ALBANY, N.Y. Aug. 23, 2021 — New York State United Teachers and the NYS American Academy of Pediatrics today launched a new statewide television and digital advertising campaign to highlight the importance of ensuring all students return to in-person instruction in the fall.
The ad, titled “Let Me Show You,” focuses on the benefits of in-person learning — including hands-on instruction, social interaction critical for development and extracurricular activities that round out students’ education — with health protocols in place and agreement among educators and public health experts that in-person learning can be done safely.
The 30-second ad can be viewed at youtu.be/H7jTBYPlPBs . It will air in all regions of the state through the first day of school.
“We know the best place for students to learn is in the classroom, and every student deserves access to full-time, in-person instruction this year,” NYSUT President Andy Pallotta said. “We support the health protocols recommended by health experts, including family pediatricians, and state education officials. With a layered, holistic approach in place that ensures the health and safety of everyone in our schools, our educators are here to welcome their students with open arms on the first day of school.”
“Prioritizing in-person education is critical for every child’s social and educational development. As pediatricians, we want parents to understand that this can be done in a safe way when schools layer critical health strategies,” said Dr. Warren Seigel, Chair, NYS American Academy of Pediatrics, District II. “In-person education not only benefits children academically, but also socially and emotionally. Pediatricians are here to help families understand how critical being in school is and how to keep everyone safe.”
The ad is funded by a grant from the American Federation of Teachers as part of the national union’s nationwide Back to School for All initiative championing a return to five-days-a-week in-person instruction in all schools. More information on the AFT campaign can be found here: https://nysut.cc/3xPFzcV.
New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with more than 600,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.