My son's school elected to continue the NTI days during what would've been their spring break (which was the right thing to do, in my opinion), which means their last day is slated for May 8th. There is absolutely zero to be gained in bringing the kids back for one week. I imagine there'll be a few days where the school is open for kids to come in and clean out their locker, but that'll be about it.

 

And as to differences...consider this...he attends V-School (vocational school) for half the school day. It literally is a hands on learning experience. No matter what you read or watch in a video...it is not the same as actually doing it yourself. This part cannot be replicated with NTI.

I understand that, and again I hope that the state can open up schools, but do you think that social distancing will be gone by the middle of May? If that is still in place, I can’t see schools going back. Also most schools are out by mid May with the skipping of spring break by some districts. Is it really worth schools going back for a week or 2?

 

I do think schools will want to go back for a week or two.

I have two elementary age kids — third and first grade. They are both smart kids and enjoy school. But, honestly after ten hours of work coming home to be the teacher for them is a pretty low priority. I have seen nothing but praise for schools and teachers providing ‘learning’ online — aka doing their job. However, it’s all from 8a-3p. The class room meetings and instructions — nothing in the evenings for the families still working. Honestly, I am not to concerned considering this is for a few months over lifetime of learning, but in my opinion it’s a joke to think young kids are getting half out of this process. I respect the teaching community and those that are part of it, but for my family this is a failed experiment.

I do think schools will want to go back for a week or two.

 

I don't know. At this point the year has practically ended. Going back for just a week would be glorified babysitting.

I have two elementary age kids — third and first grade. They are both smart kids and enjoy school. But, honestly after ten hours of work coming home to be the teacher for them is a pretty low priority. I have seen nothing but praise for schools and teachers providing ‘learning’ online — aka doing their job. However, it’s all from 8a-3p. The class room meetings and instructions — nothing in the evenings for the families still working. Honestly, I am not to concerned considering this is for a few months over lifetime of learning, but in my opinion it’s a joke to think young kids are getting half out of this process. I respect the teaching community and those that are part of it, but for my family this is a failed experiment.

As a teacher, I am glad to have read these comments.

 

In my district, we had two weeks of NTI (non-traditional instruction) before spring break. It was decided that we were giving too much work and putting stress on families, so we came back with a new plan after spring break. A lot of it is good, but they only want us providing instruction from 8:00 - 3:30. This even includes answering of emails. I teach high school and I can see that many of my kids are doing their work at night. Also, as an example, I got an email from a parent on Friday night, asking some questions as regards helping her daughter. I didn’t hesitate a second and corresponded back and forth helping the parent and student. Imagine me choosing not to help until Monday morning!

 

While not ideal, I am for the most part pleased with what I’m able to provide and how my kids are doing. I miss doing labs with them. Most of my kids actually seem to be enjoying the work. I’m just sad that they will miss prom and a traditional graduation.

 

I believe that there is little chance of going back to school this year.

I don't know. At this point the year has practically ended. Going back for just a week would be glorified babysitting.

 

I agree and would be a waste of the past month.

 

If we want to go ahead and get the second wave over with, sure, let's send kids back to school.

There is no safer group to begin the restart with than students 18 and under. A one or two week wrap up the school year session is a good first step towards "normal".

There is no safer group to begin the restart with than students 18 and under. A one or two week wrap up the school year session is a good first step towards "normal".

 

Really? It's not the kids I'm worrying about becoming infected in the first place. It's an infected kid coming home and spending time with grandma. Mark it down...there will be no school that comes back for just a week in May. Doubtful there will be any that come back for two weeks in May. The only schools that might come back, are going to be those that were supposed to go into June in the first place. And only then would I even approach 50-50 odds of it happening.

I agree and would be a waste of the past month.

 

If we want to go ahead and get the second wave over with, sure, let's send kids back to school.

 

What about the teachers, janitors, cooks, bus drivers, etc.? !

 

Nobody wants the kids to be harmed, but you could easily knock off a chunk of a school's staff with CV.

 

 

Also what is the point? You can't have graduation, prom, Spring sports, etc. You can't make up two months of education. Testing has already been cancelled.

There is no safer group to begin the restart with than students 18 and under. A one or two week wrap up the school year session is a good first step towards "normal".

 

Not many under 18 year old teachers, custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, and administrators. Throw in the parent volunteers and it will be a free for all. If I had children of school age, which I no longer do, I wouldn’t send them back to school for a week of babysitting.

There is no safer group to begin the restart with than students 18 and under. A one or two week wrap up the school year session is a good first step towards "normal".

 

The kids may be "safer", but what about teachers, administrators, custodians, cafeteria workers, etc? What about the many inner city students that live with grandparents? Or the parents of kids in general? The kids won't be going to school in a vacuum.

Not many under 18 year old teachers, custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, and administrators. Throw in the parent volunteers and it will be a free for all. If I had children of school age, which I no longer do, I wouldn’t send them back to school for a week of babysitting.

 

One or two weeks in high/middle school with no purpose... all you will have is murder, mayhem, and madness!!

Really? It's not the kids I'm worrying about becoming infected in the first place. It's an infected kid coming home and spending time with grandma. Mark it down...there will be no school that comes back for just a week in May. Doubtful there will be any that come back for two weeks in May. The only schools that might come back, are going to be those that were supposed to go into June in the first place. And only then would I even approach 50-50 odds of it happening.

 

Grandma will not be safe till there is a treatment. If that is what we are waiting on, we are at the mercy of science till who kniws when ... 2021?

There is no safer group to begin the restart with than students 18 and under. A one or two week wrap up the school year session is a good first step towards "normal".

 

Not meaning to pile on here, but if students could teach themselves that wouldn't be an issue. However, there are surely teachers who have spouses that are at-risk from this thing or may even be at-risk themselves. Couple that with other support staff and I think schools will actually be one of the last places to reopen once things get going again instead of the first.

 

If schools go back, get ready for attendance to be terrible. I don't know what that does to school funding (or if it even matters at this point) for next year but it won't look pretty.

I wonder how many high schoolers have looked around and determined what an “essential” job is now. I wonder if more kids will go into trades.