City council voting today on bill to force school closings

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Mary Cheh says she won't support the metrics idea. She says it's just a sneaky way to force schools to close.

https://twitter.com/maustermuhle/status/1478408734204432385

This legislation is a way for politicians to close schools without any fingerprints. They'll say they're just interested in transparency and accountability and that this has nothing to do with closing schools. Then, when schools can't meet the absurd benchmarks in the legislation, politicians will pretend school closures are being driven by science and are out of their hands. It's a way for politicians to please the powerful teachers union by going virtual while trying to escape the wrath of parents.

THIS! The union wants virtual school. Robert White and Janeese Lewis George are endorsed by the union. RW, JLG, and the union are trying to disassociate from being responsible for school closures (they WERE responsible), so they're trying a back door way to keep schools closed with this legislation.

Nobody is asking to close schools

No, they're just demanding virtual until Covid disappears. Childlike word games don't help your cause.

You should try and read more. That’s not what they’re asking for.

The proposed metric from CORE was a citywide seven day positive test average of less than 200. Considering that the current count is 2,000 that is tantamount to virtual for months. The constant obfuscation and word games just harden positions against you.

Or maybe we shouldn’t be sacrificing children and teachers while case rates are that high. These are humans, not data points

Glad that you've stopped the obfuscation although "sacrificed" is absurd. We're in the midst of omicron not delta. Vaccines have been widely available for months. Almost all students are eligible. In person school does not increase spread rather it actually helps control spread in conjunction with testing.

DP. And even during delta, we didn't "sacrifice" kids by keeping them in school. What we shouldn't do is sacrifice our kids' education and social/mental well-being to people's irrational fears.

It’s not irrational to say that a majority of people working in schools will get covid. It is irrational that you all think it’s fine for getting a flu like virus should just be part of the job.

Getting flu-like viruses is part of the job for teachers. Where have you been?

Teaching for ten years without getting the flu. Got covid the week before break, so I guess I’ve been recovering

I’ve been teaching for nine and get colds and bronchitis most years. Haven’t had COVID yet.

I’ve been teaching 16 years and haven’t had the flu or Covid yet. Just adding my anecdote!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mary Cheh says she won't support the metrics idea. She says it's just a sneaky way to force schools to close.

https://twitter.com/maustermuhle/status/1478408734204432385

This legislation is a way for politicians to close schools without any fingerprints. They'll say they're just interested in transparency and accountability and that this has nothing to do with closing schools. Then, when schools can't meet the absurd benchmarks in the legislation, politicians will pretend school closures are being driven by science and are out of their hands. It's a way for politicians to please the powerful teachers union by going virtual while trying to escape the wrath of parents.

THIS! The union wants virtual school. Robert White and Janeese Lewis George are endorsed by the union. RW, JLG, and the union are trying to disassociate from being responsible for school closures (they WERE responsible), so they're trying a back door way to keep schools closed with this legislation.

Nobody is asking to close schools

No, they're just demanding virtual until Covid disappears. Childlike word games don't help your cause.

You should try and read more. That’s not what they’re asking for.

The proposed metric from CORE was a citywide seven day positive test average of less than 200. Considering that the current count is 2,000 that is tantamount to virtual for months. The constant obfuscation and word games just harden positions against you.

Or maybe we shouldn’t be sacrificing children and teachers while case rates are that high. These are humans, not data points

Glad that you've stopped the obfuscation although "sacrificed" is absurd. We're in the midst of omicron not delta. Vaccines have been widely available for months. Almost all students are eligible. In person school does not increase spread rather it actually helps control spread in conjunction with testing.

Even if you truly believe that schools don’t increase spread which is incredible to me, they certainly don’t curb it. Color me unimpressed by dcps testing. Less than half of families completed it today.

Schools dont increase spread because unless there is a society wide shutdown kids aren't just locked up at home like hermits. In fact, the asymptomatic testing is the only thing catching most of the omicron cases. So yes, without society wide asymptomatic testing, in person school in conjuction with testing does curb spread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mary Cheh says she won't support the metrics idea. She says it's just a sneaky way to force schools to close.

https://twitter.com/maustermuhle/status/1478408734204432385

This legislation is a way for politicians to close schools without any fingerprints. They'll say they're just interested in transparency and accountability and that this has nothing to do with closing schools. Then, when schools can't meet the absurd benchmarks in the legislation, politicians will pretend school closures are being driven by science and are out of their hands. It's a way for politicians to please the powerful teachers union by going virtual while trying to escape the wrath of parents.

