Why are parents so fixated on reopening schools in-person?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers: you are paid to do a job. If you are upset because you have to assist with blowing noses - teaching young children is not for you. Please, we know now how you truly feel in your heart about children.

Further - you have all of us inadequate (by yoUr standards) parents by the “proverbial” you know what’s - and for that matter, our kids’ education -
and you chose to walk. Duly noted.

You won. Our kids have gone 8 months without you.

Please quit. Unemployment lines are waiting.

What the heck is wrong with you? I teach older kids (HS) and don't blow any noses. You definitely don't know how I feel about anything.

I'm still waiting for the school to call me up and tell me my classroom is ready and my students will be there.... but oh wait. They're not going to do that because they can't get their darn act together. So no, I won't be quitting. I'll be continuing to hold online classes until I get that call. Yell at someone who actually has control over the situation.

DP. You do have control, via teacher union.

[Anonymous]

OP - I have family all over the country. Everyone is in-person. Some of the privates have planned for DL during an extended brake from thanksgiving to second week of January. Our region is failing.

[Anonymous]

The school where I work at has had three employees get covid and they've had to close the school multiple times. I heard word that one of the local distance learning hubs just shut down because an employee was sick (really sucks for the families enrolled because now they're paying tuition to keep their kids home and this is happening right before Thanksgiving so that might put a kibosh on any traveling plans they would have had if they are responsible human beings)

So I know everyone likes to pretend that outbreaks don't happen at school but we're still in a pandemic and as I predicted, one way or another you're still going to be on a Merry-Go-Round of buildings closing and opening to stop the spread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another post!!

They are fixated on this because the teachers and the city admin was making decisions based upon 'feelings' and politics, and not science and numbers. The kids can't do it, so the parents have to advocate for them. Of course, numbers are rising now, but there was a long time when some sort of hybrid model could have been started safely. It's not an all or nothing game. The kids aren't ok, they need their friends, their teachers, their community, their schools. For them it's like the unseen monster from the stories has come to life, and everything is on hold. The schools are not just 'childcare' they are anchors for kids. My kids feel proud of the school and have a deep sense of belonging to it. I don't want schools to open up and be covid spreaders, but I don't want to minimize the loss that the kids are feeling either.

My kids are fine. What is wrong with yours? Mine can get by for the short term. They see their friends, play sports, take dance class, and are getting straight A’s. So no, not every kid is suffering. Mine are super happy to not have to deal with the crappy kids in school who don’t care and don’t try and bring the whole class down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers: you are paid to do a job. If you are upset because you have to assist with blowing noses - teaching young children is not for you. Please, we know now how you truly feel in your heart about children.

Further - you have all of us inadequate (by yoUr standards) parents by the “proverbial” you know what’s - and for that matter, our kids’ education -
and you chose to walk. Duly noted.

You won. Our kids have gone 8 months without you.

Please quit. Unemployment lines are waiting.

What the heck is wrong with you? I teach older kids (HS) and don't blow any noses. You definitely don't know how I feel about anything.

I'm still waiting for the school to call me up and tell me my classroom is ready and my students will be there.... but oh wait. They're not going to do that because they can't get their darn act together. So no, I won't be quitting. I'll be continuing to hold online classes until I get that call. Yell at someone who actually has control over the situation.

DP. You do have control, via teacher union.

DP. If this were true, there’s no way anyone would be in a classroom four days a week with students who refuse to wear masks. Or that the School Board could get away with changing metrics after employees were back in person. And yet, here we are. Unions are toothless in VA. They talk a big game, but it’s on you, as the employee, to twist in the wind if you’re told to work when it’s unsafe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In what other profession in this country do you get paid 100% for not doing you job AND (here is the kicker) throw children under the bus to sweeten you deal? Teaching with Union protection.

None.

This is America. Teachers - you CHOSE your jobs. And you are entitled to quit.

So do it. Quit.

Why should we quit? I'm perfectly happy with the way things are going right now.

+1. PP should quit and help her kids if they’re struggling. She’s also entitled to quit just like the teachers right?

[Anonymous]

I am a consultant and pre-COVID did a lot of training for adults in healthcare. With the no travel order I have had to adapt to various online learning options, build a Blackboard site and multiple Articulate 360 storyboards. Why didn’t the schools adapt to better options than PPT with a few TED AND Khan videos thrown in?

[Anonymous]

Part of the reason is because that was the expectation established when most districts started back in DL. It was stated that time in DL in the first semester would give administrators the opportunity to develop plans to return to students to class in hybrid mode. Unfortunately, that plan turned out to be completely backwards.The time to return to students to school was the fall, when numbers were lower.

In addition, with the winter surge upon us, we have learned that adults are incapable of discussing or formulating plans based on anything other than current conditions. With the frightening surge we are currently experiencing, there is no appetite for discussing a return to the classroom, even under reasonable metrics that would only result in a return when community spread is more controlled.

Every expert and most teachers agree that in person education is best. Parents are frustrated by the ability of school administrators to deliver on their promise to return at least some students to the classroom in the second part of the year and are borderline despondent about the increasing likelihood of DL continuing into the next school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Part of the reason is because that was the expectation established when most districts started back in DL. It was stated that time in DL in the first semester would give administrators the opportunity to develop plans to return to students to class in hybrid mode. Unfortunately, that plan turned out to be completely backwards.The time to return to students to school was the fall, when numbers were lower.

