Quarantining entire classrooms at ES level

[Anonymous]

I thought MCPS defined close contacts as less than 3ft for at least 15 minutes. But at our ES, and others it seems, entire classrooms are being quarantined over one positive. When questioned about it our principal essentially said it was too hard to make that determination and the cautious approach is to send the whole class home. But I know of teachers in other districts (in the northeast, not trump country) whose schools have no policy executing the 3ft policy- kids whose desks or lunchroom seats are within 3ft are quarantined, not the entire class. I don’t know whether to make a thing about this or not, or who to even complain to. I otherwise like our principal but if the vaccine approval drags out this isn’t sustainable.

[Anonymous]

The kids intermix so it makes sense.

[Anonymous]

I have not heard of any ES that isn’t quarantining whole classes. The real reason I think is that it is logistically much easier for principals, who are in charge of contact tracing right now (though contact tracers are supposed to be hired). When principals quarantine whole classes, they don’t have to find new teachers to tech those who are online—they can just have the teacher do it.

MCPS should just be honest and say that they are quarantining everyone rather than pretending they are only contacting close contacts.

[Anonymous]

If you have spent any time in an elementary school you would know that children do not stay 3 feet away from each other. They just don’t. And their mask compliance is atrocious. Some kids mask really well. Other do not though. As a teacher, I am trying to teach social skills, curriculum and hygiene. I’m glad to be back in person, but it is not as low-risk as I spent all summer telling myself it would be.

[Anonymous]

Seriously? You want to complain about reasonable precautions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? You want to complain about reasonable precautions?

At okra Singer they quarantined 8 classes for 3 positive cases. That’s not reasonable. That’s trying to keep as many kids home as possible.

[Anonymous]

I see the upside of the whole-class quarantine, which we experienced this week, as being that they are all virtual together with their teacher, so no one is missing out on instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? You want to complain about reasonable precautions?

At okra Singer they quarantined 8 classes for 3 positive cases. That’s not reasonable. That’s trying to keep as many kids home as possible.

Three positives is a lot. Good for them. Either patents are more careful or deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see the upside of the whole-class quarantine, which we experienced this week, as being that they are all virtual together with their teacher, so no one is missing out on instruction.

I'm sure they weren't all virtual together. I'm sure some of those kids were forced into situations where virtual classes were not possible to join. Not everyone can just stay home with their kids on workdays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see the upside of the whole-class quarantine, which we experienced this week, as being that they are all virtual together with their teacher, so no one is missing out on instruction.

I'm sure they weren't all virtual together. I'm sure some of those kids were forced into situations where virtual classes were not possible to join. Not everyone can just stay home with their kids on workdays.

If you cannot stay home with your kids you hire help, friend, family or figure it out. That's what parents do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see the upside of the whole-class quarantine, which we experienced this week, as being that they are all virtual together with their teacher, so no one is missing out on instruction.

I'm sure they weren't all virtual together. I'm sure some of those kids were forced into situations where virtual classes were not possible to join. Not everyone can just stay home with their kids on workdays.

If you cannot stay home with your kids you hire help, friend, family or figure it out. That's what parents do.

Ok. And I’m saying some of those child care arrangements aren’t going to be compatible with remote school. So yes, there’s a benefit to some of the quarantined kids, but harm to others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see the upside of the whole-class quarantine, which we experienced this week, as being that they are all virtual together with their teacher, so no one is missing out on instruction.

I'm sure they weren't all virtual together. I'm sure some of those kids were forced into situations where virtual classes were not possible to join. Not everyone can just stay home with their kids on workdays.

If you cannot stay home with your kids you hire help, friend, family or figure it out. That's what parents do.

Ok. And I’m saying some of those child care arrangements aren’t going to be compatible with remote school. So yes, there’s a benefit to some of the quarantined kids, but harm to others.

Too bad. We are in a pandemic. Kids aren't convenient so if you choose to have them and they are school aged, if they are sent home, you need to figure out child care. That's life. You knew this when you choose to do in person/MCPS. There is harm to everyone in that school if COVID spreads so the point of the quarantine to reduce illness which takes priority over convenience. Some people shouldn't have kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see the upside of the whole-class quarantine, which we experienced this week, as being that they are all virtual together with their teacher, so no one is missing out on instruction.

I'm sure they weren't all virtual together. I'm sure some of those kids were forced into situations where virtual classes were not possible to join. Not everyone can just stay home with their kids on workdays.

If you cannot stay home with your kids you hire help, friend, family or figure it out. That's what parents do.

Ok. And I’m saying some of those child care arrangements aren’t going to be compatible with remote school. So yes, there’s a benefit to some of the quarantined kids, but harm to others.

Too bad. We are in a pandemic. Kids aren't convenient so if you choose to have them and they are school aged, if they are sent home, you need to figure out child care. That's life. You knew this when you choose to do in person/MCPS. There is harm to everyone in that school if COVID spreads so the point of the quarantine to reduce illness which takes priority over convenience. Some people shouldn't have kids.

X1000. There is a hard truth that most people refuse to accept. When you think about having kids, you need to actually think about it. Plan what it will look like. Don’t use school as you primary daycare bc we’ve all seen now that works. I know the popular argument is, “but they are here now! Can’t turn back time” you’re right, so deal with it. Do things that parents have to do. I’m not sure why this is so hard for people to understand or why there is so much pushback on doing your job as parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see the upside of the whole-class quarantine, which we experienced this week, as being that they are all virtual together with their teacher, so no one is missing out on instruction.

I'm sure they weren't all virtual together. I'm sure some of those kids were forced into situations where virtual classes were not possible to join. Not everyone can just stay home with their kids on workdays.

If you cannot stay home with your kids you hire help, friend, family or figure it out. That's what parents do.

Ok. And I’m saying some of those child care arrangements aren’t going to be compatible with remote school. So yes, there’s a benefit to some of the quarantined kids, but harm to others.

Too bad. We are in a pandemic. Kids aren't convenient so if you choose to have them and they are school aged, if they are sent home, you need to figure out child care. That's life. You knew this when you choose to do in person/MCPS. There is harm to everyone in that school if COVID spreads so the point of the quarantine to reduce illness which takes priority over convenience. Some people shouldn't have kids.

X1000. There is a hard truth that most people refuse to accept. When you think about having kids, you need to actually think about it. Plan what it will look like. Don’t use school as you primary daycare bc we’ve all seen now that works. I know the popular argument is, “but they are here now! Can’t turn back time” you’re right, so deal with it. Do things that parents have to do. I’m not sure why this is so hard for people to understand or why there is so much pushback on doing your job as parents.

The best part of the upcoming pediatric vaccine is that quarantine policy will update and both of you PPs will finally be forced to STFU. Not sure what you'll do when you lose the power of the virus to lord over other posters.

[Anonymous]

It's really hard for working parents. I think it is a good policy, but I wonder what can be done to help working parents with childcare?

My daughter's college has a COVID dorm for exposed students where they have to stay in their rooms and are regularly monitored. Could MCPS have a COVID-exposed classroom that allowed for distancing and isolation from other students, testing and monitoring the students for symptoms, and provided staff with N95s and appropriate PPE? Only for students potentially exposed with no positive test or symptoms of course, whose parents are unable or choose not to keep them at home.