Schools as babysitters - please take a moment to think about who you are bashing.

[Anonymous]

There have been public schools which have provided daycare for well over 100 years. It is so patently ridiculous to say that parents should have prepared to go without something that has been around since their grandparent's time, that anyone who argues otherwise is clearly a troll.

What's next? You shouldn't have a child unless you're prepared to pay for potential cancer treatment out of pocket? You shouldn't drive a car unless you're prepared to pave your own roads? You shouldn't have a family unless you're prepared to grow all your own food?

[Anonymous]

The people who scream "school isn't childcare" tend to be appallingly racist, sexist, and elitist. The way they disparage childcare workers is disgusting.

That phrase is basically a dog whistle at this point, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The people who scream "school isn't childcare" tend to be appallingly racist, sexist, and elitist. The way they disparage childcare workers is disgusting.

That phrase is basically a dog whistle at this point, IMO.

Well and also...it's taught in intro to education courses that schools in the US serve multiple social roles. So, school is ALSO daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There have been public schools which have provided daycare for well over 100 years. It is so patently ridiculous to say that parents should have prepared to go without something that has been around since their grandparent's time, that anyone who argues otherwise is clearly a troll.

What's next? You shouldn't have a child unless you're prepared to pay for potential cancer treatment out of pocket? You shouldn't drive a car unless you're prepared to pave your own roads? You shouldn't have a family unless you're prepared to grow all your own food?

It’s so sad that this is even an argument. The daycares in my area that organized programs to oversee elearning range in price from $1275 to over $1600. This is more than the price of many private schools. I don’t know many people who can fork over that kind of money every month without any impact on their finances. And what about people with multiple children? It’s truly an untenable situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The people who scream "school isn't childcare" tend to be appallingly racist, sexist, and elitist. The way they disparage childcare workers is disgusting.

That phrase is basically a dog whistle at this point, IMO.

And yet, disturbingly, numerous people who identify themselves as teachers on these boards will say it.

I always assume they aren't actually teachers, of course, but far-right or libertarian trolls. But it is alarming how often the sentiment pops up in these conversations as though it has any validity at all. And the variations!

No teacher I've ever actually talked to in real life thinks this. The prevailing wisdom on education is that schools teach "the whole child" which means they serve many roles including but not limited to academic enrichment. And that includes protecting and caring for children, which is why educators are also mandatory reporters and why schools have legal responsibilities for keeping track of children.

[Anonymous]

It isn’t racist to point out that schools have no responsibility to provide childcare during an emergency. Schools routinely close for hurricanes, fires, and blizzards. The pandemic is an ongoing emergency. More low income families and families of color have opted out of in person learning when given the choice. It IS racist to assume that your priorities are the same as everyone else’s and that poor people are eager to warehouse their children in school buildings during the pandemic when they have explicitly said that they do not feel comfortable with that risk. You do realize that contracting the virus and the resulting loss of work (for possibly all income earning members of a household, not just one) and paying for the medical expenses (many people are uninsured or have catastrophic plans that cover very little) could be devestating for these families, right? They may also place more value on keeping their children and relatives safe, over the cold calculation many are making that their own are unlikely to become seriously ill. You don’t get to decide what’s best for another group of people and use that to push your own agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isn’t racist to point out that schools have no responsibility to provide childcare during an emergency. Schools routinely close for hurricanes, fires, and blizzards. The pandemic is an ongoing emergency. More low income families and families of color have opted out of in person learning when given the choice. It IS racist to assume that your priorities are the same as everyone else’s and that poor people are eager to warehouse their children in school buildings during the pandemic when they have explicitly said that they do not feel comfortable with that risk. You do realize that contracting the virus and the resulting loss of work (for possibly all income earning members of a household, not just one) and paying for the medical expenses (many people are uninsured or have catastrophic plans that cover very little) could be devestating for these families, right? They may also place more value on keeping their children and relatives safe, over the cold calculation many are making that their own are unlikely to become seriously ill. You don’t get to decide what’s best for another group of people and use that to push your own agenda.

You might not want to speak for "these families" either, because they are not all the same and it is racist of you to assume that they are. A visit to many a soccer field on the weekend or any construction site might suggest that the fear of the virus and resultant illness and loss of wages isn't driving the behavior of all of "these families."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isn’t racist to point out that schools have no responsibility to provide childcare during an emergency. Schools routinely close for hurricanes, fires, and blizzards. The pandemic is an ongoing emergency. More low income families and families of color have opted out of in person learning when given the choice. It IS racist to assume that your priorities are the same as everyone else’s and that poor people are eager to warehouse their children in school buildings during the pandemic when they have explicitly said that they do not feel comfortable with that risk. You do realize that contracting the virus and the resulting loss of work (for possibly all income earning members of a household, not just one) and paying for the medical expenses (many people are uninsured or have catastrophic plans that cover very little) could be devestating for these families, right? They may also place more value on keeping their children and relatives safe, over the cold calculation many are making that their own are unlikely to become seriously ill. You don’t get to decide what’s best for another group of people and use that to push your own agenda.

