The prospect of kids not going back to school until 2021

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This language about teachers wanting a "free pass" is really not fair if it's coming from people whose jobs entail working in private offices or cubicles with masks on. Teachers absolutely face higher risk than your average worker, and we need to acknowledge that if we are going to make this work.

Since you sound pretty co go cer about this, care to show me some studies? Because other research is showing that transmission is not as high among kids. Schools are open all over Europe, you should be able to find sone data to support your hypothesis.

They really aren't open all over Europe. Here's an article about a few places that tentatively reopened with many, many restrictions, with varying degrees of success: https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherrim/2020/06/12/what-international-school-reopenings-say-about-nycs-tentative-plan-for-the-fall/#3138f00050b4

There is so much hostility toward teachers on here. So clearly people will not be listening to teachers. Maybe they will listen to public health authorities.

Berlin announced they will reopen schools without social distance requirements at the end of August. I expect the rest of Germany to follow suit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids won't be back in classroom until January, at the earliest. Do you want to dump your kids in school or do you want the kids, teachers, and staff to be safe?

They are basically one and the same, as long as those who are vulnerable (obese, over 65) isolate themselves.

Who do you think is going to be left to run and teach in this school? Serious, non-snarky question. Once you remove everyone with high risk for COVID, who is left?

PP, in my anecdotal experience at least, there are plenty of teachers in MCPS who are not obese and/or over 65.

I can think of 20 teachers on our staff of over 100 who would be left. Even a lot of the young ones are obese or have health issues. I go on outdoor ed and day field trips so I know who is diabetic, asthmatic, or has a heart condition. There are two Type I diabetics under 32. Then there’s people like me who live with highly vulnerable family members.

80% of MCPS teaching staff at your school is old or in ill health? Wow. What's up with that?

I am a teacher in my twenties who exercises seven days a week and has no underlying conditions. My husband has a history of major lung surgery and we live with a family member who donated a vital organ to his dying brother. I realize that my family isn't important to you-I know this because your family isn't important to me. See how that works? The health and well-being of my family will always be paramount to providing childcare so other people can work.

Maybe being a teacher isn't for you then. Do you also stay home for the entirety of flu season every year? What about when someone in your class get strep throat? Do you go ahead and stay out for a month just in case?

As someone who also works with children it's not a career that has ever been completely risk free. EVER. Kids get sick and have the potential to spread illness. If you aren't willing to accept ANY risk of that then really you shouldn't be teaching at all-pandemic or otherwise.

No, and last year the majority of my class got the flu. And then a few days later so did I, and then so did my family. I wonder if it had anything to do with the kids who kept coming in with fevers and coughs, whose parents refused to answer the phone when we called them to report they were ill, and who put everything in their mouths. Or maybe when they asked me to help them blow their noses, or when they sneezed directly on me, or when they didn't wash their hands after using the bathroom. Probably not, though, by your calculations!
This is not the flu, it is not a cold, and it is not an acceptable level of risk. We know this because our entire global society shut down to prevent the spread, and even so 428,000 people have died. You are free to go lick door knobs or attend a 300,000 person Trump rally in Tulsa or whatever it is you do for fun. Other people don't need to expose themselves to COVID so you can work. Sorry! Maybe it's you who should change careers, and find something more flexible that will allow you to take care of YOUR children during hybrid instruction in the fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This language about teachers wanting a "free pass" is really not fair if it's coming from people whose jobs entail working in private offices or cubicles with masks on. Teachers absolutely face higher risk than your average worker, and we need to acknowledge that if we are going to make this work.

Since you sound pretty co go cer about this, care to show me some studies? Because other research is showing that transmission is not as high among kids. Schools are open all over Europe, you should be able to find sone data to support your hypothesis.

They really aren't open all over Europe. Here's an article about a few places that tentatively reopened with many, many restrictions, with varying degrees of success: https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherrim/2020/06/12/what-international-school-reopenings-say-about-nycs-tentative-plan-for-the-fall/#3138f00050b4

There is so much hostility toward teachers on here. So clearly people will not be listening to teachers. Maybe they will listen to public health authorities.

Berlin announced they will reopen schools without social distance requirements at the end of August. I expect the rest of Germany to follow suit.

