Virtual?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If MCPS attempts this tomorrow, it will be the first and last time. It will go so poorly that MSDE will end up having to crack down on the virtual instruction loophole for the 180 day requirement.

Read above. It's already been announced at schools there won't be one. If there's inclement weather, it'll be a normal 2 hour delay and/or snow day. Maybe read before posting next time.

They should be prepared to make up the day then on 1/29

That it would be the ideal solution and extend the quarter to that day. It will never happen though.

Don't teachers have to get the day for grading and planning at some point though?

There has been one day of school. My kid has been at home trying to learn what is being taught at school. Can’t teachers also use this time productively?

Sure, and many do. But teachers are also expected to accept late work until the last minute of the final day of school, so we will certainly be getting a lot of late work at the last minute. We still need that grading/planning time at the end of the quarter no matter how productive we have been on snow days.

Yes, the work we are forced to accept way past deadline is the issue. Before the pandemic, it was never a problem for me to submit grades the day before they were due. Maybe two or three students had a legitimate reason to turn in work on the last day. Now, counselors and admins tell teachers to accept work that is 8-9 weeks late. It’s not required by the grading policy, but it is expected and your life will be made miserable if you take a stand.

Asking a teacher to pull an all-nighter to grade 70+ pieces of late work by the end of a professional day is one thing. Asking them to pull an all-nighter to grade and then teach 5 classes is another.

Completely separate issue.

But very similar. A virtual day is a terrible idea because so many kids won't show up, and we also know that virtual is not appropriate in many cases (e.g. kindergarten). Teachers will hate it and parents will hate it. But it allows MCPS to meet the 180 day requirement.

Demanding that teachers accept work past the deadline from any student is a terrible idea, for so many reasons. Teachers hate it and many parents do as well. But it helps MCPS inflate grades.

MCPS centers itself as an institution in all decision making. It is not about the students and/or the teachers and/or the families.

If kids don't show up, hold them and their parents accountable. Simple. Make a graded assignment that is simple but can only be done during class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS attempts this tomorrow, it will be the first and last time. It will go so poorly that MSDE will end up having to crack down on the virtual instruction loophole for the 180 day requirement.

Read above. It's already been announced at schools there won't be one. If there's inclement weather, it'll be a normal 2 hour delay and/or snow day. Maybe read before posting next time.

I haven't gotten anything.

There isn't going to be a virtual day tomorrow. It's been confirmed. They probably aren't sending out notices to parents. Only people in buildings really need to know this info.

I've already gotten zoom links from my high schooler's teachers so they do seem to be planning for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS attempts this tomorrow, it will be the first and last time. It will go so poorly that MSDE will end up having to crack down on the virtual instruction loophole for the 180 day requirement.

Read above. It's already been announced at schools there won't be one. If there's inclement weather, it'll be a normal 2 hour delay and/or snow day. Maybe read before posting next time.

They should be prepared to make up the day then on 1/29

That it would be the ideal solution and extend the quarter to that day. It will never happen though.

Don't teachers have to get the day for grading and planning at some point though?

There has been one day of school. My kid has been at home trying to learn what is being taught at school. Can’t teachers also use this time productively?

Sure, and many do. But teachers are also expected to accept late work until the last minute of the final day of school, so we will certainly be getting a lot of late work at the last minute. We still need that grading/planning time at the end of the quarter no matter how productive we have been on snow days.

Yes, the work we are forced to accept way past deadline is the issue. Before the pandemic, it was never a problem for me to submit grades the day before they were due. Maybe two or three students had a legitimate reason to turn in work on the last day. Now, counselors and admins tell teachers to accept work that is 8-9 weeks late. It’s not required by the grading policy, but it is expected and your life will be made miserable if you take a stand.

Asking a teacher to pull an all-nighter to grade 70+ pieces of late work by the end of a professional day is one thing. Asking them to pull an all-nighter to grade and then teach 5 classes is another.

Completely separate issue.

