a bunch of my wife's extended family as started catching COVID, and we've noticed a direct correlation between how stupid they are and how quickly they caught it. The common refrain has been "we didn't know it was THAT bad!" Well? We told you so dumbasses! One went out bar hopping in a college town to celebrate her friend's 21st because "what are we gonna do, not celebrate it!?" Yes, exactly that. You should not go out to multiple goddamn bars and celebrate it. My birthday is in a few days. You know what I'm doing? Staying the fuck home and going fishing. The most recent in-law to catch the COVID was at a wedding where they decided not to wear masks because it would look bad for the pictures. Last I heard like a third of the people in attendance tested positive, and I would assume the rest have it they just haven't gotten tested yet. Fucking idiots.
Creek runs through the ranch. I reliably catch 2-8 lbs bass and 10-30 lbs cats out of there. The bigger fish scare my boys though so lately I've stuck to fly fishing for panfish.
What is everyone thinking about schools opening? The American Academy of Pediatrics is pushing for reopening with some evidence that kids aren't the super spreaders we thought they were. I don't know of a state that isn't planning on having students on campus. My district (in Texas) is rolling out a fully virtual and an in-person with some safeguards in place. It's unclear what those safeguards are right now beyond masks being encouraged but not mandatory and that social distancing is encouraged, but won't be required because it's essentially impossible. Parents get to choose which option they want. One big issue for high school: anyone wishing to participate in an extra curricular activity of any sort will be required to select the in-person option. Teachers are likely going to have go into school buildings to teach from their classrooms whether they are teaching virtual students or not, and at my school I'd bet they continue to hold meetings between teachers. Last year we had a 12 person meeting every day. There's roughly 130 certified teachers, and probably another 70 of various support staff. If 75% of our student body come into school that's roughly 1800 students. 200 adults and 1800 students. Super spreaders or not, I feel like there is pretty solid chance I catch this shit before it's all said and done.
Our son just graduated high school and has been keeping his eye on the future, looking forward to starting college. They sent out their plan yesterday, and most classes will be online. Even he is thinking that's a lot of money to go sit in a dorm room all day and do his classes online. So he sent a couple questions to the college to see if there's plans for something different for freshman, or what. Otherwise, he may hold off on starting college. I've told him it's his decision, we'll back his play, but if he opts out for a year, his ass is getting his driver's license and steady job in addition to any online stuff he may do through the local community college. Oh, and I had to ask my brother not to come to our son's graduation party since his son has been in Florida for a couple weeks and comes home tomorrow. He completely understands, and we're having his family up for pizza and beers tonight. But it still sucks. I am completely over this shit, and we're only half way through it, maybe.
good question Same where we are in Texas. Option for either online or in person, but you have to pick. We're going in person, with the thinking that if something happens like it gets worse, they're gonna send everyone to online anyway, or at least all the in-person students will be accommodated in some fashion together. Either way, if he gets sick or if there is someone in his class who gets sick, my wife and I both have flexible work schedules and can and will do whatever is necessary. It's all about the level of risk you are comfortable with. At first, I was adamant that he do online only, but the more I thought about it, those schools are gonna be hyper paranoid because just like there are significant political and social pressures for them to open, those same pressures want them to STAY open. And I believe a lot of those kiddos are gonna be more safe, and clean, in that environment than they would be at home where mom and dad may or may not get their information from the latest Essential Oil marketing E-mail. Plus where he is going, it is consistently one of the top school districts in Texas -- people move to this area for these schools -- so that's also something to consider. We won't hesitate to keep him home, and will monitor it each day. I think with all that being said, it equates to a level of risk that is worth the in-person education. My personal opinion is that they shouldn't start school until the spring, if not put this school year on old all together, but it is what it is and we will continue to take it day by day.
I would say that ~80% of the value of a college education these days is the network you build among your classmates and some professors. You get none of that by attending remotely. He's far better served by taking a year off, trying to get some money in his pocket, and getting a jump on the academics by watching Kahn Academy or MIT Open Courseware or some shit.
