topic Re: Change in education in Community Chat

Change in education

Abrowneyegirl — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 18:19:27 GMT

Our area like many have seen schools on partial/modified schedules due to COVID.

This has forced parents to take a fresh approach to education.

In my area, 2 concepts are becoming hugely popular.

1- for young children daycares are now offering "amish style" schools (their words not mine) for a fee your children are placed in small social school rooms/pods. Where the daycare worker is the hands-on guide to the charter virtual classes. Children are of similar grades so they can also support each other and share knowledge. Social distancing in place of course. All work and homework is completed at the daycare.

2- for older kids, small groups are formed again similar ages/grades so group activities are appropriate. Some of the upperclassmen will present their project to the group so everyone can learn.

Parents act as the hands-on preceptors to the virtual learning.

Everyone takes a turn so that parents can still work. They even invite people from the community to present on special learning topics. Retirees are lining up to assist.

I know people with children in both groups who say they and their children are so happy with the arrangement they would continue post COVID. Especially the older children- they are excited to prepare projects to present to their group and are doing this learning on their own time.

My BF said her ho-hum junior high student is now excited about school and education now. She can not believe how happy he is to go to school.

Something good came out of all this turmoil

Re: Change in education

suzyQ3 — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 18:31:05 GMT

I agree that it's a good approach. If I had encountered such a scenario when my daughter was in school, I would have participated.

But we have to recognize that this is only for those of a certain status and income. This pandemic has further divided the halfs from the have-nots. I hope that other cities and states might do what we're doing here in California to address this right now.

We are at risk of losing a huge number of children when it comes to their education.

Re: Change in education

Still Raining — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 18:40:32 GMT

We are also seeing more informal groups. The families agree to certain restrictions, like no restaurants or in store shopping, and the kids can then group. Sometimes in a couple of bubbles so there is time between. Seems to make the kids happier.

Re: Change in education

Drythe — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 00:04:09 GMT

@Abrowneyegirl

I attended grades 1 - 6 in classes like this, it was a wonderful

Learning / Life experience.

@suzyQ3

Students were selected for multiracial and socioeconomic representation. ITA it was a rare opportunity.

Re: Change in education

Isobel Archer — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 20:05:53 GMT

We have been losing a large number of children for a long time.

Re: Change in education

bikerbabe — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 20:17:38 GMT

There is a very distressing article in Propublica on Native American students in bureau of Indian education-operated schools who still have no access to remote learning: no laptops and in some areas 95% of homes have no internet.

Re: Change in education

Abrowneyegirl — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 21:04:39 GMT

@bikerbabe wrote:
There is a very distressing article in Propublica on Native American students in bureau of Indian education-operated schools who still have no access to remote learning: no laptops and in some areas 95% of homes have no internet.

This is terrible. They are really going to have to go old school, literally Little House on the Prairie small groups with textbooks and blackboards.

Many of us had to rely on books and our parents to learn. I even went through college with no internet and computers were just coming out but you had to go to the computer lab.

Kids must think I am 100

Re: Change in education

bikerbabe — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 21:17:33 GMT

COVID has been so destructive in Native American communities with few resources to help them. They are trying their best to protect their elders hence the strong desire for remote learning by tribal members. Funds and the tools to make possible were allocated, despite some pushback to open all classes in person, but the funds sat, did not get distributed for months, and purchase orders not issued. So some students still have no school. In some cases, the teachers have “disappeared” and are not contacting students.

Re: Change in education

chrystaltree — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 21:19:02 GMT

Some of the larger Y's here have a program where distance learners have a a desk there, there's a Y worker who is there to assist the children with their laptops and to keep them focus. It's probably expensive. The Y worker has a small group of students but I sure the kids don't help each other out. Two kids might be in the 4th grade but if they are in different classrooms with different teachers and in different schools, they can't help each other out. I have heard that some sahm's host a couple of their children's classmates at their house. They make some extra money and the other parent can go to work, knowing that her children are being taken care of and the school work is getting done. Some college students also oversee distance learners. It's a challenge, people are definitely thinking outside the box.

