I was teaching Intro to Sociology during the 2020-2021 school year.
In the fall, I had my most optimistic class of students ever, inspired by Black Lives Matter.
In the spring, I had my most cynical class of students ever, morally wounded by the push to get “back to normal” as COVID still spread.
In the fall, I had my most optimistic class of students ever, inspired by Black Lives Matter.
In the spring, I had my most cynical class of students ever, morally wounded by the push to get “back to normal” as COVID still spread.
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But, for a lot of people, the deepest hurt came from societal abandonment.
It’s equal measures heartbreaking and infuriating.
But now I’m not sure I’ll live long enough to see it, because with all the damage being done now, we’re going to have to fix so, SO much to get to that better world (and beat the bastards who don’t want it). It’s hard.
I kept being just boggled by stories about the negative effects of kids being remotely schooled with no mention of the negative effects on those who lost family members or friends or fellow students or teachers.
It was/is a hell of a blind spot.
So many of them talked about filling in gaps in our social safety net after losing a family member or to manage someone else’s hospitalization.
It upended people’s lives. It’s STILL upending people’s lives.
Every cold/flu season since we “returned to normal” has been atrocious.
I also observed a much lower incidence of traumatic injuries as less folks were on the road, etc. Now we have normal events + long-term complications + PCP backlogs + terrible viral spreading.
I remember seeing a study that driving with an active COVID infection increases the risk of car accidents.
There has been no relief.
The number of students in my class struggling with acute COVID infections or long COVID was noticeably higher in the spring too.
I suppose that many of us now pretend that no precautions are needed rather than remember.
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I have never seen something like this happen to previously healthy children in the past 20+ years.
The Ford government is culpable as they sit on their hands refusing to use our tax dollars to ensure children are safe in school.
Personally, it was the stark realization at just how many people truly don't give a fuck about their fellow humans.
Currently re-experiencing the same trauma with "would this person hide me from the authorities" as a central theme.
You do deserve protection. I’m sorry that happened/is still happening to you. I’m glad you’re still here.
The abandonment by society is destroying the best of us because they care the most & are most betrayed by the abundant & normalized disregard for & stimatizing of social care in return.