If teachers are leaving left and right, is it the principal's fault?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a huge reason why public schools are failing. There are no consequences for poor behavior. I think class sizes play a role as well as staffing. We have full grade levels struggling due to the behavior of 5-8 kids. We have parents asking teachers how to parent their kids. It is a mess.

I think a lot of kids misbehave at school because they know they can get away with crap there that they wouldn’t at home. Teachers ‘ ability to deliver meaningful consequences has been stripped from teachers, and school administrators who are more interested in playing politician than in acknowledging their “in loco parentis” responsibilities, are doing little because they prioritize their own self-interest over the community for which they work.

THIS ^^. I'm one of the PPs who wound up quitting due to the horrendous behavior of some of my students. The principal and assistant principal looked at me like I had four heads when I brought the situation to their attention (they already knew about it, but continued to gaslight as if it was my fault). They refused to call the parents because they clearly didn't want the hassle of having to deal with them. I'm looking into teaching a private school, where kids troublemakers are not tolerated and teachers are supported.

There is so much gaslighting in education at every level. This is why teachers are done. Oh and the toxic positivity-nonsense.

what does that mean?

DP. Where I teach, it means something along the lines of "He wouldn't be failing/ refusing to come to school/ initiating fights with classmates/ calling you a f****** b**** if you tried a little harder to build a relationship and made your lesson plans more engaging. We know it's Thanksgiving Break but here's some PD to teach you how to do this more effectively!! Please remember to take time to connect with those around you and enjoy your time off!"

that makes absolutely no sense. you mean that's the messaging parents give you as a teacher???

That’s the messaging all admin gives teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they paid me $20k more I’d stay regardless of the nonsense. Instead I’m leaving after winter break for a job that pays DOUBLE my teaching salary.

I can put up with crap if I’m compensated. But I never will be as a teacher.

What’s your new job? I need to start looking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have had multiple teachers quit mid-year - is this because they're not being supported by the principal? The last time this happened, the principal was fired. Is ours likely to get fired too? Should families contact the Exec Principal or Regional Principal?

No. It is your fault because you iwant to pay them a true living wage. Teachers are grossly underpaid and they have to put up with students who just take up space and they have to put up with parents who think the teacher is their free babysitter or Guidance counselor

How is that the parent's fault? Where were YOU when the meals tax was on the ballot several years ago? What was YOUR vote?

NP and a teacher. Why does this come up so often? Do you thinking throwing more money will solve anything? Open your eyes and see the waste. If I wasn’t a teacher, I likely would have voted yes because anything for education. Since I’m in it day after day it was an easy no. That money would not go to benefit students or staff and they would likely cut funding from other places.

Yeah, it would go to some contract for flawed technology, a new SEL screener, or new administrative posts. Gatehouse is a cancer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shrevewoood parent here. I had no idea teachers were quitting this year. Our only complaint has to do with the disintegration of Level IV. It’s a terrible idea and we know many families who left for Lemon Road. If our second child gets into AAP next year, we will be doing the same.

Another Shrevewood parent here… I understand the intention based on “equity”, but in practice like many of these attempts at evening the playing field for all, we’ve clearly just diluted what was good about ESOL and AAP classrooms and spread our educators and students thinly. Everyone is losing.

Btw take w a grain of salt… I’m a parent not an EdD

There were no ESOL dedicated classrooms. So here’s the real problem: AAP parents are upset because they no longer have segregated classrooms.

If you believe this is true, you should be fighting tooth and nail for the elimination of center schools, which are then logically the perfect embodiment of the “segregation” you’re speaking about.

NP here: Fighting for that everyday. The centers are ridiculous and the bastion of segregation. They’ll be going soon enough.

God help us. Clearly, you were never a smart kid who was bored by your classes at school or the snail’s pace of the curriculum. For some of us, the experience was truly painful.

😂😂😂 This is the funniest post all weekend!

Laugh all you want. Believe me, China and Russia are laughing, too. We’re doing a great job of creating an American brain drain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a huge reason why public schools are failing. There are no consequences for poor behavior. I think class sizes play a role as well as staffing. We have full grade levels struggling due to the behavior of 5-8 kids. We have parents asking teachers how to parent their kids. It is a mess.

I think a lot of kids misbehave at school because they know they can get away with crap there that they wouldn’t at home. Teachers ‘ ability to deliver meaningful consequences has been stripped from teachers, and school administrators who are more interested in playing politician than in acknowledging their “in loco parentis” responsibilities, are doing little because they prioritize their own self-interest over the community for which they work.

