A warning for those interested in CARE classrooms

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:teachers are very concerned that the cares classrooms will open and no one will get sick and then even more people will ask why teachers arent back in the classroom.

No teacher I know thinks that. They are concerned about the safety of the kids in the room. At my school less than 25% of the people accepted the inperson spots. This is upper NW. so I’m not sure what you are talking about.

I will happily accept an in-person slot at an upper NW school, FWIW. It would mean driving across town twice a day but it would be worth it if my kid was in a classroom with a teacher. And preferable to our current plan of forking over all of our savings to a private school so that our struggling kid can get her basic educational needs met.

I hear you but the people who are actually enrolled in the school are not interested in the spots.

We're at an upper NW school, and we'd take an in-person spot (but not a CARES classroom spot). My understanding was that if the families on the first list turned down the spots, they'd move down the list and offer spots until they were full.

Correct. My school went through the entire list. There is no one left to call

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just advice. DCPS’ CARES classrooms will be 11 children learning on a tablet, while 1-2 adults who are not teachers will watch them. DCPS has 5, really 4, days to find and hire and train these people and also do background checks..let’s talk about DCPS history with background checks...


Last summer some of you may remember when an after school staff meme we assaulted and had an inappropriate relationship with a student. Not only was a background check never done on the accused adult, but no background checks were completed by the Springboard program that year in most schools. This was a time when DCPS had more than enough time to follow proper procedure and didn’t. I can also tell you that a week or so before the news got out to the public DCPS tried to have the remaining after school teachers submit a background check. They scheduled a date for all the employees to get fingerprinted and then cancelled it. A day later the mess was in the news. These people do not care about the children they just needed to cover their ass. And when they couldn’t stop themselves from looking bad they just somehow made it disappear from the media..

This is all to say..DCPS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR CHILD. You are throwing your child to the wolves with whoever else they can find off the street desperate for employment in a pandemic. They will not have background checks or fingerprints completed in 4 days time. Take your chances but I’ll be keeping me and mine safe from Covid AND predators by rejecting the seat.

As a DC Govt employee who volunteered to work in the CARES classrooms, I find this highly offensive. We're not teachers, but we are skilled professionals. We're librarians, therapists, counselors, analysts and IT staff ( among other things). We're volunteering to try to help. We also have to pass background checks. We're not just some random people off of the street.

What are your expectations for what your classroom will be like? I can see this working okay if someone with your background were overseeing a classroom of 4th or 5th graders who are acclimated to the school environment and have the skill set to follow their DL lessons with relatively minimal assistance. But what about ECE? What would your expectations be if you are assigned a classroom of PK3 kids? Is that something you are ready to take on?

I'm not trying to diminish your training or discourage what you are doing. But I really don't understand how these CARES rooms are supposed to work for ECE and early elementary grades. Teachers at that level usually have specialized training in ECE and at least some experience with children that age (not just student teaching but often also time in daycares, private PK programs, etc.). It is extremely hard for me to imagine someone without that training handling a room full of 3, 4, or 5 year olds, all of whom will need help logging into ever lesson, and many of whom will not be able to pay attention for the duration of the lesson or will refuse altogether. Plus they have a ton of developmental needs that won't be served by DL at all -- can you provide that? Do you know what they are? How will you handled kids having accidents, tantrums, etc. All of that is extremely normal for these ages, but particularly likely when kids experience disruptions to their routines. Well these kids will have experienced numerous major disruptions over the last 6 months and are likely going to be as challenging as ECE kids ever are. Is this something you are ready for?

I could imagine sending a 4th grader or older to CARES, but anything younger and I'd be highly skeptical. It's just not designed for their needs at all.

Did you ever send your PK or K student to summer camp? Just curious if you applied these same standards across the board in all interactions with children. I think that doing something is better than doing nothing. It seems like the care classroom model is threatening to a lot of people but I don’t know why. It takes into account concerns about teacher safety, it brings in volunteers who are willing to do it, and it gives a bigger block of children an option of socializing and having access to services.

Exactly. Kids go to after school programs every day that have the same/lower hiring standards, not to mention MUCH bigger class ratios.

+100. These parent never voiced these concerns about aftercare and camps -- maybe they should have? But the hypocrisy is stunning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:teachers are very concerned that the cares classrooms will open and no one will get sick and then even more people will ask why teachers arent back in the classroom.

No teacher I know thinks that. They are concerned about the safety of the kids in the room. At my school less than 25% of the people accepted the inperson spots. This is upper NW. so I’m not sure what you are talking about.

I will happily accept an in-person slot at an upper NW school, FWIW. It would mean driving across town twice a day but it would be worth it if my kid was in a classroom with a teacher. And preferable to our current plan of forking over all of our savings to a private school so that our struggling kid can get her basic educational needs met.

I hear you but the people who are actually enrolled in the school are not interested in the spots.

We're at an upper NW school, and we'd take an in-person spot (but not a CARES classroom spot). My understanding was that if the families on the first list turned down the spots, they'd move down the list and offer spots until they were full.

Correct. My school went through the entire list. There is no one left to call

. Is this possible? I would take an in-person spot in a second. Still waiting for my call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just advice. DCPS’ CARES classrooms will be 11 children learning on a tablet, while 1-2 adults who are not teachers will watch them. DCPS has 5, really 4, days to find and hire and train these people and also do background checks..let’s talk about DCPS history with background checks...


