Our School Reopening Plans

[89th]

Yup, she’s retiring next spring though (planned before COVID, it’s just odd her last year will be virtual). She’s fine, thanks for asking. Docs think it was a mini stroke of some sort...this was back when teachers were scrambling to learn online teaching technology, and particularly tough as my mom had to also update all of her special ed students’ individual education plans as well. Combine that with an unhealthy amount of screen time (teaching), just a bad combo of events!

[Rainman]

@89th said in Our School Reopening Plans:

Yup, she’s retiring next spring though (planned before COVID, it’s just odd her last year will be virtual). She’s fine, thanks for asking. Docs think it was a mini stroke of some sort...this was back when teachers were scrambling to learn online teaching technology, and particularly tough as my mom had to also update all of her special ed students’ individual education plans as well. Combine that with an unhealthy amount of screen time (teaching), just a bad combo of events!

I tip my hat to your mom, 89th. Great teachers are worth their weight in gold. And there is nothing more difficult than being a special ed teacher, let alone the paperwork for IEP's. Always underfunded. Hell hath no fury like a special ed student's mom, demanding and demanding, knowing that screaming loud enough is the best way to elicit beneficial change for her kid. And if that doesn't work, threaten a lawsuit.
I don't understand how someone like your mom can put up with that level of stress, for so many years.

[89th]

Thanks @Rainman and you’re right. My mom has often talked about how the parents of special ed parents are usually either very kind and thankful, or unsatisfyingly demanding. Yes I made up that adverb.

[brenda]

89th, your mom may have a tendency for TIAs, the small strokes. This one could have been the warning shot. Please have her do everything her doctor says to prevent any more of these. They can gradually, or quickly, result in permanent damage and loss of mental functions. It would be tragic for her and your family. She sounds like a lovely woman.

[89th]

@brenda agreed, it could (likely) be warnings of what may be to come.

[Doctor Phibes]

My experience with high school teachers has been the same - ours worked their asses off last year to try and get lessons out to the kids. It didn't always work, and some were clearly better at it than others, but they were all trying. Quite a few of them also had kids of their own at home, which wouldn't have made it any easier, and I'm sure not all the kids were as appreciative as they might have been.

[89th]

Yeah for teachers with kids as well, I can't even imagine...trying to take care of your kids at home while teaching a dozen kids via your laptop all day. Probably why booze sales are up.

[Optimistic]

Additionally, it has to be noted how many teachers are working their asses off right now, during the summer, to be better once their job starts up again. Attending online conferences, completing online trainings, continuing to answer work emails and attend Faculty Zoom calls, completely overhauling their courses so that material can be taught in person, online, or (more likely) both. These (summer) are not months that we are paid for.

I´d love to be reading more books and watching movies on Netflix. Instead I´m working part time (unpaid).

[Optimistic]

That being said, I do feel like I need to add that I´m not trying to drum up any sympathy. I love my job, I love my workplace, and I´m even a little excited at the opportunity to get the training (at my school´s expense) to build my skills. But like 89th said, even when the final product is not as good as it would be under normal conditions, and even when it looks like "canned" plans and like not much effort went into it, more likely than not a lot of effort did go into figuring out how to reach the students and how to teach the students and how to maintain those relationships from a distance.

[89th]

Keep up the good hard work @Optimistic !!

[Aqua Letifer]

@Optimistic said in Our School Reopening Plans:

That being said, I do feel like I need to add that I´m not trying to drum up any sympathy. I love my job, I love my workplace, and I´m even a little excited at the opportunity to get the training (at my school´s expense) to build my skills. But like 89th said, even when the final product is not as good as it would be under normal conditions, and even when it looks like "canned" plans and like not much effort went into it, more likely than not a lot of effort did go into figuring out how to reach the students and how to teach the students and how to maintain those relationships from a distance.

A couple of my interwebs friends are teachers. Without a doubt, their situation is asstastic. School's open? Okay, how do they not get COVID? School's not open? Okay, prepare for more work, not less, and a mountain of hangups as everyone gets used to that kind of learning environment.

What makes me feel a little better about all this is that the entire working world is in some type of difficult situation; everyone's dealing with this, one way or another. Means there's a lot more incentive for understanding and flexibility. Bad management can't claim ignorance about he pandemic.

[Axtremus]

@Optimistic sorry if I missed it ... are you a teacher now?
That’s cool! May I ask what grade levels or subjects do you teach?

[taiwan_girl]

@89th said in Our School Reopening Plans:

Keep up the good hard work @Optimistic !!

Agree!!!!!!

[Optimistic]

@Axtremus I´ve been teaching Spanish (and French the past few years) in middle school; just finished my 7th year

[jon-nyc]

[89th]

Ok that made me LUL

[jon-nyc]

Did you hear it in Homer’s voice?

[89th]

1000000% if such a percentage was possible.

[89th]

In fact, after I saw it I thought "why did I just say that in Homer's voice in my head?"

[George K]

Seen on FB - don't know if it's true, but LA public schools have a good safety plan proposed: