Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m kind of relieved the troublemakers aren’t having as much of an impact this year.

+1 Same.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also see APE’s advocacy page, where they specifically advocate for adequate PPE (for which they’ve apparently been fundraising), and for infrastructure improvements to ensure schools are safe environments. I hadn’t paid much attention to APE before this, but I’m actually really impressed by their approach to this.

http://arlingtonparentsforeducation.org/arlington-parents-for-education/our-advocacy/

What I don't see is significant: I don't see concern about enforcement for masks on kids 100% of the time and consequences for noncompliance, and I also don't see concern about enforcement for social distancing by kids 100% of the time and consequences for noncompliance. When I start to see and hear more about what behaviors for kids are not acceptable, what the enforcement practices will be, and what the consequences will be for noncompliance, then I will start to give a hoot about APE. Until then they can take a hike.

There go those goalposts...

APE also doesn’t advocate for better federal coordination of vaccine distribution, but that doesn’t mean they oppose it. Try to remember that policy setting, particularly at the level of detail you’re addressing, is set by APS and not APE.

That isn't moving the goalposts. That is pointing out that the APE folks are two-faced. They want everyone else to do the work but they aren't going to do it with their kids. Don't you wonder what their kids are like in school?

I would bet the kids of APE parents are exactly the types of kids who will walk around with their masks on backwards ("What? I AM WEARING MY MASK...backwards! <hehaw hehaw>") and then their parents will go ballistic if the school reprimands the kids.

Based on the handful of APE members (and their kids) that I do know, you could not be more wrong. But the next time my kids are riding scooters in the cul-de-sac with theirs and she is harping on all of the kids to make sure their masks are over their noses, I’ll show her this post and we’ll both have a good laugh.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also see APE’s advocacy page, where they specifically advocate for adequate PPE (for which they’ve apparently been fundraising), and for infrastructure improvements to ensure schools are safe environments. I hadn’t paid much attention to APE before this, but I’m actually really impressed by their approach to this.

http://arlingtonparentsforeducation.org/arlington-parents-for-education/our-advocacy/

What I don't see is significant: I don't see concern about enforcement for masks on kids 100% of the time and consequences for noncompliance, and I also don't see concern about enforcement for social distancing by kids 100% of the time and consequences for noncompliance. When I start to see and hear more about what behaviors for kids are not acceptable, what the enforcement practices will be, and what the consequences will be for noncompliance, then I will start to give a hoot about APE. Until then they can take a hike.

There go those goalposts...

APE also doesn’t advocate for better federal coordination of vaccine distribution, but that doesn’t mean they oppose it. Try to remember that policy setting, particularly at the level of detail you’re addressing, is set by APS and not APE.

I'm in Fairfax and don't have a dog in this fight, but the mask compliance thing is absolutely significant. Ask anyone in FCPS, including parents who want their kids in person. FCPS punted on it and now there are parents who are very upset when they find out their child may be in a class with a student with an exemption, they won't find that out ahead of time, and there's nothing the school can do about it if a student comes back in person and then gets an exemption a couple weeks later. They also want reassurance that students who don't keep masks on will be sent back to distance learning and more details about consequences for noncompliance. If there's a positive case in a classroom where a student didn't have a mask on, the 6' / 15 minute rule is useless and the whole class plus is supposed to be quarantined. The comments on live-streamed school board meetings about the issue are lengthy. Same with newspaper articles about the policy in FCPS. Staff members are upset and a lot of people with relatively mild health issues who aren't interested in fully remote ADA accommodations will be trying to get accommodations that they do not have to work in a classroom where there's a mask exemption or where a student isn't keeping a mask on. Expect that to have a ripple effect if masks are still required next year. APE should pay close attention to what's going on with its biggest neighbor and throw their full weight behind this. APS absolutely could take a hard line stance that would save them a lot of problems going forward.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also see APE’s advocacy page, where they specifically advocate for adequate PPE (for which they’ve apparently been fundraising), and for infrastructure improvements to ensure schools are safe environments. I hadn’t paid much attention to APE before this, but I’m actually really impressed by their approach to this.

