Arbitration ruling on Reopening

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Attorney, parent, former DCPS teacher, spouse of a DCPS administrator.

I'm disappointed--but not surprised--that many people on this forum see the vaccine as a straightforward antidote and feel that teachers need to just suck it up, get vaccinated, and show up. The Pfizer vaccine is not 100% effective at preventing illness, nor is it known whether it prevents asymptomatic spread. This means that teachers face a legitimate risk of getting Covid at work and potentially bringing it home to their families. Many of you who will send your kids back may feel that's a risk you're willing to take. That decision about risk tolerance is made on an individual basis, and you don't get to make it for other people.

I'm more surprised with the discussion of teachers not deserving paychecks or only being self-interested. When teachers joined DCPS, no one consented to working in a Covid environment, vaccine or not. Saying that teachers have to just show up in this new environment because they're receiving a paycheck doesn't take seriously that in an employment contract the parties mutually agree to certain key terms. While the WTU has bargained for a MOU, that is an agreement intended to help the parties move forward in good faith, not an agreement that binds all teachers to particular actions. Teachers did not get to choose whether to accept working under the terms in the MOU, and of course the situation has evolved.

Also, suggesting that teachers are doing less work now is ignorant. Converting to an entirely new format has been extremely challenging and requires as much or more time, not less. Most of us non-teachers now working from home are doing more or less the same tasks that we were at work (myself included). Teachers' tasks have changed dramatically, which requires learning new skills and technology and adapting content. I appreciate that it's hard/costly to work from home and manage children, but that doesn't mean that teachers aren't earning their paychecks.

I hope that those of you willing to throw out teachers who aren't getting in line to go back to school practice a little perspective taking. As you should know, dismantling a trained workforce would have serious long-term repercussions. I'm personally pretty sure it's not worth trading that to ensure there's a warm body available to babysit your kids for the next 5 months.

You can add clueless to your list up top. I hope you are better picking out relevant info at work. No one is guaranteed that their job will go on forever without changes. Many professions have dealt with changes mid career that changed their career trajectory — at times eliminating whole professions. Many are dealing with that with covid now. It’s only teachers putting you this fight when many others whose jobs called for it have been in person for months. I don’t doubt that teachers are working very hard right now. I appreciate that and it’s noble but not really the point when the measure that matters is the quality of the education the kids are receiving.

I promise the field of teaching won't magically disappear, especial special education. Not in this lifetime, so quit with the BS scare tactics. My job is secure AF and I'm very lucky.

If you’re a special Ed teacher I very much appreciate what you do and you’ll probably always be in demand.

Education won’t disappear but there is a tipping point where the whole thing can change. It doesn’t help that the state based pension model is grossly underfunded in much of the country.

[Anonymous]

Scientist here.

Teacher, if you are worried about getting COVID, there are two big things you can do on your own:
1. Wear an N95 all the time at school. (Make sure it fits; ideally have a doctor help you get the best fit, or get a fit test.)
2. Get the vaccine.

Most other things you can do are only partial measures or depend on other people’s actions. But these two things will keep you safe and you can do them by yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Attorney, parent, former DCPS teacher, spouse of a DCPS administrator.

I'm disappointed--but not surprised--that many people on this forum see the vaccine as a straightforward antidote and feel that teachers need to just suck it up, get vaccinated, and show up. The Pfizer vaccine is not 100% effective at preventing illness, nor is it known whether it prevents asymptomatic spread. This means that teachers face a legitimate risk of getting Covid at work and potentially bringing it home to their families. Many of you who will send your kids back may feel that's a risk you're willing to take. That decision about risk tolerance is made on an individual basis, and you don't get to make it for other people.

I'm more surprised with the discussion of teachers not deserving paychecks or only being self-interested. When teachers joined DCPS, no one consented to working in a Covid environment, vaccine or not. Saying that teachers have to just show up in this new environment because they're receiving a paycheck doesn't take seriously that in an employment contract the parties mutually agree to certain key terms. While the WTU has bargained for a MOU, that is an agreement intended to help the parties move forward in good faith, not an agreement that binds all teachers to particular actions. Teachers did not get to choose whether to accept working under the terms in the MOU, and of course the situation has evolved.

