Should we prepare for virtual schooling starting in January?

[Anonymous]

What if forcing teachers to go back to virtual causes more teachers to quit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad about the risk to teachers. My husband and I get to work from home. I would not want to be working in packed schools right now. Some of them probably have underlying conditions. We need to prioritize kids but it cannot be just all about the kids.

Well, then I hope you’re not going to Target for any last minute gift. What about the workers at Target who have been working throughout the pandemic in crowded stores?

I hope you’re not attending any restaurant holiday parties. What about all the servers who work around unmasked diners?

Why the sympathy for teachers who worked from home for over a year. And who work in schools where every single person is masked indoors all the time?

You have no idea what being in an actual school is like if you think kids and adults are masked all the time. I work in a high school and many kids keep taking off their masks or keep it under their nose. How many times can you keep reminding them? They also are spread all over the schools with masks off eating lunch including in classrooms. They insist on eating snacks in classrooms. Some masks are super loose and flimsy. I get that it makes you feel better that kids and adults are always masked in schools but it is not the reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-leaders-say-theyre-not-considering-remote-learning-2/

No

Poor little naive PP, thinking that MCPS leaders have any say in the matter!
You'd be cute if you weren't so dumb.

MCPS leaders know they have no control over this virus. They want you to know that it won't be THEIR fault when schools close. They're tired of being harassed as the bad guys. It's just posturing and damage control, sweetie pie

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, we should indeed prepare for virtual schooling in January.

The alternative is your kid sitting in a class not learning, because he has the teacher from the next classroom over and he's with kids from different grades, because lots of teachers and students are out with Covid.

It will come to that.

Even that is better than virtual learning. Sitting in a class with other kids in person IS learning. There is expressive language, there is receptive language, there is pragmatic language skills, social skills, social reciprocity, a hidden social agenda, many non-verbal social cues, I could go on and on and on and on. This is something a lot of people outside education don't understand about children and haven't been able to witness the problems being away from a classroom for so long has caused this fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if forcing teachers to go back to virtual causes more teachers to quit?

Quitting is better than dying.

(not teachers specifically - but anyone who needs a staffed bed in an overwhelmed hospital).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, we should indeed prepare for virtual schooling in January.

The alternative is your kid sitting in a class not learning, because he has the teacher from the next classroom over and he's with kids from different grades, because lots of teachers and students are out with Covid.

It will come to that.

Even that is better than virtual learning. Sitting in a class with other kids in person IS learning. There is expressive language, there is receptive language, there is pragmatic language skills, social skills, social reciprocity, a hidden social agenda, many non-verbal social cues, I could go on and on and on and on. This is something a lot of people outside education don't understand about children and haven't been able to witness the problems being away from a classroom for so long has caused this fall.

Ha! You must have very young children. There are teens who need to learn all the curriculum before the AP exams in May. Anyone beyond 3rd grade needs actual academic content, you dolt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if forcing teachers to go back to virtual causes more teachers to quit?

You aren't forcing teachers to go virtual. If it is their job to teach virtually, they will. What if keeping schools open, and teachers worried about getting sick, quit?

There is no good solution. We, as a community, cannot self regulate so its going to be a hot mess again for a while, probably worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, we should indeed prepare for virtual schooling in January.

The alternative is your kid sitting in a class not learning, because he has the teacher from the next classroom over and he's with kids from different grades, because lots of teachers and students are out with Covid.

It will come to that.

Even that is better than virtual learning. Sitting in a class with other kids in person IS learning. There is expressive language, there is receptive language, there is pragmatic language skills, social skills, social reciprocity, a hidden social agenda, many non-verbal social cues, I could go on and on and on and on. This is something a lot of people outside education don't understand about children and haven't been able to witness the problems being away from a classroom for so long has caused this fall.

Ha! You must have very young children. There are teens who need to learn all the curriculum before the AP exams in May. Anyone beyond 3rd grade needs actual academic content, you dolt.

