Maryland Recovery Plan for Education has been posted

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Things parents in my class have demanded:
-I clean their child's face with special wipes following each meal
-I prevent them from getting paint on their clothes during art class
-I prevent them from getting food on their shirt while eating
-I prevent them from getting stung by bees (no allergy-just that I should not allow this to happen...you know, because I am god)
-I collect their miniature special toys that they brought in their backpacks and scattered throughout the school
-I collect their child's barrettes that they yank out of their hair and stash all over the building each day (or you could stop sending her to school with fifteen decorative hair clips every day...just a thought)
-I account for a tiny scratch on their child's hand/face/arm/leg
-I report back to them in an hour and then in two hours with how their child was feeling (they sent them to school with a fever and a cough)
Yes, parents will definitely be thrilled when their child comes home damp from sitting in the grass for fifty minutes during art class or gets a bug bite. What's your solution for city schools where going outside is not an option? Lots of schools don't have yards.

Don’t be silly. Parents posting here aren’t concerned about options for kids who attend city schools. What’s on their radar is how to get MCPS students Larlo and Larla out of their hair in a pandemic so they can work from home in peace. Screw everyone else who’s not them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things parents in my class have demanded:
-I clean their child's face with special wipes following each meal
-I prevent them from getting paint on their clothes during art class
-I prevent them from getting food on their shirt while eating
-I prevent them from getting stung by bees (no allergy-just that I should not allow this to happen...you know, because I am god)
-I collect their miniature special toys that they brought in their backpacks and scattered throughout the school
-I collect their child's barrettes that they yank out of their hair and stash all over the building each day (or you could stop sending her to school with fifteen decorative hair clips every day...just a thought)
-I account for a tiny scratch on their child's hand/face/arm/leg
-I report back to them in an hour and then in two hours with how their child was feeling (they sent them to school with a fever and a cough)
Yes, parents will definitely be thrilled when their child comes home damp from sitting in the grass for fifty minutes during art class or gets a bug bite. What's your solution for city schools where going outside is not an option? Lots of schools don't have yards.

Don’t be silly. Parents posting here aren’t concerned about options for kids who attend city schools. What’s on their radar is how to get MCPS students Larlo and Larla out of their hair in a pandemic so they can work from home in peace. Screw everyone else who’s not them.

I don't know if there are any "city schools where going outside is not an option" in MCPS. Or anywhere else in Maryland. But mainly what's on people's radar is how to get MCPS students back to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things parents in my class have demanded:
-I clean their child's face with special wipes following each meal
-I prevent them from getting paint on their clothes during art class
-I prevent them from getting food on their shirt while eating
-I prevent them from getting stung by bees (no allergy-just that I should not allow this to happen...you know, because I am god)
-I collect their miniature special toys that they brought in their backpacks and scattered throughout the school
-I collect their child's barrettes that they yank out of their hair and stash all over the building each day (or you could stop sending her to school with fifteen decorative hair clips every day...just a thought)
-I account for a tiny scratch on their child's hand/face/arm/leg
-I report back to them in an hour and then in two hours with how their child was feeling (they sent them to school with a fever and a cough)
Yes, parents will definitely be thrilled when their child comes home damp from sitting in the grass for fifty minutes during art class or gets a bug bite. What's your solution for city schools where going outside is not an option? Lots of schools don't have yards.

Maybe you think it's better for young elementary school students to continue "distance learning." I don't.

You are missing the point. American parents are going to have to adjust their expectations. Parents here are advocating a free wheeling outdoor school adventure. I’m telling you the level of handholding parents expect me to provide each day. I teach upper elementary, by the way. I have 8-10 year olds in my class. The two theories-that schools should coddle students and be on top of them at all times, and that they can be taught outside in uncontrolled conditions -can’t coexist. Either parents will have to accept that Johnny gets a few scratches, maybe a sunburn, maybe his glasses get smashed by another kid running around in the yard-or that could never work. If I got a call complaining about something like that, I would have some choice words for that parent. Kids here are just not that self sufficient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Total cases in Denmark: 10,300. Total deaths: 526. United States: 1.32 million cases. Total deaths: 78,000.
See? Exactly the same!

Denmark’s population is equivalent to the state of Maryland. Yes, Maryland still has more cases and deaths but please don’t exaggerate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How will they have the staff to cover lunches in classrooms and enough teachers to cover smaller classes spread out using MS space?

Teachers will have to give up their lunches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How will they have the staff to cover lunches in classrooms and enough teachers to cover smaller classes spread out using MS space?

Teachers will have to give up their lunches.

