Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[Patcheslee]

My guess is that your 16 year old was helping watch your 2 year old when you were busy? What about other parents? I understand your point of view, I sincerely do, but some teachers won't even have the ability to step away from their young child at home while they do work. Do they enroll a school age child into some daycare for 6 year olds that they can't afford? This is not one size fits all. I'm so confused by how this will work for every family.

Think part of it needs to come down to flexibility with the school virtual learning as well. Spring session ours was all assignments had to be posted by teachers daily by 9am assignments were due the same day. And some bonus assignments were actually scheduled virtual meetings with the class, which maybe 10% attended. This was for 5th graders, so more self sufficiency than much younger children, but days I had to work there were still issues. Internet being dropped, somehow had to send art teacher pictures of DDs assignments, but the chromebook didn't have the capability of taking pictures? School email account wouldn't accept pictures being sent from phone, ect. Not to mention getting side tracked reading or working on art longer than required (I later made her do those last because she gets sucked into books for hours) P.E. assignments had her having to go outdoors, with no adults home that had to be delayed until we got home. The changes are pretty drastic now:
This year they will be given a class schedule just like if they were attending in person and will have to be logged into the correct classroom at the correct time for virtual classroom through the whole day, including lunch. Attendance, tardiness, assignments due dates or times, classroom participation, ect. will all be counted and graded with the same standards as if they were in the classroom. So it's put teachers in a position to not only monitor a classroom, but the online students at the same time. If I was at home it wouldn't be as much of a concern, but I won't be able to, and sometimes it feels like alot of responsibility to put on the teachers and kids without a parent being home during the school day.
Covid has seemed to put everything in life into a "no right answer" position.

 

[Dizneykid]

But the can’t send a kid to daycare or pay childcare argument is flawed because any kid under 5 requires daycare. So how did they get taken care of then? Schools really are supposed to be about education and teaching , not childcare centers. What I think would work for teachers if distance learning is continued is to allow them optional access to their classrooms 1-2 days a week where they could prep, access resources, record lessons distraction free.

I'm talking about parents with children who are old enough for school but too young to be unsupervised. 5,6,7,8,9, etc. If a teacher has to keep busy on zoom for remote curriculums for hours, what are their own children doing? Who is watching them? There's no alternative childcare system set up for those age groups that I'm aware of. What have parents been doing and is it truly not a hardship to ask them to keep doing it? Sounds quite like a huge stress to me.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

You’re wrong about this. Go look to any statement put out by a teachers union.

It’s unsafe to reopen schools. Don’t do it, says N.J. union representing 12K teachers.

Holding in-person classes in a few weeks is 'totally unrealistic,' the Essex County teachers union says.

www.nj.com

Of course teachers want schools back in session, but teachers know its not safe, so they dont want school back in session. Teachers know how gross and slimy(even though they love em) students are (at all ages). There would need to be a mega load of sanitary protections to keep teachers safe.

 

[Rescue Ranger]

I'm so at a loss of what to do. Keep going back and forth. Do I still go September 7th(flying from Toronto) or do I postpone again for the 5th time for around March 2021?

Part of me feels completely safe to go and love the low wait times. But then there are all the 'what-ifs' and unknowns.

I have the perfect dvc reservation for 2 full weeks at Polynesian in a lakview which is a dream come true along with all the desired dining we wanted. What to do what to do. I have another couple weeks to make a decision....!

 

[RaiseTheShields]

Of course teachers want schools back in session, but teachers know its not safe, so they dont want school back in session. Teachers know how gross and slimy(even though they love em) students are (at all ages). There would need to be a mega load of sanitary protections to keep teachers safe.

Just curious, would that be an out-of-pocket expense? I haven’t been paying close attention as I don’t have kids. I do have friends with kids and teacher friends I’m worried for. (Not sure why I felt the need for a disclaimer other than to make sure my question come off as sincere)

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Just curious, would that be an out-of-pocket expense? I haven’t been paying close attention as I don’t have kids. I do have friends with kids and teacher friends I’m worried for. (Not sure why I felt the need for a disclaimer other than to make sure my question come off as sincere)

My son attends the Extended School Year for 1:1 tutoring (last year, it was a small class of around 6-7 students, plus support staff). The school has masks available for the kids if they don't have one or forget to bring one...I got the distinct impression that it's the school that is providing them...not the teachers.

 

[Horizons '83]

I'm so at a loss of what to do. Keep going back and forth. Do I still go September 7th(flying from Toronto) or do I postpone again for the 5th time for around March 2021?