Teens can far better learn virtually than young kids. Get your kid some AP books and a tutor or help them yourself.

We aren't going virtual. We aren't even shutting down pre-holiday which would make more sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if forcing teachers to go back to virtual causes more teachers to quit?

Quitting is better than dying.

(not teachers specifically - but anyone who needs a staffed bed in an overwhelmed hospital).

I wasn't working prior to covid, but when covid hit, I would have absolute quit my job given my profession. No way I would take that risk. I'm impressed at all the teachers who stayed, or they really need the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-leaders-say-theyre-not-considering-remote-learning-2/

No

Poor little naive PP, thinking that MCPS leaders have any say in the matter!
You'd be cute if you weren't so dumb.

MCPS leaders know they have no control over this virus. They want you to know that it won't be THEIR fault when schools close. They're tired of being harassed as the bad guys. It's just posturing and damage control, sweetie pie

They will keep the schools open until the state shuts them down. If the state doesn't, they will stay open regardless of outbreaks. They have been clear on this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-leaders-say-theyre-not-considering-remote-learning-2/

No

Poor little naive PP, thinking that MCPS leaders have any say in the matter!
You'd be cute if you weren't so dumb.

MCPS leaders know they have no control over this virus. They want you to know that it won't be THEIR fault when schools close. They're tired of being harassed as the bad guys. It's just posturing and damage control, sweetie pie

They will keep the schools open until the state shuts them down. If the state doesn't, they will stay open regardless of outbreaks. They have been clear on this.

And the state is about to shut them down sooner rather than later. This is the entire point, PP.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't have to be all-or-nothing. This still doesn't explain why MCPS didn't consider hybrid? Instead of doing two in-person half days, they could have practiced virtual.

To me it's reckless and poor management not to rehearse a Plan B.

[Anonymous]

MCPS doesnt want to take the blame for shutting down. They say they are following state “guidelines” but they and the health department can shut down at any time. The sticking point would be making up any in-person days. That is state mandated. Virtual days don’t count (for obvious reasons that most of us generally agree with).

So, Hogan and the state are now playing chicken with MCPS. Neither one wants to get the blame even though it is hard to see staying open as sustainable given the circumstances most likely upon us in the next few weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS doesnt want to take the blame for shutting down. They say they are following state “guidelines” but they and the health department can shut down at any time. The sticking point would be making up any in-person days. That is state mandated. Virtual days don’t count (for obvious reasons that most of us generally agree with).

So, Hogan and the state are now playing chicken with MCPS. Neither one wants to get the blame even though it is hard to see staying open as sustainable given the circumstances most likely upon us in the next few weeks.

i remember when the pro-MCPS DCUMS trolls were fishing for compliments on in-person only learning. Now the CO is backed into a corner and taking heat from parents (or will, once infections kick in high-gear).

The game of chicken ends once the first kid gets infected and dies. Board can't say "I didn't know" and pretty sure the State's immunity can be waived in rare circumstances (ex. wrongful death due to negligence, for example). Right now MCPS has competent outside counsel and bottomless pockets, but things can change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS doesnt want to take the blame for shutting down. They say they are following state “guidelines” but they and the health department can shut down at any time. The sticking point would be making up any in-person days. That is state mandated. Virtual days don’t count (for obvious reasons that most of us generally agree with).

So, Hogan and the state are now playing chicken with MCPS. Neither one wants to get the blame even though it is hard to see staying open as sustainable given the circumstances most likely upon us in the next few weeks.

i remember when the pro-MCPS DCUMS trolls were fishing for compliments on in-person only learning. Now the CO is backed into a corner and taking heat from parents (or will, once infections kick in high-gear).

The game of chicken ends once the first kid gets infected and dies. Board can't say "I didn't know" and pretty sure the State's immunity can be waived in rare circumstances (ex. wrongful death due to negligence, for example). Right now MCPS has competent outside counsel and bottomless pockets, but things can change.

What in the world are you talking about? Your post got crazier the farther it went. That's a rare feat.