Do you think there will be any in-person learning this spring?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, we did that. Montgomery County was pretty much shut down for two months in the spring.

It didn’t make a difference for the teacher union.

Summer happened. Then Fall happened. Now Winter is happening. Things haven't gotten better. Quite the opposite. No one has the balls for a serious shut down again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And if so, it’s just twice a week hybrid (half days) - right?

I thought it was going to be 4 full days per week. I guess we’ll find out soon, but did the BOE mention anything about what the week would look like? Assuming in person actually happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, we did that. Montgomery County was pretty much shut down for two months in the spring.

It didn’t make a difference for the teacher union.

Summer happened. Then Fall happened. Now Winter is happening. Things haven't gotten better. Quite the opposite. No one has the balls for a serious shut down again.

The point is things were good going into the fall semester. But schools still didn't open. It's never going to be enough for MCEA until there's zero cases. They're not acting in good faith during reopening negotiations. MCPS should leave them out of the discussions and let them decide later if they want to keep their jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I highly doubt it as numbers are rising and probably will not go down till Feb, then spring break travel will hit. There is no vaccine for kids either.

Ya can't see it happening. I mean I think they'd like to please all the super whiney rich folks that want their daycare but just can't see them putting kids at risk.

If people really cared about schools, they would stay home, not socialize, travel and only do necessary appointments and shopping outside of work and child care. Those who aren't doing that and claim to care about kids/schools are fake and selfish.

People did do that and got cases way down over the summer. It still wasn't good enough for MCEA. They've made it clear they will fight school reopening until the very end. Even school nurses want to go back. The teachers are the only ones holding this up.

In late Aug, there were more cases in MoCo than when schools closed on 3/13.

For many, many, many reasons, that's a ridiculous bar that no credible expert would propose using for reopening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, we did that. Montgomery County was pretty much shut down for two months in the spring.

It didn’t make a difference for the teacher union.

Summer happened. Then Fall happened. Now Winter is happening. Things haven't gotten better. Quite the opposite. No one has the balls for a serious shut down again.

The point is things were good going into the fall semester. But schools still didn't open. It's never going to be enough for MCEA until there's zero cases. They're not acting in good faith during reopening negotiations. MCPS should leave them out of the discussions and let them decide later if they want to keep their jobs.

Almost all big school districts in the US didn't open. Is that MCEA's fault?

Currently, about half of students in the US are doing Zoom school only. Is that MCEA's fault?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if so, it’s just twice a week hybrid (half days) - right?

I thought it was going to be 4 full days per week. I guess we’ll find out soon, but did the BOE mention anything about what the week would look like? Assuming in person actually happens.

They said it would vary from school to school depending on the number of kids wanting to come back. You should get details about your school a few weeks before your child is set to go back, at which point you can change your mind and switch to DL if you prefer.

[Anonymous]

At my middle school at least, it would be two days in person and two at home. But everyone on a screen anyway. No group work around a single table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Almost all big school districts in the US didn't open. Is that MCEA's fault?

Currently, about half of students in the US are doing Zoom school only. Is that MCEA's fault?

It's DCUM, so "yes!"

[Anonymous]

Back to the original question right now I would say trending to no. But Biden will be taking office on 1/20 and he has explicit put out a goal to get most schools open by end of April (100 days). Reaching that goal would require a lot of clear federal messaging and attention to schools in the form of guidance docs and money and possibly other resources/infrastructure to do mass testing etc. I think all that is possible but maybe not likely if Republicans hold the senate. Also, what do my “only when it’s safe” people think of the 100 days goal? Are you quaking in your boots?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my middle school at least, it would be two days in person and two at home. But everyone on a screen anyway. No group work around a single table.

Same at high school. No hands on projects, no group work. Basically just a chrome book or a worksheet at your desk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my middle school at least, it would be two days in person and two at home. But everyone on a screen anyway. No group work around a single table.

Same at high school. No hands on projects, no group work. Basically just a chrome book or a worksheet at your desk.

Lectures and independent work may look much the same but whatever else may happen, group discussions are more effective in person than via zoom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back to the original question right now I would say trending to no. But Biden will be taking office on 1/20 and he has explicit put out a goal to get most schools open by end of April (100 days). Reaching that goal would require a lot of clear federal messaging and attention to schools in the form of guidance docs and money and possibly other resources/infrastructure to do mass testing etc. I think all that is possible but maybe not likely if Republicans hold the senate. Also, what do my “only when it’s safe” people think of the 100 days goal? Are you quaking in your boots?

No, but you sound really pessimistic if you think that things still won’t be safe after 100 days of a full-on effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my middle school at least, it would be two days in person and two at home. But everyone on a screen anyway. No group work around a single table.

Same at high school. No hands on projects, no group work. Basically just a chrome book or a worksheet at your desk.

Lectures and independent work may look much the same but whatever else may happen, group discussions are more effective in person than via zoom.

Not when the group is spaced 3-6 feet apart. Some members in groups will likely need to be in DL.

[Anonymous]

Back to OP: not a chance in hell do I think there will be any in-person learning for the 20-21 school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lectures and independent work may look much the same but whatever else may happen, group discussions are more effective in person than via zoom.

Not when the group is spaced 3-6 feet apart. Some members in groups will likely need to be in DL.

Obviously you haven't seen the difference between what happens in a physical classroom vs. zoom classrooms.