Reformatted: Advocate for five days a week by fall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You better get low SES parents on board before the Fall or you literally have ZERO chance. Just a friendly FYI.

It's odd that low SES parents wouldn't want their kids in school full-time.

[Anonymous]

Relax OP. Things are looking good for the fall. You might not get your way exactly the way YOU want it, but hopefully it was be another safe opening for the ENTIRE city, ALL the school staff, and the secondary impacts surrounding schools - like bus drivers, cafeteria workers, local business. We are ALL in this together, don't forget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can WTU argue against IPL after getting vaccine priority? I don't understand. Are we just going to forget that happened? Every other work-based priority group was already in-person when they were vaccinated (medical personnel, first responders, essential government, daycare workers -- all have been IPL either this whole time or since at least last summer/fall).

In DC it's especially troubling because many of those vaccinated were MD and VA residents who work in DC. Well I'm a huge proponent of vaccinating essential workers who work in the District regardless of where they live. But why should other high needs groups (grocery store and food service workers and residents of our hardest hit neighborhoods) have to wait so that MD/VA-based teachers who are not and have no plans to teach in person get vaccinated?

Anyway, I agree with OP and have absolutely let Bowser, Ferebee, and my Council reps know. But I think it's important to knit all these Covid-related policies together. School opening, vaccines, and city policies with regards to permissible business activity and masking are all related. Right now, this combination of policies is telling me that the city only cares about you if you belong to a group with a strong lobbying presence (restaurant owners, WTU). I'm ready to vote most of these people out of office if they don't start serving ALL the people of the city.

Of course, I've been saying that since the Council and the mayor decided to overrule Prop 77 at the behest of the business lobby even thought the majority of voters wanted it. These folks have NEVER cared what the people actually want.

I feel the same way. It's also important to acknowledge the role that WTU is playing with obstructing reopening, council members' role in their quid pro quo with WTU endorsing them and the members helping to keep schools closed, and Bowser's weakness in kowtowing to the union and WTU-endorsed council members.

Meanwhile, students have no representation. As much as I appreciate the Open DC Schools organizers trying to advocate, they created this organization designed for failure by insisting that the group has to include WTU members and keep a pro-WTU member stance. We're not allowed to discuss the elephant in the room much less plan how to resolve it. It's like trying to figure out how to resolve a string of house fires while insisting that we can't do anything about the arsonists.

+1. Meanwhile, just saw a message on our neighborhood listserv that yet another private (Lowell) will be back in person 5 days a week starting in April. And yet DCPS may not even offer 5 days a week by fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Relax OP. Things are looking good for the fall. You might not get your way exactly the way YOU want it, but hopefully it was be another safe opening for the ENTIRE city, ALL the school staff, and the secondary impacts surrounding schools - like bus drivers, cafeteria workers, local business. We are ALL in this together, don't forget.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The data to answer the question the last two posters asked are not readily available. However, about half of DC students are in charters and many are still stubbornly offering at most a cares model for a tiny fraction of students.

Also, to counter the anecdotal data above ... friends in RI have been in school 5 days a week since Sept, friends in CT have been hybrid since Sept and moving full time this week, friends in MA have been part day 5 days a week since Sept and are moving to full day this week. Friends in NYC have had hybrid options most of the year.

Only 9,000 out of 45,000 charters will have some type of in person by end of March - and possibly just a CARES room, or just one day per week. That's 20%, not 4 out of 5. In DCPS it's somewhat higher (maybe double) but also not indicated how many hours or days per week or if with a teacher vs. CARES.

We could use better data on this city, but countrywide data is available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am confident kids are back full time in the Fall. Fairfax just announced. Every other school system in the area will follow suit. Relax OP.

I feel better knowing other nearby areas are announcing but its hard to be confident given what the last 12 months have been like for DC schools and the city in general. We are not leading the way here. Currently 4 out of 5 students in the US has some in person instruction (or the option for it). So, we've been really hugging that bottom of the barrel and its not clear any city leaders feel the need to do better.

