Schools reopening or not

[needvaca]

Nope. “School” is an essential service.
If School employees, aka teachers, were able to 100% serve their “customers” aka students age 5-13 in a remote way, then all would be fine. BUT THEY ARE NOT! It requires another adult employee/IT director/parent/whoever to facilitate the learning. Hence, teachers are not doing their full job.
If Other workers were not doing their full job, they would be fired. GET IT?
I’m taking one of my few PTO days today to help “teach my kids” in their first week of school.
My kids will be home alone, and unfortunately the remote setup is not even 50% conducive to them “learning” at home.

Ken- do you have school age children at home?
So many people have OPINIONS, with no school age kids
[/QUO

What do you think we would have done had this pandemic hit in the 1980s, before the internet? I suspect we would have tried more of the tactics used in the early 1900s (outdoor lessons regardless of weather, small groups with distancing, etc). It could also have simply been a lost year or two, which obviously is seriously detrimental to learning growth...though it may happen this year for some, regardless how much we try to prevent it.



Actually, I got it months ago, but I understand you're upset. That's reasonable.



Not ideal.



No, I don't. And while I am sympathetic for the pain you and others are going through, trying to dismiss the vast majority of us who don't have kids at home who are trying to help in any way we can by even asking the question is inappropriate (and now "the haters" will undoubtedly attack me for writing this). I see both sides, and the outspoken parents in this thread *only* see their perspective, with occasional concern about the valid points from the teachers and others. Don't blame me for repeating the obvious... it's unsafe in most schools right now for a variety of reasons. No question people will continue to get sick (children and their families) if we have anything close to a "normal" school experience.

I wrote months ago that school issues and lack of education would be an inevitable outcome from an unprepared, unsupported, and even threatened education system without full governmental and community support. Here we are... it didn't take a rocket scientist to predict what is happening now, especially in regards to community spread in schools. It's really a shame. We could have done so much better.

I understand you're angry and upset, probably at the education system, your children's teachers, and many others. I am, too, though perhaps for different reasons. This isn't going to be easy for anyone and blaming each other for having an opinion isn't going to help.

Still, it seems clear to me that for many, school is really little more than daycare, especially for working parents with young children. Those are the people I have the most sympathy for at the moment, since older children (middle/junior high and high school) should be fine with virtual education assuming they have the resources for it. Naturally, there are negative social implications for virtual learning.

Not bashing you at all Ken.
I was just trying to convey what parents and school kids are feeling, because our needs are being subverted entirely. I have 4 kids, grade school, middle and high. And they are all suffering in multitudes of different ways. The mental/psychological impact is as important as physical, which is why we parents, who love our kids more than anything, need them back in "school" at least hybrid- 85% of us around Chicagoland, NY,, CT, Arizona, Ohio, MD (I have many friends around the country and the % is similar in all metro areas.)
My middle kid is an introvert and about the easiest kid you'll ever encounter. With no complaints ever. She told me today (after a couple days in zoom school) "I really really miss people"
There are so many untried solutions- hybrid, outdoor classrooms, kids at desks with teachers moving classrooms, converting gyms/libraries/auditoriums etc to extra class space so kids can spread out.
Why the heck didn't the US start school with outdoor classrooms for Aug, Sept,Oct?
School districts are offering NO CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, because zoom is the easy, brainless answer. Even my friends who are teachers say we should reopen.

We need a US initiative to promote MASKS, MASKS, MASKS.
Public service announcements on evening news, on Saturday cartoons, everywhere!

 

[MULTIZ321]

Nearly 9,000 Florida Children Diagnosed With Coronavirus in Two Weeks as Schools Reopen

https://www.newsweek.com/nearly-9000-florida-children-diagnosed-coronavirus-two-weeks-schools-reopen-1527587?utm_source=Flipboard&utm_medium=App&utm_campaign=Partnerships

.


Richard

 

[Brett]

Not bashing you at all Ken.


We need a US initiative to promote MASKS, MASKS, MASKS.
Public service announcements on evening news, on Saturday cartoons, everywhere!

We need a US initiative to promote MASKS, MASKS, MASKS.

I think that's been done ..

 

[needvaca]

Nearly 9,000 Florida Children Diagnosed With Coronavirus in Two Weeks as Schools Reopen

https://www.newsweek.com/nearly-9000-florida-children-diagnosed-coronavirus-two-weeks-schools-reopen-1527587?utm_source=Flipboard&utm_medium=App&utm_campaign=Partnerships

.


Richard

Yep, infections were expected, because Florida, Georgia, TN, SC, other southern states have NO MASK MANDATE!!!
They are like a different world from IL, NY.

When are people gonna learn that there is direct correlation between No mask mandates and Covid outbreaks?

 

[needvaca]

We need a US initiative to promote MASKS, MASKS, MASKS.

I think that's been done ..

No. No it hasn't, when top leadership isn't promoting it and states haven't required it.
So many people STILL not wearing masks. Tell me why that is? Am I missing something?

 

[Brett]

No. No it hasn't, when top leadership isn't promoting it and states haven't required it.
So many people STILL not wearing masks. Tell me why that is? Am I missing something?

in Virginia it seems everyone is wearing a mask (indoors) but "top national leadership" - maybe they aren't wearing masks in Sweden

 

[Ken555]

Not bashing you at all Ken.

No worries. I completely understand.

There are so many untried solutions- hybrid, outdoor classrooms, kids at desks with teachers moving classrooms, converting gyms/libraries/auditoriums etc to extra class space so kids can spread out.

Why the heck didn't the US start school with outdoor classrooms for Aug, Sept,Oct?

I asked this question here months ago. IIRC, I even included a link to an article about what was done in the early 1900s during another epidemic and the response was that we can't do outdoor in the heat/cold/etc. I doubt I expressed myself sufficiently, but I was amazed that even during a pandemic it seems many are not able to comprehend that some discomfort (heat/cold/etc) may be necessary in order to have a safe educational environment.

FWIW, I know of at least one that setup outdoor tents.

School districts are offering NO CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, because zoom is the easy, brainless answer.

I have no doubt there is some truth to this. However, it also provides what no other solution does - guaranteed safety against C19.

Even my friends who are teachers say we should reopen.

We all know teachers who want to be in their classrooms. That goes without saying. But there are also a not so insignificant number of teachers who must be careful of their own health and simply cannot return to the classroom right now.

We need a US initiative to promote MASKS, MASKS, MASKS.
Public service announcements on evening news, on Saturday cartoons, everywhere!

Yes

 

[Ken555]

No. No it hasn't, when top leadership isn't promoting it and states haven't required it.
So many people STILL not wearing masks. Tell me why that is? Am I missing something?

You're not missing anything. It's representative of America in 2020...wearing masks became a political issue.

 

[Cornell]

@needvaca Your TUG handle could not be more appropriate right now. Sounds like you DO need a vacation .

 

[Ken555]

So you're perfect and see both sides. Got it. Thanks for clarifying that for the rest of us mouth-breathers.

Kurt

I'm really not sure why you are so offensive, but you are. Was this post really necessary?

 

[Ken555]

Yep, infections were expected, because Florida, Georgia, TN, SC, other southern states have NO MASK MANDATE!!!
They are like a different world from IL, NY.

When are people gonna learn that there is direct correlation between No mask mandates and Covid outbreaks?

It's really quite unbelievable that so many people dispute the benefits of wearing masks and adhering to social distancing.

 

[TravelTime]

Why Boys Might Be Weathering the Pandemic Better Than Girls

Online videogames have been a much-needed social outlet for many boys during the coronavirus shutdown, but how can parents tell if all that gaming is turning into a problem?

www.wsj.com

Videogame-playing has soared during the pandemic, with the major game developers reporting record sales. During a one-week period in March, after the coronavirus was declared a pandemic, U.S. videogame usage on Verizon networks increased by 75%, according to the telecom.

