Seriously -What happens if we don’t participate in Zoom?

[Anonymous]

Elementary school mom here. The sample schedule shows kids online for over 5 hours a day. What parent wants their kid online for that long?

I have 4 kids. My ES kid is my oldest. Now I’m expected to keep everyone home and indoors all day to facilitate Zoom meetings for 1/4 of my kids? Feels really unfair to my family. I also work PT but my hours are flexible. I do most of my work in the early morning hours. My husband is an essential worker and out of the house daily from 8 - 6.

I don’t want to homeschool. Seriously, what is going to happen if we simply say, we’re happy to do the work but unable to be online. My kids need movement and fresh air. They also need an engaged parent who is available and attentive to all their needs. Not just playing personal assistant to the needs of the ES kid.

[Anonymous]

I really hope parents communicate this concern bc it is mine as well. We are not sure how to do both.

[Anonymous]

Based on the spring, the teacher will reach out and be sure that the absences aren’t caused by technical issues or other things the school could help with (needs a Chromebook, etc).

If you say, thanks but we aren’t doing the zooms, I don’t know what happens. Especially if you are handing in the work.

I have been wondering this too because we hired a tutor and necessarily won’t be in zooms while she is here. And I won’t let them zoom for more than an hour a day or so because they are children (mine are K and 2nd).

[Anonymous]

If your child does the work, no matter when that is, then your child will pass. Please do not over think this. Explain the situation to your child’s teacher and what you all are capable to do on your end.

[Anonymous]

In your situation, I actually would explore homeschooling with a purchased curriculum. It's probably a much better use of your time to devote a basic 2-3 hours/day to homeschooling than trying to oversee the different schedules of 4 kids.

[Anonymous]

Meanwhile 95% of parent survey responders at my MS want mandatory Zoom classes that contain all of the instruction so kids can't miss them. The other 5% vehemently insist that this is too much and kids are fine with pre-recorded instruction and office hours. Can we please have a vaccine now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elementary school mom here. The sample schedule shows kids online for over 5 hours a day. What parent wants their kid online for that long?

I have 4 kids. My ES kid is my oldest. Now I’m expected to keep everyone home and indoors all day to facilitate Zoom meetings for 1/4 of my kids? Feels really unfair to my family. I also work PT but my hours are flexible. I do most of my work in the early morning hours. My husband is an essential worker and out of the house daily from 8 - 6.

I don’t want to homeschool. Seriously, what is going to happen if we simply say, we’re happy to do the work but unable to be online. My kids need movement and fresh air. They also need an engaged parent who is available and attentive to all their needs. Not just playing personal assistant to the needs of the ES kid.

How much fresh air do the younger children need -- an hour, two? Sounds doable in your circumstances. I am fine with my kid being "online" for 5 hours. What does that even mean? It's not like they are watching videos or playing games. It is school. They sit around at actual schools a lot too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really hope parents communicate this concern bc it is mine as well. We are not sure how to do both.

+1

I communicated my concern that the five or whatever hours of Zoom per day is far too much for elementary school kids. My older two are rising first and third graders, and DH and I both work FT (albeit from home, but our hours aren't super flexible and our workloads have increased due to COVID). If MCPS doesn't change the proposed hours, we'll figure it out.

Officially withdrawing them and homeschooling is something we're considering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meanwhile 95% of parent survey responders at my MS want mandatory Zoom classes that contain all of the instruction so kids can't miss them. The other 5% vehemently insist that this is too much and kids are fine with pre-recorded instruction and office hours. Can we please have a vaccine now?

And admin wants us to consider giving small assignments that are only posted during Zoom 'class' so that kids who are absent have to come to office hours to make up the work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meanwhile 95% of parent survey responders at my MS want mandatory Zoom classes that contain all of the instruction so kids can't miss them. The other 5% vehemently insist that this is too much and kids are fine with pre-recorded instruction and office hours. Can we please have a vaccine now?

LOL for real though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meanwhile 95% of parent survey responders at my MS want mandatory Zoom classes that contain all of the instruction so kids can't miss them. The other 5% vehemently insist that this is too much and kids are fine with pre-recorded instruction and office hours. Can we please have a vaccine now?

And admin wants us to consider giving small assignments that are only posted during Zoom 'class' so that kids who are absent have to come to office hours to make up the work.

Well we won’t. I doubt the truancy officer is going to come. And if he does, he can talk to my boss and the two of them can decide what I should be doing during the day - working or signing into ES zooms.

[Anonymous]

Don't refuse. Do what you can.

[Anonymous]

We skipped the Zoom session last Spring. Not worth the time and hassle. (And we got flamed for it on here, repeatedly.)

As long as you do the assignments and check in with your teacher, it is fine.

It is unlikely MCPS will assign grades in the Fall - so it’s not really an issue anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't refuse. Do what you can.

I agree with this.

Don’t make it harder on the teacher. Just quietly opt out and go on with your day.

My school had less than 50% participation for Zooms. There is not much MCPs can do.

[Anonymous]

This fall there will be an attendance process and more accountability on the part of students. Do know exactly what that is, but it won't be as loose as 4th qtr was.