Virtual Snow Days

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now that MCPS has joined other districts in possibly holding virtual snow days, will you be requiring your children to attend? Classes won't start until at least 11am and be live for about 4.5 hours. I'm a former teacher and I'm leaning towards not having my kids join. By 11 they will already be in full snow day mode and I'm not dragging them inside to hop on a Chromebook. Just curious what others are thinking.

Definitely will make them attend, but my kids thrived in virtual because I was involved and didn't ignore them.

I’d love to hear how you could be involved while working out of the house every day like me and my husband had to. Maybe I can take some pointers for the next pandemic.

You hire help.

Oh I see. Only people rich enough to “hire help” are “involved parents” who don’t “ignore” their kids.

Never change, DCUM.

No, those of us without money take care of our kids ourselves, cook, clean, do house repairs and yard work. Funny how that works.

So I’m supposed to quit my job and not make enough to pay the mortgage so I can care for my kids during the day? Thats what you’re saying?

Only if you love your kids. Sell your body for money-- either the old fashioned way, or by selling a kidney.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now that MCPS has joined other districts in possibly holding virtual snow days, will you be requiring your children to attend? Classes won't start until at least 11am and be live for about 4.5 hours. I'm a former teacher and I'm leaning towards not having my kids join. By 11 they will already be in full snow day mode and I'm not dragging them inside to hop on a Chromebook. Just curious what others are thinking.

Definitely will make them attend, but my kids thrived in virtual because I was involved and didn't ignore them.

Are you ever going to stop patting yourself on the back for what a wonderful parent you (allegedly) were during a global pandemic? We get it. You are truly superior.

You know what? My kids excelled academically during the pandemic. Was it because I’m superior? No, it was because they’ve always taken school seriously and are resolute rule followers. But they suffered socially - it was a massive blow to their mental health — and it’s obvious even now what a massive social setback the school closures were for them and their peers (yes, your kids too). Sticking your head in the ground and crowing about how superior you are adds nothing to this conversation. Full time virtual school is a disaster for almost everyone. Occasional snow days? Probably ok, apart from listening to the crowing from people like you about how great you are.

School shouldn't be your kids only social outlet and if it was and you made no effort outside of school, virtual school wasn't the issue, it was you. It absolutely was not a disaster for everyone.

An occasional virtual school day is far better than extending the school year or taking away spring break.

Idiot. I guess you forgot it was a global pandemic and no one was seeing anyone.

Idiot. If my kids were in the supposed “mental health crisis” that PP’s were, I would have ensured they had safe outdoor distanced socialization, rather than whine, try and fail to blame others and make excuses.

But as the pandemic made abundantly crystal clear, 95% of DCUM moms lack resilience. Your poor kids.

Why don't you tell us how you ensured that your kids had adequate safe outdoor distanced socialization? How old are your kids? What did they do? Give us a roadmap so that we can understand what we did wrong?

[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:I'm guessing most of the posters in this thread have younger kids? We haven't had many snow days in the past few years. I'm guessing you think snow days were like Snowmaggedon.

I have two high schoolers (12th and 10th grade). 10 years ago when they were in elementary school, the weather was different. It wasn't unheard of to have many 2 hour delays in December (we seemed to get a lot more icy rain back then) and actual snow days.

Yes, we had some actual snow on those snow days. Snow the kids could play in. But many other days, was just brown and muddy out.

If we have a snow day and real snow, sure - I"ll give my kids the day off. But if we have a snow day and one of those brown, icy, slushy days? Sleep in but then hit the books.

It's not just the temptation of snow-- it's the lack of value from virtual. Even adults can't stay engaged over zoom for hours at a time. And given that half+ of the class is going to be out anyway, they're not going to be doing anything useful that day anyway.

Of course there is a value in education regardless of the format. A good teacher can teach anywhere. You are the problem.

Studies show that is not the case. Students all over America who went virtual lost a lot of ground compared to children who were in school. If it was just the odd bad teacher, it wouldn't be the case.

We are talking about the possibility of one or two days. How did my grandparents survive listening to the radio all those years? My goodness. Either you adapt to the changing world or you end up on the sidelines while those who can, do.

Right. Maybe up to three days, since we know they're never going to try synchronous online classes. So three days when nothing productive is done.