Last summer some of you may remember when an after school staff meme we assaulted and had an inappropriate relationship with a student. Not only was a background check never done on the accused adult, but no background checks were completed by the Springboard program that year in most schools. This was a time when DCPS had more than enough time to follow proper procedure and didn’t. I can also tell you that a week or so before the news got out to the public DCPS tried to have the remaining after school teachers submit a background check. They scheduled a date for all the employees to get fingerprinted and then cancelled it. A day later the mess was in the news. These people do not care about the children they just needed to cover their ass. And when they couldn’t stop themselves from looking bad they just somehow made it disappear from the media..

This is all to say..DCPS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR CHILD. You are throwing your child to the wolves with whoever else they can find off the street desperate for employment in a pandemic. They will not have background checks or fingerprints completed in 4 days time. Take your chances but I’ll be keeping me and mine safe from Covid AND predators by rejecting the seat.

As a DC Govt employee who volunteered to work in the CARES classrooms, I find this highly offensive. We're not teachers, but we are skilled professionals. We're librarians, therapists, counselors, analysts and IT staff ( among other things). We're volunteering to try to help. We also have to pass background checks. We're not just some random people off of the street.

What are your expectations for what your classroom will be like? I can see this working okay if someone with your background were overseeing a classroom of 4th or 5th graders who are acclimated to the school environment and have the skill set to follow their DL lessons with relatively minimal assistance. But what about ECE? What would your expectations be if you are assigned a classroom of PK3 kids? Is that something you are ready to take on?

I'm not trying to diminish your training or discourage what you are doing. But I really don't understand how these CARES rooms are supposed to work for ECE and early elementary grades. Teachers at that level usually have specialized training in ECE and at least some experience with children that age (not just student teaching but often also time in daycares, private PK programs, etc.). It is extremely hard for me to imagine someone without that training handling a room full of 3, 4, or 5 year olds, all of whom will need help logging into ever lesson, and many of whom will not be able to pay attention for the duration of the lesson or will refuse altogether. Plus they have a ton of developmental needs that won't be served by DL at all -- can you provide that? Do you know what they are? How will you handled kids having accidents, tantrums, etc. All of that is extremely normal for these ages, but particularly likely when kids experience disruptions to their routines. Well these kids will have experienced numerous major disruptions over the last 6 months and are likely going to be as challenging as ECE kids ever are. Is this something you are ready for?

I could imagine sending a 4th grader or older to CARES, but anything younger and I'd be highly skeptical. It's just not designed for their needs at all.

Did you ever send your PK or K student to summer camp? Just curious if you applied these same standards across the board in all interactions with children. I think that doing something is better than doing nothing. It seems like the care classroom model is threatening to a lot of people but I don’t know why. It takes into account concerns about teacher safety, it brings in volunteers who are willing to do it, and it gives a bigger block of children an option of socializing and having access to services.

I remember camp as being a variety of educational themed activities with interested people with correct time for training based on their age group. As I grew older and actually applied for these camp positions, it became increasingly harder to be accepted with various requirements and experience needed. Because childcare and our children’s well being is more than “well it’s better than nothing just throw them in it together”. Most of you couldn’t stand to be in a room with 5 other children your child’s age let alone an age group you’re not familiar with. This whole convo just boils down to your ignorance on how much teachers truly do for your children. I don’t know where you’ve ever read of a teacher explicitly stating theyd do things that weren’t the best for the children but even in the WTU fight is for equitable and efficient learning environments for our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:teachers are very concerned that the cares classrooms will open and no one will get sick and then even more people will ask why teachers arent back in the classroom.

No teacher I know thinks that. They are concerned about the safety of the kids in the room. At my school less than 25% of the people accepted the inperson spots. This is upper NW. so I’m not sure what you are talking about.

I will happily accept an in-person slot at an upper NW school, FWIW. It would mean driving across town twice a day but it would be worth it if my kid was in a classroom with a teacher. And preferable to our current plan of forking over all of our savings to a private school so that our struggling kid can get her basic educational needs met.

I hear you but the people who are actually enrolled in the school are not interested in the spots.

Perhaps they have a better alternative available to them. I do not. I only have a worse alternative. So I would happily take one of those slots. If there are teachers willing to teach in person and there are classrooms open, they should be full because there are kids and families in this city who desperately need in-person school and do not currently have any opportunity for it.

This is not how this plan works. You don’t get to get called at another school. So my school will have classrooms with 1-2 kids in them while others have the full 11 and leave kids out. This is dumb and a waste of of resources. I’m sorry your child’s school didn’t offer you a spot. It’s odd how a school that is so over enrolled doesn’t have enough people who want the in person spots. But that is where we are

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:teachers are very concerned that the cares classrooms will open and no one will get sick and then even more people will ask why teachers arent back in the classroom.

No teacher I know thinks that. They are concerned about the safety of the kids in the room. At my school less than 25% of the people accepted the inperson spots. This is upper NW. so I’m not sure what you are talking about.

+1 I don’t know a single teacher who thinks this or a single person interested in taking a CARES room seat

I don't think the low acceptance numbers are due to safety concerns. They're due to how the in-person program is set-up.

Our child's teacher openly told us that a) they didn't like it and b) our child would have a different teacher anyway since they couldn't come in. Our child would LOVE to go back, but the school sure made it sound like an unappealing proposition. They made CARES sound like chaos, so every parent that I talked to said they'd turn down a CARES slot barring an emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just advice. DCPS’ CARES classrooms will be 11 children learning on a tablet, while 1-2 adults who are not teachers will watch them. DCPS has 5, really 4, days to find and hire and train these people and also do background checks..let’s talk about DCPS history with background checks...


