Apparently its racist to hire tutors and form pods, we must all suffer equally?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is yet another reason schools need to reopen. Let's make this a national priority.

Nope. Not many people want this.

Oh, yes we do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is yet another reason schools need to reopen. Let's make this a national priority.

Nope. Not many people want this.

Oh, yes we do.

+1

[Anonymous]

The real issue is the failing of government to invest money and prioritize actions that would reduce the spread of illness and allow all schools to open safely. Families are now faced with a very real problem - two parents cannot work full time and manage an entire year of distance learning. They have to problem solve to come up with a solution that works for their family.

My kids private school is planning to open 5 days a week for a full day. Kids will be in groups of 10 with a single teacher. I realize this may only last a few months before having to go back to a distance learning model. It is worth the risk.

As a mom, I have 3 choices if my kids school does not open or goes back to distance learning.

Choice 1: I can quit my job to oversee and manage 6 live school zoom calls a day plus homework for 2 kids. This would involve a substantial loss of income (6 figures).

Choice 2: I could pull my daughter out of school and have her do Kindergarten next year so I only have to oversee my 2nd graders distance learning program while working from home. Our nanny can provide childcare during working hours but cannot oversee distance learning. My daughter hated distance learning last spring and I had to sit next to her for 2-3 zoom calls per day to ensure she participated. She would only allow mommy to be with her, not daddy. Both kids wanted mommy to help with homework, not daddy. It was completely unsustainable and I was near a mental breakdown by the end of May.

Choice 3: Form a pod with a few other families and hire a teacher to ensure both childcare and learning. I would get to keep my job. My kids will be much happier and it would reduce the trauma they endured in the spring.

Is this inequitable? Of course. Do I feel bad for those without options? Yes! But families make financial choices everyday to address their individual needs.

Families have a big problem right now and government did nothing to help address it, so families are figuring out how to solve it themselves. People are crazy to think families with more money have to help those that don’t have the same means. I have my own very real problems to solve. I can’t solve everyone else’s. That is what government is for. This is a complete failure of government and its sad that so many kids will suffer without the benefit of in-person school.

If private schools can reopen with funding, then so can public schools if the federal government would step in and prioritize funding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that it’s a rich get richer phenomenon. Kids growing up with privilege are already far ahead of those without even before the pandemic. The opportunity to set up pods means that those kids will get even further ahead. There’s no easy solution to this as we’re in a society that promotes individual good rather than collective. But know in doing so you are furthering inequity. That’s the point

It’s true but also true by reading a lot to my young kids and serving them healthy food I am widening the gap. I’m not being snarky it’s a terrible problem but I don’t think it is one where we will make much headway at the parent level.

of course you can make headway on the parent level. all you have to do is devote some time and resources to organize to make sure that the less privileged kids in your school or city get access to resources.

But at what cost? Am i supposed to pay the other family’s share of the tutor? Their transportation to the pod? The cost of technology so they can adequately participate? Spend my own time teaching them because their parents don’t have the time? All of that would be at a cost to my family. Why would I do that? I will lobby and speak out for change and organize events to help change, but I’m not going to put my family at a disadvantage to help another family, particularly during an epidemic. But it’s the same for a well-to-do family. I purposefully wild not pod with a family whose parent(s) is/are doctors or other essential workers who have to go into work everyday or who need to take public transportation. I’m simply unwilling to take that risk for my family. And I’m not alone in that...

I don’t know lady - I can’t tell you what to do. But if in this time of crisis that is disproportionaly hitting minorities you circle the wagons even more and don’t help others ... that’s a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that it’s a rich get richer phenomenon. Kids growing up with privilege are already far ahead of those without even before the pandemic. The opportunity to set up pods means that those kids will get even further ahead. There’s no easy solution to this as we’re in a society that promotes individual good rather than collective. But know in doing so you are furthering inequity. That’s the point

I nursed my children for at least 18 months, fed them organic food and read to them every day. Many women did not.

I will not refuse to do the best for my children because someone else can't or won't.

It’s amusing that you think extended breastfeeding and organic food was what was best. But kudos on the reading.

I agree with nursing/organic-feeding/reading mother. No disrespect to others who made other choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that it’s a rich get richer phenomenon. Kids growing up with privilege are already far ahead of those without even before the pandemic. The opportunity to set up pods means that those kids will get even further ahead. There’s no easy solution to this as we’re in a society that promotes individual good rather than collective. But know in doing so you are furthering inequity. That’s the point

It’s true but also true by reading a lot to my young kids and serving them healthy food I am widening the gap. I’m not being snarky it’s a terrible problem but I don’t think it is one where we will make much headway at the parent level.

of course you can make headway on the parent level. all you have to do is devote some time and resources to organize to make sure that the less privileged kids in your school or city get access to resources.

