Barriers to more fully opening schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If teachers are vaccinated or the vaccine is at least made avaiable to all of them, how can they refuse to come back to the classroom?

A lot still don’t have school for their own kids. We need enough vaccines for all school staff in multiple districts and states.

so what? everyone else has been dealing with this for a year.

Because the issue is still staffing. If I have to go back in person, I don’t have childcare so I’ll be quitting. You’re either out a teacher or I stay distance learning. My school has no subs and is routinely understaffed so the whole “we’ll just hire someone else” argument doesn’t work either. So again, only issue is staffing.

You're going to get zero sympathy from parents when, thanks to teachers' selfishness, people have been dealing with these kinds of child care problems for a year and counting. Go ahead and quit. They'll find someone else. You are extremely replaceable.

I think the PP is right that teachers are not that easily replaced. So they are indeed able to hold everyone hostage while screaming "school is not childcare" when someone other than a teacher complains about this issue. It is hypocritical, but it's the reality.

I already replace my kids teacher as far is instruction is concerned. If she were to quit it would nearly be the same situation as we are in now. Except there is the potential they’d hire another teacher willing to work in person in her place. So go ahead and quit, I say. The local TPPs keep churning out candidates

This. Teachers doing DL have very little value for most of elementary, and they've already shifted a lot of their jobs to the parents. At this point, an inexperienced in-person teacher teaching full-time school far outweighs an experienced teacher (even assuming this is a good teacher, although many entrenched DCPS teachers aren't). DCPS should focus on hiring incentives.

They have them and they don’t work. This is what people cannot see for some reason. People do NOT want to work in DCPS. If you look at the data and at the open positions they have every year in the middle of the school year, you would see it. Maybe only people who work in DCPS can see and understand this. It seems to be clear as mud to others in this forum. If your child attends school anywhere outside ward 3 or capital hill, your school struggles to fill vacancies.

What do you think the reason is? Lack of an easy hiring process (i.e. convoluted like the Fed Govt)? Teachers don't want to deal with underperforming schools and all that goes with it, such as lack of prepared kids and underperforming teachers/peers (I've heard this from a couple teachers who taught in underperforming schools)? Although DCPS pays higher salaries on average than nearby public school systems, privates, or charters, is it not enough of a difference to get teachers to take jobs at the underperforming schools?

Would student loan repayment incentives help attract new teachers? Big bonuses for teachers who raise PARCC scores?

Schools need to reopen, so DCPS needs to figure out some way to ensure staffing.

[Anonymous]

One barrier is the framing of the reopening narrative. Somehow the progressive take is that public schools should not reopen until stringent measures are taken. I’ve seen parents dragged on Twitter for talking about wanting in-person learning. They are, apparently, racist, and also hate teachers and their own children. As a fellow progressive, but also a parent of young (like can’t distance learn on their own young) children, I am troubled by this take. I don’t understand how the closure of public schools for a year is not a crisis. I’m concerned that private solutions (learning hubs, new catchy virtual options, etc.) will replace public education for the wealthier folks. From a labor perspective (something near and dear to my heart), I don’t understand why teachers’ labor is valued so much more than daycare workers and others who are stepping in to care for young children. I don’t understand why women leaving the workforce in droves has garnered but a whisper. I would love to join forces with the teachers to make a real viable, safe return to school plan. But I’m afraid to speak out, except on this anonymous board, because I watch prominent WTU folks dox white parents for expressing concern about their kids. This has turned into a vent, but I think the issue needs to be rebranded quickly because the GOP are salivating at the mouth trying to pick off “nice white parents,” and it’s going to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If teachers are vaccinated or the vaccine is at least made avaiable to all of them, how can they refuse to come back to the classroom?

A lot still don’t have school for their own kids. We need enough vaccines for all school staff in multiple districts and states.

so what? everyone else has been dealing with this for a year.

Because the issue is still staffing. If I have to go back in person, I don’t have childcare so I’ll be quitting. You’re either out a teacher or I stay distance learning. My school has no subs and is routinely understaffed so the whole “we’ll just hire someone else” argument doesn’t work either. So again, only issue is staffing.

You're going to get zero sympathy from parents when, thanks to teachers' selfishness, people have been dealing with these kinds of child care problems for a year and counting. Go ahead and quit. They'll find someone else. You are extremely replaceable.

I think the PP is right that teachers are not that easily replaced. So they are indeed able to hold everyone hostage while screaming "school is not childcare" when someone other than a teacher complains about this issue. It is hypocritical, but it's the reality.