Yes, Germany has been very successful in minimizing the virus. They have 1/10 the number of cases and deaths that we do. And even when adjusted for population they have 100 deaths per million, while we have 350 deaths per million and rising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
No, and last year the majority of my class got the flu. And then a few days later so did I, and then so did my family. I wonder if it had anything to do with the kids who kept coming in with fevers and coughs, whose parents refused to answer the phone when we called them to report they were ill, and who put everything in their mouths. Or maybe when they asked me to help them blow their noses, or when they sneezed directly on me, or when they didn't wash their hands after using the bathroom. Probably not, though, by your calculations!
This is not the flu, it is not a cold, and it is not an acceptable level of risk. We know this because our entire global society shut down to prevent the spread, and even so 428,000 people have died. You are free to go lick door knobs or attend a 300,000 person Trump rally in Tulsa or whatever it is you do for fun. Other people don't need to expose themselves to COVID so you can work. Sorry! Maybe it's you who should change careers, and find something more flexible that will allow you to take care of YOUR children during hybrid instruction in the fall.

My kids are in high school. I don't need child care. I want my kids to go to school in the fall because kids need to go to school. The social costs of kids being out of school are enormous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, Germany has been very successful in minimizing the virus. They have 1/10 the number of cases and deaths that we do. And even when adjusted for population they have 100 deaths per million, while we have 350 deaths per million and rising.

It's not like the number of deaths per million is going to go down. Not unless people arise from their graves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This language about teachers wanting a "free pass" is really not fair if it's coming from people whose jobs entail working in private offices or cubicles with masks on. Teachers absolutely face higher risk than your average worker, and we need to acknowledge that if we are going to make this work.

Since you sound pretty co go cer about this, care to show me some studies? Because other research is showing that transmission is not as high among kids. Schools are open all over Europe, you should be able to find sone data to support your hypothesis.

They really aren't open all over Europe. Here's an article about a few places that tentatively reopened with many, many restrictions, with varying degrees of success: https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherrim/2020/06/12/what-international-school-reopenings-say-about-nycs-tentative-plan-for-the-fall/#3138f00050b4

There is so much hostility toward teachers on here. So clearly people will not be listening to teachers. Maybe they will listen to public health authorities.

DP. At some point, collectively we will need to decide to accept a level of risk or not. I just kind of think it’s nuts that we are opening indoor gyms and indoor dining over schools. It’s shows you where our priorities lie. Functioning schools (and daycares) are critical to our society and we will be at a stalemate until that happens.

This board is relatively privileged relative to the DMV in general. There are a ton of kids for which for one reason or another, distance learning is not a viable option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids won't be back in classroom until January, at the earliest. Do you want to dump your kids in school or do you want the kids, teachers, and staff to be safe?

They are basically one and the same, as long as those who are vulnerable (obese, over 65) isolate themselves.

Who do you think is going to be left to run and teach in this school? Serious, non-snarky question. Once you remove everyone with high risk for COVID, who is left?

PP, in my anecdotal experience at least, there are plenty of teachers in MCPS who are not obese and/or over 65.

I can think of 20 teachers on our staff of over 100 who would be left. Even a lot of the young ones are obese or have health issues. I go on outdoor ed and day field trips so I know who is diabetic, asthmatic, or has a heart condition. There are two Type I diabetics under 32. Then there’s people like me who live with highly vulnerable family members.

80% of MCPS teaching staff at your school is old or in ill health? Wow. What's up with that?

I am a teacher in my twenties who exercises seven days a week and has no underlying conditions. My husband has a history of major lung surgery and we live with a family member who donated a vital organ to his dying brother. I realize that my family isn't important to you-I know this because your family isn't important to me. See how that works? The health and well-being of my family will always be paramount to providing childcare so other people can work.

Maybe being a teacher isn't for you then. Do you also stay home for the entirety of flu season every year? What about when someone in your class get strep throat? Do you go ahead and stay out for a month just in case?

As someone who also works with children it's not a career that has ever been completely risk free. EVER. Kids get sick and have the potential to spread illness. If you aren't willing to accept ANY risk of that then really you shouldn't be teaching at all-pandemic or otherwise.

