OT: NJ schools can start the year virtually

[Shell21]

That’s all you got, the old toothless stereotype? Let me tell ya, McGavock HS, just to name one would blow away any HS in the cities I mentioned above. Oh and no income tax, tolls, or countless “fees” that are imposed on NJ residents

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/education

no need for any further comment .

 

[Shell21]

Private schools and the parents care more about kids. Pretty easy to figure out.

You sound like your idol , making dumb statement after dumb statement . No way to even quantify that .

 

[TGonzRU_rivals]

Sports and camps have been going on in this state for over a month. We’ve somehow managed to stay alive. Schools have had months to come up with plans.

I agree but unfortunately many have come up with only “sanitizer stations” and a promise of deep cleaning from the custodians. That is not enough.

 

[sugarkane2]

Not a teacher but a parent who along with his wife has decided his child will be attending school in person if it is open. A lot of teachers are crybabies ! And if I DON'T STFU ?

you choose to gamble with your kid's life.... don't come crying when they get sick

 

[Shell21]

I do see some businesses where it works. Again depends on who you listen to. My buddies company spent big $$$ making sure the offices were safe so they could go back to work. A week before they were set to go back word from upper management all will work from home until at January. Some schools in other states who opened up in person have already had to change to all virtual. Bottom line is teachers want to teach the way they learned in college. In school in front of their kids. Problem now even if there is in person school it is not how it used to be. Teachers will be behind plexiglass. Many schools are going for no recess, no cafeteria, gym being very very different. Students not being able to work in groups as they can’t share equipment. Most students will have to wear masks. Younger students, especially special education students will struggle with the change. Of course students have struggled with virtual learning. I don’t see there being an easy answer.

I could give this 10 thumbs up . People that want them back don’t take all of this into account . I teach at the elementary level and we can’t go around to the students and check their work because we’ll be too close , no group work or sharing materials , no recess , basically no socializing . It will be like a big lecture hall with the teacher at the front of the room except for 10-11 year olds . The a social and emotional learning everyone says they need will be nonexistent because while they will be seeing classmates , they won’t really be interacting with them and a lot for them won’t even be there on the same day . It will be very watered down because of the lack of interaction and personalization is out the window . How about the kids that can’t hear well, they can’t even see the teachers face . How about the special Ed kids that need one on one attention but can’t get it because of distancing rules . This is what’s going to go on on a daily basis and I am not even listing a million other things . It’s not the point tbT we don’t want to go in ( I’m not concerned for my health ), but the fact that the learning taking place is going to be inadequate and most of our time is going to be enforcing safety procedures .

 

[TGonzRU_rivals]

You do realize nursery schools never shut down? Kids do not typically get adults sick. It’s been studied. It’s been reported.

Nursery schools don’t have as many children as elementary, middle and high schools. It’s easy to contain a smaller population. What about those schools that have already opened and already had to quarantine staff and students?

 

[T2Kplus10]

Looks like Murphy has caved to the teachers union.

Just reason #4,598 to go private.

Our daughter's school:
5 days a week in person, live streaming of all classrooms with interactive sound enabled displays so those at home won't miss a thing. Can move between in person and at home as needed. It can easily and safely be done. All it takes is some common sense and leadership.

 

[T2Kplus10]

Private schools and the parents care more about kids. Pretty easy to figure out.

BINGO! If you love your kids, give them the gift of a private school education. Public schools care about a lot of things, sadly educating children is low on their list.

 

[Rhuarc]

That’s all you got, the old toothless stereotype? Let me tell ya, McGavock HS, just to name one would blow away any HS in the cities I mentioned above. Oh and no income tax, tolls, or countless “fees” that are imposed on NJ residents

I looked up that school and the numbers were pretty bad. Math proficiency is 5% and reading is 12%. Is this really the example you want to use?

https://www.usnews.com/education/be...,792 in the,they prepare students for college.