I’d probably guess that 4 out of 5 students in DCPS has some option for IP instruction too. I understand demand is high in some parts of the city, but that doesn’t reflect the preferences of all parents.

This is so wrong. Where have you been?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can WTU argue against IPL after getting vaccine priority? I don't understand. Are we just going to forget that happened? Every other work-based priority group was already in-person when they were vaccinated (medical personnel, first responders, essential government, daycare workers -- all have been IPL either this whole time or since at least last summer/fall).

In DC it's especially troubling because many of those vaccinated were MD and VA residents who work in DC. Well I'm a huge proponent of vaccinating essential workers who work in the District regardless of where they live. But why should other high needs groups (grocery store and food service workers and residents of our hardest hit neighborhoods) have to wait so that MD/VA-based teachers who are not and have no plans to teach in person get vaccinated?

Anyway, I agree with OP and have absolutely let Bowser, Ferebee, and my Council reps know. But I think it's important to knit all these Covid-related policies together. School opening, vaccines, and city policies with regards to permissible business activity and masking are all related. Right now, this combination of policies is telling me that the city only cares about you if you belong to a group with a strong lobbying presence (restaurant owners, WTU). I'm ready to vote most of these people out of office if they don't start serving ALL the people of the city.

Of course, I've been saying that since the Council and the mayor decided to overrule Prop 77 at the behest of the business lobby even thought the majority of voters wanted it. These folks have NEVER cared what the people actually want.

I feel the same way. It's also important to acknowledge the role that WTU is playing with obstructing reopening, council members' role in their quid pro quo with WTU endorsing them and the members helping to keep schools closed, and Bowser's weakness in kowtowing to the union and WTU-endorsed council members.

Meanwhile, students have no representation. As much as I appreciate the Open DC Schools organizers trying to advocate, they created this organization designed for failure by insisting that the group has to include WTU members and keep a pro-WTU member stance. We're not allowed to discuss the elephant in the room much less plan how to resolve it. It's like trying to figure out how to resolve a string of house fires while insisting that we can't do anything about the arsonists.

I think the idea was that the group needed to be inclusive of teachers, not the WTU, but the line there is blurry and there was so much pushback around being "racist" (see every other thread on here) there wasn't much choice. It seems that even in doing so the group has received nothing but animosity anyway by those who represent a WTU perspective, or basically anyone and everyone who doesn't want schools open or has some other bone to pick with white women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am confident kids are back full time in the Fall. Fairfax just announced. Every other school system in the area will follow suit. Relax OP.

I feel better knowing other nearby areas are announcing but its hard to be confident given what the last 12 months have been like for DC schools and the city in general. We are not leading the way here. Currently 4 out of 5 students in the US has some in person instruction (or the option for it). So, we've been really hugging that bottom of the barrel and its not clear any city leaders feel the need to do better.

I’d probably guess that 4 out of 5 students in DCPS has some option for IP instruction too. I understand demand is high in some parts of the city, but that doesn’t reflect the preferences of all parents.

This is so wrong. Where have you been?

Where have you been, sweetheart? Most students in DCPS schools don't live in Ward 3.

It’s just yet factually incorrect that 4/5 DC kids have some sort of in-person instruction. Why argue with the fact?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am confident kids are back full time in the Fall. Fairfax just announced. Every other school system in the area will follow suit. Relax OP.

I feel better knowing other nearby areas are announcing but its hard to be confident given what the last 12 months have been like for DC schools and the city in general. We are not leading the way here. Currently 4 out of 5 students in the US has some in person instruction (or the option for it). So, we've been really hugging that bottom of the barrel and its not clear any city leaders feel the need to do better.

I’d probably guess that 4 out of 5 students in DCPS has some option for IP instruction too. I understand demand is high in some parts of the city, but that doesn’t reflect the preferences of all parents.

This is so wrong. Where have you been?

Where have you been, sweetheart? Most students in DCPS schools don't live in Ward 3.

It’s just yet factually incorrect that 4/5 DC kids have some sort of in-person instruction. Why argue with the fact?