http://arlingtonparentsforeducation.org/arlington-parents-for-education/our-advocacy/

What I don't see is significant: I don't see concern about enforcement for masks on kids 100% of the time and consequences for noncompliance, and I also don't see concern about enforcement for social distancing by kids 100% of the time and consequences for noncompliance. When I start to see and hear more about what behaviors for kids are not acceptable, what the enforcement practices will be, and what the consequences will be for noncompliance, then I will start to give a hoot about APE. Until then they can take a hike.

There go those goalposts...

APE also doesn’t advocate for better federal coordination of vaccine distribution, but that doesn’t mean they oppose it. Try to remember that policy setting, particularly at the level of detail you’re addressing, is set by APS and not APE.

That isn't moving the goalposts. That is pointing out that the APE folks are two-faced. They want everyone else to do the work but they aren't going to do it with their kids. Don't you wonder what their kids are like in school?

I would bet the kids of APE parents are exactly the types of kids who will walk around with their masks on backwards ("What? I AM WEARING MY MASK...backwards! <hehaw hehaw>") and then their parents will go ballistic if the school reprimands the kids.

Anonymous wrote:I’m kind of relieved the troublemakers aren’t having as much of an impact this year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems to be true with a lot of these parents. They are at wits end. That’s why they want to open school in January. Their focus is the crisis in their homes. I understand that. Don’t think it should drive policy. But I get it.

I “get” it. But I’m someone’s mom. Why should we go back in before I at least can have a vaccine to be even reasonably safe because some parents are having a hard time. I’m a parent too! I have my own family to worry about and kids to care for and hope make okay academic progress. I know very few people not struggling in some fashion this year, whether it’s financially, emotionally and mentally, physically. The stress is enormous. There’s no doubt. But my issues with my kids don’t mean someone else should risk their health. School is an institution. It cannot care for your kid better than you. The human beings who work in it cannot fix everything. The fact that all of society’s issues right now are being pinned on PUBLIC SCHOOL opening tells you how overburdened they system is and all the social failures it is expected to absorb.

Well said. Based on what you read here, school two days a week in person on their device is going to magically solve everyone’s tweens mental health issues.

+1 It all seems pretty insane...until you go back and read the posts advocating opening the schools and you understand the kids are having problems because their parents are having problems. Unfortunately that isn't something opening schools will change the stability of the parents.

My husband and I have both noticed similarities between the debate OpenSchoolsNowWhateverItTakes v LetsWait and our new virtual workplaces: about half of the people we work with have adapted quite well and the other half are basket cases. For 90% of the people job responsibilities and deliverables haven't changed while for 10%, like the receptionists, there has been dramatic change. It doesn't seem to matter what the job is but half of the staff in each of our organizations has been able to flex and accommodate while the other half is in constant turmoil and struggling mightily against the new normal.

Frankly the open schools versus wait debate is more an example of who can flex and who cannot.

Sounds like you're ready to publish a peer-reviewed study.

I also think it’s a function of kids that are bullied/socially anxious versus those who are not. The most adamant all virtual parents on AEM that I know IRL have had to deal with terrible bullying problems. For them, all virtual has been a lifesaver.

There definitely is that factor. My kids haven't been bullied but they loooooove DL because they don't have to deal with all the kids who are acting out and causing trouble. They say that they are getting so much more done because the teacher is actually teaching the whole time, not dealing with the kids who are being disruptive.

Here is an example. The week before break one of my kids was chortling so hard that I stopped what I was doing to go over and watch. My son said just before I got over to him that the teacher gave Larlo a warning. When I was watching sure enough there was Larlo hamming it up in the camera. The teacher didn't stop what she was saying/demonstrating (it was math) but she must have stopped his video. After a few minutes the kid's video came back on. Larlo was okay for a minute but then started doing the same things. The teacher announced she was putting him in the waiting room for a time out. He was in the waiting room for a minute, came back and made faces, and then he disappeared. This was all in the first 5-10 minutes of class. The teacher then told the kids that they get a warning, screen off, waiting room and then they're out. The rest of class went so smoothly.

