Schools closed for students Monday Feb 2

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This screams union all over it.

They missed their records day 1/26 so are getting it 2/2. Kids be damned.

Yup. That’s the way this makes sense. They need the grading day back despite being closed all of last week.

You try finalizing grades for 150 kids on the same day you are meeting new kids and planning for a new quarter.

And if you respond with, “it should have been done last week” when we weren’t getting paid… you are part of the problem why educators leave. The disrespect is unfathomable.

Don’t worry-you’ll get paid for a full day’s work when MCPS adds 4 half days in June and you put videos on to entertain the students while you clean out you classroom, when you’re paid a good salary to do actual instructional time.

This is what bothers me the most about MCPS adding days to the school year. Take away any remaining professional days and whatever part of spring break is not legally required. MCPS adds half days instead and of actual instruction.

Yes. It baffles me that people scream about how it's impossible to do virtual learning because their kid learns better in person and it's inferior to the in-person product MCPS offers. It's like they want to ignore that last year MCPS added only half days in end-June where most kids spend their days in front of screens, because instruction was over for the year.

+1 million. People are comparing virtual learning to in-person learning as if it's possible for MCPS to make up 4 snow days this year in a way that's comparable to normal school. But the reality is that most days are going to be added on in end-June. A lot of kids won't come, and last year, my kids mostly watched videos.

So you hate virtual learning but want your kids watching videos for half-days June because teachers are done teaching?

Honestly, I really don't want to supervise virtual learning for my ASD 6 yo for multiple days on end. It sounds completely miserable and also I have a job. Maybe if it were limited to a couple of days or teachers sent packets home instead of would be somewhat tolerable.

Then have your child skip it. Should the entire county miss out because your 6 year old can’t handle virtual? And for your child, just read him some extra stories in the evening or have him bake cookies with you. I guarantee you he will get more out of that than any school lesson at that age

I don't want my child to miss instruction. First grade is very academic. And if they aren't doing any actual instruction virtually, why do it at all?

I guess you must have missed those lessons in kindergarten where kids are taught that the world doesn't revolve around them and their preferences, and that they need to consider others.

Sounds like you want people to care about your kids but you don't want to care about other people's kids

Lazy momma, I had two kids in K-2 plus a full-time job for more than a year during COVID when MCPS was closed. Believe me, I understand that it's suboptimal for kids those age, and that it's a lot of work for the parent, but sometimes the world isn't designed according to your preferences, and that's the way it should be.

You need to dig your head out of your nether regions and recognize that kids in Grades3+ are able to navigate virtual learning independently. It should not be that HS kids bomb their AP exams, because you're too lazy to help a 6 year old figure out how to use a computer for a few days until the severe weather conditions are over.

+1 Alexandria PS has had virtual learning for kids Gr3+ since last Wednesday including today. You can't always get what you want, and school districts do the best they can with situations they have.

But what you want is for me to not even say what I want. And for saying what I want I get a stream of abuse. And you somehow think you have the moral high ground?

Do you always react so defensively to people telling you facts? Do you want me to lie and tell you Alexandria PS didn't have virtual learning today? Would that make you feel better?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This screams union all over it.

They missed their records day 1/26 so are getting it 2/2. Kids be damned.

Yup. That’s the way this makes sense. They need the grading day back despite being closed all of last week.

You try finalizing grades for 150 kids on the same day you are meeting new kids and planning for a new quarter.

And if you respond with, “it should have been done last week” when we weren’t getting paid… you are part of the problem why educators leave. The disrespect is unfathomable.

Don’t worry-you’ll get paid for a full day’s work when MCPS adds 4 half days in June and you put videos on to entertain the students while you clean out you classroom, when you’re paid a good salary to do actual instructional time.

This is what bothers me the most about MCPS adding days to the school year. Take away any remaining professional days and whatever part of spring break is not legally required. MCPS adds half days instead and of actual instruction.