 

[T2Kplus10]

This thread has been very productive. Thanks everyone. :flush:

And I'm just getting into it, was out all day chilling at the beach. Time for some fun!

 

[Knight Shift]

I could give this 10 thumbs up . People that want them back don’t take all of this into account . I teach at the elementary level and we can’t go around to the students and check their work because we’ll be too close , no group work or sharing materials , no recess , basically no socializing . It will be like a big lecture hall with the teacher at the front of the room except for 10-11 year olds . The a social and emotional learning everyone says they need will be nonexistent because while they will be seeing classmates , they won’t really be interacting with them and a lot for them won’t even be there on the same day . It will be very watered down because of the lack of interaction and personalization is out the window . How about the kids that can’t hear well, they can’t even see the teachers face . How about the special Ed kids that need one on one attention but can’t get it because of distancing rules . This is what’s going to go on on a daily basis and I am not even listing a million other things . It’s not the point tbT we don’t want to go in ( I’m not concerned for my health ), but the fact that the learning taking place is going to be inadequate and most of our time is going to be enforcing safety procedures .

Questions about some of your post:

1. "we can’t go around to the students and check their work because we’ll be too close"--who said? Even wearing a mask? Who is making up this rule? I did firefighter rescue training back in June and we were face to face with masks. Nobody got sick.

2. "no group work or sharing materials"- Again- why not? Hand sanitzers and wipes can be used to clean hands and materials. Is there some sort of guidance from somewhere saying this?

3. "no recess , basically no socializing" Really? This is pathetic--who is making up these rules again. Going outside and getting some fresh air is forbidden?

4. "It will be very watered down because of the lack of interaction and personalization is out the window." Sounds like those making up the rules are making them up to set up for failure.

 

[RuBird]

BINGO! If you love your kids, give them the gift of a private school education. Public schools care about a lot of things, sadly educating children is low on their list.

Tell us again what makes you an expert on Public schools and how they educate their students?

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

Whose effort? Again so many more teachers worked their butts off virtual learning . We must keep in mind most teachers left school on a Friday and told you will teach virtually Monday. Now that they have experience with it should go smoother. Also falls on administration. They were also figuring it out. Should see more principals, heads of special ed. etc etc joining more of the Virtual classrooms, making sure teachers are doing all they can.

What virtual learning? They threw slides up on Google classroom and expected the kids to complete the work even if it was new material.

The only teacher may oldest saw on a regular basis was the Language Arts teacher. Math teacher one session online the whole time. Social studies / science teacher only had an online session with them the last day to say goodbye. We collected money for the Language Arts teacher and bought her family several dinners because of her efforts.

My younger one got much more online learning done because of an IEP. But in the regular classroom they didn't really do math or certain other things either. The specialists he worked with did a very good job.

And I do blame the administration. Every 2nd grader and up came home with Chromebooks in my district. So we had the resources to do plenty of online learning but it never came to fruition. I know I wasn't the only one that blasted them in the surveys we were asked to complete since the school year ended.

If your district did better than I commend them for rising up to the challenge and adjusting as needed. Mine in a very nice Bergen County town didn't.

 

[TGonzRU_rivals]

I could give this 10 thumbs up . People that want them back don’t take all of this into account . I teach at the elementary level and we can’t go around to the students and check their work because we’ll be too close , no group work or sharing materials , no recess , basically no socializing . It will be like a big lecture hall with the teacher at the front of the room except for 10-11 year olds . The a social and emotional learning everyone says they need will be nonexistent because while they will be seeing classmates , they won’t really be interacting with them and a lot for them won’t even be there on the same day . It will be very watered down because of the lack of interaction and personalization is out the window . How about the kids that can’t hear well, they can’t even see the teachers face . How about the special Ed kids that need one on one attention but can’t get it because of distancing rules . This is what’s going to go on on a daily basis and I am not even listing a million other things . It’s not the point tbT we don’t want to go in ( I’m not concerned for my health ), but the fact that the learning taking place is going to be inadequate and most of our time is going to be enforcing safety procedures .