Here is the neat thing about having older kids who have gone to the same school. I still have materials from my older kids all in binders. So when the teachers announce a unit I know exactly what they'll be doing for each subject. I had pulled some stuff from his older brother's file from a few years ago. It appeared to me like she covered 2 days worth of assignments during that class and she did more than my older son had done a few years ago. My younger son, who is smart but not a math genius by any means, definitely has a much strong math class this year via DL than my older son, who is a math whiz, had a few years ago.

Anyway we're fine with DL. It is going great.

I feel badly for kids who are struggling but I can't help but wonder if they were also the kids who were holding everyone else back when the face-to-face school is in session because of their problems and misbehaviors.

I can’t help but wonder what drives your need to demonize and pathologize children who are not exactly like yours.

Really? Where exactly do you see "demonize and pathologize"? She described a kid "hamming it up" and "made faces." When you respond with such defensive and hyperbolic language it brings down the whole conversation. If your children are doing those things then you should figure out why and stop it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also see APE’s advocacy page, where they specifically advocate for adequate PPE (for which they’ve apparently been fundraising), and for infrastructure improvements to ensure schools are safe environments. I hadn’t paid much attention to APE before this, but I’m actually really impressed by their approach to this.

http://arlingtonparentsforeducation.org/arlington-parents-for-education/our-advocacy/

What I don't see is significant: I don't see concern about enforcement for masks on kids 100% of the time and consequences for noncompliance, and I also don't see concern about enforcement for social distancing by kids 100% of the time and consequences for noncompliance. When I start to see and hear more about what behaviors for kids are not acceptable, what the enforcement practices will be, and what the consequences will be for noncompliance, then I will start to give a hoot about APE. Until then they can take a hike.

There go those goalposts...

APE also doesn’t advocate for better federal coordination of vaccine distribution, but that doesn’t mean they oppose it. Try to remember that policy setting, particularly at the level of detail you’re addressing, is set by APS and not APE.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems to be true with a lot of these parents. They are at wits end. That’s why they want to open school in January. Their focus is the crisis in their homes. I understand that. Don’t think it should drive policy. But I get it.

I “get” it. But I’m someone’s mom. Why should we go back in before I at least can have a vaccine to be even reasonably safe because some parents are having a hard time. I’m a parent too! I have my own family to worry about and kids to care for and hope make okay academic progress. I know very few people not struggling in some fashion this year, whether it’s financially, emotionally and mentally, physically. The stress is enormous. There’s no doubt. But my issues with my kids don’t mean someone else should risk their health. School is an institution. It cannot care for your kid better than you. The human beings who work in it cannot fix everything. The fact that all of society’s issues right now are being pinned on PUBLIC SCHOOL opening tells you how overburdened they system is and all the social failures it is expected to absorb.

Well said. Based on what you read here, school two days a week in person on their device is going to magically solve everyone’s tweens mental health issues.

+1 It all seems pretty insane...until you go back and read the posts advocating opening the schools and you understand the kids are having problems because their parents are having problems. Unfortunately that isn't something opening schools will change the stability of the parents.

My husband and I have both noticed similarities between the debate OpenSchoolsNowWhateverItTakes v LetsWait and our new virtual workplaces: about half of the people we work with have adapted quite well and the other half are basket cases. For 90% of the people job responsibilities and deliverables haven't changed while for 10%, like the receptionists, there has been dramatic change. It doesn't seem to matter what the job is but half of the staff in each of our organizations has been able to flex and accommodate while the other half is in constant turmoil and struggling mightily against the new normal.

Frankly the open schools versus wait debate is more an example of who can flex and who cannot.

Sounds like you're ready to publish a peer-reviewed study.