Last summer some of you may remember when an after school staff meme we assaulted and had an inappropriate relationship with a student. Not only was a background check never done on the accused adult, but no background checks were completed by the Springboard program that year in most schools. This was a time when DCPS had more than enough time to follow proper procedure and didn’t. I can also tell you that a week or so before the news got out to the public DCPS tried to have the remaining after school teachers submit a background check. They scheduled a date for all the employees to get fingerprinted and then cancelled it. A day later the mess was in the news. These people do not care about the children they just needed to cover their ass. And when they couldn’t stop themselves from looking bad they just somehow made it disappear from the media..

This is all to say..DCPS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR CHILD. You are throwing your child to the wolves with whoever else they can find off the street desperate for employment in a pandemic. They will not have background checks or fingerprints completed in 4 days time. Take your chances but I’ll be keeping me and mine safe from Covid AND predators by rejecting the seat.

As a DC Govt employee who volunteered to work in the CARES classrooms, I find this highly offensive. We're not teachers, but we are skilled professionals. We're librarians, therapists, counselors, analysts and IT staff ( among other things). We're volunteering to try to help. We also have to pass background checks. We're not just some random people off of the street.

What are your expectations for what your classroom will be like? I can see this working okay if someone with your background were overseeing a classroom of 4th or 5th graders who are acclimated to the school environment and have the skill set to follow their DL lessons with relatively minimal assistance. But what about ECE? What would your expectations be if you are assigned a classroom of PK3 kids? Is that something you are ready to take on?

I'm not trying to diminish your training or discourage what you are doing. But I really don't understand how these CARES rooms are supposed to work for ECE and early elementary grades. Teachers at that level usually have specialized training in ECE and at least some experience with children that age (not just student teaching but often also time in daycares, private PK programs, etc.). It is extremely hard for me to imagine someone without that training handling a room full of 3, 4, or 5 year olds, all of whom will need help logging into ever lesson, and many of whom will not be able to pay attention for the duration of the lesson or will refuse altogether. Plus they have a ton of developmental needs that won't be served by DL at all -- can you provide that? Do you know what they are? How will you handled kids having accidents, tantrums, etc. All of that is extremely normal for these ages, but particularly likely when kids experience disruptions to their routines. Well these kids will have experienced numerous major disruptions over the last 6 months and are likely going to be as challenging as ECE kids ever are. Is this something you are ready for?

I could imagine sending a 4th grader or older to CARES, but anything younger and I'd be highly skeptical. It's just not designed for their needs at all.

Did you ever send your PK or K student to summer camp? Just curious if you applied these same standards across the board in all interactions with children. I think that doing something is better than doing nothing. It seems like the care classroom model is threatening to a lot of people but I don’t know why. It takes into account concerns about teacher safety, it brings in volunteers who are willing to do it, and it gives a bigger block of children an option of socializing and having access to services.

Exactly. Kids go to after school programs every day that have the same/lower hiring standards, not to mention MUCH bigger class ratios.

+100. These parent never voiced these concerns about aftercare and camps -- maybe they should have? But the hypocrisy is stunning.

I am the parent who is asking about ECE in CARES classrooms. As it happens, my ECE child is currently going to a day camp (with teachers who actually have a lot of experience working with early elementary kids) and I am pulling her out because it's not working. The older kids at the camp are doing okay -- they do their DL in the morning and have the social skills and are at a developmental stage where the program works okay for them. But it's been a failure for my kid.

I've never sent her to aftercare before, but I think I'd be less concerned about it because she would have just finished a full school day with an actual teacher. She does well when she is given the structure and attention typical in a PK or K classroom, and by the end of a day like that she is okay playing on her own or with other kids at the playground. But if you asked me if I'd be willing to send her to aftercare in lieu of school (which is what a CARES classroom is) the answer would be a hard no.

It's not hypocritical. Aftercare and camps are supplemental programs primarily designed to provide childcare during gaps in the school day or year. They aren't school. The CARES classrooms are supposed to be school. They won't be, at least not for ECE and early elementary kids. It might meet some desperate parents very basic childcare needs, and I agree that's something. But it's not a solution to anything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just advice. DCPS’ CARES classrooms will be 11 children learning on a tablet, while 1-2 adults who are not teachers will watch them. DCPS has 5, really 4, days to find and hire and train these people and also do background checks..let’s talk about DCPS history with background checks...


Last summer some of you may remember when an after school staff meme we assaulted and had an inappropriate relationship with a student. Not only was a background check never done on the accused adult, but no background checks were completed by the Springboard program that year in most schools. This was a time when DCPS had more than enough time to follow proper procedure and didn’t. I can also tell you that a week or so before the news got out to the public DCPS tried to have the remaining after school teachers submit a background check. They scheduled a date for all the employees to get fingerprinted and then cancelled it. A day later the mess was in the news. These people do not care about the children they just needed to cover their ass. And when they couldn’t stop themselves from looking bad they just somehow made it disappear from the media..

This is all to say..DCPS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR CHILD. You are throwing your child to the wolves with whoever else they can find off the street desperate for employment in a pandemic. They will not have background checks or fingerprints completed in 4 days time. Take your chances but I’ll be keeping me and mine safe from Covid AND predators by rejecting the seat.

As a DC Govt employee who volunteered to work in the CARES classrooms, I find this highly offensive. We're not teachers, but we are skilled professionals. We're librarians, therapists, counselors, analysts and IT staff ( among other things). We're volunteering to try to help. We also have to pass background checks. We're not just some random people off of the street.

What are your expectations for what your classroom will be like? I can see this working okay if someone with your background were overseeing a classroom of 4th or 5th graders who are acclimated to the school environment and have the skill set to follow their DL lessons with relatively minimal assistance. But what about ECE? What would your expectations be if you are assigned a classroom of PK3 kids? Is that something you are ready to take on?

