All schools should offer an all-virtual option

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also don't understand the moralizing of people saying they want a virtual option. There are virtual options. Choose one. No one is stopping you.

At this point the effort seems to be alarm or shame other people into agreeing with a demand for an all-virtual option at every school.

The two (?) of you may see it that way, but those of us who would like a temporary all-virtual option don't see a need to shame or alarm each other. But at this point we can't seem to hear each other over the brouhaha you're causing with wooden spoons on pots and pans because you reallllllllly don't want a virtual-only option, apparently.

There are way more people than the posters you are arguing with who don’t think every school can or should offer a virtual option. The vast majority of parents realize their kids need to be back in school, and so do policy makers. Nobody wants the quality of the instruction for kids in school to be compromised to accommodate those who are afraid to send their kids back and have the resources to allow them to succeed at home. There are virtual options, but they may require you giving up your seat. If you really think that your kid’s life or long term health are on the line, that should be a small price to pay. Although I do feel for your kid.

I am starting to think there may be more IP addresses than people.

[Anonymous]

Public schools provide in person education. If you want your kids at home, there are lots of options. Homeschool with an online program. Then you get an individualized education and you get to keep your kids home.

Don’t throw the rest of us under the bus. I have to work and my kids have to go to school. Last year was a disaster for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also don't understand the moralizing of people saying they want a virtual option. There are virtual options. Choose one. No one is stopping you.

At this point the effort seems to be alarm or shame other people into agreeing with a demand for an all-virtual option at every school.

The two (?) of you may see it that way, but those of us who would like a temporary all-virtual option don't see a need to shame or alarm each other. But at this point we can't seem to hear each other over the brouhaha you're causing with wooden spoons on pots and pans because you reallllllllly don't want a virtual-only option, apparently.

There are way more people than the posters you are arguing with who don’t think every school can or should offer a virtual option. The vast majority of parents realize their kids need to be back in school, and so do policy makers. Nobody wants the quality of the instruction for kids in school to be compromised to accommodate those who are afraid to send their kids back and have the resources to allow them to succeed at home. There are virtual options, but they may require you giving up your seat. If you really think that your kid’s life or long term health are on the line, that should be a small price to pay. Although I do feel for your kid.

I am starting to think there may be more IP addresses than people.

Oh, have you inquired with Jeff? I wasn’t talking about the number of posters on this thread, by the way. I was talking about people in real life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also don't understand the moralizing of people saying they want a virtual option. There are virtual options. Choose one. No one is stopping you.

At this point the effort seems to be alarm or shame other people into agreeing with a demand for an all-virtual option at every school.

The two (?) of you may see it that way, but those of us who would like a temporary all-virtual option don't see a need to shame or alarm each other. But at this point we can't seem to hear each other over the brouhaha you're causing with wooden spoons on pots and pans because you reallllllllly don't want a virtual-only option, apparently.

There are way more people than the posters you are arguing with who don’t think every school can or should offer a virtual option. The vast majority of parents realize their kids need to be back in school, and so do policy makers. Nobody wants the quality of the instruction for kids in school to be compromised to accommodate those who are afraid to send their kids back and have the resources to allow them to succeed at home. There are virtual options, but they may require you giving up your seat. If you really think that your kid’s life or long term health are on the line, that should be a small price to pay. Although I do feel for your kid.

I am starting to think there may be more IP addresses than people.

Oh, have you inquired with Jeff? I wasn’t talking about the number of posters on this thread, by the way. I was talking about people in real life.

And regarding the number of posters on this thread, I am quite certain it is more than two, because this was my first contribution to this particular back and forth, and it doesn’t seem like all the other posts are just by one person. On the other hand, it seems like there are one or two very discernible posters emphasizing the novel danger of delta and the need to keep kids home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also don't understand the moralizing of people saying they want a virtual option. There are virtual options. Choose one. No one is stopping you.

At this point the effort seems to be alarm or shame other people into agreeing with a demand for an all-virtual option at every school.

The two (?) of you may see it that way, but those of us who would like a temporary all-virtual option don't see a need to shame or alarm each other. But at this point we can't seem to hear each other over the brouhaha you're causing with wooden spoons on pots and pans because you reallllllllly don't want a virtual-only option, apparently.

There are way more people than the posters you are arguing with who don’t think every school can or should offer a virtual option. The vast majority of parents realize their kids need to be back in school, and so do policy makers. Nobody wants the quality of the instruction for kids in school to be compromised to accommodate those who are afraid to send their kids back and have the resources to allow them to succeed at home. There are virtual options, but they may require you giving up your seat. If you really think that your kid’s life or long term health are on the line, that should be a small price to pay. Although I do feel for your kid.

I am starting to think there may be more IP addresses than people.

Oh, have you inquired with Jeff? I wasn’t talking about the number of posters on this thread, by the way. I was talking about people in real life.

