Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is the crux of this debate. If schools do not open full-time but parents are told they need to go to the office full time, they fear they will get fired.

First, I don’t think this will happen. If you run your own business I’m sure there is a lot to worry about, but if all the major school systems are doing distance learning then employers are not going to get away with simply firing all the parents.

Second, I think this is a fear that is based on relatively recent generational change. We are now living in a time when most people think it’s necessary for both parents to work in order to survive financially. Obviously this was not always the case. But given that we live in these times, we have come to assume schools are the social support that makes this possible. It turns out this was not a reliable assumption in these historic times. Unfortunately, the virus doesn’t care that you have to go to work to pay the bills.

No parents will be expected to spend even more money to get a babysitter/nanny and return to work or lose their job.

As a woman and a mom I have already had to quit my job since March to stay at Home with my two younger elementary school kids. And of course camp was canceled so there is that. So I can't even begin to look for another job until school goes back to normal.

It sucks. And it's reality. But the school systems don't seem to care about the crappy education that is being provided through DL especially to young elementary kids. They certainly don't care about parents. I just don't know what the solution is but I have never been so stressed in my life.

It’s really an awful situation, and I’m sorry to hear it. But what is your evidence that the school system doesn’t care about students and/or parents? A significant majority of teachers and administrators are themselves parents of MCPS students. They’re in the same boat as us. Half the posts on here claim DL is too hard and the other half claim it’s too easy. How is MCPS supposed to do this “right”? And they can’t even just decide to open if they want to, because the state of MD makes that call. We all want to blame people, but all we have to blame is the virus.

Teachers are NOT in the same boat. They're getting paid to stay home with their kids.

Just like the millions of other people currently working from home. Are you angry at all of those people, too? Or just the teachers? Because a lot of people are being paid a lot more to work from home than we are.

I am sorry but posting a youtube video, one graded assignment (which is automatically graded) and hosting a 10 minute zoom check-in once a week is not the same as my working 40 plus hours as week from home. I cannot fathom how, even with multiple subjects, that equates to a full week. When my child's teachers are teaching from home, available to answer questions in real time, post assignments that aren't based off of youtube, and check in more than 10 minutes a week is when I will equate it to what I do every day from home.

This. Exactly this.

And for many of us, we are working far longer hours than we did pre-Covid. My average week is now 50 - 60 weeks, not the 45 - 55 hours a week I previously enjoyed. For many of remote work means employers expect more from us; not less. Unfortunately for students, the county actually expects less from teachers now.

You keep telling teachers that they are lying and they aren't working as much as they say they are. Why should we believe you are working 60 hours a week? You are the only honest, hardworking person on DCUM? I'm sure.

I’m neighbors with several teachers and have a friend who is also a teacher. I can assure you, all are working fewer hours and loving it. No teacher will admit it on a forum like this and why would they?

I’m not your neighbor or your friend. I didn’t work less than before. I worked very differently and often more hours because I had to create new materials.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is the crux of this debate. If schools do not open full-time but parents are told they need to go to the office full time, they fear they will get fired.

First, I don’t think this will happen. If you run your own business I’m sure there is a lot to worry about, but if all the major school systems are doing distance learning then employers are not going to get away with simply firing all the parents.

Second, I think this is a fear that is based on relatively recent generational change. We are now living in a time when most people think it’s necessary for both parents to work in order to survive financially. Obviously this was not always the case. But given that we live in these times, we have come to assume schools are the social support that makes this possible. It turns out this was not a reliable assumption in these historic times. Unfortunately, the virus doesn’t care that you have to go to work to pay the bills.

No parents will be expected to spend even more money to get a babysitter/nanny and return to work or lose their job.

As a woman and a mom I have already had to quit my job since March to stay at Home with my two younger elementary school kids. And of course camp was canceled so there is that. So I can't even begin to look for another job until school goes back to normal.

It sucks. And it's reality. But the school systems don't seem to care about the crappy education that is being provided through DL especially to young elementary kids. They certainly don't care about parents. I just don't know what the solution is but I have never been so stressed in my life.

