WaPo: How D.C. and its teachers, with shifting plans and demands, failed to reopen schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTU may have won the battle to close schools for a year or so, but I wonder if they’ve lost the war to fund public schools in the future. Surely the union’s behavior over the past few months has lost the hearts and minds of many voters. I know I’ll think twice before voting for any candidates who touts their WTU endorsement.

+1

I am a DCPS teacher and worry that any support we had from parents or any goodwill is squandered by the union. I wonder if budgets will be cut and Bowser won’t negotiate to increase them.

I am a DCPS parent. Don’t worry. We know the mayor and chancellor have cut parents and teachers out of this process
And we back the union.

I am a DCPS parent and you should worry. The sick out was the final straw - I will never be able to look at DCPS teachers without some level of disdain again.

Why is there so much vitriol towards DCPS and WTU. My charter is closed too. The teachers there are non-union and still say they do not feel safe returning. If WTU was solely to blame, charters would be open across the city.

Thank you. Especially as 61% of the wtu DIDN’T participate in the sick out.

Where are you getting this crazy number? At my kid's school it was like 75% or higher participation because that's what the teacher told us.

The article said 39% of teachers participated... therefore I was part of the 61% that didn’t.

[Anonymous]

We have some of the lowest coronavirus numbers in the country. It is insane that schools are still closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All this in a city that has consistently had some of the lowest coronavirus levels in the country. Even today, there’s only three states with better numbers than ours.

Teachers should be ashamed of themselves.

You should be ashamed. You should also be thankful for what Bowser has managed to do. Hate her as much as you want but, she is the reason why the numbers are so low. Her policies in keeping schools closed, as well as restaurants and museums, makes sure the numbers stay low. As a parent I'm thankful for what she has done in keeping my family safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTU may have won the battle to close schools for a year or so, but I wonder if they’ve lost the war to fund public schools in the future. Surely the union’s behavior over the past few months has lost the hearts and minds of many voters. I know I’ll think twice before voting for any candidates who touts their WTU endorsement.

+1

I am a DCPS teacher and worry that any support we had from parents or any goodwill is squandered by the union. I wonder if budgets will be cut and Bowser won’t negotiate to increase them.

I am a DCPS parent. Don’t worry. We know the mayor and chancellor have cut parents and teachers out of this process
And we back the union.

I am a DCPS parent and you should worry. The sick out was the final straw - I will never be able to look at DCPS teachers without some level of disdain again.

Why is there so much vitriol towards DCPS and WTU. My charter is closed too. The teachers there are non-union and still say they do not feel safe returning. If WTU was solely to blame, charters would be open across the city.

Thank you. Especially as 61% of the wtu DIDN’T participate in the sick out.

Where are you getting this crazy number? At my kid's school it was like 75% or higher participation because that's what the teacher told us.

The article said 39% of teachers participated... therefore I was part of the 61% that didn’t.

It was 39% of *all* teachers, including middle and high school teachers, who weren’t relevant to the issue of opening elementary schools.

The percentage of elementary school teachers who participated was much higher. Maybe 80% or so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools are open for in-person learning in about half the country. Here’s a map

https://cai.burbio.com/school-opening-tracker/

Schools have been open for in person learning in much of the country for almost six months now. Seems pretty clear at this point that it’s safe.

This.

If it was actually unsafe, we’d see the evidence by now.

Look at the numbers. Half of the schools are open and daily deaths are over 2,000. Open all schools and simple math says we will have 4,000 dead every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this in a city that has consistently had some of the lowest coronavirus levels in the country. Even today, there’s only three states with better numbers than ours.

Teachers should be ashamed of themselves.

You should be ashamed. You should also be thankful for what Bowser has managed to do. Hate her as much as you want but, she is the reason why the numbers are so low. Her policies in keeping schools closed, as well as restaurants and museums, makes sure the numbers stay low. As a parent I'm thankful for what she has done in keeping my family safe.

Now it's time to hear about the city's plans to safely reopen schools, like privates and daycares have already done in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this in a city that has consistently had some of the lowest coronavirus levels in the country. Even today, there’s only three states with better numbers than ours.

Teachers should be ashamed of themselves.

You should be ashamed. You should also be thankful for what Bowser has managed to do. Hate her as much as you want but, she is the reason why the numbers are so low. Her policies in keeping schools closed, as well as restaurants and museums, makes sure the numbers stay low. As a parent I'm thankful for what she has done in keeping my family safe.

Is this for real? Bowser is going to go down as the anti-education mayor — the person who banned tens of thousands of children from going to school even as she invited people to go to indoor concerts and dine indoors and go to bars. She clamped down on exactly the wrong things and our coronavirus levels are low despite her hare brained policies. Meanwhile our children are fcked because of her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this in a city that has consistently had some of the lowest coronavirus levels in the country. Even today, there’s only three states with better numbers than ours.

Teachers should be ashamed of themselves.

You should be ashamed. You should also be thankful for what Bowser has managed to do. Hate her as much as you want but, she is the reason why the numbers are so low. Her policies in keeping schools closed, as well as restaurants and museums, makes sure the numbers stay low. As a parent I'm thankful for what she has done in keeping my family safe.

For such a tax rich city like DC to be in this hot mess is absurd. Why they didn't find ways to safely reopen by now (or plan to do so by spring) is beyond me. They'll get what they deserve when MC and UMC parents do whatever they can to run out of this city and their tax base collapses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this in a city that has consistently had some of the lowest coronavirus levels in the country. Even today, there’s only three states with better numbers than ours.

Teachers should be ashamed of themselves.

