Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 13:26     Subject: DC just announced all virtual
I am a middle school teacher who did live lessons in the spring. Overall, it was decent. I didn’t have to worry about the everyday behavior issues, which meant we could actually focus on the content itself. Some of my students who struggled to stay on task in person were able to blossom due to the lack of distraction. One on one tutoring session also worked really well. Overall, I’m excited about finding ways to have student collaboration this fall.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 13:25     Subject: DC just announced all virtual

I don't want to hear it! No central office employee is working in person. The mayor can kick rocks!

She's not working in person or the chancellor! She seriously needs to work on some of her body language and tone. If she truly feels this is 'teacher's fault' who are we?? She's the mayor, should've thought about children instead of choosing your donors and not closing down unessential businesses.

Then teachers who may oppose (I am a teacher) wouldn't have had as many worries about hybrid.

Also what was the plan for that? How would it have been possible?

I kind of think she never planned for hybrid and this 'I'm so annoyed look' is just good acting!

Ugh, I'm sorry I'm just so frustrated. I teach self contained PS/PK and I was really hoping for hybrid.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 13:14     Subject: DC just announced all virtual
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:She is NOT happy with the union. "40% of DC government is already back at work"


My husband works for DCgov. 40% is being very generous. Pretty much the only people working are DPW abs and libraries (which rumor has it are about to close)


My husband works for DCgov and has been working from home since March, along with all his colleagues. Entire agencies are still working.


I meant in person.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 13:14     Subject: Re:DC just announced all virtual
Anonymous wrote:Announcing DL through Nov. 6 is basically saying no in-person school until 2021. No way they will bring teachers and students back to school right before Thanksgiving and then again between Thanksgiving and winter break. Not only would this be really disruptive for kids, trying to adjust to a new hybrid schedule in the midst of all the days off, but the breaks will pose heightened health dangers as people travel and gather with family/friends. So we're looking at January 2021 at the earliest, and that's only if we don't see another spike in cases this winter.

Not complaining. It was clear from the recent town halls that DCPS had no plan in place to deal with the Covid cases that schools would definitely see. That was the last straw for me on in-person and would have chosen DL anyway (or nothing, my kid is PK so we're trying to figure out if the DL option will be worth trying to participate). But I think if they were serious about trying to figure out a way to bring kids into schools in 2020, they would be aiming for early October. We're going to hit a point of no return this fall and then the will to try and make it work for diminishing returns will completely evaporate.


I agree, although I don't think there is any chance we will return until flu season is over, so maybe March.

I'm not criticizing the decision--I think it was the right choice at this point to call it for a quarter and see where we are then. But I don't expect to be back in school until at least 4th quarter.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 13:12     Subject: Re:DC just announced all virtual
Announcing DL through Nov. 6 is basically saying no in-person school until 2021. No way they will bring teachers and students back to school right before Thanksgiving and then again between Thanksgiving and winter break. Not only would this be really disruptive for kids, trying to adjust to a new hybrid schedule in the midst of all the days off, but the breaks will pose heightened health dangers as people travel and gather with family/friends. So we're looking at January 2021 at the earliest, and that's only if we don't see another spike in cases this winter.

Not complaining. It was clear from the recent town halls that DCPS had no plan in place to deal with the Covid cases that schools would definitely see. That was the last straw for me on in-person and would have chosen DL anyway (or nothing, my kid is PK so we're trying to figure out if the DL option will be worth trying to participate). But I think if they were serious about trying to figure out a way to bring kids into schools in 2020, they would be aiming for early October. We're going to hit a point of no return this fall and then the will to try and make it work for diminishing returns will completely evaporate.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 13:11     Subject: DC just announced all virtual
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Excellent!

The Hybrid was going to be a mess. Teachers would get sick, no subs, half-assessed or no learning on the home days, etc.


Are you a teacher? If so, did you teach live lessons? I don't know any teachers that were teaching live in the spring that want to go back to that - it was a horrible experience. Not until today did I consider applying for leave, this changes my outlook about going back to school completely.


