4th grade dropouts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who are saying that elementary “kids are getting behind:

Behind what? Behind who?

Behind 50% of the kids who have had in school since August and all the private school kids in school in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not really sure what it means to be honest. I'm not signing up for a homeschooling program. My husband and I both work although our hours are flexible. This afternoon we just all sort of hit the wall. My kids had epic meltdowns after school - my daughter crying endlessly about her headache - and then I got another email from FCPS pushing back distance learning and we decided we can't do it anymore.

Are you familiar with Virginia’s compulsory education laws?

NP. Screw you. When Virginia provides F2F education for the littles, then we can discuss compulsory education of that age group. Virginia and FCPS aren’t holding up their end of the bargain, when they do, I’m sure OP will educate her kids.

OP, I’d leave them on the rolls and just have them be complete no shows. They don’t count against the school or the school system in evaluating participation in DL if they aren’t enrolled. Now the school and FCPS can ignore them, rather than being forced to deal with the problems of DL.

— signed a HS paren who wakes up every morning to a miserable kid and is still grateful we are navigating this at 16 and not 6. Do what you gotta do OP.

Uh- wow. I’m the one who asked OP if she was aware of the law, and it was meant as a heads up, know what you’re doing, NOT an attempt to discourage her from making the best decision for her children. “Screw you”??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who are saying that elementary “kids are getting behind:

Behind what? Behind who?

Behind 50% of the kids who have had in school since August and all the private school kids in school in this area.

Okay but why does that matter? Different districts across the country have always had different curriculums. Some are more rigorous than others. (And children of UMC parents always do fine, no matter where they go.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not really sure what it means to be honest. I'm not signing up for a homeschooling program. My husband and I both work although our hours are flexible. This afternoon we just all sort of hit the wall. My kids had epic meltdowns after school - my daughter crying endlessly about her headache - and then I got another email from FCPS pushing back distance learning and we decided we can't do it anymore.

Are you familiar with Virginia’s compulsory education laws?

NP. Screw you. When Virginia provides F2F education for the littles, then we can discuss compulsory education of that age group. Virginia and FCPS aren’t holding up their end of the bargain, when they do, I’m sure OP will educate her kids.

OP, I’d leave them on the rolls and just have them be complete no shows. They don’t count against the school or the school system in evaluating participation in DL if they aren’t enrolled. Now the school and FCPS can ignore them, rather than being forced to deal with the problems of DL.

— signed a HS paren who wakes up every morning to a miserable kid and is still grateful we are navigating this at 16 and not 6. Do what you gotta do OP.

Uh- wow. I’m the one who asked OP if she was aware of the law, and it was meant as a heads up, know what you’re doing, NOT an attempt to discourage her from making the best decision for her children. “Screw you”??

DP. To be fair, your comment could easily be interpreted as snarky . But that is weird that so many assumed the worst and chose to escalate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who are saying that elementary “kids are getting behind:

Behind what? Behind who?

Behind 50% of the kids who have had in school since August and all the private school kids in school in this area.

Okay but why does that matter? Different districts across the country have always had different curriculums. Some are more rigorous than others. (And children of UMC parents always do fine, no matter where they go.)

It doesn’t really matter to me personally which is for sure a nice position to be in - but I care about the education gap (and I’m not a Johnny Come Lately - I did it pro bono before the pandemic). I sent one to private this year and will probably send all 3 next year - but I’m sorry only those who can afford it have that in person option. I think that’s a real failure of democracy. I would like all people to have the options I have - not just those who can afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who are saying that elementary “kids are getting behind:

Behind what? Behind who?

Behind 50% of the kids who have had in school since August and all the private school kids in school in this area.

Okay but why does that matter? Different districts across the country have always had different curriculums. Some are more rigorous than others. (And children of UMC parents always do fine, no matter where they go.)

