as an APS teacher, I'm part of the APS educators group...and let me tell you, THAT was much much worse. A teacher posted the same article and said that we had to get back to schools now (I agree, for what it's worth) and people went NUTS on her. the chain and post were deleted and she was banned from the group.

Anonymous wrote:AEM is the worst. I should leave, but morbid curiosity won't let me. On a practical level, it is helpful to know who Duran will listen to, which is the vocal group that frequents AEM. I'm curious to see whether this vocal group of "post teacher vaccination, kids must eat outside in sideways rain, extreme heat and extreme cold, with lunch shifts starting at 9:30 a.m. because taking their masks off in 20 minute increments, spaced out, will spread COVID like wildfire" will prevail. And, as a result of this and other insane zero risk tolerance issues, kids won't go back 5 days a week until the 2021-2022 school year.

PP here-I meant 5 days a week at the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

AEM is the worst. I should leave, but morbid curiosity won't let me. On a practical level, it is helpful to know who Duran will listen to, which is the vocal group that frequents AEM. I'm curious to see whether this vocal group of "post teacher vaccination, kids must eat outside in sideways rain, extreme heat and extreme cold, with lunch shifts starting at 9:30 a.m. because taking their masks off in 20 minute increments, spaced out, will spread COVID like wildfire" will prevail. And, as a result of this and other insane zero risk tolerance issues, kids won't go back 5 days a week until the 2021-2022 school year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the discourse on the entire page is toxic. Too many sanctimonious parents who dominate the comments on whatever link has been posted that day.

It’s not any better on the APS staff only page. It’s now basically an echo chamber. Anyone who dares dissent gets quickly driven out.

Yes, many teachers whispering to each other that it is time to go back. Let's get vaccinated and get back 5 days a week.

The APS only page has become an echo chamber but one teacher was seriously just trolling everyone this weekend- it was annoying.

She was posting frequently but many people there have no room for a nuanced discussions and are quite irrational. No one else even dare to post to the contrary of "no school until all students are vaccinated" I tried to post some fairly middle ground ideas awhile back and an aggressive dogpile followed. I do feel like my colleagues are more rational.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the discourse on the entire page is toxic. Too many sanctimonious parents who dominate the comments on whatever link has been posted that day.

It’s not any better on the APS staff only page. It’s now basically an echo chamber. Anyone who dares dissent gets quickly driven out.

Yes, many teachers whispering to each other that it is time to go back. Let's get vaccinated and get back 5 days a week.

The APS only page has become an echo chamber but one teacher was seriously just trolling everyone this weekend- it was annoying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the discourse on the entire page is toxic. Too many sanctimonious parents who dominate the comments on whatever link has been posted that day.

It’s not any better on the APS staff only page. It’s now basically an echo chamber. Anyone who dares dissent gets quickly driven out.

Yes, many teachers whispering to each other that it is time to go back. Let's get vaccinated and get back 5 days a week.

I would say I'm not quite "open now" but am definitely "open soon." Once I get the second vaccine I'll be good to go. Most of my colleagues agree.

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand HOW the frequent AEM posters have so much free time on their hands (posting the exact same drivel or vitriol, week after week)! Are they all SAHMs or are they work-from-home types cheating their employers?

I surf on occasion but rarely post. On several occasions, I suggested if AEMers have so much concern about "equity" in education, they could volunteer to help out FRL students and schools. (no responses)

I think you’ve hit on a key aspect of this. While it’s not a universal truth, those who feel that virtual schooling is working well tend to be those with a SAHP with the free time to devote as much time as is needed to facilitating their kids’ educations, so their kids aren’t feeling the drawbacks of virtual schooling as much. Those households that don’t have a SAHP (or have one that also has other competing needs and therefore not as much free time) are more likely to have work (or other) needs competing with their school-aged kids’ needs, at everyone’s expense (including the parents). Since the latter are generally feeling the negative impacts of virtual learning much more severely than the former, they are more likely to support a return to in-person learning. But they also don’t have as much time to post about it on the internet all day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was shocked to see such cold and uncaring comments from a school counselor. If my child were at his school, that discussion would have destroyed any faith I might have had in their counseling services.

On the other hand, the other school counselor who joined in with is a wonderful person and counselor (based on professional interactions outside of AEM), and I was glad she joined in to offer constructive comments.

I agree. I was disgusted by the Wakefield counselor’s comments.

