The prospect of kids not going back to school until 2021

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As apart of phase 2, restaurants opened with 50% capacity. The larger chains have opened and have 200+ folks in their restaurant which is all in one open floor plan indoor room. If restaurants can open up like this and have 200+ folks in one room to eat/socialize, then schools can open up too. When these folks are eating, they aren't wearing masks etc. Each table has upto 6 people sitting around/eating/chatting etc. If the MD and VA governors allow this, schools need to be opened up.

And one of the options in play does exactly this—reduces school capacity by 50%, splitting the kids into two groups and sending each into school on alternate days, with distance learning on the days they’re not in school.

In fact, I’d put my money on some form this hybrid model for MCPS this fall. I don’t know that it’s necessarily the right call, but I think it’s their only option for getting kids face to face with teachers for at least some live instruction, while reducing capacity to allow kids and staff enough distance that they can make masks optional.

It doesn’t help parents who need child care, and still involves some elements of distance learning, of course. But MCPS truly can’t win no matter what they decide to do, so I’m guessing they’ll find some middle ground that covers their own butts, and satisfies neither the “open everything now” or “we’re all going to die” crowds.

I think it will be next to impossible for parents who need child care.

No way we are doing this. Distance learning in MoCo is a failure. We might do a temporary move or consider private but MCPS needs to be fulltime or I'm not bothering to send my kids to the pathetic version of school they've been doing for months now.

Childcare costs are also going through the roof and you will impact women who will stay at home (after all women are generally paid less than men) so this is also a feminist issue IMO.

Frankly, they will see some kids just drop out of school altogether if you take this approach and that will hit the lower income folks the hardest, which also has racial implications.

I can't even believe this is considered a viable option. They have lost all sense of reality here.

Schools are not your daycare. You may not have noticed, but the country is in the middle of a pandemic that's getting worse. Would you rather dump your kids at school, or keep them and everyone else alive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As apart of phase 2, restaurants opened with 50% capacity. The larger chains have opened and have 200+ folks in their restaurant which is all in one open floor plan indoor room. If restaurants can open up like this and have 200+ folks in one room to eat/socialize, then schools can open up too. When these folks are eating, they aren't wearing masks etc. Each table has upto 6 people sitting around/eating/chatting etc. If the MD and VA governors allow this, schools need to be opened up.

And one of the options in play does exactly this—reduces school capacity by 50%, splitting the kids into two groups and sending each into school on alternate days, with distance learning on the days they’re not in school.

In fact, I’d put my money on some form this hybrid model for MCPS this fall. I don’t know that it’s necessarily the right call, but I think it’s their only option for getting kids face to face with teachers for at least some live instruction, while reducing capacity to allow kids and staff enough distance that they can make masks optional.

It doesn’t help parents who need child care, and still involves some elements of distance learning, of course. But MCPS truly can’t win no matter what they decide to do, so I’m guessing they’ll find some middle ground that covers their own butts, and satisfies neither the “open everything now” or “we’re all going to die” crowds.

I think it will be next to impossible for parents who need child care.

No way we are doing this. Distance learning in MoCo is a failure. We might do a temporary move or consider private but MCPS needs to be fulltime or I'm not bothering to send my kids to the pathetic version of school they've been doing for months now.

Childcare costs are also going through the roof and you will impact women who will stay at home (after all women are generally paid less than men) so this is also a feminist issue IMO.

Frankly, they will see some kids just drop out of school altogether if you take this approach and that will hit the lower income folks the hardest, which also has racial implications.

I can't even believe this is considered a viable option. They have lost all sense of reality here.

Schools are not your daycare. You may not have noticed, but the country is in the middle of a pandemic that's getting worse. Would you rather dump your kids at school, or keep them and everyone else alive?

