Post by breezy8407 on Jan 25, 2021 18:09:18 GMT -5
Saudade Its frustrating, but not surprising given the attitudes towards masking, social distancing and pretty much everything Covid related in some circles.
What's missing from all these "lack of school causes mental health problems" discussions is an acknowledgement that this virus causes mental health problems.
20% of people post covid are showing increased mental health problems.
Kids' brains are still growing and we don't know how this will play out. The idea that I could be putting my kid at increased chance of depression or even psychosis is a big part of why DH and I are so cautious with them. Psychosis doesn't usually present until early adulthood (later for women than men). In the next 5 years are we going to see the base rate of psychosis in young adults sky rocket?
What's missing from all these "lack of school causes mental health problems" discussions is an acknowledgement that this virus causes mental health problems.
20% of people post covid are showing increased mental health problems.
Kids' brains are still growing and we don't know how this will play out. The idea that I could be putting my kid at increased chance of depression or even psychosis is a big part of why DH and I are so cautious with them. Psychosis doesn't usually present until early adulthood (later for women than men). In the next 5 years are we going to see the base rate of psychosis in young adults sky rocket?
A school counselor I know is trying to share, too, that in-person school in COVID is also really tough on kids. Constant supervision, mask requirements, heavily monitored social distancing, frequent quarantines - it's all very unnatural to teen development and stressful.
I am worried for my younger daughter who has not adjusted to online learning and isolation well. My older daughter at least has friends with ipads so she's been able to maintain her friendships. My younger daughter missed a third of first grade and now looks like all of second which are friendship building years (based off my experience with DD1). She's also the youngest in her grade because of her birthday just making the cutoff. I debated holding her back for kindergarten but decided to send her because, why not? Now, the principal refuses to hold anyone back unless they are a full 1 year behind standards. She is absolutely not ready for 3rd, especially if its going to be online. I'm now looking at private schools for her because I too have heard buzzing that we won't open this year or even in the fall. Apparently the teachers union wants all students and teachers vaccinated before returning to in person learning.
On top of all of that, we are in San Diego and are losing our superintendent for the Biden administration. People are worried the school board will now be preoccupied with finding a replacement and using that as a reason to postpone opening.
This is going to just further divide the haves and the have nots.
removed personal details. None of what the bargaining team has published to the teachers says they want teachers and students to be vaccinated. They want teachers to have the choice to get vaccinated and have staff allocated to do distance learning and other staff for face-to-face. This seems reasonable going by how many people here have said it’s impossible for them to do both.
I have teacher friends looking for new jobs in new fields because they are so beat down by how this has all gone and by the vitriol from parents towards their profession. They love their students but feel completely burned out and demoralized.
J had his 5yr checkup (how is he almost 5?!), and his pedi said that she sees almost no acute illnesses. I know it’s anecdotal, but her day is filled with yearly checkups and mental health appointments. It’s quite sad.
I think it’s going to be hard to have people masking still when most adults have the vaccine. We will if it’s recommended, but this pandemic has really shown that many adults don’t actually care about schools.
I am so glad I quit teaching in 2019. I am in awe of what teachers are doing. I suspect we will have a teacher shortage going into next year.
TW: A child in a neighboring community completed a suicide last month. Remote learning is definitely taking a toll.
Post by penguingrrl on Jan 25, 2021 18:58:33 GMT -5
This is such a difficult conversation to have.
I don’t think any teachers should be asked to be in the buildings without a vaccine (nor do I think teachers should be allowed in the buildings without one once it’s readily available). But I see the toll in my family. It’s been awful. However, this might be my district. We’re one of the less than 5% of families that chose full remote. Our superintendent specifically ordered teachers to prioritize in person students (which is fucked up), we did away with cohorts in early October and have been going full steam ahead with full classrooms. Not only no cohorts, but the middle school kids are changing classes every period as if it’s 2019, expanding any spread. And every time things are bad enough for a shutdown parents complain that shutting down is ridiculous and they don’t pay these property taxes to not have school. Today the middle school shut down for a week because 1/4 of the building is either in quarantine due to exposure or has tested positive. And parents are screaming that how dare they close, it’s ridiculous, etc.
