Are you sending your kids to school next month?

[Lumpy1106]

If the US had managed to do what Germany did in relationship to Covid, I don’t think anyone would be concerned about kids returning to school, and for that matter all businesses being more open.

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That's fair - I do think a lot of what is behind the decision to close schools is the fear and yes, the data right now does tend to also spike the fear. Even adjusting for population in the US vs. Germany we have roughly 60 times the number of cases in Germany. So, while I was pretty upset when our Gov. and school board decided to keep schools closed, I will agree - that's prudent - for now. It doesn't excuse the anemic experience that was remote learning in the Spring, but that's a whole different issue.

What I found interesting was that, even kids who had a known active case of COVID in their immediate family ALSO did not have it (1 in 24 did). There have been plenty of posts in this thread pointing to the number of kids who have tested positive, but they DID NOT get it from school, or even social interactions (all of which are closed and cancelled) - they got it at home. Also, only 12 in 2045 had it, and that includes teachers. That's about 0.5%, and that is roughly the same as the community spread has been in most areas WITH stay-in-place, social distancing, masks etc. What I take from that is that teachers don't have as much to fear as they may think.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I am a substitute teacher and I have no issues with going back. I’m really not sure where this mentality comes from that teachers shouldn’t have to go back to work in person.

There was a recent survey done in my state of 800 teachers from all around the state "82% of them were concerned about the social and emotional well-being of their students."

 

[godisney14]

That's fair - I do think a lot of what is behind the decision to close schools is the fear and yes, the data right now does tend to also spike the fear. Even adjusting for population in the US vs. Germany we have roughly 60 times the number of cases in Germany. So, while I was pretty upset when our Gov. and school board decided to keep schools closed, I will agree - that's prudent - for now. It doesn't excuse the anemic experience that was remote learning in the Spring, but that's a whole different issue.

What I found interesting was that, even kids who had a known active case of COVID in their immediate family ALSO did not have it (1 in 24 did). There have been plenty of posts in this thread pointing to the number of kids who have tested positive, but they DID NOT get it from school, or even social interactions (all of which are closed and cancelled) - they got it at home. Also, only 12 in 2045 had it, and that includes teachers. That's about 0.5%, and that is roughly the same as the community spread has been in most areas WITH stay-in-place, social distancing, masks etc. What I take from that is that teachers don't have as much to fear as they may think.

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/10/20-1315_article

 

[TipsyTraveler]

There was a recent survey done in my state of 800 teachers from all around the state "82% of them were concerned about the social and emotional well-being of their students."

Who were the 18% gutsy enough to say they weren’t concerned about the social and emotional well-being of their students?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Who were the 18% gutsy enough to say they weren’t concerned about the social and emotional well-being of their students?

My assumption (and I may be wrong) is the comment, based on the focus on the local news story (education guidelines), was a higher desire for in-person learning as opposed to distance learning as distance learning is not as conducive for those two things as a primary focus. I don't think the survey was reflecting that the others don't care in that aspect but that it was high on the concern list.

We've seen people comment about teacher surveys where the teachers strongly want distance learning because they have high concerns on the public safety point, that's where I was framing my comment in relation to. Public safety where in this case staying away from your classmates, limiting actual interaction with each other or only doing it in front of a computer can be in opposition of social and potentially emotional wellbeing of students.

 

[MrsPete]

You're lucky your retirement covers health insurance.

Don't I know it! That's why I'd never take a leave of absence -- I'd do a great deal to avoid a break in service, which would mean coming back in under "lesser benefits".

My small Catholic school has said students must wear masks when they are less that 6 feet apart, but don’t have to wear them when they are more that 6 feet apart.

Oh no, no, no! It's not either/or -- it's masks AND 6' apart all the time! I hope someone will correct your school on this!

You can bet if we go back to in person, I’m wearing a mask and a shield at all times.

I just received my shield in the mail today. Mask + shield except when I'm eating. That's my plan.

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

Just gonna leave this here. It kinda speaks for itself;
Study results - kids in school in Germany

Not necessarily disagreeing... I just picked a post to start with to share my thoughts.

See that space between the desks in the picture? I can't speak for any other school, but the classrooms in my school (in FL) do not have space for that.

Also, I was in Germany in June... their culture is a lot more productive to fight a pandemic (no yelling at store employees, no wearing masks under their nose, no media hysteria, etc).

