Posts by urbantinker8

Wait, how can you say it isn't?🤔

driftingtinker said:Having a mom who’s also some kind of Facebook scientist... honestly, it’s the absolute worst combo.

Oh, for sure.🤦
I mean, just watch out—she'll tell you she's "well-informed" too.🧐
🤣🤣

wanderingbadger77 said:Poor kid. And it's not even because of school

signed.
I suppose there are just far too many of these "mother" types out there, if you ask me.
I went ahead and filed a report with the Department of Justice.🤦🤦🤦
I guess this is just the kind of nonsense we have to deal with on a daily basis. 🤮

Ronald Chavez2 said:At least they’re drawing conclusions based on things they actually witnessed—though whether those observations hold any water is another question entirely—rather than spinning some wild conspiracy theory about cooked books and hidden data while pretending they have some divine insight into what's happening across the whole country.

I guess I'm just drawing my conclusions from what I see firsthand from inside the high school walls, so if looking at it from the sidewalk through a passing window is somehow more valid...
well, so be it.🐔

mellowskipper said:That’s just my own take, I suppose. And since you apparently work at a school, you probably see it firsthand—people gathered out front, hugging and cheering... then they just pop a mask on once they step inside.
As for those of us in healthcare, the only way we catch COVID is from our coworkers. We actually end up passing it to patients, unfortunately.

Sent from my PRA-LX1 using Reddit

No, I don't think it works quite the way you're describing it.
They’re kissing and hanging out everywhere, and they're constantly without masks. A lot of them aren't wearing them at all because their parents back them up, and we don't really have any way to "force" them to actually put them over their mouths.
There are plenty of other little details too, but I suspect you wouldn't be much interested in hearing them, given that you're just passing by a High School and think you know the deal.

So, you’re really basing all those grand conclusions just on walking past a single High School?🤦

Bravo, ladies. Truly.
I suppose we could just close the thread now, since you've clearly conquered the pandemic or whatever.🙏

Susan James said:If they're wearing masks, then usually no.

🤣🤣
well, if you say so, who am I to doubt your expertise, right?😂
i mean, if rhino_king claims the whole issue boils down to just church services and birthday parties, then I guess that must be the absolute truth of the matter.🙂

Susan James said:The virus really finds its footing at family get-togethers.
Especially those once-in-a-lifetime events or annual traditions....
So, if someone feels they absolutely must attend a funeral—whether to pay their respects or just to be seen—they’ll show up even if they have a cough.
It’s the exact same thing with weddings.

Sometimes kids actually prefer staying home from school; nowadays, with temperature checks and breathing issues being monitored, some are even finding excuses to skip testing.
Everything is justified under the guise of "protecting the community" and following protocol.
If they want to be truly consistent, they shouldn't go to soccer practice or language classes either. Whether it's COVID or not, who knows?
In my experience, most of them stay home if they show any symptoms at all.
I've stopped putting much stock in the "asymptomatic spread" theory.

I'm not sure how it would play out for high school graduation (since that’s also a once-in-a-lifetime event) or when the semester gets intense and grades need boosting. A kid might feel genuinely sick but take some Advil or Tylenol so they don't run a fever, then sit there with everyone else while hiding a runny nose under a mask.
And honestly, that’s almost fine because people usually have masks and the environment is somewhat controlled.
But family gatherings for those big life milestones—especially at someone's house—are a different story.
There's zero oversight there, and who knows if people are even wearing masks inside someone's home?

🤦🤦
And I suppose we should just completely ignore massive crowds of 500 or even 1,000 people gathering together?

🙂😵

Robert Hernandez11 said:The real issue is ANY kind of gathering—basically any spot where people crowd together and nobody gives a damn about social distancing or wearing masks.
Factories, schools, churches... political rallies, communion, graduations, funerals...

Hasn't it been clear enough after an entire year? 🤔

And before anyone starts coming at me: No, I’m not saying we all need to hide in bunkers, shut down the schools, or lock everything down.
I'm just stating a plain, simple fact.
That's how the virus spreads.

signed.

Ronald Chavez2 said:There she goes again. Honestly, I don't recall us ever getting a straight answer, so I'll ask one more time: whose conspiracy was it running from October through December—who specifically was involved in cooking the books—and how did you even find out? Did you happen to eavesdrop on a secret meeting of the dark forces at the school? 😁

If you’re so gifted, why aren't you part of some government task force, since someone capable of telepathically knowing the "true state of affairs" across the country would surely be a massive asset in fighting this pandemic, wouldn't they?

