Are you sending your kids to school next month?

[misse336]

I am surprised at how poorly some districts did with remote teaching. I have been doing some of my MBA remote and find the medium great when implemented properly. Most industries had to implement new remote work functionality on the fly and did it quickly and successfully. Listening to educators online would make you think they were the only industry that had to make on the fly changes to how they deliver their services as opposed to being one of many industries that had to do this in a short amount of time. Anecdotally educators seem very resistant to moving to electronic teaching while most of the other professionals I work with had no real resistance to delivering their service remotely and electronically.

ETA: Even if schools open it is likely many will have to close in cycles so being able to shift between in-person and online seamlessly in both directions is what they should all be striving towards.

I don't think most educators think that they are the only ones that had to change things quickly and on the fly. I was given the platform to offer remote learning to my students on a Saturday or Sunday (forget exactly which) and had it up and running by Tuesday.

What I could NOT control was that about 1/2 of my students did not log on or complete the assignments that were posted. Or if they did log on, with some of the students that logged on it was sporadic and they only completed the assignments that they wanted to complete. I even had one parent ask to have her child taken out of my class because she didn't want to do the work with her. When comparing education to business/other jobs many people forget several key elements - First, educators are dealing with children and not adults. Second, adults who don't log on at work can be terminated/pay withheld/poor evaluations. There's very little that an educator can do to "force" a student to log on or to "force" a parent to have their child log on.

The problem is that this is a situation that has no good answers. Sending all students back to school is clearly not good/safe. Conducting remote learning is clearly not going to work for students who either don't have parent support to get them online/help them with assignments or the technology/internet access needed.

I am an adult and I have taken several graduate level classes successfully. Again though, I'm an adult who is self motivated, doesn't need anyone to help me complete my work and who has adequate technology/internet access. That's a huge difference from elementary students.

 

[mom2rtk]

Parents want kids to go back to school so they don't have to pay for childcare.

Right? Because everybody thinks in person instruction and online instruction are the same. The only possible explanation is not wanting to pay for child care.

If it's about child care, then how do you explain any parents caring whether their high school kids go back?

I have LOVED having my daughter back from college since early March. But I'm still very happy she's heading back for in person classes soon. Am I nervous? Sure. But I'd also be nervous to see her taking another round of difficult math and science classes online.

 

[MrsPete]

I'd love to make $100,000 per year, but that's just a fantasy for a teacher in this part of the country.

With the exception of a few states (and only the older, more experienced teachers in those few states), that kind of money is a fantasy for all teachers.
But teachers aren't fussing about money in this discussion -- it's about safety.

If student refuses to put the mask on or wear it correctly they get sent home.

This is going to be a constant issue for schools who return in person.
Evidence? We're constantly telling kids to pull up their pants /quit showing their drawers and to take off their hats /hoodies in the building. For some, wearing of masks will be one more "small rebellion".

... But when I sat down and talked with my kids about it, they all individually and overwhelmingly said they wanted to do remote learning if they had to go back with social distancing and masks. That it wasn’t the school experience they wanted either way ...

Yes, the kids who said, "We want to return!" are -- because they're kids -- assuming they'll return to school "as it was".

If you don’t think some parents view schools as daycare, then you have a very rosy view.

Without question, this is true -- not all families care about their kids' educations. Over the years I've had parents tell me not to call them again -- what the kids do (or don't do) at school is my problem. And I've had kids tell me that their parents repeat to them discussions with teachers /then they laugh together. These families are a small part of our overall population, but they are quite real.

School has become more than just a place to get an education.

True, and that's part of our problem -- in trying to be "everything to everyone", we're losing focus of our primary goal: education. But with kids in need, what to do?

Just about every other person I know working has more protections than I will have as a teacher.

True. Yesterday I went to the pharmacy -- an essential service. The pharmacist was behind a counter and behind a plastic shield. I physically could not get within 6' of him.
When we go back to school next month, I'll have fewer students in class each day, but we'll be close to one another in the hallways, as we enter the classroom door, etc. And we'll be together for 90 minute classes. It's a longer /closer contact than most office jobs.

2 day notice to close schools at my district.

Yes, we had a weekend to switch over to online learning. It took several weeks to get all the kids/families who needed computers to figure out they really did need to come pick one up from school. Fall won't be the same.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Parents want kids to go back to school so they don't have to pay for childcare.