Well said. It doesn’t matter to some who only want the kids out the house. The quality of education will be severely lacking and not the same pre-pandemic. Imagine in pre-k where the teacher is wearing a mask and has to teach phonemic awareness? The children need to “see” the proper way to pronounce letter sounds.

I say all this as my wife is an early childhood teacher who absolutely wants to teach in person but when the conditions are safe. So far, her district has done absolutely nothing to make them feel like they can safely teach. Sanitizer and promises of deep cleanings are not enough. There are so many other variables such as how will temperatures be taken efficiently to ensure teachers can get to their classrooms on time? How about signing in at work where teachers crowd into the office to sign into the book, how will that work? How can you socially distance children in a classroom or ensure they keep their masks on?

Anyway, there are a lot of folks mad and complaining that teachers are getting paid for doing nothing which is horsesh*t. My wife has worked hard since day 1 of virtual learning and has had to take additional trainings and PDs just for this. Again, teachers want to be in person and interacting normally with their students as long as it is safe to do so. Comparing teachers to front line workers is unfair as they did not sign up to put their lives on the line and they’re certainly not getting paid the salary to do so.

 

[RuBird]

Private schools and the parents care more about kids. Pretty easy to figure out.

So parents that have money to send their kids to private schools care more about their kids then parents who can’t afford it? Wow. Teachers who work in Public Schools care less about their students then if they worked in a private school? Really now. Based on what?

 

[RuBird]

What virtual learning? They threw slides up on Google classroom and expected the kids to complete the work even if it was new material.

The only teacher may oldest saw on a regular basis was the Language Arts teacher. Math teacher one session online the whole time. Social studies / science teacher only had an online session with them the last day to say goodbye. We collected money for the Language Arts teacher and bought her family several dinners because of her efforts.

My younger one got much more online learning done because of an IEP. But in the regular classroom they didn't really do math or certain other things either. The specialists he worked with did a very good job.

And I do blame the administration. Every 2nd grader and up came home with Chromebooks in my district. So we had the resources to do plenty of online learning but it never came to fruition. I know I wasn't the only one that blasted them in the surveys we were asked to complete since the school year ended.

If your district did better than I commend them for rising up to the challenge and adjusting as needed. Mine in a very nice Bergen County town didn't.

As I wrote earlier IF there is virtual learning this year. it should be a lot smoother for teachers and students. Administration will be under pressure from parents ( and rightfully so) to make sure that all teachers are doing all they can to meet the students needs. With that said my district and many others were the opposite. Most teachers rose to the occasion.

 

[tom1944]

Thanks. But they’re both extremely experienced teachers and don’t need anonymous sports message board posters to help solve their problems.

And they wouldn’t even call this “a problem”..just sadness they may not see their kids

nm

 

[RU_DIO]

Dr. Sanjay Gupta said today that he is not sending his 3 daughters back to school. He is a neurosurgeon (top of the food chain).

You/ your wife can do whatever you like with your chlld ... but you might want to consider what experts in field are doing.
Remember: hang out with the smart kids - not the idiots!

MO

Yet my good friend who works with ICU Covid patients everyday at work is sending all 3 of his kids back to school. I'm going to trust my good friends advice.

 

[Mikemarc]

Nursery schools don’t have as many children as elementary, middle and high schools. It’s easy to contain a smaller population. What about those schools that have already opened and already had to quarantine staff and students?

What about them? Sucks they shut down. But we are only talking about the few that did. Most schools that have already opened have not had to quarantine.

 

[T2Kplus10]

So parents that have money to send their kids to private schools care more about their kids then parents who can’t afford it? Wow. Teachers who work in Public Schools care less about their students then if they worked in a private school? Really now. Based on what?

Yes and yes.
There are plenty of financial aid and grants to help with private school costs. Where there is a will there is a way. As for the second question, tenure makes plenty of teachers lazy and complacent. If you are a teacher, I'm sure you can name such teachers off the top of your head. You pull this at a private school and you get canned (and rightfully so).