Teachers will not give up their lunches. Sometimes that is the only time during the seven hours while we're at school that I can use the bathroom. I am not allowed to look at my cell phone (you get written up), open my laptop (even for work-we're expected to be "engaged" with the kids at all times), or leave the room for any reason (to wash hands, to fill a water bottle, to pee, etc) at school. The only time I can do these things is during my lunch period, or during a prep. Before COVID, we frequently lost our preps because of IEP meetings (in our own class or others that run over time), teacher absences (which will definitely only increase in frequency now), special events (like school-wide celebrations) and various other reasons. I am also not working all day with no break and no prep and going home to create lessons. Our pay is already abysmal for masters level professionals.

Furthermore, it's illegal for us to work all day without a break. If you work for more than 6 hours you are entitled to a minimum of 30 minutes for lucnh. I am absolutely not working all day without washing my hands even once (even before eating). I am absolutely not monitoring students when I need a break myself. I am not a robot and I deserve to do all the things you take for granted at work-call my doctor, text my husband, read the news for a few minutes, walk down the block and grab a coffee, eat lunch without having to break up a fight. We fought long and hard for our lunch break to be included in our contract, we are not giving it up now. Maybe parents can volunteer to come in and watch the kids! Each parent can come in once a month and if they can't cover the shift then they have to find another parent to do it in their absence. Parents are pushing for schools to open? Then make it feasible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things parents in my class have demanded:
-I clean their child's face with special wipes following each meal
-I prevent them from getting paint on their clothes during art class
-I prevent them from getting food on their shirt while eating
-I prevent them from getting stung by bees (no allergy-just that I should not allow this to happen...you know, because I am god)
-I collect their miniature special toys that they brought in their backpacks and scattered throughout the school
-I collect their child's barrettes that they yank out of their hair and stash all over the building each day (or you could stop sending her to school with fifteen decorative hair clips every day...just a thought)
-I account for a tiny scratch on their child's hand/face/arm/leg
-I report back to them in an hour and then in two hours with how their child was feeling (they sent them to school with a fever and a cough)
Yes, parents will definitely be thrilled when their child comes home damp from sitting in the grass for fifty minutes during art class or gets a bug bite. What's your solution for city schools where going outside is not an option? Lots of schools don't have yards.

Don’t be silly. Parents posting here aren’t concerned about options for kids who attend city schools. What’s on their radar is how to get MCPS students Larlo and Larla out of their hair in a pandemic so they can go on DCUM in peace. Screw everyone else who’s not them.

Fixed it for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You are missing the point. American parents are going to have to adjust their expectations. Parents here are advocating a free wheeling outdoor school adventure. I’m telling you the level of handholding parents expect me to provide each day. I teach upper elementary, by the way. I have 8-10 year olds in my class. The two theories-that schools should coddle students and be on top of them at all times, and that they can be taught outside in uncontrolled conditions -can’t coexist. Either parents will have to accept that Johnny gets a few scratches, maybe a sunburn, maybe his glasses get smashed by another kid running around in the yard-or that could never work. If I got a call complaining about something like that, I would have some choice words for that parent. Kids here are just not that self sufficient.

Who has advocated for that? I haven't seen anybody advocate for that. Advocating for holding classes outside, yes. Advocating for letting kids run around outside in uncontrolled conditions, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How will they have the staff to cover lunches in classrooms and enough teachers to cover smaller classes spread out using MS space?

Teachers will have to give up their lunches.

Teachers will not give up their lunches. Sometimes that is the only time during the seven hours while we're at school that I can use the bathroom. I am not allowed to look at my cell phone (you get written up), open my laptop (even for work-we're expected to be "engaged" with the kids at all times), or leave the room for any reason (to wash hands, to fill a water bottle, to pee, etc) at school. The only time I can do these things is during my lunch period, or during a prep. Before COVID, we frequently lost our preps because of IEP meetings (in our own class or others that run over time), teacher absences (which will definitely only increase in frequency now), special events (like school-wide celebrations) and various other reasons. I am also not working all day with no break and no prep and going home to create lessons. Our pay is already abysmal for masters level professionals.

Furthermore, it's illegal for us to work all day without a break. If you work for more than 6 hours you are entitled to a minimum of 30 minutes for lucnh. I am absolutely not working all day without washing my hands even once (even before eating). I am absolutely not monitoring students when I need a break myself. I am not a robot and I deserve to do all the things you take for granted at work-call my doctor, text my husband, read the news for a few minutes, walk down the block and grab a coffee, eat lunch without having to break up a fight. We fought long and hard for our lunch break to be included in our contract, we are not giving it up now. Maybe parents can volunteer to come in and watch the kids! Each parent can come in once a month and if they can't cover the shift then they have to find another parent to do it in their absence. Parents are pushing for schools to open? Then make it feasible.

