Graphic by Ella Viti
Lily Smith
News Reporter
English teachers have recently been informed that COVID-19 testing will take place during students’ English classes, sparking confusion as to why the administration chose to sacrifice academic blocks as opposed to WIN (“What I Need”) or lunch blocks.
Jenny Robertson, a 10th grade and 12th grade English teacher, expresses her concerns with the testing schedule, fearing that her critical class time will be cut short, especially when classes only meet three times a week as opposed to four. She explains that, “English teachers will not be notified when testing will occur during a given class period… We could be in the middle of a socratic seminar, quiz, film, class discussion, or an in-class writing assignment, and we could be interrupted at any time.”
Ms. Robertson proposes an explanation for this year’s COVID-19 testing schedule. She suggests that because English is a requirement for all grades, “it’s the easiest way to make sure that all students who signed up for testing get it.” She remarks that she trusts the new Principal, Tamara Stras, and Vice Principal, Jason Williams, to make considerate and reasonable choices, and she is excited to see what will come of the new administration.
In addition, Deborah Bernhard, an 11th grade English teacher, questions why COVID-19 testing will not occur during WIN blocks, 50-minute required blocks where students can choose “what they need.” She explains that WIN blocks are the “perfect time to conduct COVID testing,” and that “testing during English classes is unnecessarily disruptive and inequitable.” She concludes by reiterating her dissatisfaction with the testing schedule, being “disappointed that teachers weren’t consulted in this decision-making process.”
Evidently, English teachers aren’t thrilled with the COVID-19 testing schedule, and many hope that administrators will make alterations to the plan, possibly moving testing time to WIN or lunch blocks.
