WP Article on LAMB's failure to re-open

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And by the way, my kids school just announced yesterday that they are DL through Term 2. You don’t see the parents threatening to leave on an anonymous forum.

Do you have effective communication with your school's administration? How have they updated you on their re-opening metrics? Was the DL through Term 2 unexpected? Curious minds would like to know examples from satisfied people at charters.

No. They do not have metrics. and yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's less work to go in, maybe they should advocate for that, since statistically, they're no more at risk than the rest of us.

But no, they have apparently doubled their work while simultaneously producing worse results.

That's right -- because producing results is a reflection of the talent of the worker, the tools they have and the environment they are in. Teaching virtually is like a surgeon operating in the field with a butter knife instead of a scalpel in a sanitary hospital. The surgeon can work 100 times as hard, the outcomes won't be the same. This isn't the fault of the teacher.

So...like...doesn't sound as though distance learning is a good choice then...

Well...it's not the optimal choice...but you see...we're in a pandemic...so we will be doing distance learning...as we are in a pandemic.

Students have a right to FAPE, despite the existence of a pandemic. DL does not provide a FAPE to special populations, including young children. Superspreading events don't occur in schools, and young children do not appear to be major spreaders of disease. Young children need to be in schools in person. There's a whole National Academies report with chapters on this. Try reading 4 and 5: https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25858/reopening-k-12-schools-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-prioritizing

By reading this, you will understand that in education circles, it is a well-known and accepted fact that DL education is inappropriate for the majority if young children, that there are ways to do this which prioritize health and safety, and that schools need to open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's less work to go in, maybe they should advocate for that, since statistically, they're no more at risk than the rest of us.

But no, they have apparently doubled their work while simultaneously producing worse results.

That's right -- because producing results is a reflection of the talent of the worker, the tools they have and the environment they are in. Teaching virtually is like a surgeon operating in the field with a butter knife instead of a scalpel in a sanitary hospital. The surgeon can work 100 times as hard, the outcomes won't be the same. This isn't the fault of the teacher.

So...like...doesn't sound as though distance learning is a good choice then...

Well...it's not the optimal choice...but you see...we're in a pandemic...so we will be doing distance learning...as we are in a pandemic.

Students have a right to FAPE, despite the existence of a pandemic. DL does not provide a FAPE to special populations, including young children. Superspreading events don't occur in schools, and young children do not appear to be major spreaders of disease. Young children need to be in schools in person. There's a whole National Academies report with chapters on this. Try reading 4 and 5: https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25858/reopening-k-12-schools-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-prioritizing

By reading this, you will understand that in education circles, it is a well-known and accepted fact that DL education is inappropriate for the majority if young children, that there are ways to do this which prioritize health and safety, and that schools need to open.

This. Schools like LAMB that have the institutional flexibility to create solutions for themselves that are NOT busting their b*tts to get PK through K at least in the classroom are engaging in a MAJOR deriliction of duty here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And by the way, my kids school just announced yesterday that they are DL through Term 2. You don’t see the parents threatening to leave on an anonymous forum.

Which school? How do you know none of the parents are posting here or elsewhere pissed off?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And by the way, my kids school just announced yesterday that they are DL through Term 2. You don’t see the parents threatening to leave on an anonymous forum.

Which school? How do you know none of the parents are posting here or elsewhere pissed off?

The only difference is that this school didn’t warrant and WaPo article.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And by the way, my kids school just announced yesterday that they are DL through Term 2. You don’t see the parents threatening to leave on an anonymous forum.

Which school? How do you know none of the parents are posting here or elsewhere pissed off?

The only difference is that this school didn’t warrant and WaPo article.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the drive by parents to not discuss the issues with their schools publicly. Why is it a problem For parents to say they are frustrated, or have financial hardship, or want to see change? Why is this a “private matter”? It’s some weird culty behavior.

I agree. I think it is a shame the reporter did not interview any parents who are in support of the school decision, really making this issue seem like a black and white "fight" between teachers and parents, which is totally untrue at LAMB and probably all other schools. However, I'm sad that some LAMB parents still think that not speaking publicly is the way we do things. Everyone has a right to speak their mind and even to (gasp!) speak to the press, should they wish. I don't feel the school has anything to hide, and I hate that culture which used to exist and was indeed a cause of what happened a few years ago. There's no need to be secretive. I applaud Charis Sharp for speaking openly to the Post about this challenge.

