Movies at school. All day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with 16:11. I think we should pay teachers to do wrap up when kids are gone and, as a PP put it, have kids run through the finish line.

These last couple days were supposed to makeup for snow days. Too much instructional time has been missed.

This needs to go to the people who can actually change it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And some people wonder why parents reject their local DCPS.

Dear PP,

Bye.

Signed,

DCPS

Funny in a sad way. As if everyone at LAMB and YY doesn't already know our expectations are too high for you.

It's a bit like Chris Rock said. In this case, you boycotting us and our high expectations is irrelevant. You were never invited.

Let's hope those expectations continue when your kid has access to a tablet all day.

Online access is a fact of life. Disinterested and unengaged teachers don't have to be.

And neither do hysterical childbearing people who don't actually want to be PARENTS.

For one, if you count on anyone else-school, teacher or otherwise-to be your child's sole educator, you're doing parenting all wrong.

Two, if you're so appalled by the lack of instruction happening the last week or two, supplement at home. Problem solved.

If you don't like the education, take it into your own hands. True for the law as well?

Are we talking about education or law here? Educating your child is very much a part of parenting.

But um yeah. If you don't like the laws, do your part to have them changed. Go to the poll and vote. Part of being a citizen.

Personally, I take my children's education seriously. I "take it into my own hands." I can, and I'm better educated than the vast majority of employees of the system, even at the highest levels. C'est la vie. It's why I constantly question the value of DCPS even in so-called "good" schools. I'm sure that's true for a small, vocal minority of families. it is working for us, but it's rather unfair for the children of less educated parents that they are forced to rely on this sort of laziness.

At the end of the day, it comes down to my standards are higher than yours. My children will get more than yours do. Mine will be more educated than yours are. I'm fine with that, but since these are tax-payer dollars, it's too bad that other people don't what they think (what we all think) they are paying for.

So what are you boo-hooing about?

If you're so super educated and your kids are too, what's the problem?

All of this because teachers are showing movies as the year wraps up?

To those who understand inefficiency or care about results, it's a waste of money. Clearly you are no such person. You would make a good sheep.

No wonder other school systems get better outcomes. The teachers aren't as lazy, the families aren't as complacent. Obviously, these aren't negatives in your view.

Yup! So why not go to other school systems that have better outcomes????

[Anonymous]

So why not go to other school systems that have better outcomes and teachers????

Sitting around complaining about the very school system you put your children in --and the people you entrust them to--doesn't make you look terribly smart, educated, or even a good parent. As disinterested and disenfranchised and many DCPS families are, at least they believe in the school system they send their children to every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School is not over, the pack up shot should take place after school ends. Why does it seem like they are rushing to pack in the learning all year but then the last week is thrown away? That said, I would have no problem with it if the kids were outside or playing educational board or computer games but movies????

why can't teachers pack up after the students are no longer in the building?

I agree--that's what I meant to say

Because they aren't getting paid after that. Duh. Many of them have summer jobs, also, meaning you don't have extra days to come in to work to clean up. My son's last 3 teachers all taught summer school.

I don't get paid for coming in on the occasional weekend or staying late on a weeknight. But I just do it because it is what it takes to get the job done. The work culture in DC is lacking.

Have you actually read this entire thread? A PP posted about not having access to the building to get the job done once school ends. I'm not a fan of movies in school and I agree that a week or two of movies is egregious, but the teachers posting here have some very real challenges and berating and blaming them for a system they don't control is the very definition of unproductive.

If we want learning to happen until the last day of school, we need to support teachers in their quest for more time to get their administrative work done. Paid time and access to their classrooms to pack up after the students leave would be a good place to start.

I'm on of the PPs who had to turn my keys in today. Parents come help pack and it's a help. Also, if one teacher is done, then s/he goes to help someone else. We are still scrambling to the wire and showing a movie here or there. So come on parents - go help pack.

[Anonymous]

I'm definitely in favor of paid time for teachers after the students leave so students can end the year strong. Who do I write to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So why not go to other school systems that have better outcomes and teachers????

Sitting around complaining about the very school system you put your children in --and the people you entrust them to--doesn't make you look terribly smart, educated, or even a good parent. As disinterested and disenfranchised and many DCPS families are, at least they believe in the school system they send their children to every day.

