Is there a chance the kids won't go back in person next fall?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In MCPS, yes, because logic has gone out the window, and they seem more focused on deferring to anxiety and politics than facts and science. It’s particularly painful since we’re home to the NIH and the FDA.

I’m a progressive Democrat, FWIW, and completely disgusted by how far down the list kids are in this whole mess. It’s like schools exist solely to provide jobs for adults.

+1
OP here. This is how it's looking. If teachers are vaccinated and masks work, then why not return them to school? I'd even take half day school at thsi point. Kids and parents are being held hostage based on how people "feel" about returning, not science. Same people who feel uneasy with opening schools are fine with their grocery store workers working full shifts dealing with hundreds of people every day, not just 5-10 masked children who are staying in one place and have parents who would be happy to give them a saliva test every week to get them back in school if need be.

I agree to a point but young kids aren’t that good about staying masked or washing their hands. Kids have and will die from covid even though it’s a small percentage.

And then there are the anti-vaxxers...

I see the bolded all the time and it is so far from my actual experience. Virtually every kid I know will keep a mask on as long as you ask them to. Some don't mind them at all, others are annoyed by them but will wear them anyway. Kids, especially in elementary school, are conditioned to accept arbitrary rules they don't understand and you get really good compliance. If they are provided with well-fitting masks and see their peers wearing them. All the kids over the age of about 4 in my (not wealthy and very diverse) neighborhood wear masks, and plenty of kids younger than 4.

And with hand washing, as long as it is built into the day, kids will do it. My child went to an outdoor camp last year for a few weeks, and they had those hand sanitizer stations, for drop off, pick up, and any shift from one part of the camp to another. The kids lined up, got the automatic spray of sanitizer, rubbed it in, and went on with their day. After like the third day, you didn't even have to remind them. And my kid is 3, by the way. Kids are extremely easy to train.

Yes, there are outliers -- kids with behavioral issues and sensory processing disorders. We need to come up with other solutions for those kids that still get them the education they need while keeping teachers and other kids safe. That's hard, but it's a problem schools are always dealing with -- what do you do with kids who cannot or will not abide by the rules? There are a lot of processes and programs in place for just this problem.

People are really underestimating kids in this conversation. It makes me wonder how many of these people who are super opposed to in-person school (1) have kids, or (2) have spent any amount of time around them, especially recently. Kids are handling masking and hand washing better than adults, as far as I can tell.

Agree - my kids will mask all day long and don’t complain about it at all. I think kids adapt easier to things than adults do.

I’m the first PP complaining about MCPS, and I completely agree about kids and masks. My elementary aged kids are in learning hubs and wear their masks all day. Heck, I usually have to remind them they can take them off when we get home. The kids are not the issue. That they’re being penalized largely because of how adults “feel” is embarrassing.

[Anonymous]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-13/covid-19-outbreaks-aren-t-driven-by-in-person-classes-cdc-says

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few well respected public health experts are starting to say that kids don't need the vaccine at all, if enough adults get it.

It's possible they could trials for kids 12 and older but I'm not sure if they will do trials for young kids.

I think by fall assuming Biden's team can amp up the process and more come on the market the numbers will be way down and kids will be back. Maybe wearing masks, not sure.

+1 Something people should be aware of. This message is starting to get out - there is general assumption by the public the kids will get vaccinated, but actually scientists are in a wait and see mode, as we see the effect of adult vaccination on transmission.

[Anonymous]

I think at best hybrid. We probably will not have a vaccine for all kids by the fall nor will everyone want to try a new one on their kids. Most schools don't have enough space for distancing nor sinks for hand washing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In MCPS, yes, because logic has gone out the window, and they seem more focused on deferring to anxiety and politics than facts and science. It’s particularly painful since we’re home to the NIH and the FDA.

I’m a progressive Democrat, FWIW, and completely disgusted by how far down the list kids are in this whole mess. It’s like schools exist solely to provide jobs for adults.

+1
OP here. This is how it's looking. If teachers are vaccinated and masks work, then why not return them to school? I'd even take half day school at thsi point. Kids and parents are being held hostage based on how people "feel" about returning, not science. Same people who feel uneasy with opening schools are fine with their grocery store workers working full shifts dealing with hundreds of people every day, not just 5-10 masked children who are staying in one place and have parents who would be happy to give them a saliva test every week to get them back in school if need be.

I agree to a point but young kids aren’t that good about staying masked or washing their hands. Kids have and will die from covid even though it’s a small percentage.

And then there are the anti-vaxxers...

Most schools on a good day don't have enough sinks or soap for hand washing and that rarely happened. Not wanting a new vaccine is not anti-vax. Stop with the non-sense. How will you feel if your child is one of the dead ones or long term health issues. You might feel differently then... or do you lack that much empathy even for your own?

