The New Normal Impact on Teachers at Age
By ARLYN JANE C. PAYAO
Teacher III
Butuan Central Elementary School
The COVID-19 pandemic changed our perception of the world as we knew it before. The strong measures of social distancing and lockdown applied since the beginning of the pandemic have led to significant changes in social relationships, which, for many people, have created feelings of isolation and loneliness (Smith and Lim, 2020).
After months of online classes as will in other modalities, modular/blended learning, and separation from students and colleagues, many teachers are eager to return to brick-and-mortar classrooms except, perhaps, in one demographic: older teachers. This group of teachers aged 55 and older had more reason than most to be anxious about returning to the classroom before getting the COVID-19 vaccine. That age group makes up the majority of deaths from COVID-19. In addition, anecdotes from older teachers point to the frustration with the demands of technology caused by the pandemic virtual learning environment, which is likely to continue into the coming school year and beyond.
Of the nearly 20 percent of all public-school teachers, those 55 and older are an important sector of the overall teaching force. And despite the enormous challenge posed by the pandemic and the pending return to school for older teachers, experts are urging K-12 administrators to make addressing their health and safety concerns a priority. ###