In her Zoom call, Charis said the school couldnt open because of the teachers. The Post just reported what she said.

Charis quoted from the teacher survey. I think that the question is, whether that is legitimate. "Blame" is not the same as identifying the cause of something. Most LAMB parents support the teachers and do not "blame" them for wanting to ensure their own health and safety. Only a few vocal parents are doing that and seeing everything in black and white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the drive by parents to not discuss the issues with their schools publicly. Why is it a problem For parents to say they are frustrated, or have financial hardship, or want to see change? Why is this a “private matter”? It’s some weird culty behavior.

I agree. I think it is a shame the reporter did not interview any parents who are in support of the school decision, really making this issue seem like a black and white "fight" between teachers and parents, which is totally untrue at LAMB and probably all other schools. However, I'm sad that some LAMB parents still think that not speaking publicly is the way we do things. Everyone has a right to speak their mind and even to (gasp!) speak to the press, should they wish. I don't feel the school has anything to hide, and I hate that culture which used to exist and was indeed a cause of what happened a few years ago. There's no need to be secretive. I applaud Charis Sharp for speaking openly to the Post about this challenge.

In her Zoom call, Charis said the school couldnt open because of the teachers. The Post just reported what she said.

Charis quoted from the teacher survey. I think that the question is, whether that is legitimate. "Blame" is not the same as identifying the cause of something. Most LAMB parents support the teachers and do not "blame" them for wanting to ensure their own health and safety. Only a few vocal parents are doing that and seeing everything in black and white.

It's hard to know because LAMB has never asked parents what they think. But based on my conversations, I think a very large number of LAMB parents think teachers are being unreasonable. It seems clear at this point that there is nothing LAMB can do or so that will convince teachers to go back to the classrooms. The only thing that matters, apparently, is teachers' feelings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the drive by parents to not discuss the issues with their schools publicly. Why is it a problem For parents to say they are frustrated, or have financial hardship, or want to see change? Why is this a “private matter”? It’s some weird culty behavior.

I agree. I think it is a shame the reporter did not interview any parents who are in support of the school decision, really making this issue seem like a black and white "fight" between teachers and parents, which is totally untrue at LAMB and probably all other schools. However, I'm sad that some LAMB parents still think that not speaking publicly is the way we do things. Everyone has a right to speak their mind and even to (gasp!) speak to the press, should they wish. I don't feel the school has anything to hide, and I hate that culture which used to exist and was indeed a cause of what happened a few years ago. There's no need to be secretive. I applaud Charis Sharp for speaking openly to the Post about this challenge.

In her Zoom call, Charis said the school couldnt open because of the teachers. The Post just reported what she said.

Charis quoted from the teacher survey. I think that the question is, whether that is legitimate. "Blame" is not the same as identifying the cause of something. Most LAMB parents support the teachers and do not "blame" them for wanting to ensure their own health and safety. Only a few vocal parents are doing that and seeing everything in black and white.

It's hard to know because LAMB has never asked parents what they think. But based on my conversations, I think a very large number of LAMB parents think teachers are being unreasonable. It seems clear at this point that there is nothing LAMB can do or so that will convince teachers to go back to the classrooms. The only thing that matters, apparently, is teachers' feelings.

But hey, there's a committee that may or may not be formed to discuss the issue!

Because after the school starts in 2020 seems to be a great time to START a discussion of what it takes to reopen.

Face it, LAMB isn't going back until at least 2023.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Charis quoted from the teacher survey. I think that the question is, whether that is legitimate. "Blame" is not the same as identifying the cause of something. Most LAMB parents support the teachers and do not "blame" them for wanting to ensure their own health and safety. Only a few vocal parents are doing that and seeing everything in black and white.

It would also be helpful to know what the teachers need to see in order to ensure their health and safety. It obviously isn't what the school had already done in terms of HVAC, precautions, etc. Is it some metric about community spread? Is it a mortality rate below a certain number? Is it the R-0 below 1? Positive test rate? I understand they might want to have something be true about covid in the local area before they come back and I can certainly understand that. It would be nice to know what that is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Charis quoted from the teacher survey. I think that the question is, whether that is legitimate. "Blame" is not the same as identifying the cause of something. Most LAMB parents support the teachers and do not "blame" them for wanting to ensure their own health and safety. Only a few vocal parents are doing that and seeing everything in black and white.

