EDUCATORS: Courageous, committed

My daughter is an elementary school teacher in a local public school. She is a new mother of a 1-year-old. Never have I seen any person so panic stricken as she was during early COVID-19, so afraid that she would become infected and pass it on to her baby.

Regardless of her fear, when school opened with students, with all her apprehension, she went to school. Masked, socially distanced and scared beyond anything I thought to be rational, she went.

Once school opened to four-day weeks with full classes, she was thrilled. Her strong belief was that her job was to attempt to make up the lost time to her students.

When five-day classes resumed, she was totally supportive. I could go on and on about her constant fear, continuing up to vaccinations. But, she went to school.

I contrast this with teachers in California, Chicago, etc. Teachers in those and other areas are paid roughly double the amount our teachers are paid. Still, they won’t go back to work, and are using COVID as a means to barter and get more money and/or benefits.

My daughter, although probably on the extreme side of panicky, is but one of many of our local educators, faculty members and staff who sucked it up and put your children first.

I salute them all.

LARRY STUDLEY

Harrison