Anonymous
Post 05/19/2020 19:26     Subject: Re:2 days a week school in the fall?
Anonymous wrote:
there will be plenty of people to hire for childcare. there are a zillion out of work adults.


But are there a zillion out of work adults who like children and could do a good job coordinating their distance learning program? I kind of doubt it. I'm sure there are some, I'm just not sure it is a lot.


That sounds like you are asking for everything. In the ideal world we would be able to work while keeping our kids safe, learning and interacting with friends in an affordable manner.


I'm not that poster, but I would not hire just any out of work adult to care for my son. It isn't just an issue of having an ideal person to teach him. It's an issue of his safety. Person would need to have the right background to care for a kid with behavioral disabilities. Otherwise, they're not going to last on the job, and could also potentially harm him.


+1
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2020 19:10     Subject: 2 days a week school in the fall?
Around 3/4 of students are economically disadvantaged. No way these half day plans or partial day plans will happen. Parents can't pay for other care and if schools aren't open then aftercare isn't available on campus either. It is either all the kids go back or all the kids do distance learning.
AND teachers who have kids can't leave their kids at home while they are teaching.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2020 18:58     Subject: Re:2 days a week school in the fall?
there will be plenty of people to hire for childcare. there are a zillion out of work adults.


But are there a zillion out of work adults who like children and could do a good job coordinating their distance learning program? I kind of doubt it. I'm sure there are some, I'm just not sure it is a lot.


That sounds like you are asking for everything. In the ideal world we would be able to work while keeping our kids safe, learning and interacting with friends in an affordable manner.


I'm not that poster, but I would not hire just any out of work adult to care for my son. It isn't just an issue of having an ideal person to teach him. It's an issue of his safety. Person would need to have the right background to care for a kid with behavioral disabilities. Otherwise, they're not going to last on the job, and could also potentially harm him.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2020 18:52     Subject: 2 days a week school in the fall?
I've heard that an option is one week on and one week off with an option of all virtual for parents who choose. Kids in school every three weeks suggest that they can only accommodate about 1/3 of the students at any one time with social distancing.

I wonder what cleaning will be like in between student groups/weeks?
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2020 18:33     Subject: Re:2 days a week school in the fall?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Another example of school is not childcare so you can work.


No, but for how long has school been compulsory for K age and above? Our society has not been set up for a parent to be at home full time with school age kids for any time in recent memory. I never worked out our budget to include a full time nanny for school age children and we spaced our kids to never have two in daycare at the same time. Even if we shifted what we used to pay for one in daycare, it would never cover the cost of full time care for two kids now.

I really hate the argument of school not being childcare. Of course it isn’t. But there are pretty much zero options for any childcare for school age kids at this point in time, even if people want to pay for it.


+1

This argument is ridiculous. Lots of people do careful family planning and part of that planning is knowing when kids start compulsory schooling. Our taxes pay into school so there is an expectation kids will be in school during the day. Stop telling people to parent or that school isn't childcare, etc. And do you want a huge chunk of the workforce to just quit to stay home with their children? You don't think that would have a huge effect on the economy?


Family planning AND decisions on when to return to the workforce (if a parent stays home) are closely related to the idea that students will be physically at school for much of the year.

I'm not saying schools can or should be open in the fall. I'm just agreeing that it is reasonable that we all planned our lives based on schools providing childcare.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2020 18:33     Subject: 2 days a week school in the fall?
No way this happens. School will be DL only in the fall. These plans ensure federal funding to keep teachers/staff employed as much as possible and then in August everyone can say “we tried but it’s just not safe.”
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2020 18:28     Subject: Re:2 days a week school in the fall?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Another example of school is not childcare so you can work.


No, but for how long has school been compulsory for K age and above? Our society has not been set up for a parent to be at home full time with school age kids for any time in recent memory. I never worked out our budget to include a full time nanny for school age children and we spaced our kids to never have two in daycare at the same time. Even if we shifted what we used to pay for one in daycare, it would never cover the cost of full time care for two kids now.

I really hate the argument of school not being childcare. Of course it isn’t. But there are pretty much zero options for any childcare for school age kids at this point in time, even if people want to pay for it.


+1

This argument is ridiculous. Lots of people do careful family planning and part of that planning is knowing when kids start compulsory schooling. Our taxes pay into school so there is an expectation kids will be in school during the day. Stop telling people to parent or that school isn't childcare, etc. And do you want a huge chunk of the workforce to just quit to stay home with their children? You don't think that would have a huge effect on the economy?
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2020 18:25     Subject: Re:2 days a week school in the fall?
Anonymous wrote:Another example of school is not childcare so you can work.