I already replace my kids teacher as far is instruction is concerned. If she were to quit it would nearly be the same situation as we are in now. Except there is the potential they’d hire another teacher willing to work in person in her place. So go ahead and quit, I say. The local TPPs keep churning out candidates

This. Teachers doing DL have very little value for most of elementary, and they've already shifted a lot of their jobs to the parents. At this point, an inexperienced in-person teacher teaching full-time school far outweighs an experienced teacher (even assuming this is a good teacher, although many entrenched DCPS teachers aren't). DCPS should focus on hiring incentives.

They have them and they don’t work. This is what people cannot see for some reason. People do NOT want to work in DCPS. If you look at the data and at the open positions they have every year in the middle of the school year, you would see it. Maybe only people who work in DCPS can see and understand this. It seems to be clear as mud to others in this forum. If your child attends school anywhere outside ward 3 or capital hill, your school struggles to fill vacancies.

What do you think the reason is? Lack of an easy hiring process (i.e. convoluted like the Fed Govt)? Teachers don't want to deal with underperforming schools and all that goes with it, such as lack of prepared kids and underperforming teachers/peers (I've heard this from a couple teachers who taught in underperforming schools)? Although DCPS pays higher salaries on average than nearby public school systems, privates, or charters, is it not enough of a difference to get teachers to take jobs at the underperforming schools?

Would student loan repayment incentives help attract new teachers? Big bonuses for teachers who raise PARCC scores?

Schools need to reopen, so DCPS needs to figure out some way to ensure staffing.

From what I hear, the DCPS admin disfunction and incentive structure is massively frustrating and unappealing to teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all are out of your minds if you think getting rid of the few safety measures is going to work. I for one would quit if I had to put my family at risk like that. Do you not realize that the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, and doesn’t prevent you from getting covid-19? Vaccinating teachers alone is not enough. We MUST continue to social distance. Seriously, I thought all you rich DCUM commenters would have more doctor friends to tell you how absolutely asinine your ideas are.

And to all the jerks saying tough luck to teachers who wouldn’t have childcare for their kids - you probably make a lot more money than teachers and could afford to do that. My kids are remaining virtual for the foreseeable future, and aside from not being able to afford to hire a nanny, I am fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to find an adult living as cautiously as we are.

You won’t find a lot of doctors supporting your idea that we must continue to social distance in schools indefinitely, even if all adults are vaccinated, because the vaccine is “only” 95% effective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are out of your minds if you think getting rid of the few safety measures is going to work. I for one would quit if I had to put my family at risk like that. Do you not realize that the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, and doesn’t prevent you from getting covid-19? Vaccinating teachers alone is not enough. We MUST continue to social distance. Seriously, I thought all you rich DCUM commenters would have more doctor friends to tell you how absolutely asinine your ideas are.

And to all the jerks saying tough luck to teachers who wouldn’t have childcare for their kids - you probably make a lot more money than teachers and could afford to do that. My kids are remaining virtual for the foreseeable future, and aside from not being able to afford to hire a nanny, I am fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to find an adult living as cautiously as we are.

You won’t find a lot of doctors supporting your idea that we must continue to social distance in schools indefinitely, even if all adults are vaccinated, because the vaccine is “only” 95% effective.

where are you getting this misinformation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are out of your minds if you think getting rid of the few safety measures is going to work. I for one would quit if I had to put my family at risk like that. Do you not realize that the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, and doesn’t prevent you from getting covid-19? Vaccinating teachers alone is not enough. We MUST continue to social distance. Seriously, I thought all you rich DCUM commenters would have more doctor friends to tell you how absolutely asinine your ideas are.

And to all the jerks saying tough luck to teachers who wouldn’t have childcare for their kids - you probably make a lot more money than teachers and could afford to do that. My kids are remaining virtual for the foreseeable future, and aside from not being able to afford to hire a nanny, I am fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to find an adult living as cautiously as we are.

You won’t find a lot of doctors supporting your idea that we must continue to social distance in schools indefinitely, even if all adults are vaccinated, because the vaccine is “only” 95% effective.

where are you getting this misinformation?

Are you talking to yourself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are out of your minds if you think getting rid of the few safety measures is going to work. I for one would quit if I had to put my family at risk like that. Do you not realize that the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, and doesn’t prevent you from getting covid-19? Vaccinating teachers alone is not enough. We MUST continue to social distance. Seriously, I thought all you rich DCUM commenters would have more doctor friends to tell you how absolutely asinine your ideas are.

And to all the jerks saying tough luck to teachers who wouldn’t have childcare for their kids - you probably make a lot more money than teachers and could afford to do that. My kids are remaining virtual for the foreseeable future, and aside from not being able to afford to hire a nanny, I am fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to find an adult living as cautiously as we are.

You won’t find a lot of doctors supporting your idea that we must continue to social distance in schools indefinitely, even if all adults are vaccinated, because the vaccine is “only” 95% effective.

where are you getting this misinformation?

Are you talking to yourself?