And regarding the number of posters on this thread, I am quite certain it is more than two, because this was my first contribution to this particular back and forth, and it doesn’t seem like all the other posts are just by one person. On the other hand, it seems like there are one or two very discernible posters emphasizing the novel danger of delta and the need to keep kids home.

I mean if it’s just a couple of people, nothing is going to change right? Pretty sure DC doesn’t base policy on anonymous internet threads.

Also, I mentioned earlier that I’m sending my young child to school. I think the socialization aspect is important. At the same time, I sympathize with the others that want a little flexibility until they can get their child vaccinated (hopefully Oct for Pfizer) or make sure they stay caught up while quarantined. I’m worried about Delta as well based off on what I have read and heard from various doctors. I don’t think anyone was suggesting closing schools for those who currently want it and forcing everyone virtual forever. In-place is surely the best scenario long-term.

Unfortunately, that type of discussion seems too much for some people, so I’m out. This is too toxic. Good luck in the fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Public schools provide in person education. If you want your kids at home, there are lots of options. Homeschool with an online program. Then you get an individualized education and you get to keep your kids home.

Don’t throw the rest of us under the bus. I have to work and my kids have to go to school. Last year was a disaster for us.

Having a virtual option does not hurt you. In fact, it keeps you safer by getting kids out of the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also don't understand the moralizing of people saying they want a virtual option. There are virtual options. Choose one. No one is stopping you.

At this point the effort seems to be alarm or shame other people into agreeing with a demand for an all-virtual option at every school.

The two (?) of you may see it that way, but those of us who would like a temporary all-virtual option don't see a need to shame or alarm each other. But at this point we can't seem to hear each other over the brouhaha you're causing with wooden spoons on pots and pans because you reallllllllly don't want a virtual-only option, apparently.

There are way more people than the posters you are arguing with who don’t think every school can or should offer a virtual option. The vast majority of parents realize their kids need to be back in school, and so do policy makers. Nobody wants the quality of the instruction for kids in school to be compromised to accommodate those who are afraid to send their kids back and have the resources to allow them to succeed at home. There are virtual options, but they may require you giving up your seat. If you really think that your kid’s life or long term health are on the line, that should be a small price to pay. Although I do feel for your kid.

I am starting to think there may be more IP addresses than people.

Oh, have you inquired with Jeff? I wasn’t talking about the number of posters on this thread, by the way. I was talking about people in real life.

And regarding the number of posters on this thread, I am quite certain it is more than two, because this was my first contribution to this particular back and forth, and it doesn’t seem like all the other posts are just by one person. On the other hand, it seems like there are one or two very discernible posters emphasizing the novel danger of delta and the need to keep kids home.

I mean if it’s just a couple of people, nothing is going to change right? Pretty sure DC doesn’t base policy on anonymous internet threads.

Also, I mentioned earlier that I’m sending my young child to school. I think the socialization aspect is important. At the same time, I sympathize with the others that want a little flexibility until they can get their child vaccinated (hopefully Oct for Pfizer) or make sure they stay caught up while quarantined. I’m worried about Delta as well based off on what I have read and heard from various doctors. I don’t think anyone was suggesting closing schools for those who currently want it and forcing everyone virtual forever. In-place is surely the best scenario long-term.

Unfortunately, that type of discussion seems too much for some people, so I’m out. This is too toxic. Good luck in the fall.

“A little flexibility” is quite different from demanding that your school provide your kids with virtual instruction. I personally would not be opposed to letting parents homeschool and keep their charter seat, but I don’t have a stake in the charter lottery, and I also understand if parents who do feel it is unfair to block a seat while not attending. Especially since there is no guaranteed end point to this, as others have pointed out, since it is not certain that the EUA for younger kids will be approved, and we don’t know what the next variant will bring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public schools provide in person education. If you want your kids at home, there are lots of options. Homeschool with an online program. Then you get an individualized education and you get to keep your kids home.

Don’t throw the rest of us under the bus. I have to work and my kids have to go to school. Last year was a disaster for us.

Having a virtual option does not hurt you. In fact, it keeps you safer by getting kids out of the classroom.

DP. Please go back and read the thread. There is plenty of explanation of how it does hurt everyone if every school has to provide a virtual option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also don't understand the moralizing of people saying they want a virtual option. There are virtual options. Choose one. No one is stopping you.

At this point the effort seems to be alarm or shame other people into agreeing with a demand for an all-virtual option at every school.

The two (?) of you may see it that way, but those of us who would like a temporary all-virtual option don't see a need to shame or alarm each other. But at this point we can't seem to hear each other over the brouhaha you're causing with wooden spoons on pots and pans because you reallllllllly don't want a virtual-only option, apparently.

