Allegedly there are several options for the fall none of which include being back full time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been patiently reading this debate on multiple treads by now. I have a question that I hope someone can give a meaningful answer. It seems some teachers would like to go back to school in the new academic year, but some teachers would first like to see some protocols in place because they say otherwise it is not safe for them. On the other hand, the vast majority of parents (even when one of the parents stay at home) want schools to open for all students. Now these parents are willing to send their kids to schools that some teachers argue not safe. Every night, the kids come back home from school. So if they pose a risk to teachers, shouldn't they pose a risk to their parents as well? Why do the parents think the risk is manageable, but some teachers think otherwise? Also since being a teacher is not a virtue people are born with, instead people become teachers after they are born, would those teachers change their mind on this issue if they were not teachers?

If you talk to lower income parents of color and I do since they are my neighbors and the parents of many of my students, they are worried about their kids bring coronavirus home. They just aren’t on DCUM to chime in on these posts.

I'd think for lower income families it's even more critical that kids go to school. Otherwise parents would have difficulty going to work. Also those kids would have very little out of school enrichment opportunities.

I get that you THINK that, but I’m telling you what people are saying to me. They are scared. Scared their kids will get “mildly” ill and they will miss work. Scared that they themselves will get ill and miss work. They are worried about doctors’ bills and hospital fees that they can’t afford. Scared that household member already in bad health will die. Some sublease housing illegally and are afraid that they might be kicked out if they or their kids get ill with COVID. It’s important to actually ask lower income people what they think rather than assuming you know what is best for them.

I work with low income families and they absolutely want - and need - schools to reopen. Yes, reopen with safety protocols I’m place, but schools reopening is not just about stability and enabling a parent to work, it’s also about education and socialization kids need. The prospect that parents working hourly pay jobs are taking off time to help kids navigate Zoom classes is absurd. What’s actually happening in many cases is parents leaving kids alone - often relatively young middle schoolers or older elementary schoolers who then watch younger kids in the home.

We’ve managed to keep Costcos open but somehow balk at reopening schools. Kids are not vectors for this disease. They hysteria needs to stop. School needs to start.

Truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Imagine if hospital and nursing home workers were this demanding about not going back to work?

School is just as essential as healthcare. You all are being absolutely ridiculous.

"I'm not going back until I feel it's a completely safe working environment"!
Newsflash: teaching has literally NEVER been a completely safe working environment. Teachers catch things from kids all the tine. Kids bring weapons to school etc...if you will not go back until there is zero risk than you need to find a new career.

Yup

[Anonymous]

https://www.kidsnews.com.au/health/kids-in-china-get-creative-to-keep-covid19-at-bay-in-reopened-classrooms/news-story/8375624a69d9cebcfc13db5f9cd26e8c

[Anonymous]

https://www.today.com/parents/what-will-school-be-when-it-opens-after-coronavirus-t180375

[Anonymous]

PP who posted the links. The Denmark outside school sounds awesome. Back to the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine if hospital and nursing home workers were this demanding about not going back to work?

School is just as essential as healthcare. You all are being absolutely ridiculous.

"I'm not going back until I feel it's a completely safe working environment"!
Newsflash: teaching has literally NEVER been a completely safe working environment. Teachers catch things from kids all the tine. Kids bring weapons to school etc...if you will not go back until there is zero risk than you need to find a new career.

It’s a dirty secret, but some have been —especially when PPE was not available. Our pediatrician’s office closed because the nurses and assistants demanded PPE. The doctors couldn’t get sufficient. So they closed in April and remain closed.

Many were still open - mine was. But those who closed also lost their income. You can choose not to go back to teach and lose your income too. No one is stopping you.

My pediatrician’s office provided telemedicine. Schools could provide tele-education. See how that works.