I've already answered all of this a thousand times.
So, either scroll back through the thread or just leave me alone.
thanks.🙂

nimbleranger17 said:Back in October of last year, you were all over this forum, posting every single day about how schools were basically a disaster zone, claiming everyone was going to catch something fatal, and insisting we switch to remote learning immediately. You didn't just say it once, either—you hammered it home at least fifty times.

So, don't try to play the victim or backtrack now; the internet has a very long memory.

Besides, this whole topic isn't strictly limited to peer bullying; that’s hardly the only issue on the table. It really is a shame that students don't get more frequent access to the kind of specialized content we provide through our project; they would find their time spent in school significantly more engaging and professionally enriching if they did...

well, yeah, they were.
and honestly, they still are.
i suppose i could write that five hundred more times if the situation doesn't change.
your attempt to dismiss this just because you don't really grasp what's happening in the classrooms doesn't actually change the reality of it.

everyone is going to die anyway

i never actually said that, so i'll just say it in your own style: you're lying.☕

how online classes need to happen immediately.

when things are falling apart—then yes, we need them.
when things aren't falling apart—then maybe not.

and the topic has nothing to do with peer violence; that's not the only thing out there. it's such a shame students don't get more chances to engage with the kind of content we provide through our project; their time in school would be much more interesting and professional...

i mean, what would schools and students even do without "you guys"?🙂

nimbleranger17 said:Of course they don't care if the presentation comes from someone like you. Everything you’ve posted here boils down to this idea that kids just aren't interested in anything, but I have had a completely different experience with those very same children. So, perhaps you should ask yourself why the kids you teach "aren't interested in anything," while the kids I teach find everything fascinating, actually listen, follow along, and stay actively engaged in the lesson.

You’ve already gone on a hundred times about how much you want more of this stuff moved online, essentially so the kids absorb less knowledge and you can put in less effort.

It really is quite pathetic.

And I know exactly how "uninterested" they are because I ran this project last year, and everyone was absolutely thrilled—which is precisely why we are running it again now with a new group. That’s enough said about how little they care, according to our esteemed educator "urbantinker8."

The secret is to create engaging, interactive lectures instead of just droning on by reading straight from a slide deck; if you do that, kids will be just as captivated by ancient history as they are by English language rules. You simply have to approach it with genuine desire and enthusiasm, rather than treating it like some chore, speaking in that monotonous drone that could make even the most incredible thing in the world feel utterly soul-crushing.

Don't you worry about me; this project is fantastic and it isn't going anywhere. It just saddens me to read people in here literally cheering for remote learning just so kids don't get the knowledge they actually need.

well, aren't you just so incredibly perceptive...🤣
you basically just wrote everything that's the exact opposite of what I actually think and how I actually teach, but if that makes you feel better... well, enjoy it.

but yeah... the whole topic of bullying and teaching kids conflict resolution is basically just a formality at this point, and honestly, nobody really cares. It’s not like those continuous multi-year workshops have done anything to curb bullying, nor do kids actually use the methods they're taught in theory when they're right in the middle of a fight.
of course they love having "outside guest speakers" because it just means a few free hours where they can hang out on their phones without anyone checking to see if any of the material was actually absorbed. 🎉

but hey, feel free to keep thinking you're some untouchable authority and that us regular teachers aren't even worth your time.😉

(it's not like I'm worried about you or rooting for online learning, but maybe a little reality check would help you step down from that messiah complex of yours😳)

Robert Hernandez11 said:Yeah—now I'm curious too.

But it’s not just some lecture where kids sit there like zombies... it's supposed to be interactive communication where they actually learn something useful... instead of just staring at a screen... ugh... 😛

Edit: Jesus... this guy actually took our joke seriously.

I give up... honestly.

(A few lectures might actually patch up what they lost during those two years of remote learning... so I guess I'll suffer through it...)

🤣🤣

I suppose if I had to pin down a single descriptor for someone like that, manchild might be the one, though it feels a bit blunt, doesn't it? It’s more about that persistent refusal to step into the world as an adult, I guess. Maybe it isn't always intentional, but there is this way people drift through life avoiding any real weight or consequence, almost like they're perpetually stuck in some sort of developmental limbo. It’s a strange thing to witness, really—watching someone navigate adulthood while still clinging to the emotional habits of a teenager, perhaps because the alternative feels just a little too daunting. stormymarlin12 says:
Yeah, he’ll probably end up going on about his time in the war, I suppose—it’s just one of those things that comes up, kind of like how back in the day, you'd have these old veterans visiting schools to tell us all these heavy stories about the battles along the Mississippi River.

