Teachers not returning. MCPS to hire “Monitors” instead

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you socially distance 30 kids un one class? You fo t. You solit into two or more. So 1/2 will do dl ftom another classroom since they cant afford to hire double the teachers.

Except there will unlikely be 30 kids in a class to begin with, because only 50% chose the hybrid option, the rest opted to stay DL. Yes this likely varies by school/class but there will not be many scenarios where there would be 30 kids, and with hybrid that would be reduced even further. Have you not been paying attention at all?

And per CDC guidelines, lots of schools will have trouble fitting 15 kids and their desks 6 feet apart with adult supervision in a single room.

They're CDC guidelines, not CDC requirements. CDC themselves advise to do what's feasible for local conditions.

And MCPS has decided to follow the CDC guidelines which is a completely reasonable thing to do.

No, following CDC guidelines means doing what's feasible. If it's not feasible to have desks 6 feet apart, then you do what is feasible. If you say, "We can't do everything that's in the CDC guidelines, therefore the kids will all stay doing DL at home," then you're not following CDC guidelines.

They are following the guidelines strictly.

Which part of this guideline are they following strictly?

"Opening schools for in-person learning as safely and quickly as possible, and keeping them open, is important given the many known and established benefits of in-person learning."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Everyone isn't going to agree with MCPS's decisions. I certainly don't, not all the time. But that's still a reasonable decision to make, even if you don't agree with it.

How you and I define "in person" learning is, frankly, irrelevant, because we're not MCPS. I don't think Zoom DL in a classroom is as good as being taught in person. But our ES has told us that they can't provide true in person learning and keep the kids safe or keep the kids with their teachers, they've explained why, and their explanations make sense. It sucks but it is what it is.

No, it isn't irrelevant, at least not if you think that wordshave meaning. If you took your car in for service to a mechanic who said they provide transportation, and it turned out to mean they contribute $5 towards an Uber ride, would you say, "*shrug* my opinion is irrelevant because I'm not the mechanic."?

Ok, you clearly don't think that in-school DL is "in person learning." So what? MCPS does. Are you going to waive a dictionary at school buildings and make the rooms bigger? Are you going to go up to parents who are choosing virtual learning for their kids and smack them in the face with your thesaurus? Are you going to sit down with COVID and all its variants, and explain your excellent Uber analogy in the hopes that it will stop being so damn communicable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you socially distance 30 kids un one class? You fo t. You solit into two or more. So 1/2 will do dl ftom another classroom since they cant afford to hire double the teachers.

Except there will unlikely be 30 kids in a class to begin with, because only 50% chose the hybrid option, the rest opted to stay DL. Yes this likely varies by school/class but there will not be many scenarios where there would be 30 kids, and with hybrid that would be reduced even further. Have you not been paying attention at all?

And per CDC guidelines, lots of schools will have trouble fitting 15 kids and their desks 6 feet apart with adult supervision in a single room.

They're CDC guidelines, not CDC requirements. CDC themselves advise to do what's feasible for local conditions.

And MCPS has decided to follow the CDC guidelines which is a completely reasonable thing to do.

No, following CDC guidelines means doing what's feasible. If it's not feasible to have desks 6 feet apart, then you do what is feasible. If you say, "We can't do everything that's in the CDC guidelines, therefore the kids will all stay doing DL at home," then you're not following CDC guidelines.

They are following the guidelines strictly.

Which part of this guideline are they following strictly?

"Opening schools for in-person learning as safely and quickly as possible, and keeping them open, is important given the many known and established benefits of in-person learning."

All of it. They also think opening schools is important. They think other things are important too.

