DCPS Employee Return to In Person Work Guidance
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Anonymous
While I'm not necessarily justifying the headline wording, these are two totally different scenarios. Scenario 1: One individual recognizes that the decision he makes FOR HIMSELF is right FOR HIMSELF and his family. And accepts the consequences of those actions FOR HIMSELF. Scenario 2: An entire group of people insist that what might be right for their individual family needs to apply to everyone. Here would be the headlines of the reverse scenario: Mrs Smith, citing family's health, is still deciding if she will teach this year. MLB players revolt against owners, refusing to play this season. |
Anonymous
You just proved the previous posters point. There are not 2 scenarios, they both are worried about health and safety. So yes, the treatment of teachers is disgusting and that article is ridiculous, 'revolt,' ok... |
Anonymous
Many teachers on this thread have said they want to go back but want to do it safely. You seem like you are purposely misunderstanding. Education is an essential service, but you can get an education over distance learning. It might not be the best and it might not be what you want, but it is a form of education. Ans, by the way, I hope you are joking when you say teachers should stop worrying about what is best for them because that is a ridiculous statement. Why don't you stop worrying about what is best for you and keep your kids home? You would never do that because you want what is best and most convenient for you. See how that works? I'm a teacher and I will never put your children and your desires ahead of what is best for my own children and myself. |
Anonymous
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It's so interesting how this time has really forced us all to consider what the purpose of education is.
On the one side are people who see the primary purpose of schools as a way to teach children academic content. From that perspective, teaching is a job that can be done remotely. Is distance learning ideal for all students? Not at all, but neither is a class with disruptive peers. From this standpoint, distance learning is seen as an imperfect but adequate option during this highly unusual time. From this side, teaching is similar to the many other jobs that ideally would be done in a workplace but can be done at home. On the other side are people who see the primary purposes of school to be childcare, or socialization, or social support. These things are harder (or in some cases impossible) to do remotely, so from this standpoint distance learning is not an adequate substitute for school. From this side, teaching is similar to other jobs that must be done in person. |
Anonymous
I bring gallon jugs and dispensers of soap to school and send my students to the bathroom with it. I can't afford to stock the bathrooms for the whole school, but I refuse to allow my students to "wash" their hands by running them under the cold tap. It's really depressing that in the richest country in the world we can't commit to providing our children with incredibly basic necessities. The staff bathroom is also stocked by the teachers. In March when we were supposed to receive additional cleaning supplies, none ever came. I was honest with parents who asked me about it, because that's the right thing to do. Administration was not happy. Parents don't seem to realize how poorly funded our schools are. I keep seeing outlandish suggestions on here like setting up tents for classes to take place in and I laugh. Maybe in a different society, where schools had adequate funding. I don't know how much more creative we can be with what we have. |
Anonymous
| Did you tell Mayor Bowser about the cold tap water? If you tell her, I am positive that she will take care of the situation. She understand that the lives of our children matter. |
Anonymous
Even if a building’s custodians are dedicated, issues like plumbing and hvac problems require work orders and are handled (or not) by DGS Facilities Management. (Ask any school employee - most of us have stories about the toilet/window/ac that has been out of order for years despite multiple work orders.) I don’t know about a direct line to Mayor Bowser, but maybe a dedicated rapid response team (just for schools) for such repairs. One central phone or online system to report facilities concerns. The current system is one of the reasons teachers on this board say they don’t think their building would be able to handle in-person learning this fall. We’ve been conditioned by years of dysfunction. 
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Anonymous
Anonymous
Wow! I doubt DCPS will put out anything that is as remotely useful. |
Anonymous
They won’t. And this is why I’ll teach in DC & have my own kid in Moco. DC managed to send a bully letter- asking us to come in or ADA up, with NO plan. This won’t be the final draft for Moco- but this is what I mean when I say that DCPS is all amateur hour. Teachers- can you imagine if we were talking about reopening from an actual plan? And not some as yet to be articulated plan in Ferebees mind? I really struggle when I see otherwise smart & wise parents who continue to place their kids in DC schools. By all means- please do! I still need a job. But we (the leaders of DCPS) are playing school while surrounding districts are running a district. |
Anonymous
Am I understanding correctly that not all grades will start the school year in person? It says the goal is to have everyone back in person by Thanksgiving. So if you are in grades 3-4, 8, or 11-12 you are DL only until November ish? |
Anonymous
Have you looked at the post article today about the apparent lack of transmission by young kids in schools in Europe? Makes it looks like teachers who are interacting mostly with kids plus a few adults are in a less risky situation than many of the rest of us who go to workplaces where we’re around more adults. |
Anonymous
Even DC has said ‘some’ kids will rerun to buildings. They (DC) just hasn’t move passed vague wording & ideals. |
Anonymous
I know, it just seemed like a lot of praise for MoCo and people saying they’ll send their kids to MoCo, but it doesn’t seem like they are offering anything spectacular. If you have a 3-5 grader they aren’t going back until November. I do worry that DCPS is heading towards starting DL only, based on no intel just a gut feeling and seeing what everyone else is announcing. 
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Anonymous
I hated DL, and I hope you are wrong, but I'm also starting to feel like I don't see how they can actually get kids and teachers into the building. |