Florida teacher’s mock obituary is statement against schools reopening

Penning her own mock obituary, a woman’s words are connecting with people across the country and globe. A Jacksonville teacher wanted her opinion of schools reopening to be heard. She said she was angry about teachers and students returning to classrooms during the pandemic.

Whitney Reddick used social media as her platform to post a mock obituary. She wrote it and recorded herself reading it recently.

Reddick decided to make sure it was known she is not happy with the state’s order for schools to reopen five days a week during the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.

“I was angry,” Reddick said in her mock obituary. “My initial reaction was, ‘You can’t do that. And how dare you?'”

She made sure her opinion was known about sending students to classrooms.

“I would rather make up gaps in learning and in education than to not have a child to make up the gap with,” Reddick said.

One of her main concerns was the possibility of a child bringing the coronavirus home to their family, especially someone with greater vulnerabilities.

“What if, unknowingly, we sent a kid home who has it and gives it to their only caretaker?” Reddick said. “I just, what are you gonna do? I mean what do you do? … A grandparent? It’s just heart-wrenching.”