at least as good as what I did.
So, I wake up each morning with more than a little bit of trepidation because who knows what I’ll be teaching today. I also know that I’ll be dealing with some interesting behaviors–we are seeing older kids with behaviors of a much younger child–kids who can’t share, take turns, wait, etc. But I also get to see happy faces, hear kids laughing and playing at recess, and hear success stories from teachers. And I absolutely hate hearing how teachers are afraid because there aren’t enough tests or masks or whatever. The teachers in my school are not afraid–they are bound and determined to make this work.
Dave, I hope you ate your lunch. And I hope it was a good one.
Great response. Before I respond, can you tell me how many positives in your school the week before Christmas please
I’m sorry, Vicki, I don’t know.
I can give you a link for all MA schools.
Also are you n MA?
I’m in Mass. This may be Pollyanna-ish, but I don’t look at the numbers. When I stop and think about the possibility of “catching COVID”, it’s actually pretty good, so I just try not to think that way. I’m careful–vaccinated and I wear my mask (and no, not an N95 or a KN95 because, I have noticed that the teachers who use them are forever fussing with them which can’t be a good thing.) And when I start to make myself crazy, I remind myself–my husband is a dentist and he’s been digging in people’s mouths this whole time; my son is an emergency room physician so there’s that; my daughter is an anesthesiology resident at a COVID hospital in Brooklyn, for crying out loud; my sister-in-law is an ICU nurse. They are the real heroes; I just go to school.
Then with teachers’ absences–they could be out because they themselves have tested positive or have symptoms; or maybe it’s their kids or maybe they just need a day off and frankly, I don’t want to know because that kicks in the covid-related/personal/sick day thing. Don’t ask/don’t tell–my new motto.
Best wishes to your husband and family. I know of two dental practices that just had to close for a few weeks.
Thank you for your post, Deb.
Thank you very much for your post, Deb. All very fair comments and I will read again after my zoom meeting tonight. I appreciate that you took so much time to answer.
On home school. Very true. Both my girls are home schooling. And with tremendous support from the schools. And at their expense. All are currently ahead of their peers who are in-school. That makes sense because teaching is one on one and absolutely no reflection on in-school teachers. For the cases I mentioned, Home school is impossible where remote would be possible. In several cases both parents are at daily chemotherapy sessions while Others are behind the eight ball with the care for loved ones and also financially strapped due to hospital expenses or simply needing a job to cover those expenses
I’m always sorry to hear that a remote option was not adequate last year in some districts. Five of my grands were full remote all year. Three have IEPs. All three ended the year considerably better than they had the previous full school year. We had an exceptional remote program….both towns….and I know others did. But it requires absolute buy-in from admin and staff. Just a reminder, I have not once advocated for all to be remote this year. I have advocated and will continue to do so for an option for all. That does not mean teachers teach both in school and remote. I have too much respect for teachers to suggest that. MA has only one remote option DESE considers acceptable and a child had to enroll last April…..but no one knew this.
On schools being safe. My niece is working on her PHD in speech pathology…I think that is the right term,….she works at a school and at a hospital in an area of CA that has done well. She said she feels far safer and less exposed when in the hospital. Schools are a breeding ground. Literally. My niece is very good at what she does. She is in demand enough that both school and hospital are vying for her to become full time.
Can you clarify this. “And I absolutely hate hearing how teachers are afraid because there aren’t enough tests or masks or whatever.” I think you mean you hate that teachers do not have what they need and not that you hate that they say the are afraid.
As far as kids being happy, I suspect you know the number of kids who are struggling mentally is extremely high. There are many reasons. Some do not want to be on zoom. Others do not want to be at school and see friends and teachers test positive. Others see the world around them in chaos. Again, one size simply does not fit all.
There are three Elephants in the room and would like to understand thoughts in them
One. Im trying to understand what harm closing for two weeks can cause. See my question on this in a previous post.
Two. I do not understand how we can knowingly expose children to something that has a very high chance of impacting them for months or even years
Three. I also do not understand how we can continue to spread covid through schools and stress our hospitals.