You should be ashamed. You should also be thankful for what Bowser has managed to do. Hate her as much as you want but, she is the reason why the numbers are so low. Her policies in keeping schools closed, as well as restaurants and museums, makes sure the numbers stay low. As a parent I'm thankful for what she has done in keeping my family safe.

What closed restaurants? I was able to have lunch the other day in a covered patio with heater. Restaurants open, schools closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this in a city that has consistently had some of the lowest coronavirus levels in the country. Even today, there’s only three states with better numbers than ours.

Teachers should be ashamed of themselves.

You should be ashamed. You should also be thankful for what Bowser has managed to do. Hate her as much as you want but, she is the reason why the numbers are so low. Her policies in keeping schools closed, as well as restaurants and museums, makes sure the numbers stay low. As a parent I'm thankful for what she has done in keeping my family safe.

What closed restaurants? I was able to have lunch the other day in a covered patio with heater. Restaurants open, schools closed.

And this is why schools are closed. Selfish people like you not willing to give up eating out. Have your cake and eat it, but the schools will never open if restaurants keep allowing the spread. Why is it so hard for you to stay at home and cook the meal? Makes me sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this in a city that has consistently had some of the lowest coronavirus levels in the country. Even today, there’s only three states with better numbers than ours.

Teachers should be ashamed of themselves.

You should be ashamed. You should also be thankful for what Bowser has managed to do. Hate her as much as you want but, she is the reason why the numbers are so low. Her policies in keeping schools closed, as well as restaurants and museums, makes sure the numbers stay low. As a parent I'm thankful for what she has done in keeping my family safe.

For such a tax rich city like DC to be in this hot mess is absurd. Why they didn't find ways to safely reopen by now (or plan to do so by spring) is beyond me. They'll get what they deserve when MC and UMC parents do whatever they can to run out of this city and their tax base collapses.

That won't happen. If they sell people will buy behind them. If not people will stop selling and stay put. And APS, FCPS, MCPS, PGCPS, are all closed and the further out counties are too. I don't think they will open sooner (mcps seems to be an equally hot mess).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this in a city that has consistently had some of the lowest coronavirus levels in the country. Even today, there’s only three states with better numbers than ours.

Teachers should be ashamed of themselves.

You should be ashamed. You should also be thankful for what Bowser has managed to do. Hate her as much as you want but, she is the reason why the numbers are so low. Her policies in keeping schools closed, as well as restaurants and museums, makes sure the numbers stay low. As a parent I'm thankful for what she has done in keeping my family safe.

What closed restaurants? I was able to have lunch the other day in a covered patio with heater. Restaurants open, schools closed.

And this is why schools are closed. Selfish people like you not willing to give up eating out. Have your cake and eat it, but the schools will never open if restaurants keep allowing the spread. Why is it so hard for you to stay at home and cook the meal? Makes me sick.

This is complete nonsense. DC’s coronavirus numbers have been extremely low since at least July. Even today, they’re well within commonly accepted guidelines for safely reopening. Only three states in the entire country have lower coronavirus rates than we do. The only reason schools are closed is because teachers refuse to go back to work no matter what, and Bowser refuses to force them to go to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have much sympathy for entitlement. I have sympathy for low SES families trying to survive. Strange how they don’t complain about DL and yet you do.

I honestly wish the WTU asked for more, at least when we’d come back in person all kid’s schools could have working lights, toilets, opening windows, working heat/air, etc.

While they were at it they should have asked for more pay for teachers on the caveat they are deemed essential workers, unless they have a condition or someone in their immediate family who lives with them.

I acknowledge my privilege, it doesn’t mean I don’t suffer, DL is hard for us all but I’m not worrying about how to pay my bills.

What percentage of low SES families are just not doing DL? (DCPS statistics suggest the number is significant.) Why would they be complaining if they’re not bothering with it in the first place?

Many may be too busy working multiple jobs to pay attention to how their kids are doing or simply not have the human and cultural capital to discern how their children are doing school. That’s one reason we have compulsory schooling. Don’t use low income kids as a justification to stay home and bake.

I’m PP, and I agree with you. I disagree with the initial commenter above who chides high SES parents for complaining when low SES parents are apparently fine with DL. I don’t equate not speaking up with being content.

Hard agree.

You don't even have any real engagement with these parents, you all can take several seats. The only ones using MY community is you. God white privilege is so sickening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools are open for in-person learning in about half the country. Here’s a map

https://cai.burbio.com/school-opening-tracker/

Schools have been open for in person learning in much of the country for almost six months now. Seems pretty clear at this point that it’s safe.

This.

If it was actually unsafe, we’d see the evidence by now.

Look at the numbers. Half of the schools are open and daily deaths are over 2,000. Open all schools and simple math says we will have 4,000 dead every day.

Except little to no connection to schools reopening and Covid increase has been shown.
You let your child fall way behind in life.
The rest of us who read, will move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Problem is that teachers have a lot of power here. There is a national teacher shortage. If we fire all the teachers, we will be in an even worse off position. Alienating teachers and principals was a very stupid move by the mayor and chancellor. I don’t fully blame teachers as the US worships at the altar of capitalism and why wouldn’t teachers act in their own best interests.

Teachers don’t actually have much power here.

1.) Teachers in DC are — by a mile — the best paid in America. It’s not uncommon for teachers to make six figures.

2.) If they quit, who is going to hire them? Governments across the country are cutting their budgets. Who is going to hire thousands of teachers suddenly on the market.

3.) In most of the country, schools are back in session — IN PERSON. Many of the places that might hire DC teachers who quit would require them to go back to the classroom.

Bowser should call their bluff and tell teachers who refuse to show up for work are fired immediately. 98 percent would show up.

+1