State MCEA Responds to Governor - In a nutshell says, "Nope! Not going back!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is in one of the few private local schools that has had zero covid infections (that we know of). To make this work, the school separates the kids with plastic, tests every two weeks, does not allow kids to return to school if parents or family travel out of state, have out of state visitors or have more than 10 person visits. They travel from class to class with their chair, eat at a table by themselves at lunch, have their temp taken when they leave their car in the morning, wear a mask all day and are sent home if anything indicates even the remote possibility of covid. Oh and there are less than 10 kids per classroom. Plus, the school pushed to have the teachers vaccinated as a group last week. Every teacher and staff had their first vaccine already - there was not an option to opt out.
I do not understand how any public school can remotely come close to this level of care. The question is how to balance how much care is needed vs. acceptable level of risk.

This is an invalid argument. Nobody expects the MD public schools to function like the privates that are open. The question should be... what are public schools doing in the OTHER 47 states that are open? Surely they don't take these measures, but yet they have been open since August.

So.... what is different about Maryland? Last time I checked AA Co had COVID rates that were BETTER than 47 other states... yet it's still not "safe" to return to school. What will it take? COVID rates equal to zero? All teachers, staff, and children vaccinated? Maybe we'll achieve that in 2024!

The rates are better because school is closed. Silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is in one of the few private local schools that has had zero covid infections (that we know of). To make this work, the school separates the kids with plastic, tests every two weeks, does not allow kids to return to school if parents or family travel out of state, have out of state visitors or have more than 10 person visits. They travel from class to class with their chair, eat at a table by themselves at lunch, have their temp taken when they leave their car in the morning, wear a mask all day and are sent home if anything indicates even the remote possibility of covid. Oh and there are less than 10 kids per classroom. Plus, the school pushed to have the teachers vaccinated as a group last week. Every teacher and staff had their first vaccine already - there was not an option to opt out.
I do not understand how any public school can remotely come close to this level of care. The question is how to balance how much care is needed vs. acceptable level of risk.

This is an invalid argument. Nobody expects the MD public schools to function like the privates that are open. The question should be... what are public schools doing in the OTHER 47 states that are open? Surely they don't take these measures, but yet they have been open since August.

So.... what is different about Maryland? Last time I checked AA Co had COVID rates that were BETTER than 47 other states... yet it's still not "safe" to return to school. What will it take? COVID rates equal to zero? All teachers, staff, and children vaccinated? Maybe we'll achieve that in 2024!

The rates are better because school is closed. Silly.

No. Please tell me you realize that this has been proven incorrect multiple times by multiple different studies. Schools are not significant spreaders of Covid19.

Pick your favorite search engine and look it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is in one of the few private local schools that has had zero covid infections (that we know of). To make this work, the school separates the kids with plastic, tests every two weeks, does not allow kids to return to school if parents or family travel out of state, have out of state visitors or have more than 10 person visits. They travel from class to class with their chair, eat at a table by themselves at lunch, have their temp taken when they leave their car in the morning, wear a mask all day and are sent home if anything indicates even the remote possibility of covid. Oh and there are less than 10 kids per classroom. Plus, the school pushed to have the teachers vaccinated as a group last week. Every teacher and staff had their first vaccine already - there was not an option to opt out.
I do not understand how any public school can remotely come close to this level of care. The question is how to balance how much care is needed vs. acceptable level of risk.

This is an invalid argument. Nobody expects the MD public schools to function like the privates that are open. The question should be... what are public schools doing in the OTHER 47 states that are open? Surely they don't take these measures, but yet they have been open since August.

So.... what is different about Maryland? Last time I checked AA Co had COVID rates that were BETTER than 47 other states... yet it's still not "safe" to return to school. What will it take? COVID rates equal to zero? All teachers, staff, and children vaccinated? Maybe we'll achieve that in 2024!

The rates are better because school is closed. Silly.

Cite your source or stop making this claim.