In addition, with the winter surge upon us, we have learned that adults are incapable of discussing or formulating plans based on anything other than current conditions. With the frightening surge we are currently experiencing, there is no appetite for discussing a return to the classroom, even under reasonable metrics that would only result in a return when community spread is more controlled.

Every expert and most teachers agree that in person education is best. Parents are frustrated by the ability of school administrators to deliver on their promise to return at least some students to the classroom in the second part of the year and are borderline despondent about the increasing likelihood of DL continuing into the next school year.

+1 yep

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Part of the reason is because that was the expectation established when most districts started back in DL. It was stated that time in DL in the first semester would give administrators the opportunity to develop plans to return to students to class in hybrid mode. Unfortunately, that plan turned out to be completely backwards.The time to return to students to school was the fall, when numbers were lower.

In addition, with the winter surge upon us, we have learned that adults are incapable of discussing or formulating plans based on anything other than current conditions. With the frightening surge we are currently experiencing, there is no appetite for discussing a return to the classroom, even under reasonable metrics that would only result in a return when community spread is more controlled.

Every expert and most teachers agree that in person education is best. Parents are frustrated by the ability of school administrators to deliver on their promise to return at least some students to the classroom in the second part of the year and are borderline despondent about the increasing likelihood of DL continuing into the next school year.

+1 yep

I am concerned for the longlasting effects of these closures on the public school system. I doubt that all of the students who left for privates or homeschool will return. I find it surprising that the boards aren't taking into account the very large funding losses which will hit next fall. I'm not sure if they believe a reprieve is coming in policy or what, but the amount of kids who left is a big concern if you see the stats. I'm not sure how many more will leave if the closures extend into 2021.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Part of the reason is because that was the expectation established when most districts started back in DL. It was stated that time in DL in the first semester would give administrators the opportunity to develop plans to return to students to class in hybrid mode. Unfortunately, that plan turned out to be completely backwards.The time to return to students to school was the fall, when numbers were lower.

In addition, with the winter surge upon us, we have learned that adults are incapable of discussing or formulating plans based on anything other than current conditions. With the frightening surge we are currently experiencing, there is no appetite for discussing a return to the classroom, even under reasonable metrics that would only result in a return when community spread is more controlled.

Every expert and most teachers agree that in person education is best. Parents are frustrated by the ability of school administrators to deliver on their promise to return at least some students to the classroom in the second part of the year and are borderline despondent about the increasing likelihood of DL continuing into the next school year.

+1 yep

I am concerned for the longlasting effects of these closures on the public school system. I doubt that all of the students who left for privates or homeschool will return. I find it surprising that the boards aren't taking into account the very large funding losses which will hit next fall. I'm not sure if they believe a reprieve is coming in policy or what, but the amount of kids who left is a big concern if you see the stats. I'm not sure how many more will leave if the closures extend into 2021.

I share your concerns. In terms of the funding impact of departures, the districts are hoping for a legislative fix that would set a different date (maybe last year) for enrollment numbers used to determine funding.

But yes, I am with you about harm to the system in general. My family will be done with public school after this year, but I still care. With no personal interest in having my own children go back, I am aghast that our Board has spend the past years talking about nothing but equity and the achievement gap, and then refused to consider anything other than a DL arrangement that will cause irreparable harm to disadvantaged students, now and for years to come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Part of the reason is because that was the expectation established when most districts started back in DL. It was stated that time in DL in the first semester would give administrators the opportunity to develop plans to return to students to class in hybrid mode. Unfortunately, that plan turned out to be completely backwards.The time to return to students to school was the fall, when numbers were lower.

In addition, with the winter surge upon us, we have learned that adults are incapable of discussing or formulating plans based on anything other than current conditions. With the frightening surge we are currently experiencing, there is no appetite for discussing a return to the classroom, even under reasonable metrics that would only result in a return when community spread is more controlled.

Every expert and most teachers agree that in person education is best. Parents are frustrated by the ability of school administrators to deliver on their promise to return at least some students to the classroom in the second part of the year and are borderline despondent about the increasing likelihood of DL continuing into the next school year.

+1 yep

I am concerned for the longlasting effects of these closures on the public school system. I doubt that all of the students who left for privates or homeschool will return. I find it surprising that the boards aren't taking into account the very large funding losses which will hit next fall. I'm not sure if they believe a reprieve is coming in policy or what, but the amount of kids who left is a big concern if you see the stats. I'm not sure how many more will leave if the closures extend into 2021.

I think this is exactly why the Board of Supervisors and School Board are pushing to reopen even though our current metrics are terrible.

[Anonymous]

We have always had DC in private and I have never begrudged paying taxes for school with few exceptions - notably large athletic funding and some other add ons that I feel should not be part of the school. I am happy to pay for $ for meal voucher programs for those who qualify. I understand that this is new and different, but if the schools stay closed throughout the entirety of the 2020-21 school year they should not get a pass on maintaining their previous year's enrollment. Some families will come back. Great. But the harsh reality is they should not get funding for any more children than what they serve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have always had DC in private and I have never begrudged paying taxes for school with few exceptions - notably large athletic funding and some other add ons that I feel should not be part of the school. I am happy to pay for $ for meal voucher programs for those who qualify. I understand that this is new and different, but if the schools stay closed throughout the entirety of the 2020-21 school year they should not get a pass on maintaining their previous year's enrollment. Some families will come back. Great. But the harsh reality is they should not get funding for any more children than what they serve.

+1 I believe if they held the funding date as a firm date, the schools would be trying harder to open. Right now they are banking on a legistlative save. I don't want to pay taxes for how many students will hypothetically return to public.