As we’ve all struggled through this pandemic year, I had hoped that our society would learn to value those who work at less glamorous jobs than politics or athletics. We saw early on that grocery store workers, delivery drivers and food service workers are very important in the day-to-day existence of Utah residents in 2020.
The teachers all scrambled immediately to prepare online lessons while the districts worked to find computers and bandwidth for their students. Meals generally provided to students were distributed daily, even though schools were not in session in person. Some businesses opted to give their workers hourly bonuses for their extra work and recently the Utah State Legislature’s Executive Appropriations Committee approved bonuses for all public school teachers and employees.
Should we give those teachers whose schools stayed open the entire time regardless of infection a greater share of the bonus money than those who had to switch?
Unfortunately we have not learned the lessons I was hoping for.