It's because we are smart and good parents that our children will do great in a substandard system. We're not worried for ourselves. We share a city with children that do not have the same support at home but experience the same uneven education at school. Also, I think this thread hits a nerve with some parents because it's not just the last two weeks of the school year. It's a reminder of all of the times throughout the school year that instructional time was lost and indicative of a larger problem.
If you think that concerned parents should self-deport so ineffective teachers can keep their jobs, I disagree. What will happen when all of the children scoring 5 and most of the children scoring 4 on the PARCC leave for the suburbs on your advice? How will that improve the situation in DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm definitely in favor of paid time for teachers after the students leave so students can end the year strong. Who do I write to?

Henderson, Grosso, Mayor, your Councilmember, education reporters

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why not go to other school systems that have better outcomes and teachers????

Sitting around complaining about the very school system you put your children in --and the people you entrust them to--doesn't make you look terribly smart, educated, or even a good parent. As disinterested and disenfranchised and many DCPS families are, at least they believe in the school system they send their children to every day.

It's because we are smart and good parents that our children will do great in a substandard system. We're not worried for ourselves. We share a city with children that do not have the same support at home but experience the same uneven education at school. Also, I think this thread hits a nerve with some parents because it's not just the last two weeks of the school year. It's a reminder of all of the times throughout the school year that instructional time was lost and indicative of a larger problem.
If you think that concerned parents should self-deport so ineffective teachers can keep their jobs, I disagree. What will happen when all of the children scoring 5 and most of the children scoring 4 on the PARCC leave for the suburbs on your advice? How will that improve the situation in DCPS?

Smart and good parents don't put their children in a substandard school system, leave them there, brag about doing so and bitterly complain about the system.

Smart, good parents don't put their children in a substandard school system. Period.

Smart, good parents don't entrust their children to ineffective teachers day after day.

And does showing movies at the end of the year really make a teacher ineffective?

The bottom line is that you are and can remain bitter that DCPS isn't falling over backwards to please you and your 4 and 5-scoring children. No one cares if you head for the burbs with them. But if you were such a smart, good parent, you would.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm definitely in favor of paid time for teachers after the students leave so students can end the year strong. Who do I write to?

Start with Kaya Henderson since she is shot caller. CC Jason Kamras and the other big wigs. On top of everything else teachers are also now expected to do clerical duties like printing, addressing, and sending out report cards while the office staff sits around on the phone during summer break. But yeah, keep blaming the hard working teachers. This is AFTER they have packed up their rooms (not a small feat) and done all of the other EOY paperwork and procedures.

[Anonymous]

First of all if the teachers were "ineffective" they wouldn't be in the classroom. Bottom line. There are check and balances that ensure that your child has competent teacher at the helm. The same checks and balances that you complain take up so much of the teacher's time. Yes the elephant in the room is the lack of a workable contract and the confines of IMPACT. Part of the EOY paperwork teachers have to present is a snapshot of the successes they have had throughout the year. Presentation of data, student work, and more justifying why they should keep their job the next year. So an ineffective teacher would be gone. So you really think that your offspring would do as well without having their so-called ineffective teacher at the helm? I highly doubt it. You might do a lot at home but they are still learning at school. Teachers in DC are smart, creative, and resourceful. They face a lot of challenges but they overcome for the sake of all of the children, not just yours. Instead of turning against them why don't you support them?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why not go to other school systems that have better outcomes and teachers????

Sitting around complaining about the very school system you put your children in --and the people you entrust them to--doesn't make you look terribly smart, educated, or even a good parent. As disinterested and disenfranchised and many DCPS families are, at least they believe in the school system they send their children to every day.

It's because we are smart and good parents that our children will do great in a substandard system. We're not worried for ourselves. We share a city with children that do not have the same support at home but experience the same uneven education at school. Also, I think this thread hits a nerve with some parents because it's not just the last two weeks of the school year. It's a reminder of all of the times throughout the school year that instructional time was lost and indicative of a larger problem.
If you think that concerned parents should self-deport so ineffective teachers can keep their jobs, I disagree. What will happen when all of the children scoring 5 and most of the children scoring 4 on the PARCC leave for the suburbs on your advice? How will that improve the situation in DCPS?

Smart and good parents don't put their children in a substandard school system, leave them there, brag about doing so and bitterly complain about the system.

Smart, good parents don't put their children in a substandard school system. Period.

Smart, good parents don't entrust their children to ineffective teachers day after day.

And does showing movies at the end of the year really make a teacher ineffective?

