Did your school seek parent feedback on possible distance learning schedules?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were you the type of parent that complained to everyone with a pulse all summer about the schedule and then just shoved your kids off on a babysitter anyway?

There's no way there would have been consensus among parents. Some work out of the house, some don't. Some have siblings in different grades, some don't.

If you don't like the schedule, just do the asynchronous work or whatever it is you need to do to provide attendance.

You seem to not understand how surveys work.

I much rather the schools do what is best for the students and not be bullied by parents about what works for them. Teachers and school administrators have actually studied the theory behind education and childhood development. So while parents may know their child, educators know children.

"BREAST IS BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

And families know whether they can keep a job to keep the children fed on the proposed schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were you the type of parent that complained to everyone with a pulse all summer about the schedule and then just shoved your kids off on a babysitter anyway?

There's no way there would have been consensus among parents. Some work out of the house, some don't. Some have siblings in different grades, some don't.

If you don't like the schedule, just do the asynchronous work or whatever it is you need to do to provide attendance.

You seem to not understand how surveys work.

I much rather the schools do what is best for the students and not be bullied by parents about what works for them. Teachers and school administrators have actually studied the theory behind education and childhood development. So while parents may know their child, educators know children.

I kind of take all that with a grain of salt when my 5 y/o and 7 y/o are expected to do all their work through apps on the screen. The very first thing they should learn in school is how the human brain works. Children need PAPER and tangible items. They need to WRITE WITH THEIR HANDS. Their brain works differently when they do. They also don't do well logging in at 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:30, 11:15, 12:30, 1:00, 2:30, and 3:30. That's so insane. We can't even go outside during the week. I'm looking into homeschooling.

This is a funny comment considering in school they only go out 1 time in the day on average, if PE is indoors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To respond to OP's actual question...

Yes. Our Charter (one of the "HRCS") did multiple surveys and a couple of Zoom calls before they finalized schedules. They continue to solicit feedback about changes they should make.

New to DCPS parent here - can you tell me what "HRCS" means?

Curious what your school asked in the survey.

“Hillary Rodham Clinton School”.

It’s an excellent, highly prepared school that runs very well. But because of a thirty-year billionaire-funded media campaign against the school, people don’t really like it much but can’t explain why if you ask for details.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I ask how schools would have gathered input in 5 days? My school had the teachers make the schedule and it took a week, the district gave schools a week to turn in a plan...

Also how did you plan on getting all kids instruction done by 12? Some kids would always have to be later.

What I would have liked is if DCPS allowed each classroom to make their own schedule. But they needed a mass schedule so if a parent complains because the teacher tweaked the schedule to help them they will be at fault and not dcps.

Where do you get 5 days? Anyone who reads a newspaper knows that virtual instruction was coming - if not in Sept, then in winter months. The schools literally had MONTHS to think this through.

As someone involved in the scheduling for our school it’s true we had five days. We had to receive from the district all of the requirements and guidelines before we could proceed. Five days. And it was such a complicated puzzle we were lucky to get even one decent version!

So explain why the first 3 weeks aren't just two 1-hour chat SEL sessions and meaningful planning for actual learning? I understand it's ridiculous, but truly you all should have been planning since MARCH.

Your reply was disrespectful. Many people spent countless hours sweating over what would be best for you, your child, and all parties. Those who did that planning were mandated to start as we meant to go on. So you are barking up the wrong tree. I’m sorry this situation has been so hard on families. Trust me that it’s been hard on teachers and administrators too. I promise you, though, that everyone had children’s best interest front and center in their approach to planning, even if it is less than perfect. Please ask yourself as you post in an anonymous forum whether your mother would be proud of your approach? I wish you and your family well.

[Anonymous]

Not PP, and I don't mean to be too snarky, but if you did it in five days then that's the opposite of "countless hours".

There should have been prep happening since March - definitely since June. If you failed to have open and consistent communication loop with parents until September, that's on you.