Huh? DP here. I'm concerned that someone thinks the vaccine doesn't prevent you from getting Covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are out of your minds if you think getting rid of the few safety measures is going to work. I for one would quit if I had to put my family at risk like that. Do you not realize that the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, and doesn’t prevent you from getting covid-19? Vaccinating teachers alone is not enough. We MUST continue to social distance. Seriously, I thought all you rich DCUM commenters would have more doctor friends to tell you how absolutely asinine your ideas are.

And to all the jerks saying tough luck to teachers who wouldn’t have childcare for their kids - you probably make a lot more money than teachers and could afford to do that. My kids are remaining virtual for the foreseeable future, and aside from not being able to afford to hire a nanny, I am fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to find an adult living as cautiously as we are.

You won’t find a lot of doctors supporting your idea that we must continue to social distance in schools indefinitely, even if all adults are vaccinated, because the vaccine is “only” 95% effective.

where are you getting this misinformation?

Are you talking to yourself?

Huh? DP here. I'm concerned that someone thinks the vaccine doesn't prevent you from getting Covid.

Oh, so you were responding to the PP above me. I thought you were talking to me. I agree with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are out of your minds if you think getting rid of the few safety measures is going to work. I for one would quit if I had to put my family at risk like that. Do you not realize that the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, and doesn’t prevent you from getting covid-19? Vaccinating teachers alone is not enough. We MUST continue to social distance. Seriously, I thought all you rich DCUM commenters would have more doctor friends to tell you how absolutely asinine your ideas are.

And to all the jerks saying tough luck to teachers who wouldn’t have childcare for their kids - you probably make a lot more money than teachers and could afford to do that. My kids are remaining virtual for the foreseeable future, and aside from not being able to afford to hire a nanny, I am fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to find an adult living as cautiously as we are.

You won’t find a lot of doctors supporting your idea that we must continue to social distance in schools indefinitely, even if all adults are vaccinated, because the vaccine is “only” 95% effective.

Yeah at some point we have to return to actually assessing risks rationally. We can't keep coddling the paranoia of a few.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One barrier is the framing of the reopening narrative. Somehow the progressive take is that public schools should not reopen until stringent measures are taken. I’ve seen parents dragged on Twitter for talking about wanting in-person learning. They are, apparently, racist, and also hate teachers and their own children. As a fellow progressive, but also a parent of young (like can’t distance learn on their own young) children, I am troubled by this take. I don’t understand how the closure of public schools for a year is not a crisis. I’m concerned that private solutions (learning hubs, new catchy virtual options, etc.) will replace public education for the wealthier folks. From a labor perspective (something near and dear to my heart), I don’t understand why teachers’ labor is valued so much more than daycare workers and others who are stepping in to care for young children. I don’t understand why women leaving the workforce in droves has garnered but a whisper. I would love to join forces with the teachers to make a real viable, safe return to school plan. But I’m afraid to speak out, except on this anonymous board, because I watch prominent WTU folks dox white parents for expressing concern about their kids. This has turned into a vent, but I think the issue needs to be rebranded quickly because the GOP are salivating at the mouth trying to pick off “nice white parents,” and it’s going to work.

I hear you. The politicization of this issue has been absolutely crazy and backwards. It’s shameful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are out of your minds if you think getting rid of the few safety measures is going to work. I for one would quit if I had to put my family at risk like that. Do you not realize that the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, and doesn’t prevent you from getting covid-19? Vaccinating teachers alone is not enough. We MUST continue to social distance. Seriously, I thought all you rich DCUM commenters would have more doctor friends to tell you how absolutely asinine your ideas are.

And to all the jerks saying tough luck to teachers who wouldn’t have childcare for their kids - you probably make a lot more money than teachers and could afford to do that. My kids are remaining virtual for the foreseeable future, and aside from not being able to afford to hire a nanny, I am fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to find an adult living as cautiously as we are.

You won’t find a lot of doctors supporting your idea that we must continue to social distance in schools indefinitely, even if all adults are vaccinated, because the vaccine is “only” 95% effective.

Yeah at some point we have to return to actually assessing risks rationally. We can't keep coddling the paranoia of a few.

+1. Our pediatrician and other specialist doctors have been outraged at school closures since last Spring. Most doctors I know have pulled their kids from public schools and placed them in Parochial schools. I should have paid more attention to that. I was too naïve and didn't think we still wouldn't be fully open a year later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One barrier is the framing of the reopening narrative. Somehow the progressive take is that public schools should not reopen until stringent measures are taken. I’ve seen parents dragged on Twitter for talking about wanting in-person learning. They are, apparently, racist, and also hate teachers and their own children. As a fellow progressive, but also a parent of young (like can’t distance learn on their own young) children, I am troubled by this take. I don’t understand how the closure of public schools for a year is not a crisis. I’m concerned that private solutions (learning hubs, new catchy virtual options, etc.) will replace public education for the wealthier folks. From a labor perspective (something near and dear to my heart), I don’t understand why teachers’ labor is valued so much more than daycare workers and others who are stepping in to care for young children. I don’t understand why women leaving the workforce in droves has garnered but a whisper. I would love to join forces with the teachers to make a real viable, safe return to school plan. But I’m afraid to speak out, except on this anonymous board, because I watch prominent WTU folks dox white parents for expressing concern about their kids. This has turned into a vent, but I think the issue needs to be rebranded quickly because the GOP are salivating at the mouth trying to pick off “nice white parents,” and it’s going to work.

