Will DCPS really choose hybrid when all surrounding districts are virtual only?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/07/23/racist-effects-school-reopening-during-pandemic-by-teacher/

Think again about the wisdom of sending kids back to school

This op-Ed is not remotely convincing for me. She’s looking at it through the lens of high school teacher. I have no issue with high schools doing all DL in the fall. That doesn’t pose the same kind of childcare issues and is more likely to be effective educationally than ESers. Teens also get and spread the virus more.

Childcare shouldn’t be part of the conversation. If you want childcare hire a babysitter.
It’s interesting that as a result of the school day ‘child care’ is technically provided. But the primary function IS to teach your child. Educators are not required to get a childcare license or any training on child care as they would in a daycare.

It’s unfortunate that people are losing out on this function but we have to remember it’s a bonus and NOT the primary function.

The author also is looking at the number of black and brown deaths compared to white ones, it mirrors similar results in DC. Does anyone have an explanation for this?

DC spends a lot on ‘per pupil’ funding but where is it all really going? My school doesn’t post LSAT open discussion and when I tried to get the budget from the business manager at my school he brushed me off all 20x.
Why are our schools continuing to be so overcrowded if we spend so much money?

The in person argument is really moot until we reduce overcrowding and invest in infrastructures and safety.

Good. Now stop saying we need to be DL in DC because teachers who live in MD can't teach because their schools are DL.

I’m a teacher in DC and if I’m paying $150/day for safe in- home childcare, my take home pay after childcare would be $100/ week. Yes it can be done, but it’s just not worth it.

It's no different for the parents of your students and yet we do it because we can't do a bad job like we did in the spring and not get fired. My paycheck will be going to childcare just liek it did when my kids were babies. But I guess teachers can do a bad job? Teaching online takes MORE not less time if you want your kids to actually learn and grow.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher, we WANT to go back in person, however, the protocols determined will lead to outbreaks and eventual death of both teachers and students of all ages. Too bad we can't invest in things like the NBA and MLB are doing with constant screening, testing, and contact tracing...but that would require more investment (and thus more taxes). Would all of you in favor of in person learning be in favor of this? I certainly would be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, we WANT to go back in person, however, the protocols determined will lead to outbreaks and eventual death of both teachers and students of all ages. Too bad we can't invest in things like the NBA and MLB are doing with constant screening, testing, and contact tracing...but that would require more investment (and thus more taxes). Would all of you in favor of in person learning be in favor of this? I certainly would be.

Would I prefer to pay more taxes or 10,000-20,000 for crappy piecemeal childcare this next year, childcare in which the provider and my child might get sick because NO protocols are in place. what pods are going to be wearing masks inside? Also my child isn't learning or getting very much social interaction. Easy call. Schools could raise money like gangbusters right now if they would open hybrid. Parents would literally throw money at them.

But would I rather my child go to school with protocols in place even if they aren't as great as they could/should be? Yes. Because the alternative is childcare workers who don't have healthcare and are working with no protocols inside people's houses or their own houses getting sick. We are just pushing the risk down the economic chain. And kids are still gong to get sick but without school to catch it early through temp checks etc, they will infect more. What happened in the spring - everybody staying home - is not going to happen this year. Children will be in makeshift childcare settings WAY more dangerous than DCPS's plan for school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, we WANT to go back in person, however, the protocols determined will lead to outbreaks and eventual death of both teachers and students of all ages. Too bad we can't invest in things like the NBA and MLB are doing with constant screening, testing, and contact tracing...but that would require more investment (and thus more taxes). Would all of you in favor of in person learning be in favor of this? I certainly would be.

Would I prefer to pay more taxes or 10,000-20,000 for crappy piecemeal childcare this next year, childcare in which the provider and my child might get sick because NO protocols are in place. what pods are going to be wearing masks inside? Also my child isn't learning or getting very much social interaction. Easy call. Schools could raise money like gangbusters right now if they would open hybrid. Parents would literally throw money at them.

But would I rather my child go to school with protocols in place even if they aren't as great as they could/should be? Yes. Because the alternative is childcare workers who don't have healthcare and are working with no protocols inside people's houses or their own houses getting sick. We are just pushing the risk down the economic chain. And kids are still gong to get sick but without school to catch it early through temp checks etc, they will infect more. What happened in the spring - everybody staying home - is not going to happen this year. Children will be in makeshift childcare settings WAY more dangerous than DCPS's plan for school.