Yeah, I'm not even sure what this person is talking about. I looked it up, also around 9,000 of DCPS out of 50k which is an even lower percentage, as of February.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can WTU argue against IPL after getting vaccine priority? I don't understand. Are we just going to forget that happened? Every other work-based priority group was already in-person when they were vaccinated (medical personnel, first responders, essential government, daycare workers -- all have been IPL either this whole time or since at least last summer/fall).

In DC it's especially troubling because many of those vaccinated were MD and VA residents who work in DC. Well I'm a huge proponent of vaccinating essential workers who work in the District regardless of where they live. But why should other high needs groups (grocery store and food service workers and residents of our hardest hit neighborhoods) have to wait so that MD/VA-based teachers who are not and have no plans to teach in person get vaccinated?

Anyway, I agree with OP and have absolutely let Bowser, Ferebee, and my Council reps know. But I think it's important to knit all these Covid-related policies together. School opening, vaccines, and city policies with regards to permissible business activity and masking are all related. Right now, this combination of policies is telling me that the city only cares about you if you belong to a group with a strong lobbying presence (restaurant owners, WTU). I'm ready to vote most of these people out of office if they don't start serving ALL the people of the city.

Of course, I've been saying that since the Council and the mayor decided to overrule Prop 77 at the behest of the business lobby even thought the majority of voters wanted it. These folks have NEVER cared what the people actually want.

I feel the same way. It's also important to acknowledge the role that WTU is playing with obstructing reopening, council members' role in their quid pro quo with WTU endorsing them and the members helping to keep schools closed, and Bowser's weakness in kowtowing to the union and WTU-endorsed council members.

Meanwhile, students have no representation. As much as I appreciate the Open DC Schools organizers trying to advocate, they created this organization designed for failure by insisting that the group has to include WTU members and keep a pro-WTU member stance. We're not allowed to discuss the elephant in the room much less plan how to resolve it. It's like trying to figure out how to resolve a string of house fires while insisting that we can't do anything about the arsonists.

I think the idea was that the group needed to be inclusive of teachers, not the WTU, but the line there is blurry and there was so much pushback around being "racist" (see every other thread on here) there wasn't much choice. It seems that even in doing so the group has received nothing but animosity anyway by those who represent a WTU perspective, or basically anyone and everyone who doesn't want schools open or has some other bone to pick with white women.

You mean students have no representation the way YOU want them to.

There are a lot of groups in DC advocating for kids. Do you know who they are? Do you agree with their agenda?

I got three emails today about kids advocacy today for DC kids - did you not get them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can WTU argue against IPL after getting vaccine priority? I don't understand. Are we just going to forget that happened? Every other work-based priority group was already in-person when they were vaccinated (medical personnel, first responders, essential government, daycare workers -- all have been IPL either this whole time or since at least last summer/fall).

In DC it's especially troubling because many of those vaccinated were MD and VA residents who work in DC. Well I'm a huge proponent of vaccinating essential workers who work in the District regardless of where they live. But why should other high needs groups (grocery store and food service workers and residents of our hardest hit neighborhoods) have to wait so that MD/VA-based teachers who are not and have no plans to teach in person get vaccinated?

Anyway, I agree with OP and have absolutely let Bowser, Ferebee, and my Council reps know. But I think it's important to knit all these Covid-related policies together. School opening, vaccines, and city policies with regards to permissible business activity and masking are all related. Right now, this combination of policies is telling me that the city only cares about you if you belong to a group with a strong lobbying presence (restaurant owners, WTU). I'm ready to vote most of these people out of office if they don't start serving ALL the people of the city.

Of course, I've been saying that since the Council and the mayor decided to overrule Prop 77 at the behest of the business lobby even thought the majority of voters wanted it. These folks have NEVER cared what the people actually want.

I feel the same way. It's also important to acknowledge the role that WTU is playing with obstructing reopening, council members' role in their quid pro quo with WTU endorsing them and the members helping to keep schools closed, and Bowser's weakness in kowtowing to the union and WTU-endorsed council members.

