"Virtual" school experiences

[DocL]

First week of virtual “pod” learning and it went as expected. A complete fucking waste of time. My wife spent most of the time being an IT tech when we hosted the “pod”. She also said having the boys was a lot more difficult than having the girls, but either way it was a disaster.

She asked our kids what they learned this week, and they both said history. When asked for an answer with more information, they both said that Cardi B was part of history, that’s it.

We are all in for a big awakening if this virtual shit goes on for an entire year, or more. Furthermore, a local teacher was caught trying to push her agenda on why the BLM is important. Elementary school kids don’t need to be indoctrinated into a social movement that has violence.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I got a Masters degree in Technology Management after I'd been doing it for 20 years. I didn't learn anything new except how to do some fancy shit with PowerPoint. But the fancy piece of paper with the signatures on it got me my current job. After more than 7 years here, I'm still not convinced it was worth it.

I'm of the firm believer that the base of one's education which is pre-k all the way up to high school is the most important. I personally think the weight society places on college is over rated. There is no shame if one wants to go into a trade.

i have a BS in Materials Science Engineering from one of the respected engineering colleges in the US. Do I attribute having this degree in my career success? Not really. It did provide some talking points and some respect with two past employers. But my success in IT which has nothing to do with my degree has been my ability to do deductive reasoning/troubleshooting and my propensity to learn. A degree doesn't teach those things. Case in point. I had a friend at my college who was a straight A student. Can analyze the crap out of a circuits diagram/schematic. But when a breaker tripped in her apartment, she was totally lost. Called us in a panic. We ended up having to drive down to her apartment to show her how to reset the breaker.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by DocL

First week of virtual “pod” learning and it went as expected. A complete fucking waste of time. My wife spent most of the time being an IT tech when we hosted the “pod”. She also said having the boys was a lot more difficult than having the girls, but either way it was a disaster.

She asked our kids what they learned this week, and they both said history. When asked for an answer with more information, they both said that Cardi B was part of history, that’s it.

We are all in for a big awakening if this virtual shit goes on for an entire year, or more. Furthermore, a local teacher was caught trying to push her agenda on why the BLM is important. Elementary school kids don’t need to be indoctrinated into a social movement that has violence.

With all much of a epic disaster this virtual learning thing has been along with the harm it is causing to our kids, at least there is one positive which you have encountered. Now the parents can see what is being taught in the classroom and intervene when some rogue teacher decides to use their captive audience to push their own personal agenda.

This reminds me of a different situation. A while ago Vanessa Williams was performing live at the Kennedy Center. It was a free concert. The line wrapped around the one long hallway and out the front of the building. What the organizers did not tell us was that about 30 to 40 minutes of the beginning of the event was allowing some performers to push a political agenda onto us. I was royally pissed. I did not attend a concert to have someone lecture me on their political views. None of this was disclosed in the event announcement. Thankfully, Vanessa Williams took the high road and didn't have anything political in her performance.

[vreihen16]

I have a saying - Some people spend so much time learning the tricks of the trade...that they never learn the trade.

Every time that a printer runs out of paper, they blame Chinese hackers before looking at the empty paper tray.....

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

I'm of the firm believer that the base of one's education which is pre-k all the way up to high school is the most important. I personally think the weight society places on college is over rated. There is no shame if one wants to go into a trade.

i have a BS in Materials Science Engineering from one of the respected engineering colleges in the US. Do I attribute having this degree in my career success? Not really. It did provide some talking points and some respect with two past employers. But my success in IT which has nothing to do with my degree has been my ability to do deductive reasoning/troubleshooting and my propensity to learn. A degree doesn't teach those things. Case in point. I had a friend at my college who was a straight A student. Can analyze the crap out of a circuits diagram/schematic. But when a breaker tripped in her apartment, she was totally lost. Called us in a panic. We ended up having to drive down to her apartment to show her how to reset the breaker.

My undergrad degree is geology/chemistry. I acquired my IT skills working for an environmental engineering company in the mid-90s. The owner wanted all his computers, printers, and plotters networked and he wanted a website. I was the new guy fresh out of college, so I got stuck with the task, never having done any of that before. I read a shit load of stuff and learned how to do networking and eventually moved into IT full time. Been doing it ever since. No formal IT training ever. I could have taught the classes I sat through for my Masters degree. So I'm right there with you for the bolded part above. There is something to be said for formal training, but it's hardly the be-all/end-all.