[Anonymous]

New England Journal of Medicine and Jama. Harvard public health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is in one of the few private local schools that has had zero covid infections (that we know of). To make this work, the school separates the kids with plastic, tests every two weeks, does not allow kids to return to school if parents or family travel out of state, have out of state visitors or have more than 10 person visits. They travel from class to class with their chair, eat at a table by themselves at lunch, have their temp taken when they leave their car in the morning, wear a mask all day and are sent home if anything indicates even the remote possibility of covid. Oh and there are less than 10 kids per classroom. Plus, the school pushed to have the teachers vaccinated as a group last week. Every teacher and staff had their first vaccine already - there was not an option to opt out.
I do not understand how any public school can remotely come close to this level of care. The question is how to balance how much care is needed vs. acceptable level of risk.

This is an invalid argument. Nobody expects the MD public schools to function like the privates that are open. The question should be... what are public schools doing in the OTHER 47 states that are open? Surely they don't take these measures, but yet they have been open since August.

So.... what is different about Maryland? Last time I checked AA Co had COVID rates that were BETTER than 47 other states... yet it's still not "safe" to return to school. What will it take? COVID rates equal to zero? All teachers, staff, and children vaccinated? Maybe we'll achieve that in 2024!

The rates are better because school is closed. Silly.

Cite your source or stop making this claim.

Just because there are no or few studies, doesn't mean its not true. Most studies are done to prove specific results and they are looking to justify schools opening. Lets see a study on a large school system successfully opening and staying open with NO spread with weekly testing of all staff, students and families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question: do you (especially teachers) think it is immoral for parents to send kids to hybrid school now? Will you resent the kids for it?

We chose hybrid back in December expecting our district to be much more conservative. They threw out metrics and set a return date. I find the research on school transmission reassuring from a risk perspective, but i am a dues paying member and officer in my union and wonder if sending my kid in is comparable to crossing a picket line or shopping somewhere with unfair labor practices. Thoughts?

This is a serious question? Really? A teacher would have a very low level of professionalism to hold a child accountable for the decision of the parents.

Teachers definitely judge your decision - I have a real life example.

AA Co recently asked parents to fill out a "survey" to indicate if you want a hybrid or virtual option for your child. My friend mentioned to her child's teacher she couldn't decide what to do, and the teacher said "You need to make the right choice for your family BUT you really need to consider all of the facts"

This teacher implored her to join the "Parental Alliance for Child Safety" Facebook group - which is an anti-reopening group for AA Co that wants to keep schools closed FOREVER.

Trust me, EVERY teacher in AA Co is judging you if you want to send your kids back because they are all members of this "PASS" group and want to stay home forever. How dare you demand they return in person! And now, folks in this group are also calling people racist if they want to return. Unbelievable!

It is unbelievable that you know the opinion of every teacher in an entire school district or that you could know with certainty that every single teacher in the County joined a FB group.

Not sure if every teacher in the county joined it but the woman who is one of the founders appears to be ignorant person that assumes she knows what is best for ALL parents.

I am ready for this pandemic to be over so these groups don’t have a cause anymore and we can get back to talking about the “mean moms” behind their backs without risking them closing down schools with their craziness.

It isn't what is best for the parents, its about what is safest for the students and staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question: do you (especially teachers) think it is immoral for parents to send kids to hybrid school now? Will you resent the kids for it?

We chose hybrid back in December expecting our district to be much more conservative. They threw out metrics and set a return date. I find the research on school transmission reassuring from a risk perspective, but i am a dues paying member and officer in my union and wonder if sending my kid in is comparable to crossing a picket line or shopping somewhere with unfair labor practices. Thoughts?

This is a serious question? Really? A teacher would have a very low level of professionalism to hold a child accountable for the decision of the parents.

Teachers definitely judge your decision - I have a real life example.

AA Co recently asked parents to fill out a "survey" to indicate if you want a hybrid or virtual option for your child. My friend mentioned to her child's teacher she couldn't decide what to do, and the teacher said "You need to make the right choice for your family BUT you really need to consider all of the facts"

This teacher implored her to join the "Parental Alliance for Child Safety" Facebook group - which is an anti-reopening group for AA Co that wants to keep schools closed FOREVER.