Well said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isn’t racist to point out that schools have no responsibility to provide childcare during an emergency. Schools routinely close for hurricanes, fires, and blizzards. The pandemic is an ongoing emergency. More low income families and families of color have opted out of in person learning when given the choice. It IS racist to assume that your priorities are the same as everyone else’s and that poor people are eager to warehouse their children in school buildings during the pandemic when they have explicitly said that they do not feel comfortable with that risk. You do realize that contracting the virus and the resulting loss of work (for possibly all income earning members of a household, not just one) and paying for the medical expenses (many people are uninsured or have catastrophic plans that cover very little) could be devestating for these families, right? They may also place more value on keeping their children and relatives safe, over the cold calculation many are making that their own are unlikely to become seriously ill. You don’t get to decide what’s best for another group of people and use that to push your own agenda.

Unlike you, I don't walk around talking about "these families" to justify my own selfishness.

I want schools open (in a safe way) because it's what is best for my kid. Secondarily, I want others to also be able to choose whether to send their kids to school. But my primary concern is my own child, and I'm not going to speculate about what other families want or need. I can only advocate for myself and my family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isn’t racist to point out that schools have no responsibility to provide childcare during an emergency. Schools routinely close for hurricanes, fires, and blizzards. The pandemic is an ongoing emergency. More low income families and families of color have opted out of in person learning when given the choice. It IS racist to assume that your priorities are the same as everyone else’s and that poor people are eager to warehouse their children in school buildings during the pandemic when they have explicitly said that they do not feel comfortable with that risk. You do realize that contracting the virus and the resulting loss of work (for possibly all income earning members of a household, not just one) and paying for the medical expenses (many people are uninsured or have catastrophic plans that cover very little) could be devestating for these families, right? They may also place more value on keeping their children and relatives safe, over the cold calculation many are making that their own are unlikely to become seriously ill. You don’t get to decide what’s best for another group of people and use that to push your own agenda.

The pandemic was an emergency in March. Now we know much more about the disease, and in fact schools in many places have been open for a long time. School is essential, beyond just providing education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn’t racist to point out that schools have no responsibility to provide childcare during an emergency. Schools routinely close for hurricanes, fires, and blizzards. The pandemic is an ongoing emergency. More low income families and families of color have opted out of in person learning when given the choice. It IS racist to assume that your priorities are the same as everyone else’s and that poor people are eager to warehouse their children in school buildings during the pandemic when they have explicitly said that they do not feel comfortable with that risk. You do realize that contracting the virus and the resulting loss of work (for possibly all income earning members of a household, not just one) and paying for the medical expenses (many people are uninsured or have catastrophic plans that cover very little) could be devestating for these families, right? They may also place more value on keeping their children and relatives safe, over the cold calculation many are making that their own are unlikely to become seriously ill. You don’t get to decide what’s best for another group of people and use that to push your own agenda.

The pandemic was an emergency in March. Now we know much more about the disease, and in fact schools in many places have been open for a long time. School is essential, beyond just providing education.

Exactly. PP needs to get a grip on reality instead of threading together a narrative with misinformation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people who scream "school isn't childcare" tend to be appallingly racist, sexist, and elitist. The way they disparage childcare workers is disgusting.

That phrase is basically a dog whistle at this point, IMO.

And yet, disturbingly, numerous people who identify themselves as teachers on these boards will say it.

I always assume they aren't actually teachers, of course, but far-right or libertarian trolls. But it is alarming how often the sentiment pops up in these conversations as though it has any validity at all. And the variations!

No teacher I've ever actually talked to in real life thinks this. The prevailing wisdom on education is that schools teach "the whole child" which means they serve many roles including but not limited to academic enrichment. And that includes protecting and caring for children, which is why educators are also mandatory reporters and why schools have legal responsibilities for keeping track of children.

Agree. The sentiment is disgusting and it's appalling that teachers express it. One thing the pandemic has unfortunately taught me is how many people who identify themselves as educators online are deeply racist and sexist. It's vile. I hope they are trolls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isn’t racist to point out that schools have no responsibility to provide childcare during an emergency. Schools routinely close for hurricanes, fires, and blizzards. The pandemic is an ongoing emergency. More low income families and families of color have opted out of in person learning when given the choice. It IS racist to assume that your priorities are the same as everyone else’s and that poor people are eager to warehouse their children in school buildings during the pandemic when they have explicitly said that they do not feel comfortable with that risk. You do realize that contracting the virus and the resulting loss of work (for possibly all income earning members of a household, not just one) and paying for the medical expenses (many people are uninsured or have catastrophic plans that cover very little) could be devestating for these families, right? They may also place more value on keeping their children and relatives safe, over the cold calculation many are making that their own are unlikely to become seriously ill. You don’t get to decide what’s best for another group of people and use that to push your own agenda.

The phrase "school isn't childcare" is at heart a racist and sexist sentiment. And I'm not deciding anything, I just prefer to avoid using racist dog whistles. Obviously you are fine with that, though.

[Anonymous]

I've taught at many different public schools in my career. The kids at my low SES (90%+ FARMS) rarely had childcare issues because they tended to live with extended family. In fact, I rarely had a student not picked up after school or during school if they got sick. But it was at the wealthy schools where I worked that it was the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find the overall argument ridiculous. Teachers aren't just in charge of lecturing. Schools are there to engage and teach students skills beyond just reading and writing, but how to be a student, focus on tasks, take responsibility, etc. They're clearly not able to do that virtually.

+1 billion.
My kids are in HS and well past the 'childcare' stage but I can see how DL is inadequate. Oh, before you ask, we can afford 'childcare'.