Dear Parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to think that MCPS parents were the worst, but I see that I just haven't been paying enough attention to FCPS parents. This thread is full of some of the most entitled, arrogant parents I've seen in a long time. And you wonder why teachers are leaving the profession and that some of you are complaining about having subs, long-term subs and random school staff babysitting your children and not teaching them. Well, congratulations, you've shown that your children are paying the price for your arrogance and entitlement. Don't be surprised if more teachers leave and some leave mid-year from some of you and your children end up with more untrained subs and school staff babysitting your children instead of teaching them.

Only an arrogant and entitled person would view parents wanting teachers to do their job and GRADE THE KIDS' WORK in a timely manner is arrogant or entitled. LOL.

You are only contributing to the problem. The problem right now is that the school administration and school board have pushed so many administrative tasks onto the teachers that they have less time per child. In addition, as teachers leave the profession, the class sizes are rising, which again decreases time per child. The teachers are overwhelmed. Adding in parent teacher meetings will only exacerbate the problem by taking more and more time away from the teacher's ability to address anything for the bulk of children.

Your entire attitude will make the problem worse. Parents like you are one of the primary reasons that teachers are leaving the profession. Will you be happy if you decide to browbeat and harass the teacher and they decide to leave the profession and you get a long-term or short-term sub with no teaching credentials, no curriculum and no lesson plans to just make up busy work for your child for an entire quarter while they try to find someone to replace the teacher you helped to chase out? Will you be happy if because of the harassment, that your child is no longer given homework at all just to allow the teacher to cut back to a 10 hour work day and a 55 hour work week?

Parents should be advocating with the school board to reduce administrative overhead tasks from teachers. The teachers need to get many of those administrative tasks removed from their schedules so that they have more time in their schedules to address student issues. Harassing and browbeating teachers is not going to improve your child's education. But getting teacher's away from administrative tasks and back to teaching will. Devote that aggression and energy into helping to improve teacher work conditions and you'll find it will have a bigger effect on improving your child's education than just piling on to the overwhelming schedule and tasks of your child's teacher.

Parents like me have been your biggest supporter over the last 2 years- so your assumption made me laugh out loud just now. But, parents like me also expect that if I have a legitimate question and concern with my child's learning, and how DC is getting feedback, you will hear about it. If "parents like me" piss you off for doing that (and to be clear, I have not not had to do this thus far but would not hesitate) so be it.

Your admin burdens are not my problem. I will support you and all teachers to the maximum until you stop doing your job to effectively teach my kid. I don't care what you think about me, whether I"m a problem, etc.

Just to clarify, I am not a teacher nor have I ever been a teacher. I am a parent that gets along well with my children's teachers and I am as supportive as possible wherever and however I can be. I do not DEMAND actions from my children's teachers, but I highlight issues and ask them to help me solve them. I get answers because I act nicely and ask rather than demand. And I am also more patient. You seem to expect answers quickly and your imperious tone is very abrasive. But go ahead, say you are a big supporter while treating them like a servant.

Yes....kindness goes a long way. I'm not a servant and parents who behave that way will quickly know I am not their servant. Parents with this attitude are the ones who have kids who think they are the only one in my class....meanwhile I have 35 others in each class. It's an entitled attitude. To the parents who respect teachers and what they do thank you-we know who you are!

And just to clarify, if you can read, I have not NEEDED to do this with my kids' teachers yet. I am responding to the teacher or whoever it was that seemed to think they had no obligation to meet with parents, timely grade and provide feedback, and thinks that would fly with a lot of parents (including me). Yes, I do expect answers and in a timely manner - that is not unreasonable. My abrasive tone is on here and, so far, has not been needed with any teacher in FCPS. It is reserved her for the folks like you that seem to be making excuses for those that cannot seem to do their job. And think that is ok. It's not and I don't care what you think of my tone.

For two years, teachers have told parents that they are our "partners" in education and it was our job to get our kids through COVID - and I agree. And I did that. But being a "partner" requires teachers to do their part and no chance I'd accept anything less than timely grading and feedback, voluntarily if I can get it but with more involvement from admin if that wasn't working. And yes, we are "entitled" to that.

I also don't need your validation of whether or not I am a supporter of teachers or not. I know the truth and what I have supported and advocated for and for whom in the last few years. I can be both a supporter of teachers while advocating for my child. Sorry you don't get that but that matters not even a little to me.

I am the teacher above who logged my hours last year. You are NOT my advocate if you demand timely feedback knowing that I am working 27 extra hours A WEEK to get my work accomplished. That workload is not acceptable. You are not entitled to my Saturdays and my Sundays. No more.

Consider HOW you can be an advocate. If you want your child supported, then you need to accept that teachers are severely overworked. Advocate for better working conditions. Advocate for more planning time during the work day.

Just so I'm clear, I have to advocate for my own kids, be your "partner" to fill in COVID gaps, work MY OWN job, and advocate for YOUR JOB just so you don't have to work additional hours like every other profession?

GFTOH with that nonsense.

No, but you can stop bothering us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to think that MCPS parents were the worst, but I see that I just haven't been paying enough attention to FCPS parents. This thread is full of some of the most entitled, arrogant parents I've seen in a long time. And you wonder why teachers are leaving the profession and that some of you are complaining about having subs, long-term subs and random school staff babysitting your children and not teaching them. Well, congratulations, you've shown that your children are paying the price for your arrogance and entitlement. Don't be surprised if more teachers leave and some leave mid-year from some of you and your children end up with more untrained subs and school staff babysitting your children instead of teaching them.

Only an arrogant and entitled person would view parents wanting teachers to do their job and GRADE THE KIDS' WORK in a timely manner is arrogant or entitled. LOL.

You are only contributing to the problem. The problem right now is that the school administration and school board have pushed so many administrative tasks onto the teachers that they have less time per child. In addition, as teachers leave the profession, the class sizes are rising, which again decreases time per child. The teachers are overwhelmed. Adding in parent teacher meetings will only exacerbate the problem by taking more and more time away from the teacher's ability to address anything for the bulk of children.

Your entire attitude will make the problem worse. Parents like you are one of the primary reasons that teachers are leaving the profession. Will you be happy if you decide to browbeat and harass the teacher and they decide to leave the profession and you get a long-term or short-term sub with no teaching credentials, no curriculum and no lesson plans to just make up busy work for your child for an entire quarter while they try to find someone to replace the teacher you helped to chase out? Will you be happy if because of the harassment, that your child is no longer given homework at all just to allow the teacher to cut back to a 10 hour work day and a 55 hour work week?

Parents should be advocating with the school board to reduce administrative overhead tasks from teachers. The teachers need to get many of those administrative tasks removed from their schedules so that they have more time in their schedules to address student issues. Harassing and browbeating teachers is not going to improve your child's education. But getting teacher's away from administrative tasks and back to teaching will. Devote that aggression and energy into helping to improve teacher work conditions and you'll find it will have a bigger effect on improving your child's education than just piling on to the overwhelming schedule and tasks of your child's teacher.

Parents like me have been your biggest supporter over the last 2 years- so your assumption made me laugh out loud just now. But, parents like me also expect that if I have a legitimate question and concern with my child's learning, and how DC is getting feedback, you will hear about it. If "parents like me" piss you off for doing that (and to be clear, I have not not had to do this thus far but would not hesitate) so be it.

Your admin burdens are not my problem. I will support you and all teachers to the maximum until you stop doing your job to effectively teach my kid. I don't care what you think about me, whether I"m a problem, etc.

Just to clarify, I am not a teacher nor have I ever been a teacher. I am a parent that gets along well with my children's teachers and I am as supportive as possible wherever and however I can be. I do not DEMAND actions from my children's teachers, but I highlight issues and ask them to help me solve them. I get answers because I act nicely and ask rather than demand. And I am also more patient. You seem to expect answers quickly and your imperious tone is very abrasive. But go ahead, say you are a big supporter while treating them like a servant.

Yes....kindness goes a long way. I'm not a servant and parents who behave that way will quickly know I am not their servant. Parents with this attitude are the ones who have kids who think they are the only one in my class....meanwhile I have 35 others in each class. It's an entitled attitude. To the parents who respect teachers and what they do thank you-we know who you are!

And just to clarify, if you can read, I have not NEEDED to do this with my kids' teachers yet. I am responding to the teacher or whoever it was that seemed to think they had no obligation to meet with parents, timely grade and provide feedback, and thinks that would fly with a lot of parents (including me). Yes, I do expect answers and in a timely manner - that is not unreasonable. My abrasive tone is on here and, so far, has not been needed with any teacher in FCPS. It is reserved her for the folks like you that seem to be making excuses for those that cannot seem to do their job. And think that is ok. It's not and I don't care what you think of my tone.

