TEXAS -- The Texas State Teachers Association is asking Gov. Greg Abbott to reconsider his order to keep public schools shut down through May 4. The organization wants schools to be closed for the remainder of the year instead, citing safety and curriculum planning concerns in a release sent out on Wednesday.
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday ordered schools to remain closed until May 4
- State teacher association calling on governor to cancel remainder of school year
- Meanwhile, students are adjusting to distance learning
For the majority of Texas public schoolchildren, online learning has taken over from the physical classroom environment due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
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"My daughter is getting a Chromebook today from AISD," said Austin ISD parent Joe Arispe.
For parents, students, and teachers, the sudden change to online learning is coming at a cost.
"One of my daughters has dyslexia and has a learning disability," said Arispe. "She still looks forward to getting the help. Now it's not available."
As teachers scramble to tailor their curriculums towards e-learning, the teacher association called for broader action from Abbott.
"We were hoping that the governor would actually step in and show some leadership and close school for the remainder of the school year to ensure the safety of our students, our educators and the community at large," said Noel Candelaria, the president of Texas State Teacher Association.
With social distancing measures currently underway, the organization fears the virus could spread again if schools were to re-open too soon. With the current protocols in place issued out by the governor, Candelaria says it creates more of a unsettling situation for teachers and districts who have to constantly change their planning every time school gets pushed further back.
"Coming down from the curve then reopening our schools, it kicks right back up and then it pushes back even further when you have hundreds if not thousands of kids in any given community walking into a public school," said Candelaria. "The virus doesn't stay at home like a puppy, it comes with people."
For now families like the Arispes will have to continue learning from home the best way they can as the nation braces for the apex of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Hopefully another decision will be made. We can either go back to school or just start the summer because right now, the kids are like, 'Hey, we already started summer,'" said Arispe.