Anonymous
Post 04/10/2024 15:18     Subject: I think it’s really sad that MCPS did not use the eclipse as a learning opportunity
They say they care about equity, yet how is it equitable to allow teachers to make a decision that should have been handled at a district level in a way to optimize learning. How is equitable for the kids with parents with the means to procure glasses and not work take their
Kids out for the day or afternoon to see it and for kids whose parents do not have those means to suffer. Thousands of kids could have been inspired by this event to a career in science of astromony and instead they are inside, missing the whole thing or watching it on a Chromebook. It’s absolutely pathetic.



I agree. At my kids’ school in Rockville, we were told outdoor recess is cancelled and kids would watch it on tv if the teachers allowed. I assume this is about reducing potential litigation. But it goes against their “equity” policing, because it meant all the parents with flexible jobs or SAHP pulled their kids out of school to watch.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2024 14:59     Subject: I think it’s really sad that MCPS did not use the eclipse as a learning opportunity
Anonymous wrote:Former teacher here and I am just so sad about MCPS and the missed opportunity to inspire and teach kids with this eclipse. Instead of using this once in a lifetime astronomical event as a teaching tool, the district left individual teachers to decide what to do. At our ES that meant one entire grade went outside with glasses provided by a NASA parent, and got to hear a talk by them. Other teachers did nothing, some would not even let the kids use their glasses to even look outside, and still others showed the kids livestreams of the event that was literally happening outside their window.

My older sister is a teacher in another state they procured glasses for all the students and used this event as a teaching tool. Curriculum was provided and they made it an event for the students to get excited about. The whole school was outside and got to experience it together. This is what my school did during the 90s eclipse and it is something I still remember. No one was hurt. There were no safety issues.

MCPS is pathetic. They say they care about equity, yet how is it equitable to allow teachers to make a decision that should have been handled at a district level in a way to optimize learning. How is equitable for the kids with parents with the means to procure glasses and not work take their
Kids out for the day or afternoon to see it and for kids whose parents do not have those means to suffer. Thousands of kids could have been inspired by this event to a career in science of astromony and instead they are inside, missing the whole thing or watching it on a Chromebook. It’s absolutely pathetic.


When was the 1990s eclipse? I went to MCPS and I don’t remember one.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2024 14:56     Subject: Re:I think it’s really sad that MCPS did not use the eclipse as a learning opportunity
My ds was learning about eclipses in science (and his science period also happened to coincide with the timing of the eclipse) and they still didn't do anything. What a shame.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2024 14:34     Subject: Re:I think it’s really sad that MCPS did not use the eclipse as a learning opportunity
Lots of privilege here on this board. I'm a science teacher and I think it was just fine for MCPS to not do anything. I don't remember much for the 2017 one either. OH RIGHT, it was summer. The timing was bad for anything. It's the end of the quarter, IEP reports are due, grades are due, and MCAP testing is going on. There were lots of messages about community events and MANY parents pulled their kids. Of all things to complain about MCPS, this is NOT it. I can't even get staples for my stapler.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2024 14:25     Subject: I think it’s really sad that MCPS did not use the eclipse as a learning opportunity
Anonymous wrote:The eclipse was 2-4pm. Nobody missed it because of school.

Stop crying. Be a parent.


Op here. I’m not crying. It was important for me that my kids experience this so I took them on a trip to a location in the path of totality so they could see it. It was incredible - a lifelong memory was made for them. But my kids’ classmates should have at least been taught about it and had the chance to experience it here themselves. To deprive them of that and make them watch a livestream is an example of what is wrong in public education today. My entire (public) school in another state all went outside - all grades — for a partial eclipse and I still remember it today. We all made pinhole viewers to see it. The exercise and experience fostered a curiosity in me about space and astronomy that continues to this day. Kids in MCPS deserved to experience this. Curiosity and wonder should not be forsaken for test scores.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2024 14:23     Subject: I think it’s really sad that MCPS did not use the eclipse as a learning opportunity
Anonymous wrote:I disagree. Some parents do t want their kids viewing the eclipse without supervision. They can’t necessarily take off work to pull their kids. School should be business as usual and if you want to take your kid to the eclipse, do it.

I’d be fine with them watching it on tv like a moon landing. But that doesn’t require mcps to dictate anything.

I know, right? We gotta keep the teachers from teaching anything other than reading and math. Everything else is too scary.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2024 14:19     Subject: I think it’s really sad that MCPS did not use the eclipse as a learning opportunity
Anonymous wrote:The eclipse was 2-4pm. Nobody missed it because of school.

Stop crying. Be a parent.


It seems like mcps can't do anything right or maybe it's just hard to please everyone.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2024 14:16     Subject: I think it’s really sad that MCPS did not use the eclipse as a learning opportunity
The eclipse was 2-4pm. Nobody missed it because of school.

