Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, forcing people to wear masks is probably the easiest to solve. Unfortunately, most of the masks everyone wears are the wrong kind or have cheaper fabric instead of the spun plastic material needed in the interior. I know this might be a low priority to some, but as a teacher I don’t want to risk my life so that you can go back to work. A lot of staff are high risk. No vaccine = no school according to all the federal and state plans.

Genuinely curious, what is the source for that. I’ve Googled but haven’t found anything coming from MD or Federal that states this unequivocally.

Think they would be disastrous for many kids and families - at some point the lack of education and the harm done to the economy is going to outweigh the impact of COVID. If nothing else, the implications of poverty are poor health and increases in comorbidity. And yes, also realize that COVID is a threat too - no easy answers.

Schools are High Risk on the report the MD road to https://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MD_Strong.pdf

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a video conference last week in a mask. There were 4 other locations, all with masked people. Everyone heard one another with no problems.

Teachers need to buck up and stop complaining about masks.

Did it last for 7 hours and you were the primary speaker? And even when it wasn’t your turn to speak did you constantly have to ask Bob to stop tapping his pencil, or Mary to focus on her work? Was Nancy constantly out of her seat so you had to ask her 5 times to return to her seat? Was Steve pointing out everyone else who was pulling down their masks to get some air so you had to constantly remind everyone in the conference about proper mask wearing protocol? Did Tom’s parents get a note from his doctor saying that he can’t wear a mask so all of the other participants complain that it’s not fair that they have to wear a mask but Tom doesn’t? Was Robyn obsessed with taking sips from her water bottle as a way to not have to have her mask covering her mouth, but she’s still “technically “ following the mask rule?

Did all of the participants in your video conference have impulse control, or were they 7 year olds who don’t control their impulses? Just curious..

so what is your solution to learning in the fall? Genuinely curious.

Quite honestly, I don’t know. There are so many logistical challenges no matter the option. The alternating schedule is interesting, but raises concerns. I’m thinking about the number of students who are waiting at school way past dismissal on early release days because no one picked them up even though it had been on the calendar months in advance and reminders had been sent home via phone, email and hard copy in the backpack. They sit in the office while phone calls home are made, and phone numbers may or may not be functional. It would be very similar with an alternating schedule. Kids showing up on their unassigned day, or parents sending kids anyway because they missed their assigned day and figured they could just make up the day when they want.

I understand that so many things make sense on paper, but these things that make sense on paper rarely work as planned in schools in reality. We see evidence of that all the time in schools. The decision makers aren’t the ones impacted so they pat themselves on the back for their work but we are the ones left to problem solve in real time when their “makes sense on paper” ideas don’t actually work. Masks are another one of those things. I wish I had the answer but I’m concerned that elementary teachers, staff and students will be put at risk. I hope there are options besides in person learning for elementary teachers and students who are in high risk groups. If a kid can’t wear a mask due to asthma or whatever other condition, then they can’t come to school and need to do distance learning. There are just too many people who require exceptions to the rule, and there’s no point to start in person learning if only a certain number of people will follow the guidelines.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No specific dates in this education recovery document, but the following article says schools may not resume in-person classes until January 2021.

https://www.eyeonannapolis.net/2020/05/governor-hogans-update-on-covid-19-response-go-boating-and-golfing

The Governor's office has Tweeted that this article is incorrect. There is no date tied to the recovery plan. January 2021 isn't in the plan.

This article is weirdly hostile and inaccurate. I don’t know the publication, so I don’t know if it’s typical of the tone. But I just couldn’t tell what they were actually pissy about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a video conference last week in a mask. There were 4 other locations, all with masked people. Everyone heard one another with no problems.

Teachers need to buck up and stop complaining about masks.

Did it last for 7 hours and you were the primary speaker? And even when it wasn’t your turn to speak did you constantly have to ask Bob to stop tapping his pencil, or Mary to focus on her work? Was Nancy constantly out of her seat so you had to ask her 5 times to return to her seat? Was Steve pointing out everyone else who was pulling down their masks to get some air so you had to constantly remind everyone in the conference about proper mask wearing protocol? Did Tom’s parents get a note from his doctor saying that he can’t wear a mask so all of the other participants complain that it’s not fair that they have to wear a mask but Tom doesn’t? Was Robyn obsessed with taking sips from her water bottle as a way to not have to have her mask covering her mouth, but she’s still “technically “ following the mask rule?

Did all of the participants in your video conference have impulse control, or were they 7 year olds who don’t control their impulses? Just curious..

Thank you. It's nice to hear from someone else who knows what an actual American school looks like, as opposed to rage-filled parents stuck at home with their kids who just want to scream "fire the teachers and hire the newly unemployed." BTW, your description of how it would play out applies to high school just as much as 7-year-olds.

For a further laugh, I now realize that these PP are calling for surgical masks or N95s? That's friggin hilarious. I thought we were at least talking about cloth masks, which is a feasible option if you could get the kids to wear them. But wow, talk about delusional.