I actually think come cold/flu season this city is going to shut back down again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, we WANT to go back in person, however, the protocols determined will lead to outbreaks and eventual death of both teachers and students of all ages. Too bad we can't invest in things like the NBA and MLB are doing with constant screening, testing, and contact tracing...but that would require more investment (and thus more taxes). Would all of you in favor of in person learning be in favor of this? I certainly would be.

Would I prefer to pay more taxes or 10,000-20,000 for crappy piecemeal childcare this next year, childcare in which the provider and my child might get sick because NO protocols are in place. what pods are going to be wearing masks inside? Also my child isn't learning or getting very much social interaction. Easy call. Schools could raise money like gangbusters right now if they would open hybrid. Parents would literally throw money at them.

But would I rather my child go to school with protocols in place even if they aren't as great as they could/should be? Yes. Because the alternative is childcare workers who don't have healthcare and are working with no protocols inside people's houses or their own houses getting sick. We are just pushing the risk down the economic chain. And kids are still gong to get sick but without school to catch it early through temp checks etc, they will infect more. What happened in the spring - everybody staying home - is not going to happen this year. Children will be in makeshift childcare settings WAY more dangerous than DCPS's plan for school.

Was this supposed to inspire teachers to feel ok about hybrid? Because children might be put in more dangerous situations due to their PARENTS? Again school is not childcare.
Teacher literally has the word teach, I promise no where in the job description does it say childcare nor have we ever received training on that.

You want to do pods your choice but don’t act like it wasn’t a choice. I hate DL too but kids and staff will return when it’s (relatively) safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, we WANT to go back in person, however, the protocols determined will lead to outbreaks and eventual death of both teachers and students of all ages. Too bad we can't invest in things like the NBA and MLB are doing with constant screening, testing, and contact tracing...but that would require more investment (and thus more taxes). Would all of you in favor of in person learning be in favor of this? I certainly would be.

Would I prefer to pay more taxes or 10,000-20,000 for crappy piecemeal childcare this next year, childcare in which the provider and my child might get sick because NO protocols are in place. what pods are going to be wearing masks inside? Also my child isn't learning or getting very much social interaction. Easy call. Schools could raise money like gangbusters right now if they would open hybrid. Parents would literally throw money at them.

But would I rather my child go to school with protocols in place even if they aren't as great as they could/should be? Yes. Because the alternative is childcare workers who don't have healthcare and are working with no protocols inside people's houses or their own houses getting sick. We are just pushing the risk down the economic chain. And kids are still gong to get sick but without school to catch it early through temp checks etc, they will infect more. What happened in the spring - everybody staying home - is not going to happen this year. Children will be in makeshift childcare settings WAY more dangerous than DCPS's plan for school.

Was this supposed to inspire teachers to feel ok about hybrid? Because children might be put in more dangerous situations due to their PARENTS? Again school is not childcare.
Teacher literally has the word teach, I promise no where in the job description does it say childcare nor have we ever received training on that.

You want to do pods your choice but don’t act like it wasn’t a choice. I hate DL too but kids and staff will return when it’s (relatively) safe.

NP. The problem is that "relatively safe" is up to interpretation, and I suspect teachers and parents will continue to disagree on this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, we WANT to go back in person, however, the protocols determined will lead to outbreaks and eventual death of both teachers and students of all ages. Too bad we can't invest in things like the NBA and MLB are doing with constant screening, testing, and contact tracing...but that would require more investment (and thus more taxes). Would all of you in favor of in person learning be in favor of this? I certainly would be.

Would I prefer to pay more taxes or 10,000-20,000 for crappy piecemeal childcare this next year, childcare in which the provider and my child might get sick because NO protocols are in place. what pods are going to be wearing masks inside? Also my child isn't learning or getting very much social interaction. Easy call. Schools could raise money like gangbusters right now if they would open hybrid. Parents would literally throw money at them.

But would I rather my child go to school with protocols in place even if they aren't as great as they could/should be? Yes. Because the alternative is childcare workers who don't have healthcare and are working with no protocols inside people's houses or their own houses getting sick. We are just pushing the risk down the economic chain. And kids are still gong to get sick but without school to catch it early through temp checks etc, they will infect more. What happened in the spring - everybody staying home - is not going to happen this year. Children will be in makeshift childcare settings WAY more dangerous than DCPS's plan for school.

Was this supposed to inspire teachers to feel ok about hybrid? Because children might be put in more dangerous situations due to their PARENTS? Again school is not childcare.
Teacher literally has the word teach, I promise no where in the job description does it say childcare nor have we ever received training on that.

