Returning from private, actually. We weathered the DL storm there but it wasn’t any better than a norma year in MCPS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't blame you.

I just hope that in the future we as a society can recognize that stopping in person learning has real consequences. Education is essential (and for large numbers of students, does not work virtually).

We were in a tough place, with no easy answers. Yes, school sucked for a lot of kids, mine included. How many more people might have died with 100% in-person school? I'm not qualified to answer that, but I can say I think we lost enough lives as it was.

What's going to happen when there is a vaccine resistant variant? Another lost year for children?

Everyone will wear masks until there's a booster.

I'm glad to hear you believe education is essential enough to continue providing in person during a pandemic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't blame you.

I just hope that in the future we as a society can recognize that stopping in person learning has real consequences. Education is essential (and for large numbers of students, does not work virtually).

We were in a tough place, with no easy answers. Yes, school sucked for a lot of kids, mine included. How many more people might have died with 100% in-person school? I'm not qualified to answer that, but I can say I think we lost enough lives as it was.

What's going to happen when there is a vaccine resistant variant? Another lost year for children?

Everyone will wear masks until there's a booster.

At some point the harms to public education will be irreversible at least in the near future.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't blame you.

I just hope that in the future we as a society can recognize that stopping in person learning has real consequences. Education is essential (and for large numbers of students, does not work virtually).

We were in a tough place, with no easy answers. Yes, school sucked for a lot of kids, mine included. How many more people might have died with 100% in-person school? I'm not qualified to answer that, but I can say I think we lost enough lives as it was.

What's going to happen when there is a vaccine resistant variant? Another lost year for children?

We are for one child, but it was always the plan. Other child is staying at our pubic ES which did a pretty good job. He's reading well and stayed engaged the whole year. I trust them to continue excellent teaching in the fall.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:there are hundreds of open listings not filled right now, I do wonder about effects on class sizes

When do they make those listings visible to non MCPS staff? I still can’t see many, many of the listings that internal candidates can see. You’d think they’d want to advertise to a broader applicant pool at this point, considering it’s July.

What are you looking for? I’ll log in and look for you, then paste here.

Anonymous wrote:there are hundreds of open listings not filled right now, I do wonder about effects on class sizes

That’s why I’m not concerned when I hear/read families leaving or thinking about leaving whether or is for private, home school, or another district. When I first taught in MCPS, my classes regularly had 35 kids. One year, my smallest class was 38. It was bad for everyone. People on DCUM like to say that MCEA only cares about teacher pay and days off, but I remember that fight to reduce class sizes. We know from research that kids thrive more when classes are smaller. It’s one of the selling points of private school. I dread watching class sizes go back up. I’d rather teach 6 reasonably-sizes classes out of 8 blocks on an A/B day schedule than 5 huge classes out of 7 on a traditional 45 min period day. Thank goodness for those departing and let’s hope wherever they go that the grass is green enough that they stay there until MCPS is able to recruit sufficient staff.

Anonymous wrote:I don't blame you.

I just hope that in the future we as a society can recognize that stopping in person learning has real consequences. Education is essential (and for large numbers of students, does not work virtually).

We were in a tough place, with no easy answers. Yes, school sucked for a lot of kids, mine included. How many more people might have died with 100% in-person school? I'm not qualified to answer that, but I can say I think we lost enough lives as it was.

I don't blame you.

I just hope that in the future we as a society can recognize that stopping in person learning has real consequences. Education is essential (and for large numbers of students, does not work virtually).

Anonymous wrote:there are hundreds of open listings not filled right now, I do wonder about effects on class sizes

When do they make those listings visible to non MCPS staff? I still can’t see many, many of the listings that internal candidates can see. You’d think they’d want to advertise to a broader applicant pool at this point, considering it’s July.

there are hundreds of open listings not filled right now, I do wonder about effects on class sizes

I would love to. Can’t afford it though.

I think MCPS will be a mess for the next several years, actually.

Anonymous wrote:I have two friends who stuck it out through this year and are moving to private school for the FY '21-22 school year. We thought about it before the pandemic - basically due to large class sizes and feeling like our DC was not getting enough individualized attention. I fully believe MCPS will be 100% in person but what do you think about everything being back on track this year? Will this be like a real year or a catch up/we're still getting our bearings type of year? Thanks.

It'll be a real year of catching up and moving forward.

I have two friends who stuck it out through this year and are moving to private school for the FY '21-22 school year. We thought about it before the pandemic - basically due to large class sizes and feeling like our DC was not getting enough individualized attention. I fully believe MCPS will be 100% in person but what do you think about everything being back on track this year? Will this be like a real year or a catch up/we're still getting our bearings type of year? Thanks.