Also, suggesting that teachers are doing less work now is ignorant. Converting to an entirely new format has been extremely challenging and requires as much or more time, not less. Most of us non-teachers now working from home are doing more or less the same tasks that we were at work (myself included). Teachers' tasks have changed dramatically, which requires learning new skills and technology and adapting content. I appreciate that it's hard/costly to work from home and manage children, but that doesn't mean that teachers aren't earning their paychecks.

I hope that those of you willing to throw out teachers who aren't getting in line to go back to school practice a little perspective taking. As you should know, dismantling a trained workforce would have serious long-term repercussions. I'm personally pretty sure it's not worth trading that to ensure there's a warm body available to babysit your kids for the next 5 months.

Wow! Someone with critical thinking skills on this forum. Few and far between. Most people cannot think past their own needs and therefore are riled up. They act like the pandemic was brought on just to mess with their neat hyper-organized lives.

Many of the people pushing reopening actually WANT to dismantle the trained workforce.
DeVos, Republicans, Reason, Heritage, Waltons, Koch— their GOAL is to destroy public schools. (To enrich themselves.)

There are some UMC white people agitating to reopen, but really, the institutional and structural forces pushing for reopening are wealthy Republicans.

And we should just be honest with ourselves about what wealthy donors want for public schools— they want them gone.

Now you think dcum is full of devos supporters? Do you know anything about the political makeup of this forum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Attorney, parent, former DCPS teacher, spouse of a DCPS administrator.

I'm disappointed--but not surprised--that many people on this forum see the vaccine as a straightforward antidote and feel that teachers need to just suck it up, get vaccinated, and show up. The Pfizer vaccine is not 100% effective at preventing illness, nor is it known whether it prevents asymptomatic spread. This means that teachers face a legitimate risk of getting Covid at work and potentially bringing it home to their families. Many of you who will send your kids back may feel that's a risk you're willing to take. That decision about risk tolerance is made on an individual basis, and you don't get to make it for other people.

I'm more surprised with the discussion of teachers not deserving paychecks or only being self-interested. When teachers joined DCPS, no one consented to working in a Covid environment, vaccine or not. Saying that teachers have to just show up in this new environment because they're receiving a paycheck doesn't take seriously that in an employment contract the parties mutually agree to certain key terms. While the WTU has bargained for a MOU, that is an agreement intended to help the parties move forward in good faith, not an agreement that binds all teachers to particular actions. Teachers did not get to choose whether to accept working under the terms in the MOU, and of course the situation has evolved.

Also, suggesting that teachers are doing less work now is ignorant. Converting to an entirely new format has been extremely challenging and requires as much or more time, not less. Most of us non-teachers now working from home are doing more or less the same tasks that we were at work (myself included). Teachers' tasks have changed dramatically, which requires learning new skills and technology and adapting content. I appreciate that it's hard/costly to work from home and manage children, but that doesn't mean that teachers aren't earning their paychecks.

I hope that those of you willing to throw out teachers who aren't getting in line to go back to school practice a little perspective taking. As you should know, dismantling a trained workforce would have serious long-term repercussions. I'm personally pretty sure it's not worth trading that to ensure there's a warm body available to babysit your kids for the next 5 months.

Covid will be here for years and years. We may get a covid vaccine seasonally, like the flu vaccine. So when do you propose reopening schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Scientist here.

Teacher, if you are worried about getting COVID, there are two big things you can do on your own:
1. Wear an N95 all the time at school. (Make sure it fits; ideally have a doctor help you get the best fit, or get a fit test.)
2. Get the vaccine.

Most other things you can do are only partial measures or depend on other people’s actions. But these two things will keep you safe and you can do them by yourself.

I work with PK children, working in person. Is it possible for me to not wear a mask sometimes?

I promise I am not being a baby but I have asthma and clinical anxiety, I need a mask break every 30 minutes or so, due to this I do not shop for my own groceries anymore, etc.