Yeah...it's not getting worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As apart of phase 2, restaurants opened with 50% capacity. The larger chains have opened and have 200+ folks in their restaurant which is all in one open floor plan indoor room. If restaurants can open up like this and have 200+ folks in one room to eat/socialize, then schools can open up too. When these folks are eating, they aren't wearing masks etc. Each table has upto 6 people sitting around/eating/chatting etc. If the MD and VA governors allow this, schools need to be opened up.

And one of the options in play does exactly this—reduces school capacity by 50%, splitting the kids into two groups and sending each into school on alternate days, with distance learning on the days they’re not in school.

In fact, I’d put my money on some form this hybrid model for MCPS this fall. I don’t know that it’s necessarily the right call, but I think it’s their only option for getting kids face to face with teachers for at least some live instruction, while reducing capacity to allow kids and staff enough distance that they can make masks optional.

It doesn’t help parents who need child care, and still involves some elements of distance learning, of course. But MCPS truly can’t win no matter what they decide to do, so I’m guessing they’ll find some middle ground that covers their own butts, and satisfies neither the “open everything now” or “we’re all going to die” crowds.

I think it will be next to impossible for parents who need child care.

No way we are doing this. Distance learning in MoCo is a failure. We might do a temporary move or consider private but MCPS needs to be fulltime or I'm not bothering to send my kids to the pathetic version of school they've been doing for months now.

Childcare costs are also going through the roof and you will impact women who will stay at home (after all women are generally paid less than men) so this is also a feminist issue IMO.

Frankly, they will see some kids just drop out of school altogether if you take this approach and that will hit the lower income folks the hardest, which also has racial implications.

I can't even believe this is considered a viable option. They have lost all sense of reality here.

Schools are not your daycare. You may not have noticed, but the country is in the middle of a pandemic that's getting worse. Would you rather dump your kids at school, or keep them and everyone else alive?

Yeah...it's not getting worse.

No? It’s getting worse in 21 states, but whatever you say is right, I’m sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As apart of phase 2, restaurants opened with 50% capacity. The larger chains have opened and have 200+ folks in their restaurant which is all in one open floor plan indoor room. If restaurants can open up like this and have 200+ folks in one room to eat/socialize, then schools can open up too. When these folks are eating, they aren't wearing masks etc. Each table has upto 6 people sitting around/eating/chatting etc. If the MD and VA governors allow this, schools need to be opened up.

And one of the options in play does exactly this—reduces school capacity by 50%, splitting the kids into two groups and sending each into school on alternate days, with distance learning on the days they’re not in school.

In fact, I’d put my money on some form this hybrid model for MCPS this fall. I don’t know that it’s necessarily the right call, but I think it’s their only option for getting kids face to face with teachers for at least some live instruction, while reducing capacity to allow kids and staff enough distance that they can make masks optional.

It doesn’t help parents who need child care, and still involves some elements of distance learning, of course. But MCPS truly can’t win no matter what they decide to do, so I’m guessing they’ll find some middle ground that covers their own butts, and satisfies neither the “open everything now” or “we’re all going to die” crowds.

I think it will be next to impossible for parents who need child care.

No way we are doing this. Distance learning in MoCo is a failure. We might do a temporary move or consider private but MCPS needs to be fulltime or I'm not bothering to send my kids to the pathetic version of school they've been doing for months now.

Childcare costs are also going through the roof and you will impact women who will stay at home (after all women are generally paid less than men) so this is also a feminist issue IMO.

Frankly, they will see some kids just drop out of school altogether if you take this approach and that will hit the lower income folks the hardest, which also has racial implications.

I can't even believe this is considered a viable option. They have lost all sense of reality here.

Schools are not your daycare. You may not have noticed, but the country is in the middle of a pandemic that's getting worse. Would you rather dump your kids at school, or keep them and everyone else alive?

Yeah...it's not getting worse.

No? It’s getting worse in 21 states, but whatever you say is right, I’m sure.

Right, and that's relevant to MCPS how? We should stay closed if our state is doing fine because it's worse in other states? Get a grip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Schools are not your daycare. You may not have noticed, but the country is in the middle of a pandemic that's getting worse. Would you rather dump your kids at school, or keep them and everyone else alive?