It’s really an awful situation, and I’m sorry to hear it. But what is your evidence that the school system doesn’t care about students and/or parents? A significant majority of teachers and administrators are themselves parents of MCPS students. They’re in the same boat as us. Half the posts on here claim DL is too hard and the other half claim it’s too easy. How is MCPS supposed to do this “right”? And they can’t even just decide to open if they want to, because the state of MD makes that call. We all want to blame people, but all we have to blame is the virus.

Teachers are NOT in the same boat. They're getting paid to stay home with their kids.

Just like the millions of other people currently working from home. Are you angry at all of those people, too? Or just the teachers? Because a lot of people are being paid a lot more to work from home than we are.

I am sorry but posting a youtube video, one graded assignment (which is automatically graded) and hosting a 10 minute zoom check-in once a week is not the same as my working 40 plus hours as week from home. I cannot fathom how, even with multiple subjects, that equates to a full week. When my child's teachers are teaching from home, available to answer questions in real time, post assignments that aren't based off of youtube, and check in more than 10 minutes a week is when I will equate it to what I do every day from home.

This. Exactly this.

And for many of us, we are working far longer hours than we did pre-Covid. My average week is now 50 - 60 weeks, not the 45 - 55 hours a week I previously enjoyed. For many of remote work means employers expect more from us; not less. Unfortunately for students, the county actually expects less from teachers now.

You keep telling teachers that they are lying and they aren't working as much as they say they are. Why should we believe you are working 60 hours a week? You are the only honest, hardworking person on DCUM? I'm sure.

I’m neighbors with several teachers and have a friend who is also a teacher. I can assure you, all are working fewer hours and loving it. No teacher will admit it on a forum like this and why would they?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is the crux of this debate. If schools do not open full-time but parents are told they need to go to the office full time, they fear they will get fired.

First, I don’t think this will happen. If you run your own business I’m sure there is a lot to worry about, but if all the major school systems are doing distance learning then employers are not going to get away with simply firing all the parents.

Second, I think this is a fear that is based on relatively recent generational change. We are now living in a time when most people think it’s necessary for both parents to work in order to survive financially. Obviously this was not always the case. But given that we live in these times, we have come to assume schools are the social support that makes this possible. It turns out this was not a reliable assumption in these historic times. Unfortunately, the virus doesn’t care that you have to go to work to pay the bills.

No parents will be expected to spend even more money to get a babysitter/nanny and return to work or lose their job.

As a woman and a mom I have already had to quit my job since March to stay at Home with my two younger elementary school kids. And of course camp was canceled so there is that. So I can't even begin to look for another job until school goes back to normal.

It sucks. And it's reality. But the school systems don't seem to care about the crappy education that is being provided through DL especially to young elementary kids. They certainly don't care about parents. I just don't know what the solution is but I have never been so stressed in my life.

It’s really an awful situation, and I’m sorry to hear it. But what is your evidence that the school system doesn’t care about students and/or parents? A significant majority of teachers and administrators are themselves parents of MCPS students. They’re in the same boat as us. Half the posts on here claim DL is too hard and the other half claim it’s too easy. How is MCPS supposed to do this “right”? And they can’t even just decide to open if they want to, because the state of MD makes that call. We all want to blame people, but all we have to blame is the virus.

Teachers are NOT in the same boat. They're getting paid to stay home with their kids.

Just like the millions of other people currently working from home. Are you angry at all of those people, too? Or just the teachers? Because a lot of people are being paid a lot more to work from home than we are.

I am sorry but posting a youtube video, one graded assignment (which is automatically graded) and hosting a 10 minute zoom check-in once a week is not the same as my working 40 plus hours as week from home. I cannot fathom how, even with multiple subjects, that equates to a full week. When my child's teachers are teaching from home, available to answer questions in real time, post assignments that aren't based off of youtube, and check in more than 10 minutes a week is when I will equate it to what I do every day from home.

This. Exactly this.

And for many of us, we are working far longer hours than we did pre-Covid. My average week is now 50 - 60 weeks, not the 45 - 55 hours a week I previously enjoyed. For many of remote work means employers expect more from us; not less. Unfortunately for students, the county actually expects less from teachers now.

