Barriers to more fully opening schools

[Anonymous]

PS no one is suggesting only white children should get school in person. What should happen is very little extra funds should be given to non-title 1 schools and title 1 school remodels should be the priority.

[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.

+1

I think lefty people on both sides of the opening debate care about retaining wealthy white parents in the public system. The people who don’t are generally clueless about how segregation and reintegration affects school quality (it’s a lot). But, one side seems to only use shame (you’re killing teachers! You hate your kids!) and the other side realizes that public education needs to remain an attractive option.

Shame is a strong motivator, but I don’t think it’s enough to motivate MC and UMC white parents to remain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PS no one is suggesting only white children should get school in person. What should happen is very little extra funds should be given to non-title 1 schools and title 1 school remodels should be the priority.

Check out the budget release. that is not what is happening.

Also non title I schools don't have PTAs raising tens of thousands of dollars.

Maybe a project for the wealthy schools would be to raise money and twin with another school, funds, resources, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OMG. I am a POC, and I this this whole rhetoric is insane and I am getting incredibly worried that this whole movement to call everything racist and take extreme actions in the name of eradicating such so-called racism is getting wildly out of hand and will backfire in a huge way. Not everything comes down to racism. Not even every situation that effects people differently is due to racism. And racism cannot be solved by dragging certain groups down or by hypersensationalizing everything as racism. In fact, that is more likely to further issues that contribute to racism. Keeping schools closed and thereby harming all families because a larger percentage of POC don’t want in-person is absolutely ludicrous. Saying someone is racist because they are pushing for inperson schooling since their kid is regressing academically and socially and their career is on the line due to virtual schools is pathetic, asinine, stupid, and actually dangerous to efforts to combat racism.

Thanks you, well said.

[Anonymous]

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

THIS! Democrats for vouchers!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reason the open schools NOW debate comes off as racist is because people pose the argument from their own lens. My school has running water; my school has X, Y and Z, etc.

If you only know what your school looks like then you don't understand how the whole system works and in a city with a LOT of Black and Brown kids and in a city where being Black and Brown means a bigger income gap, it looks very very tone deaf.

It is like saying, if you just listen to the cop you won't die. We all know that isn't true.

I hear people saying oh the score card on dcps' website but they haven't been in the school; they haven't seen the system lie about what they have and don't have.

If all DCPS schools were the same why aren't you sending your kid to a school EOTR/P etc.

Also not understanding the challenges other families have about going back in person - real risk for medical problems; perceived risk of medical problems; access to healthcare; access to quarantine or recovery time, etc.

As people are learning to not be racist if you are white LISTEN first and then ask why what you said or did is perceived as racist.

its not about opening school for your kid its about opening it for all kids and all kids don't live like yours.

as for the problems we will have later what are you doing to ask for remediation for ALL kids. dcps summer camp is a huge help for families, are you screaming for it to be open, for it to be open more this summer, asking for summer school options for outside.

i see people in my community complaining we can't tent our school fields for outside school because the community (i.e. 20 year olds with no kids) need it for their outside time.

This is the biggest load of crap I've seen in a while. You completely missed the critical issues while tossing out a word salad of irrelevant hot button issues and trying to shame white parents who are advocating for in-person school for their children. Well done, troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS no one is suggesting only white children should get school in person. What should happen is very little extra funds should be given to non-title 1 schools and title 1 school remodels should be the priority.

Check out the budget release. that is not what is happening.

Also non title I schools don't have PTAs raising tens of thousands of dollars.

Maybe a project for the wealthy schools would be to raise money and twin with another school, funds, resources, etc.

I did, non-title 1 schools are still getting plenty of money.

Yes, they do. Literally they are able to hire extra paras because of funds they have raised. Which is ok. I'm not for limiting fundraising.

However less of that money should have gone to them and more to title 1, they made it equal not equitable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS no one is suggesting only white children should get school in person. What should happen is very little extra funds should be given to non-title 1 schools and title 1 school remodels should be the priority.

Check out the budget release. that is not what is happening.

Also non title I schools don't have PTAs raising tens of thousands of dollars.

Maybe a project for the wealthy schools would be to raise money and twin with another school, funds, resources, etc.

I did, non-title 1 schools are still getting plenty of money.

Yes, they do. Literally they are able to hire extra paras because of funds they have raised. Which is ok. I'm not for limiting fundraising.

However less of that money should have gone to them and more to title 1, they made it equal not equitable.

I don't believe in limiting fundraising either. But people should remember that the reason their school has a full time music teacher etc is because of the PTA fundraising or one parent cutting a huge check and that isn't the same everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS no one is suggesting only white children should get school in person. What should happen is very little extra funds should be given to non-title 1 schools and title 1 school remodels should be the priority.