I hear you. The politicization of this issue has been absolutely crazy and backwards. It’s shameful.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are out of your minds if you think getting rid of the few safety measures is going to work. I for one would quit if I had to put my family at risk like that. Do you not realize that the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, and doesn’t prevent you from getting covid-19? Vaccinating teachers alone is not enough. We MUST continue to social distance. Seriously, I thought all you rich DCUM commenters would have more doctor friends to tell you how absolutely asinine your ideas are.

And to all the jerks saying tough luck to teachers who wouldn’t have childcare for their kids - you probably make a lot more money than teachers and could afford to do that. My kids are remaining virtual for the foreseeable future, and aside from not being able to afford to hire a nanny, I am fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to find an adult living as cautiously as we are.

You won’t find a lot of doctors supporting your idea that we must continue to social distance in schools indefinitely, even if all adults are vaccinated, because the vaccine is “only” 95% effective.

Yeah at some point we have to return to actually assessing risks rationally. We can't keep coddling the paranoia of a few.

+1. Our pediatrician and other specialist doctors have been outraged at school closures since last Spring. Most doctors I know have pulled their kids from public schools and placed them in Parochial schools. I should have paid more attention to that. I was too naïve and didn't think we still wouldn't be fully open a year later.

The pediatricians we know think teachers are completely out of their minds. They think they are wildly, wildly, wildly exaggerating the risk of going back to the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One barrier is the framing of the reopening narrative. Somehow the progressive take is that public schools should not reopen until stringent measures are taken. I’ve seen parents dragged on Twitter for talking about wanting in-person learning. They are, apparently, racist, and also hate teachers and their own children. As a fellow progressive, but also a parent of young (like can’t distance learn on their own young) children, I am troubled by this take. I don’t understand how the closure of public schools for a year is not a crisis. I’m concerned that private solutions (learning hubs, new catchy virtual options, etc.) will replace public education for the wealthier folks. From a labor perspective (something near and dear to my heart), I don’t understand why teachers’ labor is valued so much more than daycare workers and others who are stepping in to care for young children. I don’t understand why women leaving the workforce in droves has garnered but a whisper. I would love to join forces with the teachers to make a real viable, safe return to school plan. But I’m afraid to speak out, except on this anonymous board, because I watch prominent WTU folks dox white parents for expressing concern about their kids. This has turned into a vent, but I think the issue needs to be rebranded quickly because the GOP are salivating at the mouth trying to pick off “nice white parents,” and it’s going to work.

This is so well stated. Thank you. I am you. And I'm increasingly listening to Republicans as a result of this issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One barrier is the framing of the reopening narrative. Somehow the progressive take is that public schools should not reopen until stringent measures are taken. I’ve seen parents dragged on Twitter for talking about wanting in-person learning. They are, apparently, racist, and also hate teachers and their own children. As a fellow progressive, but also a parent of young (like can’t distance learn on their own young) children, I am troubled by this take. I don’t understand how the closure of public schools for a year is not a crisis. I’m concerned that private solutions (learning hubs, new catchy virtual options, etc.) will replace public education for the wealthier folks. From a labor perspective (something near and dear to my heart), I don’t understand why teachers’ labor is valued so much more than daycare workers and others who are stepping in to care for young children. I don’t understand why women leaving the workforce in droves has garnered but a whisper. I would love to join forces with the teachers to make a real viable, safe return to school plan. But I’m afraid to speak out, except on this anonymous board, because I watch prominent WTU folks dox white parents for expressing concern about their kids. This has turned into a vent, but I think the issue needs to be rebranded quickly because the GOP are salivating at the mouth trying to pick off “nice white parents,” and it’s going to work.

This is so well stated. Thank you. I am you. And I'm increasingly listening to Republicans as a result of this issue.

I wrote the above. I’ve never been aligned with republicans on an issue, and I’m not a single issue voter. I have spent so many hours navel gazing about why the parties are aligned this way. Is this a racist position? To open public schools? (I certainly don’t hate teachers or my kids.) I’m definitely willing to admit I’m wrong, if proven so. But I’m surprised those pushing to keep schools closed are so certain they are right. That this is the best balance of harms.