It doesn’t really matter to me personally which is for sure a nice position to be in - but I care about the education gap (and I’m not a Johnny Come Lately - I did it pro bono before the pandemic). I sent one to private this year and will probably send all 3 next year - but I’m sorry only those who can afford it have that in person option. I think that’s a real failure of democracy. I would like all people to have the options I have - not just those who can afford it.

But again, if kids are going to be evaluated primarily against their peers until high school, why does it matter if the are behind private school kids. Who cares if private school kids learn how to diagram sentences in fourth grade and public school kids don’t?

If you truly care about the the education gap why are you sending your kids to private school?

(Also the majority of people complaining about kids getting behind are UMC, because lower income people have been hit harder by the pandemic. So mostly this is UMC handwringing)

[Anonymous]

4th grade Mom here. Last spring and summer, I worried about DS falling behind. Worked my tail off to develop lesson plans and supplement his learning — while working full time. Now, I’ve given up. He used to love school and has now checked out. We don’t even monitor whether he completes his assignments anymore. They are nothing but low-value busy work. Not sure if I’m exhausted by trying to fill the holes left by FCPS or whether I’ve truly made peace with the fact that in the grand scheme of things, he will be fine. This experience will impact him, but it won’t define him as a human being.

At the end of the day, kindness and a strong work ethic are the keys to success; whether you were at the top of the class in the 4th Grade really won’t matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who are saying that elementary “kids are getting behind:

Behind what? Behind who?

Behind 50% of the kids who have had in school since August and all the private school kids in school in this area.

Okay but why does that matter? Different districts across the country have always had different curriculums. Some are more rigorous than others. (And children of UMC parents always do fine, no matter where they go.)

It doesn’t really matter to me personally which is for sure a nice position to be in - but I care about the education gap (and I’m not a Johnny Come Lately - I did it pro bono before the pandemic). I sent one to private this year and will probably send all 3 next year - but I’m sorry only those who can afford it have that in person option. I think that’s a real failure of democracy. I would like all people to have the options I have - not just those who can afford it.

But again, if kids are going to be evaluated primarily against their peers until high school, why does it matter if the are behind private school kids. Who cares if private school kids learn how to diagram sentences in fourth grade and public school kids don’t?

If you truly care about the the education gap why are you sending your kids to private school?

(Also the majority of people complaining about kids getting behind are UMC, because lower income people have been hit harder by the pandemic. So mostly this is UMC handwringing)

I have to work and I need childcare and I have to put that ahead of my historical support for public school. I’ve done all the advocating that I could this year and FCPS is going to do what they are gonna do. But I won’t be pulling my kids for private without saying I tried to get in person for all.

I taught third grade in a high needs school & probably have more expertise in the area than you, and not only that - one of my own kids is a non reader so I know what it’s like to have a non reader in DL, when you have to work and can’t supervise & I’m not certain you can speak to that either. I do think there are going to be real fundamental reading and math challenges for kids especially in the lower grades who have been out of in person school since March 2020 and now will go in, in second and third - unable to read or do basic math and without even teachers seeing them in person to have even start getting them interventions if needed. That’s why we care so much about early interventions historically - early intervention works to help kids in the long term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:4th grade Mom here. Last spring and summer, I worried about DS falling behind. Worked my tail off to develop lesson plans and supplement his learning — while working full time. Now, I’ve given up. He used to love school and has now checked out. We don’t even monitor whether he completes his assignments anymore. They are nothing but low-value busy work. Not sure if I’m exhausted by trying to fill the holes left by FCPS or whether I’ve truly made peace with the fact that in the grand scheme of things, he will be fine. This experience will impact him, but it won’t define him as a human being.

At the end of the day, kindness and a strong work ethic are the keys to success; whether you were at the top of the class in the 4th Grade really won’t matter.