Nobody was calling out for N95 masks. People pointed out that if kids/teachers were to wear masks, surgical ones would be the more hygienic/effective option. There are also often more breathable than home made masks. The same people also pointed out that there aren't enough of them for this to be feasible. Work on your reading comprehension.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect teachers and kids to wear masks all day. Everyone needs to expect to be back to school in the fall as normal. Extra cleaning and hand sanitizer.

Except that the primary vector of transmission is airborne, so all the hand sanitizer in the world isn’t going to protect students and staff in crowded hallways and cafeterias.

My kid’s school is so crowded that she can’t even make it to her locker between classes, and they have one lunch period that starts at 10:40 in order to move everyone through before the end of the day. Clorox wipes and Lysol aren’t going to help when they’re packed in like sardines.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a video conference last week in a mask. There were 4 other locations, all with masked people. Everyone heard one another with no problems.

Teachers need to buck up and stop complaining about masks.

Did it last for 7 hours and you were the primary speaker? And even when it wasn’t your turn to speak did you constantly have to ask Bob to stop tapping his pencil, or Mary to focus on her work? Was Nancy constantly out of her seat so you had to ask her 5 times to return to her seat? Was Steve pointing out everyone else who was pulling down their masks to get some air so you had to constantly remind everyone in the conference about proper mask wearing protocol? Did Tom’s parents get a note from his doctor saying that he can’t wear a mask so all of the other participants complain that it’s not fair that they have to wear a mask but Tom doesn’t? Was Robyn obsessed with taking sips from her water bottle as a way to not have to have her mask covering her mouth, but she’s still “technically “ following the mask rule?

Did all of the participants in your video conference have impulse control, or were they 7 year olds who don’t control their impulses? Just curious..

so what is your solution to learning in the fall? Genuinely curious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a video conference last week in a mask. There were 4 other locations, all with masked people. Everyone heard one another with no problems.

Teachers need to buck up and stop complaining about masks.

Did it last for 7 hours and you were the primary speaker? And even when it wasn’t your turn to speak did you constantly have to ask Bob to stop tapping his pencil, or Mary to focus on her work? Was Nancy constantly out of her seat so you had to ask her 5 times to return to her seat? Was Steve pointing out everyone else who was pulling down their masks to get some air so you had to constantly remind everyone in the conference about proper mask wearing protocol? Did Tom’s parents get a note from his doctor saying that he can’t wear a mask so all of the other participants complain that it’s not fair that they have to wear a mask but Tom doesn’t? Was Robyn obsessed with taking sips from her water bottle as a way to not have to have her mask covering her mouth, but she’s still “technically “ following the mask rule?

Did all of the participants in your video conference have impulse control, or were they 7 year olds who don’t control their impulses? Just curious..

Thank you. It's nice to hear from someone else who knows what an actual American school looks like, as opposed to rage-filled parents stuck at home with their kids who just want to scream "fire the teachers and hire the newly unemployed." BTW, your description of how it would play out applies to high school just as much as 7-year-olds.

For a further laugh, I now realize that these PP are calling for surgical masks or N95s? That's friggin hilarious. I thought we were at least talking about cloth masks, which is a feasible option if you could get the kids to wear them. But wow, talk about delusional.

Anonymous wrote:I did a video conference last week in a mask. There were 4 other locations, all with masked people. Everyone heard one another with no problems.

Teachers need to buck up and stop complaining about masks.

Did it last for 7 hours and you were the primary speaker? And even when it wasn’t your turn to speak did you constantly have to ask Bob to stop tapping his pencil, or Mary to focus on her work? Was Nancy constantly out of her seat so you had to ask her 5 times to return to her seat? Was Steve pointing out everyone else who was pulling down their masks to get some air so you had to constantly remind everyone in the conference about proper mask wearing protocol? Did Tom’s parents get a note from his doctor saying that he can’t wear a mask so all of the other participants complain that it’s not fair that they have to wear a mask but Tom doesn’t? Was Robyn obsessed with taking sips from her water bottle as a way to not have to have her mask covering her mouth, but she’s still “technically “ following the mask rule?

Did all of the participants in your video conference have impulse control, or were they 7 year olds who don’t control their impulses? Just curious..

Anonymous wrote:No specific dates in this education recovery document, but the following article says schools may not resume in-person classes until January 2021.

https://www.eyeonannapolis.net/2020/05/governor-hogans-update-on-covid-19-response-go-boating-and-golfing

The Governor's office has Tweeted that this article is incorrect. There is no date tied to the recovery plan. January 2021 isn't in the plan.

I think it makes sense to have virtual schooling for at-risk groups--medically fragile teachers can be paired with a classroom of medically fragile students "online".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I commend them for being thoughtful and exploring many possibilities.


What about really want is a 100% distance learning option for those kids with fragile medical situations or who live with such relatives.

I agree. My medically fragile kid was on the interim instructional program for MCPS pre-COVID, and it was awful. There needs to be a robust online option, or they need to pay tuition for already established online programs. Florida has a large, common core aligned, virtual public school, that accepts students from out of state for a reasonable tuition. Allowing students to enroll there, and transfer the credits back if in a grade where credit is a thing, would be a good option.

