Here is why we should close schools now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Without an endgame plan, why close them? What is the plan to reopen? They close them, they’re out the rest of the school year.
At this point it would do more to restrict airline and train travel domestically.

BFD
the schools can close for a year and there will be no effect on students knowledge.

That might be true for your kid and my kid, my many of my students experience serious “summer slide”. It’s not just the economically disadvantaged kids either.

I have taught for 20+ years in both high and low income schools. Every year, most kids (I'd put it at about 85%+) come back each fall having forgotten 2-4 months of material, dropping in their reading and math levels. We could solve this super easily by having year round schools, but parents won't have it.

Because life is about more than textbooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if elementary school teachers could do lessons via Facebook live. Or some other platform.

I’m pro-close, but the access to technology issue for low income families is going to make that hard:
What if there’s no device for the child? Or there’s one device but 3 ES kids?
Who pays the cell phone bills when the data plan is blown by six hours of online instruction in a household without wifi.

I think MCPS needs to use the tv system and run two sessions for each ES/MS grade band (K-2, 3-5, 6-8) and each high school core course.

I can agree with the latter, but here's the real issue:

In a pandemic, how kids are educated doesn't mean squat. Because survival is more important than education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know - what did China and Korea do regarding work requirements, kids’ education, etc during their lockdowns and quarantines?

Online education; Switch summer break to extend winter break. Here we have Spring Break is coming, why not have a early spring break to allow people have a self quarantine? Especially here is the fact:

Many students from both Wootton High and RFMS volunteered at the Village at Rockville after Feb. 28. We are extremely concerned that these individuals are NOT considered at risk of contracting the virus. The incubation period of this virus can be as long as 24 days or longer. Some people who have contracted the virus may not even exhibit any symptom but can still be contagious.

Also please read what experts say:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/06/opinion/coronavirus-schools-closed.html

I bolded the hysteria

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Keep the schools open, but lots of other risk areas we are simply ignoring , why ? Why just take a reflective action that dissproportionately impacts HS students that are low risk? To make ourselves feel like we are " doing something " when really , we continue to have our big CPAC conventions and our political rallies and fund raising dinners with all these people over 50 mingling across state lines ???

That's really weak on execution and planning and is just knee . jerk if you asked me.


**** as for how to intelligently deal with schools, don't just knee jerk close the schools, but rather have kids attend ( they are VERY low risk) , but have those teachers who are 60+ as well as those teachers who smoke or who underlying heath conditions tele teach to their MS/ HS classrooms ( assembled at school)

All outdoor HS Athletic events go on as planned, but no spectators


Its the 21st Century and technology gives us lots of options better than closing schools. A few of them:

First, all cruise ships bookings and permissions to dock at any port should be banned by Federal order ( these are just floating germ farms and most of the cases in US can be traced to Cruise ships )

1) close movie theatres , play sporting events with no fans in attendance and cancel all indoor conventions, business meetings where adults in high risk group mingle ( across state lines) ie CPAC/ AIPAC
2) ban all political rallies
3) close religious services
4) no adult over 60 should be allowed to visit a school and , if they teach there they should tele teach



5) All outdoor HS Athletic events go on as planned, but no spectators

UBER/ Lyft should be banned in every city in the USA . Go back to taxi companies who's employees have sick pay and health insurance ( people without sick pay, who won't be able to earn a living if they don't take riders who are picking up travelers from airports, out of state and riding with them in a close space

I can see you put a lot of thought into this, but it’s just not going to work. Closing all major gatherings except for the largest one in the town that takes place every day is going to negate all other measures. The kids will still be infected and feeling fine and spreading it to their households and thereby the greater community. We also don’t know how kids with asthma and other underlying conditions will fare with the virus. Closing everything is really the only solution. Health and life needs to come above education and commerce right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What?! There are many kids who only eat at school. There are many families who can’t afford child care or can’t stay at home.

MCPS ALREADY PROMISED CONTINUATION OF FOOD SUPPORT FOR THOSE!!!

This had to be solved just like it is in summer when the school is out. This is the rich t approach. Help those in need without risking the entire population and the community by keeping schools open at this time.

WHAT ABOUT FAIRFAX COUNTY?

WHAT ABOUT ARLINGTON COUNTY?

WHAT ABOUT HOWARD COUNTY?

WHAT ABOUT PG COUNTY?

WHAT ABOUT LOUDON COUNTY?

WHAT ABOUT ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY?

WHAT ABOUT PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY?

WHAT ABOUT ALL THE OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE NOT YOUR COUNTY?????