I'm not trying to diminish your training or discourage what you are doing. But I really don't understand how these CARES rooms are supposed to work for ECE and early elementary grades. Teachers at that level usually have specialized training in ECE and at least some experience with children that age (not just student teaching but often also time in daycares, private PK programs, etc.). It is extremely hard for me to imagine someone without that training handling a room full of 3, 4, or 5 year olds, all of whom will need help logging into ever lesson, and many of whom will not be able to pay attention for the duration of the lesson or will refuse altogether. Plus they have a ton of developmental needs that won't be served by DL at all -- can you provide that? Do you know what they are? How will you handled kids having accidents, tantrums, etc. All of that is extremely normal for these ages, but particularly likely when kids experience disruptions to their routines. Well these kids will have experienced numerous major disruptions over the last 6 months and are likely going to be as challenging as ECE kids ever are. Is this something you are ready for?

I could imagine sending a 4th grader or older to CARES, but anything younger and I'd be highly skeptical. It's just not designed for their needs at all.

Did you ever send your PK or K student to summer camp? Just curious if you applied these same standards across the board in all interactions with children. I think that doing something is better than doing nothing. It seems like the care classroom model is threatening to a lot of people but I don’t know why. It takes into account concerns about teacher safety, it brings in volunteers who are willing to do it, and it gives a bigger block of children an option of socializing and having access to services.

I remember camp as being a variety of educational themed activities with interested people with correct time for training based on their age group. As I grew older and actually applied for these camp positions, it became increasingly harder to be accepted with various requirements and experience needed. Because childcare and our children’s well being is more than “well it’s better than nothing just throw them in it together”. Most of you couldn’t stand to be in a room with 5 other children your child’s age let alone an age group you’re not familiar with. This whole convo just boils down to your ignorance on how much teachers truly do for your children. I don’t know where you’ve ever read of a teacher explicitly stating theyd do things that weren’t the best for the children but even in the WTU fight is for equitable and efficient learning environments for our kids.

WTU is fighting to keep teachers out of the classroom, and is now fighting to undermine CARES. They are absolutely not fighting for "equitable and efficient learning environments for our kids."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just advice. DCPS’ CARES classrooms will be 11 children learning on a tablet, while 1-2 adults who are not teachers will watch them. DCPS has 5, really 4, days to find and hire and train these people and also do background checks..let’s talk about DCPS history with background checks...


Last summer some of you may remember when an after school staff meme we assaulted and had an inappropriate relationship with a student. Not only was a background check never done on the accused adult, but no background checks were completed by the Springboard program that year in most schools. This was a time when DCPS had more than enough time to follow proper procedure and didn’t. I can also tell you that a week or so before the news got out to the public DCPS tried to have the remaining after school teachers submit a background check. They scheduled a date for all the employees to get fingerprinted and then cancelled it. A day later the mess was in the news. These people do not care about the children they just needed to cover their ass. And when they couldn’t stop themselves from looking bad they just somehow made it disappear from the media..

This is all to say..DCPS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR CHILD. You are throwing your child to the wolves with whoever else they can find off the street desperate for employment in a pandemic. They will not have background checks or fingerprints completed in 4 days time. Take your chances but I’ll be keeping me and mine safe from Covid AND predators by rejecting the seat.

As a DC Govt employee who volunteered to work in the CARES classrooms, I find this highly offensive. We're not teachers, but we are skilled professionals. We're librarians, therapists, counselors, analysts and IT staff ( among other things). We're volunteering to try to help. We also have to pass background checks. We're not just some random people off of the street.

What are your expectations for what your classroom will be like? I can see this working okay if someone with your background were overseeing a classroom of 4th or 5th graders who are acclimated to the school environment and have the skill set to follow their DL lessons with relatively minimal assistance. But what about ECE? What would your expectations be if you are assigned a classroom of PK3 kids? Is that something you are ready to take on?

I'm not trying to diminish your training or discourage what you are doing. But I really don't understand how these CARES rooms are supposed to work for ECE and early elementary grades. Teachers at that level usually have specialized training in ECE and at least some experience with children that age (not just student teaching but often also time in daycares, private PK programs, etc.). It is extremely hard for me to imagine someone without that training handling a room full of 3, 4, or 5 year olds, all of whom will need help logging into ever lesson, and many of whom will not be able to pay attention for the duration of the lesson or will refuse altogether. Plus they have a ton of developmental needs that won't be served by DL at all -- can you provide that? Do you know what they are? How will you handled kids having accidents, tantrums, etc. All of that is extremely normal for these ages, but particularly likely when kids experience disruptions to their routines. Well these kids will have experienced numerous major disruptions over the last 6 months and are likely going to be as challenging as ECE kids ever are. Is this something you are ready for?

I could imagine sending a 4th grader or older to CARES, but anything younger and I'd be highly skeptical. It's just not designed for their needs at all.

Did you ever send your PK or K student to summer camp? Just curious if you applied these same standards across the board in all interactions with children. I think that doing something is better than doing nothing. It seems like the care classroom model is threatening to a lot of people but I don’t know why. It takes into account concerns about teacher safety, it brings in volunteers who are willing to do it, and it gives a bigger block of children an option of socializing and having access to services.

I remember camp as being a variety of educational themed activities with interested people with correct time for training based on their age group. As I grew older and actually applied for these camp positions, it became increasingly harder to be accepted with various requirements and experience needed. Because childcare and our children’s well being is more than “well it’s better than nothing just throw them in it together”. Most of you couldn’t stand to be in a room with 5 other children your child’s age let alone an age group you’re not familiar with. This whole convo just boils down to your ignorance on how much teachers truly do for your children. I don’t know where you’ve ever read of a teacher explicitly stating theyd do things that weren’t the best for the children but even in the WTU fight is for equitable and efficient learning environments for our kids.

