Rhode Island Teachers Rally Against Plan To Reopen Schools

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island teachers and families filled the streets of downtown Providence Monday afternoon to protest the state's plan to reopen schools Aug. 31. Holding signs out windows and taped to cars, the parade of vehicles drove along Westminster Street, calling for Gov. Gina Raimondo and other top officials to reconsider the reopening plan.

"This is what we owe our kids and teachers?" a Providence substitute teacher tweeted alongside a "knock it off" infographic outlining their concerns about the plan.

The infographic questioned air exchange and filtration in classrooms, plans for mental health support of students, frequency of testing in students, parents and teachers and face mask requirements.

Photos tweeted by WJAR show signs reading "I cannot teach if I'm dead" and "this plan will kill."

Last week, Gov. Gina Raimondo reaffirmed the state's commitment to in-person classes in the fall, saying it will be difficult, but the best option for student's educational, mental and physical welfare.

"We owe it to our children to get them back to school," the governor said. "We owe it to them to do it safely. We owe it to our teachers to look out for their safety. We are going to get it done."

Raimondo criticized districts that oppose reopening, saying it was "too early to throw in the towel," and administrators should instead spend the remaining weeks of summer coming up with ways to address questions and concerns.

"It's wrong to say that it's safer to keep kids at home, because I don't know if that's true. Our children are suffering," Raimondo continued. "It's hard. I know most teachers don't want to go back to school but can't imagine the consequences of keeping kids home for a year."