Now we're paying for your decisions with our mental health, our marriages, and our livelihoods. None of that serves families well and is therefore not in the best interest of students.

I'm sure teachers and administrators are feeling the pressure of adjusting to new work arrangements - we all are!!

The respectful thing to do is to expect professionalism and expertise from education professionals and experts who should have anticipated how this would go down.

I wish you and your family well.

[Anonymous]

Agreed. You can’t claim expertise and they claim too much difficulty when you fail to deliver. Means you’re not actually an expert. And I think that’s your biggest fear. A bit of humility and working WITH parents probably would have helped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. You can’t claim expertise and they claim too much difficulty when you fail to deliver. Means you’re not actually an expert. And I think that’s your biggest fear. A bit of humility and working WITH parents probably would have helped.

Maybe you just are at a crap school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. You can’t claim expertise and they claim too much difficulty when you fail to deliver. Means you’re not actually an expert. And I think that’s your biggest fear. A bit of humility and working WITH parents probably would have helped.

Maybe you just are at a crap school.

That’s pretty much the conclusion we’ve drawn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I ask how schools would have gathered input in 5 days? My school had the teachers make the schedule and it took a week, the district gave schools a week to turn in a plan...

Also how did you plan on getting all kids instruction done by 12? Some kids would always have to be later.

What I would have liked is if DCPS allowed each classroom to make their own schedule. But they needed a mass schedule so if a parent complains because the teacher tweaked the schedule to help them they will be at fault and not dcps.

Where do you get 5 days? Anyone who reads a newspaper knows that virtual instruction was coming - if not in Sept, then in winter months. The schools literally had MONTHS to think this through.

As someone involved in the scheduling for our school it’s true we had five days. We had to receive from the district all of the requirements and guidelines before we could proceed. Five days. And it was such a complicated puzzle we were lucky to get even one decent version!

So explain why the first 3 weeks aren't just two 1-hour chat SEL sessions and meaningful planning for actual learning? I understand it's ridiculous, but truly you all should have been planning since MARCH.

Your reply was disrespectful. Many people spent countless hours sweating over what would be best for you, your child, and all parties. Those who did that planning were mandated to start as we meant to go on. So you are barking up the wrong tree. I’m sorry this situation has been so hard on families. Trust me that it’s been hard on teachers and administrators too. I promise you, though, that everyone had children’s best interest front and center in their approach to planning, even if it is less than perfect. Please ask yourself as you post in an anonymous forum whether your mother would be proud of your approach? I wish you and your family well.

I would love to hear a detailed account of what happened in those five days? Who was in the room when decisions were made? Which factors were prioritized and why? Which factors were not and why? At what point and how did you seek parental input?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I ask how schools would have gathered input in 5 days? My school had the teachers make the schedule and it took a week, the district gave schools a week to turn in a plan...

Also how did you plan on getting all kids instruction done by 12? Some kids would always have to be later.

What I would have liked is if DCPS allowed each classroom to make their own schedule. But they needed a mass schedule so if a parent complains because the teacher tweaked the schedule to help them they will be at fault and not dcps.

Where do you get 5 days? Anyone who reads a newspaper knows that virtual instruction was coming - if not in Sept, then in winter months. The schools literally had MONTHS to think this through.

As someone involved in the scheduling for our school it’s true we had five days. We had to receive from the district all of the requirements and guidelines before we could proceed. Five days. And it was such a complicated puzzle we were lucky to get even one decent version!

So explain why the first 3 weeks aren't just two 1-hour chat SEL sessions and meaningful planning for actual learning? I understand it's ridiculous, but truly you all should have been planning since MARCH.

Your reply was disrespectful. Many people spent countless hours sweating over what would be best for you, your child, and all parties. Those who did that planning were mandated to start as we meant to go on. So you are barking up the wrong tree. I’m sorry this situation has been so hard on families. Trust me that it’s been hard on teachers and administrators too. I promise you, though, that everyone had children’s best interest front and center in their approach to planning, even if it is less than perfect. Please ask yourself as you post in an anonymous forum whether your mother would be proud of your approach? I wish you and your family well.