Trust me, EVERY teacher in AA Co is judging you if you want to send your kids back because they are all members of this "PASS" group and want to stay home forever. How dare you demand they return in person! And now, folks in this group are also calling people racist if they want to return. Unbelievable!

It is unbelievable that you know the opinion of every teacher in an entire school district or that you could know with certainty that every single teacher in the County joined a FB group.

Not sure if every teacher in the county joined it but the woman who is one of the founders appears to be ignorant person that assumes she knows what is best for ALL parents.

I am ready for this pandemic to be over so these groups don’t have a cause anymore and we can get back to talking about the “mean moms” behind their backs without risking them closing down schools with their craziness.

It isn't what is best for the parents, its about what is safest for the students and staff.

Just stop. Good grief!! 65% of the country’s schools are back in person. Local private schools and community centers/daycares have been only since summer. There is no significant health risk to staff or students which is above the normal community level risk metric when schools are opened.

Schools are opening. Calm down. Stay virtual if you don’t want your child on campus. Get a new career if you don’t want to teach in a classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question: do you (especially teachers) think it is immoral for parents to send kids to hybrid school now? Will you resent the kids for it?

We chose hybrid back in December expecting our district to be much more conservative. They threw out metrics and set a return date. I find the research on school transmission reassuring from a risk perspective, but i am a dues paying member and officer in my union and wonder if sending my kid in is comparable to crossing a picket line or shopping somewhere with unfair labor practices. Thoughts?

This is a serious question? Really? A teacher would have a very low level of professionalism to hold a child accountable for the decision of the parents.

Teachers definitely judge your decision - I have a real life example.

AA Co recently asked parents to fill out a "survey" to indicate if you want a hybrid or virtual option for your child. My friend mentioned to her child's teacher she couldn't decide what to do, and the teacher said "You need to make the right choice for your family BUT you really need to consider all of the facts"

This teacher implored her to join the "Parental Alliance for Child Safety" Facebook group - which is an anti-reopening group for AA Co that wants to keep schools closed FOREVER.

Trust me, EVERY teacher in AA Co is judging you if you want to send your kids back because they are all members of this "PASS" group and want to stay home forever. How dare you demand they return in person! And now, folks in this group are also calling people racist if they want to return. Unbelievable!

It is unbelievable that you know the opinion of every teacher in an entire school district or that you could know with certainty that every single teacher in the County joined a FB group.

Not sure if every teacher in the county joined it but the woman who is one of the founders appears to be ignorant person that assumes she knows what is best for ALL parents.

I am ready for this pandemic to be over so these groups don’t have a cause anymore and we can get back to talking about the “mean moms” behind their backs without risking them closing down schools with their craziness.

It isn't what is best for the parents, its about what is safest for the students and staff.

Just stop. Good grief!! 65% of the country’s schools are back in person. Local private schools and community centers/daycares have been only since summer. There is no significant health risk to staff or students which is above the normal community level risk metric when schools are opened.

Schools are opening. Calm down. Stay virtual if you don’t want your child on campus. Get a new career if you don’t want to teach in a classroom.

Privates and day cares are a much smaller population. I am not a teacher. Funny how people like you scream it’s unsafe to return to the office but have no issue forcing others to be child care for you. A very small percentage is open and most hybrid. Many have shut down multiple times even with hybrid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question: do you (especially teachers) think it is immoral for parents to send kids to hybrid school now? Will you resent the kids for it?

We chose hybrid back in December expecting our district to be much more conservative. They threw out metrics and set a return date. I find the research on school transmission reassuring from a risk perspective, but i am a dues paying member and officer in my union and wonder if sending my kid in is comparable to crossing a picket line or shopping somewhere with unfair labor practices. Thoughts?

This is a serious question? Really? A teacher would have a very low level of professionalism to hold a child accountable for the decision of the parents.

Teachers definitely judge your decision - I have a real life example.