No - it is simply an acknowledgement that these are really challenging times. The absolute best would be in-person with a teacher. But there understandable concerns and as things are being hashed out, there is nothing wrong with trying to figure out how to help families who are struggling now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just advice. DCPS’ CARES classrooms will be 11 children learning on a tablet, while 1-2 adults who are not teachers will watch them. DCPS has 5, really 4, days to find and hire and train these people and also do background checks..let’s talk about DCPS history with background checks...


Last summer some of you may remember when an after school staff meme we assaulted and had an inappropriate relationship with a student. Not only was a background check never done on the accused adult, but no background checks were completed by the Springboard program that year in most schools. This was a time when DCPS had more than enough time to follow proper procedure and didn’t. I can also tell you that a week or so before the news got out to the public DCPS tried to have the remaining after school teachers submit a background check. They scheduled a date for all the employees to get fingerprinted and then cancelled it. A day later the mess was in the news. These people do not care about the children they just needed to cover their ass. And when they couldn’t stop themselves from looking bad they just somehow made it disappear from the media..

This is all to say..DCPS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR CHILD. You are throwing your child to the wolves with whoever else they can find off the street desperate for employment in a pandemic. They will not have background checks or fingerprints completed in 4 days time. Take your chances but I’ll be keeping me and mine safe from Covid AND predators by rejecting the seat.

As a DC Govt employee who volunteered to work in the CARES classrooms, I find this highly offensive. We're not teachers, but we are skilled professionals. We're librarians, therapists, counselors, analysts and IT staff ( among other things). We're volunteering to try to help. We also have to pass background checks. We're not just some random people off of the street.

What are your expectations for what your classroom will be like? I can see this working okay if someone with your background were overseeing a classroom of 4th or 5th graders who are acclimated to the school environment and have the skill set to follow their DL lessons with relatively minimal assistance. But what about ECE? What would your expectations be if you are assigned a classroom of PK3 kids? Is that something you are ready to take on?

I'm not trying to diminish your training or discourage what you are doing. But I really don't understand how these CARES rooms are supposed to work for ECE and early elementary grades. Teachers at that level usually have specialized training in ECE and at least some experience with children that age (not just student teaching but often also time in daycares, private PK programs, etc.). It is extremely hard for me to imagine someone without that training handling a room full of 3, 4, or 5 year olds, all of whom will need help logging into ever lesson, and many of whom will not be able to pay attention for the duration of the lesson or will refuse altogether. Plus they have a ton of developmental needs that won't be served by DL at all -- can you provide that? Do you know what they are? How will you handled kids having accidents, tantrums, etc. All of that is extremely normal for these ages, but particularly likely when kids experience disruptions to their routines. Well these kids will have experienced numerous major disruptions over the last 6 months and are likely going to be as challenging as ECE kids ever are. Is this something you are ready for?

I could imagine sending a 4th grader or older to CARES, but anything younger and I'd be highly skeptical. It's just not designed for their needs at all.

Did you ever send your PK or K student to summer camp? Just curious if you applied these same standards across the board in all interactions with children. I think that doing something is better than doing nothing. It seems like the care classroom model is threatening to a lot of people but I don’t know why. It takes into account concerns about teacher safety, it brings in volunteers who are willing to do it, and it gives a bigger block of children an option of socializing and having access to services.

Exactly. Kids go to after school programs every day that have the same/lower hiring standards, not to mention MUCH bigger class ratios.

+100. These parent never voiced these concerns about aftercare and camps -- maybe they should have? But the hypocrisy is stunning.

I am the parent who is asking about ECE in CARES classrooms. As it happens, my ECE child is currently going to a day camp (with teachers who actually have a lot of experience working with early elementary kids) and I am pulling her out because it's not working. The older kids at the camp are doing okay -- they do their DL in the morning and have the social skills and are at a developmental stage where the program works okay for them. But it's been a failure for my kid.

I've never sent her to aftercare before, but I think I'd be less concerned about it because she would have just finished a full school day with an actual teacher. She does well when she is given the structure and attention typical in a PK or K classroom, and by the end of a day like that she is okay playing on her own or with other kids at the playground. But if you asked me if I'd be willing to send her to aftercare in lieu of school (which is what a CARES classroom is) the answer would be a hard no.

It's not hypocritical. Aftercare and camps are supplemental programs primarily designed to provide childcare during gaps in the school day or year. They aren't school. The CARES classrooms are supposed to be school. They won't be, at least not for ECE and early elementary kids. It might meet some desperate parents very basic childcare needs, and I agree that's something. But it's not a solution to anything else.

And that's totally fine. My son didn't do well in PK aftercare or really any PK program or camp. But that's not the point - CARES is for kids who need help with DL during the day. It's not ideal, but better than a parent not being able to work, or an unsafe situation, or not being able to access DL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just advice. DCPS’ CARES classrooms will be 11 children learning on a tablet, while 1-2 adults who are not teachers will watch them. DCPS has 5, really 4, days to find and hire and train these people and also do background checks..let’s talk about DCPS history with background checks...


Last summer some of you may remember when an after school staff meme we assaulted and had an inappropriate relationship with a student. Not only was a background check never done on the accused adult, but no background checks were completed by the Springboard program that year in most schools. This was a time when DCPS had more than enough time to follow proper procedure and didn’t. I can also tell you that a week or so before the news got out to the public DCPS tried to have the remaining after school teachers submit a background check. They scheduled a date for all the employees to get fingerprinted and then cancelled it. A day later the mess was in the news. These people do not care about the children they just needed to cover their ass. And when they couldn’t stop themselves from looking bad they just somehow made it disappear from the media..