On boosters, yet again the U.S. is dropping on the world rankings like a brick. And this is another reason why Omicron will leave an indelible mark on the U.S.; worse than our peers. See tweet below. We’re already a laughing stock when it comes to vaccination rates. We’re at 62% while every peer is over 70% and the median percentage of our peers is 83%! Now, boosters, also for the vulnerable. This is INEXCUSABLE. And yes, I do blame the Biden Administration in part. There is no messaging in prime time on the need to boost. None. No highway signs. No letters from the president and/or CDC officials mailed to U.S. citizens’ homes. Nothing. I also blame the states for not using mass vaccination sites to boost, at least not until this week. Here, the federal government could have encouraged the states to do so back in November, but I have not heard a peep from the feds on this. It’s extraordinarily inefficient to boost via pharmacies. https://twitter.com/EricTopol/status/1479132160736972805
Frustrated and very puzzled. I see SO many clever, top-ranked epidemiologists saying they’re “surprised there isn’t as much decoupling in the US between cases and hospitalizations and deaths.” It’s almost as if they’re caught up in the epidemiological weeds, if you will, and not examining – big picture – the totally dysfunction US public healthcare system. Our vaccination rate stinks. Full stop. No excuse for it being as low as it is. Our booster rate is even worse. Full stop. No excuse for that either. Our public health `system’ is fragmented, extraordinarily inefficient (clumsy, even), and not worthy of a great nation like the US. And our population’s underlying health conditions are comparatively bad. Period. It’s not rocket science. You don’t have to delve into the Omicron or Delta variant details of which S-gene dropout occurred where, with which mutation, and what kind of neutralization titers exist. Good God, sometimes stop with all the nerdy stuff, and take a bird’s eye view of the system before you, namely, the US, with so many warts you can’t count them all. Even if Omicron is 70% less severe, it’s still going to cause a lot of damage here, for the reasons mentioned.
I very much enjoy the diverse perspectives offered today. For me it seems that there isn’t enough real discussion regarding long covid when we talk about schools etc – my understanding is the early data indicates an estimated rate still of 1:3 cases of all omicron cases – some say as low as 20 percent but still! – of even completely asymptomatic cases that will develop some form of long covid. To me the huge risk of developing long covid is why we can’t just settle for “we’re all going to get it anyhow..”. I agree that absent long covid perhaps in person is important- but long covid is completely debilitating 100 million + globally now I believe – elephant in the living room?
Also early data suggests vaccines & boosters aren’t decreasing this likelihood for long covid.
The ADA had certified long covid as a disability and from what I read it can often be completely debilitating- yet it’s not really seemingly factoring into the discussion re in person or remote. Thoughts Deb, Dave, Vicki, Joshua?
I worry as it doesn’t seem to manifest until several weeks post infection that we aren’t factoring it in enough with this insane wave.
I thoroughly enjoy the discussion today. It is very important to hear views of others. Regardless of whether everyone is on the same page, we all learn from discussion. I admire anyone willing to jump in with a view.
Mama – elephants two and three are my largest concerns while both circle back to elephant one. Absolutely, no one is putting long covid on the front burner. And that is worrisome.
I also very much appreciate the back-and-forth. It’s important. We each have a perspective.
By the way, the U.S. surged past its previous high water mark for hospitalizations (125k), with 6,000 more today we’re now at 126,000 (~20,500 in ICU).
Globally, there has been a significant decoupling between cases and deaths. But, daily worldwide deaths are yet again above 8,000 (8,168 to be precise). I did not think we’d get back over 8,000 a day. Nothing endemic about this. Not yet, anyway. And with India in full-fledged ascent, we could very well see 10,000 a day soon. Unbelievable.
I heard on the tv news that a 15 year old Gloucester high school student died of Covid-19.
Yet another vocal and prominent anti-vaxxer dies: https://www.thedailybeast.com/covid-infected-radio-host-douglas-kuzma-dies-after-qanon-friendly-conference-with-baseless-anthrax-rumors
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
38,887 students 12,213 staff from 12/23-1/5. 51,100 total
In many cases this was four days.
If five days is the total number of days ans that is being generous, the PER DAY positive number is 41,339 in schools PER FREAKING DAY.
For the ENTIRE three ish months leading up to Christmas vacation the total positives were 60,293 and I was shocked at that.
Despite DESE trying to pass this off as two weeks…..there was a Christmas vacation in the middle.
In my wildest dreams, I could not have imagined those numbers.
The daily average is 10,220. I’m sorry. I’m way to upset about this to get anything right. I was disgusted when we have that many in five days
Walmart briefly had BinaxNow tests available a minute ago and then they were gone…. The price is now $19.88 up from $14
Our 13 year old nephew caught COVID just before Christmas, passed it on to his 2 year old nephew who passed it on to his diabetic mother. Fingers crossed for no long COVID.
We’re laying low these day. It’s pretty dull.
Thanks to everyone for the great discussion.
The BinaxNow tests are back in stock at Walmart…
If you are on FB or if anyone is who lives in the Grafton area, there is a great resource page for tests and test kits and boosters. I can share link here if anyone has interest.
I hope you don’t mind. I have a number of folks I add to my prayers before I get up each morning. I will add your nephews and the two year olds mom. Hugs to you!
2 articles re: my new primary concern that we are overlooking the risk of long covid in our new acceptance of “everyone will get it eventually…”
If it’s 30 percent of Omicron patients who develop long covid (or anything even close to that percentage) YIKES!! It will be a sh*t show in 2 months…
https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/23/omicron-covid-19-long-hauler
And Fauci from a couple weeks ago reminding us to remember light symptoms still can result in long covid –
https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2021/12/29/fauci-interview-long-covid-still-a-risk-with-milder-omicron-cases
C-19 for 1-7 is ready.