That's fine. Based on the reports I got from my kids, they mostly watched movies the week before christmas. You can lose 3 days without severe consequences.

But that's not much of an argument for logging into worthless virtual lessons on snow days. Quite the opposite.

Then don’t complain. If you want your kids to skip instruction because it inconveniences them, then you alone are creating that precedent. Do you know why teachers show movies the last day or so? Because so many of you allow your kids to skip those days. How can instruction continue if traveling is more important? I can 100% guarantee that many teachers, especially those in high school, would continue, even part of the period, if they could. Education is important in my family. We chose to enroll in public school. So you bet I will ensure my child shows up. Not argue because my teenager told me otherwise. Talk about first world problems.

Deal. They're going to skip them, just like 75% of the class.

Ok. Then deal with movies and virtual instruction. Idiot.

I said they would skip virtual. They've got better things to do.

You are exactly why your kids failed virtually. You don't value education and don't make it a priority. They have nothing better to do. Why send them to school at all if they have better things to do? You really need to do some self-reflection and do better at parenting.

Virtual isn't education. Just wait and see if/when they do virtual snow days. They're going to be worthless.

Entire colleges are online, so for you to claim “virtual isn’t education” is asinine. You basically just sound like some who relies on school for babysitting while hiding behind the excuse virtual can’t work for anyone bc it didn’t work for you and your situation. Evolve like the rest of us.

Please tell me more about how adults and young kids learn the same way.

People used to even learn from these things called books. You should try it some time.

MCPS doesn't have books except a rare class. Its all online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now that MCPS has joined other districts in possibly holding virtual snow days, will you be requiring your children to attend? Classes won't start until at least 11am and be live for about 4.5 hours. I'm a former teacher and I'm leaning towards not having my kids join. By 11 they will already be in full snow day mode and I'm not dragging them inside to hop on a Chromebook. Just curious what others are thinking.

Definitely will make them attend, but my kids thrived in virtual because I was involved and didn't ignore them.

Are you ever going to stop patting yourself on the back for what a wonderful parent you (allegedly) were during a global pandemic? We get it. You are truly superior.

You know what? My kids excelled academically during the pandemic. Was it because I’m superior? No, it was because they’ve always taken school seriously and are resolute rule followers. But they suffered socially - it was a massive blow to their mental health — and it’s obvious even now what a massive social setback the school closures were for them and their peers (yes, your kids too). Sticking your head in the ground and crowing about how superior you are adds nothing to this conversation. Full time virtual school is a disaster for almost everyone. Occasional snow days? Probably ok, apart from listening to the crowing from people like you about how great you are.

School shouldn't be your kids only social outlet and if it was and you made no effort outside of school, virtual school wasn't the issue, it was you. It absolutely was not a disaster for everyone.

An occasional virtual school day is far better than extending the school year or taking away spring break.

Idiot. I guess you forgot it was a global pandemic and no one was seeing anyone.

Idiot. If my kids were in the supposed “mental health crisis” that PP’s were, I would have ensured they had safe outdoor distanced socialization, rather than whine, try and fail to blame others and make excuses.

But as the pandemic made abundantly crystal clear, 95% of DCUM moms lack resilience. Your poor kids.

Why don't you tell us how you ensured that your kids had adequate safe outdoor distanced socialization? How old are your kids? What did they do? Give us a roadmap so that we can understand what we did wrong?

Ours were in multiple outside activities. If indoors, they were distancing and/or masking. One had a system where you had to state your child wasn't sick, etc. If everything is through school, then that is why. We do very few activities through school and kids could hang out outside, etc. Many families had pods (we did not as we couldn't take the risk).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now that MCPS has joined other districts in possibly holding virtual snow days, will you be requiring your children to attend? Classes won't start until at least 11am and be live for about 4.5 hours. I'm a former teacher and I'm leaning towards not having my kids join. By 11 they will already be in full snow day mode and I'm not dragging them inside to hop on a Chromebook. Just curious what others are thinking.

Definitely will make them attend, but my kids thrived in virtual because I was involved and didn't ignore them.

Are you ever going to stop patting yourself on the back for what a wonderful parent you (allegedly) were during a global pandemic? We get it. You are truly superior.