Stop crying. Be a parent.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2024 14:16     Subject: Re:I think it’s really sad that MCPS did not use the eclipse as a learning opportunity
Schools cannot do anything fun anymore. The kids behavior is just too terrible and the teachers are just too burnt out to plan anything extra. If stuff like this is important to you then advocate for higher budgets which will give a better teacher/student ratio and funding for “extra” programming like this. Until then it’s sitting and doing the same old every day.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2024 14:12     Subject: I think it’s really sad that MCPS did not use the eclipse as a learning opportunity
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I disagree. Some parents do t want their kids viewing the eclipse without supervision. They can’t necessarily take off work to pull their kids. School should be business as usual and if you want to take your kid to the eclipse, do it.

I’d be fine with them watching it on tv like a moon landing. But that doesn’t require mcps to dictate anything.


Ok, MCPS administrator. Explain why watching an eclipse with correct eyewear is an issue for parents. You don’t want them to physically experience a once in a lifetime event happening in the sky because watching it on the tv is what - safer? Better? I think you have lost the plot about the purpose of education. If we don’t inspire kids by taking advantage of things like this, what’s the point at all?


I’m not an administrator and I don’t personally care. I’m just explaining the obvious. Parents and teachers should just ask their teacher or principal about this kind of stuff and not expect a centralized authority to cater to your eclipse preferences. If you don’t like the answer, pull your kid for a half day.

So much breath is wasted on things that have minimal impact on the kids’ educational outcomes.



Op here. As a former teacher, we have a responsibility to inspire kids, foster a love of learning, and provoke their curiosity. I guess you can’t put a price tag on that, but it’s a far more important educational outcome than a test score. You’ve lost the plot about the purpose of educating our kids. Test scores mean nothing if kids don’t become lifelong learners who are interested in the world around them and curious about it.


Nicely said
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2024 14:09     Subject: I think it’s really sad that MCPS did not use the eclipse as a learning opportunity
Anonymous wrote:Former teacher here and I am just so sad about MCPS and the missed opportunity to inspire and teach kids with this eclipse. Instead of using this once in a lifetime astronomical event as a teaching tool, the district left individual teachers to decide what to do. At our ES that meant one entire grade went outside with glasses provided by a NASA parent, and got to hear a talk by them. Other teachers did nothing, some would not even let the kids use their glasses to even look outside, and still others showed the kids livestreams of the event that was literally happening outside their window.

My older sister is a teacher in another state they procured glasses for all the students and used this event as a teaching tool. Curriculum was provided and they made it an event for the students to get excited about. The whole school was outside and got to experience it together. This is what my school did during the 90s eclipse and it is something I still remember. No one was hurt. There were no safety issues.

MCPS is pathetic. They say they care about equity, yet how is it equitable to allow teachers to make a decision that should have been handled at a district level in a way to optimize learning. How is equitable for the kids with parents with the means to procure glasses and not work take their
Kids out for the day or afternoon to see it and for kids whose parents do not have those means to suffer. Thousands of kids could have been inspired by this event to a career in science of astromony and instead they are inside, missing the whole thing or watching it on a Chromebook. It’s absolutely pathetic.


That’s too bad! Our school had everyone out with glasses. The kids loved it.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2024 14:05     Subject: I think it’s really sad that MCPS did not use the eclipse as a learning opportunity
MCPS handled this ridiculously. I felt for the kids at my school that were trapped inside missing this occurrence.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2024 14:01     Subject: I think it’s really sad that MCPS did not use the eclipse as a learning opportunity
Some kids in my child's class brought eclipse glasses to school but they were not allowed to use them. Presumably they did after dismissal.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2024 13:54     Subject: I think it’s really sad that MCPS did not use the eclipse as a learning opportunity
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I disagree. Some parents do t want their kids viewing the eclipse without supervision. They can’t necessarily take off work to pull their kids. School should be business as usual and if you want to take your kid to the eclipse, do it.

I’d be fine with them watching it on tv like a moon landing. But that doesn’t require mcps to dictate anything.


Ok, MCPS administrator. Explain why watching an eclipse with correct eyewear is an issue for parents. You don’t want them to physically experience a once in a lifetime event happening in the sky because watching it on the tv is what - safer? Better? I think you have lost the plot about the purpose of education. If we don’t inspire kids by taking advantage of things like this, what’s the point at all?


I’m not an administrator and I don’t personally care. I’m just explaining the obvious. Parents and teachers should just ask their teacher or principal about this kind of stuff and not expect a centralized authority to cater to your eclipse preferences. If you don’t like the answer, pull your kid for a half day.

So much breath is wasted on things that have minimal impact on the kids’ educational outcomes.



Op here. As a former teacher, we have a responsibility to inspire kids, foster a love of learning, and provoke their curiosity. I guess you can’t put a price tag on that, but it’s a far more important educational outcome than a test score. You’ve lost the plot about the purpose of educating our kids. Test scores mean nothing if kids don’t become lifelong learners who are interested in the world around them and curious about it.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2024 13:30     Subject: I think it’s really sad that MCPS did not use the eclipse as a learning opportunity
Anonymous wrote:Agreed, Op. What a wasted opportunity. Wealthy PTAs could have purchased glasses (as some did), less affluent ones should have had them supplied by the district.


You are correct PP! During a budget freeze, when schools cannot get copying paper without using an administrative process designed to discourage teachers from requesting, SOMEHOW, MCPS should have magically printed some money to purchase eclipse glasses.