For two years, teachers have told parents that they are our "partners" in education and it was our job to get our kids through COVID - and I agree. And I did that. But being a "partner" requires teachers to do their part and no chance I'd accept anything less than timely grading and feedback, voluntarily if I can get it but with more involvement from admin if that wasn't working. And yes, we are "entitled" to that.

I also don't need your validation of whether or not I am a supporter of teachers or not. I know the truth and what I have supported and advocated for and for whom in the last few years. I can be both a supporter of teachers while advocating for my child. Sorry you don't get that but that matters not even a little to me.

I am the teacher above who logged my hours last year. You are NOT my advocate if you demand timely feedback knowing that I am working 27 extra hours A WEEK to get my work accomplished. That workload is not acceptable. You are not entitled to my Saturdays and my Sundays. No more.

Consider HOW you can be an advocate. If you want your child supported, then you need to accept that teachers are severely overworked. Advocate for better working conditions. Advocate for more planning time during the work day.

Just so I'm clear, I have to advocate for my own kids, be your "partner" to fill in COVID gaps, work MY OWN job, and advocate for YOUR JOB just so you don't have to work additional hours like every other profession?

GFTOH with that nonsense.

No, but you can stop bothering us.

No? Then what are you saying? And this is an open board. If you don't like it, keep skimming past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to think that MCPS parents were the worst, but I see that I just haven't been paying enough attention to FCPS parents. This thread is full of some of the most entitled, arrogant parents I've seen in a long time. And you wonder why teachers are leaving the profession and that some of you are complaining about having subs, long-term subs and random school staff babysitting your children and not teaching them. Well, congratulations, you've shown that your children are paying the price for your arrogance and entitlement. Don't be surprised if more teachers leave and some leave mid-year from some of you and your children end up with more untrained subs and school staff babysitting your children instead of teaching them.

Only an arrogant and entitled person would view parents wanting teachers to do their job and GRADE THE KIDS' WORK in a timely manner is arrogant or entitled. LOL.

You are only contributing to the problem. The problem right now is that the school administration and school board have pushed so many administrative tasks onto the teachers that they have less time per child. In addition, as teachers leave the profession, the class sizes are rising, which again decreases time per child. The teachers are overwhelmed. Adding in parent teacher meetings will only exacerbate the problem by taking more and more time away from the teacher's ability to address anything for the bulk of children.

Your entire attitude will make the problem worse. Parents like you are one of the primary reasons that teachers are leaving the profession. Will you be happy if you decide to browbeat and harass the teacher and they decide to leave the profession and you get a long-term or short-term sub with no teaching credentials, no curriculum and no lesson plans to just make up busy work for your child for an entire quarter while they try to find someone to replace the teacher you helped to chase out? Will you be happy if because of the harassment, that your child is no longer given homework at all just to allow the teacher to cut back to a 10 hour work day and a 55 hour work week?

Parents should be advocating with the school board to reduce administrative overhead tasks from teachers. The teachers need to get many of those administrative tasks removed from their schedules so that they have more time in their schedules to address student issues. Harassing and browbeating teachers is not going to improve your child's education. But getting teacher's away from administrative tasks and back to teaching will. Devote that aggression and energy into helping to improve teacher work conditions and you'll find it will have a bigger effect on improving your child's education than just piling on to the overwhelming schedule and tasks of your child's teacher.

Parents like me have been your biggest supporter over the last 2 years- so your assumption made me laugh out loud just now. But, parents like me also expect that if I have a legitimate question and concern with my child's learning, and how DC is getting feedback, you will hear about it. If "parents like me" piss you off for doing that (and to be clear, I have not not had to do this thus far but would not hesitate) so be it.

Your admin burdens are not my problem. I will support you and all teachers to the maximum until you stop doing your job to effectively teach my kid. I don't care what you think about me, whether I"m a problem, etc.

Just to clarify, I am not a teacher nor have I ever been a teacher. I am a parent that gets along well with my children's teachers and I am as supportive as possible wherever and however I can be. I do not DEMAND actions from my children's teachers, but I highlight issues and ask them to help me solve them. I get answers because I act nicely and ask rather than demand. And I am also more patient. You seem to expect answers quickly and your imperious tone is very abrasive. But go ahead, say you are a big supporter while treating them like a servant.

Yes....kindness goes a long way. I'm not a servant and parents who behave that way will quickly know I am not their servant. Parents with this attitude are the ones who have kids who think they are the only one in my class....meanwhile I have 35 others in each class. It's an entitled attitude. To the parents who respect teachers and what they do thank you-we know who you are!

And just to clarify, if you can read, I have not NEEDED to do this with my kids' teachers yet. I am responding to the teacher or whoever it was that seemed to think they had no obligation to meet with parents, timely grade and provide feedback, and thinks that would fly with a lot of parents (including me). Yes, I do expect answers and in a timely manner - that is not unreasonable. My abrasive tone is on here and, so far, has not been needed with any teacher in FCPS. It is reserved her for the folks like you that seem to be making excuses for those that cannot seem to do their job. And think that is ok. It's not and I don't care what you think of my tone.

For two years, teachers have told parents that they are our "partners" in education and it was our job to get our kids through COVID - and I agree. And I did that. But being a "partner" requires teachers to do their part and no chance I'd accept anything less than timely grading and feedback, voluntarily if I can get it but with more involvement from admin if that wasn't working. And yes, we are "entitled" to that.

I also don't need your validation of whether or not I am a supporter of teachers or not. I know the truth and what I have supported and advocated for and for whom in the last few years. I can be both a supporter of teachers while advocating for my child. Sorry you don't get that but that matters not even a little to me.

I am the teacher above who logged my hours last year. You are NOT my advocate if you demand timely feedback knowing that I am working 27 extra hours A WEEK to get my work accomplished. That workload is not acceptable. You are not entitled to my Saturdays and my Sundays. No more.

Consider HOW you can be an advocate. If you want your child supported, then you need to accept that teachers are severely overworked. Advocate for better working conditions. Advocate for more planning time during the work day.

Just so I'm clear, I have to advocate for my own kids, be your "partner" to fill in COVID gaps, work MY OWN job, and advocate for YOUR JOB just so you don't have to work additional hours like every other profession?

GFTOH with that nonsense.

No, but you can stop bothering us.

No? Then what are you saying? And this is an open board. If you don't like it, keep skimming past.

I'm saying stop being openly hostile to teachers, it's not getting you any of the results you wanted. You might make a few mad which I guess is the point of your trolling but life goes on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that we don't know our kids were having a problem with the homework, quizzes, etc. until it's too late. Maybe the schools need to hire people whose job it is just to grade the daily work/worksheets and quizzes. Or bring in honor roll high school students who need volunteer hours and let them grade the worksheets. The unit tests can be graded by the teachers.

But things need to be graded fairly quickly so we can help our kids if they are struggling. I don't trust the teachers to let me know.

Without homework tests or any sort of feedback we've got no clue what is going on. Makes me wonder what is stressing teachers out at the elementary level without these things.

You have no idea why an ES teacher is stressed? How about 3 hours during the school week to plan, make copies, and grade because 2 hours are used for useless meetings where we are told what to do. How about 25-28 kids with a huge spectrum of needs and abilities. That is why they are stressed.

No homework means less stress for the teacher.

It also means I have to assign my kid to do work, or pay for a tutor, so they can get re-enforcement and have a clue what they're actually learning and to what degree they have actually mastered it.

American schools are a joke compared to back home where they have far more students per classroom and far less funding per student.

And yet you are here.

Yep, and somehow a lower resourced school system outperforms the US system. We should demand far better.

Do you think your ideas are new? Good luck with your demands, come back and tell us how it goes.

That's ok, it means there will continue to be a demand for people like me from outside the states because the k-12 system can produce enough STEM ready students.

Which is fantastic--the US has always thrived through immigrants. But it doesn't mean we have to recreate the institutions of other countries that produced immigrants. For better or worse, US culture is not that academically focused at the K-12 level. Somehow it has still always both developed and attracted top talent, developed strong businesses and industries with high productivity levels, and has some of the best colleges and universities in the world. Will it last? Maybe, maybe not. But it did all these things without ever having a super-cram intensive focus on K-12 academics. Students rise to the top in college and graduate school or they go out in the world and do something else. I think we should learn from others' practices, but also recognize that practices always occur within a broader culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that we don't know our kids were having a problem with the homework, quizzes, etc. until it's too late. Maybe the schools need to hire people whose job it is just to grade the daily work/worksheets and quizzes. Or bring in honor roll high school students who need volunteer hours and let them grade the worksheets. The unit tests can be graded by the teachers.

But things need to be graded fairly quickly so we can help our kids if they are struggling. I don't trust the teachers to let me know.