[Anonymous]

Ridiculous. We need to get back to in person school. Maryland teachers are eligible to get the vaccine starting on Monday. I know it will take time to vaccinate all teachers, but there is absolutely NO reason not to go back in the fall. Honestly, I think they should go back in person after spring break, at least the MCPS families who elected for in-person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In MCPS, yes, because logic has gone out the window, and they seem more focused on deferring to anxiety and politics than facts and science. It’s particularly painful since we’re home to the NIH and the FDA.

I’m a progressive Democrat, FWIW, and completely disgusted by how far down the list kids are in this whole mess. It’s like schools exist solely to provide jobs for adults.

+1
OP here. This is how it's looking. If teachers are vaccinated and masks work, then why not return them to school? I'd even take half day school at thsi point. Kids and parents are being held hostage based on how people "feel" about returning, not science. Same people who feel uneasy with opening schools are fine with their grocery store workers working full shifts dealing with hundreds of people every day, not just 5-10 masked children who are staying in one place and have parents who would be happy to give them a saliva test every week to get them back in school if need be.

I agree to a point but young kids aren’t that good about staying masked or washing their hands. Kids have and will die from covid even though it’s a small percentage.

And then there are the anti-vaxxers...

I see the bolded all the time and it is so far from my actual experience. Virtually every kid I know will keep a mask on as long as you ask them to. Some don't mind them at all, others are annoyed by them but will wear them anyway. Kids, especially in elementary school, are conditioned to accept arbitrary rules they don't understand and you get really good compliance. If they are provided with well-fitting masks and see their peers wearing them. All the kids over the age of about 4 in my (not wealthy and very diverse) neighborhood wear masks, and plenty of kids younger than 4.

And with hand washing, as long as it is built into the day, kids will do it. My child went to an outdoor camp last year for a few weeks, and they had those hand sanitizer stations, for drop off, pick up, and any shift from one part of the camp to another. The kids lined up, got the automatic spray of sanitizer, rubbed it in, and went on with their day. After like the third day, you didn't even have to remind them. And my kid is 3, by the way. Kids are extremely easy to train.

Yes, there are outliers -- kids with behavioral issues and sensory processing disorders. We need to come up with other solutions for those kids that still get them the education they need while keeping teachers and other kids safe. That's hard, but it's a problem schools are always dealing with -- what do you do with kids who cannot or will not abide by the rules? There are a lot of processes and programs in place for just this problem.

People are really underestimating kids in this conversation. It makes me wonder how many of these people who are super opposed to in-person school (1) have kids, or (2) have spent any amount of time around them, especially recently. Kids are handling masking and hand washing better than adults, as far as I can tell.

Agree - my kids will mask all day long and don’t complain about it at all. I think kids adapt easier to things than adults do.

I’m the first PP complaining about MCPS, and I completely agree about kids and masks. My elementary aged kids are in learning hubs and wear their masks all day. Heck, I usually have to remind them they can take them off when we get home. The kids are not the issue. That they’re being penalized largely because of how adults “feel” is embarrassing.

Have you thought about if we reopen hybrid what will happen to your hub? If they do two groups two days a week and need the ES schools back (or are you rich and in a private hub), all those hub kids will lose three days a week of child care. And, if you are in a private hub, a few kids vs. a few hundred is very different.

It depends on the masks. A basic 1-2 ply doesn't do much to protect your child but is easy to wear. A surgical or one with a non-woven material in it is far safer and harder to wear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many kids in the entire United States have died of covid?

According to CDC as of Jan 13, 55 children ages 5-14 have died with covid.

You can't really tease out the high schoolers from the college age kids - the next CDC category of age jumps, from 15 to 24 years old.

The large majority of child and teen covid deaths involve underlying conditions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In MCPS, yes, because logic has gone out the window, and they seem more focused on deferring to anxiety and politics than facts and science. It’s particularly painful since we’re home to the NIH and the FDA.

I’m a progressive Democrat, FWIW, and completely disgusted by how far down the list kids are in this whole mess. It’s like schools exist solely to provide jobs for adults.

+1
OP here. This is how it's looking. If teachers are vaccinated and masks work, then why not return them to school? I'd even take half day school at thsi point. Kids and parents are being held hostage based on how people "feel" about returning, not science. Same people who feel uneasy with opening schools are fine with their grocery store workers working full shifts dealing with hundreds of people every day, not just 5-10 masked children who are staying in one place and have parents who would be happy to give them a saliva test every week to get them back in school if need be.

I agree to a point but young kids aren’t that good about staying masked or washing their hands. Kids have and will die from covid even though it’s a small percentage.

And then there are the anti-vaxxers...

