Conavirus......

[jp1]

There don't seem to be any easy answers about the schools. If states had taken this seriously during the spring we'd be like other countries who are getting back to normal including schools, but instead we're looking at the biggest still ongoing first wave of any developed country, with no sign of it abating.

I just heard a horrifying statistic on Pod Save America. 40% of the LA Unified School District kids never logged on to the remote learning even once. That does not bode well for the future of kids who either don't have the equipment and internet access at home, and/or don't have parents that can keep them focused and make sure they are doing it. When this if finally all over they will be left further behind than they likely already were. On the other hand having schools open seems likely to have a high likelihood of turning many of them into super-spreader locations that will make where we are now with covid seem completely in control by comparison.

[bae]

My "friend" is an elementary school teacher, and reported that once they went to "remote learning" they immediately lost 25% or so of the class, never even logged in, even though they had been provided with Internet hotspots and laptops.

[Teacher Terry]

That’s horrible Tradd. Bae, I wonder if the kids and parents knew how to use the laptops.

[bae]

That’s horrible Tradd. Bae, I wonder if the kids and parents knew how to use the laptops.

As was conveyed to me, yes, they had familiarity.

The issues with the kids who didn't show up had more to do with living circumstances, as was explained to me. Small apartments with multiple children and parents either stuck at home, or recruiting the older children to babysit. That is, there was some significant correlation between home environment and showing up.

[iris lilies]

If Anyone thanks kids around here in the ‘ hood will bother to login to digital instruction, well, I’ve got a bridge to sell you. That was a foregone conclusion since many do not bother to come to physical school anyway much of the time.

[bae]

We have a renewal of a school bond up in this next election.

Normally people pass these here with 65%+ support, unless it is a foolish one (we had one rejected a few years back by 65%).

This time, folks are asking "so, what's the actual plan for educating the kids? Do we need to renew this supplemental bond, which was specifically targeted at some in-person teaching programs?".

"Bother", said the School District.

[mschrisgo2]

As was conveyed to me, yes, they had familiarity.

The issues with the kids who didn't show up had more to do with living circumstances, as was explained to me. Small apartments with multiple children and parents either stuck at home, or recruiting the older children to babysit. That is, there was some significant correlation between home environment and showing up.

It doesn’t surprise me a bit that they never logged in. Schools have the same issues with actually getting those kids to school. Education is available, but many don’t participate.

I chose to teach kindergarten one year, in the lowest performing school in the district. I had 20 students. Never once in the entire year did I have all 20 of them at the same time. And the ones who did come, came late and left early. Kinder is only 2 hours And 50 minutes, but it seemed to interfere with their home lives.

I almost walked off the job the day the principal came and yelled at me because I didn’t turn in test scores for all of the kids. I told her, “you get them to school and I’ll test them. ( at that point there were 7 children I hadn’t seen at all in over 3 weeks) Hell, I’ll even teach them to read. But I can’t do it if they’re not here.” She told me I was being insubordinate.

I found out later that other teachers were turning in bogus scores for no-show students, and the attendance secretary was falsifying the records. I put in for a transfer.

[flowerseverywhere]

Just an example with one family I know.
three kids 6,8 and 10 with both parents at home working.
they had to buy two separate computers for them and one used the home computer.
Then they had to all use the Internet at once as school took place during the day when both parents had to work. The parents were able to work with their companies, one was allowed to start at 5am and the other at 1 pm so that eased the Internet demand. They both helped the kids when they were available. The littlest one needed More help, so the two older helped him as well.

These extreme measures are not possible for some families. No money. No flexibility. No connectivity to handle the demand. No skills to be able to help them. Life circumstances get in the way of the most well intentioned.

[Chicken lady]

Mschrisgo2, that situation is abhorant! And far beyond a teacher to fix.

i must have a lot of jeppy’s people enrolling their kids at our program. I have been told that I am allowed to set mask requirements for my classroom. So I told the administration they will be required. I was told “we have a lot of parents who won’t send their kids if masks are required. Will you be wearing a mask?

yes, I will be wearing a mask. I will also be wearing a shirt, which is hot and uncomfortable and I have been really happy quarantined at home gardening in my bra. The shirt is polite. The mask is a health issue. I will also be refusing to go into classrooms and offices in the building where masks are not worn. And avoiding children and coworkers who are not wearing them. My students will be set up at work stations 6 feet apart (well, some may have to be 5 facing away from each other, and if my full class stays full I’m going to make the brother and sister share a table to give everyone else more space.) and my windows will be open. Even if it rains. There is nothing on my window ledge that can’t be rained on.

I wanted to ask if we had heard from parents who won’t be sending their kids if masks are not required. Because I can list at least one. And he’s in my class. And I like him. Seriously, if you don’t want to take a basic step to keep the people around your child safe, keep them home!

they can totally fire me. I’ll get a job tutoring mask kid.

[Tradd]

At least in Chicago, Comcast was donating internet access for low income families. The school district was handing out internet hotspots and laptops/iPads so students could get online. There are still problems with the family situation in many cases. They don’t make sure the kids logon. They can’t help with school work if needed. Or maybe the home situation is abusive or otherwise a bad place.