for those of you in higher education

[ners]

The students at the college I work at are due to move in beginning Tuesday.  I know the "welcome week" has been drastically changed.  My nephew who is a commuter student decided to become a "virtual" student this semester.  He is concerned that is fellow students will not take the necessary precautions.  (this after he indicated earlier that he would skip a year if classes were all online).

[giramomma]

Aug 22, 2020 18:32:45 GMT -5 ners said:

The students at the college I work at are due to move in beginning Tuesday.  I know the "welcome week" has been drastically changed.  My nephew who is a commuter student decided to become a "virtual" student this semester.  He is concerned that is fellow students will not take the necessary precautions.  (this after he indicated earlier that he would skip a year if classes were all online).

I went to campus yesterday. I was surprised at how many  were not masked up. One of our student workers reported late this week that folks in her demographic were behaving like nothing happened.

[ners]

giramomma   My nephew had asked me if I could get him access to the empty office next to me.  I thought he meant the office in front of mine.  No he meant the one next to me.  I could not get him access to that office.  (It was almost made the office for the Covid nurse) however the found a better location.  Once he did not have the option of spending his time between classes in that office he opted to become a virtual student.  ( i also know the professor who teaches in his major is teaching all his classes virtually).

[TheOtherMe]

Aug 22, 2020 19:18:15 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Aug 22, 2020 18:32:45 GMT -5 ners said:

I went to campus yesterday. I was surprised at how many  were not masked up. One of our student workers reported late this week that folks in her demographic were behaving like nothing happened.

The students at both Iowa and Iowa State are behaving like nothing happened.  

[oped]

Daughter said the apartment complex was loud with parties last night.

[Deleted]

Aug 22, 2020 17:30:11 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Aug 22, 2020 12:19:08 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Well, that's kind of a given when a third of the population of the county are ISU students. 

Students are not a third of the population during the summer.  That is when most of the testing has happened.  

Student testing has been recently and the positive % has been going up, as it has been for the entire state.

It's difficult to know if the numbers are correct as the finally agreed last week with reporters and doctors that the number on her website didn't add up with simple addition and subtraction.  They have been back dating positive cases, thinking they will not be noticed.  They were noticed.  They are also counting inconclusive tests in the number of tests.  Those are presumed negative, which drives the positive % down.

Precisely my point.  It makes sense to me that cases for the county would go up after a large population increase, especially since a good number of them had mandatory testing.  All those that tested positive at ISU were asymptomatic and would have never been tested otherwise had the school not required it. 

[TheOtherMe]

Story County has had a high positive percentage for several months.  It's in the community.  It is going to be on campus.  Professors, Staff and students.

Public Health nurse thinks that is where my sister became infected.

[Deleted]

Aug 23, 2020 9:23:09 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Story County has had a high positive percentage for several months.  It's in the community.  It is going to be on campus.  Professors, Staff and students.

Public Health nurse thinks that is where my sister became infected.

Ok, but your first post stated that cases were going up and it was being attributed to ISU as if the return of the students was the reason. 

[Deleted]

College students, high school students, etc... act just like their parents have taught them to act. Why would they mask up and act accordingly when their parents don't?

[cyanne]

Aug 23, 2020 10:16:18 GMT -5 @shastasnewlife said:

College students, high school students, etc... act just like their parents have taught them to act. Why would they mask up and act accordingly when their parents don't?

I think that it is more than that. Young people don't get it as severe and their brains aren't fully developed to think out all of the consequences of spreading it to others. 

This is why I am teaching from home instead of in person at the high school I work at. I am high risk and being in person with 1200 teenagers is too risky.

[giramomma]

Aug 23, 2020 11:36:07 GMT -5 cyanne said:

Aug 23, 2020 10:16:18 GMT -5 @shastasnewlife said:

College students, high school students, etc... act just like their parents have taught them to act. Why would they mask up and act accordingly when their parents don't?

I think that it is more than that. Young people don't get it as severe and their brains aren't fully developed to think out all of the consequences of spreading it to others. 