I also think it’s a function of kids that are bullied/socially anxious versus those who are not. The most adamant all virtual parents on AEM that I know IRL have had to deal with terrible bullying problems. For them, all virtual has been a lifesaver.

There definitely is that factor. My kids haven't been bullied but they loooooove DL because they don't have to deal with all the kids who are acting out and causing trouble. They say that they are getting so much more done because the teacher is actually teaching the whole time, not dealing with the kids who are being disruptive.

Here is an example. The week before break one of my kids was chortling so hard that I stopped what I was doing to go over and watch. My son said just before I got over to him that the teacher gave Larlo a warning. When I was watching sure enough there was Larlo hamming it up in the camera. The teacher didn't stop what she was saying/demonstrating (it was math) but she must have stopped his video. After a few minutes the kid's video came back on. Larlo was okay for a minute but then started doing the same things. The teacher announced she was putting him in the waiting room for a time out. He was in the waiting room for a minute, came back and made faces, and then he disappeared. This was all in the first 5-10 minutes of class. The teacher then told the kids that they get a warning, screen off, waiting room and then they're out. The rest of class went so smoothly.

Here is the neat thing about having older kids who have gone to the same school. I still have materials from my older kids all in binders. So when the teachers announce a unit I know exactly what they'll be doing for each subject. I had pulled some stuff from his older brother's file from a few years ago. It appeared to me like she covered 2 days worth of assignments during that class and she did more than my older son had done a few years ago. My younger son, who is smart but not a math genius by any means, definitely has a much strong math class this year via DL than my older son, who is a math whiz, had a few years ago.

Anyway we're fine with DL. It is going great.

I feel badly for kids who are struggling but I can't help but wonder if they were also the kids who were holding everyone else back when the face-to-face school is in session because of their problems and misbehaviors.

I can’t help but wonder what drives your need to demonize and pathologize children who are not exactly like yours.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems to be true with a lot of these parents. They are at wits end. That’s why they want to open school in January. Their focus is the crisis in their homes. I understand that. Don’t think it should drive policy. But I get it.

I “get” it. But I’m someone’s mom. Why should we go back in before I at least can have a vaccine to be even reasonably safe because some parents are having a hard time. I’m a parent too! I have my own family to worry about and kids to care for and hope make okay academic progress. I know very few people not struggling in some fashion this year, whether it’s financially, emotionally and mentally, physically. The stress is enormous. There’s no doubt. But my issues with my kids don’t mean someone else should risk their health. School is an institution. It cannot care for your kid better than you. The human beings who work in it cannot fix everything. The fact that all of society’s issues right now are being pinned on PUBLIC SCHOOL opening tells you how overburdened they system is and all the social failures it is expected to absorb.

Well said. Based on what you read here, school two days a week in person on their device is going to magically solve everyone’s tweens mental health issues.

+1 It all seems pretty insane...until you go back and read the posts advocating opening the schools and you understand the kids are having problems because their parents are having problems. Unfortunately that isn't something opening schools will change the stability of the parents.

My husband and I have both noticed similarities between the debate OpenSchoolsNowWhateverItTakes v LetsWait and our new virtual workplaces: about half of the people we work with have adapted quite well and the other half are basket cases. For 90% of the people job responsibilities and deliverables haven't changed while for 10%, like the receptionists, there has been dramatic change. It doesn't seem to matter what the job is but half of the staff in each of our organizations has been able to flex and accommodate while the other half is in constant turmoil and struggling mightily against the new normal.

Frankly the open schools versus wait debate is more an example of who can flex and who cannot.

Sounds like you're ready to publish a peer-reviewed study.

I also think it’s a function of kids that are bullied/socially anxious versus those who are not. The most adamant all virtual parents on AEM that I know IRL have had to deal with terrible bullying problems. For them, all virtual has been a lifesaver.

There definitely is that factor. My kids haven't been bullied but they loooooove DL because they don't have to deal with all the kids who are acting out and causing trouble. They say that they are getting so much more done because the teacher is actually teaching the whole time, not dealing with the kids who are being disruptive.

