I am a teacher over 50.

For the most part, I feel safe in my classroom. There are a couple of little ones I wish were not there because they simply cannot keep their masks in place and they touch their faces a lot. I avoid them, and honestly, they are getting less help and instruction from me. But I am not worried about them. They mostly want to be with their friends, and they will catch up on anything they miss.

I trust my older kids. They wear their masks, they keep their distance, and they worry about us old people.

my classroom is well ventilated, frequently sanitized, and has an air purifier three feet from my desk. I have control over my classroom.

I refuse to go in the office or into other people’s classrooms. Droplets hang in the air. I don’t know how long, but I can’t believe that if you have been eating lunch or working at your desk during your planning period with no mask it is ok for me to come in and talk with you as long as you pull your mask up. If you were smoking outside and you crush out your cigarette as I approach - I’m still breathing smoke. Less smoke, but still smoke. I avoid my coworkers in the hall.

I have a very good mask. several actually. My Dd made them for me with two layers of heavy cotton fabric and a central filter. They fit snuggly. I cannot go up the stairs quickly wearing one because they restrict airflow too much. Someone at school asked if my child was trying to protect me or smother me. I laughed and said I was not sure, and that she must have spent most of her teens wondering the same thing about me.