[Anonymous]

There is of course a group of teachers that are at higher risk due to underlying health conditions, and I fully support those teachers continuing to teacher remotely and a monitor "managing" those in person classrooms while students in the class and at home zoom the lesson. However, that is not the majority of teachers. Once MCPS returns to in person school (so cdc safety measures are in place like masking and distance), the majority of teachers should be in person in their classrooms 5 days a week, and the students who elected to stay full remote plus the portions of the in person cohorts that are learning at home on any given day should zoom into the lesson. This isn't that complicated and school systems all across the country have been implementing it since September.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is of course a group of teachers that are at higher risk due to underlying health conditions, and I fully support those teachers continuing to teacher remotely and a monitor "managing" those in person classrooms while students in the class and at home zoom the lesson. However, that is not the majority of teachers. Once MCPS returns to in person school (so cdc safety measures are in place like masking and distance), the majority of teachers should be in person in their classrooms 5 days a week, and the students who elected to stay full remote plus the portions of the in person cohorts that are learning at home on any given day should zoom into the lesson. This isn't that complicated and school systems all across the country have been implementing it since September.

Our teachers are coming back, regardless of the kind of in-person learning they're doing. Our ES doesn't have the technology to do that kind of concurrent learning (especially since it would require the teacher to stand in one spot the whole time to stay on camera). We can't fit all the kids who are coming back into one classroom because our building is small, and they are prioritizing keeping kids with their teachers. So you tell me how that can work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is of course a group of teachers that are at higher risk due to underlying health conditions, and I fully support those teachers continuing to teacher remotely and a monitor "managing" those in person classrooms while students in the class and at home zoom the lesson. However, that is not the majority of teachers. Once MCPS returns to in person school (so cdc safety measures are in place like masking and distance), the majority of teachers should be in person in their classrooms 5 days a week, and the students who elected to stay full remote plus the portions of the in person cohorts that are learning at home on any given day should zoom into the lesson. This isn't that complicated and school systems all across the country have been implementing it since September.

Our teachers are coming back, regardless of the kind of in-person learning they're doing. Our ES doesn't have the technology to do that kind of concurrent learning (especially since it would require the teacher to stand in one spot the whole time to stay on camera). We can't fit all the kids who are coming back into one classroom because our building is small, and they are prioritizing keeping kids with their teachers. So you tell me how that can work.

Coming back to what? Coming back to where?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is of course a group of teachers that are at higher risk due to underlying health conditions, and I fully support those teachers continuing to teacher remotely and a monitor "managing" those in person classrooms while students in the class and at home zoom the lesson. However, that is not the majority of teachers. Once MCPS returns to in person school (so cdc safety measures are in place like masking and distance), the majority of teachers should be in person in their classrooms 5 days a week, and the students who elected to stay full remote plus the portions of the in person cohorts that are learning at home on any given day should zoom into the lesson. This isn't that complicated and school systems all across the country have been implementing it since September.

Our teachers are coming back, regardless of the kind of in-person learning they're doing. Our ES doesn't have the technology to do that kind of concurrent learning (especially since it would require the teacher to stand in one spot the whole time to stay on camera). We can't fit all the kids who are coming back into one classroom because our building is small, and they are prioritizing keeping kids with their teachers. So you tell me how that can work.

Easy. Teachers will sit in one spot to teach DL just as they do now. Nothing changes really except for family choice to continue learning in the building. Teachers will be in the building. Students who select in person, will indeed be in person. Kids will be spilt into separate days or even biweekly depending on class size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Everyone isn't going to agree with MCPS's decisions. I certainly don't, not all the time. But that's still a reasonable decision to make, even if you don't agree with it.

How you and I define "in person" learning is, frankly, irrelevant, because we're not MCPS. I don't think Zoom DL in a classroom is as good as being taught in person. But our ES has told us that they can't provide true in person learning and keep the kids safe or keep the kids with their teachers, they've explained why, and their explanations make sense. It sucks but it is what it is.

No, it isn't irrelevant, at least not if you think that wordshave meaning. If you took your car in for service to a mechanic who said they provide transportation, and it turned out to mean they contribute $5 towards an Uber ride, would you say, "*shrug* my opinion is irrelevant because I'm not the mechanic."?

Ok, you clearly don't think that in-school DL is "in person learning." So what? MCPS does. Are you going to waive a dictionary at school buildings and make the rooms bigger? Are you going to go up to parents who are choosing virtual learning for their kids and smack them in the face with your thesaurus? Are you going to sit down with COVID and all its variants, and explain your excellent Uber analogy in the hopes that it will stop being so damn communicable?