THIS! The union wants virtual school. Robert White and Janeese Lewis George are endorsed by the union. RW, JLG, and the union are trying to disassociate from being responsible for school closures (they WERE responsible), so they're trying a back door way to keep schools closed with this legislation.

Nobody is asking to close schools

No, they're just demanding virtual until Covid disappears. Childlike word games don't help your cause.

You should try and read more. That’s not what they’re asking for.

DP. Even Mary Cheh suspects their demands are a Trojan Horse to revert to virtual. I guarantee you she isn’t using such language without cause.

To be clear, this is what teachers are trying to prevent: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1026549.page

As a teacher who works exclusively with small groups, I can guarantee you I will not be able to service those groups for the next few weeks because I will be covering various grade levels and special subjects, just like I was doing the two weeks before break. There is no acceleration going on, there is no remediation, there’s no consistency.

I hope you are ready for two absolutely useless weeks of a crowded babysitting space.

Even if small groups and other IEP services aren't happening, school isn't just a "babysitting space" for my kids with ADHD/ASD. I don't need childcare, but my kids need to be in school with peers. And the weeks before the break were anything but useless or chaos at our school.

As a parent you have no clue. No idea what services your child is really getting when their teacher and provider has to cover something. And with peers? The peers who have to make sure they aren’t too close to your child, unless you think 30 min of recess is all the social time your child needs.

I’m not babysitting but I’m sure as hell not getting to teach all my kids.

I certainly have a much better clue than any anonymous poster what my kids get and don't get from their school, even under challenging circumstances and if their services were to be suspended for a couple of weeks (they weren't before break as apparently happened at your school). And fortunately nobody is enforcing social distancing to a point where you could declare the social interactions at school worthless.

It's really strange that a teacher is so eager to declare in person school useless. It will always be better than the virtual learning charade.

Big doubt, parents like you think you know because there are a lot of schools who can keep it all under wraps.
Also I didn’t suggest virtual but your reason for not wanting it during this moment in time doesn’t hold up. Social interactions shouldn’t be limited to school, how horrible.

I simply replied to let you know as a parent you’ll never know all the details.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mary Cheh says she won't support the metrics idea. She says it's just a sneaky way to force schools to close.

https://twitter.com/maustermuhle/status/1478408734204432385

This legislation is a way for politicians to close schools without any fingerprints. They'll say they're just interested in transparency and accountability and that this has nothing to do with closing schools. Then, when schools can't meet the absurd benchmarks in the legislation, politicians will pretend school closures are being driven by science and are out of their hands. It's a way for politicians to please the powerful teachers union by going virtual while trying to escape the wrath of parents.

THIS! The union wants virtual school. Robert White and Janeese Lewis George are endorsed by the union. RW, JLG, and the union are trying to disassociate from being responsible for school closures (they WERE responsible), so they're trying a back door way to keep schools closed with this legislation.

Nobody is asking to close schools

No, they're just demanding virtual until Covid disappears. Childlike word games don't help your cause.

You should try and read more. That’s not what they’re asking for.

DP. Even Mary Cheh suspects their demands are a Trojan Horse to revert to virtual. I guarantee you she isn’t using such language without cause.

To be clear, this is what teachers are trying to prevent: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1026549.page

As a teacher who works exclusively with small groups, I can guarantee you I will not be able to service those groups for the next few weeks because I will be covering various grade levels and special subjects, just like I was doing the two weeks before break. There is no acceleration going on, there is no remediation, there’s no consistency.

I hope you are ready for two absolutely useless weeks of a crowded babysitting space.

Even if small groups and other IEP services aren't happening, school isn't just a "babysitting space" for my kids with ADHD/ASD. I don't need childcare, but my kids need to be in school with peers. And the weeks before the break were anything but useless or chaos at our school.

