Reply to healthier high schools from a teacher perspective

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]As to delaying start times, how do you intend to compensate for the hardship this creates for families depending on older siblings to look after younger siblings after school or for kids who have to work to contribute to the family’s income?  I don’t think it will help a student’s well-being and performance if their younger siblings are removed from the home by CPS and their parents are being charged for leaving young children unattended, or if the family faces food and/or housing insecurity from loss of income of the high schoolers after-school jobs.

As for cellphones, I’m confused by what, specifically, you’re objecting to.  If you’re objecting to phone usage in class, I think everyone agrees that would be problematic and is already against policy, although perhaps the policy needs to be enforced more vigorously.  If you’re objecting to a student’s use of a cellphone at home, I  think you’re being shortsighted, sanctimonious, and presumptuous.  Indubitably, there is some content students access on cellphones that can be extremely damaging.  There is also content that can be educational and provide other positive benefits.  Basically it’s a tool that allows access to electronic media, that like any media should be judged on the content rather than the format.  I think most problematic content is not uniquely dependent on cellphones, but could be accessed through most electronic devices (laptops, desktops, tablets, etc.).   Are you suggesting that high school students should regress to the ‘80s and rely on print versions of encyclopedias for research and typewriters to prepare their essays?

If you’re concerned about how the student’s home life is affecting their physical, mental, and emotional well-being, have you considered the effects of having marijuana smokers in their home?  Even if the student doesn’t smoke themselves, we learned from tobacco that exposure to secondhand smoke is also serious.  According to the CDC, not only can can secondhand exposure make someone high (which would seem to impair a student’s attempt to do homework and study), it can also have longterm impacts on a developing brain including causing problems with attention, motivation, and memory.  If you want to try and regulate a student’s home life, this would seem to be more urgent than whether they have access to a cellphone. [/quote]

Hey Sarah Huckabee, we are not accommodating the child labor needs of corporations and families should not be dependent on their child's labor to survive in any way[/quote]

Then MCPS/you/the county needs to provide free child care in every school and offer more day care vouchers with day cares that accept it if you don't want siblings to care for each other.  Check your privilege.  [/quote]

That's going to happen. It's called Blueprint for Maryland's Future.[/quote]

No, its not, MCPS is screaming poverty and making cuts.  How are they going to provide child care?[/quote]PP is right.  The Blueprint calls for middle class and up to pay for all sorts of services for poor people: food  clothing, before school care, after school care, summer care, medicine, tutoring, etc.  And they'll pay for it just like they pay for everything...raising taxes.  [/quote]

The state is committing $63 billion for the ENTIRE state in FY 2025. MCPS, because of its budget shortfall, zeroed out its initial funding of $8 million just to START planning to meet this underfunded mandate for the next school year. No dodging it after that. This is a boondoggle and if you don't like it, contact your state legislators and the governor. I am sure the state, because we are the wealthiest county, expects MoCo property taxes to cover most of our costs for the Blueprint.

Here is information on the planned state funding: https://marylandmatters.org/2024/04/23/breakdown-of-funding-for-blueprint-education-reform-plan-comes-into-focus/[/quote]

We don't have sufficient classroom space now in our schools. Think of the capital costs that will need to be incurred to meet the state mandate in Blueprint for Maryland's Future.[/quote]

MCPS canceled the new preschool programs planned.[/quote]

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