You know what? My kids excelled academically during the pandemic. Was it because I’m superior? No, it was because they’ve always taken school seriously and are resolute rule followers. But they suffered socially - it was a massive blow to their mental health — and it’s obvious even now what a massive social setback the school closures were for them and their peers (yes, your kids too). Sticking your head in the ground and crowing about how superior you are adds nothing to this conversation. Full time virtual school is a disaster for almost everyone. Occasional snow days? Probably ok, apart from listening to the crowing from people like you about how great you are.

School shouldn't be your kids only social outlet and if it was and you made no effort outside of school, virtual school wasn't the issue, it was you. It absolutely was not a disaster for everyone.

An occasional virtual school day is far better than extending the school year or taking away spring break.

Idiot. I guess you forgot it was a global pandemic and no one was seeing anyone.

Idiot. If my kids were in the supposed “mental health crisis” that PP’s were, I would have ensured they had safe outdoor distanced socialization, rather than whine, try and fail to blame others and make excuses.

But as the pandemic made abundantly crystal clear, 95% of DCUM moms lack resilience. Your poor kids.

Why don't you tell us how you ensured that your kids had adequate safe outdoor distanced socialization? How old are your kids? What did they do? Give us a roadmap so that we can understand what we did wrong?

Ours were in multiple outside activities. If indoors, they were distancing and/or masking. One had a system where you had to state your child wasn't sick, etc. If everything is through school, then that is why. We do very few activities through school and kids could hang out outside, etc. Many families had pods (we did not as we couldn't take the risk).

How old are your kids? Did they do many activities at school before the pandemic?

[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:I'm guessing most of the posters in this thread have younger kids? We haven't had many snow days in the past few years. I'm guessing you think snow days were like Snowmaggedon.

I have two high schoolers (12th and 10th grade). 10 years ago when they were in elementary school, the weather was different. It wasn't unheard of to have many 2 hour delays in December (we seemed to get a lot more icy rain back then) and actual snow days.

Yes, we had some actual snow on those snow days. Snow the kids could play in. But many other days, was just brown and muddy out.

If we have a snow day and real snow, sure - I"ll give my kids the day off. But if we have a snow day and one of those brown, icy, slushy days? Sleep in but then hit the books.

It's not just the temptation of snow-- it's the lack of value from virtual. Even adults can't stay engaged over zoom for hours at a time. And given that half+ of the class is going to be out anyway, they're not going to be doing anything useful that day anyway.

Of course there is a value in education regardless of the format. A good teacher can teach anywhere. You are the problem.

Studies show that is not the case. Students all over America who went virtual lost a lot of ground compared to children who were in school. If it was just the odd bad teacher, it wouldn't be the case.

We are talking about the possibility of one or two days. How did my grandparents survive listening to the radio all those years? My goodness. Either you adapt to the changing world or you end up on the sidelines while those who can, do.

Right. Maybe up to three days, since we know they're never going to try synchronous online classes. So three days when nothing productive is done.

That's fine. Based on the reports I got from my kids, they mostly watched movies the week before christmas. You can lose 3 days without severe consequences.

But that's not much of an argument for logging into worthless virtual lessons on snow days. Quite the opposite.

Then don’t complain. If you want your kids to skip instruction because it inconveniences them, then you alone are creating that precedent. Do you know why teachers show movies the last day or so? Because so many of you allow your kids to skip those days. How can instruction continue if traveling is more important? I can 100% guarantee that many teachers, especially those in high school, would continue, even part of the period, if they could. Education is important in my family. We chose to enroll in public school. So you bet I will ensure my child shows up. Not argue because my teenager told me otherwise. Talk about first world problems.

Deal. They're going to skip them, just like 75% of the class.

Ok. Then deal with movies and virtual instruction. Idiot.

I said they would skip virtual. They've got better things to do.

You are exactly why your kids failed virtually. You don't value education and don't make it a priority. They have nothing better to do. Why send them to school at all if they have better things to do? You really need to do some self-reflection and do better at parenting.

Virtual isn't education. Just wait and see if/when they do virtual snow days. They're going to be worthless.

If done right it's education. Education to you is free babysitting. You think half the times the kids aren't sitting on their chromebook's browsing, watching movies the teacher put on or on their phones. It's really teacher dependent. Your kids failed at virtual and will fail at virtual because of you and you don't value education.