Or maybe knock out some bullshit prereqs online through a local community college? Save money, stay in the swing of school stuff, and get to focus more on his interests once he gets on campus next year. This seems like not the most best time to be looking for a job as a recent highschool grad.
Thats what we were discussing a little while ago. He can defer his enrollment for one year if he wants, so I told him to get some of those mandatory classes done online or here at the local community college and then transfer the credits when the time comes. Shit, if he does a couple classes I won't mind supporting him a little longer. ( Although in fairness he does work for the horse farm down the road mowing and caring for the animals. He lost his first job as a bus boy due to the 'rona.)
Masks are now mandatory in Texas and the cashier at the gas station said biggest issue she’s had with enforcement is cops who come in and refuse to wear one. this isn’t gonna end well
What's the plan, there? Young kid with no skills is going to find gainful employment during record unemployment numbers that doesn't involve directly and repeatedly exposing himself to Coronavirus? I'm not really arguing, just curious what the end game is. A number of friends have kids in similar boats and I've heard a number of them basically say that they'd love their kids to work, but operating a fast food cash register brings in a non-useful amount of money while virtually guaranteeing they'll be exposed to COVID. I know you're in a rural area, is there an opportunity for farm work or something that's a little more pandemic-friendly?
So over here in Aus, the city of Melbourne is having a bit of a resurgence of Rona. They had upwards of 10k people refuse the testing the other day with quite a few saying they think this is a hoax. Its pure insanity, most common argument is how because the first predictions of millions dead were off we shouldn't believe anything they say. Fucking Muppets.
Actually since I posted that we’ve discussed it more. If in fact he opts to defer for a year, he can do some online classes and get them out of the way. In which case, I don’t care about him getting a more regular job, but I also don’t want him laying around playing video games all day either. I stand firm on the drivers license though. I swear he’s the only 18 year old I know who doesn’t give a damn about driving. That’d be okay, except we live in the country so it’s not like he can walk anywhere.
Somehow I missed your post a couple above mine that said he works on a farm - that's a pretty solid pandemic job, too. Totally hear you on the sitting around all day. One of my friends bought their kid a car that needs mechanical work and said he'd pay for parts within reason, but that the car needed to be running well within 6 months in order to keep it. The kid threw himself into it and is spending like 3-6 hours/day working on it or watching videos/reading. My friend is in okay financial shape so there's not too much regret over the fact that he's getting nickel-and-dimed to death on $20-100 parts. I thought that was pretty creative. Get the kid out of the house, teach him a useful life skill.
I agree with all of this, I’d do general education classes every college is going to require for graduation (if that’s still a thing) and get them cheap through a community college like someone mentioned earlier, no need to pay out the nose when he’s going to be doing it remote anyways. Shocking he doesn’t want to drive, would he have had his own car? If so are you sure he doesn’t have an underlying anxiety about learning how to drive? If he wouldn’t have had his own car I can see why he would have been unmotivated.
Now would also be a solid opportunity to pick up some fabrication skills and experience. Dig out a welder, come up with some things that need to be done around the farm, and get some real world experience building/fixing stuff.
My younger son swears he does not want a driver’s license, he thinks driving will be stressful. I’m not going to be his chauffeur though, so he is going to have to get over it. He’s never been in an accident, which would explain it, although he was very nearly hit by a car crossing in a crosswalk a couple of years ago. I suppose that could be a little of it?
This is all very weird to me. I wanted to get my drivers license ASAP because it made it easier for me to drink, do drugs and fuck. I wanted to go to college do the same things without having to sneak around at all. It had almost nothing to do with education. It was independence. Are kids not like this now?
Apparently not. I’ve had many conversations with friends and coworkers about this, and it’s amazing how many kids don’t give two shits about driving. I’ve tried to figure out why, because as you pointed out this mind set is the exact opposite of how people of my generation felt. Maybe there’s that much more traffic now so that it makes driving terrifying instead of freeing? If you connect with all your friends over your phone or gaming platform maybe there’s no incentive to drive to do things? Is my generation so indulgent of our children that they feel like they don’t need to drive because we’ll do it for them?