Gov. Abbott lags behind in COVID-19 prevention for schools

Texas schools and institutions are ahead of the game when it comes to COVID-19 prevention, but now they’re just trying to adapt.

On April 17, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order to close all public and private schools for the remainder of the school year. This order extended his first announcement that only closed schools until May 4.

But schools had already begun to close down before the governor’s official announcement, Clay Robison, spokesperson for the Texas State Teachers Association, said.

“After Gov. Abbott issued his first order in late March, closing the school buildings until May 4, the Texas State Teachers Association urged him to close all school buildings for the remainder of the spring semester, which he did a few weeks later. We didn’t know if the first closures would be temporary. Many of Texas’ 1,100 school districts were ahead of the governor, though. They started closing campuses before the governor issued his first order,” Robison said. 

It was the teachers that advocated for the closing of classrooms, wanting to keep students safe and uphold quality education by focusing on their transition to online learning.

According to Robison, the most important question for the school systems now is to keep looking ahead as to what public education will look like in the near future.

Teachers are not resting,and this is not a vacation as educators continue to try and support students in any way they can.

“Our union’s members, which include teachers as well as support staff, are adjusting. Teachers are teaching online and support staffers are helping their districts distribute free meals to students and families. Others are cleaning school campuses and protecting school property,” Robison said.

Ultimately, Robison is an adamant advocate for public education and warns against the word of politicians over health professionals in determining the well-being of the schools and the students they serve.

“During health care emergencies, listen to the health care experts and scientists, not to the politicians, especially not to this President of the U.S. In figuring out the best ways to educate children in the months and years ahead, listen to the education experts – the teachers – and not to the self-styled 'reformers,' including Betsy DeVos, who already are trying to use this crisis to promote private school vouchers and other schemes to privatize public education,” Robison said.

This message does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Texas State Teachers Association or its affiliates.