Meanwhile, students have no representation. As much as I appreciate the Open DC Schools organizers trying to advocate, they created this organization designed for failure by insisting that the group has to include WTU members and keep a pro-WTU member stance. We're not allowed to discuss the elephant in the room much less plan how to resolve it. It's like trying to figure out how to resolve a string of house fires while insisting that we can't do anything about the arsonists.

I think the idea was that the group needed to be inclusive of teachers, not the WTU, but the line there is blurry and there was so much pushback around being "racist" (see every other thread on here) there wasn't much choice. It seems that even in doing so the group has received nothing but animosity anyway by those who represent a WTU perspective, or basically anyone and everyone who doesn't want schools open or has some other bone to pick with white women.

You mean students have no representation the way YOU want them to.

There are a lot of groups in DC advocating for kids. Do you know who they are? Do you agree with their agenda?

I got three emails today about kids advocacy today for DC kids - did you not get them?

This is such a stupid response. Parents are the advocates for children, so yes, no one is advocating the way we - as parents - want to advocate.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I don't understand why people aren't working with existing groups like Empower DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can WTU argue against IPL after getting vaccine priority? I don't understand. Are we just going to forget that happened? Every other work-based priority group was already in-person when they were vaccinated (medical personnel, first responders, essential government, daycare workers -- all have been IPL either this whole time or since at least last summer/fall).

In DC it's especially troubling because many of those vaccinated were MD and VA residents who work in DC. Well I'm a huge proponent of vaccinating essential workers who work in the District regardless of where they live. But why should other high needs groups (grocery store and food service workers and residents of our hardest hit neighborhoods) have to wait so that MD/VA-based teachers who are not and have no plans to teach in person get vaccinated?

Anyway, I agree with OP and have absolutely let Bowser, Ferebee, and my Council reps know. But I think it's important to knit all these Covid-related policies together. School opening, vaccines, and city policies with regards to permissible business activity and masking are all related. Right now, this combination of policies is telling me that the city only cares about you if you belong to a group with a strong lobbying presence (restaurant owners, WTU). I'm ready to vote most of these people out of office if they don't start serving ALL the people of the city.

Of course, I've been saying that since the Council and the mayor decided to overrule Prop 77 at the behest of the business lobby even thought the majority of voters wanted it. These folks have NEVER cared what the people actually want.

I feel the same way. It's also important to acknowledge the role that WTU is playing with obstructing reopening, council members' role in their quid pro quo with WTU endorsing them and the members helping to keep schools closed, and Bowser's weakness in kowtowing to the union and WTU-endorsed council members.

Meanwhile, students have no representation. As much as I appreciate the Open DC Schools organizers trying to advocate, they created this organization designed for failure by insisting that the group has to include WTU members and keep a pro-WTU member stance. We're not allowed to discuss the elephant in the room much less plan how to resolve it. It's like trying to figure out how to resolve a string of house fires while insisting that we can't do anything about the arsonists.

I think the idea was that the group needed to be inclusive of teachers, not the WTU, but the line there is blurry and there was so much pushback around being "racist" (see every other thread on here) there wasn't much choice. It seems that even in doing so the group has received nothing but animosity anyway by those who represent a WTU perspective, or basically anyone and everyone who doesn't want schools open or has some other bone to pick with white women.

The organizers absolutely had a choice whether to include WTU members or not. It wouldn't be racist to exclude members of a union with a position that directly conflicts with the group's purpose. Now the group has WTU members saying they want to reopen, but here's a list of unreasonable demands that need to be fixed first . . . It's cray that these WTU members and WTU supporters are pushing back against posts that expose that WTU is undermining efforts to reopen. I don't feel comfortable posting seeing how WTU members have challenged and even attacked other posters who advocate for schools to reopen. Allowing WTU members to join the group has completely handicapped our ability to coordinate and advocate.

So now the decision is whether to limp along with this group that the founders ensured would be weak, or start a new group and splinter off members, which would also weaken advocacy efforts.

[Anonymous]

Oh I would love to be pointed at the DC groups that support children that are advocating for full in-person school in the Fall. Which ones are doing that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You better get low SES parents on board before the Fall or you literally have ZERO chance. Just a friendly FYI.

school is compulsory.