Yes, of course this is happening, because what else are people supposed to do? I'm so exhausted from every choice parents make to navigate this situation being villainized. https://twitter.com/BisforBerkshire/status/1284175392513949699

If you want schools open, you're heartless and don't care about teachers or high risk kids. If you keep kids home because you can work flexibly you're insensitive to parents who can't. But if you hire help because you *can't* half-ass both forever now you're a monster.

I *wish* public schools could organize small pods in dispersed locations, perhaps supported in-person by an aide and with pods connecting with their teacher virtually on a daily basis. It seems so much more reasonable than trying to buy enough plastic to make a class of 30 safe.

Unfortunately this would require completely re-imagining public education rather than buying face shields

In my kids school district we've gotten info about a remote learning option, but NOTHING about what in person school might involve. A parent survey went out yesterday that's open until July 24. If that survey is actually used, I cant imagine we'll hear any plan til mid-august.

School is supposed to start August 31! I *want* my kid in public school. I care about supporting that system for all the families involved. But anyone seeking more predictability, time to plan than we had in the spring is making private plans now because public plans don't exist.

This experience is also unlike anything we've been through before because the socially responsible choice doesn't always seem intuitive. People who hire private tutors are also creating more space (and hopefully less risk) in public school classrooms for those who are there.

FWIW, the fully remote learning option available from our district 1) allows the kids to remain in district, be counted as registered, etc and 2) is completely asynchronous/self directed. As far as I can tell there is NO teacher.

I could *only* choose this option if I teamed up with a group of other parents, hiring instruction help, or both. EVEN WHILE keeping my kid in the public district, by opting for the fully remote option, we're opting out of having a teacher or a class of any kind.

I can't say whether other "private pods" elsewhere are in a similar situation but forming a group and potentially hiring an instructor to guide elementary schoolers through a 100% self-guided, asynchronous set of learning materials strikes me as eminently.....sane.