CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Leaders of the state’s largest teachers unions are urging the state Board of Education to step in and give teachers and students a mental health day.
West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee and American Federation of Teachers West Virginia President Fred Albert made the plea Wednesday during the BOE’s monthly meeting in Charleston.
“All of our educators are being pushed to the limits. They’re at their breaking point,” Lee said.
Lee and Albert said teachers are under tremendous pressure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of substitute teachers.
“It’s not just our teachers. Our bus drivers are making second and third runs. Our cooks are cooking with shortages. Custodians have shortages and are covering more schools,” Lee said.
Lee said students “are lashing out to try to find something that gets them back to normal.”
Albert told board members teachers need their help.
“You are the leaders of public education in West Virginia and they need to know that you are there to support them and you understand that they’re not just belly-aching. These situations are real,” he said.
During Wednesday’s meeting, board member Debra Sullivan encouraged other members to visit classrooms to show their appreciation for teachers.
“It’s taking an hour or two to show that you do care what’s going on. It’s not a program, it’s an individual responsibility,” she said.
The mentality of teachers has been shifted, Albert said, with many feeling like it’s May or June when it’s still December of the current school year.
“They are end-of-the year worn out,” he said.
The stress of the pandemic is not just a West Virginia problem, Albert said.
“It’s all over. Public education is under such an attack right now. What did we do wrong?” he asked. “We need to change course.”
More than 20 public school districts in at least six different states across the nation extended their Thanksgiving breaks by several days to allow for mental health days for students and staff.
Lee said the day off is meant to give everyone at school an opportunity to recharge.
“It’s a day to relax and say thank you for a job well done.”
Meanwhile, West Virginia University students continue their push to convince Governor Jim Justice to invest federal relief dollars toward mental health challenges on college campuses.