And of course the numbers. Total cases per 1 million:
Germany: 2,428
US: 11,964

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm going back to work when my school district tells me too (and they haven't changed the date here yet).
However, there is no social distancing in school in the classroom or lunchroom and no mask mandate, but we can't have students work on paper (since we can't touch papers until 5 days later) so they'll get a tablet to do their work. No centers or games, because they can't share materials. No carpet time, and no school/class library books. Also separate recess areas for each class, so playing with that friend from last year is not going to happen either.

So, yeah, just my thoughts on 'paper.' I have no answers, sorry!

 

[Magical2017]

Of 1,400 Israelis diagnosed with COVID-19 last month, 657 (47 percent) were infected in schools. Now 2,026 students, teachers, and staff have it, and 28,147 are quarantined.

These were schools that were using masks and social distancing.

Oh my, that is scary! How did they determine the children/staff were infected at school versus a grocery store, the gym, a restaurant, a friend's house, a parent who got it from work, or a vacation?

 

[HeatherC]

I live in NJ that was very affected by Covid and after the mask guidelines, no workers contracted Covid that worked in our very large grocery store. They took precautions and prevented the workers from catching the virus. They can do the same for the schools. If masks work, let's open the school, part time, have some in-class and some online and keep everyone safe with precautions/guidelines!

One thing to remember though is that grocery workers are also not in sustained contact for a long period of time with customers. They ring up the purchase and people pay and leave. Teachers and students would be in a room...some with no windows and poor ventilation for hours. Scientists have said the risk goes up during prolonged contact in an indoor setting.

 

[pxidst119]

I think grocery store workers are exposed to many many more possibly infected people per hour versus the same 20 or so of the same students in a classroom. Even a high school teacher would be exposed to way less people than a grocery store worker.

The interaction in a classroom is different though. Much more of a chance for closer interactions and not as easy to stay behind a plexiglass protector.

 

[CarolAnn856]

Come move to NJ, the teachers make $100K+ and they don't want to go back to work. My thoughts on teachers not wanting to go back to work, is to compare yourselves to nurses, cashiers and thousands of grocery stores/home depot workers etc. MANY worked thru the pandemic with precautions. Precautions and guidelines are being offered for the schools BUT the teachers still don't want to return. They have been getting full pay since March, many not even having to do anything. I don't hear medical workers/store employees/restaurant employees complaining like they are!

What a load of cow manure.

NJ teacher here, not making $100,000 and wanting to go back to work. Just the same as all of my colleagues. Nobody sat around not working but getting paid from March - June. We worked our butts off trying to make online learning work with, for many of us, no more than ONE day to get it together before going online. We pulled much longer hours and did it happily for the benefit of our students. Don't you DARE tell me we didn't work. Was it perfect? Of course not. There were huge hurdles. Some we could overcome, some we could not, especially in terms of parental support.

As for HOW we want to go back - we want to go back safely, for our students, their families, the communities, ourselves, and our families. The problem is that many of the districts' plans are not taking real concerns into account. We want nothing more than to be able to teach our kids face-to-face, but we don't want to risk lives to do so. Just because some people out there think that being in a room with "just" 12 kids for 7 hours straight is no big deal, doesn't mean it's actually safe. There is much more to it than just keeping kids desks 3-6 feet apart and wearing a mask when they walk into the classroom.

Stop comparing teachers, nurses, and retail workers. We all have different needs that must be addressed in order to keep everyone safe. Nobody should be expected to work unless they have the means to do so safely, whether they are in healthcare, retail, education, or literally any other profession out there. And contrary to your false claim, many in healthcare and retail have complained loud and long that they don't feel safe. And yet they go back to work. Why? Because many in our country doesn't give a crap about ensuring livable wages and health coverage, vote accordingly, resulting in these folks having to go back just to survive, even if they are scared to do so. Many teachers are in the same position.

Your comments are false and add nothing to the discussion. Welcome to my ignore list.

 

[CarolAnn856]

I think grocery store workers are exposed to many many more possibly infected people per hour versus the same 20 or so of the same students in a classroom. Even a high school teacher would be exposed to way less people than a grocery store worker.

The interaction in a classroom is different though. Much more of a chance for closer interactions and not as easy to stay behind a plexiglass protector.

How long someone is in contact with an infected person is a huge factor. Passing through a checkout line is nothing like spending an hour or more with a group of people in the same, much smaller, room.