How is this disrespectful? I'm advocating for you all to have the appropriate time to actually plan to teach. And how does 40 hours (one week, as you say) count as "countless hours"? My young kids' schedule is like this:

8:30 (x2)
9:00
9:30 (x2)
10:30
11:15 (x2)
12:30
1:00
1:30 (x2)
2:30
3:00

So that's helping one of them get all their supplies and logon because he just turned 5. And it's helping the other through a lot of confusion, remembering to check all the channels so he submits his assignments on time. Checking back on at least 3 subjects where videos haven't been working. Etc etc.

And did you notice? There isn't a long enough break for us to get outside.

How is that schedule working for anyone? I am not currently working and it's still infuriating. Why can't the teachers just live teach for 90 minutes twice a day? Why does my 7 year old who is doing more advanced math have to spend an entire hour on the computer doing number bonds for 10s in order to get a good grade? What an awful, soul sucking thing. Why can't he use her paper book? Or worksheets? Or have decent enough software that he can advance?

I guess my kids are learning how to manage frustration, but that's about it. We all hate it. I'm absolutely and thoroughly disappointed that this is what they landed on after March.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I ask how schools would have gathered input in 5 days? My school had the teachers make the schedule and it took a week, the district gave schools a week to turn in a plan...

Also how did you plan on getting all kids instruction done by 12? Some kids would always have to be later.

What I would have liked is if DCPS allowed each classroom to make their own schedule. But they needed a mass schedule so if a parent complains because the teacher tweaked the schedule to help them they will be at fault and not dcps.

Where do you get 5 days? Anyone who reads a newspaper knows that virtual instruction was coming - if not in Sept, then in winter months. The schools literally had MONTHS to think this through.

As someone involved in the scheduling for our school it’s true we had five days. We had to receive from the district all of the requirements and guidelines before we could proceed. Five days. And it was such a complicated puzzle we were lucky to get even one decent version!

So explain why the first 3 weeks aren't just two 1-hour chat SEL sessions and meaningful planning for actual learning? I understand it's ridiculous, but truly you all should have been planning since MARCH.

Your reply was disrespectful. Many people spent countless hours sweating over what would be best for you, your child, and all parties. Those who did that planning were mandated to start as we meant to go on. So you are barking up the wrong tree. I’m sorry this situation has been so hard on families. Trust me that it’s been hard on teachers and administrators too. I promise you, though, that everyone had children’s best interest front and center in their approach to planning, even if it is less than perfect. Please ask yourself as you post in an anonymous forum whether your mother would be proud of your approach? I wish you and your family well.

How is this disrespectful? I'm advocating for you all to have the appropriate time to actually plan to teach. And how does 40 hours (one week, as you say) count as "countless hours"? My young kids' schedule is like this:

8:30 (x2)
9:00
9:30 (x2)
10:30
11:15 (x2)
12:30
1:00
1:30 (x2)
2:30
3:00

So that's helping one of them get all their supplies and logon because he just turned 5. And it's helping the other through a lot of confusion, remembering to check all the channels so he submits his assignments on time. Checking back on at least 3 subjects where videos haven't been working. Etc etc.

And did you notice? There isn't a long enough break for us to get outside.

How is that schedule working for anyone? I am not currently working and it's still infuriating. Why can't the teachers just live teach for 90 minutes twice a day? Why does my 7 year old who is doing more advanced math have to spend an entire hour on the computer doing number bonds for 10s in order to get a good grade? What an awful, soul sucking thing. Why can't he use her paper book? Or worksheets? Or have decent enough software that he can advance?

I guess my kids are learning how to manage frustration, but that's about it. We all hate it. I'm absolutely and thoroughly disappointed that this is what they landed on after March.