Without homework tests or any sort of feedback we've got no clue what is going on. Makes me wonder what is stressing teachers out at the elementary level without these things.

You have no idea why an ES teacher is stressed? How about 3 hours during the school week to plan, make copies, and grade because 2 hours are used for useless meetings where we are told what to do. How about 25-28 kids with a huge spectrum of needs and abilities. That is why they are stressed.

No homework means less stress for the teacher.

It also means I have to assign my kid to do work, or pay for a tutor, so they can get re-enforcement and have a clue what they're actually learning and to what degree they have actually mastered it.

American schools are a joke compared to back home where they have far more students per classroom and far less funding per student.

And yet you are here.

Yep, and somehow a lower resourced school system outperforms the US system. We should demand far better.

Are you referencing South or East Asian countries? If that's the case, I ask you to look at how many very poor immigrants are being served by your schools in those countries. Are they accepting millions of refugees and non-native speaking immigrants from 3rd world countries? The US does. In particular FCPS is tasked with serving some very high poverty immigrants, and that is why some of our schools appear to be outperformed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that we don't know our kids were having a problem with the homework, quizzes, etc. until it's too late. Maybe the schools need to hire people whose job it is just to grade the daily work/worksheets and quizzes. Or bring in honor roll high school students who need volunteer hours and let them grade the worksheets. The unit tests can be graded by the teachers.

But things need to be graded fairly quickly so we can help our kids if they are struggling. I don't trust the teachers to let me know.

Without homework tests or any sort of feedback we've got no clue what is going on. Makes me wonder what is stressing teachers out at the elementary level without these things.

You have no idea why an ES teacher is stressed? How about 3 hours during the school week to plan, make copies, and grade because 2 hours are used for useless meetings where we are told what to do. How about 25-28 kids with a huge spectrum of needs and abilities. That is why they are stressed.

No homework means less stress for the teacher.

It also means I have to assign my kid to do work, or pay for a tutor, so they can get re-enforcement and have a clue what they're actually learning and to what degree they have actually mastered it.

American schools are a joke compared to back home where they have far more students per classroom and far less funding per student.

And yet you are here.

Yep, and somehow a lower resourced school system outperforms the US system. We should demand far better.

Do you think your ideas are new? Good luck with your demands, come back and tell us how it goes.

That's ok, it means there will continue to be a demand for people like me from outside the states because the k-12 system can produce enough STEM ready students.

Which is fantastic--the US has always thrived through immigrants. But it doesn't mean we have to recreate the institutions of other countries that produced immigrants. For better or worse, US culture is not that academically focused at the K-12 level. Somehow it has still always both developed and attracted top talent, developed strong businesses and industries with high productivity levels, and has some of the best colleges and universities in the world. Will it last? Maybe, maybe not. But it did all these things without ever having a super-cram intensive focus on K-12 academics. Students rise to the top in college and graduate school or they go out in the world and do something else. I think we should learn from others' practices, but also recognize that practices always occur within a broader culture.

While all of this is true, I think there's been a shift as of late where even the top college students don't seem to want to do a lot of work and aren't as interested in graduate school as they used to be. I work with the best and brightest undergrads in my department. In the past 10 years there has been a noticeable decrease in the number of these students who want to pursue graduate degrees. Many of them don't even know what they want to do and say they'll just take a gap year after graduation. They kind of shrug and say it all sounds like a lot of work. I'm not sure if this is due to a watering down of K-12 (and subsequently higher ed, because they aren't as prepared for the rigor now), this new trend of "quiet quitting" and everyone making TikTok videos about how burned out they are, or what. I am curious if people at other universities are seeing this trend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to think that MCPS parents were the worst, but I see that I just haven't been paying enough attention to FCPS parents. This thread is full of some of the most entitled, arrogant parents I've seen in a long time. And you wonder why teachers are leaving the profession and that some of you are complaining about having subs, long-term subs and random school staff babysitting your children and not teaching them. Well, congratulations, you've shown that your children are paying the price for your arrogance and entitlement. Don't be surprised if more teachers leave and some leave mid-year from some of you and your children end up with more untrained subs and school staff babysitting your children instead of teaching them.

Only an arrogant and entitled person would view parents wanting teachers to do their job and GRADE THE KIDS' WORK in a timely manner is arrogant or entitled. LOL.

You are only contributing to the problem. The problem right now is that the school administration and school board have pushed so many administrative tasks onto the teachers that they have less time per child. In addition, as teachers leave the profession, the class sizes are rising, which again decreases time per child. The teachers are overwhelmed. Adding in parent teacher meetings will only exacerbate the problem by taking more and more time away from the teacher's ability to address anything for the bulk of children.

Your entire attitude will make the problem worse. Parents like you are one of the primary reasons that teachers are leaving the profession. Will you be happy if you decide to browbeat and harass the teacher and they decide to leave the profession and you get a long-term or short-term sub with no teaching credentials, no curriculum and no lesson plans to just make up busy work for your child for an entire quarter while they try to find someone to replace the teacher you helped to chase out? Will you be happy if because of the harassment, that your child is no longer given homework at all just to allow the teacher to cut back to a 10 hour work day and a 55 hour work week?

Parents should be advocating with the school board to reduce administrative overhead tasks from teachers. The teachers need to get many of those administrative tasks removed from their schedules so that they have more time in their schedules to address student issues. Harassing and browbeating teachers is not going to improve your child's education. But getting teacher's away from administrative tasks and back to teaching will. Devote that aggression and energy into helping to improve teacher work conditions and you'll find it will have a bigger effect on improving your child's education than just piling on to the overwhelming schedule and tasks of your child's teacher.

Parents like me have been your biggest supporter over the last 2 years- so your assumption made me laugh out loud just now. But, parents like me also expect that if I have a legitimate question and concern with my child's learning, and how DC is getting feedback, you will hear about it. If "parents like me" piss you off for doing that (and to be clear, I have not not had to do this thus far but would not hesitate) so be it.

Your admin burdens are not my problem. I will support you and all teachers to the maximum until you stop doing your job to effectively teach my kid. I don't care what you think about me, whether I"m a problem, etc.

Just to clarify, I am not a teacher nor have I ever been a teacher. I am a parent that gets along well with my children's teachers and I am as supportive as possible wherever and however I can be. I do not DEMAND actions from my children's teachers, but I highlight issues and ask them to help me solve them. I get answers because I act nicely and ask rather than demand. And I am also more patient. You seem to expect answers quickly and your imperious tone is very abrasive. But go ahead, say you are a big supporter while treating them like a servant.

Yes....kindness goes a long way. I'm not a servant and parents who behave that way will quickly know I am not their servant. Parents with this attitude are the ones who have kids who think they are the only one in my class....meanwhile I have 35 others in each class. It's an entitled attitude. To the parents who respect teachers and what they do thank you-we know who you are!

And just to clarify, if you can read, I have not NEEDED to do this with my kids' teachers yet. I am responding to the teacher or whoever it was that seemed to think they had no obligation to meet with parents, timely grade and provide feedback, and thinks that would fly with a lot of parents (including me). Yes, I do expect answers and in a timely manner - that is not unreasonable. My abrasive tone is on here and, so far, has not been needed with any teacher in FCPS. It is reserved her for the folks like you that seem to be making excuses for those that cannot seem to do their job. And think that is ok. It's not and I don't care what you think of my tone.

For two years, teachers have told parents that they are our "partners" in education and it was our job to get our kids through COVID - and I agree. And I did that. But being a "partner" requires teachers to do their part and no chance I'd accept anything less than timely grading and feedback, voluntarily if I can get it but with more involvement from admin if that wasn't working. And yes, we are "entitled" to that.

I also don't need your validation of whether or not I am a supporter of teachers or not. I know the truth and what I have supported and advocated for and for whom in the last few years. I can be both a supporter of teachers while advocating for my child. Sorry you don't get that but that matters not even a little to me.

I am the teacher above who logged my hours last year. You are NOT my advocate if you demand timely feedback knowing that I am working 27 extra hours A WEEK to get my work accomplished. That workload is not acceptable. You are not entitled to my Saturdays and my Sundays. No more.

Consider HOW you can be an advocate. If you want your child supported, then you need to accept that teachers are severely overworked. Advocate for better working conditions. Advocate for more planning time during the work day.

That's an interesting perspective but one I do not buy. Sorry.
And if "no more" is your answer, you should be prepared for parent pushback. And a lot of it.

You may absolutely push back, and I will respond by following my fellow teachers out the door. You are not entitled to my Saturdays and Sundays. I am not martyring my family for you, nor should you expect it.