 

[Shell21]

Questions about some of your post:

1. "we can’t go around to the students and check their work because we’ll be too close"--who said? Even wearing a mask? Who is making up this rule? I did firefighter rescue training back in June and we were face to face with masks. Nobody got sick.

2. "no group work or sharing materials"- Again- why not? Hand sanitzers and wipes can be used to clean hands and materials. Is there some sort of guidance from somewhere saying this?

3. "no recess , basically no socializing" Really? This is pathetic--who is making up these rules again. Going outside and getting some fresh air is forbidden?

4. "It will be very watered down because of the lack of interaction and personalization is out the window." Sounds like those making up the rules are making them up to set up for failure.

We haven’t gotten all of these things officially cut reading between the lines over the various emails our super has sent out over the last few months I expect all of these things to happen . There is no recess or lunch at any school that I know about in the state , if anyone heres of one , let me know .

we haven’t gotten any word of hand sanitizing stations or anything and were told there will be minimal sharing of equipment or materials during the day . We don’t even know if they can pass out copies yet . All the socializing will have to done from a distance and there is no congregating anywhere anyways and it’s not like they can do group work anyways unless it’s from a distance .

The kids can’t even drink out of the water fountains . Does this sound like school to you ? Again , it’s not anyone’s fault I’m just telling you what a normal school will look like to meet all of the standards . Also all desks will have stanchions

 

[Shell21]

Yes and yes.
There are plenty of financial aid and grants to help with private school costs. Where there is a will there is a way. As for the second question, tenure makes plenty of teachers lazy and complacent. If you are a teacher, I'm sure you can name such teachers off the top of your head. You pull this at a private school and you get canned (and rightfully so).

This could be the dumbest thing I’ve read today and I read a lot of what Trump said at his press conference . I’m a tenure teacher and I know a ton of others that aren’t this way and are going to grad school , doing more professional development and I can go on and on . Me an another tenure teacher have been getting grants from Cornell to have our 4th and 5th traders look at live cells. We didn’t do this when we were non tenured but we do it now when we are . I can give you countless examples . You can’t just throw blanket statements out there with no factual evidence for anything . Again , bad teachers are bad teachers anywhere they are no matter how many years in .

 

[Mikemarc]

We haven’t gotten all of these things officially cut reading between the lines over the various emails our super has sent out over the last few months I expect all of these things to happen . There is no recess or lunch at any school that I know about in the state , if anyone heres of one , let me know .

we haven’t gotten any word of hand sanitizing stations or anything and were told there will be minimal sharing of equipment or materials during the day . We don’t even know if they can pass out copies yet . All the socializing will have to done from a distance and there is no congregating anywhere anyways and it’s not like they can do group work anyways unless it’s from a distance .

The kids can’t even drink out of the water fountains . Does this sound like school to you ? Again , it’s not anyone’s fault I’m just telling you what a normal school will look like to meet all of the standards . Also all desks will have stanchions

who’s coming up with these standards though? Absolute insanity.

no recess?? Isn’t being outside the “safest place”? Just makes ZERO ssnse

 

[T2Kplus10]

This could be the dumbest thing I’ve read today and I read a lot of what Trump said at his press conference . I’m a tenure teacher and I know a ton of others that aren’t this way and are going to grad school , doing more professional development and I can do on and on . You can’t just throw blanket statements out there with no factual evidence for anything . Again , bad teachers are bad teachers anywhere they are no matter how many years in .

Bad teachers with tenure stay put and keep screwing up kids. Bad teachers without tenure get fired. See the difference?

 

[Shell21]

who’s coming up with these standards though? Absolute insanity.

no recess?? Isn’t being outside the “safest place”? Just makes ZERO ssnse

Have you been living in a cave ? Kids congregate at recess . This is pretty much if not all of the schools in the state and most likely all over the country . You have to enforce all of the cdc and American pediatric guidelines basically ; you can’t have hundreds of kids out there .