Also, the complete blowing off of the parents especially by the women who are posting constantly that it’s unsafe to go to school. As a parent who’s dealt with a child having suicide ideation, I couldn’t believe their callousness.

I honestly can't deal with the parents who are scrutinizing mask policies as if the perfect policy will actually prevent middle schoolers from wearing it under their noses.

from what I can tell, these parents will grasp at anything and everything to keep schools closed. Which I just don't understand, because they have the option to keep their child remote. Why are they so vocal about the "dangers" or opening schools if they already have this option?

There are some of us who can’t send our kids due to severe health concerns. Our children are already struggling and feeling isolated when hearing of other families getting together frequently, play dates, having pods, excited to go back for hybrid, etc. We are concerned about our children’s mental health as well when they have to continue to stay home, knowing their peers will be in class. They will see the teachers and assistants paying attention to the kids in class while they were being left behind on the screen. I say this to point out a different perspective. Everyone is in a really crappy position. I don’t think that mental health concerns are only for the kids who want to go back to hybrid. Some of us don’t have a choice. How are we addressing the mental health of those kids?

I'm so sorry for your family and I hope you can get the vaccine very soon. Misery loves company is not a good reason to hold back a majority of children who can return to school without putting family or teachers at risk.

THIS. I like the idea of keeping kids/families that need to be virtual to remain together rather. They should have weekly (or bi-weekly) small group counseling sessions.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know who the Wakefield staff member is that he was talking about who died? I hadn’t heard about that.

Wait, seriously? I hadn't heard either. I hope this is shared within the school community so we can provide support/prepare our children for the news.

I don't understand HOW the frequent AEM posters have so much free time on their hands (posting the exact same drivel or vitriol, week after week)! Are they all SAHMs or are they work-from-home types cheating their employers?

I surf on occasion but rarely post. On several occasions, I suggested if AEMers have so much concern about "equity" in education, they could volunteer to help out FRL students and schools. (no responses)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was shocked to see such cold and uncaring comments from a school counselor. If my child were at his school, that discussion would have destroyed any faith I might have had in their counseling services.

On the other hand, the other school counselor who joined in with is a wonderful person and counselor (based on professional interactions outside of AEM), and I was glad she joined in to offer constructive comments.

I agree. I was disgusted by the Wakefield counselor’s comments.

Also, the complete blowing off of the parents especially by the women who are posting constantly that it’s unsafe to go to school. As a parent who’s dealt with a child having suicide ideation, I couldn’t believe their callousness.

I honestly can't deal with the parents who are scrutinizing mask policies as if the perfect policy will actually prevent middle schoolers from wearing it under their noses.

from what I can tell, these parents will grasp at anything and everything to keep schools closed. Which I just don't understand, because they have the option to keep their child remote. Why are they so vocal about the "dangers" or opening schools if they already have this option?

There are some of us who can’t send our kids due to severe health concerns. Our children are already struggling and feeling isolated when hearing of other families getting together frequently, play dates, having pods, excited to go back for hybrid, etc. We are concerned about our children’s mental health as well when they have to continue to stay home, knowing their peers will be in class. They will see the teachers and assistants paying attention to the kids in class while they were being left behind on the screen. I say this to point out a different perspective. Everyone is in a really crappy position. I don’t think that mental health concerns are only for the kids who want to go back to hybrid. Some of us don’t have a choice. How are we addressing the mental health of those kids?

I'm so sorry for your family and I hope you can get the vaccine very soon. Misery loves company is not a good reason to hold back a majority of children who can return to school without putting family or teachers at risk.

PP here- I agree- and I have no issue with other kids going back once the school system deems it safe. The point that I didn’t make very well is that sending some back into the classroom is not going to solve all of the mental health issues kids are facing in this pandemic. To me, saying “send them back” because there’s a mental health crisis is like saying keep them at home because a mask policy isn’t perfect. While there is a mental health crisis and the mask policy isn’t perfect, that shouldn’t be the sole reason for keeping home or going on. If the two sides would work more closely together, it would just be a better situation all around.

This anonymous discussion is more polite than the non-anonymous one in AEM!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was shocked to see such cold and uncaring comments from a school counselor. If my child were at his school, that discussion would have destroyed any faith I might have had in their counseling services.

On the other hand, the other school counselor who joined in with is a wonderful person and counselor (based on professional interactions outside of AEM), and I was glad she joined in to offer constructive comments.

I agree. I was disgusted by the Wakefield counselor’s comments.

