MCPS asks for 4 days off so teachers can prepare building for in-person instruction

[Anonymous]

Seems like there are too many ridiculous anti-teacher comments to be one person and her sock puppets. Depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hogan sends another F U to the people of MoCo. Don’t think he cares about your kids. He just waves to stick it to MCPS. Your kids are collateral damage.

What? How is this bad for kids? Even teachers in this thread are saying they don’t need extra time to set up. Seems like MCPS was being unreasonable.

I only don’t need to time because I refuse to set up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many people need someone to blame here and it’s more toxic all the time. I don’t understand the anger but I hope it works out for teachers and parents soon. You are sharing the same job.

Really?? Holding people’s feet to the fire to actually do their job is called “accountability” not “blaming”. Asking for the option to send our kids to school is a bare minimum at this point. (And btw, no we don’t share the same job. My job is to raise a good, strong, independent person with a moral center and strong set of values. Your job is to teach them academically. Yes it is a partnership, yes it takes a village, and yes the lines are blurred. But don’t conflate the two. Being physically present is as much a part of your job as it is mine. Stop making excuses already.)

Get it right- you are asking an anonymous group of people that don’t HAVE the power to make that decision. Your eyes are so red you painted the response to an engineer as if they are teacher. I just feel bad for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like there are too many ridiculous anti-teacher comments to be one person and her sock puppets. Depressing.

It's one guy. Maybe two. I am suspicious that the main hater is my neighbor, new transplant from a red state, the rest of the block is waiting for him to realize he made a bad move and go home before the pandemic is over and we have bbqs again

[Anonymous]

Thank you to the State Board of Education for saying no to MCPS. Our kids are only attending schools 4 days a week. The curriculum has been slashed to the point that students are missing fundamental skills and concepts.

The rest of the world has made sacrifices including parents with jobs that are picking up the slack for MCPS and it’s teachers not doing theirs. Teachers have demanded 6 weeks of notice for when they need to go back because of child care issues. Teachers are lying to jump the line to get COVID shots in front of healthcare workers and seniors over 75. And MCPS wanted teachers to have 4 days to set up classrooms?

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you to the State Board of Education for saying no to MCPS. Our kids are only attending schools 4 days a week. The curriculum has been slashed to the point that students are missing fundamental skills and concepts.

The rest of the world has made sacrifices including parents with jobs that are picking up the slack for MCPS and it’s teachers not doing theirs. Teachers have demanded 6 weeks of notice for when they need to go back because of child care issues. Teachers are lying to jump the line to get COVID shots in front of healthcare workers and seniors over 75. And MCPS wanted teachers to have 4 days to set up classrooms?

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Ever think of creating a group of parents with picket signs to congratulate this decision and demand a reopening? That might gain more traction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am blown away at the nastiness and ignorance on this thread. Is there any profession in the world as disrespected as the teacher. That all of you think you can just look at and judge and think about how much time it takes to do their jobs? The lack of respect and value for teachers is disgraceful. If you think it is such a cushy, easy job than why didn't you become a teacher? If you want your child to learn, it isn't about returning to school in person- it is about respect. If you think this away about their teachers, what attitude do you think they have towards their teachers. I am sure it is challenging to learn when you feel that you already know everything. If you think it is so easy to unpack and set up a classroom, then you should volunteer to go and help your child's teacher. This is really ugly, and this is the problem, not where we are learning, but the community speaking and writing this ugly rehetoric.

Any sympathy people had for teachers wore thin after they spent 6 months obstructing all attempts to bring students back to school. Even CNN commentators are beginning to call teachers out.

You overplayed your hand, apparently forgetting that tens of millions of people have been working throughout the pandemic to keep society functioning for you. And now it's going to finally come back to bite you.

[Anonymous]

No one is saying MCPS can't take days off to prepare classrooms. They would just need to make up the instruction days.