I guess I expect our public agencies to use words according to the words' actual meanings. It might be naive of me. If MCPS actually means "an expanded program of child care hubs in school buildings," then they should have say that, rather than referring to "return to school" or "reopening plans" or "in-person learning."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is of course a group of teachers that are at higher risk due to underlying health conditions, and I fully support those teachers continuing to teacher remotely and a monitor "managing" those in person classrooms while students in the class and at home zoom the lesson. However, that is not the majority of teachers. Once MCPS returns to in person school (so cdc safety measures are in place like masking and distance), the majority of teachers should be in person in their classrooms 5 days a week, and the students who elected to stay full remote plus the portions of the in person cohorts that are learning at home on any given day should zoom into the lesson. This isn't that complicated and school systems all across the country have been implementing it since September.

Our teachers are coming back, regardless of the kind of in-person learning they're doing. Our ES doesn't have the technology to do that kind of concurrent learning (especially since it would require the teacher to stand in one spot the whole time to stay on camera). We can't fit all the kids who are coming back into one classroom because our building is small, and they are prioritizing keeping kids with their teachers. So you tell me how that can work.

Easy. Teachers will sit in one spot to teach DL just as they do now. Nothing changes really except for family choice to continue learning in the building. Teachers will be in the building. Students who select in person, will indeed be in person. Kids will be spilt into separate days or even biweekly depending on class size.

In-person distance learning, now there's an oxymoron.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Everyone isn't going to agree with MCPS's decisions. I certainly don't, not all the time. But that's still a reasonable decision to make, even if you don't agree with it.

How you and I define "in person" learning is, frankly, irrelevant, because we're not MCPS. I don't think Zoom DL in a classroom is as good as being taught in person. But our ES has told us that they can't provide true in person learning and keep the kids safe or keep the kids with their teachers, they've explained why, and their explanations make sense. It sucks but it is what it is.

No, it isn't irrelevant, at least not if you think that wordshave meaning. If you took your car in for service to a mechanic who said they provide transportation, and it turned out to mean they contribute $5 towards an Uber ride, would you say, "*shrug* my opinion is irrelevant because I'm not the mechanic."?

Ok, you clearly don't think that in-school DL is "in person learning." So what? MCPS does. Are you going to waive a dictionary at school buildings and make the rooms bigger? Are you going to go up to parents who are choosing virtual learning for their kids and smack them in the face with your thesaurus? Are you going to sit down with COVID and all its variants, and explain your excellent Uber analogy in the hopes that it will stop being so damn communicable?

I guess I expect our public agencies to use words according to the words' actual meanings. It might be naive of me. If MCPS actually means "an expanded program of child care hubs in school buildings," then they should have say that, rather than referring to "return to school" or "reopening plans" or "in-person learning."

Problem is, that’s your personal description because it’s not what you want (or any if us want, frankly). This model had been discussed and has always been part of the options on the table since the return plan surfaced. I’m unclear how so many are shocked. I do recall teachers mentioning it on this board. We are in the DL group so nothing changes except for maybe a longer day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is of course a group of teachers that are at higher risk due to underlying health conditions, and I fully support those teachers continuing to teacher remotely and a monitor "managing" those in person classrooms while students in the class and at home zoom the lesson. However, that is not the majority of teachers. Once MCPS returns to in person school (so cdc safety measures are in place like masking and distance), the majority of teachers should be in person in their classrooms 5 days a week, and the students who elected to stay full remote plus the portions of the in person cohorts that are learning at home on any given day should zoom into the lesson. This isn't that complicated and school systems all across the country have been implementing it since September.

Our teachers are coming back, regardless of the kind of in-person learning they're doing. Our ES doesn't have the technology to do that kind of concurrent learning (especially since it would require the teacher to stand in one spot the whole time to stay on camera). We can't fit all the kids who are coming back into one classroom because our building is small, and they are prioritizing keeping kids with their teachers. So you tell me how that can work.

Easy. Teachers will sit in one spot to teach DL just as they do now. Nothing changes really except for family choice to continue learning in the building. Teachers will be in the building. Students who select in person, will indeed be in person. Kids will be spilt into separate days or even biweekly depending on class size.

