Disparities in quantity/quality of distance learning

[Anonymous]

How much live instruction does your school offer?

There seems to be huge disparities in the amount of live instruction schools are offering. Private schools seem to be offering a lot more than public schools, and some public schools seem to be offering a lot more than other public schools.

I realize some schools are better than others but normally (before coronavirus) they're all open the same amount of time.

[Anonymous]

I think most private schools don't really have to worry about students having equitable access to computers and wifi, so it's really easy to have lots of live, concurrent learning. Other schools that have a closer eye to equitable access to instruction know that they can't relay on concurrent learning when all students won't be able to access it all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think most private schools don't really have to worry about students having equitable access to computers and wifi, so it's really easy to have lots of live, concurrent learning. Other schools that have a closer eye to equitable access to instruction know that they can't relay on concurrent learning when all students won't be able to access it all the time.

DCPS has tens of thousands of free laptops and wifi access points to distribute.

If they don't, it is more because of red tape (and also the teacher unions who do NOT want distant learning/ teaching) more than anything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think most private schools don't really have to worry about students having equitable access to computers and wifi, so it's really easy to have lots of live, concurrent learning. Other schools that have a closer eye to equitable access to instruction know that they can't relay on concurrent learning when all students won't be able to access it all the time.

So if a school tries to do a good job with distance learning, and offers lots of live instruction, it's because they hate the poor?

And if a school's distance learning program is a joke, and barely offers students anything, it's actually a good thing because at least the poor aren't being left behind?

Gotcha. Makes a lot of sense.

[Anonymous]

Some private schools offer five hours of instruction per day.

[Anonymous]

It seems to be teacher dependent at my kids’ school. One child has the opportunity for multiple live sessions each week, the other has received none.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I don't think online learning can come close to replicating school. I would be much more in favor of moving towards project-based home learning if we keep doing this for another year.

[Anonymous]

My pre-K kid's class meets every day for a half-hour. It's okay given the circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Private schools have two main things going for them in this situation: Equipment and time.

They can require all the kids to have a computer (or provide one) AND they can require that kids get online and be present at a certain time.

DCPS is trying its best on the equipment front, but it has to make accommodations for kids who can't attend various live classes. That makes things VERY hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some private schools offer five hours of instruction per day.

My DC in private school has every class, every day, except PE technically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private schools have two main things going for them in this situation: Equipment and time.

They can require all the kids to have a computer (or provide one) AND they can require that kids get online and be present at a certain time.

DCPS is trying its best on the equipment front, but it has to make accommodations for kids who can't attend various live classes. That makes things VERY hard.

Exactly, plus when they are on line in a zoom, you only have 10-12 kids on the screen.

[Anonymous]

My charter (middle) has 4 classes per day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some private schools offer five hours of instruction per day.

My DC in private school has every class, every day, except PE technically.

Because they can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some private schools offer five hours of instruction per day.

My DC in private school has every class, every day, except PE technically.

So rich kids in private schools are still getting a full day of instruction. And poor and middle-class kids are getting an hour or two per week (with some getting nothing).

Sweet. That doesnt sound like a problem at all.

[Anonymous]

This conversation is exhausting:

In theory, live classes are best when using Zoom. DCPS does not allow schools to use Zoom for live instruction. According to DCUM, ALL THE SCHOOLS are using Zoom- lies. We have to use TEAMS. It keeps us safe (teachers and children). This is not a union fighting to allow teachers to be even lazier - as perceived by so many of you darlings.

A TEAMS meeting with 26 kids is a waste of time. However, I'm more than happy to have a morning meeting where I mute everyone and talk at the kids. If parents so desperately need me to talk at kids for an hour or heck, five hours a day, fine. But I have the capacity to talk at- not differentiate, not ask for opinions. There will be zero discussion. Oh, and because I teach younger children- YOU parent will have to sit with YOUR child as I talk at the screen for 1-5 hours.

Or you can take the daily pre-recorded videos, accept that the best instruction is during small groups and shut up.