If not everyone can learn, no one should learn (APS)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I totally get not grading new material. But why not at least offer it? My kids’ teachers were giving new material the past 3 weeks. No they must stop, I guess.
As for covering things this fall, how does that work when you move from ES to MS, or MS to HS?

And then what happens in the fall? Do they repeat all of that content and the kids who have already learned just review? They skip it and the kids who didn’t learn it now miss out?

With all of the resources available out there outside of APS, it’s easily to find ways for your kids to learn new material if it’s a priority for you. Have at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This new APS plan really irks me. I don't expect them to do all-day virtual classroom. But a choice board that lumps together K-2nd graders? That's ridiculous. Other school districts far larger than ours -- that pay FAR less per student-- have figured out a way to actually teach kids. It's ridiculous that ours can't even figure out a way to do lessons by grade.

We really shouldn't be surprised. They flat out told us in week 1 that APS's number one priority is feeding kids. Not education. The fact that this little amount of material and guidance took them four weeks to roll out is ridiculous.

Well, they’re not going to be seeing me volunteer for the food pantry any longer. If school’s over, and their commitment to my child is over, so is my commitment to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This new APS plan really irks me. I don't expect them to do all-day virtual classroom. But a choice board that lumps together K-2nd graders? That's ridiculous. Other school districts far larger than ours -- that pay FAR less per student-- have figured out a way to actually teach kids. It's ridiculous that ours can't even figure out a way to do lessons by grade.

We really shouldn't be surprised. They flat out told us in week 1 that APS's number one priority is feeding kids. Not education. The fact that this little amount of material and guidance took them four weeks to roll out is ridiculous.

Well, they’re not going to be seeing me volunteer for the food pantry any longer. If school’s over, and their commitment to my child is over, so is my commitment to them.

This is a really warped response. You’re taking out your frustration with APS on low-income students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remember this when you vote for school board members in November. Our school board is an absolute joke.

Actually, the key date is next month when the Democratic party is holding its caucus. You have until May 7 to request a ballot. If you are angry about your kids not being taught, contact the candidates and let them know you are not happy. And vote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I totally get not grading new material. But why not at least offer it? My kids’ teachers were giving new material the past 3 weeks. No they must stop, I guess.
As for covering things this fall, how does that work when you move from ES to MS, or MS to HS?

And then what happens in the fall? Do they repeat all of that content and the kids who have already learned just review? They skip it and the kids who didn’t learn it now miss out?

With all of the resources available out there outside of APS, it’s easily to find ways for your kids to learn new material if it’s a priority for you. Have at it.

We plan to.
But I wonder— are they really going to cover quarter 4 next fall? My older kid is in 5th grade. Are his middle school classes really going to cover the end of 5th grade? I mean, maybe they are. I just wonder.
It’s not that hard for a parent to instruct an elementary school kid at home IF they have time. I just think APS is making a poor choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I totally get not grading new material. But why not at least offer it? My kids’ teachers were giving new material the past 3 weeks. No they must stop, I guess.
As for covering things this fall, how does that work when you move from ES to MS, or MS to HS?

And then what happens in the fall? Do they repeat all of that content and the kids who have already learned just review? They skip it and the kids who didn’t learn it now miss out?

With all of the resources available out there outside of APS, it’s easily to find ways for your kids to learn new material if it’s a priority for you. Have at it.

We plan to.
But I wonder— are they really going to cover quarter 4 next fall? My older kid is in 5th grade. Are his middle school classes really going to cover the end of 5th grade? I mean, maybe they are. I just wonder.
It’s not that hard for a parent to instruct an elementary school kid at home IF they have time. I just think APS is making a poor choice.

NP - My kids are all early elementary and I’m in a position where not only am I available to teach them but I’m also confident in my abilities to teach them. I want to provide an engaging few months of school for them because that is what they really want. I am concerned that they will be bored when they return to school and end up causing problems for their teachers because we’ve already gone over material at home...

It’s a tricky balance and I’m not quite sure how to find the right one for our family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I totally get not grading new material. But why not at least offer it? My kids’ teachers were giving new material the past 3 weeks. No they must stop, I guess.
As for covering things this fall, how does that work when you move from ES to MS, or MS to HS?

And then what happens in the fall? Do they repeat all of that content and the kids who have already learned just review? They skip it and the kids who didn’t learn it now miss out?

With all of the resources available out there outside of APS, it’s easily to find ways for your kids to learn new material if it’s a priority for you. Have at it.

We plan to.
But I wonder— are they really going to cover quarter 4 next fall? My older kid is in 5th grade. Are his middle school classes really going to cover the end of 5th grade? I mean, maybe they are. I just wonder.
It’s not that hard for a parent to instruct an elementary school kid at home IF they have time. I just think APS is making a poor choice.

That's what the VDOE guidance said to do, yes.

