Allegedly there are several options for the fall none of which include being back full time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS should focus on making the online learning experience stronger. They should put all the focus on that. Sending the kids back for two days a week is just not responsible while the pandemic is spreading. Once more is known about the virus or a vaccine is available, then go back to full time in the building school. Sending the students back and expecting them to wear masks and social distance is irresponsible.

I'm hopeful that educators will learn a lot about DL from this and it will get a lot better - hopefully to the point that it will work well for most and then every child can have access to a true quality education that isn't limited by affluence or zip code. That would be a huge win. Big problems often create amazing solutions.

I don't think that there is such a thing as "a true quality education" that's online, for most children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS should focus on making the online learning experience stronger. They should put all the focus on that. Sending the kids back for two days a week is just not responsible while the pandemic is spreading. Once more is known about the virus or a vaccine is available, then go back to full time in the building school. Sending the students back and expecting them to wear masks and social distance is irresponsible.

This thread is about Montgomery County Public Schools in Montgomery County, Maryland, where the virus is barely spreading, if at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS should focus on making the online learning experience stronger. They should put all the focus on that. Sending the kids back for two days a week is just not responsible while the pandemic is spreading. Once more is known about the virus or a vaccine is available, then go back to full time in the building school. Sending the students back and expecting them to wear masks and social distance is irresponsible.

Yeah, but a lot of time was wasted trying to appease the Open ‘Er Up crowd. That’s weeks, if not months, that could have been spent training teachers on both tech and online pedagogy, centrally developing materials where needed, negotiating contracts with textbook and tech companies...

How do you do all that now without actually delaying the start of school?

The "open 'er up crowd" includes the American Academy of Pediatrics.

https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS should focus on making the online learning experience stronger. They should put all the focus on that. Sending the kids back for two days a week is just not responsible while the pandemic is spreading. Once more is known about the virus or a vaccine is available, then go back to full time in the building school. Sending the students back and expecting them to wear masks and social distance is irresponsible.

Yeah, but a lot of time was wasted trying to appease the Open ‘Er Up crowd. That’s weeks, if not months, that could have been spent training teachers on both tech and online pedagogy, centrally developing materials where needed, negotiating contracts with textbook and tech companies...

How do you do all that now without actually delaying the start of school?

The "open 'er up crowd" includes the American Academy of Pediatrics.

https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/

+1. People are completely ignoring the harm caused by staying closed or pretending that the only harm is economic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS should focus on making the online learning experience stronger. They should put all the focus on that. Sending the kids back for two days a week is just not responsible while the pandemic is spreading. Once more is known about the virus or a vaccine is available, then go back to full time in the building school. Sending the students back and expecting them to wear masks and social distance is irresponsible.

This thread is about Montgomery County Public Schools in Montgomery County, Maryland, where the virus is barely spreading, if at all.

. Until we open up more and people start going back to work , using public transportation, and school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS should focus on making the online learning experience stronger. They should put all the focus on that. Sending the kids back for two days a week is just not responsible while the pandemic is spreading. Once more is known about the virus or a vaccine is available, then go back to full time in the building school. Sending the students back and expecting them to wear masks and social distance is irresponsible.

This thread is about Montgomery County Public Schools in Montgomery County, Maryland, where the virus is barely spreading, if at all.

. Until we open up more and people start going back to work , using public transportation, and school.

That's not how it works, actually.

The virus won't spread if (1) few people have the virus (2) most of us wear masks.

But don't take my word for it. Read what the American Academy of Pediatrics says about it.

[Anonymous]

pp, many studies show the opposite is true with herd immunity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS should focus on making the online learning experience stronger. They should put all the focus on that. Sending the kids back for two days a week is just not responsible while the pandemic is spreading. Once more is known about the virus or a vaccine is available, then go back to full time in the building school. Sending the students back and expecting them to wear masks and social distance is irresponsible.

This thread is about Montgomery County Public Schools in Montgomery County, Maryland, where the virus is barely spreading, if at all.

. Until we open up more and people start going back to work , using public transportation, and school.

That's not how it works, actually.

The virus won't spread if (1) few people have the virus (2) most of us wear masks.

But don't take my word for it. Read what the American Academy of Pediatrics says about it.

Ok, in a perfect world that would work but PA and WVA are still rising and last I checked, right next door to us. Second Larla can't wear a mask because she doesn't want to. Third most of us don't wear masks so........ Gotta dance with the girl you brung, not the one you wish you had.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Ok, in a perfect world that would work but PA and WVA are still rising and last I checked, right next door to us. Second Larla can't wear a mask because she doesn't want to. Third most of us don't wear masks so........ Gotta dance with the girl you brung, not the one you wish you had.