And MCPS could offer virtual options for those who want them — which some may, though based on the experience most hd this spring, I doubt a substantial share will. That doesn’t mean that MCPS shouldn’t have in-person school for the rest of us — just as people can get medical care in person if they need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There will be a vaccine by the end of the year. It will work, but for how long, no one knows. In the meantime, schools will be on line until scientists know more. If there is a chance for a working vaccine, school systems in this area would be nuts to open up completely. If it turns out there is no hope for a efficacious vaccine, that’s when the scenario changes. But until that happens, people need to be patient. There are too many people at risk of dying. Yes, it is inconvenient, but it is a necessary evil.

There is no reason to believe that a vaccine will be available to the general public in early 2021. We really don't know when we'll get a vaccine. I think we need to move forward assuming that a vaccine is not imminent.

+1. You would be nuts to suggest that schools stay closed until there is a vaccine. Schools should be priority. Not the last place to open. PRIORITY.

I don’t need a vaccine. I just need PPE, soap in the bathrooms, and classrooms that accommodate 6 foot distancing. I do not believe MCPS will be able to provide any of those things. At least not consistently.

I think you are right the 6 foot rule will be impossible to implement in schools. So if you insist on it, you do need to wait for a vaccine. Which is insane.

+1. I think teachers who want to wear a mask should be provided one. Certainly lots of soap available and refilled regular, as well as hand sanitizer, for teachers, administrators, staff, and kids. But it is not reasonable to maintain social distancing while a teacher. And those who don't want to teach anymore or can't should transition to different jobs, whether within MCPS or elsewhere. This means that there would necessarily be many new teachers, but that is better than distance learning for all.

Pp, your post makes me chuckle. You sound very young and naive. Teachers who want to stay alive because they are in high risk groups should lose their jobs? Shame, shame, shame. You are not living in the real world.

DP. Do you really suggest that schools should stay closed or semi-closed because there is a fraction of teachers/staff for whom it would be too risky to return under normal operations (even with precautions that should absolutely be put in place)? That is insane. Of course those people need to find new jobs or retire, with incentives/support provided. Most of them will be near/at/past retirement age anyway.

You are the one who sounds naive and not living in the real world, where people retire or find new jobs all the time when their previous one becomes unsuitable for them for whatever reason.

Unfortunately i have to say that the latter is true. I work for a very large medical group in the dmv. I also work at 2 hospitals. At all locations you had to work. If you did not feel safe then you could use vacation at some places, some places not. If you have risks factors you could have your pcp write you a letter saying that you could not work but you either used vaca or no pay depending on the place. If you did not like those options, you can quit. There is no we will transfer you and a million other people to a safer place. Its either a doctors note or nothing. This is the new era we live in so if you are not healthy enough to do your job, you have to find a new job.

I know it sounds harsh but i have to tell people this everyday who become unable to physically do their job and its sad truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been patiently reading this debate on multiple treads by now. I have a question that I hope someone can give a meaningful answer. It seems some teachers would like to go back to school in the new academic year, but some teachers would first like to see some protocols in place because they say otherwise it is not safe for them. On the other hand, the vast majority of parents (even when one of the parents stay at home) want schools to open for all students. Now these parents are willing to send their kids to schools that some teachers argue not safe. Every night, the kids come back home from school. So if they pose a risk to teachers, shouldn't they pose a risk to their parents as well? Why do the parents think the risk is manageable, but some teachers think otherwise? Also since being a teacher is not a virtue people are born with, instead people become teachers after they are born, would those teachers change their mind on this issue if they were not teachers?

If you talk to lower income parents of color and I do since they are my neighbors and the parents of many of my students, they are worried about their kids bring coronavirus home. They just aren’t on DCUM to chime in on these posts.

I'd think for lower income families it's even more critical that kids go to school. Otherwise parents would have difficulty going to work. Also those kids would have very little out of school enrichment opportunities.

I get that you THINK that, but I’m telling you what people are saying to me. They are scared. Scared their kids will get “mildly” ill and they will miss work. Scared that they themselves will get ill and miss work. They are worried about doctors’ bills and hospital fees that they can’t afford. Scared that household member already in bad health will die. Some sublease housing illegally and are afraid that they might be kicked out if they or their kids get ill with COVID. It’s important to actually ask lower income people what they think rather than assuming you know what is best for them.