You keep telling teachers that they are lying and they aren't working as much as they say they are. Why should we believe you are working 60 hours a week? You are the only honest, hardworking person on DCUM? I'm sure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is the crux of this debate. If schools do not open full-time but parents are told they need to go to the office full time, they fear they will get fired.

First, I don’t think this will happen. If you run your own business I’m sure there is a lot to worry about, but if all the major school systems are doing distance learning then employers are not going to get away with simply firing all the parents.

Second, I think this is a fear that is based on relatively recent generational change. We are now living in a time when most people think it’s necessary for both parents to work in order to survive financially. Obviously this was not always the case. But given that we live in these times, we have come to assume schools are the social support that makes this possible. It turns out this was not a reliable assumption in these historic times. Unfortunately, the virus doesn’t care that you have to go to work to pay the bills.

No parents will be expected to spend even more money to get a babysitter/nanny and return to work or lose their job.

As a woman and a mom I have already had to quit my job since March to stay at Home with my two younger elementary school kids. And of course camp was canceled so there is that. So I can't even begin to look for another job until school goes back to normal.

It sucks. And it's reality. But the school systems don't seem to care about the crappy education that is being provided through DL especially to young elementary kids. They certainly don't care about parents. I just don't know what the solution is but I have never been so stressed in my life.

It’s really an awful situation, and I’m sorry to hear it. But what is your evidence that the school system doesn’t care about students and/or parents? A significant majority of teachers and administrators are themselves parents of MCPS students. They’re in the same boat as us. Half the posts on here claim DL is too hard and the other half claim it’s too easy. How is MCPS supposed to do this “right”? And they can’t even just decide to open if they want to, because the state of MD makes that call. We all want to blame people, but all we have to blame is the virus.

Teachers are NOT in the same boat. They're getting paid to stay home with their kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is the crux of this debate. If schools do not open full-time but parents are told they need to go to the office full time, they fear they will get fired.

First, I don’t think this will happen. If you run your own business I’m sure there is a lot to worry about, but if all the major school systems are doing distance learning then employers are not going to get away with simply firing all the parents.

Second, I think this is a fear that is based on relatively recent generational change. We are now living in a time when most people think it’s necessary for both parents to work in order to survive financially. Obviously this was not always the case. But given that we live in these times, we have come to assume schools are the social support that makes this possible. It turns out this was not a reliable assumption in these historic times. Unfortunately, the virus doesn’t care that you have to go to work to pay the bills.

No parents will be expected to spend even more money to get a babysitter/nanny and return to work or lose their job.

As a woman and a mom I have already had to quit my job since March to stay at Home with my two younger elementary school kids. And of course camp was canceled so there is that. So I can't even begin to look for another job until school goes back to normal.

It sucks. And it's reality. But the school systems don't seem to care about the crappy education that is being provided through DL especially to young elementary kids. They certainly don't care about parents. I just don't know what the solution is but I have never been so stressed in my life.

It’s really an awful situation, and I’m sorry to hear it. But what is your evidence that the school system doesn’t care about students and/or parents? A significant majority of teachers and administrators are themselves parents of MCPS students. They’re in the same boat as us. Half the posts on here claim DL is too hard and the other half claim it’s too easy. How is MCPS supposed to do this “right”? And they can’t even just decide to open if they want to, because the state of MD makes that call. We all want to blame people, but all we have to blame is the virus.

Teachers are NOT in the same boat. They're getting paid to stay home with their kids.

Just like the millions of other people currently working from home. Are you angry at all of those people, too? Or just the teachers? Because a lot of people are being paid a lot more to work from home than we are.

I am sorry but posting a youtube video, one graded assignment (which is automatically graded) and hosting a 10 minute zoom check-in once a week is not the same as my working 40 plus hours as week from home. I cannot fathom how, even with multiple subjects, that equates to a full week. When my child's teachers are teaching from home, available to answer questions in real time, post assignments that aren't based off of youtube, and check in more than 10 minutes a week is when I will equate it to what I do every day from home.

This. Exactly this.

And for many of us, we are working far longer hours than we did pre-Covid. My average week is now 50 - 60 weeks, not the 45 - 55 hours a week I previously enjoyed. For many of remote work means employers expect more from us; not less. Unfortunately for students, the county actually expects less from teachers now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is the crux of this debate. If schools do not open full-time but parents are told they need to go to the office full time, they fear they will get fired.