Can people stop saying this already, please? Or at least just save it for sanctimony on snow days? It's a foolish thing to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Schools are not your daycare. You may not have noticed, but the country is in the middle of a pandemic that's getting worse. Would you rather dump your kids at school, or keep them and everyone else alive?

Can people stop saying this already, please? Or at least just save it for sanctimony on snow days? It's a foolish thing to say.

Why? Because it's true and now you're angry about it? Everyone isn't going to pretend that there isn't a worldwide crisis going on so they can watch your children full time. We know the virus spreads most efficiently in crowds, inside, at close range for a prolonged period of time. That's what school is! The education system didn't create this problem and it certainly can't solve it. You're going to have to accept that, or you are going to be miserable next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Schools are not your daycare. You may not have noticed, but the country is in the middle of a pandemic that's getting worse. Would you rather dump your kids at school, or keep them and everyone else alive?

Can people stop saying this already, please? Or at least just save it for sanctimony on snow days? It's a foolish thing to say.

Why? Because it's true and now you're angry about it? Everyone isn't going to pretend that there isn't a worldwide crisis going on so they can watch your children full time. We know the virus spreads most efficiently in crowds, inside, at close range for a prolonged period of time. That's what school is! The education system didn't create this problem and it certainly can't solve it. You're going to have to accept that, or you are going to be miserable next year.

Why do you think they offer before and after care on site at many elementary schools? To extend the care during the day so parents can work. It is a form of childcare for the school hours. You are clearly a very angry teacher and I really hope you know how to reign that anger in around children.

If you don't want to be a teacher, quit. It would be better than you going around hating kids and parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Schools are not your daycare. You may not have noticed, but the country is in the middle of a pandemic that's getting worse. Would you rather dump your kids at school, or keep them and everyone else alive?

Can people stop saying this already, please? Or at least just save it for sanctimony on snow days? It's a foolish thing to say.

Why? Because it's true and now you're angry about it? Everyone isn't going to pretend that there isn't a worldwide crisis going on so they can watch your children full time. We know the virus spreads most efficiently in crowds, inside, at close range for a prolonged period of time. That's what school is! The education system didn't create this problem and it certainly can't solve it. You're going to have to accept that, or you are going to be miserable next year.

Because it's factually incorrect and irrelevant.

Because one of the functions of education is child care.

Because people with child-care-aged children need child care in order to be able to work, and school has been one of those child-care providers for decades.

Because people whose children aren't child-care-aged also want their children in school.

If you want to say, "I don't think there should be school, because I think that school will spread the virus" - fine. Say that. But "school is not child care" is just dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I swear those of you saying there is no way we go back in the fall have no concept of how well the county has been doing. Have you even looked at the dashboard at all? Seen how things are literally getting notably better every single day?

And that's with daycares being open. Some being open since the beginning and others recently.

And we still have more than two months. If the trend continues what are you scared of exactly?

Of course a second wave is possible but do you really think it's responsible to keep kids out of school for something that MIGHT happen?

Could you imagine if we did DL until January just as a means of caution and the state never spikes at all? I'm sure you would all still say "it never happened because we weren't in school" but there is no way to know that. Yet the lasting negative effects on our children are absolutely going to happen if they stay out.

I'm not saying what I want to happen - I'm saying what I "think" will happen. I seriously doubt our schools are going to open in any meaningful way this fall. I hope I'm wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I swear those of you saying there is no way we go back in the fall have no concept of how well the county has been doing. Have you even looked at the dashboard at all? Seen how things are literally getting notably better every single day?

And that's with daycares being open. Some being open since the beginning and others recently.

And we still have more than two months. If the trend continues what are you scared of exactly?

Of course a second wave is possible but do you really think it's responsible to keep kids out of school for something that MIGHT happen?

Could you imagine if we did DL until January just as a means of caution and the state never spikes at all? I'm sure you would all still say "it never happened because we weren't in school" but there is no way to know that. Yet the lasting negative effects on our children are absolutely going to happen if they stay out.