I have half the vaccine lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Attorney, parent, former DCPS teacher, spouse of a DCPS administrator.

I'm disappointed--but not surprised--that many people on this forum see the vaccine as a straightforward antidote and feel that teachers need to just suck it up, get vaccinated, and show up. The Pfizer vaccine is not 100% effective at preventing illness, nor is it known whether it prevents asymptomatic spread. This means that teachers face a legitimate risk of getting Covid at work and potentially bringing it home to their families. Many of you who will send your kids back may feel that's a risk you're willing to take. That decision about risk tolerance is made on an individual basis, and you don't get to make it for other people.

I'm more surprised with the discussion of teachers not deserving paychecks or only being self-interested. When teachers joined DCPS, no one consented to working in a Covid environment, vaccine or not. Saying that teachers have to just show up in this new environment because they're receiving a paycheck doesn't take seriously that in an employment contract the parties mutually agree to certain key terms. While the WTU has bargained for a MOU, that is an agreement intended to help the parties move forward in good faith, not an agreement that binds all teachers to particular actions. Teachers did not get to choose whether to accept working under the terms in the MOU, and of course the situation has evolved.

Also, suggesting that teachers are doing less work now is ignorant. Converting to an entirely new format has been extremely challenging and requires as much or more time, not less. Most of us non-teachers now working from home are doing more or less the same tasks that we were at work (myself included). Teachers' tasks have changed dramatically, which requires learning new skills and technology and adapting content. I appreciate that it's hard/costly to work from home and manage children, but that doesn't mean that teachers aren't earning their paychecks.

I hope that those of you willing to throw out teachers who aren't getting in line to go back to school practice a little perspective taking. As you should know, dismantling a trained workforce would have serious long-term repercussions. I'm personally pretty sure it's not worth trading that to ensure there's a warm body available to babysit your kids for the next 5 months.

Covid will be here for years and years. We may get a covid vaccine seasonally, like the flu vaccine. So when do you propose reopening schools?

But what about the people with compromised immune systems who can't take the vaccine and have to wait 1-2 years until kids can get it? I really am curious, my colleague is one of these people and I wonder what DCPS and any school district is going to do. It would hardly be fair if only these students had to endure DL only much longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Attorney, parent, former DCPS teacher, spouse of a DCPS administrator.

I'm disappointed--but not surprised--that many people on this forum see the vaccine as a straightforward antidote and feel that teachers need to just suck it up, get vaccinated, and show up. The Pfizer vaccine is not 100% effective at preventing illness, nor is it known whether it prevents asymptomatic spread. This means that teachers face a legitimate risk of getting Covid at work and potentially bringing it home to their families. Many of you who will send your kids back may feel that's a risk you're willing to take. That decision about risk tolerance is made on an individual basis, and you don't get to make it for other people.

I'm more surprised with the discussion of teachers not deserving paychecks or only being self-interested. When teachers joined DCPS, no one consented to working in a Covid environment, vaccine or not. Saying that teachers have to just show up in this new environment because they're receiving a paycheck doesn't take seriously that in an employment contract the parties mutually agree to certain key terms. While the WTU has bargained for a MOU, that is an agreement intended to help the parties move forward in good faith, not an agreement that binds all teachers to particular actions. Teachers did not get to choose whether to accept working under the terms in the MOU, and of course the situation has evolved.

Also, suggesting that teachers are doing less work now is ignorant. Converting to an entirely new format has been extremely challenging and requires as much or more time, not less. Most of us non-teachers now working from home are doing more or less the same tasks that we were at work (myself included). Teachers' tasks have changed dramatically, which requires learning new skills and technology and adapting content. I appreciate that it's hard/costly to work from home and manage children, but that doesn't mean that teachers aren't earning their paychecks.

I hope that those of you willing to throw out teachers who aren't getting in line to go back to school practice a little perspective taking. As you should know, dismantling a trained workforce would have serious long-term repercussions. I'm personally pretty sure it's not worth trading that to ensure there's a warm body available to babysit your kids for the next 5 months.