First, I don’t think this will happen. If you run your own business I’m sure there is a lot to worry about, but if all the major school systems are doing distance learning then employers are not going to get away with simply firing all the parents.

Second, I think this is a fear that is based on relatively recent generational change. We are now living in a time when most people think it’s necessary for both parents to work in order to survive financially. Obviously this was not always the case. But given that we live in these times, we have come to assume schools are the social support that makes this possible. It turns out this was not a reliable assumption in these historic times. Unfortunately, the virus doesn’t care that you have to go to work to pay the bills.

No parents will be expected to spend even more money to get a babysitter/nanny and return to work or lose their job.

As a woman and a mom I have already had to quit my job since March to stay at Home with my two younger elementary school kids. And of course camp was canceled so there is that. So I can't even begin to look for another job until school goes back to normal.

It sucks. And it's reality. But the school systems don't seem to care about the crappy education that is being provided through DL especially to young elementary kids. They certainly don't care about parents. I just don't know what the solution is but I have never been so stressed in my life.

It’s really an awful situation, and I’m sorry to hear it. But what is your evidence that the school system doesn’t care about students and/or parents? A significant majority of teachers and administrators are themselves parents of MCPS students. They’re in the same boat as us. Half the posts on here claim DL is too hard and the other half claim it’s too easy. How is MCPS supposed to do this “right”? And they can’t even just decide to open if they want to, because the state of MD makes that call. We all want to blame people, but all we have to blame is the virus.

Teachers are NOT in the same boat. They're getting paid to stay home with their kids.

Just like the millions of other people currently working from home. Are you angry at all of those people, too? Or just the teachers? Because a lot of people are being paid a lot more to work from home than we are.

I am sorry but posting a youtube video, one graded assignment (which is automatically graded) and hosting a 10 minute zoom check-in once a week is not the same as my working 40 plus hours as week from home. I cannot fathom how, even with multiple subjects, that equates to a full week. When my child's teachers are teaching from home, available to answer questions in real time, post assignments that aren't based off of youtube, and check in more than 10 minutes a week is when I will equate it to what I do every day from home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the PPs who say that the logistical challenges associated with putting mitigation measures in place for the fall show how close to the breaking point the system already was. Schools (and teachers) are expected to be everything to everyone and to solve all of society's problems, including eliminating the achievement gap and addressing all societal issues associated with poverty and structural racism. The school districts (and not just Montgomery County) were already stretched too thin. We have been packing schools and classrooms, cutting programs, imposing unrealistic administrative burdens on teachers to prove they are doing their jobs (which actually keep them from doing their jobs), and incurring skyrocketing transportation costs that require multiple crowded runs by each bus each day and start times for kids that are unhealthy according to every expert. Schools provide food and are starting to provide medical support as well. All of these contributions to our community are invaluable, yet instead of being grateful, we constantly demand more. Even worse, many of us demand more of what is in the best interest of our own children. We have not built schools where the children are, which also increases transportation needs and makes it more difficult to come up with alternatives for the fall. We have fought attempts to relieve overcrowding through redistricting to keep our kids at certain schools)/

The house of cards was close to falling down before COVID. I've never hesitated to speak up when I had a problem with what teachers do (or don't do). But the way we are directing so much anger about virus-related issues at teachers is unkind and unproductive.

It's interesting how those screaming that schools must reopen in the fall demand this outcome as essential for "public health." I wonder how many of those people were concerned about the mental and physical health of students trapped in high poverty schools for years? Maybe the best thing that will come of this is that we realize we are all connected. We can't deal with this challenge with an "us versus them" mindset.

Class sizes have been going down, actually. And transportation costs have been pretty constant. I don't feel like looking up years' worth of school budgets, but you're welcome to, to support your assertion that they're "skyrocketing".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is the crux of this debate. If schools do not open full-time but parents are told they need to go to the office full time, they fear they will get fired.

First, I don’t think this will happen. If you run your own business I’m sure there is a lot to worry about, but if all the major school systems are doing distance learning then employers are not going to get away with simply firing all the parents.

