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Ask HN: Parents, what are you doing for school this fall?

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Re: Ask HN: Parents, what are you doing for school this fall?

#121

Post by jeffrallen »

weagle05 wrote: post #20

The whole thing is fubar. We're doing our public school's virtual school for our 3 elementary age children. I don't see how its sustainable. This age group cannot do school by themselves, so my wife and I are having to do school while also trying to keep our work going. My productivity is just going to be shot. This is day one, but here's what I'm going to try this week: 1). Get up earlier. I'm going to try to be in…

Your proposed schedule will also need time for burnout and therapy. Maybe not a good plan...

You're going to have to let something slide. Choose one priority and then fit what you can into the time that's left, and accept that it doesn't all fit. I hope you choose your child as your priority, but you'll find your own way. Good luck.

Re: Ask HN: Parents, what are you doing for school this fall?

#122

Post by jeffrallen »

dec0dedab0de wrote: post #5

Our school district made everyone decide if we were going to send the kids in or keep them home for remote school. My kid is in junior high, and did pretty good with remote school, so we decided to start the year at home. I already worked from home so that wasn't a change. One thing that did change right at the beginning of lockdown was that I got diagnosed with a chronic illness that requires treatment that makes me…

Sorry for your illness, and I wish the best for your family!

Re: Ask HN: Parents, what are you doing for school this fall?

#123

Post by t0mbstone »

My wife is a school teacher who is currently teaching remotely while I work remotely as a programmer.

We live in a small two bedroom apartment, but we rearranged the whole house to make it all work.

We converted our bedroom into a bedroom and office for my wife, our 4 year old son's bedroom into a family room and office for me, and then we turned our entire living room into a school and play room for our son.

We then hired a nanny to tutor and play with our 4 year old son during the day while we each work in our respective offices. She is an ex-teacher who has been self-isolating since March (the same as us).

She charges $12 an hour for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, which works out to $360 a week. This is about $100 more than keeping our son in his daycare, but now he's getting one-on-one interaction and tutoring instead of just being one kid out of twenty in a room with only two teachers.

Unless my wife's school district (or my office) is willing to provide hazmat suits and/or effective PPE, we intend to stay home until a vaccine is released.

Re: Ask HN: Parents, what are you doing for school this fall?

#124

Post by jeffrallen »

winphone1974 wrote: post #4

I have 2 in elementary and one in middle school. Our public schools will supposedly open physical classes with an online option as well. You need to pick and commit to one. I'm strongly in the physical camp for many reasons, most importantly the online school in the spring was garbage and a lack of socialization at this age is a very real and serious public health concern-for healthy young kids with no underlying hea…

Amen, brother! Physical presence here until the house of cards falls down, then... Shuffle?

Re: Ask HN: Parents, what are you doing for school this fall?

#125

Post by jeffrallen »

thorin wrote: post #93

I'm a little confused at the current situation in the US. It seems in the UK that the priority will be to get schools back full time in September. My kids have been in school 2 days for the last few weeks before summer and just had a couple of days in a tennis camp. Are most US schools going remote for the foreseeable future? I'm a single parent so have been working a full time software architect job from home while…

Yes this! Especially the "let's see" part. I am grateful to my fellow Europeans: we did the work, took the hit, reduced the spread, and now our kids get to go back to school. Thank you, neighbors, for your solidarity.

Re: Ask HN: Parents, what are you doing for school this fall?

#126

Post by jeffrallen »

phjesusthatguy3 wrote: post #86

One of my children is entering high school this year, 100% online, through the district's virtual learning program. The other is finishing the last year of middle school, 100% online, &c. My job was never in danger because of where I work, and my wife was already at home, so she's committed to working with the kids on their work and I'm working with them when I'm at home. We never would have made it through this year…

Getting by with a little help from Jack Daniels, probably.

Re: Ask HN: Parents, what are you doing for school this fall?

#127

Post by jeffrallen »

flarg wrote: post #88

London, England. Small house, big garden, Mrs was a teacher, 4 year old boy. He plays Lego, games, in an inflatable pool, in a sandbox, and does max 4 hours of learning a week with my wife. He's never been so happy and it'll do for a year as far as I am concerned.

Excellent plan, good on you.

Re: Ask HN: Parents, what are you doing for school this fall?

#128

Post by jeffrallen »

bachmeier wrote: post #55

Do you have an option (family, friends, whatever) to stay for a while somewhere else? I have a kid in middle school. While it's less than perfect, it wasn't that bad even in peak lockdown. We have a big house with a big backyard and there are lots of big parks in town. If there is any possibility (even on a rental basis) to go to the middle of the country, you might look into that. (Don't worry, nobody's ever died of…

Yes, country living makes home school easier.

Re: Ask HN: Parents, what are you doing for school this fall?

#129

Post by jeffrallen »

danans wrote: post #54

Taking things one day at a time, and learning to be patient with everyone: the teachers, my kids, ourselves. We have shifted our kids' babysitter toward more teaching-assistant type duties. Also, I'm trying use my free time to teach the kids intellectually stimulating stuff they wouldn't learn in a classroom - like how to play poker, how to calculate flooring area from an architectural plan, how a wall is constructed…

Since your babysitter's responsibility is growing is his/her pay also growing? Sorry for the rude question, but "essential workers" have rights and needs too...

Re: Ask HN: Parents, what are you doing for school this fall?

#130

Post by giantg2 »

I feel like people might as well homeschool if you have to watch them anyways. Many kids can be done their work by 1pm if they are homeschooled. Better than staring at a screen all day. And we wonder why the newest generations have a life expectancy less than the previous ones.
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