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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
I am the poster to whom you originally responded with suggestions.  I understand that you were trying to be helpful, I really do.  But it is also tiresome, because underlying your suggestions is an assumption that I'm some lazy, disengaged, etc., parent who just isn't trying hard enough to help her child learn effectively.  That I'm just screaming for schools to open because I don't want to parent my kid.

I have engaged.  I have thrown everything I have into this, plus time and money I don't, to try to make distance learning work for him because I appreciate that if we could make distance learning effective for everyone, it would solve this whole issue because we would simply continue with distance learning until the pandemic is over.  But distance learning isn't working for him.  In some ways, I'd rather see APS punt on this whole school year, just cancel it and repeat the year next year, because I'm deeply worried that my child is getting left behind and that no one in the schools is going to take responsibility for making up what he didn't learn this year.

I'm also worried about the toll this is taking on him mentally.  He is now in teletherapy (that I'm running up credit card debt to pay for) because the effects of the isolation became so bad that I was worried he was going to hurt himself.  He is in sixth grade, in a bunch of classes with kids he doesn't know (because his school somehow managed to put him in classes with almost no one from his elementary school).  His middle school has done virtually nothing to help the sixth graders integrate socially through this, so online learning has become a huge source of anxiety for him, always worried about whether his picture is showing on everyone else's screen (and afraid to speak up to ask a question because then he'll definitely be on everyone's screens, even after he's done talking) and a bunch of kids who barely know him will see him doing something embarrassing and that's how everyone at middle school will know him going forward.  If I didn't have to work, I would withdraw him and homeschool because I am that worried about the toll this is taking on him, but becoming homeless would take an even worse toll.

So please, go ahead and keep assuming that I'm just some ignorant, disengaged parent who doesn't care about teachers, but also know that your assumptions are false and offensive.  I care about the teachers, but I can't care about them more than I care about my own child.[/quote]

To the parent who wrote this: I am so, so sorry to hear this. Have you reached out to the school? Because if one of my students’ parents told me this, I would be bending over backward to get them support.[/quote]

I'm a different poster.  What this parent wrote probably describes at least 1/2 if not more of the students in DL.   Obviously some of the details are different- but that is a vivid picture of how DL is working for the majority of kids.   Certainly it describes my kids, and I have heard many many stories from different parents along these lines.   There is no amount of 'support' the school can give- they need to get the kids back in school.    I want to throw things when I hear Bridget Loft say at school board meetings 'well if a student is struggling start by reaching out to the teacher.'   They need to be back in school- anything else is just nibbling around the edges.  [/quote]

Well, what can you do to make that happen?  I am serious.  Loud complaining only goes so far.  Start problem solving and having meaningful, respectful dialogues with the folks that can bring this about.  Make concessions and compromises where necessary.  [/quote]

DP.  APS has changed its approach and is now moving toward rolling out hybrid in January, so I'm not sure what else you think the pro-hybrid people should be doing here.[/quote]

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