This is all to say..DCPS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR CHILD. You are throwing your child to the wolves with whoever else they can find off the street desperate for employment in a pandemic. They will not have background checks or fingerprints completed in 4 days time. Take your chances but I’ll be keeping me and mine safe from Covid AND predators by rejecting the seat.

As a DC Govt employee who volunteered to work in the CARES classrooms, I find this highly offensive. We're not teachers, but we are skilled professionals. We're librarians, therapists, counselors, analysts and IT staff ( among other things). We're volunteering to try to help. We also have to pass background checks. We're not just some random people off of the street.

What school have you been assigned to? Hopefully it’ll be at my nieces school. I highly doubt all you government agents will volunteer to come to ward 8...maybe I’m wrong. My Sister raised concern about who the people are going to be in the cares class... Mr/Ms Government Volunteer can you speak to what training or what you know about the class you’ll be in so far? It’s be nice to get communication from DCPS but that’s too much to ask...

It hasn't been finalized, but I'll go wherever I'm needed.

You are a hero!! I am mission critical worker who had been at work at the beginning. We aren’t firefighters or doctors but we are out getting important work done for society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just advice. DCPS’ CARES classrooms will be 11 children learning on a tablet, while 1-2 adults who are not teachers will watch them. DCPS has 5, really 4, days to find and hire and train these people and also do background checks..let’s talk about DCPS history with background checks...


Last summer some of you may remember when an after school staff meme we assaulted and had an inappropriate relationship with a student. Not only was a background check never done on the accused adult, but no background checks were completed by the Springboard program that year in most schools. This was a time when DCPS had more than enough time to follow proper procedure and didn’t. I can also tell you that a week or so before the news got out to the public DCPS tried to have the remaining after school teachers submit a background check. They scheduled a date for all the employees to get fingerprinted and then cancelled it. A day later the mess was in the news. These people do not care about the children they just needed to cover their ass. And when they couldn’t stop themselves from looking bad they just somehow made it disappear from the media..

This is all to say..DCPS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR CHILD. You are throwing your child to the wolves with whoever else they can find off the street desperate for employment in a pandemic. They will not have background checks or fingerprints completed in 4 days time. Take your chances but I’ll be keeping me and mine safe from Covid AND predators by rejecting the seat.

As a DC Govt employee who volunteered to work in the CARES classrooms, I find this highly offensive. We're not teachers, but we are skilled professionals. We're librarians, therapists, counselors, analysts and IT staff ( among other things). We're volunteering to try to help. We also have to pass background checks. We're not just some random people off of the street.

What are your expectations for what your classroom will be like? I can see this working okay if someone with your background were overseeing a classroom of 4th or 5th graders who are acclimated to the school environment and have the skill set to follow their DL lessons with relatively minimal assistance. But what about ECE? What would your expectations be if you are assigned a classroom of PK3 kids? Is that something you are ready to take on?

I'm not trying to diminish your training or discourage what you are doing. But I really don't understand how these CARES rooms are supposed to work for ECE and early elementary grades. Teachers at that level usually have specialized training in ECE and at least some experience with children that age (not just student teaching but often also time in daycares, private PK programs, etc.). It is extremely hard for me to imagine someone without that training handling a room full of 3, 4, or 5 year olds, all of whom will need help logging into ever lesson, and many of whom will not be able to pay attention for the duration of the lesson or will refuse altogether. Plus they have a ton of developmental needs that won't be served by DL at all -- can you provide that? Do you know what they are? How will you handled kids having accidents, tantrums, etc. All of that is extremely normal for these ages, but particularly likely when kids experience disruptions to their routines. Well these kids will have experienced numerous major disruptions over the last 6 months and are likely going to be as challenging as ECE kids ever are. Is this something you are ready for?

I could imagine sending a 4th grader or older to CARES, but anything younger and I'd be highly skeptical. It's just not designed for their needs at all.

Did you ever send your PK or K student to summer camp? Just curious if you applied these same standards across the board in all interactions with children. I think that doing something is better than doing nothing. It seems like the care classroom model is threatening to a lot of people but I don’t know why. It takes into account concerns about teacher safety, it brings in volunteers who are willing to do it, and it gives a bigger block of children an option of socializing and having access to services.

Exactly. Kids go to after school programs every day that have the same/lower hiring standards, not to mention MUCH bigger class ratios.

+100. These parent never voiced these concerns about aftercare and camps -- maybe they should have? But the hypocrisy is stunning.

I am the parent who is asking about ECE in CARES classrooms. As it happens, my ECE child is currently going to a day camp (with teachers who actually have a lot of experience working with early elementary kids) and I am pulling her out because it's not working. The older kids at the camp are doing okay -- they do their DL in the morning and have the social skills and are at a developmental stage where the program works okay for them. But it's been a failure for my kid.

I've never sent her to aftercare before, but I think I'd be less concerned about it because she would have just finished a full school day with an actual teacher. She does well when she is given the structure and attention typical in a PK or K classroom, and by the end of a day like that she is okay playing on her own or with other kids at the playground. But if you asked me if I'd be willing to send her to aftercare in lieu of school (which is what a CARES classroom is) the answer would be a hard no.

It's not hypocritical. Aftercare and camps are supplemental programs primarily designed to provide childcare during gaps in the school day or year. They aren't school. The CARES classrooms are supposed to be school. They won't be, at least not for ECE and early elementary kids. It might meet some desperate parents very basic childcare needs, and I agree that's something. But it's not a solution to anything else.