In-person distance learning, now there's an oxymoron.

During a pandemic, every model is by nature “at a distance”
You know, that social distance part?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is of course a group of teachers that are at higher risk due to underlying health conditions, and I fully support those teachers continuing to teacher remotely and a monitor "managing" those in person classrooms while students in the class and at home zoom the lesson. However, that is not the majority of teachers. Once MCPS returns to in person school (so cdc safety measures are in place like masking and distance), the majority of teachers should be in person in their classrooms 5 days a week, and the students who elected to stay full remote plus the portions of the in person cohorts that are learning at home on any given day should zoom into the lesson. This isn't that complicated and school systems all across the country have been implementing it since September.

Our teachers are coming back, regardless of the kind of in-person learning they're doing. Our ES doesn't have the technology to do that kind of concurrent learning (especially since it would require the teacher to stand in one spot the whole time to stay on camera). We can't fit all the kids who are coming back into one classroom because our building is small, and they are prioritizing keeping kids with their teachers. So you tell me how that can work.

Easy. Teachers will sit in one spot to teach DL just as they do now. Nothing changes really except for family choice to continue learning in the building. Teachers will be in the building. Students who select in person, will indeed be in person. Kids will be spilt into separate days or even biweekly depending on class size.

In-person distance learning, now there's an oxymoron.

During a pandemic, every model is by nature “at a distance”
You know, that social distance part?

"Distance learning" is a phrase we've been using since at least April 2020. Probably you are familiar with it. Words have meaning. Good grief, you'd think DCUM posters were a bunch of English-major Derrida acolytes in 1987.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Everyone isn't going to agree with MCPS's decisions. I certainly don't, not all the time. But that's still a reasonable decision to make, even if you don't agree with it.

How you and I define "in person" learning is, frankly, irrelevant, because we're not MCPS. I don't think Zoom DL in a classroom is as good as being taught in person. But our ES has told us that they can't provide true in person learning and keep the kids safe or keep the kids with their teachers, they've explained why, and their explanations make sense. It sucks but it is what it is.

No, it isn't irrelevant, at least not if you think that wordshave meaning. If you took your car in for service to a mechanic who said they provide transportation, and it turned out to mean they contribute $5 towards an Uber ride, would you say, "*shrug* my opinion is irrelevant because I'm not the mechanic."?

Ok, you clearly don't think that in-school DL is "in person learning." So what? MCPS does. Are you going to waive a dictionary at school buildings and make the rooms bigger? Are you going to go up to parents who are choosing virtual learning for their kids and smack them in the face with your thesaurus? Are you going to sit down with COVID and all its variants, and explain your excellent Uber analogy in the hopes that it will stop being so damn communicable?

I guess I expect our public agencies to use words according to the words' actual meanings. It might be naive of me. If MCPS actually means "an expanded program of child care hubs in school buildings," then they should have say that, rather than referring to "return to school" or "reopening plans" or "in-person learning."

Problem is, that’s your personal description because it’s not what you want (or any if us want, frankly). This model had been discussed and has always been part of the options on the table since the return plan surfaced. I’m unclear how so many are shocked. I do recall teachers mentioning it on this board. We are in the DL group so nothing changes except for maybe a longer day.

No, it's not my personal description, it's what MCPS is saying. Look:

https://lmgtfy.app/?q=mcps+return+to+school+plan
https://lmgtfy.app/?q=mcps+reopening+plan+2021
https://lmgtfy.app/#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=mcps%20in%20person%20learning

Now, MCPS is referring to it (I think) as "the student support model". Go out and ask a random person at the grocery store what they think all those phrases mean, and whether they think kids sitting at desks doing distance learning over Zoom, supervised by a classroom monitor, counts as return to school, reopening, or in-person learning.

[Anonymous]

It says “in person-learning”, not “face to face instruction”. People should have more specific when they demanded schools reopen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t people start taking accountability for their lives? Look at what happens when society relies so much on schools to care for children. Wake up people!!!

Do you mean educate children?

Education is happening. People are just sick of their kids. They want the child care part of school back.

Nailed it.