Meanwhile I have two kids who look like they’ll need to repeat a grade because their teachers are focused on the in building kids (as the superintendent ordered) at the expense of the 1-3 kids who are fully virtual. My 6th grader went from straight As to straight Fs and they’re hoping to convince her to do enough work for math and LA to pass and giving up on all her other classes. We’re working with a psychiatrist and trying to stabilize her anxiety with all of this, but not having success yet (we tried therapy and she wouldn’t speak to the therapist). My son is in 2nd and the only virtual kid in his class and it’s a disaster. I do not blame the teachers for a second. They were set up to fail because they’re trying to loop 1-2 virtual kids in to a standard classroom without administrative support.
I don’t know what the answer is, but it’s not working. In late October we got so frustrated we sent our kids in. A week later all both schools shut until after Thanksgiving due to in building spread. We kept them home through December break because we felt that the Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Years spread would be awful. This past week we finally sent them back. They got three days and now we’re closed again due to spread, and my 6th grader was exposed because her best friend was walking her to school (her anxiety is all over the place and this made her comfortable) and tested positive Thursday afternoon. I’m supposed to send them back February 5 and it sucks. When we go in we’re exposed (and H has no B-cells, so exposure is terrifying), but when they’re home they’re failing.
Post by neverfstop on Jan 25, 2021 19:05:29 GMT -5
My kids are not in public school at the moment. However, I check the local ISD and the state school board every Monday to see the numbers. I am mostly amazed that it is the most horrible display/formatting of information and almost useless. They are so many great counters, trackers, graphs, and examples to follow 10+ months in & I'm embarrassed that these are the people in charge of teaching our kids.
FWIW, my own opinion, is that schools can probably be opened mostly in a safe manner if masking & other rules are followed. The caveat is that all non-necessary things & extra-curriculars need to be shut down...that's where it seems like I've seen spread among my friends & coworkers kids....drill team, basketball league, etc. We still need to send the signal "NOT NORMAL" and take precautions instead of just carrying on like normal.
lexus, thank you for your response. I agree that its impossible for teachers to manage online and in person instruction at the same time. I in no way fault the teachers and know they've been under unbelievable pressure.
I'm just overall sad about all of this and don't want to pull my younger daughter out because I really do love the school community but there comes a point where I have to put my kid first (I mean I do, but I was hoping to keep her enrolled for the greater good).
My kids are not in public school at the moment. However, I check the local ISD and the state school board every Monday to see the numbers. I am mostly amazed that it is the most horrible display/formatting of information and almost useless. They are so many great counters, trackers, graphs, and examples to follow 10+ months in & I'm embarrassed that these are the people in charge of teaching our kids.
FWIW, my own opinion, is that schools can probably be opened mostly in a safe manner if masking & other rules are followed. The caveat is that all non-necessary things & extra-curriculars need to be shut down...that's where it seems like I've seen spread among my friends & coworkers kids....drill team, basketball league, etc. We still need to send the signal "NOT NORMAL" and take precautions instead of just carrying on like normal.
One of the things that is particularly frustrating to many of the parents in my district is the fact that HS sports are up and running, including basketball and wrestling, but in person learning is not.
FWIW, my own opinion, is that schools can probably be opened mostly in a safe manner if masking & other rules are followed. The caveat is that all non-necessary things & extra-curriculars need to be shut down...that's where it seems like I've seen spread among my friends & coworkers kids....drill team, basketball league, etc. We still need to send the signal "NOT NORMAL" and take precautions instead of just carrying on like normal.
One of the things that is particularly frustrating to many of the parents in my district is the fact that HS sports are up and running, including basketball and wrestling, but in person learning is not.
If school opens mostly in person but with limits on afterschool/sports/etc I am 100% there is a small but vocal group of parents who will complain. While we might be able to run with far more in-person learning I do not think schools need to take on the added risk/logistics of non-core activates.
It is interesting how our camp is starting to message what will and will not happen this summer. Even with a bubble that sleep away can create they are still planning on a ton of modifications especially early on when the bubble is being established. If a mostly outdoor/lower density program needs to run in such a fashion schools will ALSO need to run that way.
This is a really interesting opinion piece from today. I don't know if anyone has children in this district but I would be livid about the stance of this union.
"At the Jan. 21 school board meeting, Fairfax Education Association President Kimberly Adams said she received her first vaccine dose on Jan. 14, two days ahead of the scheduled start for school personnel. She has said that her union would not support a return to full-time education even in the fall. The fall. As in September 2021. Nine months after she was vaccinated."
