@Anonymous Fire the teachers because Carranza's DOE didn't get their shit together to order PPE and cleaning supplies, hire nurses, and repair ventilation and plumbing, when they've had six months to do so? So then the schools will have no PPE, no cleaning supplies, no nurses, no working ventilation/plumbing, AND no teachers? Sounds like a great plan.
What a mess! I absolutely cannot blame them if all they want are safe working conditions. On the other hand I think it’s incredibly selfish and thoughtless if they ask for ridiculous things such as everyone has to get tested prior to school start, which is unattainable in such a short time. The DOE and BDB are completely incompetent and I cannot wait til BDB leaves!
Absolutely this! I am all for reopening, but if proper cleaning procedures are not established and supplies are not in place, do we really want our kids in school? I think teachers are in a really hard spot, DOE and BDB saying we should opening, but not preparing do so safely.
@Anon I don't think the "deep cleaning" does all that much. We know that surfaces aren't responsible for most of the spread, and with everyone in masks and not leaving their classroom, I don't think coughing/sneezing on handrails etc is really going to be the issue.
What a mess! I absolutely cannot blame them if all they want are safe working conditions. On the other hand I think it’s incredibly selfish and thoughtless if they ask for ridiculous things such as everyone has to get tested prior to school start, which is unattainable in such a short time. The DOE and BDB are completely incompetent and I cannot wait til BDB leaves!
I think the testing is just a negotiation tactic. If it's really true they are being asked to go back without PPE and cleaning, I support their strike. I am more on their side than on the side of the teachers at my private who won't go back despite having the PPE and the cleaning and the ventilation and everything else money can buy.
There are serious consequences in NY for striking under the Taylor law so not sure if it will actually happen or if the threat is just being used as a negotiating tactic.
@Anonymous The union officials risk jail time in addition to steep fines. Unions can also lose automatic dues deduction for a certain period of time. Teachers striking lose 2 days of pay for every day out of work. I don't think anyone actually wants to strike--it is not advantageous to anyone bc then during the strike there is no school, not even remote learning. What the union wants is to use the threat of a strike to get remote learning.
I'm not sure what you mean. There is already a prohibition on teachers striking but a group can still strike and then suffer the consequences. Many teachers would be less willing to join bc of the financial losses.
If I was a public school teacher I would be trolling chat boards to pimp myself out as an independent contractor and work for some fancy family doing homeschooling or a pod. Or rack up serious tutor hours.
With the pensions they have , the lifetime medical and the high salaries, they will never ever want to leave their positions. They have benefits most of us dream of. They better get back to work before someone else takes their jobs
When all of our well to do families leave, there will be no money to fund all of this. Leaving in droves, teachers need to get back to save their positions
Here's what the letter from the PS 199 staff says:
We know that remote learning is difficult. We are also worried about the mental health of our students. We worry even more about their mental health if they do return to school. They will be able to see their friends, but not play with them. They will be scared to touch anything that is not theirs. They will be stuck in the same room all day with few instructional breaks. We know that children are not meant to learn remotely, but neither are they meant to learn in this in-person model.
Since neither situation is ideal, it is imperative that we choose the option that keeps students, educators, and their family members safe from unnecessary exposure to Covid-19, which can lead to sickness or death. Remote learning is the only safe option in the midst of a global pandemic.
That is BS. Kids can adapt to a different in person model. I have had outdoor playdates with both my kids, one of whom is in 4th grade and the other in 1st. Both have had no problem "playing" at a distance and understanding that they can't touch their friends' stuff. Like my first grader did a sidewalk chalk mural with his friend where they had their own separate chalk sets and worked at a distance. Then they ran races, spaced apart. Of course my 4th grader is even better at it. Come on! If I, a mere parent, can figure how how to do this, surely trained teachers can.
@Anonymous I am not sure. It was forwarded to me by another parent. I can't believe they're actually trying to convince parents that remote school is better for kids. WTF.
@Anonymous I was sympathetic to their complaints about no PPE or ventilation or cleaning or nurses, but am not to this letter saying that we should not have inperson school at all for the kids' "mental health." WTF. That is the most ridiculous excuse.
What precautions are you talking about? The problem in NYC is that the precautions haven't been implemented because the DOE dropped the ball on ordering equipment, staffing, repairs to buildings, etc. That is what the PS199 letter is actually about.
@ Anonymous . Neither. DeBlah will cave and postpone in-person re-opening by a month, thereby kicking it down the road and guaranteeing us another full six weeks of this uncertainty and misery.
My company (media) is re-opening the office in mid-Sept for folks who want to come in. I don't expect people will come pouring back in, but I bet 20% will start showing up regularly. Young single people are, frankly, getting lonely.
Yes. Though it’s not exactly like ”we” are planning it. It’s a directive from Mulgrew.
I heard 9/09. Is that true?
@Anonymous Fire the teachers because Carranza's DOE didn't get their shit together to order PPE and cleaning supplies, hire nurses, and repair ventilation and plumbing, when they've had six months to do so? So then the schools will have no PPE, no cleaning supplies, no nurses, no working ventilation/plumbing, AND no teachers? Sounds like a great plan.