Wait, so there's a whole host of teachers who want to quit based on DL? On what grounds could you apply for leave?


I’m considering quitting. My own kids will be doing DL and will need support, and while my income is nice it’s not necessary - my youngest is recently out of daycare and that ate a big chunk of my income, so we’re used to getting by on less. I could take a year off without tanking us. DL really did suck that bad, I was really hoping for hybrid.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 13:10     Subject: DC just announced all virtual
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:She is NOT happy with the union. "40% of DC government is already back at work"


My husband works for DCgov. 40% is being very generous. Pretty much the only people working are DPW abs and libraries (which rumor has it are about to close)


My husband works for DCgov and has been working from home since March, along with all his colleagues. Entire agencies are still working.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 13:10     Subject: Re:DC just announced all virtual
Didn’t the mayor say multiple times this was a Dept of Heath decision? She has said that multiple times during the last week. Now it’s suddenly the teachers fault?
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 13:09     Subject: DC just announced all virtual
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Excellent!

The Hybrid was going to be a mess. Teachers would get sick, no subs, half-assessed or no learning on the home days, etc.


Are you a teacher? If so, did you teach live lessons? I don't know any teachers that were teaching live in the spring that want to go back to that - it was a horrible experience. Not until today did I consider applying for leave, this changes my outlook about going back to school completely.


Wait, so there's a whole host of teachers who want to quit based on DL? On what grounds could you apply for leave?


In my teaching community I do not know one person who taught live lessons in the spring that wasn't holding onto their sanity by the time May 29th rolled around and couldn't wait for it to be over. It is thankless, frustrating and emotionally draining. I would guess the majority of teachers were not doing live lessons.

Any other teachers around that can speak favorably about live learning? I need some hope.

It seemed draining to the teachers but also to the students. How do I opt out of virtual learning? DC is way ahead and we'd rather do reading, math, Spanish, PE, writing at home and then turn it in. We do not want to leave DCPS. Sitting on Zoom taught DC nothing (was in K). Might be different this time around but I doubt.
Our teacher did let us do the bare minimum and I'm thankful for that. DC did not understand or care that Zoom is school.


Can’t opt out unless you move to somewhere doing in person or your child is in PS/PK.
Legally this is still school, your child will be held accountable (as will the teacher).


Can't you homeschool in DC?
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 13:08     Subject: DC just announced all virtual
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I missed her answer to the question about what impact the union had on her decision. Did anyone catch that?


Yeah, she basically said it didn't and it was about families. She also hinted that other DC workers are back at work, so why can't the teachers be. That's what I took her tone to be.


Is the Mayor’s Office, or the Chancellor’s Office or for that matter ANY of Central Office back IN the office or are they all working from home? Before they ask teachers and other staff to risk their health in overcrowded schools with poor ventilation, maybe they need to have all those folks back in their office where they do not interact with children basically ever.

Plus, um, teachers have the summer off anyway? And there are some who are teaching summer school anyway. So if she really said this, wow!


I think her point was, city workers of many stripes are back in offices/doing jobs so teachers should not be different. Again, just interpreting her tone.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 13:07     Subject: DC just announced all virtual
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Excellent!

The Hybrid was going to be a mess. Teachers would get sick, no subs, half-assessed or no learning on the home days, etc.


Are you a teacher? If so, did you teach live lessons? I don't know any teachers that were teaching live in the spring that want to go back to that - it was a horrible experience. Not until today did I consider applying for leave, this changes my outlook about going back to school completely.


Wait, so there's a whole host of teachers who want to quit based on DL? On what grounds could you apply for leave?


In my teaching community I do not know one person who taught live lessons in the spring that wasn't holding onto their sanity by the time May 29th rolled around and couldn't wait for it to be over. It is thankless, frustrating and emotionally draining. I would guess the majority of teachers were not doing live lessons.

Any other teachers around that can speak favorably about live learning? I need some hope.