Here is an example. The week before break one of my kids was chortling so hard that I stopped what I was doing to go over and watch. My son said just before I got over to him that the teacher gave Larlo a warning. When I was watching sure enough there was Larlo hamming it up in the camera. The teacher didn't stop what she was saying/demonstrating (it was math) but she must have stopped his video. After a few minutes the kid's video came back on. Larlo was okay for a minute but then started doing the same things. The teacher announced she was putting him in the waiting room for a time out. He was in the waiting room for a minute, came back and made faces, and then he disappeared. This was all in the first 5-10 minutes of class. The teacher then told the kids that they get a warning, screen off, waiting room and then they're out. The rest of class went so smoothly.

Here is the neat thing about having older kids who have gone to the same school. I still have materials from my older kids all in binders. So when the teachers announce a unit I know exactly what they'll be doing for each subject. I had pulled some stuff from his older brother's file from a few years ago. It appeared to me like she covered 2 days worth of assignments during that class and she did more than my older son had done a few years ago. My younger son, who is smart but not a math genius by any means, definitely has a much strong math class this year via DL than my older son, who is a math whiz, had a few years ago.

Anyway we're fine with DL. It is going great.

I feel badly for kids who are struggling but I can't help but wonder if they were also the kids who were holding everyone else back when the face-to-face school is in session because of their problems and misbehaviors.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also see APE’s advocacy page, where they specifically advocate for adequate PPE (for which they’ve apparently been fundraising), and for infrastructure improvements to ensure schools are safe environments. I hadn’t paid much attention to APE before this, but I’m actually really impressed by their approach to this.

http://arlingtonparentsforeducation.org/arlington-parents-for-education/our-advocacy/

What I don't see is significant: I don't see concern about enforcement for masks on kids 100% of the time and consequences for noncompliance, and I also don't see concern about enforcement for social distancing by kids 100% of the time and consequences for noncompliance. When I start to see and hear more about what behaviors for kids are not acceptable, what the enforcement practices will be, and what the consequences will be for noncompliance, then I will start to give a hoot about APE. Until then they can take a hike.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems to be true with a lot of these parents. They are at wits end. That’s why they want to open school in January. Their focus is the crisis in their homes. I understand that. Don’t think it should drive policy. But I get it.

I “get” it. But I’m someone’s mom. Why should we go back in before I at least can have a vaccine to be even reasonably safe because some parents are having a hard time. I’m a parent too! I have my own family to worry about and kids to care for and hope make okay academic progress. I know very few people not struggling in some fashion this year, whether it’s financially, emotionally and mentally, physically. The stress is enormous. There’s no doubt. But my issues with my kids don’t mean someone else should risk their health. School is an institution. It cannot care for your kid better than you. The human beings who work in it cannot fix everything. The fact that all of society’s issues right now are being pinned on PUBLIC SCHOOL opening tells you how overburdened they system is and all the social failures it is expected to absorb.

Well said. Based on what you read here, school two days a week in person on their device is going to magically solve everyone’s tweens mental health issues.

+1 It all seems pretty insane...until you go back and read the posts advocating opening the schools and you understand the kids are having problems because their parents are having problems. Unfortunately that isn't something opening schools will change the stability of the parents.

My husband and I have both noticed similarities between the debate OpenSchoolsNowWhateverItTakes v LetsWait and our new virtual workplaces: about half of the people we work with have adapted quite well and the other half are basket cases. For 90% of the people job responsibilities and deliverables haven't changed while for 10%, like the receptionists, there has been dramatic change. It doesn't seem to matter what the job is but half of the staff in each of our organizations has been able to flex and accommodate while the other half is in constant turmoil and struggling mightily against the new normal.

Frankly the open schools versus wait debate is more an example of who can flex and who cannot.

Sounds like you're ready to publish a peer-reviewed study.

I also think it’s a function of kids that are bullied/socially anxious versus those who are not. The most adamant all virtual parents on AEM that I know IRL have had to deal with terrible bullying problems. For them, all virtual has been a lifesaver.