Part of me feels completely safe to go and love the low wait times. But then there are all the 'what-ifs' and unknowns.

I have the perfect dvc reservation for 2 full weeks at Polynesian in a lakview which is a dream come true along with all the desired dining we wanted. What to do what to do. I have another couple weeks to make a decision....!

I didn’t know that you could travel internationally right now. Wouldn’t you have to quarantine for 14 days when you re-enter Canada?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Not sure

I didn’t know that you could travel internationally right now. Wouldn’t you have to quarantine for 14 days when you re-enter Canada?

That part surprised me too. My aunt and uncle haven’t been able to visit their children and grandchildren in the states this whole time.

 

[mellyf]

Just curious, would that be an out-of-pocket expense? I haven’t been paying close attention as I don’t have kids. I do have friends with kids and teacher friends I’m worried for. (Not sure why I felt the need for a disclaimer other than to make sure my question come off as sincere)

Our district is supplying us with two masks. I *think* they are also providing students with two masks. However, from what I have read in my various teacher groups, some districts are providing masks, but some districts are not. We have been told that hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes will be provided by our district. In a normal year, I always end up buying additional hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes throughout the year. However, I also understand that the need is obviously going to be much greater this year. And not all teachers are able to do this. (nor should they have to, actually) But again, this is not true of all districts. Our district is NOT a wealthy district at all. Our low-income percentage is quite high - above 70%. Some districts have also told their teachers that the teachers will be responsible for sanitizing classrooms. You know, on top of all their other duties. I feel overall, like our district is taking safety seriously, but I'll admit to being concerned about how many students will be crammed into our classrooms. If only 25% of parents opt out of in-school learning, the number of students in the classroom will be higher than what's recommended for appropriate social distancing.

I also would like to add that I have not talked to one single teacher in my district who does NOT want come back to school and teach in person. We love our kids. I was devastated last year at not finishing in person with my students. But it needs to be safe for ALL involved. My husband does have risk factors. I really don't want to sacrifice him. Or myself. Or any parents/grandparents of my students (not to mention my students themselves, because we know that there have been children who have died from this). I don't think that makes me selfish.

 

[Jrb1979]

I didn’t know that you could travel internationally right now. Wouldn’t you have to quarantine for 14 days when you re-enter Canada?

You do have to quarantine upon return. Its mandatory and they will fine people for not doing it. Up to $750,000 or jail time.

 

[RaiseTheShields]

I'm so at a loss of what to do. Keep going back and forth. Do I still go September 7th(flying from Toronto) or do I postpone again for the 5th time for around March 2021?

Part of me feels completely safe to go and love the low wait times. But then there are all the 'what-ifs' and unknowns.

I have the perfect dvc reservation for 2 full weeks at Polynesian in a lakview which is a dream come true along with all the desired dining we wanted. What to do what to do. I have another couple weeks to make a decision....!

That sounds amazing. 2 weeks at the poly!

The unknowns and whatifs can definitely be a large decision-making factor.

Here’s my recent experience traveling:
I took a week long business trip a couple of weeks ago that I was extremely nervous about (not a nervous flyer). The airport and plane were not that bad. 99% wearing masks (though at least half incorrectly). A lot of people wiping down their seats. No middle seats allowed unless it was a family. I stayed far away from anyone not wearing their mask correctly and ended up having a row to myself on both flights. My experience wasn’t bad. I don’t know if that was luck. The work location was a different story. I actually got a test when I got back due to that.

Prior to the trip I said I’d never travel during this. At the moment, if I had to travel again for business I would. Sharing my experience may or may not be helpful to you but it doesn’t hurt either way.

 

[corsairk09]

But the can’t send a kid to daycare or pay childcare argument is flawed because any kid under 5 requires daycare. So how did they get taken care of then? Schools really are supposed to be about education and teaching , not childcare centers. What I think would work for teachers if distance learning is continued is to allow them optional access to their classrooms 1-2 days a week where they could prep, access resources, record lessons distraction free.

Schools aren’t child care centers.... but it’s crazy to say that the safe environment we (teachers) provide so that parents can work isn’t essential. As for paying fo day care... right now DH and I are counting the days until our 3 year old is in Kindergarten and we can stop paying daycare. More than that...... are day cares planning on taking kids in virtual only districts? Won’t that be the same problem????? The child care aspect of this debate is a huge one and the kids who are going to lose are the kids ALREADY in a place of disadvantage! I will say it again.... coronavirus is a big deal... but it can’t be our only consideration or priority.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

Just curious, would that be an out-of-pocket expense? I haven’t been paying close attention as I don’t have kids. I do have friends with kids and teacher friends I’m worried for. (Not sure why I felt the need for a disclaimer other than to make sure my question come off as sincere)

it depends how well the schools do at providing things, and that's where school inequality comes in.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

I don't think that makes me selfish.

