Are you sending your kids to school next month?

[Kestryl]

You mean, like, they should be asking for this instead of defunding the police, medicare for all, etc? I could get behind that. I could get behind putting the same effort into getting PPE for teachers that we put into making all those ventilators.

That’s an interesting idea, actually. Maybe police departments can take their funding and buy N95 masks for teachers.

 

[CarolAnn856]

For any teachers here. What items would you like the parents to start looking for and stocking up on now to send in to help? Sanitizers, disinfecting wipes, masks, shields, gloves, other items not mentioned? What would you need more of that the school district won’t supply or not enough of you would like? Want to help out my son’s teacher in the fall but don’t know who he’ll have yet so asking here.

You are so kind!! Any of those items would, I’m sure, be welcome.

But I think I can speak for many teachers when I say that the best thing that parents can do is help their children get acclimated to what it will be like in school: wearing a mask properly (e.g., keeping it on, not fiddling with it, keeping their nose covered), proper hand washing, not standing close to others, and practicing good pandemic behaviors, like not going to large parties where there is no social distancing, etc.

 

[Lumpy1106]

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

 

[SaintsManiac]

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

Cool. Hopefully the same holds true in schools that have 900 students.

 

[trmiv]

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

Saxony has had about 5500 cases TOTAL since the start of the pandemic. Here in Florida we had over 10,000 cases today alone. This study has no relevance here in the US, especially in Florida.

The article even says

He added that the study was representative for the state of Saxony, however, which has a relatively low rate of infection compared with other parts of Germany.

 

[jrmasm]

Cool. Hopefully the same holds true in schools that have 900 students.

2500 in my daughter’s school.

 

[Mango7100]

2500 in my daughter’s school.

Yup. Our primary school has 25 classrooms. For kindergarten.

 

[kandb]

I saw this last night and it made me so sad. I feel for teachers.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1284127347655028738

https://twitter.com/x/status/1284129835674206214

I agree, it is hard BUT what about the people who have been working in the grocery stores during the height of the pandemic, making $12/hr. What about the nurses/doctors/hospital workers??? They took precautions and majority did fine after the face mask mandates!!!

 

[SaintsManiac]

2500 in my daughter’s school.

Goodness and I thought my kid’s school was too big.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I agree, it is hard BUT what about the people who have been working in the grocery stores during the height of the pandemic, making $12/hr. What about the nurses/doctors/hospital workers??? They took precautions and majority did fine after the face mask mandates!!!

I don’t know!!! This thread is about schools so that’s why I posted it!!!

 

[kandb]

Heading back to face to face school should not even be on option on the table. I’m sorry this is happening. These are not normal times. It will not be normal times for a long time. The sooner society accepts that, the sooner we can get on with fighting the virus. So much of this reminds me of a toddler having a tantrum, kicking and screaming because he can’t get his way. No amount of kicking and screaming is going to change the trajectory of the virus. Only mitigation strategies will do that. Keep the kids out of school!

So you are saying, you don't believe masks work??? If masks do work, like so many say they do, why not return to school and require masks?

 

[kandb]

I don’t know!!! This thread is about schools so that’s why I posted it!!!

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!

 

[kandb]

My wife is a middle school teacher. The thought of having to deal with these types of procedures for months is scary and exhausting. Add in the daily thoughts of “what mistakes did I make today that could have infected us?” The anxiety level alone of having to be on-guard constantly for hours to reduce infection risk, while also having to manage a classroom, attend to the educational and emotional needs of the students, likely be the custodian for the classroom and the myriad other things teachers deal with even in regular times, is probably going to take a huge emotional toll on my wife if she is forced to go back to face-to-face. Also given that there will likely be some type of hybrid model in my wife’s county in Florida, there will be all the extra stress of having to handle both in-person and virtual students at the same time. All this for 40k a year!

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!

 

[pigletto]

trvigirlmq:

I know my school district will not put “masks are mandatory everywhere” as a written part of their plan for fear of backlash from parents. We have to please everyone. We have been specifically told to have the kids wear masks as much as possible. My classroom, my rules.

These are unprecedented times; I so wish we could be kind and respectful of others. I will educate your child to the best of my ability, while providing them with a safe and loving environment. Please don’t ask me to make my health or the health of my family members less of a priority; that won’t happen. We should be equals.