They will likely have plans as well. We need to worry about death before malnutrition. You don't have your priorities straight.

what malnutrition, everybody is obese including many kids.

Don’t use the word malnutrition if you don’t know what it means. One can be morbidly obese and malnourished at the same time. Calories in, especially cheap carbs that starve off hunger pangs, doesn’t mean nutrients in. I used to work in WV in public health. Lots of overweight and malnourished adults and children.

oh please what a joke. most junk food is fortified with nutrients. the whole country could skip eating for a month and a vast majority would benefit from it.

At least this crisis is exposing the idiots for who they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Keep the schools open, but lots of other risk areas we are simply ignoring , why ? Why just take a reflective action that dissproportionately impacts HS students that are low risk? To make ourselves feel like we are " doing something " when really , we continue to have our big CPAC conventions and our political rallies and fund raising dinners with all these people over 50 mingling across state lines ???

That's really weak on execution and planning and is just knee . jerk if you asked me.


**** as for how to intelligently deal with schools, don't just knee jerk close the schools, but rather have kids attend ( they are VERY low risk) , but have those teachers who are 60+ as well as those teachers who smoke or who underlying heath conditions tele teach to their MS/ HS classrooms ( assembled at school)

All outdoor HS Athletic events go on as planned, but no spectators


Its the 21st Century and technology gives us lots of options better than closing schools. A few of them:

First, all cruise ships bookings and permissions to dock at any port should be banned by Federal order ( these are just floating germ farms and most of the cases in US can be traced to Cruise ships )

1) close movie theatres , play sporting events with no fans in attendance and cancel all indoor conventions, business meetings where adults in high risk group mingle ( across state lines) ie CPAC/ AIPAC
2) ban all political rallies
3) close religious services
4) no adult over 60 should be allowed to visit a school and , if they teach there they should tele teach



5) All outdoor HS Athletic events go on as planned, but no spectators

UBER/ Lyft should be banned in every city in the USA . Go back to taxi companies who's employees have sick pay and health insurance ( people without sick pay, who won't be able to earn a living if they don't take riders who are picking up travelers from airports, out of state and riding with them in a close space

Imagining a school like DD’s where 1/2 the teaching staff is over 50, who will supervise the classrooms in which the older teacher is teleworking? DD’s PD 1 teacher is at least 70 (she was retirement age when she taught my eldest), the Art Teacher is elderly, the English teacher had a heart transplant and is immunosuppressed at at least 50, and the Spanish teacher is retiring this year. Do you really want 14 year olds unsupervised 4 out of 7 periods?

This is exactly what I told my college-age son: Your staff is older. He said "Oh, damn, that's right!!". Youth tends to forget this. Adults who don't see this are really only thinking of themselves. NO excuse. Your post is excellent. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Here’s my plan, which is full of holes I’m sure.

Tomorrow, MCPS announces that Friday is the last day of school for March and the following Monday will be a teacher work day for training on online instruction for GS credit courses.

On Friday, all secondary students will get a Chromebook and a WiFi hotspot. And any students on FARMs who receive FARMS will be given WIC-type vouchers for two weeks of food at local grocery stores. If the closure is extended, more vouchers can be mailed. Or an EBT card can be issued (since WIC now uses cards) and more ration money can be transferred to it at two week intervals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Keep the schools open, but lots of other risk areas we are simply ignoring , why ? Why just take a reflective action that dissproportionately impacts HS students that are low risk? To make ourselves feel like we are " doing something " when really , we continue to have our big CPAC conventions and our political rallies and fund raising dinners with all these people over 50 mingling across state lines ???

That's really weak on execution and planning and is just knee . jerk if you asked me.


**** as for how to intelligently deal with schools, don't just knee jerk close the schools, but rather have kids attend ( they are VERY low risk) , but have those teachers who are 60+ as well as those teachers who smoke or who underlying heath conditions tele teach to their MS/ HS classrooms ( assembled at school)

All outdoor HS Athletic events go on as planned, but no spectators


Its the 21st Century and technology gives us lots of options better than closing schools. A few of them:

First, all cruise ships bookings and permissions to dock at any port should be banned by Federal order ( these are just floating germ farms and most of the cases in US can be traced to Cruise ships )

1) close movie theatres , play sporting events with no fans in attendance and cancel all indoor conventions, business meetings where adults in high risk group mingle ( across state lines) ie CPAC/ AIPAC
2) ban all political rallies
3) close religious services
4) no adult over 60 should be allowed to visit a school and , if they teach there they should tele teach



5) All outdoor HS Athletic events go on as planned, but no spectators

UBER/ Lyft should be banned in every city in the USA . Go back to taxi companies who's employees have sick pay and health insurance ( people without sick pay, who won't be able to earn a living if they don't take riders who are picking up travelers from airports, out of state and riding with them in a close space

I can see you put a lot of thought into this, but it’s just not going to work. Closing all major gatherings except for the largest one in the town that takes place every day is going to negate all other measures. The kids will still be infected and feeling fine and spreading it to their households and thereby the greater community. We also don’t know how kids with asthma and other underlying conditions will fare with the virus. Closing everything is really the only solution. Health and life needs to come above education and commerce right now.