I'm not saying what I want to happen - I'm saying what I "think" will happen. I seriously doubt our schools are going to open in any meaningful way this fall. I hope I'm wrong.

I hope so too. We simply can't keep kids out of school potentially for *years*.

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/17/879255417/amid-confusion-about-reopening-an-expert-explains-how-to-assess-covid-risk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As apart of phase 2, restaurants opened with 50% capacity. The larger chains have opened and have 200+ folks in their restaurant which is all in one open floor plan indoor room. If restaurants can open up like this and have 200+ folks in one room to eat/socialize, then schools can open up too. When these folks are eating, they aren't wearing masks etc. Each table has upto 6 people sitting around/eating/chatting etc. If the MD and VA governors allow this, schools need to be opened up.

And one of the options in play does exactly this—reduces school capacity by 50%, splitting the kids into two groups and sending each into school on alternate days, with distance learning on the days they’re not in school.

In fact, I’d put my money on some form this hybrid model for MCPS this fall. I don’t know that it’s necessarily the right call, but I think it’s their only option for getting kids face to face with teachers for at least some live instruction, while reducing capacity to allow kids and staff enough distance that they can make masks optional.

It doesn’t help parents who need child care, and still involves some elements of distance learning, of course. But MCPS truly can’t win no matter what they decide to do, so I’m guessing they’ll find some middle ground that covers their own butts, and satisfies neither the “open everything now” or “we’re all going to die” crowds.

I think it will be next to impossible for parents who need child care.

No way we are doing this. Distance learning in MoCo is a failure. We might do a temporary move or consider private but MCPS needs to be fulltime or I'm not bothering to send my kids to the pathetic version of school they've been doing for months now.

Childcare costs are also going through the roof and you will impact women who will stay at home (after all women are generally paid less than men) so this is also a feminist issue IMO.

Frankly, they will see some kids just drop out of school altogether if you take this approach and that will hit the lower income folks the hardest, which also has racial implications.

I can't even believe this is considered a viable option. They have lost all sense of reality here.

Schools are not your daycare. You may not have noticed, but the country is in the middle of a pandemic that's getting worse. Would you rather dump your kids at school, or keep them and everyone else alive?

Yeah...it's not getting worse.

No? It’s getting worse in 21 states, but whatever you say is right, I’m sure.

Right, and that's relevant to MCPS how? We should stay closed if our state is doing fine because it's worse in other states? Get a grip.

Our state isn’t doing fine. Attitudes like that are what lead to a rush to open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As apart of phase 2, restaurants opened with 50% capacity. The larger chains have opened and have 200+ folks in their restaurant which is all in one open floor plan indoor room. If restaurants can open up like this and have 200+ folks in one room to eat/socialize, then schools can open up too. When these folks are eating, they aren't wearing masks etc. Each table has upto 6 people sitting around/eating/chatting etc. If the MD and VA governors allow this, schools need to be opened up.

And one of the options in play does exactly this—reduces school capacity by 50%, splitting the kids into two groups and sending each into school on alternate days, with distance learning on the days they’re not in school.

In fact, I’d put my money on some form this hybrid model for MCPS this fall. I don’t know that it’s necessarily the right call, but I think it’s their only option for getting kids face to face with teachers for at least some live instruction, while reducing capacity to allow kids and staff enough distance that they can make masks optional.

It doesn’t help parents who need child care, and still involves some elements of distance learning, of course. But MCPS truly can’t win no matter what they decide to do, so I’m guessing they’ll find some middle ground that covers their own butts, and satisfies neither the “open everything now” or “we’re all going to die” crowds.

I think it will be next to impossible for parents who need child care.

No way we are doing this. Distance learning in MoCo is a failure. We might do a temporary move or consider private but MCPS needs to be fulltime or I'm not bothering to send my kids to the pathetic version of school they've been doing for months now.

