Name: Oklahoma Education Association calls on state leaders to make masks mandatory in schools
Brand: koco.com
SKU: koco-com-59
Availability: OnlineOnly

critic

Oklahoma Education Association calls on state leaders to make masks mandatory in schools

preview

AdvertisementOklahoma Education Association calls on state leaders to make masks mandatory in schoolsHide TranscriptShow TranscriptREPORTER: SCHOOL START IN ABOUT A MONTH AND TEACHER SAY THEY ARE READY BUT THEY ARE AFRAID THEY DO NOT HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO GO BACK. &gt;&gt; OUR LEADERSHIP HAS FAILED TO TAKE ACTIVE MEASURES AND WE ARE STARING THOSE CONSEQUENCES IN THE FACE. REPORTER: OKLAHOMA EDUCATION PRESIDENT ALICIA PRIEST SAYS IT TIME FOR STATE LEADERS SUCH AS GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT AND STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOL JOY HOFEMEISER TO PUT MORE SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE NOW BEFORE THE START OF SCHOOL. &gt;&gt; IF IT IS NOT, KIDS WILL DIE. EDUCATORS WILL DIE. REPORTER: THAT REALITY HITTING HOME IN THE DUNCAN COMMUNITY. &gt;&gt; WE ACTUALLY LOST OUR FIRST PRECIOUS SCHOOL AGE CHILD LAST WEEK TO THE VIRUS. REPORTER: THIS GROUP OF EDUCATION LEADERS, STUDENTS AND MEDICAL EXPERTS SAY MASKS MUST MADE MANDATORY FOR EVERYONE IN SCHOOLS STATEWIDE. &gt;&gt; 38.5% OF OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR OWN PERSONAL HEALTH. REPORTER: MASKS PROVEN TO DECREASE THE SPREAD OF COVID, WHICH IS CRUCIAL WITH THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE WINTER SEASON AHEAD. &gt;&gt; WE START THROWING THE FLU, THE COLD, THE STREP THROAT. PNEUMONIA, BRONCHITIS, INTO THE PICTURE. AND YOU COUPLE THAT WITH COVID, THAT’S A RECIPE FOR DISASTER. REPORTER: THIS HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR SAYS MASKS ARE A MUST, ESPECIALLY WHERE 6 FEET OF SOCIAL DISTANCING IS DIFFICULT. &gt;&gt; MY SCHOOL’S MAIN HALLWAY IS ONLY A FEW FEET WIDER THAN THAT. &gt;&gt; WE SHOULDN’T HAVE TO BEG OUR LEADERS TO CARE ABOUT THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN AND COLLEAGUES. REPORTER: ALONG WITH THE MASKS, THE STATE THEY SAY NEED TO ADDRESS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING AND IF THAT ISAdvertisementOklahoma Education Association calls on state leaders to make masks mandatory in schoolsThe Oklahoma Education Association had strong words for state leaders as the start date of the school year rapidly approaches.Their main demand: make masks mandatory in schools.School starts less than a month from now in some districts. The OEA says teachers are ready to return to class but are afraid for their lives and those of their students if they aren’t given the appropriate personal protective equipment and other safety precautions aren’t taken.“Our leadership has failed to take active measures and we are staring those consequences in the face,” OEA President Alicia Priest said. Priest said it’s time for Gov. Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister to put more stringent safety measures in place. If not, Priest said, “children will die. Educators will die,”That very possibility hit home in Duncan.“We actually lost our first precious school-age child last week to the virus,” Duncan teacher Jami Cole said. A group of OEA members, other educations and medical experts said masks must be made mandatory statewide.“We shouldn’t have to beg our leaders to care about the lives of our children and colleagues,” Priest said. Mary Best, of the OKC chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, said more than 38% of Oklahoma City Public Schools teachers have expressed concerns about their personal health as they prepare to return to school. Dr. Dwight Sublett, of the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, noted the risk of the upcoming flu season combined with COVID-19.“We start throwing the flu, the cold, the strep throat. And you couple that with COVID -- that's a recipe for disaster,” he said. A Rattan Public Schools high school senior said masks should be required, especially where 6 feet of social distancing is difficult.“My school’s main hallway is only a few feet wider than that,” Morgan McClellan said. The group said the state must have enough personal protective equipment, touchless thermometers, soap and cleaning supplies. Also, the group said the state must mandate protocols should a district have to shut down. And it said the state must address the number of students, teachers and staff inside buildings. Absent these considerations, they said teachers aren’t ready to return to school.The Oklahoma Education Association had strong words for state leaders as the start date of the school year rapidly approaches.Their main demand: make masks mandatory in schools.AdvertisementSchool starts less than a month from now in some districts. The OEA says teachers are ready to return to class but are afraid for their lives and those of their students if they aren’t given the appropriate personal protective equipment and other safety precautions aren’t taken.“Our leadership has failed to take active measures and we are staring those consequences in the face,” OEA President Alicia Priest said. Priest said it’s time for Gov. Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister to put more stringent safety measures in place. If not, Priest said, “children will die. Educators will die,”That very possibility hit home in Duncan.“We actually lost our first precious school-age child last week to the virus,” Duncan teacher Jami Cole said. A group of OEA members, other educations and medical experts said masks must be made mandatory statewide.“We shouldn’t have to beg our leaders to care about the lives of our children and colleagues,” Priest said. Mary Best, of the OKC chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, said more than 38% of Oklahoma City Public Schools teachers have expressed concerns about their personal health as they prepare to return to school. Dr. Dwight Sublett, of the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, noted the risk of the upcoming flu season combined with COVID-19.“We start throwing the flu, the cold, the strep throat. And you couple that with COVID -- that's a recipe for disaster,” he said. A Rattan Public Schools high school senior said masks should be required, especially where 6 feet of social distancing is difficult.“My school’s main hallway is only a few feet wider than that,” Morgan McClellan said. The group said the state must have enough personal protective equipment, touchless thermometers, soap and cleaning supplies. Also, the group said the state must mandate protocols should a district have to shut down. And it said the state must address the number of students, teachers and staff inside buildings. Absent these considerations, they said teachers aren’t ready to return to school.Loading more articles...

AdvertisementOklahoma Education Association calls on state leaders to make masks mandatory in schoolsHide TranscriptShow TranscriptREPORTER: SCHOOL START IN ABOUT A MONTH AND TEACHER SAY THEY ARE READY BUT THEY ARE AFRAID THEY DO NOT HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO GO BACK. &gt;&gt; OUR LEADERSHIP HAS FAILED TO TAKE ACTIVE MEASURES AND WE ARE STARING THOSE CONSEQUENCES IN THE FACE. REPORTER: OKLAHOMA EDUCATION PRESIDENT ALICIA PRIEST SAYS IT TIME FOR STATE LEADERS SUCH AS GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT AND STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOL JOY HOFEMEISER TO PUT MORE SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE NOW BEFORE THE...

Oklahoma Education Association calls on state leaders to make masks mandatory in schools

No article scores yet.

CRITIC REVIEWS

PUBLIC REVIEWS