Barriers to more fully opening schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One barrier is the framing of the reopening narrative. Somehow the progressive take is that public schools should not reopen until stringent measures are taken. I’ve seen parents dragged on Twitter for talking about wanting in-person learning. They are, apparently, racist, and also hate teachers and their own children. As a fellow progressive, but also a parent of young (like can’t distance learn on their own young) children, I am troubled by this take. I don’t understand how the closure of public schools for a year is not a crisis. I’m concerned that private solutions (learning hubs, new catchy virtual options, etc.) will replace public education for the wealthier folks. From a labor perspective (something near and dear to my heart), I don’t understand why teachers’ labor is valued so much more than daycare workers and others who are stepping in to care for young children. I don’t understand why women leaving the workforce in droves has garnered but a whisper. I would love to join forces with the teachers to make a real viable, safe return to school plan. But I’m afraid to speak out, except on this anonymous board, because I watch prominent WTU folks dox white parents for expressing concern about their kids. This has turned into a vent, but I think the issue needs to be rebranded quickly because the GOP are salivating at the mouth trying to pick off “nice white parents,” and it’s going to work.

THIS ALL OF THIS. I think somewhere under all this is where liberals get stuck - it's the racism charge. Just because fewer Black families wish to attend in person right now, we get tangled up in the logic to the point where nothing moves at all. But yes - it IS a crisis, and some prominent people have said so (Kamala Harris?), and yet, we live in fear of being flamed publicly on the internet.

[Anonymous]

It’s also difficult because the whole damn system is racist. The underfunding certain schools, standardized testing, school to prison pipeline. So in that sense, a call to return to that system is problematic. I understand the desire to burn the whole system to the ground. But I also worry that might be a pipe dream in a pandemic, and the collateral damage (to the very people they are claiming to speak for) might be huge. I’ve derailed the thread. I apologize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are out of your minds if you think getting rid of the few safety measures is going to work. I for one would quit if I had to put my family at risk like that. Do you not realize that the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, and doesn’t prevent you from getting covid-19? Vaccinating teachers alone is not enough. We MUST continue to social distance. Seriously, I thought all you rich DCUM commenters would have more doctor friends to tell you how absolutely asinine your ideas are.

And to all the jerks saying tough luck to teachers who wouldn’t have childcare for their kids - you probably make a lot more money than teachers and could afford to do that. My kids are remaining virtual for the foreseeable future, and aside from not being able to afford to hire a nanny, I am fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to find an adult living as cautiously as we are.

You won’t find a lot of doctors supporting your idea that we must continue to social distance in schools indefinitely, even if all adults are vaccinated, because the vaccine is “only” 95% effective.

Yeah at some point we have to return to actually assessing risks rationally. We can't keep coddling the paranoia of a few.

+1. Our pediatrician and other specialist doctors have been outraged at school closures since last Spring. Most doctors I know have pulled their kids from public schools and placed them in Parochial schools. I should have paid more attention to that. I was too naïve and didn't think we still wouldn't be fully open a year later.

The pediatricians we know think teachers are completely out of their minds. They think they are wildly, wildly, wildly exaggerating the risk of going back to the classroom.

yes, nurse married to a doctor here. We have been working continually since March 13. We have one kid back in-person private, one in a CARES room and are desperately trying to get kid 3 (and 2) into private schools for next year. It's insanity that the schools are not opening.
Everyone we know in medicine feels this way. The risks can be mitigated.
We both work with many underprivileged kids and so many of the kids are not logging on. I have this conversation with families every day. Large numbers of them are getting ZERO education. Somehow teachers and society are okay with this.
It's insane. A large percentage of the children of the poor are learning NOTHING. But ultimately, no one really gives a sh$%t because no one ever does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One barrier is the framing of the reopening narrative. Somehow the progressive take is that public schools should not reopen until stringent measures are taken. I’ve seen parents dragged on Twitter for talking about wanting in-person learning. They are, apparently, racist, and also hate teachers and their own children. As a fellow progressive, but also a parent of young (like can’t distance learn on their own young) children, I am troubled by this take. I don’t understand how the closure of public schools for a year is not a crisis. I’m concerned that private solutions (learning hubs, new catchy virtual options, etc.) will replace public education for the wealthier folks. From a labor perspective (something near and dear to my heart), I don’t understand why teachers’ labor is valued so much more than daycare workers and others who are stepping in to care for young children. I don’t understand why women leaving the workforce in droves has garnered but a whisper. I would love to join forces with the teachers to make a real viable, safe return to school plan. But I’m afraid to speak out, except on this anonymous board, because I watch prominent WTU folks dox white parents for expressing concern about their kids. This has turned into a vent, but I think the issue needs to be rebranded quickly because the GOP are salivating at the mouth trying to pick off “nice white parents,” and it’s going to work.

