MCPS *Virtual* Academy, closed for snow Jan 3rd

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many virtual teachers will have childcare issues, elder care issues, etc . . .

Plus, I believe there are teachers who teach a combination (e.g. teach in a building and then one or two sections of virtual). They are contracted for a certain number of days.

But wait, school isn’t about daycare. Who cares if these teachers have family dependents and can’t work if they are home? They should have planned ahead or made arrangements for an at-home back up care in the event of snow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many virtual teachers will have childcare issues, elder care issues, etc . . .

Plus, I believe there are teachers who teach a combination (e.g. teach in a building and then one or two sections of virtual). They are contracted for a certain number of days.

But wait, school isn’t about daycare. Who cares if these teachers have family dependents and can’t work if they are home? They should have planned ahead or made arrangements for an at-home back up care in the event of snow.

They did make arrangements, they chose an employer that allows people to not work when school is closed for snow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same thing happened in PG County. They were supposed to be Virtual. But no school there either.

In PG it’s because during virtual learning teachers are expected to report to the building, so they get a snow day and so the students do as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My AP magnet hs'er first went out and played with her little sister and is now doing school work on a group call for her research and design class and then will study Functions for her test tomorrow.

Are we supposed to be congratulating you?

[Anonymous]

MCPS is ridiculous. Have everyone transferred to online today so in person and the Virtual Academy continue with instruction.

Everyone should be on time tomorrow or come up with online options for all. Students need instructional time, not more time off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is because it throws off the school calendar if most kids have off and the virtual kids don't. Do they then get out a day earlier at the end of the year? Easier to just have everyone on the same page.

Also, let the kids play outside and enjoy the snow--a decent snow day like this happens so rarely!

OP here. My high schooler just got up. That's why he's happy But he needs every day of school he can get for his AP exams in May. I'll be lucky if I can get him outside to walk the dog!

A high schooler taking AP classes should be able to study on his own for one day. There are a ton of resources online. No wonder MCPS teachers seem so unhappy. Nutty parents are a dime a dozen around here

OP here. Woah, lots of grumpy parents around here! The kids do their part, I said I was amused. Relax. We went for a walk with said teenager and younger kids, and they were all pretty happy. Yes, they do study on their own. Got all 5s on AP exams last year.

I posted because it's really too weird to have "Virtual" in the name of the school, and yet close for snow!

[Anonymous]

In addition to the various reasons already shared for not having classes today in the VA, conditions today in some areas are ripe for power/cable/internet outages. The snow is heavy, trees are weighed down, lines are breaking, transformers are blowing. This is a major weather event for this area.

[Anonymous]

Let the VA kids play, too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many virtual teachers will have childcare issues, elder care issues, etc . . .

Plus, I believe there are teachers who teach a combination (e.g. teach in a building and then one or two sections of virtual). They are contracted for a certain number of days.

But wait, school isn’t about daycare. Who cares if these teachers have family dependents and can’t work if they are home? They should have planned ahead or made arrangements for an at-home back up care in the event of snow.

They did make arrangements, they chose an employer that allows people to not work when school is closed for snow.

+1. I thought I did too but my employer changed their policy and we have to telework or take leave on snow days now. I'm glad teachers don't have to do that.

[Anonymous]

It is pretty funny but we go on the mcps schedule and probably has to do with labor contracts. We did lose power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is ridiculous. Have everyone transferred to online today so in person and the Virtual Academy continue with instruction.

Everyone should be on time tomorrow or come up with online options for all. Students need instructional time, not more time off.

It would take time for teachers to make lesson plans and set up the classrooms which are already done on virtual academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many virtual teachers will have childcare issues, elder care issues, etc . . .

Plus, I believe there are teachers who teach a combination (e.g. teach in a building and then one or two sections of virtual). They are contracted for a certain number of days.

But wait, school isn’t about daycare. Who cares if these teachers have family dependents and can’t work if they are home? They should have planned ahead or made arrangements for an at-home back up care in the event of snow.

I would think many of the virtual teachers could make it work. Our school is in our homes. At least go asynchronous. We’ve had parent day care for two years now. Today is no different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many virtual teachers will have childcare issues, elder care issues, etc . . .

Plus, I believe there are teachers who teach a combination (e.g. teach in a building and then one or two sections of virtual). They are contracted for a certain number of days.

But wait, school isn’t about daycare. Who cares if these teachers have family dependents and can’t work if they are home? They should have planned ahead or made arrangements for an at-home back up care in the event of snow.

They did make arrangements, they chose an employer that allows people to not work when school is closed for snow.

+1. I thought I did too but my employer changed their policy and we have to telework or take leave on snow days now. I'm glad teachers don't have to do that.

But you don't have an extra day added to your contract like teachers do. Losing a day of summer break, which teachers do for snow days isn't really that different from you having to take leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many virtual teachers will have childcare issues, elder care issues, etc . . .

Plus, I believe there are teachers who teach a combination (e.g. teach in a building and then one or two sections of virtual). They are contracted for a certain number of days.

But wait, school isn’t about daycare. Who cares if these teachers have family dependents and can’t work if they are home? They should have planned ahead or made arrangements for an at-home back up care in the event of snow.

They did make arrangements, they chose an employer that allows people to not work when school is closed for snow.

+1. I thought I did too but my employer changed their policy and we have to telework or take leave on snow days now. I'm glad teachers don't have to do that.

But you don't have an extra day added to your contract like teachers do. Losing a day of summer break, which teachers do for snow days isn't really that different from you having to take leave.

It depends on how many snow days are built in to the school year. But if the point is not having childcare on a snow day, it's more likely that daycare would be open for any makeup days in June, no? And school-aged kids would be in school for the makeup day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many virtual teachers will have childcare issues, elder care issues, etc . . .

Plus, I believe there are teachers who teach a combination (e.g. teach in a building and then one or two sections of virtual). They are contracted for a certain number of days.

But wait, school isn’t about daycare. Who cares if these teachers have family dependents and can’t work if they are home? They should have planned ahead or made arrangements for an at-home back up care in the event of snow.

They did make arrangements, they chose an employer that allows people to not work when school is closed for snow.

+1. I thought I did too but my employer changed their policy and we have to telework or take leave on snow days now. I'm glad teachers don't have to do that.

But you don't have an extra day added to your contract like teachers do. Losing a day of summer break, which teachers do for snow days isn't really that different from you having to take leave.

It depends on how many snow days are built in to the school year. But if the point is not having childcare on a snow day, it's more likely that daycare would be open for any makeup days in June, no? And school-aged kids would be in school for the makeup day.

Both teachers and people who use annual leave work the same number of days whether or not there is snow (beyond the 1 or 2 days built in). They work one more day later, either a day tacked on, or the day the would have otherwise used that leave day.

Yes, it's definitely easier to work on a day when you have childcare for a lot of people. That's why people with kids often choose to use annual leave. The difference is that teachers don't make the choice, the choice is made for them.