Is hybrid / cohorts really safer?

[Anonymous]

I can’t help but think that this whole model DCPS has created and will continue in the fall of the cohort/mixing rules aren’t relaxed are actually more like to lead to more spread. For instance, i have two DCPS kids and DH and I work fulltime. One got into in person term 3 and the other didn’t. Because of the one that didn’t and the short schedule for the one who did, we have a hodgepodge of nannies and babysitters to help with the kids. Also, because one didn’t get in and is suffering terribly from the lack of social interaction, we finally succumbed to the risks and have been enrolling her in extracurricular activities and setting up play dates often - all masked of course. Also, because my in person kid doesn’t get enough teaching time, we got him a tutor. Point being, we have been super risk adverse this entire time but enough is enough and the kids’ emotional well-being and our careers are now on the line. So now my son who goes to school in person has a crap ton of extra exposure from all the different nannies and babysitters and tutor and his sister’s activities’ contacts. If they were just in school on normal schedules, their only contacts would literally be their classroom.

I’m wondering how representative of other families we are, in which case this part time and some in, some not nonsense is actually creating more risk of spread and risk to teachers.

[Anonymous]

It's also dumb because it's not like these kids are only seeing the kids in their pods once school gets out. Once the bell rings they all mix together and walk home, go to the park, etc. It's hygiene theater.

[Anonymous]

There’s another thread that’s similar / would you send your kids back if the schedule were FT/ 5x week.

We turned down a cares spot and won’t be sending either kids in for computer learning in front of a real teacher who also teaches to the remote learners. What’s the point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s another thread that’s similar / would you send your kids back if the schedule were FT/ 5x week.

We turned down a cares spot and won’t be sending either kids in for computer learning in front of a real teacher who also teaches to the remote learners. What’s the point?

OP here - EXACTLY! I get so frustrated that people are actually using the stats on turned down spots to say that the vast majority of people don’t support reopening. It’s not that - it’s that the vast majority of DCPS people don’t have the means to make the part time in person learning schedule work. Our school is supposedly expanding a bit for term 4, and my daughter may get a spot. But guess what? I’ll be turning it down because after months of searching and waitlists, i got her a spot somewhere else where she can go fulltime, starting in a couple weeks. If I had that option for my son, i would pull him too and send him private.

[Anonymous]

You are right but outside of northwest the demand is for IPL is simply lower. In those schools IPL classrooms are offered five days per week to eleven students, but the classrooms are not full. You are very much correct though that demand in northwest schools way exceeds supply, and hybrid is certainly a big reason for that. Saying that we shouldn't open schools because some school communities have low demand is not an argument to deny children IPL who want it though. This is easily resolved because people have a choice

[Anonymous]

Completely agree. Once teachers are all vaccinated they should be doing figure five day a week school. I think they’re just coasting for the rest of the year because it would basically require them to shuffle all of the classes to make dedicated distance-learning teachers. I personally think it’s worth the disruption. This is especially true for elementary school. Middle and high school is a little trickier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Completely agree. Once teachers are all vaccinated they should be doing figure five day a week school. I think they’re just coasting for the rest of the year because it would basically require them to shuffle all of the classes to make dedicated distance-learning teachers. I personally think it’s worth the disruption. This is especially true for elementary school. Middle and high school is a little trickier.

The district doesn't think 10 weeks is worth it. This year is what is in place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Completely agree. Once teachers are all vaccinated they should be doing figure five day a week school. I think they’re just coasting for the rest of the year because it would basically require them to shuffle all of the classes to make dedicated distance-learning teachers. I personally think it’s worth the disruption. This is especially true for elementary school. Middle and high school is a little trickier.

The district doesn't think 10 weeks is worth it. This year is what is in place.

But they are wrong. They should ask the elementary students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Completely agree. Once teachers are all vaccinated they should be doing figure five day a week school. I think they’re just coasting for the rest of the year because it would basically require them to shuffle all of the classes to make dedicated distance-learning teachers. I personally think it’s worth the disruption. This is especially true for elementary school. Middle and high school is a little trickier.

The district doesn't think 10 weeks is worth it. This year is what is in place.

But they are wrong. They should ask the elementary students.

I understand the district thinks it isn’t worth it. Inertia is powerful.

Five day school (with separated out distance learning) would be a lot easier for the teachers (much closer to their normal jobs), more effective, better for families who are seeking in person. There are definitely drawbacks, especially for those who would stay distance learning - it would disrupt the status quo that some have solved. I still think it is worth it. It would also be a good practice run for fall. And safer.