Yes. It baffles me that people scream about how it's impossible to do virtual learning because their kid learns better in person and it's inferior to the in-person product MCPS offers. It's like they want to ignore that last year MCPS added only half days in end-June where most kids spend their days in front of screens, because instruction was over for the year.

+1 million. People are comparing virtual learning to in-person learning as if it's possible for MCPS to make up 4 snow days this year in a way that's comparable to normal school. But the reality is that most days are going to be added on in end-June. A lot of kids won't come, and last year, my kids mostly watched videos.

So you hate virtual learning but want your kids watching videos for half-days June because teachers are done teaching?

Honestly, I really don't want to supervise virtual learning for my ASD 6 yo for multiple days on end. It sounds completely miserable and also I have a job. Maybe if it were limited to a couple of days or teachers sent packets home instead of would be somewhat tolerable.

Then have your child skip it. Should the entire county miss out because your 6 year old can’t handle virtual? And for your child, just read him some extra stories in the evening or have him bake cookies with you. I guarantee you he will get more out of that than any school lesson at that age

I don't want my child to miss instruction. First grade is very academic. And if they aren't doing any actual instruction virtually, why do it at all?

I guess you must have missed those lessons in kindergarten where kids are taught that the world doesn't revolve around them and their preferences, and that they need to consider others.

Sounds like you want people to care about your kids but you don't want to care about other people's kids

Lazy momma, I had two kids in K-2 plus a full-time job for more than a year during COVID when MCPS was closed. Believe me, I understand that it's suboptimal for kids those age, and that it's a lot of work for the parent, but sometimes the world isn't designed according to your preferences, and that's the way it should be.

You need to dig your head out of your nether regions and recognize that kids in Grades3+ are able to navigate virtual learning independently. It should not be that HS kids bomb their AP exams, because you're too lazy to help a 6 year old figure out how to use a computer for a few days until the severe weather conditions are over.

+1 Alexandria PS has had virtual learning for kids Gr3+ since last Wednesday including today. You can't always get what you want, and school districts do the best they can with situations they have.

But what you want is for me to not even say what I want. And for saying what I want I get a stream of abuse. And you somehow think you have the moral high ground?

Do you always react so defensively to people telling you facts? Do you want me to lie and tell you Alexandria PS didn't have virtual learning today? Would that make you feel better?

Only insecure losers call people "defensive"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This screams union all over it.

They missed their records day 1/26 so are getting it 2/2. Kids be damned.

Yup. That’s the way this makes sense. They need the grading day back despite being closed all of last week.

You try finalizing grades for 150 kids on the same day you are meeting new kids and planning for a new quarter.

And if you respond with, “it should have been done last week” when we weren’t getting paid… you are part of the problem why educators leave. The disrespect is unfathomable.

Don’t worry-you’ll get paid for a full day’s work when MCPS adds 4 half days in June and you put videos on to entertain the students while you clean out you classroom, when you’re paid a good salary to do actual instructional time.

This is what bothers me the most about MCPS adding days to the school year. Take away any remaining professional days and whatever part of spring break is not legally required. MCPS adds half days instead and of actual instruction.

Yes. It baffles me that people scream about how it's impossible to do virtual learning because their kid learns better in person and it's inferior to the in-person product MCPS offers. It's like they want to ignore that last year MCPS added only half days in end-June where most kids spend their days in front of screens, because instruction was over for the year.

+1 million. People are comparing virtual learning to in-person learning as if it's possible for MCPS to make up 4 snow days this year in a way that's comparable to normal school. But the reality is that most days are going to be added on in end-June. A lot of kids won't come, and last year, my kids mostly watched videos.

So you hate virtual learning but want your kids watching videos for half-days June because teachers are done teaching?

Honestly, I really don't want to supervise virtual learning for my ASD 6 yo for multiple days on end. It sounds completely miserable and also I have a job. Maybe if it were limited to a couple of days or teachers sent packets home instead of would be somewhat tolerable.