Or there are no childcare options. Daycares go up to kindergarten. I know in my area they aren’t opening up any centers for older kids. Not everyone has family or friends to watch their kids even if they pay them.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

what i don't understand (at least in my state) is why the existing on-line teaching system couldn't have been/isn't being utilized. one of the options for free public schooling here (available long before the pandemic) is entirely on-line. the program has the same curriculum as the public schools, is held to the same learning goals (so month to month what is covered in a classroom lines up with what is covered on-line), has the same learning outcomes. so why are the districts going nuts trying to figure out how to reinvent the wheel for on-line teaching? they could take what is already in place, proven to work, meets state standards and train their staff to be able to use it. that way if face to face isn't possible they are up and ready, if a hybrid is required then teachers/students could seamlessly move from one instructional mode to another. it doesn't address the issues with poor/no internet in some areas but it addresses the mechanics of how to provide for areas that do have internet.

They probably don't have access to the same programs being utilized among other things. Programs that may be utilized at school may be difficult in licensing to apply for at home (access-wise) though I know some schools utilize iPads (the school where my aunt taught up until last year did).

Online schools is available in my state K12 is one of them but K12 is a for-profit educational company that simply sells online schooling. You can't really shoehorn online schools into in-person instruction. There is a reason they are separate. Taking a course online is formulated for online learning, lesson planning has been thought out, curriculum dependent on the online structure. It's why many college students are in an uproar over if they are really getting their monies worth on tuition.

I kinda think we take for granted how much stuff is really planned for in-person learning when it comes to traditional schooling. That isn't to say that electronics haven't played a larger role in recent years (when a school district has the money to invest in it that is) because they do but an in-person school is still an in-person school formulated for such. Some things can more easily be adjusted for distance learning, some things may not be. And that's not even touching on the disparity schools may face within a district much less disparities between districts much less disparities within a given state in educational opportunities and options available.

I hope schools are better prepared than spring but I don't necessarily think the challenges they face went away. They just have more time to figure out this and that.

 

[motherof5]

Parents want kids to go back to school so they don't have to pay for childcare.

I respectfully disagree. I want them to go to school for a proper education.

 

[spiders]

Parents want kids to go back to school so they don't have to pay for childcare.

I'm sure some do but I think there are a lot of legitimate concerns about not going as well. Personally, I'm leaning towards not sending my kids but I couldn't care less if people want to send their kids.

Right now, there are two options. Send your kids, don't send your kids...whatever.

I don't understand why people try to convince you that you should or should not send your kids or that somehow telling you how they aren't going to send their kids will somehow influence someone's else choice.

 

[motherof5]

you might not need a babysitter but the reality is-close to 65% of 2 parent intact households are comprised of 2 employed parents. in single parent households the numbers range from 75-85% of those single parents being employed. this means that for allot of the u.s. population-childcare is a key factor in their decision making process for schooling options.

as for the danger for teachers vs other essential workers. i can only speak based on my own experiences/knowledge. during my life i worked at one point in a hospital and at another point as a teacher. at the hospital there were all kinds of protective gear/structuring of worksite (patient/provider and staff areas) to minimize negative health impact on staff. as a teacher? nothing in place. beyond there not being the pressing need as exists today, the act of in person effectively teaching kids entails close contact that just is not suited to what is called for/provided for in a traditional infectious environment. at the hospital i would have had to do a clean down before i moved from patient to patient (even some patient rooms to others) to protect not only myself but the patients. at a school? not practical.

the teachers i know that are concerned are not saying they are in more danger than other essential workers-just that they can't be afforded the same protection if they are to provide the quality/benefits of face to face instruction people expect. at our local businesses, essential and non-staff have protective barriers around their work stations and customers must maintain a 5' distance for 'personal interactions'. i've not heard of any onsite schooling proposal that provides teachers with protective barriers from their students and i've yet to figure out how a teacher could move through their classroom and manage to maintain a constant 5' distance from every person (they would need a 10' foot perimeter around them which means less than a dozen kids could fit in a traditional classroom w/their desks set up for the 5' rule).


good luck parents (and teachers)-i don't envy the choices that have to be made.