I’m not suggesting I think it will happen but I think it would be the right decision

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Completely agree. Once teachers are all vaccinated they should be doing figure five day a week school. I think they’re just coasting for the rest of the year because it would basically require them to shuffle all of the classes to make dedicated distance-learning teachers. I personally think it’s worth the disruption. This is especially true for elementary school. Middle and high school is a little trickier.

The district doesn't think 10 weeks is worth it. This year is what is in place.

But they are wrong. They should ask the elementary students.

I understand the district thinks it isn’t worth it. Inertia is powerful.

Five day school (with separated out distance learning) would be a lot easier for the teachers (much closer to their normal jobs), more effective, better for families who are seeking in person. There are definitely drawbacks, especially for those who would stay distance learning - it would disrupt the status quo that some have solved. I still think it is worth it. It would also be a good practice run for fall. And safer.

I’m not suggesting I think it will happen but I think it would be the right decision

I hate to say this...but it's also because there isn't enough of a buy in from low SES families. Even the open DC schools protest there were no low SES families present. In surveys they are saying DL is fine or they are just not answering.

I really want IPL too, even for 10 weeks but the families at my school are not all participating in the surveys. This is the same thing that's happening at most other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Completely agree. Once teachers are all vaccinated they should be doing figure five day a week school. I think they’re just coasting for the rest of the year because it would basically require them to shuffle all of the classes to make dedicated distance-learning teachers. I personally think it’s worth the disruption. This is especially true for elementary school. Middle and high school is a little trickier.

The district doesn't think 10 weeks is worth it. This year is what is in place.

But they are wrong. They should ask the elementary students.

I understand the district thinks it isn’t worth it. Inertia is powerful.

Five day school (with separated out distance learning) would be a lot easier for the teachers (much closer to their normal jobs), more effective, better for families who are seeking in person. There are definitely drawbacks, especially for those who would stay distance learning - it would disrupt the status quo that some have solved. I still think it is worth it. It would also be a good practice run for fall. And safer.

I’m not suggesting I think it will happen but I think it would be the right decision

I hate to say this...but it's also because there isn't enough of a buy in from low SES families. Even the open DC schools protest there were no low SES families present. In surveys they are saying DL is fine or they are just not answering.

I really want IPL too, even for 10 weeks but the families at my school are not all participating in the surveys. This is the same thing that's happening at most other schools.

This is true at private schools too. Ours is in person if you want to be there -- 60% chose DL. In spite of the vocal people on here, many families just do not want to get COVID and will not take what feels to them like an unnecessary risk.

[Anonymous]

Keeping your kid safer isn't actually the reason for cohorts. I think the cohort thing is really more about contact tracing. It makes it easier and you only have to keep one cohort out for a positive, not everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Completely agree. Once teachers are all vaccinated they should be doing figure five day a week school. I think they’re just coasting for the rest of the year because it would basically require them to shuffle all of the classes to make dedicated distance-learning teachers. I personally think it’s worth the disruption. This is especially true for elementary school. Middle and high school is a little trickier.

The district doesn't think 10 weeks is worth it. This year is what is in place.

But they are wrong. They should ask the elementary students.

I understand the district thinks it isn’t worth it. Inertia is powerful.

Five day school (with separated out distance learning) would be a lot easier for the teachers (much closer to their normal jobs), more effective, better for families who are seeking in person. There are definitely drawbacks, especially for those who would stay distance learning - it would disrupt the status quo that some have solved. I still think it is worth it. It would also be a good practice run for fall. And safer.

I’m not suggesting I think it will happen but I think it would be the right decision

I hate to say this...but it's also because there isn't enough of a buy in from low SES families. Even the open DC schools protest there were no low SES families present. In surveys they are saying DL is fine or they are just not answering.

I really want IPL too, even for 10 weeks but the families at my school are not all participating in the surveys. This is the same thing that's happening at most other schools.

This is true at private schools too. Ours is in person if you want to be there -- 60% chose DL. In spite of the vocal people on here, many families just do not want to get COVID and will not take what feels to them like an unnecessary risk.

Maybe, but doesn’t it still make sense to offer two options, in person and 5 days IPL? Hybrid is like the worst of both

[Anonymous]

No, it’s less safe because children go to a variety of caregivers on the off-school days. It’s hygiene theater designed to give teachers Wednesdays off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, it’s less safe because children go to a variety of caregivers on the off-school days. It’s hygiene theater designed to give teachers Wednesdays off.

+1