Then have your child skip it. Should the entire county miss out because your 6 year old can’t handle virtual? And for your child, just read him some extra stories in the evening or have him bake cookies with you. I guarantee you he will get more out of that than any school lesson at that age

I don't want my child to miss instruction. First grade is very academic. And if they aren't doing any actual instruction virtually, why do it at all?

I guess you must have missed those lessons in kindergarten where kids are taught that the world doesn't revolve around them and their preferences, and that they need to consider others.

Sounds like you want people to care about your kids but you don't want to care about other people's kids

Lazy momma, I had two kids in K-2 plus a full-time job for more than a year during COVID when MCPS was closed. Believe me, I understand that it's suboptimal for kids those age, and that it's a lot of work for the parent, but sometimes the world isn't designed according to your preferences, and that's the way it should be.

You need to dig your head out of your nether regions and recognize that kids in Grades3+ are able to navigate virtual learning independently. It should not be that HS kids bomb their AP exams, because you're too lazy to help a 6 year old figure out how to use a computer for a few days until the severe weather conditions are over.

Wow, what is wrong with you? Why do you think it is okay to talk to people this way?

Why you think it's ok to say 100,000 kids shouldn't have virtual learning because you don't feel like helping your 6 year old? People are rude because you're selfish. Millions of people helped their kids do virtual learning during COVID. You do the best you can.

I didn't say that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two things can be true at once. Virtual learning works well for us because I have a (demanding) job where I can work from home, and my kids are neurotypical learners. Virtual learning is a dumpster fire for teachers, kids who are neurodivergent, kids with families who don’t have available computers, or kids who don’t have parents who can monitor and implement (i.e., work outside of the home, don’t speak English, etc.). Why should alllll of those families be disadvantaged just because it works for mine? It’s highly inequitable.

Great so it’s equitable in that NONE of the kids are learning. That’s something to really feel good about. Should we all sleep outside since some are homeless too?

Seriously. If NYC can do remote learning, MCPS can too.

Do you know how many languages are spoken as the primary home language among NYC public school students? 180.

The socioeconomic needs are HUGELY diverse.

And yet they make it work.

NYC provides free public wifi all over the city. We don't have anything comparable. And while MoCo has had very high rates of home internet adoption in the county in recent years, federal internet subsidies for low-income families (the Affordable Connectivity Program) expired in 2024 after the Rs refused to extend it, so there are probably many more households with no home internet connection now than there were a year and a half ago.

I know lots of students—especially neurodivergent students, students with sibling caretaking responsibilities, and students with no parents at home—would not do as well as others with virtual learning. But even setting aside those inequities (which, yes, some places—like NYC—have accepted) it doesn't even feel like an option when we know we have lots of families who don't even have a home internet connection.

NYC is 10x larger than MCPS and 5 boroughs. You're right that MCPS isn't comparable. It's much more manageable than NYC. Internet adoption is as high as NYC, and public libraries have wifi routers that can be borrowed. DCPS, NYC, Alexandria and Baltimore have all done virtual learning this week or last week. These are school districts with more poor kids than MCPS. They manage because it's the best option they have and better than tacking on half days in June.

[Anonymous]

But I do think we should get back to school in person ASAP to at least get these poor kids away from the abusive parents that are posting here

[Anonymous]

I think I understand why they burned witches. We always have to have someone to blame apparently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But I do think we should get back to school in person ASAP to at least get these poor kids away from the abusive parents that are posting here

👏

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two things can be true at once. Virtual learning works well for us because I have a (demanding) job where I can work from home, and my kids are neurotypical learners. Virtual learning is a dumpster fire for teachers, kids who are neurodivergent, kids with families who don’t have available computers, or kids who don’t have parents who can monitor and implement (i.e., work outside of the home, don’t speak English, etc.). Why should alllll of those families be disadvantaged just because it works for mine? It’s highly inequitable.