If you want to look for reasons why doing X is impossible, you'll always find plenty.

Now go read what the American Academy of Pediatrics says about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS should focus on making the online learning experience stronger. They should put all the focus on that. Sending the kids back for two days a week is just not responsible while the pandemic is spreading. Once more is known about the virus or a vaccine is available, then go back to full time in the building school. Sending the students back and expecting them to wear masks and social distance is irresponsible.

Yeah, but a lot of time was wasted trying to appease the Open ‘Er Up crowd. That’s weeks, if not months, that could have been spent training teachers on both tech and online pedagogy, centrally developing materials where needed, negotiating contracts with textbook and tech companies...

How do you do all that now without actually delaying the start of school?

The "open 'er up crowd" includes the American Academy of Pediatrics.

https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/

Thank you for posting this. A few salient quotes for those who don't want to take the time and read it (it might shatter your narrative):

" the AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school. The importance of inperson learning is well-documented, and there is already evidence of the negative impacts on children because of school closures in the spring of 2020."

"Policy makers must also consider the mounting evidence regarding COVID-19 in children and adolescents, including the role they may play in transmission of the infection. SARS-CoV-2 appears to behave differently in children and adolescents than other common respiratory viruses, such as influenza, on which much of the current guidance regarding school closures is based. Although children and adolescents play a major role in amplifying influenza outbreaks, to date, this does not appear to be the case with SARS-CoV-2. "

"Finally, policy makers should acknowledge that COVID-19 policies are intended to mitigate, not eliminate, risk. "

"Schools should weigh the benefits of strict adherence to a 6-feet spacing rule between students with the potential downside if remote learning is the only alternative. Strict adherence to a specific size of student groups (eg, 10 per classroom, 15 per classroom, etc) should be discouraged in favor of other risk mitigation strategies. Given what is known about transmission dynamics, adults and adult staff within schools should attempt to maintain a distance of 6 feet from other persons as much as possible, particularly around other adult staff. "

"The risk reduction of reducing class sizes in elementary school-aged children may be outweighed by the challenge of doing so.
Similarly, reducing classmate interactions/play in elementary school-aged children may not provide enough COVID-19 risk reduction to justify potential harms."

God, I hope school districts listen to this rather than just the CDC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

God, I hope school districts listen to this rather than just the CDC.

Me too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Ok, in a perfect world that would work but PA and WVA are still rising and last I checked, right next door to us. Second Larla can't wear a mask because she doesn't want to. Third most of us don't wear masks so........ Gotta dance with the girl you brung, not the one you wish you had.

If you want to look for reasons why doing X is impossible, you'll always find plenty.

Now go read what the American Academy of Pediatrics says about it.

They discuss Maryland and how PA and WV will affect Covid transmission?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Ok, in a perfect world that would work but PA and WVA are still rising and last I checked, right next door to us. Second Larla can't wear a mask because she doesn't want to. Third most of us don't wear masks so........ Gotta dance with the girl you brung, not the one you wish you had.

If you want to look for reasons why doing X is impossible, you'll always find plenty.

Now go read what the American Academy of Pediatrics says about it.

They discuss Maryland and how PA and WV will affect Covid transmission?

https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/

COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry
Critical Updates on COVID-19 / Clinical Guidance / COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry

the AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Ok, in a perfect world that would work but PA and WVA are still rising and last I checked, right next door to us. Second Larla can't wear a mask because she doesn't want to. Third most of us don't wear masks so........ Gotta dance with the girl you brung, not the one you wish you had.

If you want to look for reasons why doing X is impossible, you'll always find plenty.

Now go read what the American Academy of Pediatrics says about it.

They discuss Maryland and how PA and WV will affect Covid transmission?

https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/

COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry
Critical Updates on COVID-19 / Clinical Guidance / COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry

the AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school

AAP also has different recommendations for MS and HS. In that case, physical distancing amongst students AND teachers. Based on their guidelines, ES should go back full time and MS and HS on a staggered or block schedule that would mean part time because of the number of students MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Ok, in a perfect world that would work but PA and WVA are still rising and last I checked, right next door to us. Second Larla can't wear a mask because she doesn't want to. Third most of us don't wear masks so........ Gotta dance with the girl you brung, not the one you wish you had.

If you want to look for reasons why doing X is impossible, you'll always find plenty.

Now go read what the American Academy of Pediatrics says about it.

They discuss Maryland and how PA and WV will affect Covid transmission?

https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/

COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry
Critical Updates on COVID-19 / Clinical Guidance / COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry



the AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school

I think we can all agree both that this is the goal and that it's extremely unlikely it will be achieved (even in part).