topic Re: School in the fall in Community Chat

School in the fall

happycat — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 12:31:41 GMT

Our governor announced we will be having school in the fall, but the parent can choose for the student to stay home and do the on line learning option, which isn't going to work for some, because so many in rural areas do not have internet.

All kids are going to have to wear face masks while they are at school, and I don't think they are lowering the hours of the school day.

I understand the need for it, but I don't know how thats gonna work, especially for little ones. It would be hard for me to wear a mask for 7 or 8 hours. Also, what are they going to do about lunch? Eat at their desk?

I think the kids should stay in one seat, and teachers should move rooms, I haven't heard any plans about that.

What do ya'll think? I'm glad mine are grown.

Re: School in the fall

PinkyPetunia — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 12:50:20 GMT

What state are you talking about?

Re: School in the fall

Bhvbum — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 12:57:06 GMT

Kids in school are the least likely to get sick, but they can bring the virus home to parents and relatives. Also teachers/staff are exposed.

As the infection spreads, catching it gets even greater. So do the things that they can do, wear a mask, distance, and handwash.

In Virginia many schools are not big enough to distance a full class. I have family who are teachers and they are really worried.

Schools closed March 12 and have not reopened.

I wonder if they will be testing/checking temperatures every day?

How to deal with teachers/students when they get home?

Many other countries are ahead of us and have gone back to school for the rest of the their school year. They have some really clever ideas you can Google.

Re: School in the fall

CelticCrafter — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 13:00:33 GMT

@happycat wrote:
Our governor announced we will be having school in the fall, but the parent can choose for the student to stay home and do the on line learning option, which isn't going to work for some, because so many in rural areas do not have internet.
All kids are going to have to wear face masks while they are at school, and I don't think they are lowering the hours of the school day.
I understand the need for it, but I don't know how thats gonna work, especially for little ones. It would be hard for me to wear a mask for 7 or 8 hours. Also, what are they going to do about lunch? Eat at their desk?
I think the kids should stay in one seat, and teachers should move rooms, I haven't heard any plans about that.
What do ya'll think? I'm glad mine are grown.

That wouldn't work in NJ. Once they are in 4th grade they are split into different learning levels for certain subjects. How do they decide what level to teach?

Re: School in the fall

happycat — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 13:08:21 GMT

@PinkyPetunia wrote:
What state are you talking about?

Arkansas.

I do think maybe some school districts are only doing online, because my daughter has a friend who teaches in a different district than where I live, and she said she has been told by administration they will more than likely only be doing online learning.

Re: School in the fall

LindaSal — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 13:43:42 GMT

In RI our governor has announced the same, schools are back in session starting the 31st of August. I'm glad my kids are grown too but the fact is mine are more at risk working out there everyday. These kids, IMO, need to get back to some structure and normalcy. I know how serious this matter is but I feel and have always felt we have to be cautious but we cannot stop living our lives. Keep up hopes for a vaccine soon!

Re: School in the fall

Lali1 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 13:54:26 GMT

@LindaSal wrote:
In RI our governor has announced the same, schools are back in session starting the 31st of August. I'm glad my kids are grown too but the fact is mine are more at risk working out there everyday. These kids, IMO, need to get back to some structure and normalcy. I know how serious this matter is but I feel and have always felt we have to be cautious but we cannot stop living our lives. Keep up hopes for a vaccine soon!

I agree. Not all children are in safe happy homes and those kids are so much better off in school where people are looking out for them.

Re: School in the fall

kitcat51 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 14:04:24 GMT

The college my granddaughter attends already announced the campus won't reopen in August & all classes will continue online. The large charter school in my town announced the same because they realize just getting kids to & from school on buses is a no go. The Governor & a team of educators are suppose to come up with a grand plan for opening public schools in August but since the State isn't completely open yet that to be determined plan seems pie in the sky. All schools should announce their plans ASAP so parents can prepare & they should also have a plan in place to go online immediately if needed...kids can't miss months of school again.

Re: School in the fall

Vivian — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 18:03:40 GMT

Better minds than mine have admitted that anyone who claims to predict what will happen this fall is lying. We are in a best-guess situation. I graduated from and then worked at a large university. I don't think they know for sure what they're going to do for the fall semester, although time is running out.

My granddaughter will be entering her junior year at an excellent public high school, where she maintains a straight A average and is a member of the gymnastics team (forgive the doting grandmother in me). I don't know what the next year will bring. I do know that she has not been able to do gymnastics and she has been studying at home. Like my other granddaughter, who missed a college graduation ceremony this year, and my grandson, who had to cancel his wedding reception, they've been cheated. I thank God that nobody in my family has caught COVID-19 but they have lost quite a bit this year.

Re: School in the fall

Mominohio — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 14:20:34 GMT

Ohio is gearing up to go back. I don't know all the details, but I'm hearing that there will be options to stay home too.

And I'm guessing districts will all handle it differently based on size, but there is talk of partial days in school, and some days at home online, possible half days, etc.

I hope that each district is allowed some freedom to try what they think will work for them, and then we will have a number of models to compare the results.

Re: School in the fall

Mominohio — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 14:25:23 GMT

Honestly, I would not want to be a teacher right now.

