Salt in Wounds

 After everything our MPS educators and support professionals MFT/ESP have been fighting for, I want to underscore that my words here come from a place of deep reverence for the labors of every striker out on the line these past three weeks, as well as every MFT/ESP bargaining team member.

I need to acknowledge how your work these three weeks was FREE; you weren't paid. You risked your personal safety and lost planned income for your families. I salute you and love each and every one of you, so deeply for showing what was *necessary* in the working conditions of MPS to stand up for yourself, for your valued knowlege and experience, as well the children of Minneapolis Public schools. WE NEED YOU. WE LOVE YOU. THANK YOU ALL.

While my expression comes from a place of *full support* for the *Safe and Stable* schools this tremendous union family has worked so hard to create for our kids, I learned something new this morning and it is a spiky pill to swallow. It feels like salt being poured by MPS and the MN Dept of Education, into the wounds of our union members and MPS Families who are largely seeking healing and restoration after all that has been shown to us, that has been deeply broken within MPS.

It is my understanding, that the language in the tentative agreement (still to be voted on this weekend by union members) includes an additional **45 minutes of instructional time per school day** for the remainer of this school year, AS WELL as pushing out the last day of school from 6/10/22 to 6/25/22. Essentially forcing each and every minute of "lost instruction time" to be made up for the necessary strike effort.

Here is why I believe this is harmful/salt in existing wounding:

1: Not all MPS schools have A/C and will likely need to shut down/go into "e-learning" days as was done last year for Hiawatha Elementary and several others. I believe there are around 15 out of 100 MPS schools who do not have A/C. This is NOT safe.

2: This is also about consistency and the kids feeling used. Children are far more sensitive and capable of recognizing abuse and oppressive tactics than we may be able to see and recognize ourselves. It is expressed through anxiety symptoms. See imagery. This is not safe for our kids.

Further detail for those who may need more perspective on that note:

My son is autistic and cannot easily tolerate shifts in routine. He also knows that it will be difficult to return back to the classroom after three weeks of being uprooted.

We work very hard, both as a family and with his (wonderful) IEP team on supporting his tolerance and ability to feel safe in shifts and change. This strike has been a monumental uprooting on the heels of both pandemic, and the uprising after George Floyd’s murder. For clarity, I support the union strike and hold MPS and MN DOE fully accountable the necessary strike effort.

While I do understand and respect there is a perceived need to restore instructional time, what I don’t hear in a lot of conversations surrounding the strike in general is this… foundational safety in the routine that was hard fought by our educators for •safe and stable schools• is paramount.

Kids need to know what to expect, there is SAFETY in that. Kids need to feel they are returning to a safer place they they left when the strike began.

There is •safety• in both daily routine that is similar and builds upon what they are used to, sustaining the full summer break they are have come to know.

They stand to feel punished by this, or left out and torn if families pull them out for planned vacation, etc. none of this additional pile on of instructional time is okay, when we need RESTORATION and HEALING after all that has been shown to us, is broken.

Underscore: ••children CANNOT learn, when they do not feel safe.••

Safety is Paramount to QUALITY and RECEPTIVE learning.

Shared from love. Thank you for reading if you have.