Hi Everyone,

Updates: 

1. Thank you for your continued support. We have 300 signatures! I

2.  The wording of the title has been changed. Nothing in the body of the petition has been altered though. The official title now says, "DO NOT RE-OPEN! Say YES to ONLINE classes & YES to technology provided for ALL STUDENTS!!!" The shareable title says the same thing, except insert "Dear Texas Governor & TEA:" in front of the wording of the new official title.

3. I did this because there are MANY petitions  out there requesting Governor Abbott and TEA to not reopen, to allow teachers the option of choosing physical/virtual, and/or postponing the school start date. This petition is a little different. If you read the entire document, you know this already, but there are many who just look at the title and sign....or don't because it's just another petition. 

Why is this petition different? The demands are different. This is not a polite request.

" Demands: We are demanding the following of Governor Greg Abbott and Commissioner Mike Morath:

Revoke the order for students, teachers, staff and administrators to physically return to school for the 2020-2021 school year until one or more of the following has happened:

•  Less than 100 new cases of Covid-19 in the state of Texas are maintained for at least a 3 month period.
  An adequate vaccine for Covid-19 is ready and made available to the public.
  o   Allow ALL students to continue their education through virtual learning technology.

Provide necessary technology for EVERY student in the state of Texas. This includes laptops or tablets, charging cables, and headphones.

Cancel standardized and benchmark testing, including STAAR, TELPAS, and COGAT. "

This is something that I believe in. Our students do not have adequate technology. That is something that should be provided by the state, just like a text book. I can’t tell you how many times during the spring shut down that I had parents with multiple children and one device to work on (usually a smart phone). Virtual education is a new reality that we must have in our classrooms, but we must be able to mobilize it in case we have to shut down school again. Also, take away state testing this year. It is going to be stressful enough as it is.

4. You may also notice that there is now an image that accompanies the petition. This is of a drawing that I created a few days ago to express how it feels being forced to go back to school. I have attached the entire drawing (for some reason change.org won’t show the entire picture on the petition page). Please feel free to share this on social media. When you do, it would be greatly appreciated if you can share the link to the petition as well. Also, please feel free to message me if the image does not come through. The details of the picture:

*A black flag says COVID-19 with a skull and cross bones above it. It flies in front of a building that says, “Texas Schools”

*A line of socially distanced people ( a student and two teachers) are walking into open doors.

*The entrance to the doors says, “Schools are open. May the odds be ever in your favor” (quoting the Hunger Games).

*Off to the side, a plague doctor in a black robe sits at an upright piano. Music notation is coming out of the piano.

*This notation is a portion of Chopin’s famous Funeral March.

*Here is the link the piece if you have never heard it.

Chopin - Marche Funèbre (Funeral March), Sonata Op. 35 Mvt. 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-9wXQpzESo

**The music of the funeral march accompanies the socially distanced line and dissipates into the air with the words, “Students, Teachers, Maintenance, Cafeteria Staff, Office Staff, Administrators, Families, and Communities”….in other words, all the people who will be effected.

5. Finally, I am working on a new drawing to display how teachers’ voices are falling on deaf ears. I would like to add some quotes from actual teachers (your names will be kept anonymous) in the drawing. If you are willing to send me a few words/sentences on how you feel, please send an email to musiced.onfire@gmail.com.

Thank you again! A million times, THANK YOU! Please continue to share this petition and lets work to keep everyone SAFE. Blessings of Health to you all.

Sincerely,

Kali S.