Jake Tapper tweeted out this link with the same person (Kimberly Adams)) stating something different. The opinion piece is from a former GOP staffer
This is a really interesting opinion piece from today. I don't know if anyone has children in this district but I would be livid about the stance of this union.
"At the Jan. 21 school board meeting, Fairfax Education Association President Kimberly Adams said she received her first vaccine dose on Jan. 14, two days ahead of the scheduled start for school personnel. She has said that her union would not support a return to full-time education even in the fall. The fall. As in September 2021. Nine months after she was vaccinated."
Jake Tapper tweeted out this link with the same person (Kimberly Adams)) stating something different. The opinion piece is from a former GOP staffer
tamarindy - it happens! And I’m not saying the union hasn’t said some off stuff, but It did not surprise me in the least to see who wrote that piece. Always eager to trash all the hardworking teachers and unions at once.
ETA: Teachers also have to worry about asymptotically bringing it home to unvaccinated family members. Has there been clarification about whether they can transmit it if they are exposed but vaccinated?
tamarindy - it happens! And I’m not saying the union hasn’t said some off stuff, but It did not surprise me in the least to see who wrote that piece. Always eager to trash all the hardworking teachers and unions at once.
Thank you for letting me know. As a teacher, I definitely don't support those who make a habit of bashing the profession. It is somewhat surreal to be in the classroom full time since August, while others have been remote since March and get prioritized for the vaccine. Maybe I should be mad at myself for not being more pissed off that I am in the position I am in, but I still see such a need for students to be back in the classroom. Such a tough situation and there truly is no easy way to navigate it.
I know someone brought up this point last week - teachers opting out of being vaccinated. And as a parent, you will have no way of knowing if your child's teacher or school staff has or hasn't been vaccinated. I know the flu shot is required in health care settings, so is it going to happen with covid in schools? My mom is in patient facing healthcare, and most of her coworkers are not getting the vaccine.
Disclaimer: My H is a HS teacher and will be getting it as soon as he can. Since he hasn't been with coworkers in person, he said he isn't sure if anyone if his immediate colleagues are NOT getting it.
Did you see/hear about the teacher mass vaccination event?
Post by icedcoffee on Jan 25, 2021 21:38:42 GMT -5
I’m curious to see what will happen with summer camps. Specifically the overnight camps that chose not to open last summer. My kid is only 4, but I was planning to take him to sleep away camp this summer (parents stay with them in tents). I wonder if they will even attempt to open. I don’t even know how I feel about him going.
icedcoffee, the sleep away camp I send DS1 to has announced they're planning on holding sessions this summer, though in a reduced capacity. I hesitate to book AGAIN only to be refunded like last summer.
I know someone brought up this point last week - teachers opting out of being vaccinated. And as a parent, you will have no way of knowing if your child's teacher or school staff has or hasn't been vaccinated. I know the flu shot is required in health care settings, so is it going to happen with covid in schools? My mom is in patient facing healthcare, and most of her coworkers are not getting the vaccine.
Disclaimer: My H is a HS teacher and will be getting it as soon as he can. Since he hasn't been with coworkers in person, he said he isn't sure if anyone if his immediate colleagues are NOT getting it.
Did you see/hear about the teacher mass vaccination event?
I only read one line about it in a Bring Me The News article, but hadn't seen further details.
H got an email today that his district received a lot more doses than last week, which is good. Its still not enough though. He's guessing they will prioritize K-5 as they are going back to school first, but that is just us speculating.
I have teacher friends looking for new jobs in new fields because they are so beat down by how this has all gone and by the vitriol from parents towards their profession. They love their students but feel completely burned out and demoralized.
Good. I hope they all escape that godforsaken profession and I also hope there is a massive goddamned teacher shortage for years to come to finally use supply and demand against the very people who used it to starve education.
I have teacher friends looking for new jobs in new fields because they are so beat down by how this has all gone and by the vitriol from parents towards their profession. They love their students but feel completely burned out and demoralized.
Good. I hope they all escape that godforsaken profession and I also hope there is a massive goddamned teacher shortage for years to come to finally use supply and demand against the very people who used it to starve education.
There has been a teacher shortage for years already.
