Hmm... looks like NY has some of the most adequate funding, specifically for higher poverty districts than anywhere in the US.
We also happen to have one of the most progressive funding systems in the country right here in NYC, which leverages the "Fair Student Funding" formula to maximize funds in areas with the most need.
Or maybe we can look to our counterparts in Europe, who opened their schools in Sept - many in 200+ year old buildings? Most full-time? Many without mask mandates for younger grades?
Look at Germany's low cost solution for ventilation
Let's come back to NYC - a city that is now being held as a model for in-person learning by @rweingarten and her cartel.
3k-5 open in hybrid - 2 case rule ensures they are frequently closed.
MS/HS closed since 11/18. MS reopening this wk - many kids will get 1 day/week in person
In fact, some will only get 1 day/week in a classroom with a "Classroom Monitor" rather than a Teacher.
But this is now seen as the "gold standard" for reopening, rather than Florida's plan, which required little to no additional funding.
And may I gently remind everyone that NYC did inspect classrooms for ventilation issues over the Summer, did upgrade MERV filters when applicable, and did provide every classroom w/o windows with a HEPA filter.
So let's summarize:
NY:
Well above avg funding/student in high poverty districts
Teachers prioritized for vaccination since Jan 11
Ventilation inspections/remediation in every classroom over summer
Suburban districts prioritizing opening
NYC still "fake open"
FL:
Well below avg funding/student in high poverty district
No vaccination priority for Teachers
Not sure about ventilation ?
99.9% of schools in the state open full time.
You want more funding? Fine. This is not a hill I care to die on.
But the audacity of any district attempting to extort vulnerable children and families into accepting remote learning to get funding that is shown NOT TO BE NECESSARY for the purposes of reopening is too much.
I just had a long chat with a friend who said I am hysterical and hyperbolic when I say that the public health response to COVID is the worst response in history.
Some people seem unconvinced about the bleak future we face in terms of loss of freedoms, medical nationalism...
...exacerbated inequality, rise in disease (TB, etc), plunging 130M people into poverty throughout the globe, people dying alone and in isolation, mental health impacts for decades to come, and so much more.
Maybe I am exaggerating?
Can you imagine 13 months ago - if I told you that we would have western countries closing their borders and implementing quarantine hotels? With no data to govern these restrictions? No end date? No goal, except suppression of a single virus at all costs?
You should not have to subject your 6 year old child to a medical procedure without your presence in order for them to have access to in-person learning.
We don't live in a medical dictatorship.
If Teachers are "scared", let them consent to testing.
Looks like this rule was changed as a result of a legal challenge.
Before this nightmare, I never saw myself as much of a child advocate. To be honest, I'm not a particularly warm/fuzzy person who loves the presence of kids.
But I believe in a society that puts the needs of the most vulnerable ahead of their own.
We have created a situation where the people who are least at risk of this virus are bearing the brunt of the restrictions and the associated stress.
But only in some parts of the US.
How can anyone be OK with innocent kids being harmed like this for political reasons?
And despite the fact that this article was meant to center the impact on children, the author felt the need to ensure that Teacher "feelings" were highlighted.
It's not society's job to make sure ONE profession "feel safe and supported" in order for them to do their duty.
I avoided doing a thread on Rebekah Jones but I just can't ignore that there appears to be a massive number of people who believe that "Florida is hiding deaths" because of her, when there is no data to back this up.
It is a conspiracy theory no better than Qanon or Pizzagate.
I've also seen people say "she had coworkers backing her up!".
Just an FYI, the Trump campaign had signed affidavits alleging mass voter fraud.
That doesn't make either theory true.
Besides the obvious, do people think that the citizens of FL wouldn't notice overflowed hospitals and/or refrigerator morgues?
We had them in NYC and they are a little difficult to overlook.
Or maybe DeSantis is just dumping bodies somewhere? And Hillary Clinton eats babies too?
This has been said many times, but worth saying daily.
School closures are the biggest crisis of this pandemic. The effects will be with us for generations - harm to children, families, the future of public ed, support for labor, & political disruption.
Some of these families may return when schools reopen, but many will not.
Some of these children are missing from society. We don't know if/when they will return, and what is happening to them in the meantime.
Some come from MC & affluent families - who may discover that their child is actually thriving w/ a private teacher, pod, microschool, or a private school.