You want to do pods your choice but don’t act like it wasn’t a choice. I hate DL too but kids and staff will return when it’s (relatively) safe.

I'm sorry, where's the choice here exactly? Many people do not have a choice. What PP said is fully accurate: we're just pushing the problem down the economic chain, as usual, onto frontline workers who are the most vulnerable of all, with no health care or even immigration status much of the time.

Teaching may not be childcare BUT there is NO choice happening for the most vulnerable in our society, kids or caregivers or childcare workers. We may not want to put teachers at risk, but why do we want to put these other people at risk? We cannot just be silent on what happens when we close schools. Closing schools needs to go hand in hand with OTHER SERVICES being offered instead of DEAD SILENCE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, we WANT to go back in person, however, the protocols determined will lead to outbreaks and eventual death of both teachers and students of all ages. Too bad we can't invest in things like the NBA and MLB are doing with constant screening, testing, and contact tracing...but that would require more investment (and thus more taxes). Would all of you in favor of in person learning be in favor of this? I certainly would be.

Would I prefer to pay more taxes or 10,000-20,000 for crappy piecemeal childcare this next year, childcare in which the provider and my child might get sick because NO protocols are in place. what pods are going to be wearing masks inside? Also my child isn't learning or getting very much social interaction. Easy call. Schools could raise money like gangbusters right now if they would open hybrid. Parents would literally throw money at them.

But would I rather my child go to school with protocols in place even if they aren't as great as they could/should be? Yes. Because the alternative is childcare workers who don't have healthcare and are working with no protocols inside people's houses or their own houses getting sick. We are just pushing the risk down the economic chain. And kids are still gong to get sick but without school to catch it early through temp checks etc, they will infect more. What happened in the spring - everybody staying home - is not going to happen this year. Children will be in makeshift childcare settings WAY more dangerous than DCPS's plan for school.

Was this supposed to inspire teachers to feel ok about hybrid? Because children might be put in more dangerous situations due to their PARENTS? Again school is not childcare.
Teacher literally has the word teach, I promise no where in the job description does it say childcare nor have we ever received training on that.

You want to do pods your choice but don’t act like it wasn’t a choice. I hate DL too but kids and staff will return when it’s (relatively) safe.

NP. The problem is that "relatively safe" is up to interpretation, and I suspect teachers and parents will continue to disagree on this.

Yea most likely, it’s hard for me personally to say it’s safe when my colleague contracted Covid-19, she’s 34 and probably way healthier than me. She did survive but she has irreversible lung damage. I’m scared, I’m 30 and slightly overweight with asthma and high blood sugar. I’ve lost 15 pounds so far but will it be enough to save my life?

So I guess we will continue to disagree, I just hope people don’t come to hate each other in the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, we WANT to go back in person, however, the protocols determined will lead to outbreaks and eventual death of both teachers and students of all ages. Too bad we can't invest in things like the NBA and MLB are doing with constant screening, testing, and contact tracing...but that would require more investment (and thus more taxes). Would all of you in favor of in person learning be in favor of this? I certainly would be.

Would I prefer to pay more taxes or 10,000-20,000 for crappy piecemeal childcare this next year, childcare in which the provider and my child might get sick because NO protocols are in place. what pods are going to be wearing masks inside? Also my child isn't learning or getting very much social interaction. Easy call. Schools could raise money like gangbusters right now if they would open hybrid. Parents would literally throw money at them.

But would I rather my child go to school with protocols in place even if they aren't as great as they could/should be? Yes. Because the alternative is childcare workers who don't have healthcare and are working with no protocols inside people's houses or their own houses getting sick. We are just pushing the risk down the economic chain. And kids are still gong to get sick but without school to catch it early through temp checks etc, they will infect more. What happened in the spring - everybody staying home - is not going to happen this year. Children will be in makeshift childcare settings WAY more dangerous than DCPS's plan for school.

Was this supposed to inspire teachers to feel ok about hybrid? Because children might be put in more dangerous situations due to their PARENTS? Again school is not childcare.
Teacher literally has the word teach, I promise no where in the job description does it say childcare nor have we ever received training on that.

You want to do pods your choice but don’t act like it wasn’t a choice. I hate DL too but kids and staff will return when it’s (relatively) safe.

I'm sorry, where's the choice here exactly? Many people do not have a choice. What PP said is fully accurate: we're just pushing the problem down the economic chain, as usual, onto frontline workers who are the most vulnerable of all, with no health care or even immigration status much of the time.