This is why I am teaching from home instead of in person at the high school I work at. I am high risk and being in person with 1200 teenagers is too risky.

I think we need to stop excusing young people because their brains aren't fully developed.

My 16 year old son got a job in a grocery store in Dec of 19. So, he's been there almost 9 months now and got the job when he was 15.

He is also super careful when he sees friends.

He ABSOLUTELY makes sure that he masks up and has proper hygiene all.the.time. As he put it "I would feel like shit if I gave Covid to Grandma and Grandpa."

And he only sees them maybe once every 2-3 months these days.

Half the time, I don't think my son actually has a brain, never mind discussions of how developed it may or may not be.

It really isn't THAT hard to think beyond yourself, goodness, even my 2 year old (who is closer to three) can.

[cyanne]

Aug 23, 2020 12:23:49 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Aug 23, 2020 11:36:07 GMT -5 cyanne said:

I think that it is more than that. Young people don't get it as severe and their brains aren't fully developed to think out all of the consequences of spreading it to others. 

This is why I am teaching from home instead of in person at the high school I work at. I am high risk and being in person with 1200 teenagers is too risky.

I think we need to stop excusing young people because their brains aren't fully developed.

My 16 year old son got a job in a grocery store in Dec of 19. So, he's been there almost 9 months now and got the job when he was 15.

He is also super careful when he sees friends.

He ABSOLUTELY makes sure that he masks up and has proper hygiene all.the.time. As he put it "I would feel like shit if I gave Covid to Grandma and Grandpa."

And he only sees them maybe once every 2-3 months these days.

Half the time, I don't think my son actually has a brain, never mind discussions of how developed it may or may not be.

It really isn't THAT hard to think beyond yourself, goodness, even my 2 year old (who is closer to three) can.

I actually agree with you. I'm glad your son is a responsible young man. I work with special education students, some of whom have emotional and behavioral disabilities. My states guidelines are not requiring students to wear masks if they have special needs so I expect some of the students will opt out. In addition, I have seen families post on Facebook that they don't want their children to have to wear masks so Life Part Two's statement is valid also. 

Finally, my school has determined that students will eat in classrooms in smaller groups. This means 10-12 students with their masks off in the classroom for 25 minutes to eat and drink. 

It is this combination that is keeping me at home. 

[Deleted]

As is usually the case, the "bad" gets all the press.  Plenty of college students know to and are doing the right thing, but they get ignored or worse, lumped in with "those damn college kids".

[giramomma]

I don't try to lump all the kids who don't follow directions in with the kids that do.

Unfortunately, I don't get back into my office until most folks comply with masking.

My children don't get to go to school until most folks do the right thing.  I don't think DS and DD1 will end up back at school at all this school year. My county health dept has decided that in order for the older kids to get back into the classroom, number have to be as low as they were when we were shut down..(A rolling 14 day average of 19 new cases a day for a month).

Yes. Absolutely hats off to those "plenty" of kids/young adults doing the right thing. Trust me, I WISH  plenty was good enough so that I could have a normal life sooner than later. Meaning. I can go to work, and my kids can go to school.

But, unfortunately, plenty isn't good enough of a metric. And the "bad" kids are the ones that are preventing me from moving along as normal.

[Deleted]

Aug 23, 2020 19:08:56 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

As is usually the case, the "bad" gets all the press.  Plenty of college students know to and are doing the right thing, but they get ignored or worse, lumped in with "those damn college kids".

When they took DBF’s oldest daughter to college, the younger teen refused to take her mask off the entire day, except to eat. The others didn’t keep theirs on, if they even had one. A 16yo acted more responsibly than her older sister and the adults.

[Deleted]

Until the majority of people will wear a mask in indoor public spaces, we should not be opening schools. 

Also, the comment children don't get COVID is incorrect. Yes, they do! While many are simply asymptomatic spreaders to adults, some children who do get it get sick and some die. And, no one knows which children those will be... 