I am a nurse and also a teach at a local college. I know in our small town, parents did a gofund me and were willing to pay for all masks for teachers, school supplies since they can't be shared, and money could go towards desk dividers like the banks have. The district is not letting parents have any say and instead our going by the one size fits all model. With 50%+ of students being home schooled or virtual learning and not returning they have the space and the means to have the remaining children go back to school. This is not a option and being denied to these students.

 

[motherof5]

School will always be free childcare to many. It's just the way it is. It will also be a safe haven for many kids, a place to get a free meal when they would go hungry at home, and a place to get services and health screenings etc. School has become more than just a place to get an education.

On our community fb page, there are many many parents wanting school to open because they have to work. It's just reality, if you have young school age children, and are from a two parent working household with no work from home option, school is your child care. Parent are in a pickle. They have to work but will also have to stay home if their districts go remote. You can't be in two places at the same time and don't have the option to quit because you need money. What's a parent to do? It's an awful situation.

Some communities are forming co-ops so groups of kids can work together at someones house. It could work if you can get one day off a week from work and rotate the kids to a different house each day.

I agree with all this and it does solve the issue of where kids can safely go. But does not help them academically. Parents are already doing this so they can work during the summer and for the past few months. Kids are adapting and are good with wearing masks and learning social distancing as best as they can.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I respectfully disagree. I want them to go to school for a proper education.

Exactly. My kids are 20 and 14. Childcare isn’t an issue for me but I would prefer my kids in school.

My district is doing a hybrid model with the option of all online. I’m letting DD 14 choose. I’ve told her of all of the protocols in place and how this won’t be like school used to be. No hanging out with friends or changing classes or having lunch together. She said she’s leaning towards going for the hybrid because she doesn’t feel she’s getting a proper education with online and she doesn’t want to fall behind.

our district may outsource the online learning to an outside company. Or they may hire additional teachers to focus on the 100% online students. It all depends on budget and how many kids choose 100% online.

 

[dvcgirl67]

No country in the world has opened up their schools with such massive community spread. We’ll look back on this whole nightmare years from now with horror at how incredibly stupid we were as a nation. We’ll look at the bad decisions made along the way. And rushing to open up our schools as our cases were surging will be at the top of the list.

AstraZeneca has announced the three countries where they will begin “challenge testing” the vaccine they are developing in Oxford. They chose Brazil, South Africa and the United States of America. Those countries were chosen because that have massive community spread. I thought we were supposed to be making everything great...instead, we have a pandemic response of a third world country. We should be outraged.

You can’t open schools in that environment. Not safely. It’s just not all that difficult to predict how this is going to go. In a country where we’re divided over masks and have prioritized opening bars and theme parks over schools....well, you reap what you sow. We’ve planted “stupid”, and so now we’re reaping pain.

 

[Buttcracker]

I'll be opening the school doors up for kiddos in 17 days.

 

[motherof5]

If you don’t think some parents view schools as daycare, then you have a very rosy view.

Remote learning can be just as “proper” if executed well. Fortunately, some districts and schools did it well, but some did not.

Same with the idea that somehow only going to school in person will provide children with emotional well-being. There are introverts and extroverts among homeschooled kids, and similarly, there are introverts and extroverts in public schools.


ETA: I think it would be prudent for all schools to continue to develop and hone their remote learning processes, even if a school can open doors to in-person teaching to begin the year. I say this because you never know how the virus situation will play out in the Fall and Winter.

I think having a hybrid/virtual model does work for some, especially those who don't want to return. I just don't think its right that the ones that want to go back don't have that option. Especially since it was first stated that they need to cut down the amount in school at a given time. Now with 50%+ parents not wanting to have their children return, there is room for the remaining students to go back, but still are not given a full time option. We keep trying to give the school districts/teachers what they ask for and they come up with more reasons not to return. We did a go fund me and raised money as they were concerned with dividers between desks, school supplies since they couldn't share and masks. Now they have the money but state that it isn't safe. It's been safe for grocery store employees, fast food, travel personnel, hospital personnel and the list goes on. We all made it work, yet teachers/schools can't. Being told to remain virtual until a vaccine isn't feasable or in the best interest of these children. There are families in our town that don't speak English, how are their parents suppose to help teach them. There are those that don't have internet access, so those kids won't get a education. There are children on IEP's that need a expert to help them. There are many reasons kids should go back to school. School should be essential.