What a mess! I absolutely cannot blame them if all they want are safe working conditions. On the other hand I think it’s incredibly selfish and thoughtless if they ask for ridiculous things such as everyone has to get tested prior to school start, which is unattainable in such a short time. The DOE and BDB are completely incompetent and I cannot wait til BDB leaves!
Absolutely this! I am all for reopening, but if proper cleaning procedures are not established and supplies are not in place, do we really want our kids in school? I think teachers are in a really hard spot, DOE and BDB saying we should opening, but not preparing do so safely.
@Anon Got this link from our school today. It's the DOE "pledge." LOL! https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-year-20-21/return-to-school-2020/back-to-school-pledge
@Anon I don't think the "deep cleaning" does all that much. We know that surfaces aren't responsible for most of the spread, and with everyone in masks and not leaving their classroom, I don't think coughing/sneezing on handrails etc is really going to be the issue.
What a mess! I absolutely cannot blame them if all they want are safe working conditions. On the other hand I think it’s incredibly selfish and thoughtless if they ask for ridiculous things such as everyone has to get tested prior to school start, which is unattainable in such a short time. The DOE and BDB are completely incompetent and I cannot wait til BDB leaves!
I think the testing is just a negotiation tactic. If it's really true they are being asked to go back without PPE and cleaning, I support their strike. I am more on their side than on the side of the teachers at my private who won't go back despite having the PPE and the cleaning and the ventilation and everything else money can buy.
agree
There are serious consequences in NY for striking under the Taylor law so not sure if it will actually happen or if the threat is just being used as a negotiating tactic.
like what? Jail?
@Anonymous The union officials risk jail time in addition to steep fines. Unions can also lose automatic dues deduction for a certain period of time. Teachers striking lose 2 days of pay for every day out of work. I don't think anyone actually wants to strike--it is not advantageous to anyone bc then during the strike there is no school, not even remote learning. What the union wants is to use the threat of a strike to get remote learning.
any limitation on striking if they are deemed essential? Honest question
I'm not sure what you mean. There is already a prohibition on teachers striking but a group can still strike and then suffer the consequences. Many teachers would be less willing to join bc of the financial losses.
If I was a public school teacher I would be trolling chat boards to pimp myself out as an independent contractor and work for some fancy family doing homeschooling or a pod. Or rack up serious tutor hours.
But... public school teachers will still be working as public school teachers, whether hybrid or fully remote.
If you taught a subject that was in enough shortage that you felt confident getting your job back after a year out, sure.
In NYC, they have pensions they don’t want to lose...
the amount of money my private school is pouring into re-opening has to be at least $100k. What one public school can do that?
Your private school has spent way more than 100k on this.
With the pensions they have , the lifetime medical and the high salaries, they will never ever want to leave their positions. They have benefits most of us dream of. They better get back to work before someone else takes their jobs
This
Not gonna happen. The teacher union is a strong ally to the mayor.
When all of our well to do families leave, there will be no money to fund all of this. Leaving in droves, teachers need to get back to save their positions
Here's what the letter from the PS 199 staff says:
We know that remote learning is difficult. We are also worried about the mental health of our students. We worry even more about their mental health if they do return to school. They will be able to see their friends, but not play with them. They will be scared to touch anything that is not theirs. They will be stuck in the same room all day with few instructional breaks. We know that children are not meant to learn remotely, but neither are they meant to learn in this in-person model.
Since neither situation is ideal, it is imperative that we choose the option that keeps students, educators, and their family members safe from unnecessary exposure to Covid-19, which can lead to sickness or death. Remote learning is the only safe option in the midst of a global pandemic.
I don't see anything here about returning at all.
That is BS. Kids can adapt to a different in person model. I have had outdoor playdates with both my kids, one of whom is in 4th grade and the other in 1st. Both have had no problem "playing" at a distance and understanding that they can't touch their friends' stuff. Like my first grader did a sidewalk chalk mural with his friend where they had their own separate chalk sets and worked at a distance. Then they ran races, spaced apart. Of course my 4th grader is even better at it. Come on! If I, a mere parent, can figure how how to do this, surely trained teachers can.
@Anonymous I am not sure. It was forwarded to me by another parent. I can't believe they're actually trying to convince parents that remote school is better for kids. WTF.
@Anonymous I was sympathetic to their complaints about no PPE or ventilation or cleaning or nurses, but am not to this letter saying that we should not have inperson school at all for the kids' "mental health." WTF. That is the most ridiculous excuse.
This is utter nonsense. Friends in other states have had kids go back with all the same precautions already, and the kids are THRILLED
What precautions are you talking about? The problem in NYC is that the precautions haven't been implemented because the DOE dropped the ball on ordering equipment, staffing, repairs to buildings, etc. That is what the PS199 letter is actually about.
@ Anonymous . Neither. DeBlah will cave and postpone in-person re-opening by a month, thereby kicking it down the road and guaranteeing us another full six weeks of this uncertainty and misery.
Totally agree.
@Anonymous what kind of work do you do? I don’t know anyone going back yet to offices
@Anonymous many offices have been open since July. Small numbers but bankers and lawyers have been going in. More expected to come back in Sept
My company (media) is re-opening the office in mid-Sept for folks who want to come in. I don't expect people will come pouring back in, but I bet 20% will start showing up regularly. Young single people are, frankly, getting lonely.
Yes they are.