Nicky, we can debate masks more granularly in another forum, but for here I'll state that we are not elementary or high school teachers, and our pedagogical craft, demands, and practices are well and truly, and categorically different. The comparison doesn't work for me. And teaching should not be an endurance test. If one is fine with a mask, good on them. Others are not, as SFUFA anticipated, and for this and many other reasons detailed, instructors at SFU should be able to draw on whatever resources are available (online affordances, for example) if so inclined and motivated.
Martin
At Simon Fraser University, we live and work on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ(Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Sent: August 26, 2021 12:43:11 PM
To: Martin Laba; academic-discussion (academic-discussion@sfu.ca)
Subject: Re: (SFUFA) COVID protocol update
Martin, haven't elementary and high school teachers been masked all day in classrooms for a year? A friend of mine who taught in different rooms & grades had to wear a mask and a shield all day every day. She wore several different masks each day, as the water content built up, and rinsed them out at night. Our classes are usually only 1-3 hours. I think we can do it.
The only reason I can see for an instructor not to wear a mask is if we have a hearing-impaired student who's a lip reader.
Nicky
Sent: August 26, 2021 12:33:07 PM
To: Christopher Pavsek; academic-discussion (academic-discussion@sfu.ca)
Subject: Re: (SFUFA) COVID protocol update
Greetings all,
We are clearly late in the game (with the beginning of semester swiftly approaching) in terms of feasible measures for health and safety of all of our academic communities. The SFUFA COVID protocol update is welcome and among many points raised, there are three issues worthy of special and immediate attention. First, as SFUFA notes, "...the idea of mandatory vaccines only for faculty and staff is simply non-sensical." And it is indeed "non-sensical" not only because of its punitive dimension as SFUFA points out, but also and especially because it impedes a comprehensive and informed plan for the health and safety of this university. Without students included in this mandate, I am at a loss to understand how the broader protocol plan can be efficacious. And it bears noting that even if a student vaccination mandate was implemented. today, we do not have a timeframe that would allow for the broad achievement of the safe in-person environment we all want, need, and must demand. Second, in its appropriate endorsement of the masking mandate, SFUFA notes that "we hope that the province and the University recognize that remaining masked while teaching poses specific challenges, and that instructors will. be able to remove masks while teaching, provided appropriate physical distancing can be maintained." I'll venture that this "masked-while-teaching" issue is a deal-breaker for many, if not most instructors. "Specific challenges" is an understatement of course, and lecturing or leading a seminar behind a mask over hours of instruction is unfeasible. We might hope that the province and the University recognize this challenge and codify the removal of masks for instructors (again, only if physical distancing can be achieved), to date this masking mandate has no exceptions and is absolute. Further, on a side note, as Chris and others point out, current enrolments and room sizes necessarily hinder the possibility of such distancing. Even those with an antipathy for remote teaching might choose online delivery over the severe constraints and discomforts of masked instruction. Which brings me to the final issue in support of Chris's view that SFUFA could (and I think, should) "advocate for faculty fo be able to switch their courses to online instruction" in any current circumstances. We were all required to pivot to online instruction (mid semester, no less) when the pandemic demanded it in the spring of 2020; we have come a long way, but the pandemic is still making such demands. If a faculty member wishes to switch to online instruction for the fall, that faculty member should have the full support of the University at every level.
cheers, Martin
At Simon Fraser University, we live and work on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ(Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Sent: August 26, 2021 11:20:10 AM
To: academic-discussion (academic-discussion@sfu.ca)
Subject: (SFUFA) COVID protocol update
Hi all--I think two other things that SFUFA could request or demand of the university would be the imposition of capacity restrictions in all rooms on campus, or at least for all lectures over a certain size, so that we don't have 400 students sitting without
any possibility of distancing in lecture halls. Such capacity restrictions would be consistent with current restrictions in the province on organized indoor gatherings. As I understand it, the only thing the university has done to "ensure" the safety of lecture
halls and classrooms is to check the ventilation.
In addition, SFUFA could advocate for faculty to be able to switch their courses to online instruction, regardless of any demonstrated medical need for vaccine exemption, etc. This would be good to implement at a university-wide level so that individual chairs and directors and faculty don't have to negotiate these matters on a case by case basis.
Chris
Associate Professor of Film
School for the Contemporary Arts
Simon Fraser University
149 West Hastings
Vancouver, BC V5N 1X4
cpavsek@sfu.ca
778-782-4672