School actually is childcare so parents can work.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2020 18:24     Subject: 2 days a week school in the fall?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:i think the ralith is that many parents are going to have to sacrifice to pay for childcare for school aged kids during this time. Stop retirement savings if needed for the year, stop college savings. That or we leave our kids home alone. Most jobs will be back in person by fall but kids won't.


I think this is right. I just hope there are enough good nannies/babysitters out there that we can all find someone to hire to provide childcare. Since group care doesn't seem likely to be a smart choice.


Um, do you guys realize this is a nonstarter for most DCPS families, who are poor/working class and further are less likely to be able to telework? There is no "just hire someone" for many families.

I don't mean to be harsh, I'm just expressing my frustration about their plans, and any possible contingency plans. This is going to be tough for everyone.


+1

And for families who rely on middle or high school aged kids to watch younger siblings they will be stuck if the kids go to school on different days.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2020 18:22     Subject: 2 days a week school in the fall?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:i think the ralith is that many parents are going to have to sacrifice to pay for childcare for school aged kids during this time. Stop retirement savings if needed for the year, stop college savings. That or we leave our kids home alone. Most jobs will be back in person by fall but kids won't.


I think this is right. I just hope there are enough good nannies/babysitters out there that we can all find someone to hire to provide childcare. Since group care doesn't seem likely to be a smart choice.


Um, do you guys realize this is a nonstarter for most DCPS families, who are poor/working class and further are less likely to be able to telework? There is no "just hire someone" for many families.

I don't mean to be harsh, I'm just expressing my frustration about their plans, and any possible contingency plans. This is going to be tough for everyone.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2020 18:21     Subject: 2 days a week school in the fall?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:there will be plenty of people to hire for childcare. there are a zillion out of work adults.


But are there a zillion out of work adults who like children and could do a good job coordinating their distance learning program? I kind of doubt it. I'm sure there are some, I'm just not sure it is a lot.


That sounds like you are asking for everything. In the ideal world we would be able to work while keeping our kids safe, learning and interacting with friends in an affordable manner. That is not going to happen and I am not going to blame parents that need to put their kids at increased risk because they need to work to provide for their families and cannot afford alternatives. I am also not going to blame parents that have the privilege to be able to keep their kids safe and the resources to continue their education. I just wish those with privilege would sometimes be more aware of the difficulties that others have. I for one hope DCPS does what is best for its under privileged students and ignores the complaints of those of us that live in the Ward 3 bubble.


This times 100. This virus has ravaged Ward 8 and Ward 5. This isn’t about Ward 3 problems. I anticipate the library and rec centers opening to help with the distance learning. For some of these children the trauma of seeing the adults die of this virus are more than some of you are willing or able to understand.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2020 18:16     Subject: 2 days a week school in the fall?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:there will be plenty of people to hire for childcare. there are a zillion out of work adults.


But are there a zillion out of work adults who like children and could do a good job coordinating their distance learning program? I kind of doubt it. I'm sure there are some, I'm just not sure it is a lot.


That sounds like you are asking for everything. In the ideal world we would be able to work while keeping our kids safe, learning and interacting with friends in an affordable manner. That is not going to happen and I am not going to blame parents that need to put their kids at increased risk because they need to work to provide for their families and cannot afford alternatives. I am also not going to blame parents that have the privilege to be able to keep their kids safe and the resources to continue their education. I just wish those with privilege would sometimes be more aware of the difficulties that others have. I for one hope DCPS does what is best for its under privileged students and ignores the complaints of those of us that live in the Ward 3 bubble.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2020 18:02     Subject: 2 days a week school in the fall?
Anonymous wrote:there will be plenty of people to hire for childcare. there are a zillion out of work adults.


But are there a zillion out of work adults who like children and could do a good job coordinating their distance learning program? I kind of doubt it. I'm sure there are some, I'm just not sure it is a lot.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2020 17:57     Subject: 2 days a week school in the fall?
Anonymous wrote:i think the ralith is that many parents are going to have to sacrifice to pay for childcare for school aged kids during this time. Stop retirement savings if needed for the year, stop college savings. That or we leave our kids home alone. Most jobs will be back in person by fall but kids won't.


I think this is right. I just hope there are enough good nannies/babysitters out there that we can all find someone to hire to provide childcare. Since group care doesn't seem likely to be a smart choice.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2020 17:55     Subject: 2 days a week school in the fall?
there will be plenty of people to hire for childcare. there are a zillion out of work adults.