Arizona Teachers Planning Motorcade Protests On School Reopenings
Arizona teachers are continuing calls to delay the start of in-person instruction until the state sees a decrease in COVID-19 cases. There are at least four motor marches — think car parade meets protest — planned for Wednesday where teachers will take the streets and voice their concerns about going back to school during the state’s ongoing COVID crisis.
“It’s not that we don’t want to do our jobs. We want to do our jobs safely and that’s the message we want to get across with these car parades," said Kelley Fisher, a co-organizer for one of these events in the West Valley. She also teaches kindergarten at Deer Valley Unified School District.
She feels teachers are being asked to show up in their classrooms and put their health aside because it’s what’s best for the economy.
"We should not be political pawns," she said. "We should be doing what’s best for every educator in this state and every student in this state.”
Fisher thinks in-person instruction should be delayed until the state sees a downward trend in COVID-19 cases for 24 days. She said the additional time would also help districts to better prepare for the school year.
Gov. Doug Ducey has already delayed the first of in-person learning to mid-August and has previously said he would re-consider that target date if necessary.
There are two other motor marches planned in the Valley on Wednesday, and one in Tucson.