We’re seeing this here as well. My husband works for regional government and it’s a giant game of pass the buck between cities, municipalities, public health , regions and school boards on the mask issue. Nobody wants to police it and nobody wants to have to provide the mandated masks so it’s being left up to individual groups. If there’s no cohesive strategy there will be no effective control of the spread. And it’s not even like they are saying they don’t work.. its just nobody wants to take responsibility.

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!

Our board has already said the kids can wear a mask if they want but they won’t be mandating them. I think this makes me angrier than anything ... you think bullying is a problem now ? Let’s make a bunch of high school kids decide if masks are cool or not . It could go either way but it will be one more reason for kids to exclude.

 

[luvsvacation]

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. Many people doing many jobs are working right now with the public. My son and daughter (both teens) have worked through this pandemic, as have I. One works at Walmart and the other at QT, both working in the public with customers all day long. I’m a nanny 3 days a week and substitute teacher part time. Obviously I haven’t been subbing since schools closed, but I’ve continued as a nanny for a baby and toddler. Many professions are having to work with the public. I’m not sure why teachers feel they shouldn’t have to go to work in a classroom setting. Doctors, nurses, dental hygienist, waiters, etc are all working right now. Again I am a substitute teacher and I have no issues with going back and working in person in a classroom. I will be sending my son (senior year) as long as the school is open. I will also be sending my daughter away to her first year of college (although most of her classes have switched to online which really irritates me for the money we are spending!!)

 

[TikiTikiFan]

Masks are a great way to prevent COVID... if worn correctly...

https://vm.tiktok.com/JF2kYyR/
Some humor for this conversation.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

We’re seeing this here as well. My husband works for regional government and it’s a giant game of pass the buck between cities, municipalities, public health , regions and school boards on the mask issue. Nobody wants to police it and nobody wants to have to provide the mandated masks so it’s being left up to individual groups. If there’s no cohesive strategy there will be no effective control of the spread. And it’s not even like they are saying they don’t work.. its just nobody wants to take responsibility.

Our board has already said the kids can wear a mask if they want but they won’t be mandating them. I think this makes me angrier than anything ... you think bullying is a problem now ? Let’s make a bunch of high school kids decide if masks are cool or not . It could go either way but it will be one more reason for kids to exclude.

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. I teach middle school. Those kids are like pinballs bumping on and off each other. They should be wearing masks 100% of the time they are at school except when eating/drinking.

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

I’m not sure what’s going to happen because all the major school systems announced today they are recommending distance learning for the whole Fall. They are just waiting on the various school boards to vote. I think if they all vote for distance learning, we will end up following suite. That’s the way it usually happens here. We’ll see.

 

[SamFaniam]

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

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.

 

[Frwinkley]

luvsvacation:

I am a 3rd grade teacher in my upper 50s and agree with you. My DD is a dentist; upon reopening, she went back to work full-time. She weights 120 lbs soaking wet and wears about that much in PPE! Her patients are masked (obviously until they need to open their mouth), and every safety measure is in place. Having said that, the office receptionist (a 20 year old) has COVID and now the office is closed. People have to think of others.

As a teacher, my biggest issue is the pushback on masks. If parents don't believe in masks, their kids are not going to wear them, and yet, I'm expected to get as close to them as possible to teach them. We are just asking for some respect when it comes to our own health and the health of our own families. I want to go back to face to face schooling, but parents have got to be willing to help us out.

 

[quandrea]

So you are saying, you don't believe masks work??? If masks do work, like so many say they do, why not return to school and require masks?

Only an n95 mask protects the wearer from the virus. Every other mask prevents the spread of the virus by the wearer. How many times have you seen a mask work improperly? I know I see them worn improperly almost 100% of the time. It’s incredibly frustrating—under the nose, under the chin, gaping, hanging off an ear, on and off repeatedly. A mask is supposed to be put on and left on. It’s not supposed to be touched until it is ready to be discarded or washed. If I’m heading into a high risk environment—school, hospital, hairstylist or anywhere else enclosed for anything over fifteen minutes, I’m wearing an n95. I can’t trust those around me to wear a mask properly. There is no way I’d go into a school without an n95. Regular masks are not enough.