Question on APE (or other APS related groups)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People may have accepted that most will catch omicron, but if we unmask then most are also going to also catch delta. Delta didn't hit this area hard in the August wave, so we'll be sitting ducks.

And we don't all have to get omicron on the same week.

[Anonymous]

Plus, masks will reduce the viral load of exposure. So more likely to have a milder case than no mask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masking isn't really the slam dunk some people seem to think it is. We have incredibly high masking rates in Arlington, including in schools. Somehow, our Omicron curve looks exactly like everyone else's.

Schools were closed during most of that curve. It was the result of unmasked holiday gatherings.

Anyone with a social circle right now can probably list a dozen instances of people catching covid in the last month from an unmasked social gathering. It's rampant and unlike any other period during the pandemic. At the same time, we haven't heard of whole classes catching omicron last week at school. I think that would immediately change if kids unmasked and most parents know it. (Some may be okay with that under the everyone-is-going-to-catch-it theory, but most aren't.)

"Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There's no place for them in light of Omicron," said CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen

Except in schools, where they are magical. Cases were shooting up before break started and kids are wearing cloth masks or poorly fitted surgical masks, for the most part. Somehow it has all been fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People may have accepted that most will catch omicron, but if we unmask then most are also going to also catch delta. Delta didn't hit this area hard in the August wave, so we'll be sitting ducks.

People didn't catch Delta because the vaccines are more effective against it. Not because of masks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masking isn't really the slam dunk some people seem to think it is. We have incredibly high masking rates in Arlington, including in schools. Somehow, our Omicron curve looks exactly like everyone else's.

Schools were closed during most of that curve. It was the result of unmasked holiday gatherings.

Anyone with a social circle right now can probably list a dozen instances of people catching covid in the last month from an unmasked social gathering. It's rampant and unlike any other period during the pandemic. At the same time, we haven't heard of whole classes catching omicron last week at school. I think that would immediately change if kids unmasked and most parents know it. (Some may be okay with that under the everyone-is-going-to-catch-it theory, but most aren't.)

Many kids and teachers are wearing N95s/KN95s.

"Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There's no place for them in light of Omicron," said CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen

Except in schools, where they are magical. Cases were shooting up before break started and kids are wearing cloth masks or poorly fitted surgical masks, for the most part. Somehow it has all been fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masking isn't really the slam dunk some people seem to think it is. We have incredibly high masking rates in Arlington, including in schools. Somehow, our Omicron curve looks exactly like everyone else's.

Schools were closed during most of that curve. It was the result of unmasked holiday gatherings.

Anyone with a social circle right now can probably list a dozen instances of people catching covid in the last month from an unmasked social gathering. It's rampant and unlike any other period during the pandemic. At the same time, we haven't heard of whole classes catching omicron last week at school. I think that would immediately change if kids unmasked and most parents know it. (Some may be okay with that under the everyone-is-going-to-catch-it theory, but most aren't.)

"Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There's no place for them in light of Omicron," said CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen

Except in schools, where they are magical. Cases were shooting up before break started and kids are wearing cloth masks or poorly fitted surgical masks, for the most part. Somehow it has all been fine.

Many kids and teachers are wearing N95s/KN95s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People may have accepted that most will catch omicron, but if we unmask then most are also going to also catch delta. Delta didn't hit this area hard in the August wave, so we'll be sitting ducks.

People didn't catch Delta because the vaccines are more effective against it. Not because of masks.

Not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masking isn't really the slam dunk some people seem to think it is. We have incredibly high masking rates in Arlington, including in schools. Somehow, our Omicron curve looks exactly like everyone else's.

Schools were closed during most of that curve. It was the result of unmasked holiday gatherings.

Anyone with a social circle right now can probably list a dozen instances of people catching covid in the last month from an unmasked social gathering. It's rampant and unlike any other period during the pandemic. At the same time, we haven't heard of whole classes catching omicron last week at school. I think that would immediately change if kids unmasked and most parents know it. (Some may be okay with that under the everyone-is-going-to-catch-it theory, but most aren't.)

"Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There's no place for them in light of Omicron," said CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen

Except in schools, where they are magical. Cases were shooting up before break started and kids are wearing cloth masks or poorly fitted surgical masks, for the most part. Somehow it has all been fine.

Easy solution - don't send your kid to school in a cloth mask. APS is distributing better masks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masking isn't really the slam dunk some people seem to think it is. We have incredibly high masking rates in Arlington, including in schools. Somehow, our Omicron curve looks exactly like everyone else's.

Schools were closed during most of that curve. It was the result of unmasked holiday gatherings.

Anyone with a social circle right now can probably list a dozen instances of people catching covid in the last month from an unmasked social gathering. It's rampant and unlike any other period during the pandemic. At the same time, we haven't heard of whole classes catching omicron last week at school. I think that would immediately change if kids unmasked and most parents know it. (Some may be okay with that under the everyone-is-going-to-catch-it theory, but most aren't.)

"Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There's no place for them in light of Omicron," said CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen

Except in schools, where they are magical. Cases were shooting up before break started and kids are wearing cloth masks or poorly fitted surgical masks, for the most part. Somehow it has all been fine.

Many kids and teachers are wearing N95s/KN95s.

Yup. At drop off/pick up at both of my kids' schools almost all kids and teachers are wearing KN95/KF94/N95 type masks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Masking isn't really the slam dunk some people seem to think it is. We have incredibly high masking rates in Arlington, including in schools. Somehow, our Omicron curve looks exactly like everyone else's.


This. I think it's just that people don't want to believe that they can't control the virus.

It doesn't look exactly the same. You are just math illiterate. Just because everyone has an exponential graph that looks kinda similar when zoomed out doesn't mean the rate of increase is the same. Or that x and y axis are the same. Yes cases are increasing exponentially. They could also be decreasing 25 to 50% faster if masks were off in classrooms. Look at % positive testing and how its approaching 50% in say Alabama (masks off) but was in the 20% range in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t read the comments (sorry!) but a message for liberals:

I am one of you, I promise. But the approach to education that has been branded “conservative” is the approach most backed by cognitive science and ultimately the best approach for racial and socioeconomic equity. Please read The Knowledge Gap ( I’m not a fan of the author tbh but it’s important to grapple with the content), Why Don’t Students Like School, and basic principles of the science of learning.

Something else noteworthy is that “balanced literacy” was a darling of a lot of white liberals, but as Arlington reading scores plummeted, the Arlington NAACP pushed to get phonics back in the classroom, especially because the bad impact of balanced literacy disproportionately hurt black students. They are still pushing for better teacher training for teachers who have been trained primarily in Lucy Calkins reading.

Okay, getting off my soapbox now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Masking isn't really the slam dunk some people seem to think it is. We have incredibly high masking rates in Arlington, including in schools. Somehow, our Omicron curve looks exactly like everyone else's.


This. I think it's just that people don't want to believe that they can't control the virus.

It doesn't look exactly the same. You are just math illiterate. Just because everyone has an exponential graph that looks kinda similar when zoomed out doesn't mean the rate of increase is the same. Or that x and y axis are the same. Yes cases are increasing exponentially. They could also be decreasing 25 to 50% faster if masks were off in classrooms. Look at % positive testing and how its approaching 50% in say Alabama (masks off) but was in the 20% range in Arlington.

Our positivity actually peaked at 29.3% in Arlington after a very steep climb. Presumably our vaccination rates and willingness to test even if asymptomatic plays a role in the difference in max positivity rate.

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[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APE is a good group. Their heart is in the right place in wanting to keep schools open and keep Duran and the School Board accountable. I know a bunch of people in the group and none are crazy or republican.

If this is true, then APE should support masks. But APE does not support masks. We know that because they refused to offer support in their embarrassing statement.

APE can't and won't ever say they support masks because they have too many members who are anti-maskers.

At least we all now know who they really are and what they really stand for.

Yup. Turner is pandering to the anti-science/anti-public health RWNJs. No backbone.

No way would I trust her in the future.

You obviously have never met her or bothered to engage in a conversation with her. She is extremely smart and articulate, but, go ahead and slander away. Ugh.