There are way more people than the posters you are arguing with who don’t think every school can or should offer a virtual option. The vast majority of parents realize their kids need to be back in school, and so do policy makers. Nobody wants the quality of the instruction for kids in school to be compromised to accommodate those who are afraid to send their kids back and have the resources to allow them to succeed at home. There are virtual options, but they may require you giving up your seat. If you really think that your kid’s life or long term health are on the line, that should be a small price to pay. Although I do feel for your kid.

I am starting to think there may be more IP addresses than people.

Oh, have you inquired with Jeff? I wasn’t talking about the number of posters on this thread, by the way. I was talking about people in real life.

And regarding the number of posters on this thread, I am quite certain it is more than two, because this was my first contribution to this particular back and forth, and it doesn’t seem like all the other posts are just by one person. On the other hand, it seems like there are one or two very discernible posters emphasizing the novel danger of delta and the need to keep kids home.

I mean if it’s just a couple of people, nothing is going to change right? Pretty sure DC doesn’t base policy on anonymous internet threads.

Also, I mentioned earlier that I’m sending my young child to school. I think the socialization aspect is important. At the same time, I sympathize with the others that want a little flexibility until they can get their child vaccinated (hopefully Oct for Pfizer) or make sure they stay caught up while quarantined. I’m worried about Delta as well based off on what I have read and heard from various doctors. I don’t think anyone was suggesting closing schools for those who currently want it and forcing everyone virtual forever. In-place is surely the best scenario long-term.

Unfortunately, that type of discussion seems too much for some people, so I’m out. This is too toxic. Good luck in the fall.

I don’t think anyone believes this thread will drive policy. Why would you think that? We are having a discussion like we do on a myriad other topics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public schools provide in person education. If you want your kids at home, there are lots of options. Homeschool with an online program. Then you get an individualized education and you get to keep your kids home.

Don’t throw the rest of us under the bus. I have to work and my kids have to go to school. Last year was a disaster for us.

Having a virtual option does not hurt you. In fact, it keeps you safer by getting kids out of the classroom.

DP. Please go back and read the thread. There is plenty of explanation of how it does hurt everyone if every school has to provide a virtual option.

There’s plenty of histrionics but no actual explanation. The bottom line is people are afraid to acknowledge the new threat that Delta poses or the responsible ways we should respond because they’re tired of the pandemic and they got a taste of freedom in June. The game has changed and this is a modest request in response to this new reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also don't understand the moralizing of people saying they want a virtual option. There are virtual options. Choose one. No one is stopping you.

At this point the effort seems to be alarm or shame other people into agreeing with a demand for an all-virtual option at every school.

The two (?) of you may see it that way, but those of us who would like a temporary all-virtual option don't see a need to shame or alarm each other. But at this point we can't seem to hear each other over the brouhaha you're causing with wooden spoons on pots and pans because you reallllllllly don't want a virtual-only option, apparently.

There are way more people than the posters you are arguing with who don’t think every school can or should offer a virtual option. The vast majority of parents realize their kids need to be back in school, and so do policy makers. Nobody wants the quality of the instruction for kids in school to be compromised to accommodate those who are afraid to send their kids back and have the resources to allow them to succeed at home. There are virtual options, but they may require you giving up your seat. If you really think that your kid’s life or long term health are on the line, that should be a small price to pay. Although I do feel for your kid.

I am starting to think there may be more IP addresses than people.

Oh, have you inquired with Jeff? I wasn’t talking about the number of posters on this thread, by the way. I was talking about people in real life.

And regarding the number of posters on this thread, I am quite certain it is more than two, because this was my first contribution to this particular back and forth, and it doesn’t seem like all the other posts are just by one person. On the other hand, it seems like there are one or two very discernible posters emphasizing the novel danger of delta and the need to keep kids home.

I mean if it’s just a couple of people, nothing is going to change right? Pretty sure DC doesn’t base policy on anonymous internet threads.

Also, I mentioned earlier that I’m sending my young child to school. I think the socialization aspect is important. At the same time, I sympathize with the others that want a little flexibility until they can get their child vaccinated (hopefully Oct for Pfizer) or make sure they stay caught up while quarantined. I’m worried about Delta as well based off on what I have read and heard from various doctors. I don’t think anyone was suggesting closing schools for those who currently want it and forcing everyone virtual forever. In-place is surely the best scenario long-term.

Unfortunately, that type of discussion seems too much for some people, so I’m out. This is too toxic. Good luck in the fall.

I don’t think anyone believes this thread will drive policy. Why would you think that? We are having a discussion like we do on a myriad other topics.

Second to last post for me haha. That stems from the couple of people who are saying concerned parents are trying to ruin it for everyone. I certainly don’t want to take the in-school option away from people, so I’d rather avoid being accused of that. Too much other stress to deal with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public schools provide in person education. If you want your kids at home, there are lots of options. Homeschool with an online program. Then you get an individualized education and you get to keep your kids home.