But sure. Lovely sentiment. Let’s screw op education for kids anymore!! Sounds awesome.
Pretty sure the better conversation what should we do to value education more? The current system is broken.
Good. I hope they all escape that godforsaken profession and I also hope there is a massive goddamned teacher shortage for years to come to finally use supply and demand against the very people who used it to starve education.
There has been a teacher shortage for years already.
But sure. Lovely sentiment. Let’s screw op education for kids anymore!! Sounds awesome.
Pretty sure the better conversation what should we do to value education more? The current system is broken.
Have you been following any of the conversations that have gone on here since March? Everyone wants to get back to "normal" and not fix anything.
I have teacher friends looking for new jobs in new fields because they are so beat down by how this has all gone and by the vitriol from parents towards their profession. They love their students but feel completely burned out and demoralized.
Good. I hope they all escape that godforsaken profession and I also hope there is a massive goddamned teacher shortage for years to come to finally use supply and demand against the very people who used it to starve education.
Yeah it seems like there’s definitely going to be an even worse teacher and nurse shortage coming very soon due to how people have been treated during covid. A pandemic is obviously a mirror in to how we really treat essential workers. It’s really shitty.
Good. I hope they all escape that godforsaken profession and I also hope there is a massive goddamned teacher shortage for years to come to finally use supply and demand against the very people who used it to starve education.
There has been a teacher shortage for years already.
But sure. Lovely sentiment. Let’s screw op education for kids anymore!! Sounds awesome.
Pretty sure the better conversation what should we do to value education more? The current system is broken.
Sure, I bet NOW people will want to have those conversations. Absolutely. You can see that with all the support for educators.
There will be a shortage. And in typical American fashion, no one will fix the things that would fix it. Instead, the privileged will take their kids out of public schools, and the poor will continue to not have enough. Rinse, repeat.
Local districts have kept sports going here even with local numbers over 20%. Even when the high schools were remote (they are hybrid now) extra curriculars were happening. The school board gets screamed at every month by the “let them play” parents. It is monstrous.
I quite desperately hope that the Biden administration is able to collect and analyze data and give voice to medicine and science when it comes to this discussion. Risk changes the longer this goes on, as long term symptoms of COVID are better understood and who they are generally effecting, as vaccines become available, as treatments are developed etc. Parents have their opinion on what they and their children need and teachers unions have their opinions on how to best keep their teachers safe. Both “sides” have extremely valid points but guidance from medical experts should be shaping this conversation and I think there is still time for that to happen.
These articles always seem to act like it is 2019 or all virtual with nothing in between. People do need socialization, and after months of complete isolation, I started seeing a person here and there again because I needed it for my own mental health.
There are solutions that are not 35 students in a small poorly ventilated classroom 5 days a week. There has always been a teacher shortage, so there is not enough staff to open more rooms even if you happen to have space. But you can separate out the students and have them come 1 wk/month or certain days of the week or even half days. Complete isolation is part of the issue with mental health, so that could be addressed with less seat time. The reason this is not popular is that schools have been child care for as long as we have had them.
I remember my mother talking about living in Germany when my sister was born (so a very long time ago lol) that school only ran until noon and you were expected to be available to get the child then. I am sure in the meantime it has changed, but it is something she talked about for twenty years after she moved back to the US.
Good. I hope they all escape that godforsaken profession and I also hope there is a massive goddamned teacher shortage for years to come to finally use supply and demand against the very people who used it to starve education.
There has been a teacher shortage for years already.
But sure. Lovely sentiment. Let’s screw op education for kids anymore!! Sounds awesome.
Pretty sure the better conversation what should we do to value education more? The current system is broken.
The conversation about valuing education more has been taking place for decades. But sure. Lovely sentiment. educators should continue to participate in a pathologically broken system in an ongoing culture of self sacrifice. Sounds awesome. Now go have a seat.
Good. I hope they all escape that godforsaken profession and I also hope there is a massive goddamned teacher shortage for years to come to finally use supply and demand against the very people who used it to starve education.
Yeah it seems like there’s definitely going to be an even worse teacher and nurse shortage coming very soon due to how people have been treated during covid. A pandemic is obviously a mirror in to how we really treat essential workers. It’s really shitty.
It should be no surprise to anyone that female-dominated professions are massively undervalued.