remote learning demands unreasonable for families

[Anonymous]

Our kids are in kindergarten and third grade. The remote learning schedule outlined by their teachers is unbelievable. I don't understand how even the teachers can agree with doing this to small children. It's torture.

I know, it's hard, we all have to do this somehow but please, within reason. Why are iPads and Chromebooks the only option? I get it, they need to learn technology. But how about they use their iPads and Chromebooks for an hour rather than on and off all day long. How about workbooks? Storytime on the radio for the little ones? Phonics lessons on PBS? I don't know how we're supposed to make this work for possibly even the entire year if virus case numbers don't decrease significantly. Trying to execute this plan for even one child, let alone, 2, 3 or more, while working, is not realistic. We got through last spring, but that was with the expectation that it was temporary. This isn't good for small children. Their doctors insist we cut the time with devices and the schools have ramped it up even more.

This whole situation is sickening.

[Anonymous]

I agree, it's hard as hell on families with small kids. I think the school systems should partner with public television to offer classes on TV. Publish the schedule and have your kid watch their grade for whatever hours/days it's on, then have the zoom/teacher part be about what they've seen on TV.

Hang in there, OP. It's all we can do now. Just tough it out -- it's not for forever.

[Anonymous]

There's been a million threads about this, but I might as well chime in: Yes, the schedules are unrealistic and yes it's sucks. I'm going to embrace the suck. I'm also not going to fight with my kid. If he can't manage the hours upon hours of staring at a computer teacher, then he won't. I plan on doing the best we can, and, if that's one hour one day because it's just too much for the rest of the day, then that's how it's going to be.

In the meantime, vote for people who are going to work towards a solution and end to this pandemic, and keep pushing for universal solutions, like nationwide mask mandates, to help get it under control.

I'm so tired of all this...

[Anonymous]

OP here. I've read articles quoting our superintendent and memos from principals... it's as if there's an assumption that no one works or only one parent in a two-parent household works or everyone has their own free tutor stashed away in their basement ready to be at our service. Who decided this works? Unions? Governors?

[Anonymous]

Just do the best you can with your kids. It’s going to suck.

However - I’ve already heard reports from other areas that have gone back to school (parts of the south that have started with distance learning and Indiana starts really early as well) that have said that the teachers are making really unreasonable demands of students. The talking out of both sides of their mouth on the “sorry this isn’t ideal, everyone just try your best and here is my list of 100 unreasonable demands and if you’re even 10 minutes late don’t bother signing into my zoom” nonsense. Parents need to push back HARD on that. Principals, superintendents, school boards, and the news media all need to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I've read articles quoting our superintendent and memos from principals... it's as if there's an assumption that no one works or only one parent in a two-parent household works or everyone has their own free tutor stashed away in their basement ready to be at our service. Who decided this works? Unions? Governors?

No one, friend. Just like no one decided it works for the whole restaurant industry to be wrecked or for lots of people in nursing homes to die. It's a very bad thing that is happening.

[Anonymous]

I know the Children's Action Screen Time Network is providing resources for families and educators to push back on all the EdTech and screen time, should anyone have time to start mailing stuff around to school boards, superintendents, and principals.

https://screentimenetwork.org/resource/screens-schools-action-kit

[Anonymous]

I agree with you. Honestly, I'd be fine with reducing the number of hours of this and just letting my child pick up whatever he missed later in life. I think it would be healthier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are in kindergarten and third grade. The remote learning schedule outlined by their teachers is unbelievable. I don't understand how even the teachers can agree with doing this to small children. It's torture.

I know, it's hard, we all have to do this somehow but please, within reason. Why are iPads and Chromebooks the only option? I get it, they need to learn technology. But how about they use their iPads and Chromebooks for an hour rather than on and off all day long. How about workbooks? Storytime on the radio for the little ones? Phonics lessons on PBS? I don't know how we're supposed to make this work for possibly even the entire year if virus case numbers don't decrease significantly. Trying to execute this plan for even one child, let alone, 2, 3 or more, while working, is not realistic. We got through last spring, but that was with the expectation that it was temporary. This isn't good for small children. Their doctors insist we cut the time with devices and the schools have ramped it up even more.

This whole situation is sickening.

Lobby for the schools to be open in person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's been a million threads about this, but I might as well chime in: Yes, the schedules are unrealistic and yes it's sucks. I'm going to embrace the suck. I'm also not going to fight with my kid. If he can't manage the hours upon hours of staring at a computer teacher, then he won't. I plan on doing the best we can, and, if that's one hour one day because it's just too much for the rest of the day, then that's how it's going to be.

In the meantime, vote for people who are going to work towards a solution and end to this pandemic, and keep pushing for universal solutions, like nationwide mask mandates, to help get it under control.

I'm so tired of all this...

This is the approach we took last year. My worry is that this year teachers will be grading and teaching new material. There are so many things that I feel were not taken into consideration for this upcoming school year. I wish we could take more of a “damage control” approach to this upcoming school year for Lower elementary aged students such as reading logs and work sheets to help reinforce already learned concepts. I also like the idea mentioned above about schools partnering with public television. At this young age, it should be most about fostering a love and interest for learning, not about shoving as much information down their throats as possible. Really wondering about how dual
Working families, families with caregivers with disabilities and mental illness, multiple children, etc., will survive this school year.

[Anonymous]

I agree, just do the best you can. Teachers will be extraordinarily flexible and understanding!!

Plus, it’s 1st and 3rd, there is no downside to not doing assignments or logging on. If it’s unfairly strict, you can u enroll.

I have a fifth grader, and her school schedule is pretty light. Which I’m annoyed about. We have no work stress, and she has all day free so I wish the schools would teach more.

Can’t have it all.

[Anonymous]

Parents did nothing but complain that their teachers were never available in the spring -- that there wasn't any live instruction.

Now you get it and you STILL complain. Just withdraw your child if its such a hassle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are in kindergarten and third grade. The remote learning schedule outlined by their teachers is unbelievable. I don't understand how even the teachers can agree with doing this to small children. It's torture.

I know, it's hard, we all have to do this somehow but please, within reason. Why are iPads and Chromebooks the only option? I get it, they need to learn technology. But how about they use their iPads and Chromebooks for an hour rather than on and off all day long. How about workbooks? Storytime on the radio for the little ones? Phonics lessons on PBS? I don't know how we're supposed to make this work for possibly even the entire year if virus case numbers don't decrease significantly. Trying to execute this plan for even one child, let alone, 2, 3 or more, while working, is not realistic. We got through last spring, but that was with the expectation that it was temporary. This isn't good for small children. Their doctors insist we cut the time with devices and the schools have ramped it up even more.

This whole situation is sickening.

Lobby for the schools to be open in person.

Or vote in November, which is quicker and would be more effective. If we had some leadership on a national level, we could start getting beyond this and discuss reopening schools like intelligent people, instead of like idiots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents did nothing but complain that their teachers were never available in the spring -- that there wasn't any live instruction.

Now you get it and you STILL complain. Just withdraw your child if its such a hassle.

This. People complained when there was not enough live instruction in DL and are now complaining that there is too much. Workbooks and textbooks are not coming back, no funding and getting the same ones for everyone is a serious contract issue etc. for kids that little, sign into whatvwr live pieces woth the teacher work for you and skip the rest.
No one thinks this is easy or really doable with parent working and w supervising kids at the same time.

[Anonymous]

The challenge is that schools and teachers can't win. When teachers did a few video sessions a week and suggested supplements, the cry was that teachers suck and c are lazy and should be fired. Now it is 8 hours of screens and the cry is it is too much.