Childcare costs are also going through the roof and you will impact women who will stay at home (after all women are generally paid less than men) so this is also a feminist issue IMO.

Frankly, they will see some kids just drop out of school altogether if you take this approach and that will hit the lower income folks the hardest, which also has racial implications.

I can't even believe this is considered a viable option. They have lost all sense of reality here.

Schools are not your daycare. You may not have noticed, but the country is in the middle of a pandemic that's getting worse. Would you rather dump your kids at school, or keep them and everyone else alive?

Yeah...it's not getting worse.

No? It’s getting worse in 21 states, but whatever you say is right, I’m sure.

Right, and that's relevant to MCPS how? We should stay closed if our state is doing fine because it's worse in other states? Get a grip.

Our state isn’t doing fine. Attitudes like that are what lead to a rush to open.

Please show proof that our state isn't doing fine? Because by every metric published-it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As apart of phase 2, restaurants opened with 50% capacity. The larger chains have opened and have 200+ folks in their restaurant which is all in one open floor plan indoor room. If restaurants can open up like this and have 200+ folks in one room to eat/socialize, then schools can open up too. When these folks are eating, they aren't wearing masks etc. Each table has upto 6 people sitting around/eating/chatting etc. If the MD and VA governors allow this, schools need to be opened up.

And one of the options in play does exactly this—reduces school capacity by 50%, splitting the kids into two groups and sending each into school on alternate days, with distance learning on the days they’re not in school.

In fact, I’d put my money on some form this hybrid model for MCPS this fall. I don’t know that it’s necessarily the right call, but I think it’s their only option for getting kids face to face with teachers for at least some live instruction, while reducing capacity to allow kids and staff enough distance that they can make masks optional.

It doesn’t help parents who need child care, and still involves some elements of distance learning, of course. But MCPS truly can’t win no matter what they decide to do, so I’m guessing they’ll find some middle ground that covers their own butts, and satisfies neither the “open everything now” or “we’re all going to die” crowds.

I think it will be next to impossible for parents who need child care.

No way we are doing this. Distance learning in MoCo is a failure. We might do a temporary move or consider private but MCPS needs to be fulltime or I'm not bothering to send my kids to the pathetic version of school they've been doing for months now.

Childcare costs are also going through the roof and you will impact women who will stay at home (after all women are generally paid less than men) so this is also a feminist issue IMO.

Frankly, they will see some kids just drop out of school altogether if you take this approach and that will hit the lower income folks the hardest, which also has racial implications.

I can't even believe this is considered a viable option. They have lost all sense of reality here.

Schools are not your daycare. You may not have noticed, but the country is in the middle of a pandemic that's getting worse. Would you rather dump your kids at school, or keep them and everyone else alive?

This reminded me of a great tweet from Adam Corolla a couple days ago:

"Back from Tennessee. I flew twice, with layovers, hit a BBQ joint and did 4 live shows. According to @CNN I have three days to live."

I think we can replace @CNN with @DCUM. I hope some of you can appreciate great sarcasm.

[Anonymous]

If people would like to convince others of their way of thinking, they’ve really got to cool it with the oversimplification here. We can’t just say “schools have to open, period.” Or “this is simple.” Or “they’ve lost their minds.”

Yes, schools provide in-person education. Yes, they keep children occupied productively so parents can work. But it’s also true that they pose unique risks. Online learning is not simply a complete joke — my children have learned things.

Anyone asserting that this is simple and easy — and their opponents are dumb — is wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If people would like to convince others of their way of thinking, they’ve really got to cool it with the oversimplification here. We can’t just say “schools have to open, period.” Or “this is simple.” Or “they’ve lost their minds.”

Yes, schools provide in-person education. Yes, they keep children occupied productively so parents can work. But it’s also true that they pose unique risks. Online learning is not simply a complete joke — my children have learned things.

Anyone asserting that this is simple and easy — and their opponents are dumb — is wrong.

What part of "We are all going to die" don't you understand.