[Anonymous]

Pathetic! Way to go, APS! Let's win that race to the bottom!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remember this when you vote for school board members in November. Our school board is an absolute joke.

Actually, the key date is next month when the Democratic party is holding its caucus. You have until May 7 to request a ballot. If you are angry about your kids not being taught, contact the candidates and let them know you are not happy. And vote.

THIS. Angry parents, please vote in this caucus! Instead of cancelling the caucus, the Arlington Dems are railroading this through in May via "mail in ballot"-- this increases the likelihood that their anointed candidate (Cristina Diaz-Torres) gets the endorsement. The two candidates who get the most votes will win the Democratic endorsement and will appear on the Democratic sample ballot in November-- which pretty much seals up the win in a Presidential year. All the other candidates are required to drop out of the race if they lose the caucus-- these are Arlington Co Dem rules.

You have to REQUEST a ballot on the Arlington County Dems website by May 7. Then they have to RECEIVE your completed ballot by May 30 (not just postmarked).

https://arlingtondemocrats.org/vote/school-board-caucus/

If you don't vote in the May School Board caucus, you are basically not getting a vote at all. It is a totally BS process when School Board positions on non-partisan by law, but its what we've got in Arlington.

From what I have heard, many parents seem to be leaning towards Dave Priddy and Sandy Munnell. But you have to vote to make that happen. Otherwise we are going to end up with 20-something/No kids Cristina on the School Board making whatever decisions the Arlington Co Dem leadership want her to make.

[Anonymous]

I don't see any other way to view this as APS is really failing the PreK-2 kids. Our school specifically told us they were reaching out to every family to see if they had internet access and devices so they could get hot spots and devices to families without. Really good point someone else raised about all of the devices in K-2 classes that nobody is using right now.

Now, if APS were to present a budget that showed they could either feed kids, or provide hot spots and ipads, I would completely support feeding kids instead of electronic engagement. But NOBODY from APS has said this is a choice they are making. They've said not everyone has access to materials online, so everyone is on their own. Even that isn't fair because some families do have more resources than others. So really, APS isn't closing an educational gap at all, they're actually enhancing it by leaving families without resources on their own. Will definitely be emailing candidates and voting in the next school board election. And honestly, we might move too (we rent).

[Anonymous]

Why is providing internet access the only way to make it fair? Most kids could access materials on the internet, including with school owned devices. Kids without internet access could have 1:1 calls with their teacher and packets for pickup/by mail. Neither is perfect and both have pros/cons, but at least it's something instead of nothing for all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see any other way to view this as APS is really failing the PreK-2 kids. Our school specifically told us they were reaching out to every family to see if they had internet access and devices so they could get hot spots and devices to families without. Really good point someone else raised about all of the devices in K-2 classes that nobody is using right now.

Now, if APS were to present a budget that showed they could either feed kids, or provide hot spots and ipads, I would completely support feeding kids instead of electronic engagement. But NOBODY from APS has said this is a choice they are making. They've said not everyone has access to materials online, so everyone is on their own. Even that isn't fair because some families do have more resources than others. So really, APS isn't closing an educational gap at all, they're actually enhancing it by leaving families without resources on their own. Will definitely be emailing candidates and voting in the next school board election. And honestly, we might move too (we rent).

This is a Federal program. APS isn’t paying for any of it, those are Federal resources. Many PTAs and individual donors have been supplementing the free breakfasts and lunches that the Federal government is providing with bags of pantry items for the families. No APS resources are or will be used to feed children. It’s a false choice. There’s no budgetary reason they are ending new instruction. They need to figure out how to get devices and hot spots and supports in place for needy families, because it’s likely we’ll have additional shutdowns in the Fall during a second wave of illnesses. They can’t just stop educating all kids next school year because they didn’t plan better now.

Our schools planned and executed a great response under very stressful circumstance and a short timeline. It can be done. Equity doesn’t mean bringing everyone down, it means raising everyone up. Home situations and supports are never going to be equal, not even during the regular school year. Nothing can change that. This time isn’t all that different. Equity doesn’t mean equal. It means figuring out how to support the kids who need more help, not giving nobody anything.

[Anonymous]

I's not like more engaged/wealthier/better educated parents aren't going to give their kids "enrichment," so it's (a) just going to put more burdens on those parents; and (b) increase inequity between the kids with enaged and unengaged parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I's not like more engaged/wealthier/better educated parents aren't going to give their kids "enrichment," so it's (a) just going to put more burdens on those parents; and (b) increase inequity between the kids with enaged and unengaged parents.

+1. It's literally the least equitable plan possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I's not like more engaged/wealthier/better educated parents aren't going to give their kids "enrichment," so it's (a) just going to put more burdens on those parents; and (b) increase inequity between the kids with enaged and unengaged parents.

This is true. There are a ton of companies providing live on-line instruction, including Fairfax Collegiate. Parents who can afford it will pay for it.