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Teachers share anonymous feelings about going back to school amid coronavirus pandemic

'I feel like a sacrificial lamb': Coronavirus confessions from teachers across the U.S.
Image: Elementary school students raise their hand in a classroom as coronavirus spores loom.
Getty Images; NBC News

"Totally heartbroken."

"I feel like a sacrificial lamb."

"I thought I was a teacher. Oh no, a social worker. Wait, a police officer. Now a front-line health care worker. Just stop!!!"

Teachers around the country are feeling uneasy about going back into the classroom amid the coronavirus pandemic, with cases surpassing 5 million over the weekend. Many districts are mandating that teachers rather than students wear masks, despite research showing the effectiveness of wearing a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and as cases among young people rise.

After asking for anonymous coronavirus confessions from teachers, NBC News received hundreds of responses in days. Below is a sample of responses from those who are scared or fear for their family members. And some said they are feeling optimistic about their school reopening.

Click here to see all the latest confessions from teachers.