I work with low income families and they absolutely want - and need - schools to reopen. Yes, reopen with safety protocols I’m place, but schools reopening is not just about stability and enabling a parent to work, it’s also about education and socialization kids need. The prospect that parents working hourly pay jobs are taking off time to help kids navigate Zoom classes is absurd. What’s actually happening in many cases is parents leaving kids alone - often relatively young middle schoolers or older elementary schoolers who then watch younger kids in the home.

We’ve managed to keep Costcos open but somehow balk at reopening schools. Kids are not vectors for this disease. They hysteria needs to stop. School needs to start.

The low income parents aren’t taking time off work to help their kids with Zoom classes. Not blaming them. Just stating a fact. Often the MS or HS sibling is home babysitting or there’s an elderly relative. However, the kids are mostly home alone all day. And this is nothing new. What do you think poor kids do all summer? Do you really think their parents either take 10 weeks off unpaid or somehow can afford 2.5 months of day camp? All summer, I hear the kids in the apartment two doors down. They walk over to the ES up the hill for free lunch and then go right back inside to watch tv.

DP, did you read what the PP wrote? He/she stated the same and is arguing that for the reasons you’ve noted, continuing to keep schools closed hurts low income families and thier kids (it hurts ALL kids but especially this group). This a disaster for kids who don’t have parents who can endlessly work from home.

[Anonymous]

The county needs to reopen and take the sensible precautions every other developed country seems to be successfully undertaking.

Teachers need to stop with the hysterics, though I suspect there’s a group that is happy with not having to go into school, working from home, and not dealing with a lot of the typical demands teachers contended precovid.

I know it’s not all teachers and my kids teachers are doing a good job, but there are certainly some teachers at my kids’ ES who are doing the bare minimum.

[Anonymous]

WHO just announced that asymptomatic spreading of CoronaVirus "Very Rare". This sure seems like it should be a part of the decision making process.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/08/asymptomatic-coronavirus-patients-arent-spreading-new-infections-who-says.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been patiently reading this debate on multiple treads by now. I have a question that I hope someone can give a meaningful answer. It seems some teachers would like to go back to school in the new academic year, but some teachers would first like to see some protocols in place because they say otherwise it is not safe for them. On the other hand, the vast majority of parents (even when one of the parents stay at home) want schools to open for all students. Now these parents are willing to send their kids to schools that some teachers argue not safe. Every night, the kids come back home from school. So if they pose a risk to teachers, shouldn't they pose a risk to their parents as well? Why do the parents think the risk is manageable, but some teachers think otherwise? Also since being a teacher is not a virtue people are born with, instead people become teachers after they are born, would those teachers change their mind on this issue if they were not teachers?

If you talk to lower income parents of color and I do since they are my neighbors and the parents of many of my students, they are worried about their kids bring coronavirus home. They just aren’t on DCUM to chime in on these posts.

I'd think for lower income families it's even more critical that kids go to school. Otherwise parents would have difficulty going to work. Also those kids would have very little out of school enrichment opportunities.

I get that you THINK that, but I’m telling you what people are saying to me. They are scared. Scared their kids will get “mildly” ill and they will miss work. Scared that they themselves will get ill and miss work. They are worried about doctors’ bills and hospital fees that they can’t afford. Scared that household member already in bad health will die. Some sublease housing illegally and are afraid that they might be kicked out if they or their kids get ill with COVID. It’s important to actually ask lower income people what they think rather than assuming you know what is best for them.

I work with low income families and they absolutely want - and need - schools to reopen. Yes, reopen with safety protocols I’m place, but schools reopening is not just about stability and enabling a parent to work, it’s also about education and socialization kids need. The prospect that parents working hourly pay jobs are taking off time to help kids navigate Zoom classes is absurd. What’s actually happening in many cases is parents leaving kids alone - often relatively young middle schoolers or older elementary schoolers who then watch younger kids in the home.

We’ve managed to keep Costcos open but somehow balk at reopening schools. Kids are not vectors for this disease. They hysteria needs to stop. School needs to start.