Sorry, OP, you got way more than your asked for with your question.

From my point of view, I'm a parent of a lower ed child--COVID has been a total nightmare. I'm a left leaning political person, but, part of the APE facebook group, because in my experience, they are advocating for a lot of what I need from my school district to support young learners. They are big tent--they allow all viewpoints to participate--so, yes, there will be extremism, but, that's part of being inclusive. It doesn't represent the whole of the group.

Not being a part of Smart Restart--they left a really bad impression with me with their zero covid approach and extreme tactics--as referenced upstream in this thread.

AEM is so bent on being PC that it breaks itself.

It has been an exhausting time to live in Arlington--all around. Everyone is exasperated. There are still good, thoughtful, caring, normal parents here, but, try to tune out the extremes online.

I didn’t say anything about her intelligence.

I said she has no backbone and she’s pandering to anti-science RWNJs.

If she can’t stand up for these obvious, easy things then why would I trust her in more complex, tough situations?

+1 million

I don't disagree with that attitude when looking at it from this one specific issue. However, on the other hand, it's reassuring to know that she would listen to what I have to say about something even if she doesn't agree with me. That's a heckuva lot more than I can say for every single school board member except two over the past 12 years I've been actively involved, including talking one-on-one with each one of them.

I’m not yet ready to agree to that lowest of low bars. Masking right now should be a softball issue. If she cannot or will not commit to supporting them right now, I will never be able to vote for her.

Well, I haven't heard whether she personally supports masks or not. To me, that's a lower bar than expecting a SB member to listen to different perspectives and seriously take those perspectives into consideration in making a decision, even if it's a decision to do nothing. I fully support the mask mandate and hope she would, too, as a Board member. However, she's not a board member right now. She is representing a different group and is making a deliberate decision in the interest of that group. Maybe she wouldn't support a mask mandate if she were currently a member of the Board. I don't know. But her one dissenting voice (which represents a part of the school community) would still be in the minority. If she runs again, then I would want/expect a clear answer as to what she would have supported, if she had been on the Board during this time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CDT worked for the same pro-charter consultancy that Katie Cristol worked for, and when KC got called out for it during her campaign, her defenders announced that she wasn't pro-charter but even if she was, charters aren't legal in Virginia so nothing would happen and even if they were legal the County Board doesn't control the school board.

And then the corporate Democrats that run the ACDC worked very hard to get CDT on the school board, and the shittiness repeated itself, and here we are.

Arlington, like DCUM, is full of people who like to proclaim their Democratic alliance and then advocate for the least progressive course of action. And now all the people who are pissed off that schools couldn't provide the same level of social support (which is not supposed to be schools' job) they did pre-pandemic are complaining about their own inconvenience and painting people who want teachers to feel appreciated and COVID spread to be as limited as possible as driven by fear, wanting schools closed forever, unconcerned about education and students' mental health, indifferent to women's careers, etc.

And their solution is vouchers and charters, which solve none of the societal problems that made COVID in the U.S. worse than it had to be.

Has she once promoted vouchers or charter schools from the dias, during her campaign, or as a SB member?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masking isn't really the slam dunk some people seem to think it is. We have incredibly high masking rates in Arlington, including in schools. Somehow, our Omicron curve looks exactly like everyone else's.

Schools were closed during most of that curve. It was the result of unmasked holiday gatherings.

Anyone with a social circle right now can probably list a dozen instances of people catching covid in the last month from an unmasked social gathering. It's rampant and unlike any other period during the pandemic. At the same time, we haven't heard of whole classes catching omicron last week at school. I think that would immediately change if kids unmasked and most parents know it. (Some may be okay with that under the everyone-is-going-to-catch-it theory, but most aren't.)

"Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There's no place for them in light of Omicron," said CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen

Except in schools, where they are magical. Cases were shooting up before break started and kids are wearing cloth masks or poorly fitted surgical masks, for the most part. Somehow it has all been fine.

I don't get the logic in eliminating masks just because cloth and cheap masks improperly worn or ill-fitted aren't highly effective. Why not instead support ensuring everyone wears the recommended high quality masks and that they wear them properly?