Organizing to lobby DC to allow larger class sizes under Phase 2/3

[Anonymous]

Reviving this thread. Is there momentum to lobby DC to prioritize opening schools in person but not bars?

We need to pick. Let’s prioritize our schools.

[Anonymous]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/04/health/239-experts-with-one-big-claim-the-coronavirus-is-airborne.html


239 scientists in 32 countries. The virus is airborne.

[Anonymous]

Universities that are opening are teaching more than 75% online, even when students are living on campus. The athletes mentioned above, are segregated from the rest of the students, are being tested often. The rest of the student body won’t be. No college is doing daily testing for all — a couple tiny, wealthy LACs are testing 2x a week. Masks will be universal though ( unless you go to a state university in Georgia).

Students are being allowed to defer in most places.

It is a mess that will collapse. Not a guide for K-12.

[Anonymous]

Masks work. Let’s open schools.

Those same epidemiologists would send their kids to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Masks work. Let’s open schools.

Those same epidemiologists would send their kids to school.

You sure about that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masks work. Let’s open schools.

Those same epidemiologists would send their kids to school.

You sure about that?

Elementary school children - particularly under grade 3 - cannot effectively wear masks. This has been seen time and time again and quite frankly is well known by all teachers based on their experience with children for whole days in classrooms. This is why Eiropean countries have not required masks below second or third grade, depending on the country. The risks of trying to have young kids wear a mask all day is actually greater to the extent you believe the mask is doing what it is supposed to ...catching virus germs. This is because these ages are significantly likely to be touching their mask all day and/or putting parts of it in their mouth and/or removing and reapplying the mask all day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our principal said that with 12 children in the classroom the children are six feet apart. That means with 20 they would be 4/5 feet apart.

Your school must have desks. There is no way kids can sit at a table and be 4-5 feet apart.

Nope, not all schools have desks. My school has tables. I have 12 tables for my 24 students. Then I guess the maximum is 12 in my class, unless you obtain individual desks for each student in each class. Can you lobby for DCPS to buy desks for my school? If you cannot, then your plan is a bust. Impossible to do any distancing in a classroom with 20 or 24 students.

[Anonymous]

Wouldn’t be better for students if DCPS bought desks? Why can’t they be proactive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread. Is there momentum to lobby DC to prioritize opening schools in person but not bars?

We need to pick. Let’s prioritize our schools.

I agree -- if we were serious about opening schools, the solution is to push for more serious restrictions on other activities in order to reduce spread. No indoor dining, no bars, no large gatherings, mask wearing enforced in public at all times, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn’t be better for students if DCPS bought desks? Why can’t they be proactive?

Because it costs money.

[Anonymous]

Schools make no money.


Also DCPS has made no guarantees to follow OSSE and CDC guidelines, unlike places of business. I mean there'd be no problem if DCPS does this, the issue is they are likely afraid to make promises they can't or won't keep. Kinda reminds me of that one time we lost Head Start funding...


So I'd really prepare for DL. Sure we may roll out hybrid for a little while but I have a strong...let's call it 'suspicion' it will mostly be DL this school year. At least til arounf April/May 2021.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools make no money.


Also DCPS has made no guarantees to follow OSSE and CDC guidelines, unlike places of business. I mean there'd be no problem if DCPS does this, the issue is they are likely afraid to make promises they can't or won't keep. Kinda reminds me of that one time we lost Head Start funding...


So I'd really prepare for DL. Sure we may roll out hybrid for a little while but I have a strong...let's call it 'suspicion' it will mostly be DL this school year. At least til arounf April/May 2021.

DCPS teacher says: I too think we will start with hybrid and then go to DL after a month because of outbreaks, cleaning issues, teacher absences, student absences, illnesses, and total confusion of a mixed up schedule.

[Anonymous]

Our pediatrician says it’s silly school is not going to be open full time. He says the risk is quite low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS teacher says: I too think we will start with hybrid and then go to DL after a month because of outbreaks, cleaning issues, teacher absences, student absences, illnesses, and total confusion of a mixed up schedule.

I'm another DCPS teacher, and I would love to get back into school as much as possible as soon as possible, but I expect the same thing. Although I worry too that we won't be able to even open with hybrid because so many teachers will have either a health issue or a childcare issue that prevents them from being in the schools. Hopefully I'm wrong about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our pediatrician says it’s silly school is not going to be open full time. He says the risk is quite low.

To kids, that seems to be true. The challenge is that it may be much riskier for adults, and you need adults to run schools too.