Check out the budget release. that is not what is happening.

Also non title I schools don't have PTAs raising tens of thousands of dollars.

Maybe a project for the wealthy schools would be to raise money and twin with another school, funds, resources, etc.

I did, non-title 1 schools are still getting plenty of money.

Yes, they do. Literally they are able to hire extra paras because of funds they have raised. Which is ok. I'm not for limiting fundraising.

However less of that money should have gone to them and more to title 1, they made it equal not equitable.

When I say that money I men the stimulus money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS no one is suggesting only white children should get school in person. What should happen is very little extra funds should be given to non-title 1 schools and title 1 school remodels should be the priority.

Check out the budget release. that is not what is happening.

Also non title I schools don't have PTAs raising tens of thousands of dollars.

Maybe a project for the wealthy schools would be to raise money and twin with another school, funds, resources, etc.

I did, non-title 1 schools are still getting plenty of money.

Yes, they do. Literally they are able to hire extra paras because of funds they have raised. Which is ok. I'm not for limiting fundraising.

However less of that money should have gone to them and more to title 1, they made it equal not equitable.

I don't believe in limiting fundraising either. But people should remember that the reason their school has a full time music teacher etc is because of the PTA fundraising or one parent cutting a huge check and that isn't the same everywhere.

Huh, yes exactly. I think we are saying the same thing.

Regardless I do think all schools should reopen but DCPS approached the stimulus money from a place of equality and not equity.

Same thing with remodels and staffing. When will they start approaching things from an equity standpoint? At-risk funding is not good enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS no one is suggesting only white children should get school in person. What should happen is very little extra funds should be given to non-title 1 schools and title 1 school remodels should be the priority.

Check out the budget release. that is not what is happening.

Also non title I schools don't have PTAs raising tens of thousands of dollars.

Maybe a project for the wealthy schools would be to raise money and twin with another school, funds, resources, etc.

I did, non-title 1 schools are still getting plenty of money.

Yes, they do. Literally they are able to hire extra paras because of funds they have raised. Which is ok. I'm not for limiting fundraising.

However less of that money should have gone to them and more to title 1, they made it equal not equitable.

I don't believe in limiting fundraising either. But people should remember that the reason their school has a full time music teacher etc is because of the PTA fundraising or one parent cutting a huge check and that isn't the same everywhere.

Huh, yes exactly. I think we are saying the same thing.

Regardless I do think all schools should reopen but DCPS approached the stimulus money from a place of equality and not equity.

Same thing with remodels and staffing. When will they start approaching things from an equity standpoint? At-risk funding is not good enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reason the open schools NOW debate comes off as racist is because people pose the argument from their own lens. My school has running water; my school has X, Y and Z, etc.

If you only know what your school looks like then you don't understand how the whole system works and in a city with a LOT of Black and Brown kids and in a city where being Black and Brown means a bigger income gap, it looks very very tone deaf.

It is like saying, if you just listen to the cop you won't die. We all know that isn't true.

I hear people saying oh the score card on dcps' website but they haven't been in the school; they haven't seen the system lie about what they have and don't have.

If all DCPS schools were the same why aren't you sending your kid to a school EOTR/P etc.

Also not understanding the challenges other families have about going back in person - real risk for medical problems; perceived risk of medical problems; access to healthcare; access to quarantine or recovery time, etc.

As people are learning to not be racist if you are white LISTEN first and then ask why what you said or did is perceived as racist.

its not about opening school for your kid its about opening it for all kids and all kids don't live like yours.

as for the problems we will have later what are you doing to ask for remediation for ALL kids. dcps summer camp is a huge help for families, are you screaming for it to be open, for it to be open more this summer, asking for summer school options for outside.

i see people in my community complaining we can't tent our school fields for outside school because the community (i.e. 20 year olds with no kids) need it for their outside time.

Nothing of what you just said has anything to do with whether it’s safe for rich white kids in well maintained schools in ward 3 to return to in person learning. Obviously the mayors office and DCPS has a lot of trust to build with folks EOTR, and they should do that! Where you’re losing people is suggesting that kids in ward 3 should stay virtual - against the parents wishes, against CDC guidance - until that happens. It comes across like you’re trying to punish kids with virtual learning until their parents have all spent a sufficient amount of time learning to be anti-racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OMG. I am a POC, and I this this whole rhetoric is insane and I am getting incredibly worried that this whole movement to call everything racist and take extreme actions in the name of eradicating such so-called racism is getting wildly out of hand and will backfire in a huge way. Not everything comes down to racism. Not even every situation that effects people differently is due to racism. And racism cannot be solved by dragging certain groups down or by hypersensationalizing everything as racism. In fact, that is more likely to further issues that contribute to racism. Keeping schools closed and thereby harming all families because a larger percentage of POC don’t want in-person is absolutely ludicrous. Saying someone is racist because they are pushing for inperson schooling since their kid is regressing academically and socially and their career is on the line due to virtual schools is pathetic, asinine, stupid, and actually dangerous to efforts to combat racism.