It seemed draining to the teachers but also to the students. How do I opt out of virtual learning? DC is way ahead and we'd rather do reading, math, Spanish, PE, writing at home and then turn it in. We do not want to leave DCPS. Sitting on Zoom taught DC nothing (was in K). Might be different this time around but I doubt.
Our teacher did let us do the bare minimum and I'm thankful for that. DC did not understand or care that Zoom is school.


Can’t opt out unless you move to somewhere doing in person or your child is in PS/PK.
Legally this is still school, your child will be held accountable (as will the teacher).

Enroll in homeschool, unenroll at your regular school.

https://osse.dc.gov/service/dc-homeschooling-program
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 13:06     Subject: DC just announced all virtual
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I missed her answer to the question about what impact the union had on her decision. Did anyone catch that?


Yeah, she basically said it didn't and it was about families. She also hinted that other DC workers are back at work, so why can't the teachers be. That's what I took her tone to be.


Is the Mayor’s Office, or the Chancellor’s Office or for that matter ANY of Central Office back IN the office or are they all working from home? Before they ask teachers and other staff to risk their health in overcrowded schools with poor ventilation, maybe they need to have all those folks back in their office where they do not interact with children basically ever.

Plus, um, teachers have the summer off anyway? And there are some who are teaching summer school anyway. So if she really said this, wow!
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 13:06     Subject: DC just announced all virtual
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:K-2, 2 hours of live instruction daily.
3-5, 2-3 hours of live instruction, starts earlier.


Incorrect!!

PK-5 1-3 hours

Middle-HS 4-5 hours


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT0HlgnZ9DI&feature=youtu.be


Not what he said and not what is on the handout.

https://coronavirus.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/coronavirus/page_content/attachments/School-Year-20-21-Presentation_07-30-20.pdf
PK- 30-60 min
K-2 2hrs
3-5 2-3 hrs
6-12 4-5 hrs


Thanks! I’m gonna assume he didn’t make conflicting info on purpose and the handout is just more detailed.


One hopes. But it wouldn't surprise me.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 12:58     Subject: DC just announced all virtual
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Excellent!

The Hybrid was going to be a mess. Teachers would get sick, no subs, half-assessed or no learning on the home days, etc.


Are you a teacher? If so, did you teach live lessons? I don't know any teachers that were teaching live in the spring that want to go back to that - it was a horrible experience. Not until today did I consider applying for leave, this changes my outlook about going back to school completely.


Wait, so there's a whole host of teachers who want to quit based on DL? On what grounds could you apply for leave?


In my teaching community I do not know one person who taught live lessons in the spring that wasn't holding onto their sanity by the time May 29th rolled around and couldn't wait for it to be over. It is thankless, frustrating and emotionally draining. I would guess the majority of teachers were not doing live lessons.

Any other teachers around that can speak favorably about live learning? I need some hope.

It seemed draining to the teachers but also to the students. How do I opt out of virtual learning? DC is way ahead and we'd rather do reading, math, Spanish, PE, writing at home and then turn it in. We do not want to leave DCPS. Sitting on Zoom taught DC nothing (was in K). Might be different this time around but I doubt.
Our teacher did let us do the bare minimum and I'm thankful for that. DC did not understand or care that Zoom is school.


Can’t opt out unless you move to somewhere doing in person or your child is in PS/PK.
Legally this is still school, your child will be held accountable (as will the teacher).
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 12:56     Subject: DC just announced all virtual
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:K-2, 2 hours of live instruction daily.
3-5, 2-3 hours of live instruction, starts earlier.


Incorrect!!

PK-5 1-3 hours

Middle-HS 4-5 hours


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT0HlgnZ9DI&feature=youtu.be


Not what he said and not what is on the handout.

https://coronavirus.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/coronavirus/page_content/attachments/School-Year-20-21-Presentation_07-30-20.pdf
PK- 30-60 min
K-2 2hrs
3-5 2-3 hrs
6-12 4-5 hrs


Thanks! I’m gonna assume he didn’t make conflicting info on purpose and the handout is just more detailed.