As a parent you have no clue. No idea what services your child is really getting when their teacher and provider has to cover something. And with peers? The peers who have to make sure they aren’t too close to your child, unless you think 30 min of recess is all the social time your child needs.

I’m not babysitting but I’m sure as hell not getting to teach all my kids.

I certainly have a much better clue than any anonymous poster what my kids get and don't get from their school, even under challenging circumstances and if their services were to be suspended for a couple of weeks (they weren't before break as apparently happened at your school). And fortunately nobody is enforcing social distancing to a point where you could declare the social interactions at school worthless.

It's really strange that a teacher is so eager to declare in person school useless. It will always be better than the virtual learning charade.

Big doubt, parents like you think you know because there are a lot of schools who can keep it all under wraps.
Also I didn’t suggest virtual but your reason for not wanting it during this moment in time doesn’t hold up. Social interactions shouldn’t be limited to school, how horrible.

I simply replied to let you know as a parent you’ll never know all the details.

And instead of trying to fix anything or let us know you're seemingly doing nothing. We may not know what happens in person but we damn well know, way more than you, what happened during virtual. So turn that crap right back on you

The only place in our society, outside of Congress and sports, that's regularly testing right now is schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mary Cheh says she won't support the metrics idea. She says it's just a sneaky way to force schools to close.

https://twitter.com/maustermuhle/status/1478408734204432385

This legislation is a way for politicians to close schools without any fingerprints. They'll say they're just interested in transparency and accountability and that this has nothing to do with closing schools. Then, when schools can't meet the absurd benchmarks in the legislation, politicians will pretend school closures are being driven by science and are out of their hands. It's a way for politicians to please the powerful teachers union by going virtual while trying to escape the wrath of parents.

THIS! The union wants virtual school. Robert White and Janeese Lewis George are endorsed by the union. RW, JLG, and the union are trying to disassociate from being responsible for school closures (they WERE responsible), so they're trying a back door way to keep schools closed with this legislation.

Nobody is asking to close schools

No, they're just demanding virtual until Covid disappears. Childlike word games don't help your cause.

You should try and read more. That’s not what they’re asking for.

DP. Even Mary Cheh suspects their demands are a Trojan Horse to revert to virtual. I guarantee you she isn’t using such language without cause.

To be clear, this is what teachers are trying to prevent: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1026549.page

As a teacher who works exclusively with small groups, I can guarantee you I will not be able to service those groups for the next few weeks because I will be covering various grade levels and special subjects, just like I was doing the two weeks before break. There is no acceleration going on, there is no remediation, there’s no consistency.

I hope you are ready for two absolutely useless weeks of a crowded babysitting space.

Even if small groups and other IEP services aren't happening, school isn't just a "babysitting space" for my kids with ADHD/ASD. I don't need childcare, but my kids need to be in school with peers. And the weeks before the break were anything but useless or chaos at our school.

As a parent you have no clue. No idea what services your child is really getting when their teacher and provider has to cover something. And with peers? The peers who have to make sure they aren’t too close to your child, unless you think 30 min of recess is all the social time your child needs.

I’m not babysitting but I’m sure as hell not getting to teach all my kids.

I certainly have a much better clue than any anonymous poster what my kids get and don't get from their school, even under challenging circumstances and if their services were to be suspended for a couple of weeks (they weren't before break as apparently happened at your school). And fortunately nobody is enforcing social distancing to a point where you could declare the social interactions at school worthless.

It's really strange that a teacher is so eager to declare in person school useless. It will always be better than the virtual learning charade.

Big doubt, parents like you think you know because there are a lot of schools who can keep it all under wraps.
Also I didn’t suggest virtual but your reason for not wanting it during this moment in time doesn’t hold up. Social interactions shouldn’t be limited to school, how horrible.

I simply replied to let you know as a parent you’ll never know all the details.

You sound incoherent, I think it’s best you stop commenting on this topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mary Cheh says she won't support the metrics idea. She says it's just a sneaky way to force schools to close.

https://twitter.com/maustermuhle/status/1478408734204432385

This legislation is a way for politicians to close schools without any fingerprints. They'll say they're just interested in transparency and accountability and that this has nothing to do with closing schools. Then, when schools can't meet the absurd benchmarks in the legislation, politicians will pretend school closures are being driven by science and are out of their hands. It's a way for politicians to please the powerful teachers union by going virtual while trying to escape the wrath of parents.

