Like most teachers, Carolyn Meadors has a special bond with her students.
“These are my kids,” she said.
As an online English teacher, Meadors’ relationship with her students is unique in that she’s never met them in person, but like most in her position, she’s compelled to providing help when they are in need…even though they live in China.
Meadors has learned from her students and their families that the recent novel coronavirus outbreak required them to be quarantined inside their homes unless they are wearing a surgical mask — a commodity that has quickly become scarce.
So, the teacher is rallying Williamsburg for donations.
“I asked a kid when they’ll get back to school and he said ‘at least another 25 days,'” she said. “All of the schools are shut down, the businesses are shut down and if they go out it’s only to access food and resources and that’s where the masks come in.”
Early in January, the World Health Organization reported “44 patients with pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China” and soon after Chinese officials identified an outbreak of “a new type of coronavirus.”
A Feb. 5 report from the WHO counted more than 24,500 confirmed cases of the virus globally and almost 400 dead. Nearly 200 of those confirmed cases are in other countries outside of China, 11 cases have been confirmed in the U.S.
The organization has also announced they’re working to “fast-track” research to develop diagnostic tests, vaccines, and medications to fight against the new virus.
“The situation is so dire in some areas that an entire hospital was built in under 10 days and a second hospital is currently being built,” Meadors said in a recent social media post.
One of the students’ parents described the scene there as “grim.”
Recognizing the illness is primarily localized in China, Meadors said she’s gotten responses from people who have the sentiment “let’s take care of American kids” but said the issue is personal to her as it would be if she were teaching at a local school.
Also, global issues are American issues, she said.
When Meadors first started seeking out surgical masks, she noticed, they were also hard to find even in the U.S. and soon realized American shelves are stocked with products made in China or in the surrounding areas.
It’s been reported in recent days that fear of the virus’ rapid spread has caused manufacturers internationally to sell out of the masks.
“Globally, we all have to work together and even though I know you don’t know my kids, I know you don’t love my students but it’s a global thing,” she said. “We want to make sure that we are just as aware that it’s affecting them but it can affect all of us.”
Meadors has been teaching 2- to 15-year-old students for nearly 4 years with VIPKid, a Beijing-based online education company that connects English teachers with students in China.
Waking up at 2:30 a.m. to start her workday that goes until 8 a.m. is grueling but Meadors said it allows her to keep her career while also raising a family of her own and her bond with the students makes it all worth it.
“It’s a really wonderful position for me…I truly could never imagine not teaching these students. They’re so enthusiastic and excited and just eager little learners.”
VIPKid personnel based in China are assisting Meadors with her search for masks and said: “The best types of face masks are medical-surgical masks, N95 respirator masks, N100 particulate respirator masks, and P100 particulate respirator masks, but we welcome any masks that teachers are able to locate and donate.”