Covid will be here for years and years. We may get a covid vaccine seasonally, like the flu vaccine. So when do you propose reopening schools?

But what about the people with compromised immune systems who can't take the vaccine and have to wait 1-2 years until kids can get it? I really am curious, my colleague is one of these people and I wonder what DCPS and any school district is going to do. It would hardly be fair if only these students had to endure DL only much longer.

Being immune compromised does not prohibit one from getting the current COVID-19 vaccines. They are not live virus vaccines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Attorney, parent, former DCPS teacher, spouse of a DCPS administrator.

I'm disappointed--but not surprised--that many people on this forum see the vaccine as a straightforward antidote and feel that teachers need to just suck it up, get vaccinated, and show up. The Pfizer vaccine is not 100% effective at preventing illness, nor is it known whether it prevents asymptomatic spread. This means that teachers face a legitimate risk of getting Covid at work and potentially bringing it home to their families. Many of you who will send your kids back may feel that's a risk you're willing to take. That decision about risk tolerance is made on an individual basis, and you don't get to make it for other people.

I'm more surprised with the discussion of teachers not deserving paychecks or only being self-interested. When teachers joined DCPS, no one consented to working in a Covid environment, vaccine or not. Saying that teachers have to just show up in this new environment because they're receiving a paycheck doesn't take seriously that in an employment contract the parties mutually agree to certain key terms. While the WTU has bargained for a MOU, that is an agreement intended to help the parties move forward in good faith, not an agreement that binds all teachers to particular actions. Teachers did not get to choose whether to accept working under the terms in the MOU, and of course the situation has evolved.

Also, suggesting that teachers are doing less work now is ignorant. Converting to an entirely new format has been extremely challenging and requires as much or more time, not less. Most of us non-teachers now working from home are doing more or less the same tasks that we were at work (myself included). Teachers' tasks have changed dramatically, which requires learning new skills and technology and adapting content. I appreciate that it's hard/costly to work from home and manage children, but that doesn't mean that teachers aren't earning their paychecks.

I hope that those of you willing to throw out teachers who aren't getting in line to go back to school practice a little perspective taking. As you should know, dismantling a trained workforce would have serious long-term repercussions. I'm personally pretty sure it's not worth trading that to ensure there's a warm body available to babysit your kids for the next 5 months.

Covid will be here for years and years. We may get a covid vaccine seasonally, like the flu vaccine. So when do you propose reopening schools?

But what about the people with compromised immune systems who can't take the vaccine and have to wait 1-2 years until kids can get it? I really am curious, my colleague is one of these people and I wonder what DCPS and any school district is going to do. It would hardly be fair if only these students had to endure DL only much longer.

Being immune compromised does not prohibit one from getting the current COVID-19 vaccines. They are not live virus vaccines.

They have an autoimmune disease, they told me they couldn't take it.

[Anonymous]

Wear two masks and get on with it!

[Anonymous]

My stepmom with leukemia is getting the vaccine. You can get a vaccine when you have a compromised immune system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Absolutely! The world changes. We're now in a world where the model we previously used to pay teachers for in person learning no longer holds. It's time to consider other options for remote education other than the WTU workforce that doesn't want to return. The insanity of the WTU arguing that things change and the sand can shift everywhere but under thier paychecks is ridiculous.

This. It's crazy that WTU teachers are still getting their entire paycheck and benefits while parents are forced to either do a big part of the teacher's job for them or pay to outsource the teacher's job to a private in-person provider. No teacher is doing 100% of their job remotely. If we're going to keep distance learning, then it would be in the best interest of the students to hire teachers in lower cost areas so we can pay them less. Then give part of the per pupil funding to parents to outsource in-person childcare, tutoring, and pods. Or just give up on distance learning and give parents a larger portion of the per pupil funding so they can outsource education completely to private providers. I guarantee that businesses would crop up to provide cost effective pods etc.

But really just reopen schools and assign teachers back to work.

Can we stop saying WTU teachers? As far as I know charter teachers are also getting full paychecks.

