According to a report by NBC Chicago, nearly 4,000 high school students will be taught by “virtual teachers” this school year. Virtual learning was a huge benefit to students in 2020 when schools across the country were shut down because of the pandemic. But one school district is relying on virtual teachers, not because students can’t attend classes, but because the teachers can’t.

Per the report, a third of all teachers in Gary have been working on “emergency” teaching licenses, which is no longer acceptable, so the school district has hired the Texas-based company, Proximity, to provide students with virtual instructors.

The teachers union is calling the plan a “union-busting,” but Gary has yet to learn their lesson so they’re pushing on with the plan. 

@nbcchicago

A shortage of licensed educators has led the Gary Community School District to temporarily bring in virtual teachers — a move that’s drawing both praise and criticism. More than 4,000 students are in the district, but only a small percentage will be instructed by a virtual teacher. As of Thursday, a little less than 13 virtual teachers were teaching subjects throughout the district, because school officials said about one-third of their teachers were not properly licensed. Tap the above for details⁠ #virtualteachers #schools #cps #garyindiana

♬ original sound - NBC Chicago