+ 1

DCPS failed little kids (Kindergarten)
Doing ok with the 2nd grade + (Not always ideal, but manageable)

In failing little kids, they failed families. It's really inexcusable because some schools (those with A blocks and B blocks) got it right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I ask how schools would have gathered input in 5 days? My school had the teachers make the schedule and it took a week, the district gave schools a week to turn in a plan...

Also how did you plan on getting all kids instruction done by 12? Some kids would always have to be later.

What I would have liked is if DCPS allowed each classroom to make their own schedule. But they needed a mass schedule so if a parent complains because the teacher tweaked the schedule to help them they will be at fault and not dcps.

Where do you get 5 days? Anyone who reads a newspaper knows that virtual instruction was coming - if not in Sept, then in winter months. The schools literally had MONTHS to think this through.

As someone involved in the scheduling for our school it’s true we had five days. We had to receive from the district all of the requirements and guidelines before we could proceed. Five days. And it was such a complicated puzzle we were lucky to get even one decent version!

So explain why the first 3 weeks aren't just two 1-hour chat SEL sessions and meaningful planning for actual learning? I understand it's ridiculous, but truly you all should have been planning since MARCH.

Your reply was disrespectful. Many people spent countless hours sweating over what would be best for you, your child, and all parties. Those who did that planning were mandated to start as we meant to go on. So you are barking up the wrong tree. I’m sorry this situation has been so hard on families. Trust me that it’s been hard on teachers and administrators too. I promise you, though, that everyone had children’s best interest front and center in their approach to planning, even if it is less than perfect. Please ask yourself as you post in an anonymous forum whether your mother would be proud of your approach? I wish you and your family well.

How is this disrespectful? I'm advocating for you all to have the appropriate time to actually plan to teach. And how does 40 hours (one week, as you say) count as "countless hours"? My young kids' schedule is like this:

8:30 (x2)
9:00
9:30 (x2)
10:30
11:15 (x2)
12:30
1:00
1:30 (x2)
2:30
3:00

So that's helping one of them get all their supplies and logon because he just turned 5. And it's helping the other through a lot of confusion, remembering to check all the channels so he submits his assignments on time. Checking back on at least 3 subjects where videos haven't been working. Etc etc.

And did you notice? There isn't a long enough break for us to get outside.

How is that schedule working for anyone? I am not currently working and it's still infuriating. Why can't the teachers just live teach for 90 minutes twice a day? Why does my 7 year old who is doing more advanced math have to spend an entire hour on the computer doing number bonds for 10s in order to get a good grade? What an awful, soul sucking thing. Why can't he use her paper book? Or worksheets? Or have decent enough software that he can advance?

I guess my kids are learning how to manage frustration, but that's about it. We all hate it. I'm absolutely and thoroughly disappointed that this is what they landed on after March.

+ 1

DCPS failed little kids (Kindergarten)
Doing ok with the 2nd grade + (Not always ideal, but manageable)

In failing little kids, they failed families. It's really inexcusable because some schools (those with A blocks and B blocks) got it right.

Whine and complain, gosh then don’t have your child attend all the blocks! The subjects they’re better at just ask the teacher for supplemental info and teach it.

There’s no such thing as a schedule to please everyone. Many parents work, as a teacher I can only make 1 lesson with my child at lunch so I just hired a facilitator. We all have to make sacrifices we shouldn’t have to make right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I ask how schools would have gathered input in 5 days? My school had the teachers make the schedule and it took a week, the district gave schools a week to turn in a plan...

Also how did you plan on getting all kids instruction done by 12? Some kids would always have to be later.

What I would have liked is if DCPS allowed each classroom to make their own schedule. But they needed a mass schedule so if a parent complains because the teacher tweaked the schedule to help them they will be at fault and not dcps.

Where do you get 5 days? Anyone who reads a newspaper knows that virtual instruction was coming - if not in Sept, then in winter months. The schools literally had MONTHS to think this through.

