I have two children of very different levels of skill, one who read at a high school level in 4th grade and one who barely reads at last year's grade level. So I don't have much sympathy for parents who are worried about their gifted kids getting bored. It sucks to deal with as working parents, totally, but they will be fine. It's a completely different ball game to be worried about a struggling young student who also has no patience for online learning. I'm lucky because I could hire a tutor, etc. Now imagine all of the other parents dealing with the same issue who are struggling to make ends meet and scramble for child care. Let's not quibble over what's gifted or not and recognize that there are large populations of special needs students and students in poverty who will be significantly harmed by what's happening right now. And by public education in general.
Anecdotal evidence from my families first week of
BULLSHIT virtual learning-
My "gifted" 8 year old is losing her shit and saying she hates school and doesn't want to do it and is very very bored. (VS allows for little/no enrichment which she's been used to her whole life)
My more middle of the road or even occasionally below grade level 10 year old is really proud of herself for doing well so far and helping other kids out in their small group breakouts.
Of course they are just doing reviews from last year mostly so we'll see when new material is introduced, the roles may well reverse
Meanwhile my 9 year old nephew threw his laptop yesterday and said he was going to run away and live in the woods before he'd do any more virtual school.....
So yeah, off to a bangup start :(
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I was somewhat indifferent about Virtual school vs in person school this Summer; and figured we would be virtual anyway as our county is pretty liberal (see feud with MD governor and Trump over trying to ban private schools from opening as well) but a week in I'm already wishing they were back in person.
The polls this Summer to parents were almost an exact 50/50 split; but of course not equitable in each school. My wife was part of only 20% of staff that said she would go back.
About half the people I know have their children in learning "pods" with 6-12 other students and staff during the day with little to no PPE. I'm starting up coaching youth softball again 5 days a week. I don't know, school doesn't seem that much riskier. I get it's large numbers but with mask, spacing, less classroom shuffling, etc. it seems it would be better then what we have now.
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February 1st is a looooooong ways off from where I sit today; and no guarantee they'll even go back then.
I don't know. It's frustrating. I just feel so bad for the kids :(