The low income parents aren’t taking time off work to help their kids with Zoom classes. Not blaming them. Just stating a fact. Often the MS or HS sibling is home babysitting or there’s an elderly relative. However, the kids are mostly home alone all day. And this is nothing new. What do you think poor kids do all summer? Do you really think their parents either take 10 weeks off unpaid or somehow can afford 2.5 months of day camp? All summer, I hear the kids in the apartment two doors down. They walk over to the ES up the hill for free lunch and then go right back inside to watch tv.

DP, did you read what the PP wrote? He/she stated the same and is arguing that for the reasons you’ve noted, continuing to keep schools closed hurts low income families and thier kids (it hurts ALL kids but especially this group). This a disaster for kids who don’t have parents who can endlessly work from home.

Do you think schools should run 12 months a year for all students? Because there are two and a half months each year that schools are closed and low income parents still need to work.

[Anonymous]

Go to Rio in Gaithersburg MD the restaurants are packed with HS and College kids. It is outdoor but no one really social distancing - so why no school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Do you think schools should run 12 months a year for all students? Because there are two and a half months each year that schools are closed and low income parents still need to work.

DP, but I think that the 10-week summer vacation is much too long, and that we should switch to a year-round calendar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been patiently reading this debate on multiple treads by now. I have a question that I hope someone can give a meaningful answer. It seems some teachers would like to go back to school in the new academic year, but some teachers would first like to see some protocols in place because they say otherwise it is not safe for them. On the other hand, the vast majority of parents (even when one of the parents stay at home) want schools to open for all students. Now these parents are willing to send their kids to schools that some teachers argue not safe. Every night, the kids come back home from school. So if they pose a risk to teachers, shouldn't they pose a risk to their parents as well? Why do the parents think the risk is manageable, but some teachers think otherwise? Also since being a teacher is not a virtue people are born with, instead people become teachers after they are born, would those teachers change their mind on this issue if they were not teachers?

If you talk to lower income parents of color and I do since they are my neighbors and the parents of many of my students, they are worried about their kids bring coronavirus home. They just aren’t on DCUM to chime in on these posts.

I'd think for lower income families it's even more critical that kids go to school. Otherwise parents would have difficulty going to work. Also those kids would have very little out of school enrichment opportunities.

I get that you THINK that, but I’m telling you what people are saying to me. They are scared. Scared their kids will get “mildly” ill and they will miss work. Scared that they themselves will get ill and miss work. They are worried about doctors’ bills and hospital fees that they can’t afford. Scared that household member already in bad health will die. Some sublease housing illegally and are afraid that they might be kicked out if they or their kids get ill with COVID. It’s important to actually ask lower income people what they think rather than assuming you know what is best for them.

I work with low income families and they absolutely want - and need - schools to reopen. Yes, reopen with safety protocols I’m place, but schools reopening is not just about stability and enabling a parent to work, it’s also about education and socialization kids need. The prospect that parents working hourly pay jobs are taking off time to help kids navigate Zoom classes is absurd. What’s actually happening in many cases is parents leaving kids alone - often relatively young middle schoolers or older elementary schoolers who then watch younger kids in the home.

We’ve managed to keep Costcos open but somehow balk at reopening schools. Kids are not vectors for this disease. They hysteria needs to stop. School needs to start.

The low income parents aren’t taking time off work to help their kids with Zoom classes. Not blaming them. Just stating a fact. Often the MS or HS sibling is home babysitting or there’s an elderly relative. However, the kids are mostly home alone all day. And this is nothing new. What do you think poor kids do all summer? Do you really think their parents either take 10 weeks off unpaid or somehow can afford 2.5 months of day camp? All summer, I hear the kids in the apartment two doors down. They walk over to the ES up the hill for free lunch and then go right back inside to watch tv.

DP, did you read what the PP wrote? He/she stated the same and is arguing that for the reasons you’ve noted, continuing to keep schools closed hurts low income families and thier kids (it hurts ALL kids but especially this group). This a disaster for kids who don’t have parents who can endlessly work from home.