Great so it’s equitable in that NONE of the kids are learning. That’s something to really feel good about. Should we all sleep outside since some are homeless too?

Seriously. If NYC can do remote learning, MCPS can too.

Do you know how many languages are spoken as the primary home language among NYC public school students? 180.

The socioeconomic needs are HUGELY diverse.

And yet they make it work.

NYC provides free public wifi all over the city. We don't have anything comparable. And while MoCo has had very high rates of home internet adoption in the county in recent years, federal internet subsidies for low-income families (the Affordable Connectivity Program) expired in 2024 after the Rs refused to extend it, so there are probably many more households with no home internet connection now than there were a year and a half ago.

I know lots of students—especially neurodivergent students, students with sibling caretaking responsibilities, and students with no parents at home—would not do as well as others with virtual learning. But even setting aside those inequities (which, yes, some places—like NYC—have accepted) it doesn't even feel like an option when we know we have lots of families who don't even have a home internet connection.

NYC is 10x larger than MCPS and 5 boroughs. You're right that MCPS isn't comparable. It's much more manageable than NYC. Internet adoption is as high as NYC, and public libraries have wifi routers that can be borrowed. DCPS, NYC, Alexandria and Baltimore have all done virtual learning this week or last week. These are school districts with more poor kids than MCPS. They manage because it's the best option they have and better than tacking on half days in June.

I see one mobile wifi hotspot available right now in all of MCPL. https://mcpl.aspendiscovery.org/Record/310367?searchId=32215&recordIndex=3&page=1&referred=resultIndex

And that assumes families can get to the library.

I mean I get it, no decision here is going to be ideal, and other jurisdictions have done their own analyses of their own circumstances and made different decisions. Let's just not pretend that "they did it, so can we" covers all the relevant considerations. My family would probably do just fine with virtual learning, but my personal opinion is that the decision MCPS has made makes sense based on the little I know about a very complex situation with no perfect solution.

[Anonymous]

It’s like people think MCPS has unique problems no one else has.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely inept. The plan seems to be "hope it melts"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s like people think MCPS has unique problems no one else has.

This is what I find amazing. Didn't Taylor run a school system in Virginia before coming here? This cannot be his first time doing this. If the school system could pivot to online learning for a year with two weeks notice during COVID, certainly a plan could have been put into place for instances like this. It's incredible how helpless they are acting. And yes, I get that virtual learning is not ideal for everyone but closing schools for 6 days is FAR less ideal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s like people think MCPS has unique problems no one else has.

This is what I find amazing. Didn't Taylor run a school system in Virginia before coming here? This cannot be his first time doing this. If the school system could pivot to online learning for a year with two weeks notice during COVID, certainly a plan could have been put into place for instances like this. It's incredible how helpless they are acting. And yes, I get that virtual learning is not ideal for everyone but closing schools for 6 days is FAR less ideal.

...in your opinion. Based on your own circumstances and the broader set of facts that you have available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But I do think we should get back to school in person ASAP to at least get these poor kids away from the abusive parents that are posting here

It’s wild how parents are losing their marbles. Little Johnny will get into a worse college or most likely drop out of high school because MCPS shortchanged him of 4 days of learning in 2nd grade. No one has any coping skills

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s like people think MCPS has unique problems no one else has.

This is what I find amazing. Didn't Taylor run a school system in Virginia before coming here? This cannot be his first time doing this. If the school system could pivot to online learning for a year with two weeks notice during COVID, certainly a plan could have been put into place for instances like this. It's incredible how helpless they are acting. And yes, I get that virtual learning is not ideal for everyone but closing schools for 6 days is FAR less ideal.

Let’s hope that they learn from this fiasco and are more prepared for virtual learning next time. I get it won’t work for 100% of kids but perhaps they can offer an in—person optional group tutoring option at the end of the school year for kids who could not access online learning. And let’s be frank - in-school learning does not work for some kids.

[Anonymous]

Its almost 4.. whats taking them so long to announce..