There definitely is that factor. My kids haven't been bullied but they loooooove DL because they don't have to deal with all the kids who are acting out and causing trouble. They say that they are getting so much more done because the teacher is actually teaching the whole time, not dealing with the kids who are being disruptive.

Here is an example. The week before break one of my kids was chortling so hard that I stopped what I was doing to go over and watch. My son said just before I got over to him that the teacher gave Larlo a warning. When I was watching sure enough there was Larlo hamming it up in the camera. The teacher didn't stop what she was saying/demonstrating (it was math) but she must have stopped his video. After a few minutes the kid's video came back on. Larlo was okay for a minute but then started doing the same things. The teacher announced she was putting him in the waiting room for a time out. He was in the waiting room for a minute, came back and made faces, and then he disappeared. This was all in the first 5-10 minutes of class. The teacher then told the kids that they get a warning, screen off, waiting room and then they're out. The rest of class went so smoothly.

Here is the neat thing about having older kids who have gone to the same school. I still have materials from my older kids all in binders. So when the teachers announce a unit I know exactly what they'll be doing for each subject. I had pulled some stuff from his older brother's file from a few years ago. It appeared to me like she covered 2 days worth of assignments during that class and she did more than my older son had done a few years ago. My younger son, who is smart but not a math genius by any means, definitely has a much strong math class this year via DL than my older son, who is a math whiz, had a few years ago.

Anyway we're fine with DL. It is going great.

I feel badly for kids who are struggling but I can't help but wonder if they were also the kids who were holding everyone else back when the face-to-face school is in session because of their problems and misbehaviors.

Anonymous wrote:You can also see APE’s advocacy page, where they specifically advocate for adequate PPE (for which they’ve apparently been fundraising), and for infrastructure improvements to ensure schools are safe environments. I hadn’t paid much attention to APE before this, but I’m actually really impressed by their approach to this.

http://arlingtonparentsforeducation.org/arlington-parents-for-education/our-advocacy/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems to be true with a lot of these parents. They are at wits end. That’s why they want to open school in January. Their focus is the crisis in their homes. I understand that. Don’t think it should drive policy. But I get it.

I “get” it. But I’m someone’s mom. Why should we go back in before I at least can have a vaccine to be even reasonably safe because some parents are having a hard time. I’m a parent too! I have my own family to worry about and kids to care for and hope make okay academic progress. I know very few people not struggling in some fashion this year, whether it’s financially, emotionally and mentally, physically. The stress is enormous. There’s no doubt. But my issues with my kids don’t mean someone else should risk their health. School is an institution. It cannot care for your kid better than you. The human beings who work in it cannot fix everything. The fact that all of society’s issues right now are being pinned on PUBLIC SCHOOL opening tells you how overburdened they system is and all the social failures it is expected to absorb.

Well said. Based on what you read here, school two days a week in person on their device is going to magically solve everyone’s tweens mental health issues.

+1 It all seems pretty insane...until you go back and read the posts advocating opening the schools and you understand the kids are having problems because their parents are having problems. Unfortunately that isn't something opening schools will change the stability of the parents.

My husband and I have both noticed similarities between the debate OpenSchoolsNowWhateverItTakes v LetsWait and our new virtual workplaces: about half of the people we work with have adapted quite well and the other half are basket cases. For 90% of the people job responsibilities and deliverables haven't changed while for 10%, like the receptionists, there has been dramatic change. It doesn't seem to matter what the job is but half of the staff in each of our organizations has been able to flex and accommodate while the other half is in constant turmoil and struggling mightily against the new normal.

Frankly the open schools versus wait debate is more an example of who can flex and who cannot.

Sounds like you're ready to publish a peer-reviewed study.

I also think it’s a function of kids that are bullied/socially anxious versus those who are not. The most adamant all virtual parents on AEM that I know IRL have had to deal with terrible bullying problems. For them, all virtual has been a lifesaver.