 

[Shell21]

Bad teachers with tenure stay put and keep screwing up kids. Bad teachers without tenure get fired. See the difference?

“Bad teacher “ is subjective , I’m sure there are plenty of bad teachers in private schools that stay for whatever reasons . I’m sure those priests teaching classes are all great teachers and are easy to fire if you go to a catholic school

 

[Mikemarc]

Have you been living in a cave ? Kids congregate at recess . This is pretty much if not all of the schools in the state and most likely all over the country . You have to enforce all of the cdc and American pediatric guidelines basically ; you can’t have hundreds of kids out there .

no I have not been living in a cave. Being outdoors is safest spot, supposedly.

cant they have staggered recesses? Staggered lunches?

 

[RuBird]

Yes and yes.
There are plenty of financial aid and grants to help with private school costs. Where there is a will there is a way. As for the second question, tenure makes plenty of teachers lazy and complacent. If you are a teacher, I'm sure you can name such teachers off the top of your head. You pull this at a private school and you get canned (and rightfully so).

Yet numerous students that went to private schools have come back home to their public school hmmmmm. Let’s stop with blanket statements and call it like it is. There are very good public schools and very good teachers. There are also districts that are not very good and have teachers mailing it in. Hear is the thing, THE SAME can be said for private schools. “Where there is a will there is a way”? Seriously? Most every parent wants what it best for their child. You don’t need to throw money into private schools or take financial aid to always get it. Are there times when it is necessary? Absolutely. I teach but also am a parent. My daughter had numerous friends who went to private schools thinking it was for them. Their parents paid top money for it. Guess what? Many of her friends came back and said they got more out of their own public school then private. What did the parents spending money on their kids get them? Nothing. Difference is I am not saying Public Schools are better than Private or vice versa. Nor will I say teachers in one school are better then others. All depends on the school and the teachers.

 

[T2Kplus10]

“Bad teacher “ is subjective , I’m sure there are plenty of bad teachers in private schools that stay for whatever reasons . I’m sure those priests teaching classes are all great teachers and are easy to fire if you go to a catholic school

Diocese based catholic schools and independent privates = 2 very different things (don't try to confuse the discussion).

As per the teachers union, there are no bad teachers. How many teachers on tenure have been fired for poor performance? Not a violation or breaking the law or some kind of scandal. Fired for just being bad at your job. Seriously, how many?

 

[T2Kplus10]

Yet numerous students that went to private schools have come back home to their public school hmmmmm

[roll][roll][roll]

Sorry, I thought we were having a serious discussion.

 

[Shell21]

https://www.gpb.org/news/2020/08/11/etowah-high-school-temporarily-closed-after-covid-19-cases-surge

This is that ridiculous school in Georgia that the girl took pictures at because of all the congregating in the halls ; granted the idiot governor and districts didn’t mandate masks in schools and common areas like halls . This is why the rules are so strict or you will have more situations like this where schools have to shut down a week into school. I’m sure that will be great for kids too , going back and forth between shutting down and back to school and then back to remote again

 

[RuBird]

[roll][roll][roll]

Sorry, I thought we were having a serious discussion.

Instead of rolling your eyes how about opening them?

 

[vkj91]

I agree but unfortunately many have come up with only “sanitizer stations” and a promise of deep cleaning from the custodians. That is not enough.

Maybe the unions should have been on top of that instead of just saying can’t work. Too dangerous

 

[Knight Shift]

We haven’t gotten all of these things officially cut reading between the lines over the various emails our super has sent out over the last few months I expect all of these things to happen . There is no recess or lunch at any school that I know about in the state , if anyone heres of one , let me know .

we haven’t gotten any word of hand sanitizing stations or anything and were told there will be minimal sharing of equipment or materials during the day . We don’t even know if they can pass out copies yet . All the socializing will have to done from a distance and there is no congregating anywhere anyways and it’s not like they can do group work anyways unless it’s from a distance .