This is so well stated. Thank you. I am you. And I'm increasingly listening to Republicans as a result of this issue.

I wrote the above. I’ve never been aligned with republicans on an issue, and I’m not a single issue voter. I have spent so many hours navel gazing about why the parties are aligned this way. Is this a racist position? To open public schools? (I certainly don’t hate teachers or my kids.) I’m definitely willing to admit I’m wrong, if proven so. But I’m surprised those pushing to keep schools closed are so certain they are right. That this is the best balance of harms.

No you're not a racist. Can anyone argue this position with a straight face? Equity does not mean bringing others DOWN it means raising UP.

I also would never, ever align with Republicans on purpose. I think they're taking over this discussion and this blue city may thus find itself further entrenched, not full of sudden Republicans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are out of your minds if you think getting rid of the few safety measures is going to work. I for one would quit if I had to put my family at risk like that. Do you not realize that the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, and doesn’t prevent you from getting covid-19? Vaccinating teachers alone is not enough. We MUST continue to social distance. Seriously, I thought all you rich DCUM commenters would have more doctor friends to tell you how absolutely asinine your ideas are.

And to all the jerks saying tough luck to teachers who wouldn’t have childcare for their kids - you probably make a lot more money than teachers and could afford to do that. My kids are remaining virtual for the foreseeable future, and aside from not being able to afford to hire a nanny, I am fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to find an adult living as cautiously as we are.

You won’t find a lot of doctors supporting your idea that we must continue to social distance in schools indefinitely, even if all adults are vaccinated, because the vaccine is “only” 95% effective.

Yeah at some point we have to return to actually assessing risks rationally. We can't keep coddling the paranoia of a few.

+1. Our pediatrician and other specialist doctors have been outraged at school closures since last Spring. Most doctors I know have pulled their kids from public schools and placed them in Parochial schools. I should have paid more attention to that. I was too naïve and didn't think we still wouldn't be fully open a year later.

The pediatricians we know think teachers are completely out of their minds. They think they are wildly, wildly, wildly exaggerating the risk of going back to the classroom.

yes, nurse married to a doctor here. We have been working continually since March 13. We have one kid back in-person private, one in a CARES room and are desperately trying to get kid 3 (and 2) into private schools for next year. It's insanity that the schools are not opening.
Everyone we know in medicine feels this way. The risks can be mitigated.
We both work with many underprivileged kids and so many of the kids are not logging on. I have this conversation with families every day. Large numbers of them are getting ZERO education. Somehow teachers and society are okay with this.
It's insane. A large percentage of the children of the poor are learning NOTHING. But ultimately, no one really gives a sh$%t because no one ever does.

I wish the medical community would be more assertive in this debate. Teachers are extremely well organized, and will fight tooth and nail to keep schools closed regardless of how few people have coronavirus. We need doctors to speak up and explain to the public that it's safe for schools to reopen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are out of your minds if you think getting rid of the few safety measures is going to work. I for one would quit if I had to put my family at risk like that. Do you not realize that the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, and doesn’t prevent you from getting covid-19? Vaccinating teachers alone is not enough. We MUST continue to social distance. Seriously, I thought all you rich DCUM commenters would have more doctor friends to tell you how absolutely asinine your ideas are.

And to all the jerks saying tough luck to teachers who wouldn’t have childcare for their kids - you probably make a lot more money than teachers and could afford to do that. My kids are remaining virtual for the foreseeable future, and aside from not being able to afford to hire a nanny, I am fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to find an adult living as cautiously as we are.

You won’t find a lot of doctors supporting your idea that we must continue to social distance in schools indefinitely, even if all adults are vaccinated, because the vaccine is “only” 95% effective.

Yeah at some point we have to return to actually assessing risks rationally. We can't keep coddling the paranoia of a few.

+1. Our pediatrician and other specialist doctors have been outraged at school closures since last Spring. Most doctors I know have pulled their kids from public schools and placed them in Parochial schools. I should have paid more attention to that. I was too naïve and didn't think we still wouldn't be fully open a year later.

The pediatricians we know think teachers are completely out of their minds. They think they are wildly, wildly, wildly exaggerating the risk of going back to the classroom.

yes, nurse married to a doctor here. We have been working continually since March 13. We have one kid back in-person private, one in a CARES room and are desperately trying to get kid 3 (and 2) into private schools for next year. It's insanity that the schools are not opening.
Everyone we know in medicine feels this way. The risks can be mitigated.
We both work with many underprivileged kids and so many of the kids are not logging on. I have this conversation with families every day. Large numbers of them are getting ZERO education. Somehow teachers and society are okay with this.
It's insane. A large percentage of the children of the poor are learning NOTHING. But ultimately, no one really gives a sh$%t because no one ever does.