THIS ^^. I'm one of the PPs who wound up quitting due to the horrendous behavior of some of my students. The principal and assistant principal looked at me like I had four heads when I brought the situation to their attention (they already knew about it, but continued to gaslight as if it was my fault). They refused to call the parents because they clearly didn't want the hassle of having to deal with them. I'm looking into teaching a private school, where kids troublemakers are not tolerated and teachers are supported.

There is so much gaslighting in education at every level. This is why teachers are done. Oh and the toxic positivity-nonsense.

what does that mean?

DP. Where I teach, it means something along the lines of "He wouldn't be failing/ refusing to come to school/ initiating fights with classmates/ calling you a f****** b**** if you tried a little harder to build a relationship and made your lesson plans more engaging. We know it's Thanksgiving Break but here's some PD to teach you how to do this more effectively!! Please remember to take time to connect with those around you and enjoy your time off!"

This. In MS and HS, add to that the B.S. of open enrollment and the 50% minimum policy, which mean we end up with classes where a third of students are unequipped to learn the material and show zero initiative to help themselves--but somehow it's our fault and we should just meet there where they're at and call them all in for one-on-one help during advisory to get them caught up on what they didn't learn in years prior and teach them the current material at the same time. Being micromanaged and overworked with all the administrative garbage that some bureaucrat has created to justify their job and thrown under the bus every time a parent decides it's our fault his kid knows nothing.

Plus one million.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a huge reason why public schools are failing. There are no consequences for poor behavior. I think class sizes play a role as well as staffing. We have full grade levels struggling due to the behavior of 5-8 kids. We have parents asking teachers how to parent their kids. It is a mess.

I think a lot of kids misbehave at school because they know they can get away with crap there that they wouldn’t at home. Teachers ‘ ability to deliver meaningful consequences has been stripped from teachers, and school administrators who are more interested in playing politician than in acknowledging their “in loco parentis” responsibilities, are doing little because they prioritize their own self-interest over the community for which they work.

THIS ^^. I'm one of the PPs who wound up quitting due to the horrendous behavior of some of my students. The principal and assistant principal looked at me like I had four heads when I brought the situation to their attention (they already knew about it, but continued to gaslight as if it was my fault). They refused to call the parents because they clearly didn't want the hassle of having to deal with them. I'm looking into teaching a private school, where kids troublemakers are not tolerated and teachers are supported.

There is so much gaslighting in education at every level. This is why teachers are done. Oh and the toxic positivity-nonsense.

what does that mean?

DP. Where I teach, it means something along the lines of "He wouldn't be failing/ refusing to come to school/ initiating fights with classmates/ calling you a f****** b**** if you tried a little harder to build a relationship and made your lesson plans more engaging. We know it's Thanksgiving Break but here's some PD to teach you how to do this more effectively!! Please remember to take time to connect with those around you and enjoy your time off!"

that makes absolutely no sense. you mean that's the messaging parents give you as a teacher???

That’s the messaging all admin gives teachers.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shrevewoood parent here. I had no idea teachers were quitting this year. Our only complaint has to do with the disintegration of Level IV. It’s a terrible idea and we know many families who left for Lemon Road. If our second child gets into AAP next year, we will be doing the same.

Another Shrevewood parent here… I understand the intention based on “equity”, but in practice like many of these attempts at evening the playing field for all, we’ve clearly just diluted what was good about ESOL and AAP classrooms and spread our educators and students thinly. Everyone is losing.

Btw take w a grain of salt… I’m a parent not an EdD

There were no ESOL dedicated classrooms. So here’s the real problem: AAP parents are upset because they no longer have segregated classrooms.

If you believe this is true, you should be fighting tooth and nail for the elimination of center schools, which are then logically the perfect embodiment of the “segregation” you’re speaking about.

NP here: Fighting for that everyday. The centers are ridiculous and the bastion of segregation. They’ll be going soon enough.

God help us. Clearly, you were never a smart kid who was bored by your classes at school or the snail’s pace of the curriculum. For some of us, the experience was truly painful.

😂😂😂 This is the funniest post all weekend!

Laugh all you want. Believe me, China and Russia are laughing, too. We’re doing a great job of creating an American brain drain.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a huge reason why public schools are failing. There are no consequences for poor behavior. I think class sizes play a role as well as staffing. We have full grade levels struggling due to the behavior of 5-8 kids. We have parents asking teachers how to parent their kids. It is a mess.