 

[DannyTS]

So school really is daycare, eh?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Frankly Ken, this is the worst question ever asked during this pandemic, you sound like you have not been around parents with kids in a very long time. Do you really think you understand both sides as you claim?

 

[jabberwocky]

If your tools are "actively taken away from you", then you do the best you can with the tools that you have. It's simple as that. We're in the midst of a pandemic. Never happened in my lifetime. My kids have never experienced anything like this either. So, we can gather up in a pity circle, give each other reassuring hugs, or we can get off our butts and do the best with what we have. The bottom line is that school is going to be virtual. That's the way it's going to be. So now your task is to figure out how you can get the best education with the tools provided to you. School started yesterday. The time to whine about it has passed.

Sorry. I don’t give up so easily and refuse to be a victim of circumstance.

 

[PigsDad]

I'm really not sure why you are so offensive, but you are. Was this post really necessary?

How was that offensive? I was just agreeing with your words where you said you see both sides. It was a complement if anything. If you don't believe those words, why did you post them?

Kurt

 

[Cornell]

Sorry. I don’t give up so easily and refuse to be a victim of circumstance.

Exactly. My daughter and her education are worth fighting for. I’m not just going to accept this.

 

[DeniseM]

I'm going to try something new: I'm going to give this thread a time-out until tomorrow. I will reopen it tomorrow and maybe it will behave better after a cooling off period. Please be aware that I am on the West Coast and my morning is later than your morning.

*Look at it this way: Now you have the whole night to think of something to post that is deep and meaningful, and NICE!

 

[DeniseM]

Time out is over - can't wait for all of the deep, meaningful, and NICE posts!

 

[Cornell]

The shortages will exacerbate inequality among well-off students and less advantaged ones, said Tammy Hershfield, founder and board chair of Computers 2 Kids, a San Diego nonprofit that provides refurbished computers free or at discounted prices to children and organizations in need.

I am also hearing from my suburban mom-friends that inexpensive home printers are next to impossible to find.

Remote Learning Without a Laptop? Thousands Could Be Stuck Without Devices Due to Shortage

Tens of thousands of students across the U.S. are facing the prospect of starting school over the coming weeks without the computers needed for remote classes.

www.wsj.com

 

[TravelTime]

I read that Germany is reopening schools in person and doing a good job so far.

Almost 500 Million Children Are Cut Off From School in Pandemic, Report Says (Published 2020)

The Justice Department is considering an investigation of nursing-home outbreaks in four Democratic-led states, including New York. California makes a deal to more than double testing capacity.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Luanne]

Meanwhile in South Korea.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia...R0Z_iHgoYtAERpJu6kanTkktMFeMkrEAisoZQ1tVSlLi0

 

[Luanne]

And closer to home.....Florida.

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-...DpU9BIuu-SRYNzCOM8DHnuWRR4eGMa3VWlj5tefJT-qZo

 

[bogey21]

Maybe smaller schools with small class sizes could reopen. As I reported earlier my Daughter's 3 kids have been going to school on site for over 2 weeks now with no problems. I'm not sure of the actual size of the school but it does cover kindergarten through 12th grade. She tells me there are a lot of rules but that everyone understand and follow them. So maybe small schools could reopen safely with large schools going remote. Just a thought...

George

 

[TravelTime]

A lot of private schools are opening with small class size and a lot of rules.

 

[Brett]

Meanwhile in South Korea.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53901707?at_custom4=AA597668-E6BD-11EA-B337-267D96E8478F&at_custom2=facebook_page&at_custom3=BBC+News&at_medium=custom7&at_custom1=[post+type]&at_campaign=64&fbclid=IwAR32d06wI0YpeLR0Z_iHgoYtAERpJu6kanTkktMFeMkrEAisoZQ1tVSlLi0

Meanwhile in New Zealand

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12359784