Also, the complete blowing off of the parents especially by the women who are posting constantly that it’s unsafe to go to school. As a parent who’s dealt with a child having suicide ideation, I couldn’t believe their callousness.

I honestly can't deal with the parents who are scrutinizing mask policies as if the perfect policy will actually prevent middle schoolers from wearing it under their noses.

from what I can tell, these parents will grasp at anything and everything to keep schools closed. Which I just don't understand, because they have the option to keep their child remote. Why are they so vocal about the "dangers" or opening schools if they already have this option?

There are some of us who can’t send our kids due to severe health concerns. Our children are already struggling and feeling isolated when hearing of other families getting together frequently, play dates, having pods, excited to go back for hybrid, etc. We are concerned about our children’s mental health as well when they have to continue to stay home, knowing their peers will be in class. They will see the teachers and assistants paying attention to the kids in class while they were being left behind on the screen. I say this to point out a different perspective. Everyone is in a really crappy position. I don’t think that mental health concerns are only for the kids who want to go back to hybrid. Some of us don’t have a choice. How are we addressing the mental health of those kids?

DP. Would you be okay with it if your child could be in a class with all virtual students rather than concurrent?

Yes, that would be preferred. It’s the model they’ve been doing already anyhow. And for the record, I have no issue with other families going back. It’s a very personal choice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was shocked to see such cold and uncaring comments from a school counselor. If my child were at his school, that discussion would have destroyed any faith I might have had in their counseling services.

On the other hand, the other school counselor who joined in with is a wonderful person and counselor (based on professional interactions outside of AEM), and I was glad she joined in to offer constructive comments.

I agree. I was disgusted by the Wakefield counselor’s comments.

Also, the complete blowing off of the parents especially by the women who are posting constantly that it’s unsafe to go to school. As a parent who’s dealt with a child having suicide ideation, I couldn’t believe their callousness.

I honestly can't deal with the parents who are scrutinizing mask policies as if the perfect policy will actually prevent middle schoolers from wearing it under their noses.

from what I can tell, these parents will grasp at anything and everything to keep schools closed. Which I just don't understand, because they have the option to keep their child remote. Why are they so vocal about the "dangers" or opening schools if they already have this option?

There are some of us who can’t send our kids due to severe health concerns. Our children are already struggling and feeling isolated when hearing of other families getting together frequently, play dates, having pods, excited to go back for hybrid, etc. We are concerned about our children’s mental health as well when they have to continue to stay home, knowing their peers will be in class. They will see the teachers and assistants paying attention to the kids in class while they were being left behind on the screen. I say this to point out a different perspective. Everyone is in a really crappy position. I don’t think that mental health concerns are only for the kids who want to go back to hybrid. Some of us don’t have a choice. How are we addressing the mental health of those kids?

I'm so sorry for your family and I hope you can get the vaccine very soon. Misery loves company is not a good reason to hold back a majority of children who can return to school without putting family or teachers at risk.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was shocked to see such cold and uncaring comments from a school counselor. If my child were at his school, that discussion would have destroyed any faith I might have had in their counseling services.

On the other hand, the other school counselor who joined in with is a wonderful person and counselor (based on professional interactions outside of AEM), and I was glad she joined in to offer constructive comments.

I agree. I was disgusted by the Wakefield counselor’s comments.

Also, the complete blowing off of the parents especially by the women who are posting constantly that it’s unsafe to go to school. As a parent who’s dealt with a child having suicide ideation, I couldn’t believe their callousness.

I honestly can't deal with the parents who are scrutinizing mask policies as if the perfect policy will actually prevent middle schoolers from wearing it under their noses.

from what I can tell, these parents will grasp at anything and everything to keep schools closed. Which I just don't understand, because they have the option to keep their child remote. Why are they so vocal about the "dangers" or opening schools if they already have this option?

There are some of us who can’t send our kids due to severe health concerns. Our children are already struggling and feeling isolated when hearing of other families getting together frequently, play dates, having pods, excited to go back for hybrid, etc. We are concerned about our children’s mental health as well when they have to continue to stay home, knowing their peers will be in class. They will see the teachers and assistants paying attention to the kids in class while they were being left behind on the screen. I say this to point out a different perspective. Everyone is in a really crappy position. I don’t think that mental health concerns are only for the kids who want to go back to hybrid. Some of us don’t have a choice. How are we addressing the mental health of those kids?

DP. Would you be okay with it if your child could be in a class with all virtual students rather than concurrent?