HIGH RISK: 46% of Providence Teachers Are Over Age 50
Thursday, August 06, 2020
Of Providence’s 1,990 teachers, 46% are over the age of 50 — the danger zone for the risk of the coronavirus.
And, 15% of the faculty at Providence Schools are over 60.
There is clear scientific data that the older a person, there is a greater risk of death from contracting the coronavirus — specifically for those over 50 years of age.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“As you get older, your risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases. For example, people in their 50s are at higher risk for severe illness than people in their 40s. Similarly, people in their 60s or 70s are, in general, at higher risk for severe illness than people in their 50s. The greatest risk for severe illness from COVID-19 is among those aged 85 or older,” reported the CDC on July 30.
GET THE MOST UP-TO-DATE NEWS ON THE CORONAVIRUS - SIGN UP FOR THE FREE DAILY EBLAST
“One of the things we can't seem to do is figure out a way to approach this differentially by age,” said former Rhode Island Director of Health Dr. Michael Fine.
Just 7.5% of Providence teachers are under the age of 30.
“I myself am not comfortable thinking about people over 50 in a classroom right now. I'm also not comfortable thinking about kids not in a classroom and so how you merge this is a little unclear to me,” said Fine.
"Older teachers are of substantial risk," added Fine.
As GoLocal reported earlier this week, two leading teachers union officials are warning about the risk of Raimondo’s plan to race to reopen classrooms.
“I think it is safe to say a majority of my members and parents as well would prefer an announcement as soon as possible that we are delaying the return of students to school, given the many uncertainties about health and safety, federal funding, cleaning, personal protective equipment, transportation, air quality, and other logistical issues,” said Bob Walsh, Executive Director of the National Education Association of Rhode Island (NEARI).
“As always, time seems to accelerate at an Autobahn rate in August, I feel like in the midst of a pandemic with the pressures of opening school we are moving at warp speed instead,” said Maribeth Calabro, President of the Providence Teachers Union.
Providence Schools Plans Makes No Reference to Health Risk for Teachers
Presently, Providence Schools have presented a convoluted four-tier reopening plan.
The 75-page document makes no reference to teachers' risks. The only reference to "Teaching Staff Expectations" states, “Teaching expectations will be established to ensure all adults in our school buildings do everything we can to maintain a safe environment and achieve a high-quality education for our students.”
Presently, Providence Schools are at risk of not opening. On Wednesday, Governor Gina Raimondo spoke to which schools would not open today under the current metrics -- and which schools had the best plans to reopen.
"Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence would not open in person if it were today," said Raimondo, due to the number of cases per 100,000 being over 100. "They would each move to a partial reopening plan instead of in-person."
Related Articles
- Teachers Unions vs. Raimondo on In-Classroom Start Date—Who Will Win?
- Years After Reform, RI Teachers’ Pensions Still a Hot Button Issue - Earns “F” Grade
- Dr. Fine Warns That Teachers Over 50 Face Real Health Threat From Coronavirus in Schools
- RI Ranks Toward Bottom of “Best States for Teachers”
- Teachers of Color in RI Limited Due to Discrimination at Providence College, Says New Report
- Regunberg Apologizes for Crossing Providence Teachers’ Picket Line, Supports Stop & Shop Workers
- Providence Teachers’ Union President Apologizes—and I Appreciate That
- From Classroom for Nonviolence - The Reflective Teacher: Guest MINDSETTER™ Acosta Griffin
- “Teachers Are Being Vilified” in Providence, Says American Federation of Teachers’ Weingarten
- Teachers And Parents Don’t “Feel Safer,” Says Prov Teachers Union Head After Raimondo Pronouncement
- Head of Providence Teachers Union Issues Apology for Social Media Post Alleging Racism
- Central Falls Layoffs 42 in Schools, Teachers Union Says Will Have “Devastating” Impact
