That time I responded to a post on Twitter…

I have a Twitter account, but I don’t generally post anything there. I just use it to see what people are saying about education, politics…and to see what Lin-Manuel Miranda is up to this week. I saw that a City Councilman, Mark Treyger, posted something about education. This is not novel or anything because Treyger has actually been one of the few NYC politicians that have actually been supporting teachers during this ridiculous time. All I wrote was, “Thank you for supporting use. There are so few that do.” And I promptly forgot about it.

Then, I opened my Twitter app last night and saw I had a notification…this is rare, because as you’ll remember, I don’t generally post anything. Oh boy. The notification was regarding responses to my reply to Treyger. Let me tell you…the level of vitriol from that two sentence response was actually surprising. A bunch of people who I don’t know, and who don’t know me felt it necessary to respond in the most negative and immature way possible.

I don’t argue with people on social media. I might state my opinion, I might make an observation, but I generally don’t argue. I think it wastes time and energy and I don’t believe the type of people who want to argue are actually going to change my mind. So as difficult as it was, I put my phone down and did not respond to these comments. I will however, respond to a few of them here.

1. ” Millions did until you ignores the science and you were exposed as virtue-signaling, selfish, antichildren, antieducation frauds relying on others to support your crazy positions forever. You focus on one risk & demand to be defied. You have no one to blame but yourselves.” This one had 14 likes. Where to start? Well. I didn’t realize that I, personally, did all of these things. Teachers are anti-children? Anti-education? Selfish? These are the last things that teachers are. I can only speak for myself, but I love children and want them to be safe during a global pandemic. Selfish? For wanting to keep my family and myself and my community safe? Anti-education? How? Explain that one to me. Teachers did not make any of the policy decisions regarding Covid precautions themselves. Teachers rarely have a seat at the policy making table. This just makes so many assumptions that I just can’t.
2. ” You guys are proving how useless you are. You are now tutors and should be paid as such. My 65 year old non college educated mom is teaching. You are tutoring in your jammies.” Ummm…excuse me? Do tutors hold live classes daily? Track progress? Do outreach to families? Support IEP students? No? Good. Don’t make assumptions about what I do.
3. “Get back in the classroom.” Again…this is not up to me. Just because you want free babysitting doesn’t mean everyone else should be at risk.

Honestly. I hope that if these people have kids, their kids’ teachers know up front how their parents feel about teachers and the job they do and their safety.