The bottom line is that you are and can remain bitter that DCPS isn't falling over backwards to please you and your 4 and 5-scoring children. No one cares if you head for the burbs with them. But if you were such a smart, good parent, you would.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all if the teachers were "ineffective" they wouldn't be in the classroom. Bottom line. There are check and balances that ensure that your child has competent teacher at the helm. The same checks and balances that you complain take up so much of the teacher's time. Yes the elephant in the room is the lack of a workable contract and the confines of IMPACT. Part of the EOY paperwork teachers have to present is a snapshot of the successes they have had throughout the year. Presentation of data, student work, and more justifying why they should keep their job the next year. So an ineffective teacher would be gone. So you really think that your offspring would do as well without having their so-called ineffective teacher at the helm? I highly doubt it. You might do a lot at home but they are still learning at school. Teachers in DC are smart, creative, and resourceful. They face a lot of challenges but they overcome for the sake of all of the children, not just yours. Instead of turning against them why don't you support them?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why not go to other school systems that have better outcomes and teachers????

Sitting around complaining about the very school system you put your children in --and the people you entrust them to--doesn't make you look terribly smart, educated, or even a good parent. As disinterested and disenfranchised and many DCPS families are, at least they believe in the school system they send their children to every day.

It's because we are smart and good parents that our children will do great in a substandard system. We're not worried for ourselves. We share a city with children that do not have the same support at home but experience the same uneven education at school. Also, I think this thread hits a nerve with some parents because it's not just the last two weeks of the school year. It's a reminder of all of the times throughout the school year that instructional time was lost and indicative of a larger problem.
If you think that concerned parents should self-deport so ineffective teachers can keep their jobs, I disagree. What will happen when all of the children scoring 5 and most of the children scoring 4 on the PARCC leave for the suburbs on your advice? How will that improve the situation in DCPS?

Smart and good parents don't put their children in a substandard school system, leave them there, brag about doing so and bitterly complain about the system.

Smart, good parents don't put their children in a substandard school system. Period.

Smart, good parents don't entrust their children to ineffective teachers day after day.

And does showing movies at the end of the year really make a teacher ineffective?

The bottom line is that you are and can remain bitter that DCPS isn't falling over backwards to please you and your 4 and 5-scoring children. No one cares if you head for the burbs with them. But if you were such a smart, good parent, you would.

I'm curious, beyond the lack of the pay increase, what are the other major issues keeping the negotiations from moving forward? The only one I have heard is the objection from my kids teachers is to a 1% pay raise and a 7 year old contract. I thought the new salary scales boosted all teachers up substantially so I'm wondering why 1% is such a problem if, say 5 years ago a base salary was increased 20%.

http://dcps.dc.gov/page/compensation-lift-and-impactplus

[Anonymous]

Do you accept a 1% pay increase? Have you noticed that the COL in the Washington DC Metro area has increased substantially in 5 years or are you a transplant? The old contract is severely flawed and was created by Michelle Rhee to "clean house." She did that and moved on. The last of the "bag eggs" are being forced into retirement or IMPACTed out which is why you are seeing such a high turnover of the leadership. There were people hired simply to be agents of change and then they were used up and sent packing. DCPS is not interested in the best interest of children, teachers, or families. The people at the top are interested in keep ing money their pockets. Why can't Kaya Henderson take a pay cut? What does she do other than make public appearances and come with new initiatives that don't work half of the time?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all if the teachers were "ineffective" they wouldn't be in the classroom. Bottom line. There are check and balances that ensure that your child has competent teacher at the helm. The same checks and balances that you complain take up so much of the teacher's time. Yes the elephant in the room is the lack of a workable contract and the confines of IMPACT. Part of the EOY paperwork teachers have to present is a snapshot of the successes they have had throughout the year. Presentation of data, student work, and more justifying why they should keep their job the next year. So an ineffective teacher would be gone. So you really think that your offspring would do as well without having their so-called ineffective teacher at the helm? I highly doubt it. You might do a lot at home but they are still learning at school. Teachers in DC are smart, creative, and resourceful. They face a lot of challenges but they overcome for the sake of all of the children, not just yours. Instead of turning against them why don't you support them?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why not go to other school systems that have better outcomes and teachers????

Sitting around complaining about the very school system you put your children in --and the people you entrust them to--doesn't make you look terribly smart, educated, or even a good parent. As disinterested and disenfranchised and many DCPS families are, at least they believe in the school system they send their children to every day.

