Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop complaining about teachers “not being honest”, we all know why that is.
Collective action is a violation of their contract, they are being smart with the language. I know this is frustrating but stop asking for the “truth” that you don’t need. We all know why they are out and most are smart enough to just say it’s a mental health day to avoid being penalized.

there’s nothing smart about thinking calling it a mental health day saves them from any penalties. In fact, that’s quite stupid to believe.

I just wouldn't get too caught up in what any teacher says. For all we know, some teachers may totally disagree with this, but feel it's too socially or professionally risky not to take part. I don't think that's something you can discern from one email. (FWIW, our principal emailed yesterday to say we likely wouldn't have live class due a union action.)

It's also worth nothing that, while this whole situation may be a petty frustration for some, MANY children in DC depend on their schools for care, food, and stability – and they haven't had that since MARCH. Just because this isn't objectively dire for some families doesn't mean it isn't for others.

This! My spouse is not a teacher, but part of a team that provides one on one services to students daily. My spouse does not want to do this and thinks it's ridiculous but spouse's entire team is on board and feels like they have to do it to show solidarity with the rest of the team. I'm sure there are teachers doing it for the same reason.

Agreed- I do think this is a good opportunity to teach children about collective responsibility to society. That is, doctors, nurses, first responders, grocery store employees, food producers, and many other people are doing their jobs at personal risk because their jobs are essential to society. But teachers don't want to do their part, apparently because their parents never instilled in them a similar sense of responsibility.


Doctors, nurses, and first responders took jobs knowing they'd be put in harms way. Not that they deserve any of this, but still, it is part of their jobs they may anticipate. The other jobs you listed do not involve sitting in an enclosed room with 12 individuals all day, with at least 20-30 minutes of that day being mask-less.

Are you serious? What about all the poor people who are currently working in places that have indoor dining. No one is wearing a mask while they consume food, and it is not just 12 people in there all day - it is hundreds of people going through and eating. Did they take the job knowing they would be in harms way? Why is no one concerned about them? Is is because they are generally poor and uneducated?

"I will be taking a mental health day today, Monday 11/2, due to the stress and demands of virtual learning and anxiety about the current DCPS reopening plan. My ability to do my job with the effort and heart that it deserves requires my own personal wellbeing as well."

Wow, that is super unprofessional. No professional person includes an explanation of their mental health issues in an out of office message. Just say you are taking the day off and leave it at that.

Anonymous wrote:This one from one of our Wilson teachers really burned me:

"I will be taking a mental health day today, Monday 11/2, due to the stress and demands of virtual learning and anxiety about the current DCPS reopening plan. My ability to do my job with the effort and heart that it deserves requires my own personal wellbeing as well."

We all have tons of anxiety right now - and the plan doesn't effect middle/high school so why not teach our kids? Given that our kids will have school one day this week - the last day in the advisory and I am just pissed. Plus, teachers are not returning emails to my kids and getting grades updated for work turned in 4-6 weeks ago still. Finally, science is showing this isn't a huge issue. Why are teachers not essential?

But, yes DCPS needs to get it's act together. Did everyone see the email just sent from Ferebee pushing back reopening? I feel for you elementary school parents.

So far - half & half showing up with my Deal/Wilson kids...we will see how it goes.

These are the parts that burns me too. My Deal kid got up for school to find out one by one teachers are cancelling. Still waiting on one teacher but she is the one who doesn't show up to class but never emails the kids just puts a note on her canvas when class is supposed to start.

Wed? Yeah, my kid will be taking a mental health day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2nd grader just found out and has no clue what happened. I sympathize with the teachers but honestly the only ones who are suffering are the children who can’t comprehend this at all.. is there no other way to make a statement instead of dragging children who have no fault in this. I am all for teacher and safety but honestly there has to be a better way

yeah I am normally very honest with my kid but can’t be now. He got an in-person slot so how am I supposed to explain that his teachers don’t want to teach him?

2nd grade is a great time for a lesson in nuance. Kids at that age are very bright and if lead through reasoning about a situation can walk away without feeling bad and learning a lot about empathy.

yeah, no. who’s going to have empathy for him? trying to explain this will only make him scared to return, think his teachers don’t like him, or that his teachers are wrong/stupid. “The teachers are so scared of covid they don’t want to teach you! And the other kids parents are mad their class sizes will be bigger. but you shouldn’t be worried.”

