Do any of these problems sound familiar to you?
As schools return to in-person learning, many are experiencing shortages, which means they don’t have enough of something. In a recent New York Times article, the writer Giulia Heyward describes some of them: In Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker is activating the National Guard to help with the shortage in bus drivers. In North Carolina, legislators are hoping to ease a cafeteria worker shortage by giving districts federal funding to cover signing bonuses for new hires. And some Missouri districts are wiping away some of the requirements to become a substitute teacher to attract more applicants. Do any of these problems sound familiar to you? Since coming back to school this fall have you noticed that there aren’t enough substitute teachers, school supplies, bus drivers or other resources? How did you feel reading the article? Were you surprised by the food shortages that schools are facing? Why or why not?
Have you noticed a lack of supplies or staff at your school? Has there not been a bus driver available to pick you up? Have you missed your usual choices at the cafeteria? Tell us about your experience. How do you think school shortages are affecting students in your school or others around the country? Many students rely on school lunches as their main, and sometimes only, daily source of food. How might shortages more severely affect students in this situation?
The article reports on several ways schools are trying to fix the food shortage. Which do you think is best and why? Do you have any other ideas for how schools or the community could handle the problem? What questions do you have about the shortages in your own school or those around the country? Schools around the country are struggling to find bus drivers, teachers and even food for school lunches. Have you experienced this at your school?
Have you noticed a lack of supplies or staff at your school? Has there not been a bus driver available to pick you up? Have you missed your usual choices at the cafeteria? Tell us about your experience. How do you think school shortages are affecting students in your school or others around the country? Many students rely on school lunches as their main, and sometimes only, daily source of food. How might shortages more severely affect students in this situation?
The article reports on several ways schools are trying to fix the food shortage. Which do you think is best and why? Do you have any other ideas for how schools or the community could handle the problem? What questions do you have about the shortages in your own school or those around the country? Schools around the country are struggling to find bus drivers, teachers and even food for school lunches. Have you experienced this at your school?