In fact, studies show that this will impact your child's lifetime earnings. This Brookings Institute report, based on 5 months out of school, found:

"For students who are expected to work, we estimate an income loss of 5 percent of lifetime earnings. In the United Kingdom, economists predict an earnings loss of 3 percent of yearly income. In the United States, one study forecasts a loss of 2-2.5 percent of income, another up to 13 percent of the U.S. current GDP. Our estimates for the world as a whole are comparable in severity, despite slightly different methodological approaches."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who are saying that elementary “kids are getting behind:

Behind what? Behind who?

Behind 50% of the kids who have had in school since August and all the private school kids in school in this area.

And, how many of those behind kids are not showing up for class, participating in class or doing the work? How many of those kids were behind going in person prior to covid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who are saying that elementary “kids are getting behind:

Behind what? Behind who?

Behind 50% of the kids who have had in school since August and all the private school kids in school in this area.

Okay but why does that matter? Different districts across the country have always had different curriculums. Some are more rigorous than others. (And children of UMC parents always do fine, no matter where they go.)

It doesn’t really matter to me personally which is for sure a nice position to be in - but I care about the education gap (and I’m not a Johnny Come Lately - I did it pro bono before the pandemic). I sent one to private this year and will probably send all 3 next year - but I’m sorry only those who can afford it have that in person option. I think that’s a real failure of democracy. I would like all people to have the options I have - not just those who can afford it.

But again, if kids are going to be evaluated primarily against their peers until high school, why does it matter if the are behind private school kids. Who cares if private school kids learn how to diagram sentences in fourth grade and public school kids don’t?

If you truly care about the the education gap why are you sending your kids to private school?

(Also the majority of people complaining about kids getting behind are UMC, because lower income people have been hit harder by the pandemic. So mostly this is UMC handwringing)

I have to work and I need childcare and I have to put that ahead of my historical support for public school. I’ve done all the advocating that I could this year and FCPS is going to do what they are gonna do. But I won’t be pulling my kids for private without saying I tried to get in person for all.

I taught third grade in a high needs school & probably have more expertise in the area than you, and not only that - one of my own kids is a non reader so I know what it’s like to have a non reader in DL, when you have to work and can’t supervise & I’m not certain you can speak to that either. I do think there are going to be real fundamental reading and math challenges for kids especially in the lower grades who have been out of in person school since March 2020 and now will go in, in second and third - unable to read or do basic math and without even teachers seeing them in person to have even start getting them interventions if needed. That’s why we care so much about early interventions historically - early intervention works to help kids in the long term.

If you have to work, you need to get child care. If you kids are behind/struggling you need to help them or find someone who can. Even during in person school, most kids need outside support in terms of reading/handwriting/basic math and an involved parent and dollar tree or other workbooks can greatly help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who are saying that elementary “kids are getting behind:

Behind what? Behind who?

Behind 50% of the kids who have had in school since August and all the private school kids in school in this area.

And, how many of those behind kids are not showing up for class, participating in class or doing the work? How many of those kids were behind going in person prior to covid?

I think their having the option to attend in person in pre corona times put them less behind than they are now when they have no in person option in FCPS and in much of the DMV area. I hope we have SOL tests in the spring. I would like the data to be able analyze this.

You don’t have to listen to me, an anonymous internet person. I agree with this guy - Chester E. Finn Jr., former assistant U.S. education secretary
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/11/25/how-badly-has-pandemic-hurt-k-12-learning-let-state-testing-spring-tell-us/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who are saying that elementary “kids are getting behind:

Behind what? Behind who?

Behind 50% of the kids who have had in school since August and all the private school kids in school in this area.

Okay but why does that matter? Different districts across the country have always had different curriculums. Some are more rigorous than others. (And children of UMC parents always do fine, no matter where they go.)

It doesn’t really matter to me personally which is for sure a nice position to be in - but I care about the education gap (and I’m not a Johnny Come Lately - I did it pro bono before the pandemic). I sent one to private this year and will probably send all 3 next year - but I’m sorry only those who can afford it have that in person option. I think that’s a real failure of democracy. I would like all people to have the options I have - not just those who can afford it.