And that's totally fine. My son didn't do well in PK aftercare or really any PK program or camp. But that's not the point - CARES is for kids who need help with DL during the day. It's not ideal, but better than a parent not being able to work, or an unsafe situation, or not being able to access DL.

And my point is that it will not work for ECE kids. They will be holding pens for children that age, that's it. And since the people running the classrooms will have no experience with ECE kids, they could potentially be as dangerous as leaving a kid at home with a relative or an older kid, where at least there won't also be another 5 children that age running around.

I think parents who work out of the home and cannot afford full-time childcare for their school-age kids actually deserve better than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just advice. DCPS’ CARES classrooms will be 11 children learning on a tablet, while 1-2 adults who are not teachers will watch them. DCPS has 5, really 4, days to find and hire and train these people and also do background checks..let’s talk about DCPS history with background checks...


Last summer some of you may remember when an after school staff meme we assaulted and had an inappropriate relationship with a student. Not only was a background check never done on the accused adult, but no background checks were completed by the Springboard program that year in most schools. This was a time when DCPS had more than enough time to follow proper procedure and didn’t. I can also tell you that a week or so before the news got out to the public DCPS tried to have the remaining after school teachers submit a background check. They scheduled a date for all the employees to get fingerprinted and then cancelled it. A day later the mess was in the news. These people do not care about the children they just needed to cover their ass. And when they couldn’t stop themselves from looking bad they just somehow made it disappear from the media..

This is all to say..DCPS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR CHILD. You are throwing your child to the wolves with whoever else they can find off the street desperate for employment in a pandemic. They will not have background checks or fingerprints completed in 4 days time. Take your chances but I’ll be keeping me and mine safe from Covid AND predators by rejecting the seat.

As a DC Govt employee who volunteered to work in the CARES classrooms, I find this highly offensive. We're not teachers, but we are skilled professionals. We're librarians, therapists, counselors, analysts and IT staff ( among other things). We're volunteering to try to help. We also have to pass background checks. We're not just some random people off of the street.

What are your expectations for what your classroom will be like? I can see this working okay if someone with your background were overseeing a classroom of 4th or 5th graders who are acclimated to the school environment and have the skill set to follow their DL lessons with relatively minimal assistance. But what about ECE? What would your expectations be if you are assigned a classroom of PK3 kids? Is that something you are ready to take on?

I'm not trying to diminish your training or discourage what you are doing. But I really don't understand how these CARES rooms are supposed to work for ECE and early elementary grades. Teachers at that level usually have specialized training in ECE and at least some experience with children that age (not just student teaching but often also time in daycares, private PK programs, etc.). It is extremely hard for me to imagine someone without that training handling a room full of 3, 4, or 5 year olds, all of whom will need help logging into ever lesson, and many of whom will not be able to pay attention for the duration of the lesson or will refuse altogether. Plus they have a ton of developmental needs that won't be served by DL at all -- can you provide that? Do you know what they are? How will you handled kids having accidents, tantrums, etc. All of that is extremely normal for these ages, but particularly likely when kids experience disruptions to their routines. Well these kids will have experienced numerous major disruptions over the last 6 months and are likely going to be as challenging as ECE kids ever are. Is this something you are ready for?

I could imagine sending a 4th grader or older to CARES, but anything younger and I'd be highly skeptical. It's just not designed for their needs at all.

Did you ever send your PK or K student to summer camp? Just curious if you applied these same standards across the board in all interactions with children. I think that doing something is better than doing nothing. It seems like the care classroom model is threatening to a lot of people but I don’t know why. It takes into account concerns about teacher safety, it brings in volunteers who are willing to do it, and it gives a bigger block of children an option of socializing and having access to services.

Exactly. Kids go to after school programs every day that have the same/lower hiring standards, not to mention MUCH bigger class ratios.

+100. These parent never voiced these concerns about aftercare and camps -- maybe they should have? But the hypocrisy is stunning.

I am the parent who is asking about ECE in CARES classrooms. As it happens, my ECE child is currently going to a day camp (with teachers who actually have a lot of experience working with early elementary kids) and I am pulling her out because it's not working. The older kids at the camp are doing okay -- they do their DL in the morning and have the social skills and are at a developmental stage where the program works okay for them. But it's been a failure for my kid.

I've never sent her to aftercare before, but I think I'd be less concerned about it because she would have just finished a full school day with an actual teacher. She does well when she is given the structure and attention typical in a PK or K classroom, and by the end of a day like that she is okay playing on her own or with other kids at the playground. But if you asked me if I'd be willing to send her to aftercare in lieu of school (which is what a CARES classroom is) the answer would be a hard no.

It's not hypocritical. Aftercare and camps are supplemental programs primarily designed to provide childcare during gaps in the school day or year. They aren't school. The CARES classrooms are supposed to be school. They won't be, at least not for ECE and early elementary kids. It might meet some desperate parents very basic childcare needs, and I agree that's something. But it's not a solution to anything else.

And that's totally fine. My son didn't do well in PK aftercare or really any PK program or camp. But that's not the point - CARES is for kids who need help with DL during the day. It's not ideal, but better than a parent not being able to work, or an unsafe situation, or not being able to access DL.

And my point is that it will not work for ECE kids. They will be holding pens for children that age, that's it. And since the people running the classrooms will have no experience with ECE kids, they could potentially be as dangerous as leaving a kid at home with a relative or an older kid, where at least there won't also be another 5 children that age running around.

I think parents who work out of the home and cannot afford full-time childcare for their school-age kids actually deserve better than that.