I have several friends who retired last year, and this year, and they are thankful not to have to be dealing with this.

Teaching is already hard. You are under paid, over managed, and hands tied to really do what you know can work. Add on all the accommodations for a virus and oh my!

I'm glad my kid is not in school anymore, but not as much for the virus safety issues as how interrupted the learning has been and will be for the next school year. I'm sure there are many many kids not getting the education/services/attention they need and I'm sure in a few years there will be lots of information about all that was lost in this time.

Re: School in the fall

sunshine 919 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 14:35:10 GMT

This is such a tough situation. Many households both parents have to work. They cannot afford for one parent to stay home and be a teacher. If kids cannot go to school maybe there should be a supplement for one parent to stay home with the home schooling. Otherwise how is this all going to work for working parents. Kids should not be forced back to school if it is not safe. I just saw on the news this morning that yes places are open but rules and regulations seem to be out the door.

Re: School in the fall

Laura14 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 14:36:21 GMT

Wow. I live in Georgia and even we haven't had any decision on schools yet and they go back usually the first week in August.

I was laughing when I went to Target this weekend and they were putting the back to school displays up. I was waiting for the parents with their tongues out, on their knees praying in the aisles, hoping against hope that, yes, it will happen again. LOL

Re: School in the fall

CrazyDaisy — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 14:53:36 GMT

@Lali1 wrote:
@LindaSal wrote:
In RI our governor has announced the same, schools are back in session starting the 31st of August. I'm glad my kids are grown too but the fact is mine are more at risk working out there everyday. These kids, IMO, need to get back to some structure and normalcy. I know how serious this matter is but I feel and have always felt we have to be cautious but we cannot stop living our lives. Keep up hopes for a vaccine soon!
I agree. Not all children are in safe happy homes and those kids are so much better off in school where people are looking out for them.

SO many students also do not have the technology for on line learning or a support structure at home. Just further divides those who have the means and those who do not. How many children got left behind with these shutdowns so far.

Re: School in the fall

willdob3 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 14:56:46 GMT

@happycat I think sending kids back to school is going to be one more chapter in this health disaster tale. I’d hate to have kids and need to decide on what to do. I’d absolutely hate the government dictating that my kids have to go back when I might not feel it is safe.

Re: School in the fall

sunshine45 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 14:59:39 GMT

@kitcat51 wrote:
The college my granddaughter attends already announced the campus won't reopen in August & all classes will continue online. The large charter school in my town announced the same because they realize just getting kids to & from school on buses is a no go. The Governor & a team of educators are suppose to come up with a grand plan for opening public schools in August but since the State isn't completely open yet that to be determined plan seems pie in the sky. All schools should announce their plans ASAP so parents can prepare & they should also have a plan in place to go online immediately if needed...kids can't miss months of school again.

@kitcat51

my daughters university will be doing a combination of online learning (via zoom, which she did for part of the spring semester) and in person classes. they will be required to wear a mask when they are in classrooms and buildings. she is happy they are at least doing that, but would really prefer to be in the classroom full time. he was upset that all of her classes this semester were graded as pass/fail. she was not even supposed to be here this upcoming semester, but was supposed to be studying abroad.

no word yet on what maryland public schools will be doing.

Re: School in the fall

sunshine 919 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 15:39:24 GMT

@CrazyDaisy wrote:
@Lali1 wrote:
@LindaSal wrote:
In RI our governor has announced the same, schools are back in session starting the 31st of August. I'm glad my kids are grown too but the fact is mine are more at risk working out there everyday. These kids, IMO, need to get back to some structure and normalcy. I know how serious this matter is but I feel and have always felt we have to be cautious but we cannot stop living our lives. Keep up hopes for a vaccine soon!
I agree. Not all children are in safe happy homes and those kids are so much better off in school where people are looking out for them.
SO many students also do not have the technology for on line learning or a support structure at home. Just further divides those who have the means and those who do not. How many children got left behind with these shutdowns so far.

Very insightful, this is so true

Re: School in the fall

SunSprite — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 15:57:32 GMT

@CrazyDaisy @sunshine 919 I agree.

You will have families that have the means and won't risk putting their child on a crowded bus or in a school---and they will most likely also have the means for the child to be taught at home.

Then you will have those that have to put themselves in harms way just to get to school, much less the potential lack of safety precautions and increased risk of contracting the virus.

Those same children will also take the virus home to family members, some who may be in high risk categories.

I hope someone(s) super smart have a well thought out plan/s that will work. I believe it was @Mominohio that mentioned a system so that multiple school districts can compare what is working and what isn't......

My daughter is an elementary teacher in an already crowded school district. Last year she had two special needs students that would not keep their clothes on, much less some type of mask. Forget social distancing among the lower grades.

I'm concerned.

Re: School in the fall

Hoovermom — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 16:07:57 GMT

University of Alabama is opening up the second semester of summer school on campus and will resume classes in the Fall the same way. Also I have seen the schedule for the towns around here for school starting in August. Glad to see it....

Re: School in the fall

Still Raining — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 16:37:31 GMT

We are moving toward school openings. I have seem how my grandkids have not done well being at home. But I sure have mixed feelings.