A group of B.C. teachers says the province91裸聊视频檚 COVID response is causing more harm than good to B.C. students.
The group issued an open letter to B.C. teachers April 26 and called the response to COVID 91裸聊视频渙ut of balance91裸聊视频� in relation to children.
91裸聊视频淲e feel teachers have relinquished the bond of their profession out of fear; our risks are not as great as what has been identified.91裸聊视频�
The signatories then ask B.C. teachers to join them. 91裸聊视频淲e implore you to add your voices to ours. Teachers have a part in ensuring children keep the right to their mental and physical health.91裸聊视频�
B.C. Educators for Human Rights (BCEHR) signatories, Tabitha Krauskopf (Prince George school district), Anna Chambers (Langley school district), Sarah Rowat (North Okanagan school district), Jessie Duncan-Wersta (private-school system), Jolene Devcic Ryall (North Vancouver school district), Emilie Perron (Vancouver school district), and Meghan Taylor-Macdonald are all B.C. teachers.
91裸聊视频淐OVID-19 mitigation measures are having a detrimental impact on our children and youth,91裸聊视频� reads the letter.
The letter goes through a list of reasons why BCEHR thinks the 91裸聊视频渞esponse to COVID is out of balance,91裸聊视频� including their assertions that: 91裸聊视频渢he risk of dying of COVID-19 in British Columbia is 0.03 per cent 91裸聊视频� the risk of dying in a car crash in 2019 was approximately 1.22 per cent; asymptomatic spread is rare (0.7 per cent or less); two out of 45,000 teachers in B.C. have been in ICU for COVID. No deaths reported thus far; 211 out of 45,000 teachers in B.C. have WorkSafeBC claims for contracting COVID within the education sector,91裸聊视频� among others. (Read the full letter below.)
Krauskopf said her nascent group91裸聊视频攚hich has only been together for about three weeks and already has 50 members and rising91裸聊视频攆elt obligated to write the letter because teachers are essentially caregivers.
91裸聊视频淢ost of us got into teaching because we wanted to make a difference.91裸聊视频� She said teachers are there to protect, care for and help children. She added mask wearing and non-pharmaceutical interventions that children have to endure are causing them harm. 91裸聊视频淎s professionals working with kids, I don91裸聊视频檛 know how we can stay silent.91裸聊视频�
Krauskopf cited an incident where a young girl fell into a panic attack because she left her sweater outside.
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91裸聊视频淥ther kids were playing, and she knew she wasn91裸聊视频檛 supposed to cross social-distancing boundaries, and she worked herself into a panic,91裸聊视频� Krauskopf said. 91裸聊视频淭hat shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be happening. It91裸聊视频檚 such a small problem that91裸聊视频檚 been made into such a big thing, that she would be afraid to go out and get her sweater off the playground when the risk outside is almost nothing.91裸聊视频�
Krauskopf said she91裸聊视频檚 also witnessed kids panicking because they were having a hard time breathing and wouldn91裸聊视频檛 take their masks off out of fear.
She also cited mental health issues. 91裸聊视频淵ou can feel it. It91裸聊视频檒l go okay, but depending on what91裸聊视频檚 happening in the community, or when new health orders are circulated, you can feel how it changes in the classroom and with the kids. They are more depressed and they act out more.91裸聊视频�
Krauskopf said she hopes the letter raises awareness among B.C.91裸聊视频檚 teachers and empowers them to speak up.
91裸聊视频淎 lot of (the measures) are designed to make people feel safer, but children are at very low risk from COVID.91裸聊视频�
She said she wants to empower parents too and let them know teachers are concerned about their kids.
Krauskopf was shocked when she started looking into the mental health status of children over the course of pandemic containment measures.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檝e been massive increases in suicide attempts, suicidal ideation, and self harm in children as young as nine.91裸聊视频�
Krauskopf said Kids Help Phone received 4 million calls in 2020, more than double the amount (1.9 million) they received in 2019. And she cited that said McMaster Children91裸聊视频檚 Hospital in Hamilton has seen a massive spike in youth suicide attempts.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not just kids. Families are struggling. And child abuse in the home is escalating too,91裸聊视频� she noted. 91裸聊视频淐OVID is terrible, and it91裸聊视频檚 really affecting people, but we need to widen the lens now and start looking at how we can help children.91裸聊视频�
She said that help includes a relaxation of mask-wearing rules in schools and a decrease in some of the social-distancing measures. She also wants to see sports reopen for children.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檇 like kids to just be able to start being kids again, especially when the risks are so low outside.91裸聊视频�
B.C. Educators for Human Rights can be found at .
FULL LETTER FROM B.C. EDUCATORS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS:
editor@cloverdalereporter.com
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