AA Co recently asked parents to fill out a "survey" to indicate if you want a hybrid or virtual option for your child. My friend mentioned to her child's teacher she couldn't decide what to do, and the teacher said "You need to make the right choice for your family BUT you really need to consider all of the facts"

This teacher implored her to join the "Parental Alliance for Child Safety" Facebook group - which is an anti-reopening group for AA Co that wants to keep schools closed FOREVER.

Trust me, EVERY teacher in AA Co is judging you if you want to send your kids back because they are all members of this "PASS" group and want to stay home forever. How dare you demand they return in person! And now, folks in this group are also calling people racist if they want to return. Unbelievable!

It is unbelievable that you know the opinion of every teacher in an entire school district or that you could know with certainty that every single teacher in the County joined a FB group.

Not sure if every teacher in the county joined it but the woman who is one of the founders appears to be ignorant person that assumes she knows what is best for ALL parents.

I am ready for this pandemic to be over so these groups don’t have a cause anymore and we can get back to talking about the “mean moms” behind their backs without risking them closing down schools with their craziness.

It isn't what is best for the parents, its about what is safest for the students and staff.

Just stop. Good grief!! 65% of the country’s schools are back in person. Local private schools and community centers/daycares have been only since summer. There is no significant health risk to staff or students which is above the normal community level risk metric when schools are opened.

Schools are opening. Calm down. Stay virtual if you don’t want your child on campus. Get a new career if you don’t want to teach in a classroom.

Privates and day cares are a much smaller population. I am not a teacher. Funny how people like you scream it’s unsafe to return to the office but have no issue forcing others to be child care for you. A very small percentage is open and most hybrid. Many have shut down multiple times even with hybrid.

Catholic schools have been open all year. No huge endowments. Large class sizes. Minimal disruptions.

I can’t wait for public schools to open just to end these posts. I have children in catholic schools and it’s been a normal year with some virtual days thrown in. I wouldn’t change it to all virtual to avoid the one 3 day stint of quarantine because a teacher caught covid from her husband.

Personally, I think it’s the unknown scaring people right now. Once schools open safely like they did in Georgia for my niece, these concerns aren’t there anymore. Niece is in a public school in what was a covid hotspot with minimal school disruption this year.

I wouldn’t choose public schools after this for my older kids. This was not an impossible challenge to reopen safely. It’s been changing on the whim of social media campaigns. There is no reason why a social media group should have so much influence over whether a school can follow CDC guidelines and reopen.

[Anonymous]

Aren't there still severe shortages. After years and years of MCPS and MCEA firing new teachers and bullying them out of the profession wouldn't there be not enough anymore to be able to have schools function.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren't there still severe shortages. After years and years of MCPS and MCEA firing new teachers and bullying them out of the profession wouldn't there be not enough anymore to be able to have schools function.

Not really.. MCPS is still a desirable district to teach in, so they don't have a lot of trouble filling positions. There are certain positions/areas that are harder than others to fill, because MCEA won't accept that we need to pay a SPED or STEM teacher more than an English or elementary school teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Enough with these unions already. ENOUGH.

We need vouchers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Enough with these unions already. ENOUGH.

We need vouchers.

Looks like a new bill has just been introduced in Maryland - can't wait to see the public school funding gutted and finally let parents have a choice. I would love a credit for $32K for my two children. We have been SO much happier in private school - AACPS is a total mess. The teachers better start saving up now as some of them will be losing their jobs!

https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-0219-vouchers-pandemic-20210219-jhu6orf2azbwvgq4cofw7o7ody-story.html

[Anonymous]

Teachers are tough. They can deal with the abuse mcps deals out and hopefully write a book about it. A tell all about teachers bullied out of the profession and principals who suck at their jobs they have to bully to feel good.

[Anonymous]

The heads of the unions care so much about teacher retention. Where were they to protect teachers against the classroom violence. Where were they when documentation of behavior and over class sizes might have been helpful before dismissing teachers and ruining their careers. Then they go to the media and make a fuss about how much they work for retention. It's all a show. Cheryl didn't give me the time of day.