Teaching may not be childcare BUT there is NO choice happening for the most vulnerable in our society, kids or caregivers or childcare workers. We may not want to put teachers at risk, but why do we want to put these other people at risk? We cannot just be silent on what happens when we close schools. Closing schools needs to go hand in hand with OTHER SERVICES being offered instead of DEAD SILENCE.

A grocery store is a business and quite frankly so are most hospitals.

Grocers did get hazard pay and continue to demand it (rightfully so). The healthcare industry has much better protocols set in place and nurses continue to demand for hazard pay too.

And schools aren’t closed, they’re in a little device called a laptop. Deal with it, now you know our country doesn’t value public education. What else is new?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, we WANT to go back in person, however, the protocols determined will lead to outbreaks and eventual death of both teachers and students of all ages. Too bad we can't invest in things like the NBA and MLB are doing with constant screening, testing, and contact tracing...but that would require more investment (and thus more taxes). Would all of you in favor of in person learning be in favor of this? I certainly would be.

Would I prefer to pay more taxes or 10,000-20,000 for crappy piecemeal childcare this next year, childcare in which the provider and my child might get sick because NO protocols are in place. what pods are going to be wearing masks inside? Also my child isn't learning or getting very much social interaction. Easy call. Schools could raise money like gangbusters right now if they would open hybrid. Parents would literally throw money at them.

But would I rather my child go to school with protocols in place even if they aren't as great as they could/should be? Yes. Because the alternative is childcare workers who don't have healthcare and are working with no protocols inside people's houses or their own houses getting sick. We are just pushing the risk down the economic chain. And kids are still gong to get sick but without school to catch it early through temp checks etc, they will infect more. What happened in the spring - everybody staying home - is not going to happen this year. Children will be in makeshift childcare settings WAY more dangerous than DCPS's plan for school.

Was this supposed to inspire teachers to feel ok about hybrid? Because children might be put in more dangerous situations due to their PARENTS? Again school is not childcare.
Teacher literally has the word teach, I promise no where in the job description does it say childcare nor have we ever received training on that.

You want to do pods your choice but don’t act like it wasn’t a choice. I hate DL too but kids and staff will return when it’s (relatively) safe.

NP. The problem is that "relatively safe" is up to interpretation, and I suspect teachers and parents will continue to disagree on this.

Yea most likely, it’s hard for me personally to say it’s safe when my colleague contracted Covid-19, she’s 34 and probably way healthier than me. She did survive but she has irreversible lung damage. I’m scared, I’m 30 and slightly overweight with asthma and high blood sugar. I’ve lost 15 pounds so far but will it be enough to save my life?

So I guess we will continue to disagree, I just hope people don’t come to hate each other in the process.

When did she contract it? How can you characterize it as irreversible vs. just lingering effects?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, we WANT to go back in person, however, the protocols determined will lead to outbreaks and eventual death of both teachers and students of all ages. Too bad we can't invest in things like the NBA and MLB are doing with constant screening, testing, and contact tracing...but that would require more investment (and thus more taxes). Would all of you in favor of in person learning be in favor of this? I certainly would be.

Would I prefer to pay more taxes or 10,000-20,000 for crappy piecemeal childcare this next year, childcare in which the provider and my child might get sick because NO protocols are in place. what pods are going to be wearing masks inside? Also my child isn't learning or getting very much social interaction. Easy call. Schools could raise money like gangbusters right now if they would open hybrid. Parents would literally throw money at them.

But would I rather my child go to school with protocols in place even if they aren't as great as they could/should be? Yes. Because the alternative is childcare workers who don't have healthcare and are working with no protocols inside people's houses or their own houses getting sick. We are just pushing the risk down the economic chain. And kids are still gong to get sick but without school to catch it early through temp checks etc, they will infect more. What happened in the spring - everybody staying home - is not going to happen this year. Children will be in makeshift childcare settings WAY more dangerous than DCPS's plan for school.

Was this supposed to inspire teachers to feel ok about hybrid? Because children might be put in more dangerous situations due to their PARENTS? Again school is not childcare.
Teacher literally has the word teach, I promise no where in the job description does it say childcare nor have we ever received training on that.

You want to do pods your choice but don’t act like it wasn’t a choice. I hate DL too but kids and staff will return when it’s (relatively) safe.