It doesn't.

 

[Jedijax719]

All of these points are very good and valid points about schools. Schools CANNOT open face-to-face for everyone. That's just not practical. The number of kids with COVID-19 (and sadly the number who have died) do of course exist. Remember, when things just started to get rolling, schools AND almost all businesses shut down. Kids were not exposed to other kids or even other people for the most part. So, likewise, their spread was MUCH lower than adults. The spread among essential workers or people who worked anyway were much higher of course. Likewise, so were cases among hospitals, nursing care centers, and those who had beach parties. At summer camps, there have been a LOT of cases of COVID-19. So the data on kids has been skewed because kids just haven't been exposed. The data will express something different when/if kids go back to school.

As far as the potential cost for care for kids who are home? The range is vast. For an in-home baby sitter you are looking at around $800-$1000 per WEEK. If virtual learning lasts for, say, two months, then you are looking at $6000-$8000. If it is a whole semester, forget about it! That's $14000-$18000.

Our local day care (our daughter is in 4th grade and does before and after school care since we are both teachers in another district), is going to offer camp prices weekly if schools remain closed. My daughter's school is starting virtual ONLY on August 17-September 15 while our district is starting choice on September 8. Their weekly "camp" price is $190 a week which is a great bargain. They are also seeing if they can provide assistance for their kids to do virtual learning. So that's a possibility. But that is not available for everyone.

I'm for a choice program with the hopes that many will choose to keep their kids home. My top choice would be to shut down EVERYTHING again for a short amount of time and hopefully knock things out like they did in other countries. I'm in Texas btw so our situation is similar to Florida (except we don't have WDW or Universal).

 

[seabreezept813]

Schools aren’t child care centers.... but it’s crazy to say that the safe environment we (teachers) provide so that parents can work isn’t essential. As for paying fo day care... right now DH and I are counting the days until our 3 year old is in Kindergarten and we can stop paying daycare. More than that...... are day cares planning on taking kids in virtual only districts? Won’t that be the same problem????? The child care aspect of this debate is a huge one and the kids who are going to lose are the kids ALREADY in a place of disadvantage! I will say it again.... coronavirus is a big deal... but it can’t be our only consideration or priority.

Childcare is of course a huge component and businesses need to support families by allowing them to work from home if needed. It’s far from an ideal situation, but I know to put my daughter in a daycare after she was born she had to be fully vaccinated. Buildings full of children are hot spots for sickness.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

 

[Jrb1979]

Somebody told me they were trending down

 

[RaiseTheShields]

Our district is supplying us with two masks. I *think* they are also providing students with two masks. However, from what I have read in my various teacher groups, some districts are providing masks, but some districts are not. We have been told that hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes will be provided by our district. In a normal year, I always end up buying additional hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes throughout the year. However, I also understand that the need is obviously going to be much greater this year. And not all teachers are able to do this. (nor should they have to, actually) But again, this is not true of all districts. Our district is NOT a wealthy district at all. Our low-income percentage is quite high - above 70%. Some districts have also told their teachers that the teachers will be responsible for sanitizing classrooms. You know, on top of all their other duties. I feel overall, like our district is taking safety seriously, but I'll admit to being concerned about how many students will be crammed into our classrooms. If only 25% of parents opt out of in-school learning, the number of students in the classroom will be higher than what's recommended for appropriate social distancing.

I also would like to add that I have not talked to one single teacher in my district who does NOT want come back to school and teach in person. We love our kids. I was devastated last year at not finishing in person with my students. But it needs to be safe for ALL involved. My husband does have risk factors. I really don't want to sacrifice him. Or myself. Or any parents/grandparents of my students (not to mention my students themselves, because we know that there have been children who have died from this). I don't think that makes me selfish.

No, this does not make you selfish. I hope no one is making you feel that way.

Regarding the out-of-pocket question - I didn’t realize that whether the district or teacher pays for it, it would be on the teacher to thoroughly clean their classrooms.And they have to enforce masks and physical distancing. Hygiene too.

 

[RaiseTheShields]

it depends how well the schools do at providing things, and that's where school inequality comes in.

Pre-pandemic and pre-pre-pre-pandemic (IE when i was in school many moons ago), there was inequality. BUT, that could be overcome for the most part. This is so different on a level I’m struggling to comprehend.