I already accepted a lower salary to do this VERY important and VERY disrespected work. All I am asking for is the chance to actually get work done AT work, which is a fair request. Can you point to another profession that is expected to do 50% of work at home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that we don't know our kids were having a problem with the homework, quizzes, etc. until it's too late. Maybe the schools need to hire people whose job it is just to grade the daily work/worksheets and quizzes. Or bring in honor roll high school students who need volunteer hours and let them grade the worksheets. The unit tests can be graded by the teachers.

But things need to be graded fairly quickly so we can help our kids if they are struggling. I don't trust the teachers to let me know.

Without homework tests or any sort of feedback we've got no clue what is going on. Makes me wonder what is stressing teachers out at the elementary level without these things.

You have no idea why an ES teacher is stressed? How about 3 hours during the school week to plan, make copies, and grade because 2 hours are used for useless meetings where we are told what to do. How about 25-28 kids with a huge spectrum of needs and abilities. That is why they are stressed.

No homework means less stress for the teacher.

It also means I have to assign my kid to do work, or pay for a tutor, so they can get re-enforcement and have a clue what they're actually learning and to what degree they have actually mastered it.

American schools are a joke compared to back home where they have far more students per classroom and far less funding per student.

And yet you are here.

Yep, and somehow a lower resourced school system outperforms the US system. We should demand far better.

Do you think your ideas are new? Good luck with your demands, come back and tell us how it goes.

That's ok, it means there will continue to be a demand for people like me from outside the states because the k-12 system can produce enough STEM ready students.

Which is fantastic--the US has always thrived through immigrants. But it doesn't mean we have to recreate the institutions of other countries that produced immigrants. For better or worse, US culture is not that academically focused at the K-12 level. Somehow it has still always both developed and attracted top talent, developed strong businesses and industries with high productivity levels, and has some of the best colleges and universities in the world. Will it last? Maybe, maybe not. But it did all these things without ever having a super-cram intensive focus on K-12 academics. Students rise to the top in college and graduate school or they go out in the world and do something else. I think we should learn from others' practices, but also recognize that practices always occur within a broader culture.

While all of this is true, I think there's been a shift as of late where even the top college students don't seem to want to do a lot of work and aren't as interested in graduate school as they used to be. I work with the best and brightest undergrads in my department. In the past 10 years there has been a noticeable decrease in the number of these students who want to pursue graduate degrees. Many of them don't even know what they want to do and say they'll just take a gap year after graduation. They kind of shrug and say it all sounds like a lot of work. I'm not sure if this is due to a watering down of K-12 (and subsequently higher ed, because they aren't as prepared for the rigor now), this new trend of "quiet quitting" and everyone making TikTok videos about how burned out they are, or what. I am curious if people at other universities are seeing this trend.

I think this has more to do with the costs of college and the perception (in many cases accurate) that graduate degrees won't pay off in the same way as they used to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to think that MCPS parents were the worst, but I see that I just haven't been paying enough attention to FCPS parents. This thread is full of some of the most entitled, arrogant parents I've seen in a long time. And you wonder why teachers are leaving the profession and that some of you are complaining about having subs, long-term subs and random school staff babysitting your children and not teaching them. Well, congratulations, you've shown that your children are paying the price for your arrogance and entitlement. Don't be surprised if more teachers leave and some leave mid-year from some of you and your children end up with more untrained subs and school staff babysitting your children instead of teaching them.

Only an arrogant and entitled person would view parents wanting teachers to do their job and GRADE THE KIDS' WORK in a timely manner is arrogant or entitled. LOL.

You are only contributing to the problem. The problem right now is that the school administration and school board have pushed so many administrative tasks onto the teachers that they have less time per child. In addition, as teachers leave the profession, the class sizes are rising, which again decreases time per child. The teachers are overwhelmed. Adding in parent teacher meetings will only exacerbate the problem by taking more and more time away from the teacher's ability to address anything for the bulk of children.

Your entire attitude will make the problem worse. Parents like you are one of the primary reasons that teachers are leaving the profession. Will you be happy if you decide to browbeat and harass the teacher and they decide to leave the profession and you get a long-term or short-term sub with no teaching credentials, no curriculum and no lesson plans to just make up busy work for your child for an entire quarter while they try to find someone to replace the teacher you helped to chase out? Will you be happy if because of the harassment, that your child is no longer given homework at all just to allow the teacher to cut back to a 10 hour work day and a 55 hour work week?

Parents should be advocating with the school board to reduce administrative overhead tasks from teachers. The teachers need to get many of those administrative tasks removed from their schedules so that they have more time in their schedules to address student issues. Harassing and browbeating teachers is not going to improve your child's education. But getting teacher's away from administrative tasks and back to teaching will. Devote that aggression and energy into helping to improve teacher work conditions and you'll find it will have a bigger effect on improving your child's education than just piling on to the overwhelming schedule and tasks of your child's teacher.

Parents like me have been your biggest supporter over the last 2 years- so your assumption made me laugh out loud just now. But, parents like me also expect that if I have a legitimate question and concern with my child's learning, and how DC is getting feedback, you will hear about it. If "parents like me" piss you off for doing that (and to be clear, I have not not had to do this thus far but would not hesitate) so be it.

Your admin burdens are not my problem. I will support you and all teachers to the maximum until you stop doing your job to effectively teach my kid. I don't care what you think about me, whether I"m a problem, etc.

Just to clarify, I am not a teacher nor have I ever been a teacher. I am a parent that gets along well with my children's teachers and I am as supportive as possible wherever and however I can be. I do not DEMAND actions from my children's teachers, but I highlight issues and ask them to help me solve them. I get answers because I act nicely and ask rather than demand. And I am also more patient. You seem to expect answers quickly and your imperious tone is very abrasive. But go ahead, say you are a big supporter while treating them like a servant.

Yes....kindness goes a long way. I'm not a servant and parents who behave that way will quickly know I am not their servant. Parents with this attitude are the ones who have kids who think they are the only one in my class....meanwhile I have 35 others in each class. It's an entitled attitude. To the parents who respect teachers and what they do thank you-we know who you are!

And just to clarify, if you can read, I have not NEEDED to do this with my kids' teachers yet. I am responding to the teacher or whoever it was that seemed to think they had no obligation to meet with parents, timely grade and provide feedback, and thinks that would fly with a lot of parents (including me). Yes, I do expect answers and in a timely manner - that is not unreasonable. My abrasive tone is on here and, so far, has not been needed with any teacher in FCPS. It is reserved her for the folks like you that seem to be making excuses for those that cannot seem to do their job. And think that is ok. It's not and I don't care what you think of my tone.

For two years, teachers have told parents that they are our "partners" in education and it was our job to get our kids through COVID - and I agree. And I did that. But being a "partner" requires teachers to do their part and no chance I'd accept anything less than timely grading and feedback, voluntarily if I can get it but with more involvement from admin if that wasn't working. And yes, we are "entitled" to that.

I also don't need your validation of whether or not I am a supporter of teachers or not. I know the truth and what I have supported and advocated for and for whom in the last few years. I can be both a supporter of teachers while advocating for my child. Sorry you don't get that but that matters not even a little to me.

I am the teacher above who logged my hours last year. You are NOT my advocate if you demand timely feedback knowing that I am working 27 extra hours A WEEK to get my work accomplished. That workload is not acceptable. You are not entitled to my Saturdays and my Sundays. No more.

Consider HOW you can be an advocate. If you want your child supported, then you need to accept that teachers are severely overworked. Advocate for better working conditions. Advocate for more planning time during the work day.

That's an interesting perspective but one I do not buy. Sorry.
And if "no more" is your answer, you should be prepared for parent pushback. And a lot of it.

Not a teacher, but I will tell you that under the current situation, parental pushback is not going to get very far. We are in the terrible situation we are in because of years of poor school district management and parental pushback. The pandemic was the cherry on top that resulted in even worse working conditions for teachers.

At this point, you can push back on the teachers and they will either ignore or give you answers that will probably not appease you.

You will escalate to the school administration and in the current situation, they have no choice but to try to give you non-responses. At this point, virtually every school in the country has teacher shortages and no school can afford to have a teacher walk. There are no trained people who will take the jobs that haven't already found the job for them for the current school year. So school districts are looking for untrained people, some are going with people with different education, some with staff that have no educational or teaching background or fresh outs. There are no qualified teachers coming to the rescue that haven't already taken one of the thousands of open teaching positions. The pandemic and the horrible attitude towards teachers has already exacerbated a bad situation.

And you will try to escalate to the school superintendent or the school board. And they will be in the same position as the school administrators. They cannot afford to lose teachers as they are already short-handed with no real sign of any other qualified candidates available. At this point, difficult parents and unreasonable school administrators have made their beds and must lie in them. So many teachers have taken early retirement or left the profession and the ones that are left will work to rule and or will work the limit of what they are willing to do over their contracted hours and that will be it.