Right. So you have a great opportunity to teach empathy and about the world and instead you actually just want him to be coddled. If you choose to talk to him in a manner that this is an affront on him of course he will feel bad. You, as the adult, have a chance to frame the world as being bigger than him and more complicated than his initial emotional reaction. But that will require you to step outside of your own desires and emotions and use it as a growth opportunity.

Agreed- I do think this is a good opportunity to teach children about collective responsibility to society. That is, doctors, nurses, first responders, grocery store employees, food producers, and many other people are doing their jobs at personal risk because their jobs are essential to society. But teachers don't want to do their part, apparently because their parents never instilled in them a similar sense of responsibility.

Doctors, nurses, and first responders took jobs knowing they'd be put in harms way. Not that they deserve any of this, but still, it is part of their jobs they may anticipate. The other jobs you listed do not involve sitting in an enclosed room with 12 individuals all day, with at least 20-30 minutes of that day being mask-less. They don't involve children's tears, or tantrums, or spontaneous hugs or "silly" play and jokes that could lead to exponentially more infections. We also aren't sending children into the grocery stores and restaurants. Children are precious. They are to be protected at all costs. This means having a return plan that is safe and trauma informed. Teachers have and are doing their part by reinventing their job and trying to deliver instruction as best they can during the pandemic. Attacking them is not going to help anyone, least of all your child. Try standing with them. We can do better than the Mayor and she will see what we can accomplish together.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2nd grader just found out and has no clue what happened. I sympathize with the teachers but honestly the only ones who are suffering are the children who can’t comprehend this at all.. is there no other way to make a statement instead of dragging children who have no fault in this. I am all for teacher and safety but honestly there has to be a better way

yeah I am normally very honest with my kid but can’t be now. He got an in-person slot so how am I supposed to explain that his teachers don’t want to teach him?

2nd grade is a great time for a lesson in nuance. Kids at that age are very bright and if lead through reasoning about a situation can walk away without feeling bad and learning a lot about empathy.

yeah, no. who’s going to have empathy for him? trying to explain this will only make him scared to return, think his teachers don’t like him, or that his teachers are wrong/stupid. “The teachers are so scared of covid they don’t want to teach you! And the other kids parents are mad their class sizes will be bigger. but you shouldn’t be worried.”

Right. So you have a great opportunity to teach empathy and about the world and instead you actually just want him to be coddled. If you choose to talk to him in a manner that this is an affront on him of course he will feel bad. You, as the adult, have a chance to frame the world as being bigger than him and more complicated than his initial emotional reaction. But that will require you to step outside of your own desires and emotions and use it as a growth opportunity.

Agreed- I do think this is a good opportunity to teach children about collective responsibility to society. That is, doctors, nurses, first responders, grocery store employees, food producers, and many other people are doing their jobs at personal risk because their jobs are essential to society. But teachers don't want to do their part, apparently because their parents never instilled in them a similar sense of responsibility.

Yep. Social responsibility is always about other people, not us though son. Those nasty teachers aren't prepared to sacrifice themselves for us, can you believe it?

Would you really say doctors, nurses, first responders, and food service workers as "sacrificing themselves for us"? Or would you say they're doing the job as best and as safely as possible?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is logging into Canvas today crossing a picket line?

Yet if our kids don't click on Canvas they are unexcused absent, right? This whole thing is insane. Thanks DC. Thanks WTU. You find new and creative ways to hurt our kids and disappoint us!

No. The WTU letter wants teachers to avoid Teams (ie, live instruction). They encouraged teachers to have the assignments available for students.

One of my kid's teachers called in sick, sending an email explaining why. She posted a video and assignments for the kids on Canvas.

Anonymous wrote:It’s wild the way some of y’all scream about how terrible and lazy teachers are, but you can’t do without one day of their distance learning. Which is it?

Collective action isn’t meant to be comfy.

I don’t think teachers are lazy or terrible. I just think DL is not at all effective for younger kids and that teachers are an essential service. I think DCPS has been reasonable to not make all teachers come back but we need *some* teachers back in the building and teaching in-person. They literary are only asking for one teacher per grade to come back since hybrid was also rejected by teachers.

Walls sent out a note explaining that this is a request from the teachers union in protest of safety issues involved in opening schools. They sent this note last night so when my son's teachers sent out notes cancelling class we knew why.