[UncleWede]

There's school for IT??? I have BS in Math, and MS in Systems Management Oh, and A+ from CompTIA

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

There's school for IT??? I have BS in Math, and MS in Systems Management Oh, and A+ from CompTIA

Get off my lawn, kid! Back when I was in school, tablets were the stone things that we chiseled our notes in -- and "IT" wasn't invented yet.....

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

There's school for IT??? I have BS in Math, and MS in Systems Management Oh, and A+ from CompTIA

Some of the most "IT educated" people in my company have the social skills of a rock, and very little common sense. From a help desk manager perspective, I think having both troubleshooting skills and good communication is more beneficial over formal training.

I can get someone training on a particular subject if they need it, but I can't teach them to have good communication or good troubleshooting skills.

[jmack]

Home school your kids. You are already doing 90% of the work just getting them set for virtual classes. Might as well take control and make sure they get an actual education at this point.

[XutvJet]

OK, so we're three days in with virtual learning. Most everything is being handled through Canvas and it seems to be going as smoothly as possible. My kids (11 and 15) haven't reported any major issues.

What's REALLY funny is that on the first freaking day of virtual school, the district superintendent made the decision without the board's input that elementary school (K through 6) will be going hybrid in 4 weeks and full-time in-person by mid-October, COVID numbers be damned. Just as I told my wife and friends, I knew they'd cave once they realized the gating criteria they established was over the top and that testing scores were going to be disastrous, thus greatly impacting home values as the district prides itself on being one of the best performing public school districts in the nation (thus our astronomical taxes). The super also said all middle school and HS sports are back on immediately. Many families have moved out of the district because they were so over top with going virtual and ending school sports. The district can't have that.

In about 2 to 4 weeks, I expect similar hybrid/full-time school messaging regarding middle school and HS.

As noted in my prior posts, my wife is good friends with many teachers at my 11 y/o's elementary school. They've all said you can do virtual, but without a parent present to keep a majority of the kids focused, it won't work at all. Plus they've all said they can't imagine teaching via a computer for hours on end much longer......they are only 3 days in LOL

[smyles]

What do you know, Enrollment down by 3,300 at Montgomery County schools, first weeks of school reveal. And likely it's not the final number.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by smyles

What do you know, Enrollment down by 3,300 at Montgomery County schools, first weeks of school reveal. And likely it's not the final number.

Is it really a surprise to anyone? And those fools were trying to shut down the private schools and make them fall in line with their edicts. Hogan and the State Health Commissioner had to step in to put Montgomery County in line along with a law suite filed against the Montgomery County by affected parents.

[M_Six]

LOL! There's always someone thinking two steps ahead.

https://beulr.com

Love the name.

[vreihen16]

So much effort spent trying to get OUT of work.....

[1margarette]

It's not just my kid who is studying but so as I. It makes it hard for students to understand their lessons.

[DocL]

My kids went back to school this week. It is a complete joke because parents can keep kids home if they want. Because five kids in the class are virtual, the teacher has to concentrate on her virtual teaching. That means no homework for the kids. Tests will only be given on a computer as paper isn't allowed to be turned in to the teacher. Furthermore, my kids teacher quit and they had to find a substitute. The substitute has no control over the kids in the class. My kids have to take everything they need with them all the time, including the laptop that was given to them by the school. Their backpacks weigh 16lbs. You tell me that it is okay for an 8yr old to lug that to and from their classroom which is hundreds of feet away from the carpool drop off area?

Dropping the kids off at school and picking them up is a cluster fuck like you've never experienced. A friend of ours got to the school five minutes after my wife, and she waited one hour for her kids to be brought out after the school day was over. The kids have to sit at their desks staring at the walls. And, of course there is no social distancing because young children can't sit or stand still to begin with.

I say they should cancel school and restart it for the 2021-2022 year, and repeat the grade. Our kids are being indoctrinated into being dummies and sheep for the rest of their life. If this continues for much longer, there is no way my kids are going to be as highly educated as my wife and I are. At this point, I don't give a fuck if this country becomes socialist in 20 years. I'll be retired and living outside of the USofA. That is unless they try to take my guns away before then and I die defending my 2A rights.