If people manage to make more teachers leave, you will end up with your children in classes with untrained, unprofessional baby-sitters who do not have the required background in teaching. It will be much worse for your children than the current situation. At least now, your children are getting educated, even if you don't have good metrics on what they are learning. The alternative, if you continue to persecute your child's teacher is that your child will lose out another year with a non-teacher. After the learning loss from the 1.5 years of the pandemic, can your child really afford another wasted year of primary education?

Think hard about what you really want before you start to push too hard on your child's teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to think that MCPS parents were the worst, but I see that I just haven't been paying enough attention to FCPS parents. This thread is full of some of the most entitled, arrogant parents I've seen in a long time. And you wonder why teachers are leaving the profession and that some of you are complaining about having subs, long-term subs and random school staff babysitting your children and not teaching them. Well, congratulations, you've shown that your children are paying the price for your arrogance and entitlement. Don't be surprised if more teachers leave and some leave mid-year from some of you and your children end up with more untrained subs and school staff babysitting your children instead of teaching them.

Only an arrogant and entitled person would view parents wanting teachers to do their job and GRADE THE KIDS' WORK in a timely manner is arrogant or entitled. LOL.

You are only contributing to the problem. The problem right now is that the school administration and school board have pushed so many administrative tasks onto the teachers that they have less time per child. In addition, as teachers leave the profession, the class sizes are rising, which again decreases time per child. The teachers are overwhelmed. Adding in parent teacher meetings will only exacerbate the problem by taking more and more time away from the teacher's ability to address anything for the bulk of children.

Your entire attitude will make the problem worse. Parents like you are one of the primary reasons that teachers are leaving the profession. Will you be happy if you decide to browbeat and harass the teacher and they decide to leave the profession and you get a long-term or short-term sub with no teaching credentials, no curriculum and no lesson plans to just make up busy work for your child for an entire quarter while they try to find someone to replace the teacher you helped to chase out? Will you be happy if because of the harassment, that your child is no longer given homework at all just to allow the teacher to cut back to a 10 hour work day and a 55 hour work week?

Parents should be advocating with the school board to reduce administrative overhead tasks from teachers. The teachers need to get many of those administrative tasks removed from their schedules so that they have more time in their schedules to address student issues. Harassing and browbeating teachers is not going to improve your child's education. But getting teacher's away from administrative tasks and back to teaching will. Devote that aggression and energy into helping to improve teacher work conditions and you'll find it will have a bigger effect on improving your child's education than just piling on to the overwhelming schedule and tasks of your child's teacher.

Parents like me have been your biggest supporter over the last 2 years- so your assumption made me laugh out loud just now. But, parents like me also expect that if I have a legitimate question and concern with my child's learning, and how DC is getting feedback, you will hear about it. If "parents like me" piss you off for doing that (and to be clear, I have not not had to do this thus far but would not hesitate) so be it.

Your admin burdens are not my problem. I will support you and all teachers to the maximum until you stop doing your job to effectively teach my kid. I don't care what you think about me, whether I"m a problem, etc.

Just to clarify, I am not a teacher nor have I ever been a teacher. I am a parent that gets along well with my children's teachers and I am as supportive as possible wherever and however I can be. I do not DEMAND actions from my children's teachers, but I highlight issues and ask them to help me solve them. I get answers because I act nicely and ask rather than demand. And I am also more patient. You seem to expect answers quickly and your imperious tone is very abrasive. But go ahead, say you are a big supporter while treating them like a servant.

Yes....kindness goes a long way. I'm not a servant and parents who behave that way will quickly know I am not their servant. Parents with this attitude are the ones who have kids who think they are the only one in my class....meanwhile I have 35 others in each class. It's an entitled attitude. To the parents who respect teachers and what they do thank you-we know who you are!

And just to clarify, if you can read, I have not NEEDED to do this with my kids' teachers yet. I am responding to the teacher or whoever it was that seemed to think they had no obligation to meet with parents, timely grade and provide feedback, and thinks that would fly with a lot of parents (including me). Yes, I do expect answers and in a timely manner - that is not unreasonable. My abrasive tone is on here and, so far, has not been needed with any teacher in FCPS. It is reserved her for the folks like you that seem to be making excuses for those that cannot seem to do their job. And think that is ok. It's not and I don't care what you think of my tone.

For two years, teachers have told parents that they are our "partners" in education and it was our job to get our kids through COVID - and I agree. And I did that. But being a "partner" requires teachers to do their part and no chance I'd accept anything less than timely grading and feedback, voluntarily if I can get it but with more involvement from admin if that wasn't working. And yes, we are "entitled" to that.

I also don't need your validation of whether or not I am a supporter of teachers or not. I know the truth and what I have supported and advocated for and for whom in the last few years. I can be both a supporter of teachers while advocating for my child. Sorry you don't get that but that matters not even a little to me.

I am the teacher above who logged my hours last year. You are NOT my advocate if you demand timely feedback knowing that I am working 27 extra hours A WEEK to get my work accomplished. That workload is not acceptable. You are not entitled to my Saturdays and my Sundays. No more.

Consider HOW you can be an advocate. If you want your child supported, then you need to accept that teachers are severely overworked. Advocate for better working conditions. Advocate for more planning time during the work day.

That's an interesting perspective but one I do not buy. Sorry.
And if "no more" is your answer, you should be prepared for parent pushback. And a lot of it.

Not a teacher, but I will tell you that under the current situation, parental pushback is not going to get very far. We are in the terrible situation we are in because of years of poor school district management and parental pushback. The pandemic was the cherry on top that resulted in even worse working conditions for teachers.

At this point, you can push back on the teachers and they will either ignore or give you answers that will probably not appease you.

You will escalate to the school administration and in the current situation, they have no choice but to try to give you non-responses. At this point, virtually every school in the country has teacher shortages and no school can afford to have a teacher walk. There are no trained people who will take the jobs that haven't already found the job for them for the current school year. So school districts are looking for untrained people, some are going with people with different education, some with staff that have no educational or teaching background or fresh outs. There are no qualified teachers coming to the rescue that haven't already taken one of the thousands of open teaching positions. The pandemic and the horrible attitude towards teachers has already exacerbated a bad situation.

And you will try to escalate to the school superintendent or the school board. And they will be in the same position as the school administrators. They cannot afford to lose teachers as they are already short-handed with no real sign of any other qualified candidates available. At this point, difficult parents and unreasonable school administrators have made their beds and must lie in them. So many teachers have taken early retirement or left the profession and the ones that are left will work to rule and or will work the limit of what they are willing to do over their contracted hours and that will be it.

If people manage to make more teachers leave, you will end up with your children in classes with untrained, unprofessional baby-sitters who do not have the required background in teaching. It will be much worse for your children than the current situation. At least now, your children are getting educated, even if you don't have good metrics on what they are learning. The alternative, if you continue to persecute your child's teacher is that your child will lose out another year with a non-teacher. After the learning loss from the 1.5 years of the pandemic, can your child really afford another wasted year of primary education?

Think hard about what you really want before you start to push too hard on your child's teacher.

+1
I would add: if your complaint is that the teacher refuses to work additional hours on your behalf, there is absolutely nothing the administration, the superintendent, or the school board can do for you. Many teachers are beginning to work to their contracts in an effort to show the unreasonable demands placed on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to think that MCPS parents were the worst, but I see that I just haven't been paying enough attention to FCPS parents. This thread is full of some of the most entitled, arrogant parents I've seen in a long time. And you wonder why teachers are leaving the profession and that some of you are complaining about having subs, long-term subs and random school staff babysitting your children and not teaching them. Well, congratulations, you've shown that your children are paying the price for your arrogance and entitlement. Don't be surprised if more teachers leave and some leave mid-year from some of you and your children end up with more untrained subs and school staff babysitting your children instead of teaching them.

Only an arrogant and entitled person would view parents wanting teachers to do their job and GRADE THE KIDS' WORK in a timely manner is arrogant or entitled. LOL.

You are only contributing to the problem. The problem right now is that the school administration and school board have pushed so many administrative tasks onto the teachers that they have less time per child. In addition, as teachers leave the profession, the class sizes are rising, which again decreases time per child. The teachers are overwhelmed. Adding in parent teacher meetings will only exacerbate the problem by taking more and more time away from the teacher's ability to address anything for the bulk of children.

Your entire attitude will make the problem worse. Parents like you are one of the primary reasons that teachers are leaving the profession. Will you be happy if you decide to browbeat and harass the teacher and they decide to leave the profession and you get a long-term or short-term sub with no teaching credentials, no curriculum and no lesson plans to just make up busy work for your child for an entire quarter while they try to find someone to replace the teacher you helped to chase out? Will you be happy if because of the harassment, that your child is no longer given homework at all just to allow the teacher to cut back to a 10 hour work day and a 55 hour work week?