But very similar. A virtual day is a terrible idea because so many kids won't show up, and we also know that virtual is not appropriate in many cases (e.g. kindergarten). Teachers will hate it and parents will hate it. But it allows MCPS to meet the 180 day requirement.

Demanding that teachers accept work past the deadline from any student is a terrible idea, for so many reasons. Teachers hate it and many parents do as well. But it helps MCPS inflate grades.

MCPS centers itself as an institution in all decision making. It is not about the students and/or the teachers and/or the families.

If kids don't show up, hold them and their parents accountable. Simple. Make a graded assignment that is simple but can only be done during class.

That's a great idea but not what MCPS will do

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS attempts this tomorrow, it will be the first and last time. It will go so poorly that MSDE will end up having to crack down on the virtual instruction loophole for the 180 day requirement.

Read above. It's already been announced at schools there won't be one. If there's inclement weather, it'll be a normal 2 hour delay and/or snow day. Maybe read before posting next time.

I haven't gotten anything.

There isn't going to be a virtual day tomorrow. It's been confirmed. They probably aren't sending out notices to parents. Only people in buildings really need to know this info.

I've already gotten zoom links from my high schooler's teachers so they do seem to be planning for it.

But the noon announcement wasn't made, so they cannot.

[Anonymous]

We got surveyed by the school (ES) weeks ago about whether we needed a Chromebook for Code Purple. We said yes. No Chromebook has appeared.

There will be no Code Purple tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

I just received an email that MCPS is not planning for a code purple/VL. It'll be a closure or nothing, apparently. "Stay tuned."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just received an email that MCPS is not planning for a code purple/VL. It'll be a closure or nothing, apparently. "Stay tuned."

Not encouraging

[Anonymous]

Apparently it was a contract issue with MCEA.

[Anonymous]

My senior did get an email from one teacher about virtual learning for tomorrow. This is an IB class that is way behind the schedule even before these days,off. Will be very disappointed if tomorrow is a snow day and no virtual learning happens. I get it may be difficult system-wide, but there should be some way for it to happen for select classes. Ridiculous not to, frankly. If in 2024 we can’t find a way for this to work, then the U.S. has little hope of catching up to the rest of the developed world when it comes to education.

[Anonymous]

My middle schooler came home saying he has to do virtual school tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My senior did get an email from one teacher about virtual learning for tomorrow. This is an IB class that is way behind the schedule even before these days,off. Will be very disappointed if tomorrow is a snow day and no virtual learning happens. I get it may be difficult system-wide, but there should be some way for it to happen for select classes. Ridiculous not to, frankly. If in 2024 we can’t find a way for this to work, then the U.S. has little hope of catching up to the rest of the developed world when it comes to education.

Maybe so but trust me when I say a few hours virtual Zoom isn’t the panacea to helping us “catch up to the developed world”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My middle schooler came home saying he has to do virtual school tomorrow.

He likely misunderstood and heard friends who told a friend… it’s middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My middle schooler came home saying he has to do virtual school tomorrow.

He likely misunderstood and heard friends who told a friend… it’s middle school.

He has zoom links and they handed out chromebooks to kids without computers at home.

I still think it won’t happen but this is another example of awful communications and disjointed decision-making.

[Anonymous]

Email from MCPS COO Brian Hull:

Good afternoon

I wanted to send this quick note to all MCPS students, staff and families to keep our community updated about the possibility of another weather event tomorrow that could impact schools. We are watching this situation closely and you will hear from us later today about any status changes.

As a reminder, our virtual teaching and learning plan is meant for use during significant events when school closure involves multiple consecutive days. For that reason, tomorrow will not be a virtual teaching and learning day.

Excellent teaching and learning and prioritizing the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community remain our top priorities in these decisions.

Sincerely,

Brian Hull
Chief Operating Officer

[Anonymous]

What a sad collection of limp minds we have hired to run our children's school system that they can't run a virtual learning day.