Re: Change in education

suzyQ3 — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 21:23:21 GMT

My almost 18-year-old grandson is tutoring online in addition to his own classes.

Re: Change in education

Drythe — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 22:11:25 GMT

@bikerbabe wrote:
There is a very distressing article in Propublica on Native American students in bureau of Indian education-operated schools who still have no access to remote learning: no laptops and in some areas 95% of homes have no internet.

@bikerbabe

Thank you.

Re: Change in education

Drythe — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 22:17:21 GMT

I@Abrowneyegirl wrote:

@bikerbabe wrote:
There is a very distressing article in Propublica on Native American students in bureau of Indian education-operated schools who still have no access to remote learning: no laptops and in some areas 95% of homes have no internet.

This is terrible. They are really going to have to go old school, literally Little House on the Prairie small groups with textbooks and blackboards.

Many of us had to rely on books and our parents to learn. I even went through college with no internet and computers were just coming out but you had to go to the computer lab.

Kids must think I am 100

@Abrowneyegirl

It’s a bit different when the only option you have is distant learning, your schools are closed, there are no computer labs, and 95% of your community has no Internet.

Re: Change in education

PreKteacher — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 22:34:45 GMT

@suzyQ3 wrote:
I agree that it's a good approach. If I had encountered such a scenario when my daughter was in school, I would have participated.

But we have to recognize that this is only for those of a certain status and income. This pandemic has further divided the halfs from the have-nots. I hope that other cities and states might do what we're doing here in California to address this right now.

We are at risk of losing a huge number of children when it comes to their education.

I agree that it is an elite priviledge to be able to participate in such alternative forms of schooling. I have three kids in a school district that is fully virtual and has no plans for an in-person return this school year. I am able to participate in a "pod", so that I can till work part time as a pre-K teacher (in person, private school) and then take on the pod duties when I'm not working. Many of my neighbors are homeschooling, participating in pods, or were lucky enough to switch to a private school before it was too late. Unfortunately, there are many students within our school district who are home alone all day and are not showing up for virtual classes. Even though they've been provided laptops and have wifi services, without an adult holding a child accountable, many just won't participate in their classes on a regular basis. Meanwhile, instead of forming a reopening plan, my school board spends their meetings patting themselves on the backs for having such a wonderful virtual learning program. It's sooooo sad.

Re: Change in education

SilleeMee — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 22:35:47 GMT

This pandemic sure has further filleted the socioeconomic status of the country now, making it even more evident of the division between the rich and the poor. The rich can afford tutors. The poor don't even have internet.

Re: Change in education

suzyQ3 — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 22:41:24 GMT

@PreKteacher wrote:
@suzyQ3 wrote:
I agree that it's a good approach. If I had encountered such a scenario when my daughter was in school, I would have participated.

But we have to recognize that this is only for those of a certain status and income. This pandemic has further divided the halfs from the have-nots. I hope that other cities and states might do what we're doing here in California to address this right now.

We are at risk of losing a huge number of children when it comes to their education.
I agree that it is an elite priviledge to be able to participate in such alternative forms of schooling. I have three kids in a school district that is fully virtual and has no plans for an in-person return this school year. I am able to participate in a "pod", so that I can till work part time as a pre-K teacher (in person, private school) and then take on the pod duties when I'm not working. Many of my neighbors are homeschooling, participating in pods, or were lucky enough to switch to a private school before it was too late. Unfortunately, there are many students within our school district who are home alone all day and are not showing up for virtual classes. Even though they've been provided laptops and have wifi services, without an adult holding a child accountable, many just won't participate in their classes on a regular basis. Meanwhile, instead of forming a reopening plan, my school board spends their meetings patting themselves on the backs for having such a wonderful virtual learning program. It's sooooo sad.

@PreKteacher, isn't that in their mission statement?