Amen. Thank you.

Come on. Saying that people are being called racist just for pushing in-person schooling is a red herring. Not everyone pushing for IPL is a racist and not everyone opposing it is an anti-racist. It depends on how selfish your advocacy is, how much you are willing to consider other's situations and your impact on them, your willingness to compromise some of your demands for the greater good, etc. If you're a white parent who's just yelling, get my kid back into school NOW, that is one thing. If you're a white parent who is working as part of a diverse group of parents to constructively push for faster reopening, while taking time to listen and consider other viewpoints, that is another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OMG. I am a POC, and I this this whole rhetoric is insane and I am getting incredibly worried that this whole movement to call everything racist and take extreme actions in the name of eradicating such so-called racism is getting wildly out of hand and will backfire in a huge way. Not everything comes down to racism. Not even every situation that effects people differently is due to racism. And racism cannot be solved by dragging certain groups down or by hypersensationalizing everything as racism. In fact, that is more likely to further issues that contribute to racism. Keeping schools closed and thereby harming all families because a larger percentage of POC don’t want in-person is absolutely ludicrous. Saying someone is racist because they are pushing for inperson schooling since their kid is regressing academically and socially and their career is on the line due to virtual schools is pathetic, asinine, stupid, and actually dangerous to efforts to combat racism.

Thanks you, well said.

This. Always playing the race card to attack someone’s opinion is actually counter-productive. This is what drives non-black families (white, Asian, etc..) from actually attending or continuing to go to their poorly performing IB schools.

Your opinion is different, well that is racist. Your kid doesn’t need more differentiation, that is racist and so forth.

Racist playing card people on here say title 1 schools need more resources and don’t have PTA to raise money. Well who do you think has the time and resources to raise money? It’s the middle and UMC class families. But keep saying their opinions are racist. Yea, it will encourage them to send their ids to tile 1 schools for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason the open schools NOW debate comes off as racist is because people pose the argument from their own lens. My school has running water; my school has X, Y and Z, etc.

If you only know what your school looks like then you don't understand how the whole system works and in a city with a LOT of Black and Brown kids and in a city where being Black and Brown means a bigger income gap, it looks very very tone deaf.

It is like saying, if you just listen to the cop you won't die. We all know that isn't true.

I hear people saying oh the score card on dcps' website but they haven't been in the school; they haven't seen the system lie about what they have and don't have.

If all DCPS schools were the same why aren't you sending your kid to a school EOTR/P etc.

Also not understanding the challenges other families have about going back in person - real risk for medical problems; perceived risk of medical problems; access to healthcare; access to quarantine or recovery time, etc.

As people are learning to not be racist if you are white LISTEN first and then ask why what you said or did is perceived as racist.

its not about opening school for your kid its about opening it for all kids and all kids don't live like yours.

as for the problems we will have later what are you doing to ask for remediation for ALL kids. dcps summer camp is a huge help for families, are you screaming for it to be open, for it to be open more this summer, asking for summer school options for outside.

i see people in my community complaining we can't tent our school fields for outside school because the community (i.e. 20 year olds with no kids) need it for their outside time.

Nothing of what you just said has anything to do with whether it’s safe for rich white kids in well maintained schools in ward 3 to return to in person learning. Obviously the mayors office and DCPS has a lot of trust to build with folks EOTR, and they should do that! Where you’re losing people is suggesting that kids in ward 3 should stay virtual - against the parents wishes, against CDC guidance - until that happens. It comes across like you’re trying to punish kids with virtual learning until their parents have all spent a sufficient amount of time learning to be anti-racist.

Actually it has everything to do with it. Kids in Ward 3 public schools are in a public system. You can't have one set of rules for one set of kids in a public system.

If DCPS opens schools it has to make it equitable not just catering to the loudest voices.

BTW so many Ward 3 families were saying open schools because of poor BIPOC kids, they know they will get their schools opened too if that is what happens. Are you telling me they would be fine if we just opened schools in Ward 7 and 8 and not in Ward 3 because those families can afford tutors and whatnot?