Man, I don't even know where to start with this one.😂

nimbleranger17 said:The Department will be absorbing some seriously lost knowledge here. Now, I’m not suggesting they’ll walk away with all the answers to life's mysteries, but they are going to master one incredibly vital facet of human existence—something that might actually shape how they carry themselves out in the real world later on.

And don't go thinking this is just some one-off lecture. We’re looking at three sessions a week, twice over, which brings the total to six. Our professor mentioned yesterday that everything is proceeding exactly according to the syllabus. If some neurotic type decides to derail things at the last minute, I’ll be sure to give you all a heads-up so you don't lose any sleep over it.

edit: I’d appreciate it if Larry Walker24 would stop making things up and quit trolling the thread. This topic has absolutely nothing to do with warfare; it’s a modern subject focused on social dynamics and youth interaction—specifically, tackling the issue of violence among young people.

It’s that strange feeling again, I suppose... déjà vu.🥱
I guess the kids aren't really interested in this anymore, honestly; the whole topic seems to have drifted away from the original point years ago.
If you aren't planning on actually pointing to real-world examples or helping people sort out their own personal conflicts, then I guess you might just want to skip this entirely.
They’ve already earned their PhDs in theory, I suppose.

Susan Martin4 said:Just looking over some stats regarding Washington, D.C.

Yesterday alone, because 24 elementary students and four teachers tested positive, along with nine high schoolers and three teachers, we’ve got 477 elementary kids and 164 high schoolers forced into isolation.

Man, 641 kids stuck in quarantine in just one day. Happy Easter to those families, I guess. 😁

Thanks so much.😬

Robert Hernandez11 said:The holidays aren't going to get longer; instead, everything is just going to stay online like it is now—and honestly, most other counties will probably switch to remote learning anyway.
It’ll likely happen a week or two after the break ends, especially for high schools.

( By the way, don't be so hard on those "lectures"... that's not really a lecture. It's more like "interactive, two-way communication using several excellent pedagogical methods..."
You have to do that stuff in person; there's no way COVID can stop that. 😉...)

I know, I really do.
I suppose it’s worth noting that not every lecture actually qualifies as one, if you think about it. Not everything presented as an educational moment carries that same weight or depth, I guess. I suppose I should probably mention that lecture, though I’m not entirely sure if it was worth the time we spent sitting there, or if it just felt like a long, drawn-out way to pass the afternoon. It was one of those things where you start off thinking there might be some actual substance to the discussion, but then you realize the speaker is mostly just circling the same few points over and over again, which is fine, I guess, if you have nothing else to do. It wasn't exactly a disaster, mind you—nothing catastrophic happened—but it lacked that certain spark, that sense of genuine insight that makes you feel like your brain hasn't just been idling for an hour. I found myself staring at the clock quite a bit, wondering if maybe I could have used that time to grab a coffee or just walk around the block instead, but then again, there’s a certain quiet dignity in just sitting through things, isn't there? Maybe I'm being too cynical, or maybe I just have a low tolerance for repetitive rhetoric, but I can't help feeling like we all walked away with more questions than answers, which is a bit of a letdown when you were expecting clarity.. 😁

mellownomad7 said:You're a summer worker, huh? 😁

Got kids in the classroom and I'm just trying to wrap up this miserable (yet another) school year.

Cheers

I’m really not a fan of it, I guess.
I have to say, I’m really not a fan of the whole online learning thing either, mostly because it feels like nobody ever asks for my input or anything. It's kind of like how you don't really ask me, I guess.

driftingtinker said:U.S. Department of Education drops latest school infection numbers: ‘People were actually asking for longer breaks’

So, the U.S. Department of Education just updated their app with the latest stats on how many students caught whatever is going around this past week. I guess California is still sitting at the top of the list for most infections, which isn't exactly a surprise... and right now, about half of the schools are stuck doing that 100% remote learning thing. During the Open Government session last night, Tomislav Paljak mentioned there were even requests to extend the holidays, but I suppose they’ll be sitting around analyzing everything over the next 11 days before making any real moves.

It all seems more and more likely that they'll end up extending the break, regardless of how much weight those grandstanding, self-important lectures might carry, I suppose.

nimbleranger17 said:Well, we ended up giving the school and the professor another call today; since it’s just the first week back after the break, we’re stuck running those lectures as outside consultants all week long, just like usual. Everything is proceeding exactly as expected, I suppose.

