Recent polling by Hart Research shows strong support for educators and schools in Michigan and across the country throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. More than three in four parents in a nationwide survey said they are overall satisfied with how their schools have handled the pandemic, and endorsed the quality and performance of their teachers. Grayling eighth grade teacher Craig Hofman says schools are community centers, and have stepped up to make sure students and their families have meals and Wifi hotspots, for instance.
“The teachers, the school, school district, para pros, bus drivers, everybody kind of jumped in, and we care about the kids, we care about the families. And I think that’s helped a lot with the perspective of teachers. It’s not just seeing on TV stuff like union strikes and things like that, which is all they kind of put on.”
In the poll, a big concern among parents is the nationwide teacher shortage, with 65% saying they were “fairly or very concerned” about it. Governor Gretchen Whitmer in December signed a bill into law that allows paraprofessionals and other school staff to serve as substitute teachers during the current school year, although opponents note those staff have their own essential duties and more needs to be done to solve the shortage.