 

[unrequited23]

Currently our district offers two choices, a virtual academy or in school instruction with class composition determined by the county's threat level released every Thursday. We are currently at a level 3, which would mean a hybrid plan of 2 days of in school instruction and 3 days of virtual instruction. The classes would be split in half based on last name. Masks are required for all students 3rd grade and up. This hybrid plan seems reasonable to me when weighing the risks and rewards. But should the county drop to a level 2, the following week the class size doubles (all students attend) for a full 5 days a week of in school instruction. Yikes.

We are going to reluctantly be doing the virtual academy because our kids will do better with the structure and predictability of knowing where and when they will be having school, not to mention it is safer. I can't even imagine what a nightmare it will be coordinating childcare and work if your child's schedule could change on Thursday for the following week.

 

[HeatherC]

I think grocery store workers are exposed to many many more possibly infected people per hour versus the same 20 or so of the same students in a classroom. Even a high school teacher would be exposed to way less people than a grocery store worker.

The interaction in a classroom is different though. Much more of a chance for closer interactions and not as easy to stay behind a plexiglass protector.

Both are definitely at risk for sure! Not taking away from the grocery store workers at all. Was just saying there isn’t as much prolonged contact in a store.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Oh my, that is scary! How did they determine the children/staff were infected at school versus a grocery store, the gym, a restaurant, a friend's house, a parent who got it from work, or a vacation?

Israel is a lot better at contract tracing than we are.

 

[sk!mom]

I live in NJ that was very affected by Covid and after the mask guidelines, no workers contracted Covid that worked in our very large grocery store. They took precautions and prevented the workers from catching the virus. They can do the same for the schools. If masks work, let's open the school, part time, have some in-class and some online and keep everyone safe with precautions/guidelines!

My DS works in a grocery store so he has worked this whole time. His store had extensive safety protocols in place within a couple of weeks. The number in the store was drastically reduced until they had geared up to having plexiglass dividers and spots on the flloor to show distance. At the same, time they quadrupled the number of curbside orders they could fill per day to keep people out of the store. They required and provided masks for employees and were the first to require them for customers here. They implemented extra cleaning and staff to do it. They gave their employees an immediate raise and increased their employee discount from 10% to 25% which they keep extending.

Conversely, my district announced plans last week. Masks on kids 4th and up and social distancing “as much as possible.” That’s it. The grocery store had an extensive safety plan in weeks but that’s all the state and local could come up with for schools in 5 months. We’re supposed to be fully face to face in weeks. I want to go back but I’d like to see a lot more in the name of safety. Parents can choose virtual and maybe my district is banking on many making that choice.

luvsvacation:

Same. Many in my area are anti maskers and many who want their kids back in school are insisting that their kids need “normal.” For safety, it can’t be normal.

Luckily, I teach 4th grade where masks will be required and I fully expect some angry parents when I insist on them. However my building is 50% 3rd grade where masks aren’t mandatory so...

I want to go back but it needs to be safe
And not at the expense of teachers. I see in all my teacher groups people are stockpiling cleaning products and trying to come up with homemade dividers. I will do none of that. Teaching is my job. Providing the products and cleaning necessary for safety is not. For me, this is a line in the sand as far as what is continuously pushed on to teachers to provide.

 

[godisney14]

Come move to NJ, the teachers make $100K+ and they don't want to go back to work. My thoughts on teachers not wanting to go back to work, is to compare yourselves to nurses, cashiers and thousands of grocery stores/home depot workers etc. MANY worked thru the pandemic with precautions. Precautions and guidelines are being offered for the schools BUT the teachers still don't want to return. They have been getting full pay since March, many not even having to do anything. I don't hear medical workers/store employees/restaurant employees complaining like they are!

Proof please that teachers are paid six figures.

 

[Pink Partridge]

Proof please that teachers are paid six figures.

https://nj1015.com/how-much-do-nj-t...her salary in,earn salaries that top $100,000.

 

[CarolAnn856]

Proof please that teachers are paid six figures.

There definitely are some, but they're rare. They'd have to be in a pretty wealthy district and have been in that district for probably 15 years or so and have a Ph. D. I'm on my phone or I'd look for some salary guides from districts near me for you, but they're easy to Google. That being said, that has nothing to do with wanting to be safe as the other poster for some reason thought was pertinent.

 

[Hikergirl]

It's not that they are more "important." It's that we expect them to do EVERYTHING and it better be done perfectly. From active shooter drills to buying cleaning supplies when is enough enough? They at least deserve to have masks be mandatory in their classrooms.

Any person working is expected to do everything they are responsible for during their work day.