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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]High school teacher here. I hate My MCPS Classroom and did not use it before all of this. However, I've been pushing a few things out on that platform since all of this happened because it seems that parents can see those items more easily.

Bottom line is that MCEA, our union, worked with MCPS to let teachers use the platform they are most comfortable with, which makes complete sense given the extraordinary circumstances we're living through right now.

If you're getting information on multiple platforms, it's probably because we're trying to cover our butts and make sure everyone has access to the information we're putting out there. [/quote]

No it’s not it’s because we have multiple teachers and they are all doing something different. It’s clusterf**k and it took them nearly three weeks to roll out this worthless piece of crap. Blah blah it’s unprecedented etc etc. Well how is it that practically every other school district in the country, or maybe even world can get their act together and not take nearly three weeks to do it?[/quote]

I have friends in LA, Chicago, NYC, as well as DCPS and FCPS and they wouldn't agree that their schools systems have their act together.[/quote]

DCPS and all the DCPCS launched online learning immediately. I don’t know about the other locations you mention but I could counter your anecdotes with cities and states all over the country and others all over the world who didn’t wait three weeks to get a system in place.[/quote]

Launching immediately doesn't mean quality or done well. That was my point. My kids former DC charter seems to be doing well. My friends in DCPS complain about the quality of online instruction

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And my point is that if we have crappy quality then why on earth did we have to wait nearly three weeks for it? [b]Handling this gigantic mess three weeks ago would have been infinitely preferable.[/b] By now it would have been sorted out. Like all the other school districts which have now worked out their teething problems.[/quote]

They didn't "handle this mess" three weeks ago for several reasons:

1- the closure was only officially for two weeks and if students indeed went back in 2 weeks, they wanted to be able to have them "make up" the two weeks in "regular, face to face" lessons.  If the teachers were "working" and teaching during the initial two week closure, they would have to be paid more to do "make up" days.  Their contract is for a number of working days.  Easy to say in hindsight, but at the time some still thought there was the possibility of going back (some still do, the current order is only until 4/24)

2- legal issues and meeting the needs of all students in a new platform.  It is against federal regulations to provide instruction that is not accessible to all, that's why the work initially provided was all "enrichment" and nothing new.

3- Available technology to students and staff - not only hardware, but software as well. Licenses had to be reviewed, many increased or updated to include students not being on the school network or onsite.  New services purchased (MCPS did not have a ZOOM account previously that I know of- there was little need, and other priorities to spend $$)

4- Teacher training and adjustments to curricula -- Central office worked the two weeks to review what had been covered and what needed to be covered as well as adjust curriculum from longer class times and more teacher directed, to abbreviated meeting times and more self-paced and independent work.  Training modules were also developed once the union and leadership decided on expectations and what teachers could be required to do in a situation that is not covered by their contract.

I'm sure there are other reasons not outlined above, but it's not as simple to take into account the needs of thousands of staff and almost 200,000 students and stay within state and federal guidelines as you may think.
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Excuses, excuses. No one literally NO ONE believed that they would be back at school in two weeks. Give us a break. They screwed up big time. What a mess.[/quote]

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