I wish the medical community would be more assertive in this debate. Teachers are extremely well organized, and will fight tooth and nail to keep schools closed regardless of how few people have coronavirus. We need doctors to speak up and explain to the public that it's safe for schools to reopen.

The problem is not doctors. It’s the media. Constant fear-mongering hysteria has led to this situation. But ad revenue is great!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are out of your minds if you think getting rid of the few safety measures is going to work. I for one would quit if I had to put my family at risk like that. Do you not realize that the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, and doesn’t prevent you from getting covid-19? Vaccinating teachers alone is not enough. We MUST continue to social distance. Seriously, I thought all you rich DCUM commenters would have more doctor friends to tell you how absolutely asinine your ideas are.

And to all the jerks saying tough luck to teachers who wouldn’t have childcare for their kids - you probably make a lot more money than teachers and could afford to do that. My kids are remaining virtual for the foreseeable future, and aside from not being able to afford to hire a nanny, I am fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to find an adult living as cautiously as we are.

You won’t find a lot of doctors supporting your idea that we must continue to social distance in schools indefinitely, even if all adults are vaccinated, because the vaccine is “only” 95% effective.

Yeah at some point we have to return to actually assessing risks rationally. We can't keep coddling the paranoia of a few.

+1. Our pediatrician and other specialist doctors have been outraged at school closures since last Spring. Most doctors I know have pulled their kids from public schools and placed them in Parochial schools. I should have paid more attention to that. I was too naïve and didn't think we still wouldn't be fully open a year later.

The pediatricians we know think teachers are completely out of their minds. They think they are wildly, wildly, wildly exaggerating the risk of going back to the classroom.

yes, nurse married to a doctor here. We have been working continually since March 13. We have one kid back in-person private, one in a CARES room and are desperately trying to get kid 3 (and 2) into private schools for next year. It's insanity that the schools are not opening.
Everyone we know in medicine feels this way. The risks can be mitigated.
We both work with many underprivileged kids and so many of the kids are not logging on. I have this conversation with families every day. Large numbers of them are getting ZERO education. Somehow teachers and society are okay with this.
It's insane. A large percentage of the children of the poor are learning NOTHING. But ultimately, no one really gives a sh$%t because no one ever does.

I wish the medical community would be more assertive in this debate. Teachers are extremely well organized, and will fight tooth and nail to keep schools closed regardless of how few people have coronavirus. We need doctors to speak up and explain to the public that it's safe for schools to reopen.

The problem is not doctors. It’s the media. Constant fear-mongering hysteria has led to this situation. But ad revenue is great!!

PP here. I'm not blaming doctors for this situation. I'm just saying one way out of this situation is doctors being more aggressive in arguing why teachers are wrong to keep schools shuttered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are out of your minds if you think getting rid of the few safety measures is going to work. I for one would quit if I had to put my family at risk like that. Do you not realize that the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, and doesn’t prevent you from getting covid-19? Vaccinating teachers alone is not enough. We MUST continue to social distance. Seriously, I thought all you rich DCUM commenters would have more doctor friends to tell you how absolutely asinine your ideas are.

And to all the jerks saying tough luck to teachers who wouldn’t have childcare for their kids - you probably make a lot more money than teachers and could afford to do that. My kids are remaining virtual for the foreseeable future, and aside from not being able to afford to hire a nanny, I am fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to find an adult living as cautiously as we are.

You won’t find a lot of doctors supporting your idea that we must continue to social distance in schools indefinitely, even if all adults are vaccinated, because the vaccine is “only” 95% effective.

Yeah at some point we have to return to actually assessing risks rationally. We can't keep coddling the paranoia of a few.

+1. Our pediatrician and other specialist doctors have been outraged at school closures since last Spring. Most doctors I know have pulled their kids from public schools and placed them in Parochial schools. I should have paid more attention to that. I was too naïve and didn't think we still wouldn't be fully open a year later.

The pediatricians we know think teachers are completely out of their minds. They think they are wildly, wildly, wildly exaggerating the risk of going back to the classroom.

yes, nurse married to a doctor here. We have been working continually since March 13. We have one kid back in-person private, one in a CARES room and are desperately trying to get kid 3 (and 2) into private schools for next year. It's insanity that the schools are not opening.
Everyone we know in medicine feels this way. The risks can be mitigated.
We both work with many underprivileged kids and so many of the kids are not logging on. I have this conversation with families every day. Large numbers of them are getting ZERO education. Somehow teachers and society are okay with this.
It's insane. A large percentage of the children of the poor are learning NOTHING. But ultimately, no one really gives a sh$%t because no one ever does.

I wish the medical community would be more assertive in this debate. Teachers are extremely well organized, and will fight tooth and nail to keep schools closed regardless of how few people have coronavirus. We need doctors to speak up and explain to the public that it's safe for schools to reopen.