It's because we are smart and good parents that our children will do great in a substandard system. We're not worried for ourselves. We share a city with children that do not have the same support at home but experience the same uneven education at school. Also, I think this thread hits a nerve with some parents because it's not just the last two weeks of the school year. It's a reminder of all of the times throughout the school year that instructional time was lost and indicative of a larger problem.
If you think that concerned parents should self-deport so ineffective teachers can keep their jobs, I disagree. What will happen when all of the children scoring 5 and most of the children scoring 4 on the PARCC leave for the suburbs on your advice? How will that improve the situation in DCPS?

Smart and good parents don't put their children in a substandard school system, leave them there, brag about doing so and bitterly complain about the system.

Smart, good parents don't put their children in a substandard school system. Period.

Smart, good parents don't entrust their children to ineffective teachers day after day.

And does showing movies at the end of the year really make a teacher ineffective?

The bottom line is that you are and can remain bitter that DCPS isn't falling over backwards to please you and your 4 and 5-scoring children. No one cares if you head for the burbs with them. But if you were such a smart, good parent, you would.

I'm curious, beyond the lack of the pay increase, what are the other major issues keeping the negotiations from moving forward? The only one I have heard is the objection from my kids teachers is to a 1% pay raise and a 7 year old contract. I thought the new salary scales boosted all teachers up substantially so I'm wondering why 1% is such a problem if, say 5 years ago a base salary was increased 20%.

http://dcps.dc.gov/page/compensation-lift-and-impactplus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you accept a 1% pay increase? Have you noticed that the COL in the Washington DC Metro area has increased substantially in 5 years or are you a transplant? The old contract is severely flawed and was created by Michelle Rhee to "clean house." She did that and moved on. The last of the "bag eggs" are being forced into retirement or IMPACTed out which is why you are seeing such a high turnover of the leadership. There were people hired simply to be agents of change and then they were used up and sent packing. DCPS is not interested in the best interest of children, teachers, or families. The people at the top are interested in keep ing money their pockets. Why can't Kaya Henderson take a pay cut? What does she do other than make public appearances and come with new initiatives that don't work half of the time?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all if the teachers were "ineffective" they wouldn't be in the classroom. Bottom line. There are check and balances that ensure that your child has competent teacher at the helm. The same checks and balances that you complain take up so much of the teacher's time. Yes the elephant in the room is the lack of a workable contract and the confines of IMPACT. Part of the EOY paperwork teachers have to present is a snapshot of the successes they have had throughout the year. Presentation of data, student work, and more justifying why they should keep their job the next year. So an ineffective teacher would be gone. So you really think that your offspring would do as well without having their so-called ineffective teacher at the helm? I highly doubt it. You might do a lot at home but they are still learning at school. Teachers in DC are smart, creative, and resourceful. They face a lot of challenges but they overcome for the sake of all of the children, not just yours. Instead of turning against them why don't you support them?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why not go to other school systems that have better outcomes and teachers????

Sitting around complaining about the very school system you put your children in --and the people you entrust them to--doesn't make you look terribly smart, educated, or even a good parent. As disinterested and disenfranchised and many DCPS families are, at least they believe in the school system they send their children to every day.

It's because we are smart and good parents that our children will do great in a substandard system. We're not worried for ourselves. We share a city with children that do not have the same support at home but experience the same uneven education at school. Also, I think this thread hits a nerve with some parents because it's not just the last two weeks of the school year. It's a reminder of all of the times throughout the school year that instructional time was lost and indicative of a larger problem.
If you think that concerned parents should self-deport so ineffective teachers can keep their jobs, I disagree. What will happen when all of the children scoring 5 and most of the children scoring 4 on the PARCC leave for the suburbs on your advice? How will that improve the situation in DCPS?

Smart and good parents don't put their children in a substandard school system, leave them there, brag about doing so and bitterly complain about the system.

Smart, good parents don't put their children in a substandard school system. Period.

Smart, good parents don't entrust their children to ineffective teachers day after day.

And does showing movies at the end of the year really make a teacher ineffective?

The bottom line is that you are and can remain bitter that DCPS isn't falling over backwards to please you and your 4 and 5-scoring children. No one cares if you head for the burbs with them. But if you were such a smart, good parent, you would.