But at what cost? Am i supposed to pay the other family’s share of the tutor? Their transportation to the pod? The cost of technology so they can adequately participate? Spend my own time teaching them because their parents don’t have the time? All of that would be at a cost to my family. Why would I do that? I will lobby and speak out for change and organize events to help change, but I’m not going to put my family at a disadvantage to help another family, particularly during an epidemic. But it’s the same for a well-to-do family. I purposefully wild not pod with a family whose parent(s) is/are doctors or other essential workers who have to go into work everyday or who need to take public transportation. I’m simply unwilling to take that risk for my family. And I’m not alone in that...

I don’t know lady - I can’t tell you what to do. But if in this time of crisis that is disproportionaly hitting minorities you circle the wagons even more and don’t help others ... that’s a problem.

It's really not. I prioritize the kids that I chose to birth/adopt, and others get the energy and money that I can spare. If this situation means I have none to spare, so be it.

[Anonymous]

So tired of every damn thing being labeled racist. I’m desensitized and I just don’t care.

[Anonymous]

Your primary responsibility is to your kids. It’s great to help others as well, but do what’s best for your own kids first. Ignore the meaningless noise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there’s it’s extremely risky (and morally bankrupt) to ignore the different effects distance learning is going to have on various community members/groups but I don’t know if this take on it is the most effective. It feels like it will put people stressed/frantic people who would be amenable/educable on the defensive about their very human efforts to work something out for their kids (which in the end helps no one.) Rich urban liberals can be powerful advocates, to put it diplomatically, and this doesn’t feel it’s poised to harness that potential.

+100. This kind of thing is actually harmful to the cause of real equality and eradication of racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that it’s a rich get richer phenomenon. Kids growing up with privilege are already far ahead of those without even before the pandemic. The opportunity to set up pods means that those kids will get even further ahead. There’s no easy solution to this as we’re in a society that promotes individual good rather than collective. But know in doing so you are furthering inequity. That’s the point

It’s true but also true by reading a lot to my young kids and serving them healthy food I am widening the gap. I’m not being snarky it’s a terrible problem but I don’t think it is one where we will make much headway at the parent level.

of course you can make headway on the parent level. all you have to do is devote some time and resources to organize to make sure that the less privileged kids in your school or city get access to resources.

But at what cost? Am i supposed to pay the other family’s share of the tutor? Their transportation to the pod? The cost of technology so they can adequately participate? Spend my own time teaching them because their parents don’t have the time? All of that would be at a cost to my family. Why would I do that? I will lobby and speak out for change and organize events to help change, but I’m not going to put my family at a disadvantage to help another family, particularly during an epidemic. But it’s the same for a well-to-do family. I purposefully wild not pod with a family whose parent(s) is/are doctors or other essential workers who have to go into work everyday or who need to take public transportation. I’m simply unwilling to take that risk for my family. And I’m not alone in that...

I don’t know lady - I can’t tell you what to do. But if in this time of crisis that is disproportionaly hitting minorities you circle the wagons even more and don’t help others ... that’s a problem.

It's really not. I prioritize the kids that I chose to birth/adopt, and others get the energy and money that I can spare. If this situation means I have none to spare, so be it.

exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s inherently privileged. It is not inherently racist.

There was advice in the NYT article to invite economically disadvantaged students to join your pods. I doubt anyone on DCUM will.

How does one do that? We talked about inviting others in our group but not sure how to go about it.

[Anonymous]

Why give these folks attention? Just ignore. I think its a bad idea as its how covid spreads but we parent our kids and happy to teach them as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is yet another reason schools need to reopen. Let's make this a national priority.

Nope. Not many people want this.

Oh, yes we do.

+1

+1 most people want schools reopen if not full time then at least in part. Anything less then that is a travesty

[Anonymous]

Maybe its time to start marketing your pod, "Our pod offers a Harvard Graduate Tutor who loves kids and is fluent in 5 languages! Relax by the pool when you are on break between online classes or play ball with the two professionally trained hypoallergenic designer miniature Labradoodles. For lunch, we are offering a 3-course organic keto farm-fresh meal accompanied by various fresh hand squeed organic craft juices made on site by our amazing Michelin Star chef. Taking applications now! $500 non-refundable fee. Must provide 2 years of taxes and the last 2 paychecks showing an HHI of $750k a year. Minimum 4.25 GPA from a school rated at least 9 or higher on greatschool.com. Please also provide 4 personal and professional references, and a completed Myers–Briggs test of your child and at least one adult family member. Can't wait to meet you!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is yet another reason schools need to reopen. Let's make this a national priority.

Nope. Not many people want this.

Oh, yes we do.

+1

+1 most people want schools reopen if not full time then at least in part. Anything less then that is a travesty

+2

And we need to focus on this issue NOW so that we’re not dealing with the same damn problems a year from now.