MA Teachers Union Blasts State's Reopening Guidelines

MASSACHUSETTS — Friday's recommendation from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that remote teachers work from empty classrooms was soundly rejected by the state's largest teachers union.

"It is paternalistic and punitive and has no bearing on the quality of education that the real experts — the educators — provide so masterfully," Massachusetts Teachers Association President Merrie Najimy said. "This new guidance is clearly designed to force local educators’ unions to agree to in-person learning regardless of the condition of the school buildings in their districts, indoor air quality, testing capabilities or area COVID-19 transmission rates."

Most Massachusetts school districts are planning to reopen next month with teachers either offering instruction remotely or by offering a mix of remote and in-person learning. Friday's DESE guidance recommended teachers delivering lessons remotely do so from school instead of from their homes. Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley said the recommendation has several benefits.

"It allows the teacher to have access to a broad range of instructional materials that may not be available in each teacher’s home, allowing the teacher to provide differentiated modes of instruction," Riley said. "It assures that the teacher will have reliable internet access and quicker access to technical support and/or backup devices, when necessary."

"The guidance also demonstrates Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley’s fundamental lack of trust of educators, most of whom are women," Najimy said. "While parents entrust the lives of their children to teachers and other staff, the commissioner’s guidance implies that educators are not capable of doing their jobs without being told how — and then supervised to make sure they follow orders."

The ultimate decision of where teachers work rests with local school boards and superintendents, and work-from-classroom rules would have to be negotiated with local unions. Najimy said the MTA would support any local union that rejects the rules, while also supporting individual teachers if they decide they prefer teaching from their classroom.

"As Governor Charlie Baker has said frequently, if you can work from home, you should work from home to reduce the transmission of coronavirus from one community to another," Najimy said. "Although some educators may prefer to work out of their school buildings and have that right if it is safe, no one teaching remotely should be required to do so from a school building."

Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).