The problem is not doctors. It’s the media. Constant fear-mongering hysteria has led to this situation. But ad revenue is great!!

PP here. I'm not blaming doctors for this situation. I'm just saying one way out of this situation is doctors being more aggressive in arguing why teachers are wrong to keep schools shuttered.

I agree with you, but I do think we should blame the media. Non stop 24/7 hysteria with pundits constantly hypothesizing about worst case scenarios that never come to fruition. It’s enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s also difficult because the whole damn system is racist. The underfunding certain schools, standardized testing, school to prison pipeline. So in that sense, a call to return to that system is problematic. I understand the desire to burn the whole system to the ground. But I also worry that might be a pipe dream in a pandemic, and the collateral damage (to the very people they are claiming to speak for) might be huge. I’ve derailed the thread. I apologize.

No, your suggestion that schools can't reopen until racism is eradicated is ludicrous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are out of your minds if you think getting rid of the few safety measures is going to work. I for one would quit if I had to put my family at risk like that. Do you not realize that the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, and doesn’t prevent you from getting covid-19? Vaccinating teachers alone is not enough. We MUST continue to social distance. Seriously, I thought all you rich DCUM commenters would have more doctor friends to tell you how absolutely asinine your ideas are.

And to all the jerks saying tough luck to teachers who wouldn’t have childcare for their kids - you probably make a lot more money than teachers and could afford to do that. My kids are remaining virtual for the foreseeable future, and aside from not being able to afford to hire a nanny, I am fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to find an adult living as cautiously as we are.

You won’t find a lot of doctors supporting your idea that we must continue to social distance in schools indefinitely, even if all adults are vaccinated, because the vaccine is “only” 95% effective.

Yeah at some point we have to return to actually assessing risks rationally. We can't keep coddling the paranoia of a few.

+1. Our pediatrician and other specialist doctors have been outraged at school closures since last Spring. Most doctors I know have pulled their kids from public schools and placed them in Parochial schools. I should have paid more attention to that. I was too naïve and didn't think we still wouldn't be fully open a year later.

The pediatricians we know think teachers are completely out of their minds. They think they are wildly, wildly, wildly exaggerating the risk of going back to the classroom.

yes, nurse married to a doctor here. We have been working continually since March 13. We have one kid back in-person private, one in a CARES room and are desperately trying to get kid 3 (and 2) into private schools for next year. It's insanity that the schools are not opening.
Everyone we know in medicine feels this way. The risks can be mitigated.
We both work with many underprivileged kids and so many of the kids are not logging on. I have this conversation with families every day. Large numbers of them are getting ZERO education. Somehow teachers and society are okay with this.
It's insane. A large percentage of the children of the poor are learning NOTHING. But ultimately, no one really gives a sh$%t because no one ever does.

Funny nurses and your little pediatrician aren't experts on a pandemic.

Children of the poor? Good god can you be anymore politically incorrect...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s also difficult because the whole damn system is racist. The underfunding certain schools, standardized testing, school to prison pipeline. So in that sense, a call to return to that system is problematic. I understand the desire to burn the whole system to the ground. But I also worry that might be a pipe dream in a pandemic, and the collateral damage (to the very people they are claiming to speak for) might be huge. I’ve derailed the thread. I apologize.

No, your suggestion that schools can't reopen until racism is eradicated is ludicrous.

This comment in itself is racist. Thanks for caring about other children other than white ones. Sooooo appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s also difficult because the whole damn system is racist. The underfunding certain schools, standardized testing, school to prison pipeline. So in that sense, a call to return to that system is problematic. I understand the desire to burn the whole system to the ground. But I also worry that might be a pipe dream in a pandemic, and the collateral damage (to the very people they are claiming to speak for) might be huge. I’ve derailed the thread. I apologize.

No, your suggestion that schools can't reopen until racism is eradicated is ludicrous.

You misread my post. That’s not my suggestion or my position.

[Anonymous]

The longer public schools stay closed the more traction the voucher argument gains.

[Anonymous]

I personally think teachers are an easy target and only a small part of the problem. If they were ordered to come back, 75% of them would suck it up and head back especially once they have been vaccinated. There are a minority of squeaky super loud hysterical teachers who get all the attention unfortunately.
The bigger problem is that school districts feel paralysed with indecision. There are no good options. The majority of low income and minority families said they will stay virtual. Wealthy families in general want to head back. School districts fear that the educational gap will worsen even more if schools open because then white privileged kids will get more effective instruction at the expense of low income kids. It is a messed up situation with no easy answers and school districts are terrible at managing this level of abstraction and complexity

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The longer public schools stay closed the more traction the voucher argument gains.

Oh, without question. I wish we had vouchers yesterday.