Parents should be advocating with the school board to reduce administrative overhead tasks from teachers. The teachers need to get many of those administrative tasks removed from their schedules so that they have more time in their schedules to address student issues. Harassing and browbeating teachers is not going to improve your child's education. But getting teacher's away from administrative tasks and back to teaching will. Devote that aggression and energy into helping to improve teacher work conditions and you'll find it will have a bigger effect on improving your child's education than just piling on to the overwhelming schedule and tasks of your child's teacher.

Parents like me have been your biggest supporter over the last 2 years- so your assumption made me laugh out loud just now. But, parents like me also expect that if I have a legitimate question and concern with my child's learning, and how DC is getting feedback, you will hear about it. If "parents like me" piss you off for doing that (and to be clear, I have not not had to do this thus far but would not hesitate) so be it.

Your admin burdens are not my problem. I will support you and all teachers to the maximum until you stop doing your job to effectively teach my kid. I don't care what you think about me, whether I"m a problem, etc.

Just to clarify, I am not a teacher nor have I ever been a teacher. I am a parent that gets along well with my children's teachers and I am as supportive as possible wherever and however I can be. I do not DEMAND actions from my children's teachers, but I highlight issues and ask them to help me solve them. I get answers because I act nicely and ask rather than demand. And I am also more patient. You seem to expect answers quickly and your imperious tone is very abrasive. But go ahead, say you are a big supporter while treating them like a servant.

Yes....kindness goes a long way. I'm not a servant and parents who behave that way will quickly know I am not their servant. Parents with this attitude are the ones who have kids who think they are the only one in my class....meanwhile I have 35 others in each class. It's an entitled attitude. To the parents who respect teachers and what they do thank you-we know who you are!

And just to clarify, if you can read, I have not NEEDED to do this with my kids' teachers yet. I am responding to the teacher or whoever it was that seemed to think they had no obligation to meet with parents, timely grade and provide feedback, and thinks that would fly with a lot of parents (including me). Yes, I do expect answers and in a timely manner - that is not unreasonable. My abrasive tone is on here and, so far, has not been needed with any teacher in FCPS. It is reserved her for the folks like you that seem to be making excuses for those that cannot seem to do their job. And think that is ok. It's not and I don't care what you think of my tone.

For two years, teachers have told parents that they are our "partners" in education and it was our job to get our kids through COVID - and I agree. And I did that. But being a "partner" requires teachers to do their part and no chance I'd accept anything less than timely grading and feedback, voluntarily if I can get it but with more involvement from admin if that wasn't working. And yes, we are "entitled" to that.

I also don't need your validation of whether or not I am a supporter of teachers or not. I know the truth and what I have supported and advocated for and for whom in the last few years. I can be both a supporter of teachers while advocating for my child. Sorry you don't get that but that matters not even a little to me.

I am the teacher above who logged my hours last year. You are NOT my advocate if you demand timely feedback knowing that I am working 27 extra hours A WEEK to get my work accomplished. That workload is not acceptable. You are not entitled to my Saturdays and my Sundays. No more.

Consider HOW you can be an advocate. If you want your child supported, then you need to accept that teachers are severely overworked. Advocate for better working conditions. Advocate for more planning time during the work day.

That's an interesting perspective but one I do not buy. Sorry.
And if "no more" is your answer, you should be prepared for parent pushback. And a lot of it.

And you should prepare for teacher pushback. reality is reality and there are only so many hours in a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to think that MCPS parents were the worst, but I see that I just haven't been paying enough attention to FCPS parents. This thread is full of some of the most entitled, arrogant parents I've seen in a long time. And you wonder why teachers are leaving the profession and that some of you are complaining about having subs, long-term subs and random school staff babysitting your children and not teaching them. Well, congratulations, you've shown that your children are paying the price for your arrogance and entitlement. Don't be surprised if more teachers leave and some leave mid-year from some of you and your children end up with more untrained subs and school staff babysitting your children instead of teaching them.

Only an arrogant and entitled person would view parents wanting teachers to do their job and GRADE THE KIDS' WORK in a timely manner is arrogant or entitled. LOL.

You are only contributing to the problem. The problem right now is that the school administration and school board have pushed so many administrative tasks onto the teachers that they have less time per child. In addition, as teachers leave the profession, the class sizes are rising, which again decreases time per child. The teachers are overwhelmed. Adding in parent teacher meetings will only exacerbate the problem by taking more and more time away from the teacher's ability to address anything for the bulk of children.

Your entire attitude will make the problem worse. Parents like you are one of the primary reasons that teachers are leaving the profession. Will you be happy if you decide to browbeat and harass the teacher and they decide to leave the profession and you get a long-term or short-term sub with no teaching credentials, no curriculum and no lesson plans to just make up busy work for your child for an entire quarter while they try to find someone to replace the teacher you helped to chase out? Will you be happy if because of the harassment, that your child is no longer given homework at all just to allow the teacher to cut back to a 10 hour work day and a 55 hour work week?

Parents should be advocating with the school board to reduce administrative overhead tasks from teachers. The teachers need to get many of those administrative tasks removed from their schedules so that they have more time in their schedules to address student issues. Harassing and browbeating teachers is not going to improve your child's education. But getting teacher's away from administrative tasks and back to teaching will. Devote that aggression and energy into helping to improve teacher work conditions and you'll find it will have a bigger effect on improving your child's education than just piling on to the overwhelming schedule and tasks of your child's teacher.

Parents like me have been your biggest supporter over the last 2 years- so your assumption made me laugh out loud just now. But, parents like me also expect that if I have a legitimate question and concern with my child's learning, and how DC is getting feedback, you will hear about it. If "parents like me" piss you off for doing that (and to be clear, I have not not had to do this thus far but would not hesitate) so be it.

Your admin burdens are not my problem. I will support you and all teachers to the maximum until you stop doing your job to effectively teach my kid. I don't care what you think about me, whether I"m a problem, etc.

Just to clarify, I am not a teacher nor have I ever been a teacher. I am a parent that gets along well with my children's teachers and I am as supportive as possible wherever and however I can be. I do not DEMAND actions from my children's teachers, but I highlight issues and ask them to help me solve them. I get answers because I act nicely and ask rather than demand. And I am also more patient. You seem to expect answers quickly and your imperious tone is very abrasive. But go ahead, say you are a big supporter while treating them like a servant.

Yes....kindness goes a long way. I'm not a servant and parents who behave that way will quickly know I am not their servant. Parents with this attitude are the ones who have kids who think they are the only one in my class....meanwhile I have 35 others in each class. It's an entitled attitude. To the parents who respect teachers and what they do thank you-we know who you are!

And just to clarify, if you can read, I have not NEEDED to do this with my kids' teachers yet. I am responding to the teacher or whoever it was that seemed to think they had no obligation to meet with parents, timely grade and provide feedback, and thinks that would fly with a lot of parents (including me). Yes, I do expect answers and in a timely manner - that is not unreasonable. My abrasive tone is on here and, so far, has not been needed with any teacher in FCPS. It is reserved her for the folks like you that seem to be making excuses for those that cannot seem to do their job. And think that is ok. It's not and I don't care what you think of my tone.

For two years, teachers have told parents that they are our "partners" in education and it was our job to get our kids through COVID - and I agree. And I did that. But being a "partner" requires teachers to do their part and no chance I'd accept anything less than timely grading and feedback, voluntarily if I can get it but with more involvement from admin if that wasn't working. And yes, we are "entitled" to that.

I also don't need your validation of whether or not I am a supporter of teachers or not. I know the truth and what I have supported and advocated for and for whom in the last few years. I can be both a supporter of teachers while advocating for my child. Sorry you don't get that but that matters not even a little to me.

I am the teacher above who logged my hours last year. You are NOT my advocate if you demand timely feedback knowing that I am working 27 extra hours A WEEK to get my work accomplished. That workload is not acceptable. You are not entitled to my Saturdays and my Sundays. No more.

Consider HOW you can be an advocate. If you want your child supported, then you need to accept that teachers are severely overworked. Advocate for better working conditions. Advocate for more planning time during the work day.

That's an interesting perspective but one I do not buy. Sorry.
And if "no more" is your answer, you should be prepared for parent pushback. And a lot of it.

Not a teacher, but I will tell you that under the current situation, parental pushback is not going to get very far. We are in the terrible situation we are in because of years of poor school district management and parental pushback. The pandemic was the cherry on top that resulted in even worse working conditions for teachers.

At this point, you can push back on the teachers and they will either ignore or give you answers that will probably not appease you.