THIS! The union wants virtual school. Robert White and Janeese Lewis George are endorsed by the union. RW, JLG, and the union are trying to disassociate from being responsible for school closures (they WERE responsible), so they're trying a back door way to keep schools closed with this legislation.

Nobody is asking to close schools

No, they're just demanding virtual until Covid disappears. Childlike word games don't help your cause.

You should try and read more. That’s not what they’re asking for.

The proposed metric from CORE was a citywide seven day positive test average of less than 200. Considering that the current count is 2,000 that is tantamount to virtual for months. The constant obfuscation and word games just harden positions against you.

Or maybe we shouldn’t be sacrificing children and teachers while case rates are that high. These are humans, not data points

Glad that you've stopped the obfuscation although "sacrificed" is absurd. We're in the midst of omicron not delta. Vaccines have been widely available for months. Almost all students are eligible. In person school does not increase spread rather it actually helps control spread in conjunction with testing.

DP. And even during delta, we didn't "sacrifice" kids by keeping them in school. What we shouldn't do is sacrifice our kids' education and social/mental well-being to people's irrational fears.

It’s not irrational to say that a majority of people working in schools will get covid. It is irrational that you all think it’s fine for getting a flu like virus should just be part of the job.

What? That's been really, really normal for teachers and childcare workers since...forever.

[Anonymous]

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I support that bill. Finally, some common sense to release pressure off our hospitals - where you could end up TODAY, by slipping on the ice. Surely you want adequate care for your broken hip? Lots of people get heart attacks when shoveling out - surely you don't want them to die because the EMS services are slow getting them into hospital? There were waits of several hours last week from pick-up to hospital bed.

Okay, then let's close all restaurants, bars, gyms, and other non-essential businesses, rather than SCHOOLS.

YES. The fact that we're having this conversation is stone-cold stupid when schools should have been the last thing to close. It makes absolutely no sense that I can go to Orange Theory in person, sit at a bar, and stand among the sweaty masses at Starbucks but my kid can't go to school. Obviously we should be looking for as many workable solutions as possible, but having the most correct decision off the table entirely is peak idiocy.

I'm the first poster you quoted. I agree, but if elected officials aren't doing their job with closures, then something else needs to give to keep hospitals functioning. The priority is not kids in school, even though it would be so great if it was. The priority at this point is getting standards of care in hospitals to some degree of decent. I fully concur that this is unfair on the kids and parents. But we need healthcare more than anything else. And if you want to go scream at the Mayor, Governors and others for not shutting down bars and restaurants and other businesses when the time was right, then be my guest - they entirely deserve it! They're all think they can weasel out of difficult choices and no one will see through their little plans. Infuriating.

The priority absolutely having in kids in school. Not your made up fantasy land bullshit about some alleged crisis in hospitals. Shove it already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mary Cheh says she won't support the metrics idea. She says it's just a sneaky way to force schools to close.

https://twitter.com/maustermuhle/status/1478408734204432385

This legislation is a way for politicians to close schools without any fingerprints. They'll say they're just interested in transparency and accountability and that this has nothing to do with closing schools. Then, when schools can't meet the absurd benchmarks in the legislation, politicians will pretend school closures are being driven by science and are out of their hands. It's a way for politicians to please the powerful teachers union by going virtual while trying to escape the wrath of parents.

THIS! The union wants virtual school. Robert White and Janeese Lewis George are endorsed by the union. RW, JLG, and the union are trying to disassociate from being responsible for school closures (they WERE responsible), so they're trying a back door way to keep schools closed with this legislation.

Nobody is asking to close schools

No, they're just demanding virtual until Covid disappears. Childlike word games don't help your cause.

You should try and read more. That’s not what they’re asking for.

The proposed metric from CORE was a citywide seven day positive test average of less than 200. Considering that the current count is 2,000 that is tantamount to virtual for months. The constant obfuscation and word games just harden positions against you.