Do you think schools should run 12 months a year for all students? Because there are two and a half months each year that schools are closed and low income parents still need to work.

Summer vacation actually is very harmful to kids of very low income parents. For example-I grew up very poor and raised by a single parent. From the age of 7 I was left home alone every summer all day.

That's what these parents do. They leave their kids at home. I was an only child so I was actually alone but basically an entire sibling group is left home alone. Sometimes the oldest not even being 10 and responsible for babies/toddlers.

I now work with low income families and let me tell you-they leave their young kids home alone ALL THE TIME.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been patiently reading this debate on multiple treads by now. I have a question that I hope someone can give a meaningful answer. It seems some teachers would like to go back to school in the new academic year, but some teachers would first like to see some protocols in place because they say otherwise it is not safe for them. On the other hand, the vast majority of parents (even when one of the parents stay at home) want schools to open for all students. Now these parents are willing to send their kids to schools that some teachers argue not safe. Every night, the kids come back home from school. So if they pose a risk to teachers, shouldn't they pose a risk to their parents as well? Why do the parents think the risk is manageable, but some teachers think otherwise? Also since being a teacher is not a virtue people are born with, instead people become teachers after they are born, would those teachers change their mind on this issue if they were not teachers?

If you talk to lower income parents of color and I do since they are my neighbors and the parents of many of my students, they are worried about their kids bring coronavirus home. They just aren’t on DCUM to chime in on these posts.

I'd think for lower income families it's even more critical that kids go to school. Otherwise parents would have difficulty going to work. Also those kids would have very little out of school enrichment opportunities.

I get that you THINK that, but I’m telling you what people are saying to me. They are scared. Scared their kids will get “mildly” ill and they will miss work. Scared that they themselves will get ill and miss work. They are worried about doctors’ bills and hospital fees that they can’t afford. Scared that household member already in bad health will die. Some sublease housing illegally and are afraid that they might be kicked out if they or their kids get ill with COVID. It’s important to actually ask lower income people what they think rather than assuming you know what is best for them.

I work with low income families and they absolutely want - and need - schools to reopen. Yes, reopen with safety protocols I’m place, but schools reopening is not just about stability and enabling a parent to work, it’s also about education and socialization kids need. The prospect that parents working hourly pay jobs are taking off time to help kids navigate Zoom classes is absurd. What’s actually happening in many cases is parents leaving kids alone - often relatively young middle schoolers or older elementary schoolers who then watch younger kids in the home.

We’ve managed to keep Costcos open but somehow balk at reopening schools. Kids are not vectors for this disease. They hysteria needs to stop. School needs to start.

The low income parents aren’t taking time off work to help their kids with Zoom classes. Not blaming them. Just stating a fact. Often the MS or HS sibling is home babysitting or there’s an elderly relative. However, the kids are mostly home alone all day. And this is nothing new. What do you think poor kids do all summer? Do you really think their parents either take 10 weeks off unpaid or somehow can afford 2.5 months of day camp? All summer, I hear the kids in the apartment two doors down. They walk over to the ES up the hill for free lunch and then go right back inside to watch tv.

DP, did you read what the PP wrote? He/she stated the same and is arguing that for the reasons you’ve noted, continuing to keep schools closed hurts low income families and thier kids (it hurts ALL kids but especially this group). This a disaster for kids who don’t have parents who can endlessly work from home.

Do you think schools should run 12 months a year for all students? Because there are two and a half months each year that schools are closed and low income parents still need to work.

Summer vacation actually is very harmful to kids of very low income parents. For example-I grew up very poor and raised by a single parent. From the age of 7 I was left home alone every summer all day.

That's what these parents do. They leave their kids at home. I was an only child so I was actually alone but basically an entire sibling group is left home alone. Sometimes the oldest not even being 10 and responsible for babies/toddlers.

I now work with low income families and let me tell you-they leave their young kids home alone ALL THE TIME.

Which deflated the argument that closing schools is causing low income parents to lose time from work.