You will escalate to the school administration and in the current situation, they have no choice but to try to give you non-responses. At this point, virtually every school in the country has teacher shortages and no school can afford to have a teacher walk. There are no trained people who will take the jobs that haven't already found the job for them for the current school year. So school districts are looking for untrained people, some are going with people with different education, some with staff that have no educational or teaching background or fresh outs. There are no qualified teachers coming to the rescue that haven't already taken one of the thousands of open teaching positions. The pandemic and the horrible attitude towards teachers has already exacerbated a bad situation.

And you will try to escalate to the school superintendent or the school board. And they will be in the same position as the school administrators. They cannot afford to lose teachers as they are already short-handed with no real sign of any other qualified candidates available. At this point, difficult parents and unreasonable school administrators have made their beds and must lie in them. So many teachers have taken early retirement or left the profession and the ones that are left will work to rule and or will work the limit of what they are willing to do over their contracted hours and that will be it.

If people manage to make more teachers leave, you will end up with your children in classes with untrained, unprofessional baby-sitters who do not have the required background in teaching. It will be much worse for your children than the current situation. At least now, your children are getting educated, even if you don't have good metrics on what they are learning. The alternative, if you continue to persecute your child's teacher is that your child will lose out another year with a non-teacher. After the learning loss from the 1.5 years of the pandemic, can your child really afford another wasted year of primary education?

Think hard about what you really want before you start to push too hard on your child's teacher.

+1
I would add: if your complaint is that the teacher refuses to work additional hours on your behalf, there is absolutely nothing the administration, the superintendent, or the school board can do for you. Many teachers are beginning to work to their contracts in an effort to show the unreasonable demands placed on them.

yup

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to think that MCPS parents were the worst, but I see that I just haven't been paying enough attention to FCPS parents. This thread is full of some of the most entitled, arrogant parents I've seen in a long time. And you wonder why teachers are leaving the profession and that some of you are complaining about having subs, long-term subs and random school staff babysitting your children and not teaching them. Well, congratulations, you've shown that your children are paying the price for your arrogance and entitlement. Don't be surprised if more teachers leave and some leave mid-year from some of you and your children end up with more untrained subs and school staff babysitting your children instead of teaching them.

Only an arrogant and entitled person would view parents wanting teachers to do their job and GRADE THE KIDS' WORK in a timely manner is arrogant or entitled. LOL.

You are only contributing to the problem. The problem right now is that the school administration and school board have pushed so many administrative tasks onto the teachers that they have less time per child. In addition, as teachers leave the profession, the class sizes are rising, which again decreases time per child. The teachers are overwhelmed. Adding in parent teacher meetings will only exacerbate the problem by taking more and more time away from the teacher's ability to address anything for the bulk of children.

Your entire attitude will make the problem worse. Parents like you are one of the primary reasons that teachers are leaving the profession. Will you be happy if you decide to browbeat and harass the teacher and they decide to leave the profession and you get a long-term or short-term sub with no teaching credentials, no curriculum and no lesson plans to just make up busy work for your child for an entire quarter while they try to find someone to replace the teacher you helped to chase out? Will you be happy if because of the harassment, that your child is no longer given homework at all just to allow the teacher to cut back to a 10 hour work day and a 55 hour work week?

Parents should be advocating with the school board to reduce administrative overhead tasks from teachers. The teachers need to get many of those administrative tasks removed from their schedules so that they have more time in their schedules to address student issues. Harassing and browbeating teachers is not going to improve your child's education. But getting teacher's away from administrative tasks and back to teaching will. Devote that aggression and energy into helping to improve teacher work conditions and you'll find it will have a bigger effect on improving your child's education than just piling on to the overwhelming schedule and tasks of your child's teacher.

Parents like me have been your biggest supporter over the last 2 years- so your assumption made me laugh out loud just now. But, parents like me also expect that if I have a legitimate question and concern with my child's learning, and how DC is getting feedback, you will hear about it. If "parents like me" piss you off for doing that (and to be clear, I have not not had to do this thus far but would not hesitate) so be it.

Your admin burdens are not my problem. I will support you and all teachers to the maximum until you stop doing your job to effectively teach my kid. I don't care what you think about me, whether I"m a problem, etc.

Just to clarify, I am not a teacher nor have I ever been a teacher. I am a parent that gets along well with my children's teachers and I am as supportive as possible wherever and however I can be. I do not DEMAND actions from my children's teachers, but I highlight issues and ask them to help me solve them. I get answers because I act nicely and ask rather than demand. And I am also more patient. You seem to expect answers quickly and your imperious tone is very abrasive. But go ahead, say you are a big supporter while treating them like a servant.

Yes....kindness goes a long way. I'm not a servant and parents who behave that way will quickly know I am not their servant. Parents with this attitude are the ones who have kids who think they are the only one in my class....meanwhile I have 35 others in each class. It's an entitled attitude. To the parents who respect teachers and what they do thank you-we know who you are!

And just to clarify, if you can read, I have not NEEDED to do this with my kids' teachers yet. I am responding to the teacher or whoever it was that seemed to think they had no obligation to meet with parents, timely grade and provide feedback, and thinks that would fly with a lot of parents (including me). Yes, I do expect answers and in a timely manner - that is not unreasonable. My abrasive tone is on here and, so far, has not been needed with any teacher in FCPS. It is reserved her for the folks like you that seem to be making excuses for those that cannot seem to do their job. And think that is ok. It's not and I don't care what you think of my tone.

For two years, teachers have told parents that they are our "partners" in education and it was our job to get our kids through COVID - and I agree. And I did that. But being a "partner" requires teachers to do their part and no chance I'd accept anything less than timely grading and feedback, voluntarily if I can get it but with more involvement from admin if that wasn't working. And yes, we are "entitled" to that.

I also don't need your validation of whether or not I am a supporter of teachers or not. I know the truth and what I have supported and advocated for and for whom in the last few years. I can be both a supporter of teachers while advocating for my child. Sorry you don't get that but that matters not even a little to me.

I am the teacher above who logged my hours last year. You are NOT my advocate if you demand timely feedback knowing that I am working 27 extra hours A WEEK to get my work accomplished. That workload is not acceptable. You are not entitled to my Saturdays and my Sundays. No more.

Consider HOW you can be an advocate. If you want your child supported, then you need to accept that teachers are severely overworked. Advocate for better working conditions. Advocate for more planning time during the work day.

Just so I'm clear, I have to advocate for my own kids, be your "partner" to fill in COVID gaps, work MY OWN job, and advocate for YOUR JOB just so you don't have to work additional hours like every other profession?

GFTOH with that nonsense.

No, but you can stop bothering us.

No? Then what are you saying? And this is an open board. If you don't like it, keep skimming past.

you can do the same....see how that works

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to think that MCPS parents were the worst, but I see that I just haven't been paying enough attention to FCPS parents. This thread is full of some of the most entitled, arrogant parents I've seen in a long time. And you wonder why teachers are leaving the profession and that some of you are complaining about having subs, long-term subs and random school staff babysitting your children and not teaching them. Well, congratulations, you've shown that your children are paying the price for your arrogance and entitlement. Don't be surprised if more teachers leave and some leave mid-year from some of you and your children end up with more untrained subs and school staff babysitting your children instead of teaching them.

Only an arrogant and entitled person would view parents wanting teachers to do their job and GRADE THE KIDS' WORK in a timely manner is arrogant or entitled. LOL.

You are only contributing to the problem. The problem right now is that the school administration and school board have pushed so many administrative tasks onto the teachers that they have less time per child. In addition, as teachers leave the profession, the class sizes are rising, which again decreases time per child. The teachers are overwhelmed. Adding in parent teacher meetings will only exacerbate the problem by taking more and more time away from the teacher's ability to address anything for the bulk of children.

Your entire attitude will make the problem worse. Parents like you are one of the primary reasons that teachers are leaving the profession. Will you be happy if you decide to browbeat and harass the teacher and they decide to leave the profession and you get a long-term or short-term sub with no teaching credentials, no curriculum and no lesson plans to just make up busy work for your child for an entire quarter while they try to find someone to replace the teacher you helped to chase out? Will you be happy if because of the harassment, that your child is no longer given homework at all just to allow the teacher to cut back to a 10 hour work day and a 55 hour work week?

Parents should be advocating with the school board to reduce administrative overhead tasks from teachers. The teachers need to get many of those administrative tasks removed from their schedules so that they have more time in their schedules to address student issues. Harassing and browbeating teachers is not going to improve your child's education. But getting teacher's away from administrative tasks and back to teaching will. Devote that aggression and energy into helping to improve teacher work conditions and you'll find it will have a bigger effect on improving your child's education than just piling on to the overwhelming schedule and tasks of your child's teacher.