It’s also not true that taxi companies always offer insurance or sick leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Closing now would be premature.

Closing now slows down the spread and protects families. This IS the time to close while most community infections are symptomatic. It’s too late once people start dying.

Pretty much. But you know the Type A people here won't go for it.
They freak out when schools close for snow and ice they can see, or that exists in other parts of the county.

Braband has spoken. And we KNOW the school board are the sharpest tools in the shed

[Anonymous]

Please listen what an coronavirus expert say:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcJDpV-igjs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please listen what an coronavirus expert say:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcJDpV-igjs

This guy again??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What?! There are many kids who only eat at school. There are many families who can’t afford child care or can’t stay at home.

MCPS ALREADY PROMISED CONTINUATION OF FOOD SUPPORT FOR THOSE!!!

This had to be solved just like it is in summer when the school is out. This is the rich t approach. Help those in need without risking the entire population and the community by keeping schools open at this time.

WHAT ABOUT FAIRFAX COUNTY?

WHAT ABOUT ARLINGTON COUNTY?

WHAT ABOUT HOWARD COUNTY?

WHAT ABOUT PG COUNTY?

WHAT ABOUT LOUDON COUNTY?

WHAT ABOUT ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY?

WHAT ABOUT PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY?

WHAT ABOUT ALL THE OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE NOT YOUR COUNTY?????

They will likely have plans as well. We need to worry about death before malnutrition. You don't have your priorities straight.

what malnutrition, everybody is obese including many kids.

Don’t use the word malnutrition if you don’t know what it means. One can be morbidly obese and malnourished at the same time. Calories in, especially cheap carbs that starve off hunger pangs, doesn’t mean nutrients in. I used to work in WV in public health. Lots of overweight and malnourished adults and children.

oh please what a joke. most junk food is fortified with nutrients. the whole country could skip eating for a month and a vast majority would benefit from it.

At least this crisis is exposing the idiots for who they are.

never was fatter nation more concerned with missing a meal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s my plan, which is full of holes I’m sure.

Tomorrow, MCPS announces that Friday is the last day of school for March and the following Monday will be a teacher work day for training on online instruction for GS credit courses.

On Friday, all secondary students will get a Chromebook and a WiFi hotspot. And any students on FARMs who receive FARMS will be given WIC-type vouchers for two weeks of food at local grocery stores. If the closure is extended, more vouchers can be mailed. Or an EBT card can be issued (since WIC now uses cards) and more ration money can be transferred to it at two week intervals.

Who exactly is going to pay for that food?

[Anonymous]

Anyone who thinks taxi companies offer sick days and benefits is so out of touch that anything they write is suspect.

[Anonymous]

You guys are so cute with concern about education continuing.

ICUs are soon going to be overwhelmed.

https://www.npr.org/2020/03/06/812967454/u-s-hospitals-prepare-for-a-covid-19-wave

As the coronavirus spreads in the U.S., public health agencies are starting to worry about hospital capacity.

Overseas, China was forced to build two new hospitals on an emergency basis, and in South Korea earlier this week, the government said over two thousand people were waiting for hospital care.

The potential numbers in the U.S. are daunting. Richard Waldhorn is a pulmonary critical care physician who's studied hospital preparedness for the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Last week, he co-wrote an article arguing that American hospitals should prepare for the possibility of too many patients.

"The arithmetic suggests that we will outstrip hospital resources, particularly instensive care resources, in waves as the pandemic spreads," he says.

He says government planning assumptions based on past flu pandemics suggest a surge in demand for intensive care that could range somewhere between 200,000 thousand and 2.9 million patients.

The American Hospital Association says the total number of Intensive Care Unit beds is about 65,000.

Waldhorn says hospitals can make more ICU beds available in a crisis, perhaps doubling the capacity, but there's still a chance it won't be enough.

That's what we are trying to avoid by slowing spread.

Schools WILL CLOSE. No matter what. It's just a question of whether we are smart and do it early, while not everyone is infected (and parents can share childcare duties with other parents in relative comfort and safety) or later in the epidemic when schools close reactively.

Watch Germany.