I see the bolded all the time and it is so far from my actual experience. Virtually every kid I know will keep a mask on as long as you ask them to. Some don't mind them at all, others are annoyed by them but will wear them anyway. Kids, especially in elementary school, are conditioned to accept arbitrary rules they don't understand and you get really good compliance. If they are provided with well-fitting masks and see their peers wearing them. All the kids over the age of about 4 in my (not wealthy and very diverse) neighborhood wear masks, and plenty of kids younger than 4.

And with hand washing, as long as it is built into the day, kids will do it. My child went to an outdoor camp last year for a few weeks, and they had those hand sanitizer stations, for drop off, pick up, and any shift from one part of the camp to another. The kids lined up, got the automatic spray of sanitizer, rubbed it in, and went on with their day. After like the third day, you didn't even have to remind them. And my kid is 3, by the way. Kids are extremely easy to train.

Yes, there are outliers -- kids with behavioral issues and sensory processing disorders. We need to come up with other solutions for those kids that still get them the education they need while keeping teachers and other kids safe. That's hard, but it's a problem schools are always dealing with -- what do you do with kids who cannot or will not abide by the rules? There are a lot of processes and programs in place for just this problem.

People are really underestimating kids in this conversation. It makes me wonder how many of these people who are super opposed to in-person school (1) have kids, or (2) have spent any amount of time around them, especially recently. Kids are handling masking and hand washing better than adults, as far as I can tell.

Agree - my kids will mask all day long and don’t complain about it at all. I think kids adapt easier to things than adults do.

My children attend in person school now. Even in the elementary school, the children are masked all day - it's been surprisingly fine. They all adjusted quickly because they are all doing it together. Kids are more adaptable than we give them credit for!

[Anonymous]

I won’t be comfortable with my kids going back until all adults are able to be vaccinated. My kids are teens and tweens, so they could easily spread the virus to me and DH. I know my kids are highly unlikely to become seriously ill, but DH and I very well might. I have asthma, which doesn’t qualify me for an early vaccine, and DH is almost 60.

[Anonymous]

People, it could be 2 more years before we have a pediatric vaccine. I've worked in peds vaccine trials. They are slow going. Recruitment is very slow.

Are some of you really saying that there should be no in-person school until 2023?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few well respected public health experts are starting to say that kids don't need the vaccine at all, if enough adults get it.

It's possible they could trials for kids 12 and older but I'm not sure if they will do trials for young kids.

I think by fall assuming Biden's team can amp up the process and more come on the market the numbers will be way down and kids will be back. Maybe wearing masks, not sure.

Read point #4
https://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-jonas-salk-and-the-polio-vaccine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In MCPS, yes, because logic has gone out the window, and they seem more focused on deferring to anxiety and politics than facts and science. It’s particularly painful since we’re home to the NIH and the FDA.

I’m a progressive Democrat, FWIW, and completely disgusted by how far down the list kids are in this whole mess. It’s like schools exist solely to provide jobs for adults.

+1
OP here. This is how it's looking. If teachers are vaccinated and masks work, then why not return them to school? I'd even take half day school at thsi point. Kids and parents are being held hostage based on how people "feel" about returning, not science. Same people who feel uneasy with opening schools are fine with their grocery store workers working full shifts dealing with hundreds of people every day, not just 5-10 masked children who are staying in one place and have parents who would be happy to give them a saliva test every week to get them back in school if need be.

I agree to a point but young kids aren’t that good about staying masked or washing their hands. Kids have and will die from covid even though it’s a small percentage.

And then there are the anti-vaxxers...

The argument that kids cant mask or wash their hands is a bit outdated at this point. My 4 year old has no issues doing either at preschool
and neither have his classmates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In MCPS, yes, because logic has gone out the window, and they seem more focused on deferring to anxiety and politics than facts and science. It’s particularly painful since we’re home to the NIH and the FDA.

I’m a progressive Democrat, FWIW, and completely disgusted by how far down the list kids are in this whole mess. It’s like schools exist solely to provide jobs for adults.

+1
OP here. This is how it's looking. If teachers are vaccinated and masks work, then why not return them to school? I'd even take half day school at thsi point. Kids and parents are being held hostage based on how people "feel" about returning, not science. Same people who feel uneasy with opening schools are fine with their grocery store workers working full shifts dealing with hundreds of people every day, not just 5-10 masked children who are staying in one place and have parents who would be happy to give them a saliva test every week to get them back in school if need be.

I agree to a point but young kids aren’t that good about staying masked or washing their hands. Kids have and will die from covid even though it’s a small percentage.

And then there are the anti-vaxxers...

But kids have and will die from the flu and a other diseases... we have never dreamt of keeping kids at home during flu season... why now (after all adults hav e been vaccinated)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many kids in the entire United States have died of covid?

How many have to?

Many... a lot more than if the flu... or there is not reason to keep them home