Re: Change in education

Oznell — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 23:39:35 GMT

I'd like to salute the post-secondary, state vocational school that my son attends, in his second year of automotive mechanics training.

Because our part of the state has had steadily declining hospitalizations and deaths, this state school opted to re-open fully this fall, after a spring of distance-learning. In-person classes have resumed, with a number of safeguards in place.

One tiny example: Now, everyone who enters the building, student, staff, visitors alike, has their temperature taken upon entry.

We learned recently how rigorous they are being. My son developed worrisome symptoms-- cough, sore throat, slight fever. When I called to let them know he would be absent, they explained their protocols. Given the symptoms with which he was presenting, he would have to be Covid-tested before returning to school.

He was tested, and is negative for the virus, yay. He just had a nasty bug. So, back to school.

We have made a point of personally thanking the dedicated administrators and teachers who are shouldering the responsibility and taking pains to keep the school going.

I have confidence they will be flexible and keep structuring their educational offerings to reflect the conditions in the community, as schools have been doing around the world.

Re: Change in education

bigtraps — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 12:43:19 GMT

I don't think so.

Re: Change in education

Abrowneyegirl — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 19:06:58 GMT

@Drythe wrote:
@Abrowneyegirl

I attended grades 1 - 6 in classes like this, it was a wonderful
Learning / Life experience.

@suzyQ3

Students were selected for multiracial and socioeconomic representation. ITA it was a rare opportunity.

It is a shame it did not continue..........it seemed like a fabulous program.!!!!

This whole scenario reminds me of years ago (15 years or so) a woman I used to work with quit her job to home school her children. She was just out of college herself a few years!

Due to the charter, online programs being free and the internet and computers being provided for free it was an easy choice.

She told me of this entire network of local home-schoolers. They did group programs and took field trips to farms and companies for onsite learning and hands-on projects. This way the children had socialization etc. Again parents shared in the program and guests were invited to teach specialized classes.

I totally had forgotten about this.

She said they got a lot of negative feedback from teachers who felt this was not a good use of the school district funds. It was quite the learning lesson for me as I am not well versed in how funding are distributed.

Re: Change in education

suzyQ3 — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 21:04:12 GMT

@Abrowneyegirl wrote:
@Drythe wrote:
@Abrowneyegirl

I attended grades 1 - 6 in classes like this, it was a wonderful
Learning / Life experience.

@suzyQ3

Students were selected for multiracial and socioeconomic representation. ITA it was a rare opportunity.
It is a shame it did not continue..........it seemed like a fabulous program.!!!!

This whole scenario reminds me of years ago (15 years or so) a woman I used to work with quit her job to home school her children. She was just out of college herself a few years!

Due to the charter, online programs being free and the internet and computers being provided for free it was an easy choice.

She told me of this entire network of local home-schoolers. They did group programs and took field trips to farms and companies for onsite learning and hands-on projects. This way the children had socialization etc. Again parents shared in the program and guests were invited to teach specialized classes.

I totally had forgotten about this.

She said they got a lot of negative feedback from teachers who felt this was not a good use of the school district funds. It was quite the learning lesson for me as I am not well versed in how funding are distributed.

@Abrowneyegirl, I side with the teachers on this issue.

Re: Change in education

Isobel Archer — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 12:36:10 GMT

I just find it amazing that here in Fairfax County, I was told during the last school board election that it is the parents' responsibility to hire tutors and/or seek community help for their kids struggling with reading and/or math (who are not in ESL or Special Needs classes - where the schools pay for this help). They told me that other than regular school instruction it was NOT the responsibility of the school to provide this additional assistance.

Then fast forward to Covid and their disastrous online failure last year and the School Board now condemns parents funding their kids education via pods and home schooling because it is UNFAIR to those parents who cannot afford to do that.

So clearly, the School Board recognizes there are parents who are unable to provide reading and math education for their kids - whether during Covid or a regular school year. Yet during a normal school year, it is fine with them to just let these kids get passed on until they finally give up and quit. No worries about "unfairness" then.