No, and last year the majority of my class got the flu. And then a few days later so did I, and then so did my family. I wonder if it had anything to do with the kids who kept coming in with fevers and coughs, whose parents refused to answer the phone when we called them to report they were ill, and who put everything in their mouths. Or maybe when they asked me to help them blow their noses, or when they sneezed directly on me, or when they didn't wash their hands after using the bathroom. Probably not, though, by your calculations!
This is not the flu, it is not a cold, and it is not an acceptable level of risk. We know this because our entire global society shut down to prevent the spread, and even so 428,000 people have died. You are free to go lick door knobs or attend a 300,000 person Trump rally in Tulsa or whatever it is you do for fun. Other people don't need to expose themselves to COVID so you can work. Sorry! Maybe it's you who should change careers, and find something more flexible that will allow you to take care of YOUR children during hybrid instruction in the fall.

DP. You really need to find a different job to protect the people you live with, preferably one where you can work from home. Although I do think that wearing a mask and not touching your eyes (or licking doorknobs, for that matter), you would be fairly well protected. You would be more likely to catch it from other adults at school than from the kids, who tend to be less contagious, as the current evidence suggest. You can rage all you want that you don't care about people's childcare needs, but the fact of the matter is that it is part of your job as a public school teacher. It is preposterous to suggest otherwise. So if you can't do your job, switch careers. And no, I personally don't need childcare, but I can empathize with people who do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, Germany has been very successful in minimizing the virus. They have 1/10 the number of cases and deaths that we do. And even when adjusted for population they have 100 deaths per million, while we have 350 deaths per million and rising.

It's not like the number of deaths per million is going to go down. Not unless people arise from their graves.

Ha, fair point. I guess I was comparing the US to Germany, where deaths have stabilized considerably.

[Anonymous]

Trump could have had this sorted a month ago but no he had to open his fat gob and refuse to wear a mask just begging for a 2nd wave. Instead of yelling at teachers focus on the mess left in his wake for the Fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

DP. At some point, collectively we will need to decide to accept a level of risk or not. I just kind of think it’s nuts that we are opening indoor gyms and indoor dining over schools. It’s shows you where our priorities lie. Functioning schools (and daycares) are critical to our society and we will be at a stalemate until that happens.

This board is relatively privileged relative to the DMV in general. There are a ton of kids for which for one reason or another, distance learning is not a viable option.

Distance learning has been unsuccessful for my privileged kids. 3 months this spring, I can understand. More next fall? No way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This language about teachers wanting a "free pass" is really not fair if it's coming from people whose jobs entail working in private offices or cubicles with masks on. Teachers absolutely face higher risk than your average worker, and we need to acknowledge that if we are going to make this work.

Since you sound pretty co go cer about this, care to show me some studies? Because other research is showing that transmission is not as high among kids. Schools are open all over Europe, you should be able to find sone data to support your hypothesis.

They really aren't open all over Europe. Here's an article about a few places that tentatively reopened with many, many restrictions, with varying degrees of success: https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherrim/2020/06/12/what-international-school-reopenings-say-about-nycs-tentative-plan-for-the-fall/#3138f00050b4

There is so much hostility toward teachers on here. So clearly people will not be listening to teachers. Maybe they will listen to public health authorities.

Berlin announced they will reopen schools without social distance requirements at the end of August. I expect the rest of Germany to follow suit.

We are not Berlin or Germany where more people may follow the rules. We are probably going to have a huge serge again as people refuse to social distance and stay home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

DP. At some point, collectively we will need to decide to accept a level of risk or not. I just kind of think it’s nuts that we are opening indoor gyms and indoor dining over schools. It’s shows you where our priorities lie. Functioning schools (and daycares) are critical to our society and we will be at a stalemate until that happens.

This board is relatively privileged relative to the DMV in general. There are a ton of kids for which for one reason or another, distance learning is not a viable option.

Distance learning has been unsuccessful for my privileged kids. 3 months this spring, I can understand. More next fall? No way.

Mine did far better as we had a lousy teacher and we could supplement/help. If your kids are privileged hire a tutor. You can afford it with your privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trump could have had this sorted a month ago but no he had to open his fat gob and refuse to wear a mask just begging for a 2nd wave. Instead of yelling at teachers focus on the mess left in his wake for the Fall.