My guess is that, just like in Quebec, if the schools opened up and made it optional, they'd already have a reduced number. Which would help with social distancing. Allowing families who are happy to stay home, or who need to stay home for medical reasons to choose so would take us a long way towards getting class sizes to a safe level.

This would never, ever, ever happen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because we are shrugging our shoulders at the increasing cases all around the country (except for the coasts, which took significant mitigation measures and are reopening cautiously), we're going to have a massive problem by the fall. I think schools will wind up doing the hybrid model but the virus will causes closures. Half the people here are in denial about that and some are the other end of the spectrum and are convinced it's all shut down until the mythical vaccine. Neither is probably what happens.

But it's not going to be a normal year by any stretch of the imagination.

I'm a teacher and there's no way I can teach in a mask all day. And there's no way kids keep them on (and I teach HIGH SCHOOL). Forget about it at the ES level.

Teacher, I think you underestimate people. Kids can be taught to keep the masks on. Sure, it will take reminders in the beginning and you will have the unruly kids who take them off to break the rules. But, for the most part, you will see compliance.

I think it is extremely challenging to keep a mask on as an adult. This is not realistic. Kids can't do this.

From what I've read, the plans in other countries for re-opened schools include kids wearing masks. So either kids can do this, or the countries where schools have re-opened are making unrealistic plans.

Yes, because kids in other countries and other countries are FAR less entitled and whiney than we are in America. That is one thing that this virus has made abdunantly clear.

Listen, I work as a nurse. I've worn a mask for 12 hour shifts for years because I work with bone marrow transplant patients who have very little immune systems.
Surgeons wear masks for 10 and 12 hour surgeries all the time.
Now with covid, every one at hospitals are wearing masks--security guards, food service workers, social workers, custodians, doctors, nurses. Entire hospital staffs are wearing them for 12 hours at time. Why? Because the alternative is 1) lose your job and/or 2) get sick.
No-one likes wearing them. No one likes the feeling of breathing through one. It's not comfortable for ANYONE to wear a mask for hours at a time. EVERYONE looks forward to that first sweet breath when you finally take it off.

But we all do it daily (including all the people who aren't trained medical professionals and in many cases are doing manual labor) because we value our jobs and we value our lives and the lives of our patients.

So really teachers, quit your whining that you "can't breath in a mask" or "can't teach in a mask". You could learn to do it if you wanted to and wanted to keep your job.

What kinds of masks are you wearing? Cloth masks? I don't think so. All of these stupid homemade masks are completely useless and unhealthy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect teachers and kids to wear masks all day. Everyone needs to expect to be back to school in the fall as normal. Extra cleaning and hand sanitizer.

Everyone needs to be prepared that there will be 100% online classes in the fall. Both outcomes are very possible. And yes, teachers and kids can get used to masks, but we don't have enough of them, do we.

We don't have enough N95 masks, but that's not the kind we'd need for this anyway.

We don't have enough surgical masks either.

Yes, surgical masks is what we don't have enough of. You don't see pictures of little kids in China wearing bandanas, they are all wearing surgical masks in Asia.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because we are shrugging our shoulders at the increasing cases all around the country (except for the coasts, which took significant mitigation measures and are reopening cautiously), we're going to have a massive problem by the fall. I think schools will wind up doing the hybrid model but the virus will causes closures. Half the people here are in denial about that and some are the other end of the spectrum and are convinced it's all shut down until the mythical vaccine. Neither is probably what happens.

But it's not going to be a normal year by any stretch of the imagination.

I'm a teacher and there's no way I can teach in a mask all day. And there's no way kids keep them on (and I teach HIGH SCHOOL). Forget about it at the ES level.

Teacher, I think you underestimate people. Kids can be taught to keep the masks on. Sure, it will take reminders in the beginning and you will have the unruly kids who take them off to break the rules. But, for the most part, you will see compliance.

Masks are extremely unhealthy. In particular, cloth masks are not meant to be worn for extended periods of time. It is very unhealthy and we cannot ask our children to do this all day long.

It's also very unhealthy to keep schools closed. We cannot ask our children to stay out of school for months or years at a time.

I agree completely. They need to go back to school, without masks!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, forcing people to wear masks is probably the easiest to solve. Unfortunately, most of the masks everyone wears are the wrong kind or have cheaper fabric instead of the spun plastic material needed in the interior. I know this might be a low priority to some, but as a teacher I don’t want to risk my life so that you can go back to work. A lot of staff are high risk. No vaccine = no school according to all the federal and state plans.

Children who's growing bodies need full access to oxygen wearing oxygen restricting masks and breathing their own CO2 for 6 hours?
I would like to see who signed a name under "research" supporting that.

Children are not that fragile. They'll be fine. These arent gas masks.

It's wrong to make children wear masks for more than a very short period of time. They are incredibly unhealthy.

Any peer reviewed journals that actually say this