[DocL]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Get off my lawn, kid! Back when I was in school, tablets were the stone things that we chiseled our notes in -- and "IT" wasn't invented yet.....

You are old as dirt. At least I learned how to use an Olivetti.

[DocL]

Originally Posted by yearningirish

There are always pros and cons, it is how we deal with it.

We can deal with it, our kids can't. The stress and anxiety that an 8yr old has because of this nonsense is causing all sorts of behavioral problems.

Child psychs are making a killing right now.

[scostu]

Originally Posted by DocL

My kids went back to school this week. It is a complete joke because parents can keep kids home if they want. Because five kids in the class are virtual, the teacher has to concentrate on her virtual teaching. That means no homework for the kids. Tests will only be given on a computer as paper isn't allowed to be turned in to the teacher. Furthermore, my kids teacher quit and they had to find a substitute. The substitute has no control over the kids in the class. My kids have to take everything they need with them all the time, including the laptop that was given to them by the school. Their backpacks weigh 16lbs. You tell me that it is okay for an 8yr old to lug that to and from their classroom which is hundreds of feet away from the carpool drop off area?

Dropping the kids off at school and picking them up is a cluster fuck like you've never experienced. A friend of ours got to the school five minutes after my wife, and she waited one hour for her kids to be brought out after the school day was over. The kids have to sit at their desks staring at the walls. And, of course there is no social distancing because young children can't sit or stand still to begin with.

I say they should cancel school and restart it for the 2021-2022 year, and repeat the grade. Our kids are being indoctrinated into being dummies and sheep for the rest of their life. If this continues for much longer, there is no way my kids are going to be as highly educated as my wife and I are. At this point, I don't give a fuck if this country becomes socialist in 20 years. I'll be retired and living outside of the USofA. That is unless they try to take my guns away before then and I die defending my 2A rights.

You guys doing Hybrid? I’m confused as to why your kids need a laptop at school.

Mine have been in school since August 24 and go brick mortar 5 days a week. They have a backpack with a few books.

Our carline drop offs are faster now with some people choosing to keep their kids home and do Elearning.

[DocL]

Originally Posted by scostu

You guys doing Hybrid? I’m confused as to why your kids need a laptop at school.

Mine have been in school since August 24 and go brick mortar 5 days a week. They have a backpack with a few books.

Our carline drop offs are faster now with some people choosing to keep their kids home and do Elearning.

We are not doing hybrid. Five days a week in school. However the school board gave parents the option of keeping your kids at home. The teachers have to make sure the kids on virtual are being taught too.

Our kids are in an accelerated program and the teachers have a Gogle certification of some type. They have been using computers since the 1st grade, and they have assignments to do that can only be done on a computer. They already know how to use Powerpoint at the age of 8.

There are 1100 kids in our elementary school. I'd say 1000 of them are being driven by parents.

[scostu]

Originally Posted by DocL

We are not doing hybrid. Five days a week in school. However the school board gave parents the option of keeping your kids at home. The teachers have to make sure the kids on virtual are being taught too.

Our kids are in an accelerated program and the teachers have a Gogle certification of some type. They have been using computers since the 1st grade, and they have assignments to do that can only be done on a computer. They already know how to use Powerpoint at the age of 8.

There are 1100 kids in our elementary school. I'd say 1000 of them are being driven by parents.

OUCH! our elementary is about half that and I would guestimate....20% are doing at home Elearning. Our school is offering the 3 choices for students.

It appears we have had a different experience than what you are going through.

It has been all positive how our school has operated and stress level of my sons has diminished. They both are much happier and sleep better with school back in session vs the shut down last March.

[DocL]

Originally Posted by scostu

OUCH! our elementary is about half that and I would guestimate....20% are doing at home Elearning. Our school is offering the 3 choices for students.

It appears we have had a different experience than what you are going through.

It has been all positive how our school has operated and stress level of my sons has diminished. They both are much happier and sleep better with school back in session vs the shut down last March.

Palm Beach County screwed the pooch on this one. They spent $25mil for new laptop computers for every student. The computers aren't going to be here untl the end of October so the kids are using the computers already owned by the school. They had no plans on reopening until 2021 because we live in a Democrat controlled County.