My kid is an elementary school teacher in the Midwest, and school is in session. So glad she did not return to the DMV after graduation.

Anonymous wrote:When I saw your title I thought you were talking about the Korean pop group "BTS", and was wondering if you are annoyed because you see their pictures all over the place for some reason.

I only opened this thread to find out what kpop fans were doing to annoy OP

The pressure to reopen schools will build very quickly as cases and deaths continue to fall across the country. The evidence is piling up that this virus is getting less deadly, and that schools can reopen safely. At the same time kids are falling further and further behind, academically and psychologically. Right now, the "lockdown forever" crew is still hanging on to the narrative, but people do see schools opening safely, and whole countries in normal states (Sweden, the bane of pro-lockdown people). The narrative won't hold for much longer. It'll happen--give it a few weeks.

I agree, OP. It has been really hard to talk to family the last couple weeks as they prepare to send their kids to school in Colorado and even California and Arizona. I am trying to be positive because I don't want my kid to feel like she is missing out (she is young enough that it's not totally obvious to her yet that what we are doing right now is abnormal). But all the BTS photos break my heart because I know the odds of my kid being back in a classroom this year are practically zero. I feel sad for her and sad for us, because I know this year is going to be so tough to manage.

But yes, I understand the risks. I agreed with the choice. It doesn't make it feel any easier, though.

Anonymous wrote:When I saw your title I thought you were talking about the Korean pop group "BTS", and was wondering if you are annoyed because you see their pictures all over the place for some reason.

Haha glad I wasn’t the only one! I’m like who could be mad at the wonderfulness that is BTS

Yeah I've seen FB friends with kids going back to school in TX and Fla, which seems insane to me. I MIGHT consider sending my kids back in the DMV, if the option existed, but no chance in those states.

My son starts in person Thursday in Michigan.

Anonymous wrote:I'm hoping for success for those school districts who are opening up their doors to students. If they are successful, then our schools may follow shortly after. I'm remaining hopeful...

So am I. I know there are some who are rooting for failure and an explosion of cases, but I hope they do well and we can reopen in the DMV for the second semester.

For everyone who says that schools are not experiencing outbreaks or closures, here is a database:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQSD9mm5HTXhxAiHabZA6BPUByWBlP5HZ2jfOPEeGZkMB0ZFsmFBL5orqjIq22mjFNZ7n-11ObCylGn/pubhtml?fbclid=IwAR2tJ8yDVehGpxoP97Cco5HYAxoN014opwwm6uYt4s3E2xDr_8u9KF_LlgI&_ga=2.134010894.1896452270.1598377751-430072279.1598377751#
Seems like you are misinformed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And many of those schools are already having outbreaks and having to revert back to remote learning, a week or two weeks into the school year. This looks like success to you? That's pretty sad.

No, they're not actually closing. Most of the schools i Have friends attending have not had any cases so far or if they have a case they have quarantined that class (and only that class). They haven't closed the school or the district.

I'm not saying this is good or smart but that it'a happening and it feels like we are living on a different planet although we have 25% of the cases. It's just weird.

yes , they're not closing. We may want to believe they're closing (as we prepare to zoom in) but kids aren't getting sick so far in the schools that my relatives and friends attend.

Colleges are closing due to kids partying in large crowds. Elementary schools are not. Social distancing and masks and small numbers in the classrooms are actually working. Shocking.

--OP (who has a very healthy respect for the virus but does believe that kids can return to school safely.

+1, you can’t compare colleges to K-12 schools. Colleges have kids packed in dorms, sharing communal bathrooms and dining facilities, doing whatever they want in their off time (yes, the colleges attempt to police off campus gatherings but they can’t be everywhere at once and won’t catch “smaller” parties of 20-30). Not the case for minor children still living at home. Public schools - especially for the lower grades - are far more comparable to day cares, many of which have been up and running this whole time.

I'm hoping for success for those school districts who are opening up their doors to students. If they are successful, then our schools may follow shortly after. I'm remaining hopeful...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And many of those schools are already having outbreaks and having to revert back to remote learning, a week or two weeks into the school year. This looks like success to you? That's pretty sad.

No, they're not actually closing. Most of the schools i Have friends attending have not had any cases so far or if they have a case they have quarantined that class (and only that class). They haven't closed the school or the district.

I'm not saying this is good or smart but that it'a happening and it feels like we are living on a different planet although we have 25% of the cases. It's just weird.

yes , they're not closing. We may want to believe they're closing (as we prepare to zoom in) but kids aren't getting sick so far in the schools that my relatives and friends attend.

Colleges are closing due to kids partying in large crowds. Elementary schools are not. Social distancing and masks and small numbers in the classrooms are actually working. Shocking.

--OP (who has a very healthy respect for the virus but does believe that kids can return to school safely.

I live in Pennsylvania. My son (8th gr) returned to school yesterday. His district is doing a hybrid approach. Two days in person, three days DL. Each of his classes only had five or six kids. Last year, most of his classes had 25 to 30 kids.
In our district roughly 25% left for online charter schools. Roughly 25% chose the districts online only option. That left 50% of the students to be split between two groups.
With only five or six kids during in person instruction, I think he will definitely get a better education than online only.
They are required to wear a mask at all times. They get one 10 minute mass break every class period.
He rode the bus to school, but there was only 25% of the usual amount of kids. They spaced them out. No sitting with anyone else.
I think this approach to school will minimize the spread of Covid and allow for a better education than online only.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And many of those schools are already having outbreaks and having to revert back to remote learning, a week or two weeks into the school year. This looks like success to you? That's pretty sad.

No, they’re not. At all.

You need to break out of your liberal, blue state bubble. This is what we get for living in an area that is driven by elitist politics first, humans second. I absolutely have always hated it, but now there are real consequences. And the price is our children's education and future. I hope everybody starts really understanding the dangerous game your politicians are playing.

The positive thing is that hopefully most of these schools open uneventfully and then the local schools will have no excuse to continue DL.