You sound charming. I’m a big teacher advocate but what exactly are you doing for your students now? If you hate teaching so much, leave it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Total cases in Denmark: 10,300. Total deaths: 526. United States: 1.32 million cases. Total deaths: 78,000.
See? Exactly the same!

Population of Denmark: 5.8 million
Population of Maryland: 6.0 million
Total confirmed cases in Maryland: 31,534
Total deaths in Maryland: 1,510 confirmed plus 104 probable

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You sound charming. I’m a big teacher advocate but what exactly are you doing for your students now? If you hate teaching so much, leave it.

PP was responding to "teachers will have to give up their lunches" - an unfeasible idea, probably proposed by a person who doesn't know what teachers do during their lunches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How will they have the staff to cover lunches in classrooms and enough teachers to cover smaller classes spread out using MS space?

Teachers will have to give up their lunches.

Teachers will not give up their lunches. Sometimes that is the only time during the seven hours while we're at school that I can use the bathroom. I am not allowed to look at my cell phone (you get written up), open my laptop (even for work-we're expected to be "engaged" with the kids at all times), or leave the room for any reason (to wash hands, to fill a water bottle, to pee, etc) at school. The only time I can do these things is during my lunch period, or during a prep. Before COVID, we frequently lost our preps because of IEP meetings (in our own class or others that run over time), teacher absences (which will definitely only increase in frequency now), special events (like school-wide celebrations) and various other reasons. I am also not working all day with no break and no prep and going home to create lessons. Our pay is already abysmal for masters level professionals.

Furthermore, it's illegal for us to work all day without a break. If you work for more than 6 hours you are entitled to a minimum of 30 minutes for lucnh. I am absolutely not working all day without washing my hands even once (even before eating). I am absolutely not monitoring students when I need a break myself. I am not a robot and I deserve to do all the things you take for granted at work-call my doctor, text my husband, read the news for a few minutes, walk down the block and grab a coffee, eat lunch without having to break up a fight. We fought long and hard for our lunch break to be included in our contract, we are not giving it up now. Maybe parents can volunteer to come in and watch the kids! Each parent can come in once a month and if they can't cover the shift then they have to find another parent to do it in their absence. Parents are pushing for schools to open? Then make it feasible.

You sound charming. I’m a big teacher advocate but what exactly are you doing for your students now? If you hate teaching so much, leave it.

Working without a break has absolutely nothing to do with teaching. You are not a "big teacher advocate" if you think it's appropriate for us to give up our only break in the day. It's an extremely basic labor protection that is not specific to our profession-if you work for 6 hours, you get a 30 minute lunch break. I'm not going to be constantly fighting off kidney infections so I can babysit your children without pause. Get real. It has nothing to do with what I'm willing to "do for my students"-it would make administrators' lives easier, sure. You don't get to guilt me into saying that I'm fine being trapped in a room for seven hours without using the bathroom, checking my phone, or taking care of myself in the smallest way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You are missing the point. American parents are going to have to adjust their expectations. Parents here are advocating a free wheeling outdoor school adventure. I’m telling you the level of handholding parents expect me to provide each day. I teach upper elementary, by the way. I have 8-10 year olds in my class. The two theories-that schools should coddle students and be on top of them at all times, and that they can be taught outside in uncontrolled conditions -can’t coexist. Either parents will have to accept that Johnny gets a few scratches, maybe a sunburn, maybe his glasses get smashed by another kid running around in the yard-or that could never work. If I got a call complaining about something like that, I would have some choice words for that parent. Kids here are just not that self sufficient.

Who has advocated for that? I haven't seen anybody advocate for that. Advocating for holding classes outside, yes. Advocating for letting kids run around outside in uncontrolled conditions, no.

It’s pretty much one and the same. And the moment a kid runs off outside in a public area, what happens? There are actual real logistical issues with this idea. It sounds like a simple solution if you have no experience working in a school, but it’s actually anything but simple and it’s unrealistic in this area. Just because something happens in Denmark doesn’t mean it will work here. Like other PPs said, people haven’t done the legwork here from a parental and societal perspective for that to work here. It’s like saying that because schools in Japan serve one meal for lunch that everyone must eat regardless of preference and how there are no janitors and it’s the students’ job to clean the school that all of a sudden our schools should operate that way too.

[Anonymous]

Oh good grief. Nobody is proposing forest schools. Nobody is saying it's a simple solution that we'll all start doing starting Monday morning at 7:45 am. Just that it is A POSSIBILITY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh good grief. Nobody is proposing forest schools. Nobody is saying it's a simple solution that we'll all start doing starting Monday morning at 7:45 am. Just that it is A POSSIBILITY.

There are lots of POSSIBILITIES. It doesn’t mean that they are probable. One POSSIBILITY is that only students whose families live below the poverty line will be allowed back in school buildings. Does that mean it’s probable?