If you are following Trump as your guide, you have serious issues. It is individuals refusing to stay home this summer and demanding things open that will cause the 2nd and even 3rd wave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

DP. At some point, collectively we will need to decide to accept a level of risk or not. I just kind of think it’s nuts that we are opening indoor gyms and indoor dining over schools. It’s shows you where our priorities lie. Functioning schools (and daycares) are critical to our society and we will be at a stalemate until that happens.

This board is relatively privileged relative to the DMV in general. There are a ton of kids for which for one reason or another, distance learning is not a viable option.

Distance learning has been unsuccessful for my privileged kids. 3 months this spring, I can understand. More next fall? No way.

In fairness, I would hope that if there is DL in the fall for older kids, it will be better.

My kids are in high school, and for the most part hated DL, but I think that if we can't open full-time, we should bring K-6 back with social distancing. That needs to be the priority. It has to happen.

For older kids, figure out a way to have better distance learning with some in person component, even if just a few days per week

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids won't be back in classroom until January, at the earliest. Do you want to dump your kids in school or do you want the kids, teachers, and staff to be safe?

They are basically one and the same, as long as those who are vulnerable (obese, over 65) isolate themselves.

Who do you think is going to be left to run and teach in this school? Serious, non-snarky question. Once you remove everyone with high risk for COVID, who is left?

PP, in my anecdotal experience at least, there are plenty of teachers in MCPS who are not obese and/or over 65.

I can think of 20 teachers on our staff of over 100 who would be left. Even a lot of the young ones are obese or have health issues. I go on outdoor ed and day field trips so I know who is diabetic, asthmatic, or has a heart condition. There are two Type I diabetics under 32. Then there’s people like me who live with highly vulnerable family members.

80% of MCPS teaching staff at your school is old or in ill health? Wow. What's up with that?

I am a teacher in my twenties who exercises seven days a week and has no underlying conditions. My husband has a history of major lung surgery and we live with a family member who donated a vital organ to his dying brother. I realize that my family isn't important to you-I know this because your family isn't important to me. See how that works? The health and well-being of my family will always be paramount to providing childcare so other people can work.

Maybe being a teacher isn't for you then. Do you also stay home for the entirety of flu season every year? What about when someone in your class get strep throat? Do you go ahead and stay out for a month just in case?

As someone who also works with children it's not a career that has ever been completely risk free. EVER. Kids get sick and have the potential to spread illness. If you aren't willing to accept ANY risk of that then really you shouldn't be teaching at all-pandemic or otherwise.

No, and last year the majority of my class got the flu. And then a few days later so did I, and then so did my family. I wonder if it had anything to do with the kids who kept coming in with fevers and coughs, whose parents refused to answer the phone when we called them to report they were ill, and who put everything in their mouths. Or maybe when they asked me to help them blow their noses, or when they sneezed directly on me, or when they didn't wash their hands after using the bathroom. Probably not, though, by your calculations!
This is not the flu, it is not a cold, and it is not an acceptable level of risk. We know this because our entire global society shut down to prevent the spread, and even so 428,000 people have died. You are free to go lick door knobs or attend a 300,000 person Trump rally in Tulsa or whatever it is you do for fun. Other people don't need to expose themselves to COVID so you can work. Sorry! Maybe it's you who should change careers, and find something more flexible that will allow you to take care of YOUR children during hybrid instruction in the fall.

DP. You really need to find a different job to protect the people you live with, preferably one where you can work from home. Although I do think that wearing a mask and not touching your eyes (or licking doorknobs, for that matter), you would be fairly well protected. You would be more likely to catch it from other adults at school than from the kids, who tend to be less contagious, as the current evidence suggest. You can rage all you want that you don't care about people's childcare needs, but the fact of the matter is that it is part of your job as a public school teacher. It is preposterous to suggest otherwise. So if you can't do your job, switch careers. And no, I personally don't need childcare, but I can empathize with people who do.

I know several people who don't care and send their kids in sick. They drug them in the AM to mask the symptoms. Its not just about the teachers but kids getting sick and spreading it to their families. The only year we didn't have a huge surge was a strict teacher who made every effort to send kids home, had the kids clean their desks, chairs and no shared supplies a few times a week. Teachers need to clean more and keep sending kids home each and every time they are sick. Schools need to do temperature checks in the AM, lunch and when leaving school.