 

[motherof5]

Absolutely true for many. If schools open, their decision is made due to needing childcare.




In theory, yes, we all want what is best for our children. If you do not have to weigh childcare needs in your decision making process, then consider yourself part of a privileged class. Many many people lack that privilege. Many have to work and the months of no school have been a definite hardship.

I agree. But my main concern is their education and having those trained to teach help my children learn. I'm not qualified in all grades and subjects as their teachers are.

 

[JM23457]

I think the main reason districts aren't opening in person is fear of liability. No one wants to be the first, and get branded as irresponsible & possibility sued, so they all hold back.

Imo it has nothing to do with teachers' wishes. In my district we teachers haven't had any input at all.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So in my state the governor rejected the Board of Education's recommendation that pre k-6th not be required to wear masks (which their recommendation was due to distraction/hindrance reasons). Now all schools that have in-person learning will require masks from everyone including visitors. That is within her authority to do so without ability to override.

However, the governor also signed an executive order delaying the start date of schools from mid-August to just after Labor Day. That decision was within her authority so long as the Board of Education signed off on it. Today the Board of Education rejected that which allows individual school districts within the state to choose to reopen originally scheduled or delay as they see fit. It wouldn't surprise me if the big districts in my area choose to delay, others already have within the metro in other counties but we'll see. I believe one of the big ones in my county already said they supported the governor's decision to delay but I don't know yet if they are actually going to do so.

 

[mjkacmom]

Right? Because everybody thinks in person instruction and online instruction are the same. The only possible explanation is not wanting to pay for child care.

If it's about child care, then how do you explain any parents caring whether their high school kids go back?

I have LOVED having my daughter back from college since early March. But I'm still very happy she's heading back for in person classes soon. Am I nervous? Sure. But I'd also be nervous to see her taking another round of difficult math and science classes online.

My daughter took chemistry and biology in the spring, and took a made for online calculus class in the summer. Even though consolidated into a month, calculus was better because it was always taught online. Let’s face it, college kid will end up online again.

 

[MrsBooch]

My biggest concern is social interaction. I've seen my child's emotional and mental state deteriorate over the last four months because he can't be around people his own age, he can't play or interact with them. He is an only child so no siblings either. We work full time from home 5 days a week. We do as much as we can on the weekends and weeknights and as much as we can during the work day but it's not a lot.
His relationship with his father and I is totally different than his relationship and interaction with peers.

We send him to a private school, they transitioned brilliantly from in person to virtual when the quarantines began in early March. He continued to get an amazing education and I'm very grateful for that but he isn't getting peer to peer interaction that I think is VITAL for his development. He's under 7 - it's rough at this age to go from constant socialization to no one.

Edited to add: Not everyone wants schools to open for child care. That's an absurd broad brush assumption and says more about how people view education than it does about people who want the schools to open.

 

[motherof5]

Exactly. My kids are 20 and 14. Childcare isn’t an issue for me but I would prefer my kids in school.

My district is doing a hybrid model with the option of all online. I’m letting DD 14 choose. I’ve told her of all of the protocols in place and how this won’t be like school used to be. No hanging out with friends or changing classes or having lunch together. She said she’s leaning towards going for the hybrid because she doesn’t feel she’s getting a proper education with online and she doesn’t want to fall behind.

our district may outsource the online learning to an outside company. Or they may hire additional teachers to focus on the 100% online students. It all depends on budget and how many kids choose 100% online.

Sounds like your daughter has a good head on her shoulders.

 

[mom2rtk]

My daughter took chemistry and biology in the spring, and took a made for online calculus class in the summer. Even though consolidated into a month, calculus was better because it was always taught online. Let’s face it, college kid will end up online again.

My daughter is in Calc 3 and Physics 2 this year. So far they are still in person because they are smaller classes. Physics 2 is an honors segment, so they are trying very hard to keep it in person. I won't be the least bit shocked to see them end up online. But I'm hoping she at least gets a chance to meet the professor and a few classmates before it goes down, to make some connections before heading back to her apartment classroom.

As an engineering major, it's critical that she actually masters the course content rather than just getting through and getting an acceptable grade.