Washington D.C. teachers staged a “mental health day” protest on November 2, resulting in the postponement of the district’s planned in-person learning reopening. The Washington Teachers’ Union has been in conflict with the D.C. public school system over plans to bring 7,000 elementary students back to classrooms beginning November 9. D.C. schools had been fully remote so far in the school year, with students prioritized for return including those who are homeless, English language learners, or have special educational needs.
Union’s Safety Concerns
The union has maintained that it is not safe for teachers or students to return to the classroom. A vote conducted of the union’s 1,200 members showed 93% stated they have “no confidence” in the district’s reopening plans. A major point of disagreement between Union President Elizabeth Davis and Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee centers on whether any teacher should be allowed to refuse to teach in-person, or if this option should only apply to teachers who are high-risk or live with a high-risk person. The union launched a social media campaign with the hashtag #OnlyWhenItsSafe, listing teacher concerns including a seat at the table when planning to reopen, a plan that addresses relationships and learning, and clean air in classrooms.
Successful Protest Action
On November 1, Davis sent an email to union members urging teachers to take a mental health day in protest on November 2, while asking teachers to respond to students who reach out for assistance. Hundreds of teachers participated in the “sick-in” and called out of virtual teaching, with principals sending emails to families advising that some classes would be canceled. Many principals appeared supportive, with the Roosevelt High School principal telling parents that “teachers are calling out sick today to make sure other adults know how they feel about something.” The protest proved effective when Chancellor Ferebee announced Washington D.C. schools would not begin in-person learning on November 9 as previously planned, without announcing a new timeline.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.boredteachers.com/post/d-c-schools-cancelled-as-teachers-take-mental-health-days-to-protest-reopening-plans