I'm curious, beyond the lack of the pay increase, what are the other major issues keeping the negotiations from moving forward? The only one I have heard is the objection from my kids teachers is to a 1% pay raise and a 7 year old contract. I thought the new salary scales boosted all teachers up substantially so I'm wondering why 1% is such a problem if, say 5 years ago a base salary was increased 20%.

http://dcps.dc.gov/page/compensation-lift-and-impactplus

If I had received a raise within the last 5 years that amounted to 20% of my base salary I might be a bit introspective about it. Or at least realistic about the lack of pay increases people received across all types of work. But thank you for confirming the issue with the contract is the 1%. The DC Chancellor, Kaya or anyone else would be a FOOL to remain in that job for less than $300K.

[Anonymous]

However, you didn't take in account what the pay scale was before that. I know that each and every penny earned is well deserved and no one else seems to have an issue with it. Have you donated towards the cost of setting up and maintaining a classroom? That money is often reinvested back into the classroom - after taxes. So yeah, the formula is a bit more complicated that it seems. But thanks for the concern about the contract negations. Perhaps reaching out to WTU for the real issues will help.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you accept a 1% pay increase? Have you noticed that the COL in the Washington DC Metro area has increased substantially in 5 years or are you a transplant? The old contract is severely flawed and was created by Michelle Rhee to "clean house." She did that and moved on. The last of the "bag eggs" are being forced into retirement or IMPACTed out which is why you are seeing such a high turnover of the leadership. There were people hired simply to be agents of change and then they were used up and sent packing. DCPS is not interested in the best interest of children, teachers, or families. The people at the top are interested in keep ing money their pockets. Why can't Kaya Henderson take a pay cut? What does she do other than make public appearances and come with new initiatives that don't work half of the time?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all if the teachers were "ineffective" they wouldn't be in the classroom. Bottom line. There are check and balances that ensure that your child has competent teacher at the helm. The same checks and balances that you complain take up so much of the teacher's time. Yes the elephant in the room is the lack of a workable contract and the confines of IMPACT. Part of the EOY paperwork teachers have to present is a snapshot of the successes they have had throughout the year. Presentation of data, student work, and more justifying why they should keep their job the next year. So an ineffective teacher would be gone. So you really think that your offspring would do as well without having their so-called ineffective teacher at the helm? I highly doubt it. You might do a lot at home but they are still learning at school. Teachers in DC are smart, creative, and resourceful. They face a lot of challenges but they overcome for the sake of all of the children, not just yours. Instead of turning against them why don't you support them?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why not go to other school systems that have better outcomes and teachers????

Sitting around complaining about the very school system you put your children in --and the people you entrust them to--doesn't make you look terribly smart, educated, or even a good parent. As disinterested and disenfranchised and many DCPS families are, at least they believe in the school system they send their children to every day.

It's because we are smart and good parents that our children will do great in a substandard system. We're not worried for ourselves. We share a city with children that do not have the same support at home but experience the same uneven education at school. Also, I think this thread hits a nerve with some parents because it's not just the last two weeks of the school year. It's a reminder of all of the times throughout the school year that instructional time was lost and indicative of a larger problem.
If you think that concerned parents should self-deport so ineffective teachers can keep their jobs, I disagree. What will happen when all of the children scoring 5 and most of the children scoring 4 on the PARCC leave for the suburbs on your advice? How will that improve the situation in DCPS?

Smart and good parents don't put their children in a substandard school system, leave them there, brag about doing so and bitterly complain about the system.

Smart, good parents don't put their children in a substandard school system. Period.

Smart, good parents don't entrust their children to ineffective teachers day after day.

And does showing movies at the end of the year really make a teacher ineffective?

The bottom line is that you are and can remain bitter that DCPS isn't falling over backwards to please you and your 4 and 5-scoring children. No one cares if you head for the burbs with them. But if you were such a smart, good parent, you would.

