Schools back in-person in 2022 due to mass-vaccine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in another state. Our private school with about 500 kids PK-8 started in person with the option for DL in August. Approx. 20% of families, including us, chose DL. I really thought opening the school was a mistake and expected the school to be closed within a month. That didn’t happen. Earlier this month, we gave up on DL and sent our kids back after seeing (1) no outbreaks at school and (2) how much of a struggle DL was both from an educational and social standpoint. One of our kids was really getting depressed (and he’s the one who usually claims to hate school!). Going back has been life-changing for our whole family. DH and I can now get our own work done without interruptions and, most importantly, our kids are so happy. Gone are the days when we had to drag them out of bed to get them dressed for school. They have never been so excited about going. I’m sure it won’t last. However, I cannot imagine keeping them home until fall 2022.

Same here. We're in MD and our kids are in private (parochial school). Been open since end of August. Lots of precautions taken. Not a single outbreak. Our kids love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Several things:
1) unions will fight tooth and nail for WFH as long as possible -> doesn’t matter what does on with vaccine and other measures;
2) there is very weak discourse re: risks of closing schools outweighing the benefits. All the equity rage has shifted into blm and such -> everyone pretending closing schools is no big deal for the kids at risk. And of course no one gives 2 flying figs about regular kids;
3) there is no organized counter pressure on unions and officials to reopen; everyone is just suffering in an isolated silence, and those advocating for reopening are labeled trumpsters. The second part may or may not change later in the year.

All of the above points to schools being closed for 2021/22
And yes I agree many people are deluding themselves because not everyone can make exit plans for one reason or another.

I wish I knew if you were right - if you were, I would absolutely cut my losses and move right now, or see if I could squeeze into a reputable Catholic school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is that for the adult vaccine? Or one that's safe for children?

The unions will insist on no in person school until all kids are vaccinated - which is not happening! The child vaccine is not even in trials yet. Omg how can people not see that no school is so convenient for so many adults in the school system????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Several things:
1) unions will fight tooth and nail for WFH as long as possible -> doesn’t matter what does on with vaccine and other measures;
2) there is very weak discourse re: risks of closing schools outweighing the benefits. All the equity rage has shifted into blm and such -> everyone pretending closing schools is no big deal for the kids at risk. And of course no one gives 2 flying figs about regular kids;
3) there is no organized counter pressure on unions and officials to reopen; everyone is just suffering in an isolated silence, and those advocating for reopening are labeled trumpsters. The second part may or may not change later in the year.

All of the above points to schools being closed for 2021/22
And yes I agree many people are deluding themselves because not everyone can make exit plans for one reason or another.

I wish I knew if you were right - if you were, I would absolutely cut my losses and move right now, or see if I could squeeze into a reputable Catholic school.

Let me add another argument (PP here). Once school is back, they will be back to their equity charades and will pour 99% of the effort into helping the kids who fell behind the most. So unless your school is like 5% farms/ESOL, tough luck for the kids who have actually been learning. Also, kids from high infection rates groups giving it to others.
I am divorcing and unemployed and can’t move or afford private; actually I might risk talking to the ex about it. I am terrified of middle school which unlike elementary is like 30% farms/ESOL. I hope they keep stable cohorts according to math placement, but let’s see how long they can do it until equity concerns kick in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in another state. Our private school with about 500 kids PK-8 started in person with the option for DL in August. Approx. 20% of families, including us, chose DL. I really thought opening the school was a mistake and expected the school to be closed within a month. That didn’t happen. Earlier this month, we gave up on DL and sent our kids back after seeing (1) no outbreaks at school and (2) how much of a struggle DL was both from an educational and social standpoint. One of our kids was really getting depressed (and he’s the one who usually claims to hate school!). Going back has been life-changing for our whole family. DH and I can now get our own work done without interruptions and, most importantly, our kids are so happy. Gone are the days when we had to drag them out of bed to get them dressed for school. They have never been so excited about going. I’m sure it won’t last. However, I cannot imagine keeping them home until fall 2022.

Same here. We're in MD and our kids are in private (parochial school). Been open since end of August. Lots of precautions taken. Not a single outbreak. Our kids love it.

That’s because you are direct paying clients and because most families actually take some sort of precautions. Imagine a public school where the client is not the direct payee, plus so many kids from high infection rates populations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is that for the adult vaccine? Or one that's safe for children?