The kids can’t even drink out of the water fountains . Does this sound like school to you ? Again , it’s not anyone’s fault I’m just telling you what a normal school will look like to meet all of the standards . Also all desks will have stanchions

Again, it sounds like the administrators are running scared and setting up in-person instruction to fail. Administrators gonna administrate and make the lives of the students and teachers miserable. That said, they fear liability and lawsuits. No easy answers here, and I feel most sorry for teachers who want to teach in person and students (and their parents) who want to go to school and learn in person. Maybe those that want to go in person could sign waivers of liability to keeps the loser shark attorneys out of the water. Best of luck to you. You have a hard year ahead of you.

 

[Shell21]

Diocese based catholic schools and independent privates = 2 very different things (don't try to confuse the discussion).

As per the teachers union, there are no bad teachers. How many teachers on tenure have been fired for poor performance? Not a violation or breaking the law or some kind of scandal. Fired for just being bad at your job. Seriously, how many?

All tenure and no tenured are evaluated very strictly

no I have not been living in a cave. Being outdoors is safest spot, supposedly.

cant they have staggered recesses? Staggered lunches?

we have 700 kids in our school and had 3 lunches and recesses in normal school year . they are split into lunch and recess so that’s like over 100 kids easily for a given recess . If you have recess you have to have lunch too. Over 100 kids in a cafeteria does not work or meet the guidelines . Also , the travel on the hall to get to the cafeteria or outside is even worse

 

[Mikemarc]

Again, it sounds like the administrators are running scared and setting up in-person instruction to fail. Administrators gonna administrate and make the lives of the students and teachers miserable. That said, they fear liability and lawsuits. No easy answers here, and I feel most sorry for teachers who want to teach in person and students (and their parents) who want to go to school and learn in person. Maybe those that want to go in person could sign waivers of liability to keeps the loser shark attorneys out of the water. Best of luck to you. You have a hard year ahead of you.

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”.

So many decisions being made based on fear. Which I don’t think is the correct way to go about things and is making things in this country so much worse.

 

[Shell21]

Again, it sounds like the administrators are running scared and setting up in-person instruction to fail. Administrators gonna administrate and make the lives of the students and teachers miserable. That said, they fear liability and lawsuits. No easy answers here, and I feel most sorry for teachers who want to teach in person and students (and their parents) who want to go to school and learn in person. Maybe those that want to go in person could sign waivers of liability to keeps the loser shark attorneys out of the water. Best of luck to you. You have a hard year ahead of you.

They are setting up these rules because they have to and have to be approved by the county and the state. They are not doing it because they want to , they are doing it because they have to to meet the health standards to open . This is why many districts can’t open on time ; it’s not that easy .

 

[Mikemarc]

All tenure and no tenured are evaluated very strictly

we have 700 kids in our school and had 3 lunches and recesses in normal school year . they are split into lunch and recess so that’s like over 100 kids easily for a given recess . If you have recess you have to have lunch too. Over 100 kids in a cafeteria does not work or meet the guidelines . Also , the travel on the hall to get to the cafeteria or outside is even worse

lunch in classrooms then. After lunch each classroom goes out for recesses.

I don’t work in a school but there HAS to be a way to keep kids confined in small groups at recess

 

[Shell21]

lunch in classrooms then. After lunch each classroom goes out for recesses.

I don’t work in a school but there HAS to be a way to keep kids confined in small groups at recess

There isn’t ; and who’s going to enforce that ? You normally have like 8-10 lunch aids at best . They are going to keep 10-11 year olds contained in a certain area when they all want to run around and push and shove each other. This is what goes on at recess for this age group , especially the boys

 

[T2Kplus10]

Instead of rolling your eyes how about opening them?

The student return rate to public schools for our private is under 2%. This is the same rate for all the elite Princeton area privates. Just doesn't happen much. The grass is greener over here.