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This is just so disingenuous and ridiculous in so many ways.
1. Of course in person learning is better than virtual learning. But we are in the middle of a global pandemic.
I wish you would have this vigor, excitement, and advocacy for the quality of in-person learning when we speak about paying teachers what they are worth.
I wish you would have this vigor, excitement, and advocacy for the quality of in-person learning when we speak about paying teachers what they are worth.
2. Is funding not based on supporting students? Because, whether federally funded (a small percentage of a school budget) or not, teachers and schools will be working tirelessly to educate students whetr they are. Teaching remotely takes more time and efforts in some ways.
3. Right now, teachers are being asked to risk their lives and the lives of others they’re connected to to go back into schools that cannot even control yearly outbreaks of RSV, flu, lice, strep throat, etc. or stay home (many with their own children) and teach remotely.
This is a complex situation. I don’t know that *anyone* knows the “right” answer or solutions. However, it would be nice to see the federal government acknowledge the complexity of the situation, listen to experts about covid, listen to teachers about teaching, and show support.
Also, I see people comparing effectiveness of remote/online learning for (adults pursuing) college degrees. Unfortunately, though we can take certain aspects from that model, those are incomparable because they rely on the capacity and motivation of those adults.
Remote learning for PreK-12 is VERY different and still requires large levels of in-person adult supervision, facilitation, and assistance. Even with older, high school students, there are many challenges in remote learning.
However, my main point is this is all new, treacherous, and extremely complex. And people who aren’t listening to experts shouldn’t be the ones making major decisions like, “OPEN ALL SCHOOLS NOW!”
And it’s devastating that a main person not listening to experts is the president.
And it’s devastating that a main person not listening to experts is the president.
We have all sorts of talent, expertise, and creativity in this country. This is an excellent opportunity to really come together, grapple with all of this, and come up with innovative solutions to this health crisis and related issues.
It would be nice to have a government leading that charge.
But what can we expect from a government that has botched the handling of this pandemic from the beginning, been in denial about it, and been the cause of exponential numbers of unnecessary infections and deaths?
But what can we expect from a government that has botched the handling of this pandemic from the beginning, been in denial about it, and been the cause of exponential numbers of unnecessary infections and deaths?