This point bugs me. Our local school superintendent put in the local paper that children under 10 don't get COVID. People will believe that because they hear it on Faux News, but it's blatantly false.

[bean29]

Aug 23, 2020 11:36:07 GMT -5 cyanne said:

Aug 23, 2020 10:16:18 GMT -5 @shastasnewlife said:

College students, high school students, etc... act just like their parents have taught them to act. Why would they mask up and act accordingly when their parents don't?

I think that it is more than that. Young people don't get it as severe and their brains aren't fully developed to think out all of the consequences of spreading it to others. 

This is why I am teaching from home instead of in person at the high school I work at. I am high risk and being in person with 1200 teenagers is too risky.

They said on TV this am that 53% of Parents want their kids to return to in-person classes.  This makes me sad, b/c although I get it that people feel in-person is a better learning environment and that the students are low risk for adverse complications - there is no consideration being given to the Teachers/administrators/support staff/buss drivers etc.  Many of the teachers are older - if they suddenly decide to retire - then what?

I was trying to tell DH that it is a no-win political situation.  I expect in person classes will resume within a few weeks and Covid-19 cases will be ignored.  People seem to want to pretend that the fatality rate is the only adverse consequence and we can live with that number.

[oped]

Is that how the poll was worded? Because I could want it, and still not be willing to risk it in the current environment.

[Deleted]

UMN board of regents is meeting right now about the last minute decision to delay move in and it is VERY HEATED.  Parents were bailing on the dorms left and right yesterday ahead of the vote to secure apartments and hotel rooms on/near campus so their students could still be there.  I seriously considered getting my son one of the hotel rooms, but he decided he wouldn't want to do that without a roommate he knew well to go with him, so it's the dorm or home.

[Deleted]

So many schools here closing almost as soon as they open. Some schools have changed their plans for virtual or in-person more than once a day. Give it a couple of weeks, the count is going to ramp way the heck up. Give it a couple of weeks beyond Labor Day when families take that one last weekend for a vacay at the beach, and the count is going to ramp way the heck up. Then throw in flu season and all those people who refuse to get a flu shot "because it will make me sick." Oy.

It's not going to be too long, maybe a couple of weeks at most, before the college dorms and sorority/fraternity houses here close. Some are quarantined and some are already closed.

[giramomma]

35 contract tracers for 40K students, plus essential workers.   That's what we'll have on my campus.

[Deleted]

I sure would love to know where President Gabel's son is going to college that she felt was safe enough to send him to. 

[giramomma]

Aug 24, 2020 11:40:45 GMT -5 bean29 said:

Aug 23, 2020 11:36:07 GMT -5 cyanne said:

I think that it is more than that. Young people don't get it as severe and their brains aren't fully developed to think out all of the consequences of spreading it to others. 

This is why I am teaching from home instead of in person at the high school I work at. I am high risk and being in person with 1200 teenagers is too risky.

They said on TV this am that 53% of Parents want their kids to return to in-person classes.  This makes me sad, b/c although I get it that people feel in-person is a better learning environment and that the students are low risk for adverse complications - there is no consideration being given to the Teachers/administrators/support staff/buss drivers etc.  Many of the teachers are older - if they suddenly decide to retire - then what?

I was trying to tell DH that it is a no-win political situation.  I expect in person classes will resume within a few weeks and Covid-19 cases will be ignored.  People seem to want to pretend that the fatality rate is the only adverse consequence and we can live with that number.

I would have been pleased to send the peanut and DD1 back to school for face to face this fall.

The school is doing everything that they can.

The sticking point for me is number of kids in a class.

The school is basically now hiring warm bodies to teach because they are so desperate. Entire grades lost all of their teachers.

And that's so kids can be in classes of 25-30.

I'm not keen on the peanut going back to school being 1 of 26 in her class. Even with face masks and face shields. 15-18, OK. 26, no.

I strongly suspect that we will end up homeschooling. I can't spend twice as long for school. She needs about 4 hours of academics a day. I can't sit with her on the zooms for 5 hours a day, and then spend 3 hours teaching her what she needs to know, and actually doing it at night.