As someone involved in the scheduling for our school it’s true we had five days. We had to receive from the district all of the requirements and guidelines before we could proceed. Five days. And it was such a complicated puzzle we were lucky to get even one decent version!

So explain why the first 3 weeks aren't just two 1-hour chat SEL sessions and meaningful planning for actual learning? I understand it's ridiculous, but truly you all should have been planning since MARCH.

Your reply was disrespectful. Many people spent countless hours sweating over what would be best for you, your child, and all parties. Those who did that planning were mandated to start as we meant to go on. So you are barking up the wrong tree. I’m sorry this situation has been so hard on families. Trust me that it’s been hard on teachers and administrators too. I promise you, though, that everyone had children’s best interest front and center in their approach to planning, even if it is less than perfect. Please ask yourself as you post in an anonymous forum whether your mother would be proud of your approach? I wish you and your family well.

How is this disrespectful? I'm advocating for you all to have the appropriate time to actually plan to teach. And how does 40 hours (one week, as you say) count as "countless hours"? My young kids' schedule is like this:

8:30 (x2)
9:00
9:30 (x2)
10:30
11:15 (x2)
12:30
1:00
1:30 (x2)
2:30
3:00

So that's helping one of them get all their supplies and logon because he just turned 5. And it's helping the other through a lot of confusion, remembering to check all the channels so he submits his assignments on time. Checking back on at least 3 subjects where videos haven't been working. Etc etc.

And did you notice? There isn't a long enough break for us to get outside.

How is that schedule working for anyone? I am not currently working and it's still infuriating. Why can't the teachers just live teach for 90 minutes twice a day? Why does my 7 year old who is doing more advanced math have to spend an entire hour on the computer doing number bonds for 10s in order to get a good grade? What an awful, soul sucking thing. Why can't he use her paper book? Or worksheets? Or have decent enough software that he can advance?

I guess my kids are learning how to manage frustration, but that's about it. We all hate it. I'm absolutely and thoroughly disappointed that this is what they landed on after March.

+ 1

DCPS failed little kids (Kindergarten)
Doing ok with the 2nd grade + (Not always ideal, but manageable)

In failing little kids, they failed families. It's really inexcusable because some schools (those with A blocks and B blocks) got it right.

Whine and complain, gosh then don’t have your child attend all the blocks! The subjects they’re better at just ask the teacher for supplemental info and teach it.

There’s no such thing as a schedule to please everyone. Many parents work, as a teacher I can only make 1 lesson with my child at lunch so I just hired a facilitator. We all have to make sacrifices we shouldn’t have to make right now.

"There’s no such thing as a schedule to please everyone" ≠ "Shouldn't even attempt to make it work for large swathes of the community"

[Anonymous]

For those of you who think that the school would have been able to solicit input from parents - the mayor did not make a decision on Distance Learning until July 30th, and schools were not permitted to make plans for a distance learning schedule until then. The district then provided schools with guidelines on August 10th, which pretty much mandated everything that needed to happen. They demanded a finalized schedule by the end of the week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who think that the school would have been able to solicit input from parents - the mayor did not make a decision on Distance Learning until July 30th, and schools were not permitted to make plans for a distance learning schedule until then. The district then provided schools with guidelines on August 10th, which pretty much mandated everything that needed to happen. They demanded a finalized schedule by the end of the week.

Had school leadership had ongoing feedback loop with parents, then they would have known AT THAT TIME -- ON JULY 30th,

1) How disruptive it is for families to have young children (talking about the under second grade set) on completely different schedules
2) How disruptive it is to have classes that start at times like 11:10, 10:40, 1:05
3) How difficult it would be for a kindergartner to have to sign online 6 different times per day
4) How challenging it is for families when a kindergartner has one 20 minute check in during a 2.5 hour block of time.

STOP SHIRKING YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES. You didn't have 5 days. You had 5 months.

In the private sector, we'd be fired for being so out of touch with our constituents.