Some of you act like that's impossible to do. It's really not, and MCPS surely knew they might have to do that when they made the schedule. Back in December 2019, when they passed this year's school calendar, they only put in 182 instruction days. So if they had more than two snow days, they would have had to make up those days anyway.

They surely knew that, and we're prepared to do that, when they passed the calendar. I'm sure they just thought it would be due to snow rather than COVID.

[Anonymous]

Over in FCPS they continue to give our teachers numerous preparation days (no live instruction) to prepare for returning to school, only to keep pushing back the return dates. Our K-2 teachers had prep days in November and we're still not back in school. (I don't blame the teachers at all, it's just the leadership).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one is saying MCPS can't take days off to prepare classrooms. They would just need to make up the instruction days.

Some of you act like that's impossible to do. It's really not, and MCPS surely knew they might have to do that when they made the schedule. Back in December 2019, when they passed this year's school calendar, they only put in 182 instruction days. So if they had more than two snow days, they would have had to make up those days anyway.

They surely knew that, and we're prepared to do that, when they passed the calendar. I'm sure they just thought it would be due to snow rather than COVID.

My guess is teachers will assign asynchronous instruction during those transition days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone should’ve told me I shouldn’t be working Wednesdays! I’m meeting with groups of students all morning and in meetings all afternoon.

To everyone volunteering my personal, unpaid time to set up classrooms, post your email and I’ll send you the volunteer sign up genius!

I’m getting sick and tired of the teacher trash talk. I love teaching and love watching your children grow and learn but all this vitriol doesn’t make the $25/hr after taxes worth it. You need to realize, this will drive away the really good teachers, the ones that have options. Then you’ll really have something to complain about when the teachers that are left are inexperienced or inept.

Do you know how many hours I work at home, outside of my pay. I am sure millions of others do the same. It is a SALARIED position. You are not an hourly employee.

Exactly. All of us are exhausted and doing way more than is listed on our job descriptions! I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a ton of extra work to do, plus of course caring for their own kids. I get frustrated when teachers imply that their circumstances are unique.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is saying MCPS can't take days off to prepare classrooms. They would just need to make up the instruction days.

Some of you act like that's impossible to do. It's really not, and MCPS surely knew they might have to do that when they made the schedule. Back in December 2019, when they passed this year's school calendar, they only put in 182 instruction days. So if they had more than two snow days, they would have had to make up those days anyway.

They surely knew that, and we're prepared to do that, when they passed the calendar. I'm sure they just thought it would be due to snow rather than COVID.

My guess is teachers will assign asynchronous instruction during those transition days.

Do those count as instruction days per the waiver they already got from MSBE?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I pray someone from Central office with any authority is reading this thread. For gods sake, you’ve had a YEAR to plan for this and you act like you’re surprised we might actually return to a school building, like ever. I never thought I’d have to beg for the CHOICE to send my kid to school.

New poster here. I agree with nearly everyone here. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Open the schools, teachers can prepare any afternoon after classes end - or before 9am when classes start. You're only teaching like 4-5 hours a day.

Honestly, rooms just won’t get set up then.

If I told my boss, “you are not giving me extra time off to do something that is essential for my job, so I’m just going to ship it,” I would get fired. I work for a nonprofit and don’t get paid a lot, but I am a professional. I am salaried and do what it takes to get my job done. This past year has been a nightmare and work got much busier than usual because I work on issues related to the pandemic. I worked late into the night most nights to get the work done, with no extra time off and no extra pay.

Thankfully, not all teachers have your attitude.

[Anonymous]

Did any other county give or request 4 days from the state? We all know the answer

I think most teachers are amazing, but it is obvious as in all professions. Some put so much more work in.

I think MCPS is awful - overall. Everywhere. But especially the board and management.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you know how many hours I work at home, outside of my pay. I am sure millions of others do the same. It is a SALARIED position. You are not an hourly employee.

It's a CONTRACTED position. It's different.