But it's not going to be "done right," and we all know it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now that MCPS has joined other districts in possibly holding virtual snow days, will you be requiring your children to attend? Classes won't start until at least 11am and be live for about 4.5 hours. I'm a former teacher and I'm leaning towards not having my kids join. By 11 they will already be in full snow day mode and I'm not dragging them inside to hop on a Chromebook. Just curious what others are thinking.

Definitely will make them attend, but my kids thrived in virtual because I was involved and didn't ignore them.

Are you ever going to stop patting yourself on the back for what a wonderful parent you (allegedly) were during a global pandemic? We get it. You are truly superior.

You know what? My kids excelled academically during the pandemic. Was it because I’m superior? No, it was because they’ve always taken school seriously and are resolute rule followers. But they suffered socially - it was a massive blow to their mental health — and it’s obvious even now what a massive social setback the school closures were for them and their peers (yes, your kids too). Sticking your head in the ground and crowing about how superior you are adds nothing to this conversation. Full time virtual school is a disaster for almost everyone. Occasional snow days? Probably ok, apart from listening to the crowing from people like you about how great you are.

School shouldn't be your kids only social outlet and if it was and you made no effort outside of school, virtual school wasn't the issue, it was you. It absolutely was not a disaster for everyone.

An occasional virtual school day is far better than extending the school year or taking away spring break.

Idiot. I guess you forgot it was a global pandemic and no one was seeing anyone.

Idiot. If my kids were in the supposed “mental health crisis” that PP’s were, I would have ensured they had safe outdoor distanced socialization, rather than whine, try and fail to blame others and make excuses.

But as the pandemic made abundantly crystal clear, 95% of DCUM moms lack resilience. Your poor kids.

Why don't you tell us how you ensured that your kids had adequate safe outdoor distanced socialization? How old are your kids? What did they do? Give us a roadmap so that we can understand what we did wrong?

Ours were in multiple outside activities. If indoors, they were distancing and/or masking. One had a system where you had to state your child wasn't sick, etc. If everything is through school, then that is why. We do very few activities through school and kids could hang out outside, etc. Many families had pods (we did not as we couldn't take the risk).

How old are your kids? Did they do many activities at school before the pandemic?

They are older. Our schools didn't offer much in terms of activities so it was a non-issue and we went outside. And, the activities offered now aren't even comparable in terms of arts/music and sports.

[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:I'm guessing most of the posters in this thread have younger kids? We haven't had many snow days in the past few years. I'm guessing you think snow days were like Snowmaggedon.

I have two high schoolers (12th and 10th grade). 10 years ago when they were in elementary school, the weather was different. It wasn't unheard of to have many 2 hour delays in December (we seemed to get a lot more icy rain back then) and actual snow days.

Yes, we had some actual snow on those snow days. Snow the kids could play in. But many other days, was just brown and muddy out.

If we have a snow day and real snow, sure - I"ll give my kids the day off. But if we have a snow day and one of those brown, icy, slushy days? Sleep in but then hit the books.

It's not just the temptation of snow-- it's the lack of value from virtual. Even adults can't stay engaged over zoom for hours at a time. And given that half+ of the class is going to be out anyway, they're not going to be doing anything useful that day anyway.

Of course there is a value in education regardless of the format. A good teacher can teach anywhere. You are the problem.

Studies show that is not the case. Students all over America who went virtual lost a lot of ground compared to children who were in school. If it was just the odd bad teacher, it wouldn't be the case.

We are talking about the possibility of one or two days. How did my grandparents survive listening to the radio all those years? My goodness. Either you adapt to the changing world or you end up on the sidelines while those who can, do.

Right. Maybe up to three days, since we know they're never going to try synchronous online classes. So three days when nothing productive is done.

That's fine. Based on the reports I got from my kids, they mostly watched movies the week before christmas. You can lose 3 days without severe consequences.

But that's not much of an argument for logging into worthless virtual lessons on snow days. Quite the opposite.

Then don’t complain. If you want your kids to skip instruction because it inconveniences them, then you alone are creating that precedent. Do you know why teachers show movies the last day or so? Because so many of you allow your kids to skip those days. How can instruction continue if traveling is more important? I can 100% guarantee that many teachers, especially those in high school, would continue, even part of the period, if they could. Education is important in my family. We chose to enroll in public school. So you bet I will ensure my child shows up. Not argue because my teenager told me otherwise. Talk about first world problems.