Parents like me have been your biggest supporter over the last 2 years- so your assumption made me laugh out loud just now. But, parents like me also expect that if I have a legitimate question and concern with my child's learning, and how DC is getting feedback, you will hear about it. If "parents like me" piss you off for doing that (and to be clear, I have not not had to do this thus far but would not hesitate) so be it.

Your admin burdens are not my problem. I will support you and all teachers to the maximum until you stop doing your job to effectively teach my kid. I don't care what you think about me, whether I"m a problem, etc.

Just to clarify, I am not a teacher nor have I ever been a teacher. I am a parent that gets along well with my children's teachers and I am as supportive as possible wherever and however I can be. I do not DEMAND actions from my children's teachers, but I highlight issues and ask them to help me solve them. I get answers because I act nicely and ask rather than demand. And I am also more patient. You seem to expect answers quickly and your imperious tone is very abrasive. But go ahead, say you are a big supporter while treating them like a servant.

Yes....kindness goes a long way. I'm not a servant and parents who behave that way will quickly know I am not their servant. Parents with this attitude are the ones who have kids who think they are the only one in my class....meanwhile I have 35 others in each class. It's an entitled attitude. To the parents who respect teachers and what they do thank you-we know who you are!

And just to clarify, if you can read, I have not NEEDED to do this with my kids' teachers yet. I am responding to the teacher or whoever it was that seemed to think they had no obligation to meet with parents, timely grade and provide feedback, and thinks that would fly with a lot of parents (including me). Yes, I do expect answers and in a timely manner - that is not unreasonable. My abrasive tone is on here and, so far, has not been needed with any teacher in FCPS. It is reserved her for the folks like you that seem to be making excuses for those that cannot seem to do their job. And think that is ok. It's not and I don't care what you think of my tone.

For two years, teachers have told parents that they are our "partners" in education and it was our job to get our kids through COVID - and I agree. And I did that. But being a "partner" requires teachers to do their part and no chance I'd accept anything less than timely grading and feedback, voluntarily if I can get it but with more involvement from admin if that wasn't working. And yes, we are "entitled" to that.

I also don't need your validation of whether or not I am a supporter of teachers or not. I know the truth and what I have supported and advocated for and for whom in the last few years. I can be both a supporter of teachers while advocating for my child. Sorry you don't get that but that matters not even a little to me.

I am the teacher above who logged my hours last year. You are NOT my advocate if you demand timely feedback knowing that I am working 27 extra hours A WEEK to get my work accomplished. That workload is not acceptable. You are not entitled to my Saturdays and my Sundays. No more.

Consider HOW you can be an advocate. If you want your child supported, then you need to accept that teachers are severely overworked. Advocate for better working conditions. Advocate for more planning time during the work day.

That's an interesting perspective but one I do not buy. Sorry.
And if "no more" is your answer, you should be prepared for parent pushback. And a lot of it.

You may absolutely push back, and I will respond by following my fellow teachers out the door. You are not entitled to my Saturdays and Sundays. I am not martyring my family for you, nor should you expect it.

I already accepted a lower salary to do this VERY important and VERY disrespected work. All I am asking for is the chance to actually get work done AT work, which is a fair request. Can you point to another profession that is expected to do 50% of work at home?

No they can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to think that MCPS parents were the worst, but I see that I just haven't been paying enough attention to FCPS parents. This thread is full of some of the most entitled, arrogant parents I've seen in a long time. And you wonder why teachers are leaving the profession and that some of you are complaining about having subs, long-term subs and random school staff babysitting your children and not teaching them. Well, congratulations, you've shown that your children are paying the price for your arrogance and entitlement. Don't be surprised if more teachers leave and some leave mid-year from some of you and your children end up with more untrained subs and school staff babysitting your children instead of teaching them.

Only an arrogant and entitled person would view parents wanting teachers to do their job and GRADE THE KIDS' WORK in a timely manner is arrogant or entitled. LOL.

You are only contributing to the problem. The problem right now is that the school administration and school board have pushed so many administrative tasks onto the teachers that they have less time per child. In addition, as teachers leave the profession, the class sizes are rising, which again decreases time per child. The teachers are overwhelmed. Adding in parent teacher meetings will only exacerbate the problem by taking more and more time away from the teacher's ability to address anything for the bulk of children.

Your entire attitude will make the problem worse. Parents like you are one of the primary reasons that teachers are leaving the profession. Will you be happy if you decide to browbeat and harass the teacher and they decide to leave the profession and you get a long-term or short-term sub with no teaching credentials, no curriculum and no lesson plans to just make up busy work for your child for an entire quarter while they try to find someone to replace the teacher you helped to chase out? Will you be happy if because of the harassment, that your child is no longer given homework at all just to allow the teacher to cut back to a 10 hour work day and a 55 hour work week?

Parents should be advocating with the school board to reduce administrative overhead tasks from teachers. The teachers need to get many of those administrative tasks removed from their schedules so that they have more time in their schedules to address student issues. Harassing and browbeating teachers is not going to improve your child's education. But getting teacher's away from administrative tasks and back to teaching will. Devote that aggression and energy into helping to improve teacher work conditions and you'll find it will have a bigger effect on improving your child's education than just piling on to the overwhelming schedule and tasks of your child's teacher.

Parents like me have been your biggest supporter over the last 2 years- so your assumption made me laugh out loud just now. But, parents like me also expect that if I have a legitimate question and concern with my child's learning, and how DC is getting feedback, you will hear about it. If "parents like me" piss you off for doing that (and to be clear, I have not not had to do this thus far but would not hesitate) so be it.

Your admin burdens are not my problem. I will support you and all teachers to the maximum until you stop doing your job to effectively teach my kid. I don't care what you think about me, whether I"m a problem, etc.

Just to clarify, I am not a teacher nor have I ever been a teacher. I am a parent that gets along well with my children's teachers and I am as supportive as possible wherever and however I can be. I do not DEMAND actions from my children's teachers, but I highlight issues and ask them to help me solve them. I get answers because I act nicely and ask rather than demand. And I am also more patient. You seem to expect answers quickly and your imperious tone is very abrasive. But go ahead, say you are a big supporter while treating them like a servant.

Yes....kindness goes a long way. I'm not a servant and parents who behave that way will quickly know I am not their servant. Parents with this attitude are the ones who have kids who think they are the only one in my class....meanwhile I have 35 others in each class. It's an entitled attitude. To the parents who respect teachers and what they do thank you-we know who you are!

And just to clarify, if you can read, I have not NEEDED to do this with my kids' teachers yet. I am responding to the teacher or whoever it was that seemed to think they had no obligation to meet with parents, timely grade and provide feedback, and thinks that would fly with a lot of parents (including me). Yes, I do expect answers and in a timely manner - that is not unreasonable. My abrasive tone is on here and, so far, has not been needed with any teacher in FCPS. It is reserved her for the folks like you that seem to be making excuses for those that cannot seem to do their job. And think that is ok. It's not and I don't care what you think of my tone.

For two years, teachers have told parents that they are our "partners" in education and it was our job to get our kids through COVID - and I agree. And I did that. But being a "partner" requires teachers to do their part and no chance I'd accept anything less than timely grading and feedback, voluntarily if I can get it but with more involvement from admin if that wasn't working. And yes, we are "entitled" to that.

I also don't need your validation of whether or not I am a supporter of teachers or not. I know the truth and what I have supported and advocated for and for whom in the last few years. I can be both a supporter of teachers while advocating for my child. Sorry you don't get that but that matters not even a little to me.

I am the teacher above who logged my hours last year. You are NOT my advocate if you demand timely feedback knowing that I am working 27 extra hours A WEEK to get my work accomplished. That workload is not acceptable. You are not entitled to my Saturdays and my Sundays. No more.

Consider HOW you can be an advocate. If you want your child supported, then you need to accept that teachers are severely overworked. Advocate for better working conditions. Advocate for more planning time during the work day.

That's an interesting perspective but one I do not buy. Sorry.
And if "no more" is your answer, you should be prepared for parent pushback. And a lot of it.

And you should prepare for teacher pushback. reality is reality and there are only so many hours in a day.

Here’s an illustration that may help. This is my day:

7:00 - 7:25: parking lot duty
7:30 - 10: teach 3 back to back classes
10 - 10:45: team and department meetings
10: 50 - 11:35: teach a class
11:40 - 12:25 cafeteria duty
12:30 - 1:15: teach a class
1:15 - 2: respond to all emails, plan next day’s lessons, grade ALL papers, attend spontaneous meetings, make copies, update and review student data, write recommendation letters, proofread and prep upcoming assignments, do pre- and post- observation work, check in with mentee teachers, clean classroom spaces, finish mandatory online professional development modules, check with SPED and counseling departments about student accommodations for upcoming unit, and maybe eat lunch
2-2:45: teach a class
2:45 - 3:45: run club meetings, do after school tutoring, attend additional meetings