But again, if kids are going to be evaluated primarily against their peers until high school, why does it matter if the are behind private school kids. Who cares if private school kids learn how to diagram sentences in fourth grade and public school kids don’t?

If you truly care about the the education gap why are you sending your kids to private school?

(Also the majority of people complaining about kids getting behind are UMC, because lower income people have been hit harder by the pandemic. So mostly this is UMC handwringing)

I have to work and I need childcare and I have to put that ahead of my historical support for public school. I’ve done all the advocating that I could this year and FCPS is going to do what they are gonna do. But I won’t be pulling my kids for private without saying I tried to get in person for all.

I taught third grade in a high needs school & probably have more expertise in the area than you, and not only that - one of my own kids is a non reader so I know what it’s like to have a non reader in DL, when you have to work and can’t supervise & I’m not certain you can speak to that either. I do think there are going to be real fundamental reading and math challenges for kids especially in the lower grades who have been out of in person school since March 2020 and now will go in, in second and third - unable to read or do basic math and without even teachers seeing them in person to have even start getting them interventions if needed. That’s why we care so much about early interventions historically - early intervention works to help kids in the long term.

If you have to work, you need to get child care. If you kids are behind/struggling you need to help them or find someone who can. Even during in person school, most kids need outside support in terms of reading/handwriting/basic math and an involved parent and dollar tree or other workbooks can greatly help.

Right but I am not talking about UMC with resources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4th grade Mom here. Last spring and summer, I worried about DS falling behind. Worked my tail off to develop lesson plans and supplement his learning — while working full time. Now, I’ve given up. He used to love school and has now checked out. We don’t even monitor whether he completes his assignments anymore. They are nothing but low-value busy work. Not sure if I’m exhausted by trying to fill the holes left by FCPS or whether I’ve truly made peace with the fact that in the grand scheme of things, he will be fine. This experience will impact him, but it won’t define him as a human being.

At the end of the day, kindness and a strong work ethic are the keys to success; whether you were at the top of the class in the 4th Grade really won’t matter.

In fact, studies show that this will impact your child's lifetime earnings. This Brookings Institute report, based on 5 months out of school, found:

"For students who are expected to work, we estimate an income loss of 5 percent of lifetime earnings. In the United Kingdom, economists predict an earnings loss of 3 percent of yearly income. In the United States, one study forecasts a loss of 2-2.5 percent of income, another up to 13 percent of the U.S. current GDP. Our estimates for the world as a whole are comparable in severity, despite slightly different methodological approaches."

Isn’t that estimate talking about school closures and not distance learning?

Also, I love what PP said about kindness and a strong work ethic. That is more significant than a loss of income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4th grade Mom here. Last spring and summer, I worried about DS falling behind. Worked my tail off to develop lesson plans and supplement his learning — while working full time. Now, I’ve given up. He used to love school and has now checked out. We don’t even monitor whether he completes his assignments anymore. They are nothing but low-value busy work. Not sure if I’m exhausted by trying to fill the holes left by FCPS or whether I’ve truly made peace with the fact that in the grand scheme of things, he will be fine. This experience will impact him, but it won’t define him as a human being.

At the end of the day, kindness and a strong work ethic are the keys to success; whether you were at the top of the class in the 4th Grade really won’t matter.

In fact, studies show that this will impact your child's lifetime earnings. This Brookings Institute report, based on 5 months out of school, found:

"For students who are expected to work, we estimate an income loss of 5 percent of lifetime earnings. In the United Kingdom, economists predict an earnings loss of 3 percent of yearly income. In the United States, one study forecasts a loss of 2-2.5 percent of income, another up to 13 percent of the U.S. current GDP. Our estimates for the world as a whole are comparable in severity, despite slightly different methodological approaches."

Isn’t that estimate talking about school closures and not distance learning?

Also, I love what PP said about kindness and a strong work ethic. That is more significant than a loss of income.

Here’s a recent medical journal article on educational attainment and life span.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772834