What's the over under on MCPS closing school due to the eclipse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it would be crazy to close early. Kids will be unsupervised on buses and walking home and may not have eclipse glasses.

When does it become the parent's responsibility to protect their child from harm by 1) providing the viewing glasses for their children to walk home or ride the bus home wearing? 2) pick their child up early to watch the event at home with them?

Some staff at my school are not happy that the principal didn't use school funds to purchase the glasses for hundreds of kids. That makes no sense.

I am the commenter above who’s picking up their kids early. I know I am very fortunate that I can. My parents could’ve never picked me up early so I sympathize and understand parents who can’t pick up their kids early. However, regarding the glasses, this is where the PTA can come in and buy glasses for all of the students so they can safely walk home.

I was reading on Facebook that some principlas even scheduled staff meetings for this time so even the teachers can’t takeoff early and pick their kids up or even view the eclipse themselves.

They shouldn't have staff meetings on this day, IMO. Of course they will though. Those Monday meetings. So important.

Nope. They are just forcing us to miss another planning period during the day for a rolling staff meeting AND then babysit kids after school to watch the eclipse

More reasons for an early release.

Enough learning loss as it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools across the country are considering this. Stop looking for reasons to blast MCPS.

April 8 falls during MCAP testing. MCPS wants as few disruptions as possible. I’m a teacher and haven’t heard anything about early dismissal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools across the country are considering this. Stop looking for reasons to blast MCPS.

April 8 falls during MCAP testing. MCPS wants as few disruptions as possible. I’m a teacher and haven’t heard anything about early dismissal.

There is no early dismissal.
Students at all levels will be dismissed during this event where it is uneise yo look directly at the sun (2;04 through 4:30).

I think we all inadvertently look up at the sky/sun. Families and school staff meed to teach students to look downward, I guess .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it would be crazy to close early. Kids will be unsupervised on buses and walking home and may not have eclipse glasses.

When does it become the parent's responsibility to protect their child from harm by 1) providing the viewing glasses for their children to walk home or ride the bus home wearing? 2) pick their child up early to watch the event at home with them?

Some staff at my school are not happy that the principal didn't use school funds to purchase the glasses for hundreds of kids. That makes no sense.

I am the commenter above who’s picking up their kids early. I know I am very fortunate that I can. My parents could’ve never picked me up early so I sympathize and understand parents who can’t pick up their kids early. However, regarding the glasses, this is where the PTA can come in and buy glasses for all of the students so they can safely walk home.

I was reading on Facebook that some principlas even scheduled staff meetings for this time so even the teachers can’t takeoff early and pick their kids up or even view the eclipse themselves.

They shouldn't have staff meetings on this day, IMO. Of course they will though. Those Monday meetings. So important.

Nope. They are just forcing us to miss another planning period during the day for a rolling staff meeting AND then babysit kids after school to watch the eclipse

More reasons for an early release.

Enough learning loss as it is.

Lol shut up. Everyone is tired of hearing the term "learning loss". Kids actually perform better during half days. Those thirty seven minutes actually hold their attention for the entirety of each class and they get things done.

[Anonymous]

Why would there be a closing? We're in a partial eclipse zone, there won't be any disruptions. Kids should be told not to look at the eclipse unless they have special glasses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would there be a closing? We're in a partial eclipse zone, there won't be any disruptions. Kids should be told not to look at the eclipse unless they have special glasses.

What are Howard county and other area districts doing? I would just keep a close eye on those in case of any last minute changes- history tells us MCPS will follow. Just pay attention for the context clues and don’t complain we didn’t warn you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oeak is 3:20. Thats right at dismissal for many. Kids will stare at the sun and burn their retinas. Im taking my kid out at 3 and have glasses so we will enjoy it together.

Darwin award winners. Can't help stupid

A six year old is not “stupid” or deserving of blindness when they make a mistake like that. Have some empathy.

Nope. Follow directions or suffer the consequences

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Blair announced that they are giving all kids glasses on Monday and that teachers and kids with a 9th period are allowed to go outside to view the eclipse.

[Anonymous]

This was from my dd's middle school:

Classes will not go outside to view the eclipse, we do not have enough equipment to permit everyone to view the partial eclipse safely.
Students, even if they bring their own glasses, will not be permitted to go outside to view the eclipse during the school day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was from my dd's middle school:

Classes will not go outside to view the eclipse, we do not have enough equipment to permit everyone to view the partial eclipse safely.
Students, even if they bring their own glasses, will not be permitted to go outside to view the eclipse during the school day.

Yes, it is a liability. Schools can't guarantee that no students will look directly at the sun without proper equipment. That's why it's better handled by families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blair announced that they are giving all kids glasses on Monday and that teachers and kids with a 9th period are allowed to go outside to view the eclipse.

How are they getting money for that? There was a budget freeze two months ago. I know Rock Creek Forest is having an eclipse party. Meanwhile my school has no funding for glasses so we're going to keep the kids inside and carefully escort them to buses/cars during the eclipse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was from my dd's middle school:

Classes will not go outside to view the eclipse, we do not have enough equipment to permit everyone to view the partial eclipse safely.
Students, even if they bring their own glasses, will not be permitted to go outside to view the eclipse during the school day.

Yes, it is a liability. Schools can't guarantee that no students will look directly at the sun without proper equipment. That's why it's better handled by families.

My kid's elementary school said even if you send kids with eyewear they will not let them outside because I guess the school doesn't want to be liable if a child is wearing the glasses improperly. My husband who works from home is picking her up early to she can view it at home.

[Anonymous]

Here’s my prediction- some kids, being kids, will look at the eclipse while in the bus riding home. Teachers will be at fault for not correctly instructing kids or practicing enough at not looking at the sun. Parents and central office will be blameless.

[Anonymous]

My ES is giving out glasses.

An eclipse is a rare learning opportunity, not learning loss.