And they are teaching my kid full time and with excellent results. I feel sad for people like you (and your DCUM ilk) who are so very angry that you need to just whine and throw shade at everyone and everything. You are like a 2 year old having a temper tantrum. Stick to complaining about your school and stop assuming that every school and every family is suffering the same fate you perceive yourself to be suffering from.

Setting aside the in person v DL difference, what school is your kid in that they're getting teaching "full time." My Ker gets 3.5 hours/day 4 days a week and my PK3er gets 1.5 hours/day 4 days/week of live instruction and I thought that was actually on the more generous end of what schools are providing. Vanishingly few teachers are teaching anything close to full time... and almost no individual kids are getting full time instruction.

I agree that no students are getting full-time instruction but that doesn’t mean some or most teachers aren’t teaching all day depending on small group schedules or individual supports. The teachers I know are working very hard and in a very changing environment.

In the adult world, in the working world, it’s not about how hard you work. It’s about what you produce. If you say teachers are workin hard, ok, I believe you. But that means jack sh*t. Because 6 year olds aren’t learning anything from a year of virtual school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Absolutely! The world changes. We're now in a world where the model we previously used to pay teachers for in person learning no longer holds. It's time to consider other options for remote education other than the WTU workforce that doesn't want to return. The insanity of the WTU arguing that things change and the sand can shift everywhere but under thier paychecks is ridiculous.

This. It's crazy that WTU teachers are still getting their entire paycheck and benefits while parents are forced to either do a big part of the teacher's job for them or pay to outsource the teacher's job to a private in-person provider. No teacher is doing 100% of their job remotely. If we're going to keep distance learning, then it would be in the best interest of the students to hire teachers in lower cost areas so we can pay them less. Then give part of the per pupil funding to parents to outsource in-person childcare, tutoring, and pods. Or just give up on distance learning and give parents a larger portion of the per pupil funding so they can outsource education completely to private providers. I guarantee that businesses would crop up to provide cost effective pods etc.

But really just reopen schools and assign teachers back to work.

Can we stop saying WTU teachers? As far as I know charter teachers are also getting full paychecks.

And they are teaching my kid full time and with excellent results. I feel sad for people like you (and your DCUM ilk) who are so very angry that you need to just whine and throw shade at everyone and everything. You are like a 2 year old having a temper tantrum. Stick to complaining about your school and stop assuming that every school and every family is suffering the same fate you perceive yourself to be suffering from.

Setting aside the in person v DL difference, what school is your kid in that they're getting teaching "full time." My Ker gets 3.5 hours/day 4 days a week and my PK3er gets 1.5 hours/day 4 days/week of live instruction and I thought that was actually on the more generous end of what schools are providing. Vanishingly few teachers are teaching anything close to full time... and almost no individual kids are getting full time instruction.

I agree that no students are getting full-time instruction but that doesn’t mean some or most teachers aren’t teaching all day depending on small group schedules or individual supports. The teachers I know are working very hard and in a very changing environment.

In the adult world, in the working world, it’s not about how hard you work. It’s about what you produce. If you say teachers are workin hard, ok, I believe you. But that means jack sh*t. Because 6 year olds aren’t learning anything from a year of virtual school.

You should get your child evaluated if they are 6 and not able to do DL at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wear two masks and get on with it!

Double masks do not help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Absolutely! The world changes. We're now in a world where the model we previously used to pay teachers for in person learning no longer holds. It's time to consider other options for remote education other than the WTU workforce that doesn't want to return. The insanity of the WTU arguing that things change and the sand can shift everywhere but under thier paychecks is ridiculous.

This. It's crazy that WTU teachers are still getting their entire paycheck and benefits while parents are forced to either do a big part of the teacher's job for them or pay to outsource the teacher's job to a private in-person provider. No teacher is doing 100% of their job remotely. If we're going to keep distance learning, then it would be in the best interest of the students to hire teachers in lower cost areas so we can pay them less. Then give part of the per pupil funding to parents to outsource in-person childcare, tutoring, and pods. Or just give up on distance learning and give parents a larger portion of the per pupil funding so they can outsource education completely to private providers. I guarantee that businesses would crop up to provide cost effective pods etc.