This one from one of our Wilson teachers really burned me:

"I will be taking a mental health day today, Monday 11/2, due to the stress and demands of virtual learning and anxiety about the current DCPS reopening plan. My ability to do my job with the effort and heart that it deserves requires my own personal wellbeing as well."

We all have tons of anxiety right now - and the plan doesn't effect middle/high school so why not teach our kids? Given that our kids will have school one day this week - the last day in the advisory and I am just pissed. Plus, teachers are not returning emails to my kids and getting grades updated for work turned in 4-6 weeks ago still. Finally, science is showing this isn't a huge issue. Why are teachers not essential?

But, yes DCPS needs to get it's act together. Did everyone see the email just sent from Ferebee pushing back reopening? I feel for you elementary school parents.

So far - half & half showing up with my Deal/Wilson kids...we will see how it goes.

So now this wednesday and thursday are instructional days per DCPS email. And now we await even more details. No one planned for that.

And school will continue to be remote on Nov 9.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2nd grader just found out and has no clue what happened. I sympathize with the teachers but honestly the only ones who are suffering are the children who can’t comprehend this at all.. is there no other way to make a statement instead of dragging children who have no fault in this. I am all for teacher and safety but honestly there has to be a better way

yeah I am normally very honest with my kid but can’t be now. He got an in-person slot so how am I supposed to explain that his teachers don’t want to teach him?

2nd grade is a great time for a lesson in nuance. Kids at that age are very bright and if lead through reasoning about a situation can walk away without feeling bad and learning a lot about empathy.

yeah, no. who’s going to have empathy for him? trying to explain this will only make him scared to return, think his teachers don’t like him, or that his teachers are wrong/stupid. “The teachers are so scared of covid they don’t want to teach you! And the other kids parents are mad their class sizes will be bigger. but you shouldn’t be worried.”

Right. So you have a great opportunity to teach empathy and about the world and instead you actually just want him to be coddled. If you choose to talk to him in a manner that this is an affront on him of course he will feel bad. You, as the adult, have a chance to frame the world as being bigger than him and more complicated than his initial emotional reaction. But that will require you to step outside of your own desires and emotions and use it as a growth opportunity.

Agreed- I do think this is a good opportunity to teach children about collective responsibility to society. That is, doctors, nurses, first responders, grocery store employees, food producers, and many other people are doing their jobs at personal risk because their jobs are essential to society. But teachers don't want to do their part, apparently because their parents never instilled in them a similar sense of responsibility.

Yep. Social responsibility is always about other people, not us though son. Those nasty teachers aren't prepared to sacrifice themselves for us, can you believe it?

I will say - one positive of this drama/controversy with DCPS is it has redirected all my election anxiety to a different issue

Wednesday is not a free day for any teachers. Where do you people get this stuff from?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2nd grader just found out and has no clue what happened. I sympathize with the teachers but honestly the only ones who are suffering are the children who can’t comprehend this at all.. is there no other way to make a statement instead of dragging children who have no fault in this. I am all for teacher and safety but honestly there has to be a better way

yeah I am normally very honest with my kid but can’t be now. He got an in-person slot so how am I supposed to explain that his teachers don’t want to teach him?

2nd grade is a great time for a lesson in nuance. Kids at that age are very bright and if lead through reasoning about a situation can walk away without feeling bad and learning a lot about empathy.

yeah, no. who’s going to have empathy for him? trying to explain this will only make him scared to return, think his teachers don’t like him, or that his teachers are wrong/stupid. “The teachers are so scared of covid they don’t want to teach you! And the other kids parents are mad their class sizes will be bigger. but you shouldn’t be worried.”

Right. So you have a great opportunity to teach empathy and about the world and instead you actually just want him to be coddled. If you choose to talk to him in a manner that this is an affront on him of course he will feel bad. You, as the adult, have a chance to frame the world as being bigger than him and more complicated than his initial emotional reaction. But that will require you to step outside of your own desires and emotions and use it as a growth opportunity.

Agreed- I do think this is a good opportunity to teach children about collective responsibility to society. That is, doctors, nurses, first responders, grocery store employees, food producers, and many other people are doing their jobs at personal risk because their jobs are essential to society. But teachers don't want to do their part, apparently because their parents never instilled in them a similar sense of responsibility.