OP, it sounds like you should be focusing on transitioning your kids out of this program and setting up arrangements for them if you think it is unhealthy, versus focusing on one month's pay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They go to the same school, same grade, but their break times are different? Why on earth would a school do that?

The kids are all remote learning. The teachers are supposed to follow the same basic schedule, but day-to-day, it ends up being very different. For ex., one teacher may choose to use a prerecorded video to teach math that day so her break ends up being 40 minutes while another teacher may run over the allotted time for math so his break is only 10 minutes.

Teachers not sticking to the school schedule isn’t the pod company’s fault. Unless you’re prepared to double your payments, you can’t reasonably expect them to put another body in the room.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, everyone needs to be on a tablet, not a desktop, and each child needs a clipboard and a folder with their papers (it helps if they each have a pencil box as well). Then the teacher can take everyone out for 2 hours, and whoever is not in class can play. I homeschool (part online, asynchrous, but interrupting is problematic) and each child finishes at a different time. If I waited for everyone to be done at the same time, we’d never have any time outside, let alone at the park.

That's absurd. Kids should be in a classroom at a desk learning. That would be really distracting to have some kids playing and some kids doing classwork.

Nope, it’s not. The kids on tablets sit on benches faced away from the playground. The fresh air and exercise are fantastic for everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, everyone needs to be on a tablet, not a desktop, and each child needs a clipboard and a folder with their papers (it helps if they each have a pencil box as well). Then the teacher can take everyone out for 2 hours, and whoever is not in class can play. I homeschool (part online, asynchrous, but interrupting is problematic) and each child finishes at a different time. If I waited for everyone to be done at the same time, we’d never have any time outside, let alone at the park.

That's absurd. Kids should be in a classroom at a desk learning. That would be really distracting to have some kids playing and some kids doing classwork.

But no one is in a classroom... Again, since it sounds like we’re talking about, like, 2nd graders, just find the time that works best and pull kids out as needed. If they’re all supposed to be following the same schedule anyway, it’s not like you don’t have an excuse.

Anonymous wrote:Well, everyone needs to be on a tablet, not a desktop, and each child needs a clipboard and a folder with their papers (it helps if they each have a pencil box as well). Then the teacher can take everyone out for 2 hours, and whoever is not in class can play. I homeschool (part online, asynchrous, but interrupting is problematic) and each child finishes at a different time. If I waited for everyone to be done at the same time, we’d never have any time outside, let alone at the park.

That's absurd. Kids should be in a classroom at a desk learning. That would be really distracting to have some kids playing and some kids doing classwork.

Well, everyone needs to be on a tablet, not a desktop, and each child needs a clipboard and a folder with their papers (it helps if they each have a pencil box as well). Then the teacher can take everyone out for 2 hours, and whoever is not in class can play. I homeschool (part online, asynchrous, but interrupting is problematic) and each child finishes at a different time. If I waited for everyone to be done at the same time, we’d never have any time outside, let alone at the park.

I wouldn’t have signed up to have my kids sit in a windowless room to begin with. How is it ventilated?

Who put together the group of students? If the company did, then I think you could notify the breach, not send your kid anymore and not pay. If you did, I think you’re stuck. It’s not their fault you put together an unworkable pod. They promised one teacher, it’s actually your fault the kids can’t get outside, not theirs. Obviously one option you have is for parents to agree on what the break time is and just tel them to pull out whatever kids still have instruction then. Done.

Would you be happy if the company hired an aide to travel to various pods to provide more outdoor time?

Yes, you pay. You are getting the services for child care. If you want to pay more, they can hire an aide. Otherwise, if kids are on different schedules, what do you want them to do? Take your kids out before or after.

Anonymous wrote:Where is this windowless pod room? And where is the outdoor play area? I’m trying to figure out why kids on break can’t just let themselves outdoors? These are elementary kids not 2 yr olds... they don’t need constant supervision. Being cooped up in one room all day sounds miserable for the kids and the teacher.

Yes, yes elementary kids need constant supervision especially under the care of others. At home it might be a different ball game but when they are in school or in a childcare situation they must be supervised. If something happens I’m sure you’ll be very upset that nobody was watching.

Also, I hope the kids are not in the room with one teacher by themselves, regardless of the outside component. It is generally considered a bad practice to not have another adult in the room vis-a-vis child abuse or claims of child abuse. It's a serious liability issue for the company and the individual teachers as well.

I'd look at the contract you signed. If it promises daily outdoor time, you notify them that you consider them to be in breach.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If everything else is okay, then I would continue and do more physical activity as a family other times during the week.

I don't think it's good enough to say "if everything else is okay". Our kids are in a windowless and not very large classroom for six hours at a time. I told the company that they don't have to keep their promise of phys ed twice a day, but that our kids need to go outside at least once a day for twenty minutes and take a walk. That's it. They can't or won't even do that. Also, the registration fee is not cheap. They can afford to hire a teacher's aide for a few hours a day (not even the whole day!) and still make a profit, but won't because it will affect their bottom line.

It's really hard to find someone for just "a few hours a day." It's not worth the trip for most employees and the fact that they need to dedicate a large chunk of their day which makes it difficult to find other part time jobs.
If you've seen (before Covid) parents on here trying to find an "after school nanny" or other very part time positions of just a couple hours a day, it's almost impossible. The parents that do find someone end up paying an outrageously high hourly rate.

I think you're being unreasonable. I'm sure when the pod started they had every intention of outside time, because they didn't know that the schedules would be so different. This is really out of their control.

If you do pull your child from this pod, what will you do for his education?

Anonymous wrote:I'm no lawyer, but I think you need to create a paper trail if you do this by notifying them, in writing, that you are withdrawing your child because they have failed to keep their end of the contract and you will no longer pay for their services. Otherwise, they could try to get a judgement against you for the fees.

Good advice.