How can we force our school to reopen?

[Anonymous]

today is wednesday, which means teachers have the day off for no apparent reason, so 99 percent of the people on DCUM are bored teachers shouting down any parent who dares to wonder about their kid's welfare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A crowbar? It's also a good way to land in jail, but don't worry, DC is soft on crime.

This. A crowbar. Bring in some kids. Start teaching in a classroom.

Low income kids will be left behind.

I still think this is the best answer. But bring along some kids from low income parents for equity. Don't forget a couple of kids of lawyers to help you when you're arrested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have family elsewhere whose kids have been in school every day for going on two months now. It's turned out to not be a big deal.

In DC, the teachers union won't let schools open until everyone is vaccinated, which probably won't happen until the end of next year (in the past couple days, two major vaccine trials have been halted because of safety concerns).

Schools in DC are going to end up being closed for more than a year longer than in other parts of the country. Your public school child is probably going to be in school for a full year less than a child of the same age living somewhere else in the country.

This would be astounding. A 10-year old in DC would be a full year behind a 10-year old going to private school, or going to public school in another state.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have family elsewhere whose kids have been in school every day for going on two months now. It's turned out to not be a big deal.

In DC, the teachers union won't let schools open until everyone is vaccinated, which probably won't happen until the end of next year (in the past couple days, two major vaccine trials have been halted because of safety concerns).

Schools in DC are going to end up being closed for more than a year longer than in other parts of the country. Your public school child is probably going to be in school for a full year less than a child of the same age living somewhere else in the country.

This would be astounding. A 10-year old in DC would be a full year behind a 10-year old going to private school, or going to public school in another state.

+1

More people, obesity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:today is wednesday, which means teachers have the day off for no apparent reason, so 99 percent of the people on DCUM are bored teachers shouting down any parent who dares to wonder about their kid's welfare.

today in DCUM, in a nutshell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:today is wednesday, which means teachers have the day off for no apparent reason, so 99 percent of the people on DCUM are bored teachers shouting down any parent who dares to wonder about their kid's welfare.

today in DCUM, in a nutshell.

Wednesday is when some parents have passive aggressive tantrums.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher myself: this whole "school is not childcare" thing is a bunch of BS. Alongside the various education functions (creating citizens, workforce training, etc.), one is publicly-funded childcare. It's not an either/or proposition, and we need to stop pretending otherwise.

It's like we're all pretending that we didn't learn about the multiple functions which education serves. This literally should have been in your intro classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher myself: this whole "school is not childcare" thing is a bunch of BS. Alongside the various education functions (creating citizens, workforce training, etc.), one is publicly-funded childcare. It's not an either/or proposition, and we need to stop pretending otherwise.

It's like we're all pretending that we didn't learn about the multiple functions which education serves. This literally should have been in your intro classes.

Thank you. This NYT opinion piece is on point: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/opinion/coronavirus-schools-child-care-centers.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher myself: this whole "school is not childcare" thing is a bunch of BS. Alongside the various education functions (creating citizens, workforce training, etc.), one is publicly-funded childcare. It's not an either/or proposition, and we need to stop pretending otherwise.

It's like we're all pretending that we didn't learn about the multiple functions which education serves. This literally should have been in your intro classes.

I think it’s beside the point whether school *should* be childcare or where the childcare function ranks compared to the education function.

Society has organized itself around kids being in school on weekdays, 3 seasons/year, over 100 years. Of course it is a problem for adults (and kids, of course) when that well-established system is upended overnight. Such a stupid blather to suddenly say parents should have been prepared for 24/7 childcare.

With that said, in my view the education is priority over the childcare function, and the schools need (1) to solve the education piece and (2) DCPS needs to quit pretending that DL solves the education piece for elementary kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher myself: this whole "school is not childcare" thing is a bunch of BS. Alongside the various education functions (creating citizens, workforce training, etc.), one is publicly-funded childcare. It's not an either/or proposition, and we need to stop pretending otherwise.

It's like we're all pretending that we didn't learn about the multiple functions which education serves. This literally should have been in your intro classes.

You mean they even teach that in teacher's school and yet so many teachers are raving mad about being equated with childcare? Wow.

[Anonymous]

Sorry but teachers do not get Wednesdays off. It's a full day for me. Teaching, meetings, planning, small groups, etc.

Nice try.

And I'm on my lunch break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher myself: this whole "school is not childcare" thing is a bunch of BS. Alongside the various education functions (creating citizens, workforce training, etc.), one is publicly-funded childcare. It's not an either/or proposition, and we need to stop pretending otherwise.

It's like we're all pretending that we didn't learn about the multiple functions which education serves. This literally should have been in your intro classes.

You mean they even teach that in teacher's school and yet so many teachers are raving mad about being equated with childcare? Wow.

Teacher's school? You mean university? And no, this teacher is full of shit. Never heard of a program that says this, unless your major is early childhood education or the like.

However what's not full of shit in the remark is public education does also serve as childcare, even if that IS NOT the primary function.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it is teachers union politics why are almost all charters closed?

This!

[Anonymous]

WTU is weak. You are so wrong if you think the WTU is keeping schools closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher myself: this whole "school is not childcare" thing is a bunch of BS. Alongside the various education functions (creating citizens, workforce training, etc.), one is publicly-funded childcare. It's not an either/or proposition, and we need to stop pretending otherwise.

It's like we're all pretending that we didn't learn about the multiple functions which education serves. This literally should have been in your intro classes.

+100. Another teacher here. Of course, it is child care. Child care with an education component