NP. The problem is that "relatively safe" is up to interpretation, and I suspect teachers and parents will continue to disagree on this.

Yea most likely, it’s hard for me personally to say it’s safe when my colleague contracted Covid-19, she’s 34 and probably way healthier than me. She did survive but she has irreversible lung damage. I’m scared, I’m 30 and slightly overweight with asthma and high blood sugar. I’ve lost 15 pounds so far but will it be enough to save my life?

So I guess we will continue to disagree, I just hope people don’t come to hate each other in the process.

When did she contract it? How can you characterize it as irreversible vs. just lingering effects?

February. And that’s what her doctors said, it’s not life threatening but it will never be the same. She might not survive another round. She’s the only person I personally know who has contracted it, besides a students uncle who passed due to it.
DCPS and the mayor just really hasn’t laid out exactly how everything will work and that also horrifies me. What have they been doing all this time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, we WANT to go back in person, however, the protocols determined will lead to outbreaks and eventual death of both teachers and students of all ages. Too bad we can't invest in things like the NBA and MLB are doing with constant screening, testing, and contact tracing...but that would require more investment (and thus more taxes). Would all of you in favor of in person learning be in favor of this? I certainly would be.

Would I prefer to pay more taxes or 10,000-20,000 for crappy piecemeal childcare this next year, childcare in which the provider and my child might get sick because NO protocols are in place. what pods are going to be wearing masks inside? Also my child isn't learning or getting very much social interaction. Easy call. Schools could raise money like gangbusters right now if they would open hybrid. Parents would literally throw money at them.

But would I rather my child go to school with protocols in place even if they aren't as great as they could/should be? Yes. Because the alternative is childcare workers who don't have healthcare and are working with no protocols inside people's houses or their own houses getting sick. We are just pushing the risk down the economic chain. And kids are still gong to get sick but without school to catch it early through temp checks etc, they will infect more. What happened in the spring - everybody staying home - is not going to happen this year. Children will be in makeshift childcare settings WAY more dangerous than DCPS's plan for school.

Was this supposed to inspire teachers to feel ok about hybrid? Because children might be put in more dangerous situations due to their PARENTS? Again school is not childcare.
Teacher literally has the word teach, I promise no where in the job description does it say childcare nor have we ever received training on that.

You want to do pods your choice but don’t act like it wasn’t a choice. I hate DL too but kids and staff will return when it’s (relatively) safe.

I'm sorry, where's the choice here exactly? Many people do not have a choice. What PP said is fully accurate: we're just pushing the problem down the economic chain, as usual, onto frontline workers who are the most vulnerable of all, with no health care or even immigration status much of the time.

Teaching may not be childcare BUT there is NO choice happening for the most vulnerable in our society, kids or caregivers or childcare workers. We may not want to put teachers at risk, but why do we want to put these other people at risk? We cannot just be silent on what happens when we close schools. Closing schools needs to go hand in hand with OTHER SERVICES being offered instead of DEAD SILENCE.

Well, that's because of our federal governments HORRIBLE response to the pandemic. If the government paid people to stay home (generalization, but you get the idea) we could have this thing under control. However, the senate hasn't even been able to put forth a round two of response for MONTHS. This is not an us versus them, it's a REPUBLICAN problem.

[Anonymous]

They will wait until infection rate is unconscionably high before going to distance learning, so of you want to keep your family safe, choose virtual before that.

Constant vigilance, people! It’s everyone for himself because our elected officials are craven and don’t know how to safeguard their population under pressure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an elementary teacher and would be more open to doing a schedule like 9-12 in person each day with ten kids... just teaching math and ELA. Anything extra could be virtual. With safety measures in place/ PPE.

If you can do 3 hours in person, why not 6?

I get it... but I’m just saying- we go in to teach the most critical things (i.e math and reading) and go home. No teacher meetings in person. All the other things (lunch, specials, etc..) get cut to DL so we don’t have to consider all those transitions. Keep it simple but get the critical institution done in person. I’d be open to it.

Actually, that schedule makes sense. Skipping lunch and transitions could help minimize exposure. Having a shorter school day would make it easier to stagger pickup and drop off by grade. And there would be more time for deep cleaning each day.

I am in the full DL as long as needed camp, but I think this schedule makes a lot of sense and would be a good interim plan that may get us back in the classroom sooner than a hybrid plan. Different groups could go in the morning, then different in afternoon, never interacting with anyone other than their group.

[Anonymous]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/27/health/florida-covid-children-hospitalizations/index.html


And then....this