Scarlet Pimpernel

My daughter is a junior in HS this year, and she's pretty well motivated too. Agree that it's definitely less than 100% of what they'd normally get in regular classes. She's even said that herself. I might go more with your 75%, from what I can tell in what she's doing, but that's just a guesstimate on my part. While there's a decent amount they can do "virtually", you certainly cannot get everything. Including a lot of 1-on-1 if needed, or collaborative type projects. I imagine tests and grading are more lax too, just due to the nature of being remote. I'm still waiting on if or how the AP exams will be given this year (that's a nationwide thing though).

Any way your son might possibly be able to see any of them perhaps sometime during the summer, if things are OK to do that by then? Or if he'll see any of them next year?

Thanks for the update @mappy. I am not surprised that the rest of this school year will remain virtual. At this point, the previous date of May 15 would only be ~4 weeks before the end of the year anyhow and I guess they've been doing OK with the distance stuff for the most part. Not perfect, but it seems to work at least for older students (just going by my own experience). Also, I'm sure trying to pack every school in the state with a ton of students would be a bridge too far in terms of "gradually" opening things back up. Hopefully by fall, maybe students will be able to return. I know my daughter in a lot of ways just misses having others around, socializing, etc. with them.

Ever stop by the main discussion threads during the winter? Snow becomes a proxy for politics! Just kidding! Seriously though, you're right...some of the stuff in the COVID thread has gotten even worse than the ugly commentary when winter events fail!

Good to hear! I'm doing fine, on mandatory telework which has worked out OK. I can imagine it's very odd seeing DC so quiet right downtown. Where I'm at, it's rather quiet as well. Kinda nice, actually. At least I've had a chance to get out with the camera and take many photos through all this...a sort of passion of mine. I still kind of owe you (and I'd like to do it anyhow) a photo either morning or evening when the sun is lower, of the marble bust of MLK at that memorial. I've walked by that in the past when the light was hitting it just right. I'm not actually sure if memorials and parks are open at this point...and I don't much care right now to Metro downtown. But, depending on how things go this summer, it's a goal of mine! I don't think the statue is going anywhere!

No idea how it all became political/partisan, really...oh well! But there is some good information in here to be sure, in spite of some of the sniping. Good to see you Randy...I hope you are doing well these days, despite all this going on!

Man, I should camp out on your steps, so the next time someone drops booze off to you, I can grab-and-go!! Curb side service!! Joking, of course...well, maybe! But that looks quite tasty, now I want a margarita! And it is cool that someone dropped those other beers off to you before, too!

At your place, isn't that kind of like bringing coals to Newcastle??

Well...just make sure that you're not passed out ON the curb awaiting curbside pickup, wondering where the hell you're at or what you're doing there!

I've gone out just for some walks or occasional bike rides. Or to go take photos (I'm not far from the Audubon nature center). But I'm pretty well by myself, not really around anyone unless I pass by them. And for the most part, people tend to "cut a swath" around others. But I'm not going to play sports or be in a large group. I play in an alumni softball league, have for the past many summers (until I broke a finger during a game last July, dammit!). I don't think we'll be playing this year at all, or if so, it will only be a handful of games. They have a big tournament every August which is a lot of fun and quite the event...I suspect that won't be happening either. It sucks, but that's how it is and I cannot blame them if they decide to essentially cancel this year. (Side note: it doubly sucks for me, because I was unable to play in last year's tournament due to said broken finger, LOL!! I still went to enjoy the festivities and take pictures...and partake of the food and beer...however!).

Exactly. There's the somewhat "famous" plot of data from 1918, showing cases in Philadelphia vs. St. Louis. It's clear what happened doing nothing vs. some measure of lock-down. This is not something new, nor is it some conspiracy. Quarantines have been around since...forever?

The most fun project of all!

Fixed your post for ya! Now get to work (on all that beer)!!

Agree, I know exactly where you're coming from. Likewise, I don't (nor does anyone that I know of!) like being home day in and day out either, various things canceled, etc. Like you, I consider myself fortunate to be in a place such that I can work from home and all that. I don't appreciate some in here implying that either myself, or anyone else, just doesn't care or doesn't "get it" that many others are not in such good situations regarding work and paying bills and the like. Really, there needs to be some kind of huge stimulus and debt forgiveness (or extension) for those that really need it, livable wage, sick leave, etc...but that's getting kind of political perhaps, and above my pay grade (LOL!). I think PSU and a couple of others have hinted the same kinds of ideas for dealing with this.

Yup, that's the meaning I got out of what he said. In addition, not just higher chance of kids getting sick...but even if they get it and are relatively symptom free or very minor ones, it can be spread to who knows how many others (e.g., adults, who are more susceptible, that kind of thing).

I think many regular doctors and dentists are encouraging patients...adults and children...to postpone the "regular" checkup type visits for now. But of course they say feel free to come in if there's some significant issue, which makes sense. Same for immunizations, they may not have regular visits, but they are encouraging pediatric patients to keep up on the vaccines. Some doctors are offering video or remote consultation for routine things or concerns that may not be severe, that sort of thing. You are probably right, there's likely a certain level of fear I'm sure some people have of going in or taking their kid in, right now.

Just like Dr. Evil!!

Yeah, I'm not totally sure, I've heard a couple of different things concerning those exams. Guess I'll find out in the next couple weeks!

Yeah, I've never been a big fan of SAT or that sort of thing, really.

You really have no place making such a statement...about me, or anyone else. Talk about tone deaf.

Surely your calculator can handle one zero after the decimal. As in 0.03216. Which is a little over 3%. But that's just like the flu (not)!

Yeah, we hardly have a true "lock-down" (a'la Wuhan style). More just a suppression of activity. Are we barred from going outside to get some nice air, go for a ride, hike, go to the supermarket, just drive around ...? No. Hardly a grotesque infringement on freedom here. Not saying it doesn't suck, but unusual times and all that. It won't stop those who are convinced it's all a government ploy to take everything from you, or that "they" just want an excuse to make this all permanent, etc., etc. Or that a mask is repressing their right to...I'm not sure what. How many people who believe that were OK with the stringent security measures taken in the aftermath of September 11? But hey, that was mostly targeting "certain people", so maybe it was OK and patriotic (that was snark).

Definitely, agree on needing some kind of "face time" like that. I found out that AP exams apparently will occur this year (my daughter taking 2 such classes). From what I gather, they'll allow "open book/notes" and that sort of thing...kind of hard to enforce "closed book" remotely!...but there will obviously be time limits on completing various sections. So sure, maybe you can Google all you want for some essay, but you might run out of time if you overdo that! I guess that's about the best option here for that, otherwise, they'd never get AP exams at all this year (similarly for SAT and such, I imagine).

I'm pretty much working under the assumption that MD won't be going back "in person" the remainder of this academic year. Even if Hogan et al. decide to do some amount of "re-opening". As for next year...hard to say at this point, of course. And yeah, agree we'll likely hear something end of this week on a decision about that May 15 date.