Deal. They're going to skip them, just like 75% of the class.

Ok. Then deal with movies and virtual instruction. Idiot.

I said they would skip virtual. They've got better things to do.

You are exactly why your kids failed virtually. You don't value education and don't make it a priority. They have nothing better to do. Why send them to school at all if they have better things to do? You really need to do some self-reflection and do better at parenting.

Virtual isn't education. Just wait and see if/when they do virtual snow days. They're going to be worthless.

If done right it's education. Education to you is free babysitting. You think half the times the kids aren't sitting on their chromebook's browsing, watching movies the teacher put on or on their phones. It's really teacher dependent. Your kids failed at virtual and will fail at virtual because of you and you don't value education.

But it's not going to be "done right," and we all know it.

How do you know? A good teacher can and will make it work. A bad one, no. But, you and your attitude are the problem, not virtual.

[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:I'm guessing most of the posters in this thread have younger kids? We haven't had many snow days in the past few years. I'm guessing you think snow days were like Snowmaggedon.

I have two high schoolers (12th and 10th grade). 10 years ago when they were in elementary school, the weather was different. It wasn't unheard of to have many 2 hour delays in December (we seemed to get a lot more icy rain back then) and actual snow days.

Yes, we had some actual snow on those snow days. Snow the kids could play in. But many other days, was just brown and muddy out.

If we have a snow day and real snow, sure - I"ll give my kids the day off. But if we have a snow day and one of those brown, icy, slushy days? Sleep in but then hit the books.

It's not just the temptation of snow-- it's the lack of value from virtual. Even adults can't stay engaged over zoom for hours at a time. And given that half+ of the class is going to be out anyway, they're not going to be doing anything useful that day anyway.

Of course there is a value in education regardless of the format. A good teacher can teach anywhere. You are the problem.

Studies show that is not the case. Students all over America who went virtual lost a lot of ground compared to children who were in school. If it was just the odd bad teacher, it wouldn't be the case.

We are talking about the possibility of one or two days. How did my grandparents survive listening to the radio all those years? My goodness. Either you adapt to the changing world or you end up on the sidelines while those who can, do.

Right. Maybe up to three days, since we know they're never going to try synchronous online classes. So three days when nothing productive is done.

That's fine. Based on the reports I got from my kids, they mostly watched movies the week before christmas. You can lose 3 days without severe consequences.

But that's not much of an argument for logging into worthless virtual lessons on snow days. Quite the opposite.

Then don’t complain. If you want your kids to skip instruction because it inconveniences them, then you alone are creating that precedent. Do you know why teachers show movies the last day or so? Because so many of you allow your kids to skip those days. How can instruction continue if traveling is more important? I can 100% guarantee that many teachers, especially those in high school, would continue, even part of the period, if they could. Education is important in my family. We chose to enroll in public school. So you bet I will ensure my child shows up. Not argue because my teenager told me otherwise. Talk about first world problems.

Deal. They're going to skip them, just like 75% of the class.

Ok. Then deal with movies and virtual instruction. Idiot.

I said they would skip virtual. They've got better things to do.

You are exactly why your kids failed virtually. You don't value education and don't make it a priority. They have nothing better to do. Why send them to school at all if they have better things to do? You really need to do some self-reflection and do better at parenting.

Virtual isn't education. Just wait and see if/when they do virtual snow days. They're going to be worthless.

If done right it's education. Education to you is free babysitting. You think half the times the kids aren't sitting on their chromebook's browsing, watching movies the teacher put on or on their phones. It's really teacher dependent. Your kids failed at virtual and will fail at virtual because of you and you don't value education.

But it's not going to be "done right," and we all know it.

How do you know? A good teacher can and will make it work. A bad one, no. But, you and your attitude are the problem, not virtual.

Less than a day's notice to create a new lesson plan? And no time in the work schedule during that day to actually create that new plan? Where half the kids, or more, in the class will be absent, and others will run into technical challenges?

Neither the teachers nor the kids are being set up for success here.

[Anonymous]

Yes would make my kids attend.