As dedicated Catholic school teachers, we are demanding that the Los Angeles Archdiocese continue remote learning this fall semester to protect its students, faculty, staff, and their families. While students and their families can select remote learning, the decision to open on a hybrid schedule unnecessarily puts teachers and staff—who are not able to select an entirely remote model—as well as the community at risk, particularly considering the growing number of Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in Los Angeles County. The Archdiocese is forcing teachers to choose between their health and safety and their livelihoods, and teachers deserve better. 

Empowering teachers to continue remote learning will benefit students by perfecting a teaching system that is already in place and works, rather than diverting time, effort, funds into forming new teaching schedules, health protocols, and enforcing social distancing. Teachers will able to provide students with support and stability without being subject to the unpredictable nature of Covid spread and government response. 

While online learning does present its challenges, what it does not do is put lives at risk. On March 13th, the day that the Los Angeles Archdiocese announced that schools would be closed for the health and safety of our community, California had 247 Covid-19 cases, total; on July 14th, California had been averaging 8,382 new Covid-19 cases a day over the last week. Opening schools will only contribute to the spread of this deadly and dangerous disease.
 As Catholics and those devoted to the service and the well being of others, it is our duty to safeguard the precious dignity of life and do what is right for students and teachers.