The professor is basically just winging it because she doesn't really have a clue what things will look like two weeks from now, so I suppose you should take any arrangements they make with a grain of salt.😉
(and honestly, it’s kind of cutting corners—having outside lecturers come in right in the middle of a pandemic isn't exactly textbook protocol)

nimbleranger17 said:Calling something a "bad situation" doesn't actually mean anything at all, really. It's entirely subjective, isn't it? One person might look at a figure of 1,000 daily infections and decide that's where the crisis begins, while someone else—perhaps more pessimistic or just differently calibrated—might not start sweating until they hit 10,000.

Does either scenario just seem totally fine to you?

driftingtinker said:So, a buddy of mine has a daughter working as a preschool teacher, and apparently, the bug is tearing through that place like wildfire—half the teachers and cleaning staff are already down for the count.

On top of that, she’s got five grandkids, so now it’s basically a domino effect hitting multiple households since the kids are bouncing between all their grandparents. We're looking at maybe 15 adults confirmed sick at this point. Most of them are just dealing with mild symptoms, though losing your sense of smell seems to be the standard deal now. My friend mentioned he was stuck with some pretty nasty headaches for a couple of days, too.

Good grief, driftingtinker.
I mean, I highly doubt they all caught it just sitting around a preschool; I guess they must be out hitting up weddings and funerals or something.🙂

mellowskipper said:Yeah, because it's *only* the schools, right? I mean—Madison Square Garden and NYC are absolutely packed; you can't find a single parking spot, people spend an hour over a single coffee, and then they're out drinking late into the night. But sure, let's just blame the schools. In my fifth grader's class, everyone caught COVID, yet there was zero transmission between the kids themselves—they all picked it up from their parents.

So, you think that’s some kind of universal rule for all the schools out there?

he says:
I suppose I'm just glad the folks in NYC decided everything would go back to in-person classes next week, even if the situation looks pretty much identical to how things were back in mid-October when everything first started getting messy in the school system.
I guess I'm putting all my hopes in this ten-day break to let everything "air out," just so we don't end up facing another total disaster right before Christmas.🙂

nimblelynx7 said:I don't get how you can do any of that without actually seeing the kids? You can't just pull statistics out of thin air; you need data, and you have to collect that data from real life...

Same goes for the reports. They have to be based on actual facts. You can't just make things up.

Look, imagine one five-year-old child who needs help.
They end up networked with all these other specialists who are also talking to just one five-year-old at a time, so they spend their time swapping data points and conducting research, drafting theories, and basically just playing around with numbers.
And that’s just during "peaceful times," when there isn't some massive pandemic going on.
Now, I guess they might only actually see one out of every fifteen kids.
Because, ultimately, it seems the most important thing to them is leaving a paper trail; everything else feels like it's secondary to that.🙄 So, by the time they've finished writing everything down and filling out all the paperwork, there probably isn't much time left over for actually working with the children.
I'm referring to the professional staff across all our educational institutions—you know, the pedagogues, the psychologists, the special education experts.
Maybe the clinical staff are a little more agile in some ways, but even they aren't anywhere near where they ought to be.

I suppose you could say they’re barking up the wrong tree here; I wouldn't call myself a panic merchant by any means, but I honestly doubt these experts have spent more than a fraction of their careers actually working face-to-face with kids.
for the most part, their entire existence seems to revolve around filling out spreadsheets, crunching numbers, and drafting endless recommendations, reports, manuals, and textbooks while hiding behind a computer screen.
so, it makes sense that they're spiraling now that they're being forced to step away from their paperwork and finally engage with children in the real world, eye-to-eye.

Kenneth Brown5 said:The real kicker is just that nobody actually takes her seriously.
It feels like it's all just noise—endless statements, advice, and news stories where pediatric experts talk a big game but don't actually move the needle on anything.

I was just reading somewhere that they might even roll out new restrictions in Washington, D.C., just to set an example for the rest of the country.
Like, is that even sane, especially if we're looking at a return to remote learning?

It’s about time all these mental health specialists for kids finally started actually working with children instead of just venting through the media, stirring the pot, or egging the public on to boycott measures under the guise of "protecting children."

I mean, okay, you know we're in a pandemic, and you know there are certain epidemiological protocols in place—not that I want to get into the logical inconsistencies or whether specific mandates are even justified right now, since that's a whole other rabbit hole—but you also know that kids are struggling. So, maybe, I guess, instead of just making grand statements, filling out spreadsheets, or crunching statistics, they could just... get to work.🙂