Yes, they deserve OPEN SCHOOLS. Does WTU have a plan to provide something better than CARES? I'm all ears. As it is, it seems like this post with its hyperbolic title and theme is just yet another desperate PR attempt by WTU to incite fear among parents. Inexcusable bargaining tactic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just advice. DCPS’ CARES classrooms will be 11 children learning on a tablet, while 1-2 adults who are not teachers will watch them. DCPS has 5, really 4, days to find and hire and train these people and also do background checks..let’s talk about DCPS history with background checks...


Last summer some of you may remember when an after school staff meme we assaulted and had an inappropriate relationship with a student. Not only was a background check never done on the accused adult, but no background checks were completed by the Springboard program that year in most schools. This was a time when DCPS had more than enough time to follow proper procedure and didn’t. I can also tell you that a week or so before the news got out to the public DCPS tried to have the remaining after school teachers submit a background check. They scheduled a date for all the employees to get fingerprinted and then cancelled it. A day later the mess was in the news. These people do not care about the children they just needed to cover their ass. And when they couldn’t stop themselves from looking bad they just somehow made it disappear from the media..

This is all to say..DCPS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR CHILD. You are throwing your child to the wolves with whoever else they can find off the street desperate for employment in a pandemic. They will not have background checks or fingerprints completed in 4 days time. Take your chances but I’ll be keeping me and mine safe from Covid AND predators by rejecting the seat.

As a DC Govt employee who volunteered to work in the CARES classrooms, I find this highly offensive. We're not teachers, but we are skilled professionals. We're librarians, therapists, counselors, analysts and IT staff ( among other things). We're volunteering to try to help. We also have to pass background checks. We're not just some random people off of the street.

What are your expectations for what your classroom will be like? I can see this working okay if someone with your background were overseeing a classroom of 4th or 5th graders who are acclimated to the school environment and have the skill set to follow their DL lessons with relatively minimal assistance. But what about ECE? What would your expectations be if you are assigned a classroom of PK3 kids? Is that something you are ready to take on?

I'm not trying to diminish your training or discourage what you are doing. But I really don't understand how these CARES rooms are supposed to work for ECE and early elementary grades. Teachers at that level usually have specialized training in ECE and at least some experience with children that age (not just student teaching but often also time in daycares, private PK programs, etc.). It is extremely hard for me to imagine someone without that training handling a room full of 3, 4, or 5 year olds, all of whom will need help logging into ever lesson, and many of whom will not be able to pay attention for the duration of the lesson or will refuse altogether. Plus they have a ton of developmental needs that won't be served by DL at all -- can you provide that? Do you know what they are? How will you handled kids having accidents, tantrums, etc. All of that is extremely normal for these ages, but particularly likely when kids experience disruptions to their routines. Well these kids will have experienced numerous major disruptions over the last 6 months and are likely going to be as challenging as ECE kids ever are. Is this something you are ready for?

I could imagine sending a 4th grader or older to CARES, but anything younger and I'd be highly skeptical. It's just not designed for their needs at all.

Did you ever send your PK or K student to summer camp? Just curious if you applied these same standards across the board in all interactions with children. I think that doing something is better than doing nothing. It seems like the care classroom model is threatening to a lot of people but I don’t know why. It takes into account concerns about teacher safety, it brings in volunteers who are willing to do it, and it gives a bigger block of children an option of socializing and having access to services.

I remember camp as being a variety of educational themed activities with interested people with correct time for training based on their age group. As I grew older and actually applied for these camp positions, it became increasingly harder to be accepted with various requirements and experience needed. Because childcare and our children’s well being is more than “well it’s better than nothing just throw them in it together”. Most of you couldn’t stand to be in a room with 5 other children your child’s age let alone an age group you’re not familiar with. This whole convo just boils down to your ignorance on how much teachers truly do for your children. I don’t know where you’ve ever read of a teacher explicitly stating theyd do things that weren’t the best for the children but even in the WTU fight is for equitable and efficient learning environments for our kids.

WTU is fighting to keep teachers out of the classroom, and is now fighting to undermine CARES. They are absolutely not fighting for "equitable and efficient learning environments for our kids."

Exactly. I get to see what the teachers are "doing for my children," and they're phoning it in. Now they're on here in other threads saying that they don't care if they hurt kids with their idiotic strike.

I'm so tired of teachers having everything both ways. "DL learning is working fine but don't evaluate me on it because it's not working that well!" "We're martyrs for your children but also it is just a job and I won't go above and beyond." "We love kids even more than you do and also we don't care if we're hurting them."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:teachers are very concerned that the cares classrooms will open and no one will get sick and then even more people will ask why teachers arent back in the classroom.

No teacher I know thinks that. They are concerned about the safety of the kids in the room. At my school less than 25% of the people accepted the inperson spots. This is upper NW. so I’m not sure what you are talking about.

I will happily accept an in-person slot at an upper NW school, FWIW. It would mean driving across town twice a day but it would be worth it if my kid was in a classroom with a teacher. And preferable to our current plan of forking over all of our savings to a private school so that our struggling kid can get her basic educational needs met.

I hear you but the people who are actually enrolled in the school are not interested in the spots.

We're at an upper NW school, and we'd take an in-person spot (but not a CARES classroom spot). My understanding was that if the families on the first list turned down the spots, they'd move down the list and offer spots until they were full.

Correct. My school went through the entire list. There is no one left to call

My Capitol Hill school was about 50% full to all but 2 seats filled in all grades they opened for after the initial list; only exception is 5th. I think it depends on your school. Upper NW may have a lot of SAHMs or nannies. Our school is almost entirely 2 working parents and like 80% of kids use the afterschool program.