Or maybe we shouldn’t be sacrificing children and teachers while case rates are that high. These are humans, not data points

Glad that you've stopped the obfuscation although "sacrificed" is absurd. We're in the midst of omicron not delta. Vaccines have been widely available for months. Almost all students are eligible. In person school does not increase spread rather it actually helps control spread in conjunction with testing.

DP. And even during delta, we didn't "sacrifice" kids by keeping them in school. What we shouldn't do is sacrifice our kids' education and social/mental well-being to people's irrational fears.

It’s not irrational to say that a majority of people working in schools will get covid. It is irrational that you all think it’s fine for getting a flu like virus should just be part of the job.

What? That's been really, really normal for teachers and childcare workers since...forever.

Hell, I don’t even work with kids, just have one and also take metro. I expect to get sick regularly bc it’s a normal function of life.

[Anonymous]

Montgomery County adopted something like this and dumped it a week later because was such a stupid idea

https://twitter.com/CaitlynnPeetz14/status/1479505626896244737

[Anonymous]

This bill is still live. It's been delayed because Phil Mendelson prevented the anti-school crazies on the city council from passing it with no debate. He said the public deserves a chance to weigh in. The campaign to close schools, in the face of advice of the medical community, is being led by Robert White, Janeese George Lewis, Elissa Silverman, Brianne Nadeau and Mr. Jews Control the Weather, Trayon White. Tell your representatives to reject this legislation. This is no medical association in America that believes schools should be closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This bill is still live. It's been delayed because Phil Mendelson prevented the anti-school crazies on the city council from passing it with no debate. He said the public deserves a chance to weigh in. The campaign to close schools, in the face of advice of the medical community, is being led by Robert White, Janeese George Lewis, Elissa Silverman, Brianne Nadeau and Mr. Jews Control the Weather, Trayon White. Tell your representatives to reject this legislation. This is no medical association in America that believes schools should be closed.

All for it. Will call Mendelssohn and pressure him to stop delaying and vote for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This bill is still live. It's been delayed because Phil Mendelson prevented the anti-school crazies on the city council from passing it with no debate. He said the public deserves a chance to weigh in. The campaign to close schools, in the face of advice of the medical community, is being led by Robert White, Janeese George Lewis, Elissa Silverman, Brianne Nadeau and Mr. Jews Control the Weather, Trayon White. Tell your representatives to reject this legislation. This is no medical association in America that believes schools should be closed.

Thank you for posting this information. I hope it doesn’t get censored again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This bill is still live. It's been delayed because Phil Mendelson prevented the anti-school crazies on the city council from passing it with no debate. He said the public deserves a chance to weigh in. The campaign to close schools, in the face of advice of the medical community, is being led by Robert White, Janeese George Lewis, Elissa Silverman, Brianne Nadeau and Mr. Jews Control the Weather, Trayon White. Tell your representatives to reject this legislation. This is no medical association in America that believes schools should be closed.

All for it. Will call Mendelssohn and pressure him to stop delaying and vote for it.

I see you're one of the anti-school crazies as well. There is no reason to close schools. Everyone has been tested. The positivity rates are shockingly low. Everyone has had a chance to be vaccinated. If you're vaccinated, there's virtually no chance you will be seriously sick from COVID. Bowser said the other day the only people being hospitalized are unvaccinated adults.

[Anonymous]

oh christ this bill is still live? Why does the council hate DC residents? Like, we are trying to move forward with some sort of normalcy here, and they want to make sure we just live in constant uncertainty. I effing hate them.

[Anonymous]

I'm not in DC but I follow this because I'm in an area like DC. Obviously the bill is an attempt to move to virtual for months; I can't believe this is even debated. The metrics force essentially permanent closures.

It's just so sad to me. If we had been rational about school closures before, we could broach the subject of a month-long shutdown to deal with staffing shortages and a lot of sick people in the community. Not to pretend to stop community spread (closing school won't do that, especially with everything else open). Not to pretend that virtual is education except for a small group of privileged kids. But just for practical reasons (staffing, etc.).

But the extended closures were so harmful and so unnecessary that people can't even have the conversation. And rationally so, nobody reasonable would believe this "only two weeks" nonsense. So here we are. It's sad.