Second, I think this is a fear that is based on relatively recent generational change. We are now living in a time when most people think it’s necessary for both parents to work in order to survive financially. Obviously this was not always the case. But given that we live in these times, we have come to assume schools are the social support that makes this possible. It turns out this was not a reliable assumption in these historic times. Unfortunately, the virus doesn’t care that you have to go to work to pay the bills.

No parents will be expected to spend even more money to get a babysitter/nanny and return to work or lose their job.

As a woman and a mom I have already had to quit my job since March to stay at Home with my two younger elementary school kids. And of course camp was canceled so there is that. So I can't even begin to look for another job until school goes back to normal.

It sucks. And it's reality. But the school systems don't seem to care about the crappy education that is being provided through DL especially to young elementary kids. They certainly don't care about parents. I just don't know what the solution is but I have never been so stressed in my life.

It’s really an awful situation, and I’m sorry to hear it. But what is your evidence that the school system doesn’t care about students and/or parents? A significant majority of teachers and administrators are themselves parents of MCPS students. They’re in the same boat as us. Half the posts on here claim DL is too hard and the other half claim it’s too easy. How is MCPS supposed to do this “right”? And they can’t even just decide to open if they want to, because the state of MD makes that call. We all want to blame people, but all we have to blame is the virus.

Teachers are NOT in the same boat. They're getting paid to stay home with their kids.

Just like the millions of other people currently working from home. Are you angry at all of those people, too? Or just the teachers? Because a lot of people are being paid a lot more to work from home than we are.

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the PPs who say that the logistical challenges associated with putting mitigation measures in place for the fall show how close to the breaking point the system already was. Schools (and teachers) are expected to be everything to everyone and to solve all of society's problems, including eliminating the achievement gap and addressing all societal issues associated with poverty and structural racism. The school districts (and not just Montgomery County) were already stretched too thin. We have been packing schools and classrooms, cutting programs, imposing unrealistic administrative burdens on teachers to prove they are doing their jobs (which actually keep them from doing their jobs), and incurring skyrocketing transportation costs that require multiple crowded runs by each bus each day and start times for kids that are unhealthy according to every expert. Schools provide food and are starting to provide medical support as well. All of these contributions to our community are invaluable, yet instead of being grateful, we constantly demand more. Even worse, many of us demand more of what is in the best interest of our own children. We have not built schools where the children are, which also increases transportation needs and makes it more difficult to come up with alternatives for the fall. We have fought attempts to relieve overcrowding through redistricting to keep our kids at certain schools)/

The house of cards was close to falling down before COVID. I've never hesitated to speak up when I had a problem with what teachers do (or don't do). But the way we are directing so much anger about virus-related issues at teachers is unkind and unproductive.

It's interesting how those screaming that schools must reopen in the fall demand this outcome as essential for "public health." I wonder how many of those people were concerned about the mental and physical health of students trapped in high poverty schools for years? Maybe the best thing that will come of this is that we realize we are all connected. We can't deal with this challenge with an "us versus them" mindset.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They voted against the funding needed to remedy it. They voted against BOE and County Council candidates who want innovative policies that would have reduced overcrowding. So in some cases, they not only ignored the problem, but they worked to continue it.

Maybe you're talking about a different county? This discussion is about Montgomery County, Maryland. There is plenty to criticize about the Montgomery County BoE and County Council that is factually accurate. This isn't factually accurate. And it's also completely beside the point for this thread.

You believe that parents overwhelmingly voted for funding and candidates that were focused on reducing overcrowding? Ha!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They voted against the funding needed to remedy it. They voted against BOE and County Council candidates who want innovative policies that would have reduced overcrowding. So in some cases, they not only ignored the problem, but they worked to continue it.

Maybe you're talking about a different county? This discussion is about Montgomery County, Maryland. There is plenty to criticize about the Montgomery County BoE and County Council that is factually accurate. This isn't factually accurate. And it's also completely beside the point for this thread.

Anonymous wrote:

They voted against the funding needed to remedy it. They voted against BOE and County Council candidates who want innovative policies that would have reduced overcrowding. So in some cases, they not only ignored the problem, but they worked to continue it.