Hundreds of Boston teachers rally in front of city hall to protest in-person learning

BOSTON — Hundreds of Boston school teachers held a caravan rally in front of city hall Thursday.

The teachers are protesting returning to school in person this fall. It comes the same day Boston Public Schools says it requested to move its start date from September 10 to Sept. 21.

Teachers with the Boston Teachers Union say it is not safe to return to school in person at all right now.

Special education teacher Mary Mburu says not only are teacher’s lives at risk, but so are her students’ lives.

“Several parents have called me, they’ve been asking what happens to their kids who cannot wear a mask. We definitely have students who wearing a mask is a problem,” said Mburu.

Other teachers also say they’re concerned about the ventilation in old school buildings and lack of PPE.

Joel Richards teaches kindergarten-fifth graders at the Blackston School. He says BPS isn’t working with teachers on reopening plans.

“We don’t feel safe and we don’t feel like our voices are being heard. The concern is that there’s no way that people who aren’t in the schools daily can understand the concerns that we have.”

Boston Public Schools is considering a full-time remote model – which Richards says could work but planning with parents, teachers, and administration need to start now.

“The remote model is doable if we start now and we all come together with our leadership and we actually have a chance to plan.”

Under the new school reopening guidelines put out by the state Wednesday, Boston Public Schools are encouraged to return on a remote or hybrid model – since the city falls in a yellow zone.  Final school reopening plans are due to the state tomorrow.

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