But really just reopen schools and assign teachers back to work.

Can we stop saying WTU teachers? As far as I know charter teachers are also getting full paychecks.

And they are teaching my kid full time and with excellent results. I feel sad for people like you (and your DCUM ilk) who are so very angry that you need to just whine and throw shade at everyone and everything. You are like a 2 year old having a temper tantrum. Stick to complaining about your school and stop assuming that every school and every family is suffering the same fate you perceive yourself to be suffering from.

Setting aside the in person v DL difference, what school is your kid in that they're getting teaching "full time." My Ker gets 3.5 hours/day 4 days a week and my PK3er gets 1.5 hours/day 4 days/week of live instruction and I thought that was actually on the more generous end of what schools are providing. Vanishingly few teachers are teaching anything close to full time... and almost no individual kids are getting full time instruction.

I agree that no students are getting full-time instruction but that doesn’t mean some or most teachers aren’t teaching all day depending on small group schedules or individual supports. The teachers I know are working very hard and in a very changing environment.

In the adult world, in the working world, it’s not about how hard you work. It’s about what you produce. If you say teachers are workin hard, ok, I believe you. But that means jack sh*t. Because 6 year olds aren’t learning anything from a year of virtual school.

You should get your child evaluated if they are 6 and not able to do DL at all.

NP but that was just a nasty comment. But you knew that when you wrote it. You also knew the PP didn’t say their 6 year old couldn’t ‘do DL’. Just that they weren’t learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Absolutely! The world changes. We're now in a world where the model we previously used to pay teachers for in person learning no longer holds. It's time to consider other options for remote education other than the WTU workforce that doesn't want to return. The insanity of the WTU arguing that things change and the sand can shift everywhere but under thier paychecks is ridiculous.

This. It's crazy that WTU teachers are still getting their entire paycheck and benefits while parents are forced to either do a big part of the teacher's job for them or pay to outsource the teacher's job to a private in-person provider. No teacher is doing 100% of their job remotely. If we're going to keep distance learning, then it would be in the best interest of the students to hire teachers in lower cost areas so we can pay them less. Then give part of the per pupil funding to parents to outsource in-person childcare, tutoring, and pods. Or just give up on distance learning and give parents a larger portion of the per pupil funding so they can outsource education completely to private providers. I guarantee that businesses would crop up to provide cost effective pods etc.

But really just reopen schools and assign teachers back to work.

Can we stop saying WTU teachers? As far as I know charter teachers are also getting full paychecks.

And they are teaching my kid full time and with excellent results. I feel sad for people like you (and your DCUM ilk) who are so very angry that you need to just whine and throw shade at everyone and everything. You are like a 2 year old having a temper tantrum. Stick to complaining about your school and stop assuming that every school and every family is suffering the same fate you perceive yourself to be suffering from.

Setting aside the in person v DL difference, what school is your kid in that they're getting teaching "full time." My Ker gets 3.5 hours/day 4 days a week and my PK3er gets 1.5 hours/day 4 days/week of live instruction and I thought that was actually on the more generous end of what schools are providing. Vanishingly few teachers are teaching anything close to full time... and almost no individual kids are getting full time instruction.

I agree that no students are getting full-time instruction but that doesn’t mean some or most teachers aren’t teaching all day depending on small group schedules or individual supports. The teachers I know are working very hard and in a very changing environment.

In the adult world, in the working world, it’s not about how hard you work. It’s about what you produce. If you say teachers are workin hard, ok, I believe you. But that means jack sh*t. Because 6 year olds aren’t learning anything from a year of virtual school.

You should get your child evaluated if they are 6 and not able to do DL at all.

NP but that was just a nasty comment. But you knew that when you wrote it. You also knew the PP didn’t say their 6 year old couldn’t ‘do DL’. Just that they weren’t learning.

It's not nasty, I find it odd some parents are saying their child can't learn via DL. 3/4 I totally get. But 6 is 1st grade, they should be able to learn a decent amount or their teacher is poor. Hmm you're right. Either it's the child or teacher.