The unions will insist on no in person school until all kids are vaccinated - which is not happening! The child vaccine is not even in trials yet. Omg how can people not see that no school is so convenient for so many adults in the school system????

I agree. They have zero incentive to agree to any terms for going back to school, until it's too hard to resist. Their members have a sweet work-at-home deal now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been saying this for months. Big public schools aren't going back until 2022-23 in the DC area. The "until zero deaths / vaccine" position taken by the unions means 2022-23 earliest.

I think some schools will pretend it will be earlier, but that's just posturing and theatrics.

I think if you want in-person school, you have to move or go to private.

I hate unions. They don't care about children at all. The only group that should be allowed to have a union is the children. This is as ridiculous as giving the CEO in a company the union power. Teachers are exploiting children and holding them hostage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea why people are pretending in-person, five-day-per-week schooling will happen in the big public school systems prior to 2022. You can read the union positions on return to work; they are published. Those standards will not be met before 2022 even WITH an effective, fully distributed vaccine for adults only, and assuming there will be a safe, effective, and fully distributed vaccine is a large assumption. Maybe there will be an effective clinical cure, but I am skeptical.

Personally I think people are engaging in this mass delusion to avoid the hard consequences of what it means to not have regular school until 2022 earliest.

Nope. There are schools everywhere that are open. You're insane if you think schools are going to be closed for TWO YEARS. You better get used to the idea of schools opening, not the other way around.

PP here. I support reopening (with distancing and masks). I also think the bulk of the credible science supports reopening (again, with mitigation). But this isn't a science-based decision, it's a political one, and when I look at the current political landscape, I don't think there will be school five days a week in the DC public schools until 2022.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I didn’t have a kid I would kill myself. Overall economic outlook is bleak for so many.

Seek professional help. This has to be your #1 priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been saying this for months. Big public schools aren't going back until 2022-23 in the DC area. The "until zero deaths / vaccine" position taken by the unions means 2022-23 earliest.

I think some schools will pretend it will be earlier, but that's just posturing and theatrics.

I think if you want in-person school, you have to move or go to private.

I hate unions. They don't care about children at all. The only group that should be allowed to have a union is the children. This is as ridiculous as giving the CEO in a company the union power. Teachers are exploiting children and holding them hostage.

And those school systems and private schools without unions that remain closed... How do you account for that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is that for the adult vaccine? Or one that's safe for children?

The unions will insist on no in person school until all kids are vaccinated - which is not happening! The child vaccine is not even in trials yet. Omg how can people not see that no school is so convenient for so many adults in the school system????

I agree. They have zero incentive to agree to any terms for going back to school, until it's too hard to resist. Their members have a sweet work-at-home deal now.

The problem is: I don’t know what could tip the scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been saying this for months. Big public schools aren't going back until 2022-23 in the DC area. The "until zero deaths / vaccine" position taken by the unions means 2022-23 earliest.

I think some schools will pretend it will be earlier, but that's just posturing and theatrics.

I think if you want in-person school, you have to move or go to private.

I hate unions. They don't care about children at all. The only group that should be allowed to have a union is the children. This is as ridiculous as giving the CEO in a company the union power. Teachers are exploiting children and holding them hostage.

And those school systems and private schools without unions that remain closed... How do you account for that?

Unions aren’t the only ones who love the deal. No school admin wants to deal with an outbreak or god forbid death. And lawsuits.

[Anonymous]

Also, let’s not kid ourselves that schools will go back to normal in terms of academics once they reopen. Equity will be immediately put on the agenda and teachers will be dealing with kids who are now light years behind.
Also: masked PE, outside in the heat? Absurd. Inside, maybe.
Also: socializing? Kids will be policed and there will be no resources left for any kind of socio emotional learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So for those of you who can’t afford private, what are you going to do?

There aren't even enough private school spots to meet the demand, even for people that can afford it.

I am actually somewhat optimistic about private schools/afterschool centers springing up due to demand.
As for those who can’t afford it, of which I am one, I am planning to make sure he does school math and put everything else school related more or less on hold. Outside sports and socialization plus tons of reading, visits to museums once they reopen, travel, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is that for the adult vaccine? Or one that's safe for children?

The unions will insist on no in person school until all kids are vaccinated - which is not happening! The child vaccine is not even in trials yet. Omg how can people not see that no school is so convenient for so many adults in the school system????

Teachers have a right to be healthy. Just because you find it convenient to ignore, doesn't mean vaccines aren't necessary to ensure that.