I'm curious, beyond the lack of the pay increase, what are the other major issues keeping the negotiations from moving forward? The only one I have heard is the objection from my kids teachers is to a 1% pay raise and a 7 year old contract. I thought the new salary scales boosted all teachers up substantially so I'm wondering why 1% is such a problem if, say 5 years ago a base salary was increased 20%.

http://dcps.dc.gov/page/compensation-lift-and-impactplus

If I had received a raise within the last 5 years that amounted to 20% of my base salary I might be a bit introspective about it. Or at least realistic about the lack of pay increases people received across all types of work. But thank you for confirming the issue with the contract is the 1%. The DC Chancellor, Kaya or anyone else would be a FOOL to remain in that job for less than $300K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:However, you didn't take in account what the pay scale was before that. I know that each and every penny earned is well deserved and no one else seems to have an issue with it. Have you donated towards the cost of setting up and maintaining a classroom? That money is often reinvested back into the classroom - after taxes. So yeah, the formula is a bit more complicated that it seems. But thanks for the concern about the contract negations. Perhaps reaching out to WTU for the real issues will help.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you accept a 1% pay increase? Have you noticed that the COL in the Washington DC Metro area has increased substantially in 5 years or are you a transplant? The old contract is severely flawed and was created by Michelle Rhee to "clean house." She did that and moved on. The last of the "bag eggs" are being forced into retirement or IMPACTed out which is why you are seeing such a high turnover of the leadership. There were people hired simply to be agents of change and then they were used up and sent packing. DCPS is not interested in the best interest of children, teachers, or families. The people at the top are interested in keep ing money their pockets. Why can't Kaya Henderson take a pay cut? What does she do other than make public appearances and come with new initiatives that don't work half of the time?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all if the teachers were "ineffective" they wouldn't be in the classroom. Bottom line. There are check and balances that ensure that your child has competent teacher at the helm. The same checks and balances that you complain take up so much of the teacher's time. Yes the elephant in the room is the lack of a workable contract and the confines of IMPACT. Part of the EOY paperwork teachers have to present is a snapshot of the successes they have had throughout the year. Presentation of data, student work, and more justifying why they should keep their job the next year. So an ineffective teacher would be gone. So you really think that your offspring would do as well without having their so-called ineffective teacher at the helm? I highly doubt it. You might do a lot at home but they are still learning at school. Teachers in DC are smart, creative, and resourceful. They face a lot of challenges but they overcome for the sake of all of the children, not just yours. Instead of turning against them why don't you support them?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why not go to other school systems that have better outcomes and teachers????

Sitting around complaining about the very school system you put your children in --and the people you entrust them to--doesn't make you look terribly smart, educated, or even a good parent. As disinterested and disenfranchised and many DCPS families are, at least they believe in the school system they send their children to every day.

It's because we are smart and good parents that our children will do great in a substandard system. We're not worried for ourselves. We share a city with children that do not have the same support at home but experience the same uneven education at school. Also, I think this thread hits a nerve with some parents because it's not just the last two weeks of the school year. It's a reminder of all of the times throughout the school year that instructional time was lost and indicative of a larger problem.
If you think that concerned parents should self-deport so ineffective teachers can keep their jobs, I disagree. What will happen when all of the children scoring 5 and most of the children scoring 4 on the PARCC leave for the suburbs on your advice? How will that improve the situation in DCPS?

Smart and good parents don't put their children in a substandard school system, leave them there, brag about doing so and bitterly complain about the system.

Smart, good parents don't put their children in a substandard school system. Period.

Smart, good parents don't entrust their children to ineffective teachers day after day.

And does showing movies at the end of the year really make a teacher ineffective?

The bottom line is that you are and can remain bitter that DCPS isn't falling over backwards to please you and your 4 and 5-scoring children. No one cares if you head for the burbs with them. But if you were such a smart, good parent, you would.

I'm curious, beyond the lack of the pay increase, what are the other major issues keeping the negotiations from moving forward? The only one I have heard is the objection from my kids teachers is to a 1% pay raise and a 7 year old contract. I thought the new salary scales boosted all teachers up substantially so I'm wondering why 1% is such a problem if, say 5 years ago a base salary was increased 20%.

http://dcps.dc.gov/page/compensation-lift-and-impactplus

If I had received a raise within the last 5 years that amounted to 20% of my base salary I might be a bit introspective about it. Or at least realistic about the lack of pay increases people received across all types of work. But thank you for confirming the issue with the contract is the 1%. The DC Chancellor, Kaya or anyone else would be a FOOL to remain in that job for less than $300K.

I'm fully aware what the pay scale was before the increases, and I'm fully aware that a teacher with a BA starts at a salary of $51K for a 10 month contract, if annualized would be over $61K. That's a better starting salary, combined with exceptional benefits and step increases that many other college graduates. Teachers, at least in DC, are finally being compensated at levels they deserve but the union turns to outdated tactics to rally the troops that don't make sense anymore. It's no wonder DCPS won't negotiate.