[teejers1]

My compromise proposal is to open up schools and broadcast all the classes via zoom in real time.  Families who are concerned about students bringing home COVID-19 to susceptible family members (say a multigeneration household with an elderly grandparent) can participate via zoom; it is sub-optimal but it is better than our current scenario.  Teachers who are concerned about catching COVID-19 from their students can call into the zoom meetings and teach from home, perhaps with an in-school teachers aid to ensure the students are on task.  Then everyone can assess risk on their own, and most importantly, students who are disadvantaged by poor internet at home or lack of technology to do the zoom call (or no parents at home to involve themselves in their children's learning) have a way to participate in school.

First principles first: you have to prioritize the children, and the kids are at a risk comparable to other risks we have intrinsically accepted.

BC

Pretty darn good idea. Although maintaining discipline might be difficult.

 I am concerned about low income kids in this. They already are disadvantaged educationally.  That gets worse if it’s stay at home.  Much worse.

Agreed.  Only add that all kids suffer - there is no substitute for in-classroom discipline, or the learning that goes on with classmate discussions.  Really disappointed and distressed with the prospect of more at-home learning in PA schools this fall.

[teejers1]

My compromise proposal is to open up schools and broadcast all the classes via zoom in real time.  Families who are concerned about students bringing home COVID-19 to susceptible family members (say a multigeneration household with an elderly grandparent) can participate via zoom; it is sub-optimal but it is better than our current scenario.  Teachers who are concerned about catching COVID-19 from their students can call into the zoom meetings and teach from home, perhaps with an in-school teachers aid to ensure the students are on task.  Then everyone can assess risk on their own, and most importantly, students who are disadvantaged by poor internet at home or lack of technology to do the zoom call (or no parents at home to involve themselves in their children's learning) have a way to participate in school.

First principles first: you have to prioritize the children, and the kids are at a risk comparable to other risks we have intrinsically accepted.

BC

Pretty darn good idea. Although maintaining discipline might be difficult.

 I am concerned about low income kids in this. They already are disadvantaged educationally.  That gets worse if it’s stay at home.  Much worse.

Agreed.  Only add that all kids suffer - there is no substitute for in-classroom discipline, or the learning that goes on with classmate discussions.  Really disappointed and distressed with the prospect of more at-home learning in PA schools this fall.