Don’t throw the rest of us under the bus. I have to work and my kids have to go to school. Last year was a disaster for us.

Having a virtual option does not hurt you. In fact, it keeps you safer by getting kids out of the classroom.

DP. Please go back and read the thread. There is plenty of explanation of how it does hurt everyone if every school has to provide a virtual option.

There’s plenty of histrionics but no actual explanation. The bottom line is people are afraid to acknowledge the new threat that Delta poses or the responsible ways we should respond because they’re tired of the pandemic and they got a taste of freedom in June. The game has changed and this is a modest request in response to this new reality.

I see, you are choosing to ignore the explanations, some of which came from teachers, and accuse others of histrionics so you can keep engaging in your own histrionics. Makes sense.

People are weighing the risks. Most think the risks of virtual school outweigh the risks of the virus to kids. Experts agree as well, and not out of fear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public schools provide in person education. If you want your kids at home, there are lots of options. Homeschool with an online program. Then you get an individualized education and you get to keep your kids home.

Don’t throw the rest of us under the bus. I have to work and my kids have to go to school. Last year was a disaster for us.

Having a virtual option does not hurt you. In fact, it keeps you safer by getting kids out of the classroom.

DP. Please go back and read the thread. There is plenty of explanation of how it does hurt everyone if every school has to provide a virtual option.

There’s plenty of histrionics but no actual explanation. The bottom line is people are afraid to acknowledge the new threat that Delta poses or the responsible ways we should respond because they’re tired of the pandemic and they got a taste of freedom in June. The game has changed and this is a modest request in response to this new reality.

I see, you are choosing to ignore the explanations, some of which came from teachers, and accuse others of histrionics so you can keep engaging in your own histrionics. Makes sense.

People are weighing the risks. Most think the risks of virtual school outweigh the risks of the virus to kids. Experts agree as well, and not out of fear.

+1

You clearly did not actually read the thread. There are lots of very clear and logical reasons as to why a virtual option at each school would be difficult. Many of the salient points made by teachers. But as usual you refuse to see teachers as professionals and take their opinions into consideration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public schools provide in person education. If you want your kids at home, there are lots of options. Homeschool with an online program. Then you get an individualized education and you get to keep your kids home.

Don’t throw the rest of us under the bus. I have to work and my kids have to go to school. Last year was a disaster for us.

Having a virtual option does not hurt you. In fact, it keeps you safer by getting kids out of the classroom.

DP. Please go back and read the thread. There is plenty of explanation of how it does hurt everyone if every school has to provide a virtual option.

There’s plenty of histrionics but no actual explanation. The bottom line is people are afraid to acknowledge the new threat that Delta poses or the responsible ways we should respond because they’re tired of the pandemic and they got a taste of freedom in June. The game has changed and this is a modest request in response to this new reality.

Thank you. It feels great to hear someone else say this.

One of the reactive 'feel free to go away" comments became more sophisticated from being repeated ad nauseam. Eventually, the anti-virtual poster(s) stated that those concerned parents asking for a temporary virtual option until vaccines, will never actually feel safe enough to send kids back ("goal posts' etc), and will keep asking for virtual for the next 2-3 years, so those kids might as well go to a centralized virtual option and stay there. Well, for one, that's not true. But also, that would be quite problematic.

It would be terrible for the kids and it would be terrible for the neighborhood schools.

A temporary flexible virtual option with a link to a physical school increases the chances that students will not retreat forever from in-person school. It would be terrible policy to drive the healthy students of cautious families to a permanent centralized virtual school, because it runs the risk that some or many won't seek to go back to a physical school (particularly, as some sneered, if they lose the relationship with their lotteried slots), even when vaccinated and even when it's safe. Unless, that is, DCPS wanted to rush towards the 'learning of the future' and shed some kids from its physical buildings in the medium term, which I doubt.

Losing local students to a centralized virtual school would hurt the neighborhood schools' enrollment, and destabilize them in a deeper way than allowing some kids to be full-virtual, knowing that it's more than likely that the schools would have to set up and pivot some classes to virtual on and off anyway for a few weeks at a time.

So as you said, a lot of this disagreement is from some cautious parents believing, and the anti-virtual denying, that there will be inevitable back and forth to virtual anyway until kids are fully vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

If you are attending a neighborhood school, this is moot. Take a year off and return in fall 2022. If you are attending a charter or an OOB DCPS then your talk of maintaining neighborhood schools is meaningless.

You both think this will be over in a couple months and that we'll all be going back and forth between virtual and home all year. Those things don't jive. If you think we'll just be having quarantines for a few months, you shouldn't be so worried.

I know nothing about YOU. But I know a mom at my kids school who wants this and keeps saying how great her idea is of making both available for kids to float into and out of and yaddy ya. She doesn't even realize how many classes there are per grade in the school such that her plan wouldn't even work.