San Francisco is the first city in California to sue its school district to get children back into the classroom. Still, teachers' unions say they won't return to in-person learning until staff is fully vaccinated.
Eduardo Abarca, a San Francisco educator, said teachers and parents need to compromise to give children a better education.
He has been teaching his 6-year-old nephew Spanish, sign language, and history lessons since the state shut down last March. Abarca said these are difficult subjects to teach through distance learning, which is why he would prefer to teach in-person again.
"My body language is language, so I use my body, and I'm sometimes the only access for deaf children when you have most of their families that are hearing," Abarca explained.
The educator co-parents with his brother and said he understands the importance of students getting the best education possible. He also thinks it's detrimental for young children to be behind computer screens for more than an hour a day
"The challenges around virtual learning and learning through a screen — it's just not quality education," Abarca said.
Recently, the city of San Francisco sued the school district, demanding them to reopen. Even though Abarca is in favor of in-person learning, he disagrees with the lawsuit.
"When any politician in high office is suing our teachers, our school district, that's not the way to go. I think you're just further dividing us," he said.
Abarca recognizes some parents and teachers fear kids going back to the classroom and points out it should be each individual's choice.
"If you don't want to, don't go back. You don't have to go back. I think that we should find that compromise, and the city should find that compromise," Abarca said.
He said his family is fortunate he can teach his nephew one-on-one but notes his situation is not possible for many other families in the Latin community. Abarca said most don't have the resources to do distance learning compared to wealthier families in San Francisco.
"Everyone should have the option to decide for themselves what they feel is important to their household, their needs, their health, whatever it is," Abarca explained.
He said he's fighting for equality in education, and if health officials are giving teachers the green light to return, then people should be able to return to the classroom on a volunteer basis.
"If someone like Fauci is saying we can return and not everyone has to be vaccinated, then we should also give the space for families who want to return and teachers who want to return as well," Abarca said.
In the meantime, he said he hopes the state, city, and the rest of his colleagues can unite to provide students with the best education throughout this pandemic.