[oped]

Gira... the teachers quit?

[Deleted]

DSD is thinking very seriously about retiring. She teaches special ed in MA and is terrified to go back to the classroom. Some of her kids have to have attendants, some can't grasp the social distancing thing or why they should wear a mask. Kids' desks will only be three feet apart.

She needs two more years to make it to 30. If she goes back, she might not live that long.

She has many teacher friends in the same boat.

[giramomma]

Aug 24, 2020 13:08:16 GMT -5 oped said:

Gira... the teachers quit?

Yes. Retired, quit, one I think moved away. Some planned prior to Covid. Some hastened because of covid.

The 2nd grade has 2-3  new teachers, including one that is 21 and has no teaching experience (or enough sense to keep her insta account locked down...now as a teacher). She is enrolled in a program to obtain her teaching certificate in like 20 months.

I think most of the 4k and 5K teachers are brand new.

One new First grade teacher, one returning.

One new third grade teacher, one returning.

Fourth, I think one new teacher, one returning.

We lost two jr high teachers.

We were told that the school would hire additional teachers so the kids would be in classes of 12-18 kids. I don't think that's going to happen.

We are used to some turn over. Catholic school pay isn't exactly primary breadwinner pay...so as the younger teachers pair up, they follow their SO's careers.

[formerroomate99]

Aug 23, 2020 23:08:19 GMT -5 giramomma said:

I don't try to lump all the kids who don't follow directions in with the kids that do.

Unfortunately, I don't get back into my office until most folks comply with masking.

My children don't get to go to school until most folks do the right thing.  I don't think DS and DD1 will end up back at school at all this school year. My county health dept has decided that in order for the older kids to get back into the classroom, number have to be as low as they were when we were shut down..(A rolling 14 day average of 19 new cases a day for a month).

Yes. Absolutely hats off to those "plenty" of kids/young adults doing the right thing. Trust me, I WISH  plenty was good enough so that I could have a normal life sooner than later. Meaning. I can go to work, and my kids can go to school.

But, unfortunately, plenty isn't good enough of a metric. And the "bad" kids are the ones that are preventing me from moving along as normal.

Even if you get to the point of 100% compliance on masks, a masks don’t protect 100%. They just reduce the spread. My county has pretty aggressive contact tracing, and quite a few of our cases are still unknown origin.

[giramomma]

Aug 24, 2020 14:00:06 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

Aug 23, 2020 23:08:19 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Even if you get to the point of 100% compliance on masks, a masks don’t protect 100%. They just reduce the spread. My county has pretty aggressive contact tracing, and quite a few of our cases are still unknown origin.

What percentage is quite a few? Right now 40% of our cases are of unknown origins. I would think universal masking would bring that percentage down in my county. But, maybe not. I'm certainly not a dr or epidemiologist.

[formerroomate99]

Aug 24, 2020 16:00:12 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Aug 24, 2020 14:00:06 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

Even if you get to the point of 100% compliance on masks, a masks don’t protect 100%. They just reduce the spread. My county has pretty aggressive contact tracing, and quite a few of our cases are still unknown origin.

What percentage is quite a few? Right now 40% of our cases are of unknown origins. I would think universal masking would bring that percentage down in my county. But, maybe not. I'm certainly not a dr or epidemiologist.

I’m not sure about the numbers. I know it’s not a trivial number, but it’s not a huge number either. In my county has had a mask order for well over a month. The same can’t be said for the neighboring counties. Morons.

[giramomma]

Aug 24, 2020 17:19:41 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

Aug 24, 2020 16:00:12 GMT -5 giramomma said:

What percentage is quite a few? Right now 40% of our cases are of unknown origins. I would think universal masking would bring that percentage down in my county. But, maybe not. I'm certainly not a dr or epidemiologist.

I’m not sure about the numbers. I know it’s not a trivial number, but it’s not a huge number either. In my county has had a mask order for well over a month. The same can’t be said for the neighboring counties. Morons.

Ours is with a mask order for the past month.