It would also be helpful to know what the teachers need to see in order to ensure their health and safety. It obviously isn't what the school had already done in terms of HVAC, precautions, etc. Is it some metric about community spread? Is it a mortality rate below a certain number? Is it the R-0 below 1? Positive test rate? I understand they might want to have something be true about covid in the local area before they come back and I can certainly understand that. It would be nice to know what that is.

I dont think the teachers know anything about any metrics. All they know is they are afraid and don't want to go to class. Apparently that's enough to cancel school forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Charis quoted from the teacher survey. I think that the question is, whether that is legitimate. "Blame" is not the same as identifying the cause of something. Most LAMB parents support the teachers and do not "blame" them for wanting to ensure their own health and safety. Only a few vocal parents are doing that and seeing everything in black and white.

It would also be helpful to know what the teachers need to see in order to ensure their health and safety. It obviously isn't what the school had already done in terms of HVAC, precautions, etc. Is it some metric about community spread? Is it a mortality rate below a certain number? Is it the R-0 below 1? Positive test rate? I understand they might want to have something be true about covid in the local area before they come back and I can certainly understand that. It would be nice to know what that is.

I dont think the teachers know anything about any metrics. All they know is they are afraid and don't want to go to class. Apparently that's enough to cancel school forever.

yeah, I don't get to decide the metric when I get called back to the office. I was surveyed on my opinion, but the decision will be made way above my head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Charis quoted from the teacher survey. I think that the question is, whether that is legitimate. "Blame" is not the same as identifying the cause of something. Most LAMB parents support the teachers and do not "blame" them for wanting to ensure their own health and safety. Only a few vocal parents are doing that and seeing everything in black and white.

It would also be helpful to know what the teachers need to see in order to ensure their health and safety. It obviously isn't what the school had already done in terms of HVAC, precautions, etc. Is it some metric about community spread? Is it a mortality rate below a certain number? Is it the R-0 below 1? Positive test rate? I understand they might want to have something be true about covid in the local area before they come back and I can certainly understand that. It would be nice to know what that is.

I dont think the teachers know anything about any metrics. All they know is they are afraid and don't want to go to class. Apparently that's enough to cancel school forever.

MOCO has released metrics for when schools open/go back to distance learning etc. it lays it out with exact numbers. I wish DCPS would put something out like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Charis quoted from the teacher survey. I think that the question is, whether that is legitimate. "Blame" is not the same as identifying the cause of something. Most LAMB parents support the teachers and do not "blame" them for wanting to ensure their own health and safety. Only a few vocal parents are doing that and seeing everything in black and white.

It would also be helpful to know what the teachers need to see in order to ensure their health and safety. It obviously isn't what the school had already done in terms of HVAC, precautions, etc. Is it some metric about community spread? Is it a mortality rate below a certain number? Is it the R-0 below 1? Positive test rate? I understand they might want to have something be true about covid in the local area before they come back and I can certainly understand that. It would be nice to know what that is.

I dont think the teachers know anything about any metrics. All they know is they are afraid and don't want to go to class. Apparently that's enough to cancel school forever.

yeah, I don't get to decide the metric when I get called back to the office. I was surveyed on my opinion, but the decision will be made way above my head.

Is there anything LAMB could do to get you back in the classroom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Charis quoted from the teacher survey. I think that the question is, whether that is legitimate. "Blame" is not the same as identifying the cause of something. Most LAMB parents support the teachers and do not "blame" them for wanting to ensure their own health and safety. Only a few vocal parents are doing that and seeing everything in black and white.

It would also be helpful to know what the teachers need to see in order to ensure their health and safety. It obviously isn't what the school had already done in terms of HVAC, precautions, etc. Is it some metric about community spread? Is it a mortality rate below a certain number? Is it the R-0 below 1? Positive test rate? I understand they might want to have something be true about covid in the local area before they come back and I can certainly understand that. It would be nice to know what that is.

I dont think the teachers know anything about any metrics. All they know is they are afraid and don't want to go to class. Apparently that's enough to cancel school forever.

MOCO has released metrics for when schools open/go back to distance learning etc. it lays it out with exact numbers. I wish DCPS would put something out like that.

MoCo's metrics are out of line with reality and what public health experts recommend (see the other thread on this).