I think a lot of kids misbehave at school because they know they can get away with crap there that they wouldn’t at home. Teachers ‘ ability to deliver meaningful consequences has been stripped from teachers, and school administrators who are more interested in playing politician than in acknowledging their “in loco parentis” responsibilities, are doing little because they prioritize their own self-interest over the community for which they work.

THIS ^^. I'm one of the PPs who wound up quitting due to the horrendous behavior of some of my students. The principal and assistant principal looked at me like I had four heads when I brought the situation to their attention (they already knew about it, but continued to gaslight as if it was my fault). They refused to call the parents because they clearly didn't want the hassle of having to deal with them. I'm looking into teaching a private school, where kids troublemakers are not tolerated and teachers are supported.

There is so much gaslighting in education at every level. This is why teachers are done. Oh and the toxic positivity-nonsense.

what does that mean?

Toxic positivity is the worst from admin this year.

We are all going to have fun and we love it here! Remember that your students must have fun every day too! That’s the most important! The building is filled with joy and happy faces ready to LEARN and GROW! Remember, here’s the festive holiday chart of happiness for all of us to follow to bring more fun and joy into everything we do! Three weeks until break and don’t forget the class party! We can’t wait to make the rounds and post to Twitter!

Meanwhile-
Team meetings during planning are mandatory, submit minutes in real time
Respond to all parent emails, calls, and accommodate if they want an in person meeting, but don’t skip any team or faculty meetings.
We are short subs. Be aware classes may be combined or you may be pulled if you have a free moment.
We understand the copier is broken and maintenance had been notified.
Don’t forget to submit xxxx from the latest PD with reflections by Friday.

This doesn’t even touch class behavior or anything with students in the actual class.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they paid me $20k more I’d stay regardless of the nonsense. Instead I’m leaving after winter break for a job that pays DOUBLE my teaching salary.

I can put up with crap if I’m compensated. But I never will be as a teacher.

What’s your new job? I need to start looking.

yes-me too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have had multiple teachers quit mid-year - is this because they're not being supported by the principal? The last time this happened, the principal was fired. Is ours likely to get fired too? Should families contact the Exec Principal or Regional Principal?

No. It is your fault because you iwant to pay them a true living wage. Teachers are grossly underpaid and they have to put up with students who just take up space and they have to put up with parents who think the teacher is their free babysitter or Guidance counselor

How is that the parent's fault? Where were YOU when the meals tax was on the ballot several years ago? What was YOUR vote?

NP and a teacher. Why does this come up so often? Do you thinking throwing more money will solve anything? Open your eyes and see the waste. If I wasn’t a teacher, I likely would have voted yes because anything for education. Since I’m in it day after day it was an easy no. That money would not go to benefit students or staff and they would likely cut funding from other places.

PP specifically mentioned teachers needing to be paid more. More money for the schools = more money for pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the bad behavior at Shrevewood that is causing the teachers to quit? There is a lot of terrible and disruptive behavior at that school but it is not different than any other Title 1 school. The issue with Shrevewood is there is such a clash in class dynamics. It makes it challenging for teachers. I wholeheartedly sympathize but the administration needs to clash down on it.

You are charmingly naive if you think this is the main root cause

You keep posting that there's something wrong with this school or its parent community but you never give specifics, which leads me to believe that you're just some disgruntled nobody. You probably don't even have kids in that school!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a huge reason why public schools are failing. There are no consequences for poor behavior. I think class sizes play a role as well as staffing. We have full grade levels struggling due to the behavior of 5-8 kids. We have parents asking teachers how to parent their kids. It is a mess.

I think a lot of kids misbehave at school because they know they can get away with crap there that they wouldn’t at home. Teachers ‘ ability to deliver meaningful consequences has been stripped from teachers, and school administrators who are more interested in playing politician than in acknowledging their “in loco parentis” responsibilities, are doing little because they prioritize their own self-interest over the community for which they work.

THIS ^^. I'm one of the PPs who wound up quitting due to the horrendous behavior of some of my students. The principal and assistant principal looked at me like I had four heads when I brought the situation to their attention (they already knew about it, but continued to gaslight as if it was my fault). They refused to call the parents because they clearly didn't want the hassle of having to deal with them. I'm looking into teaching a private school, where kids troublemakers are not tolerated and teachers are supported.

There is so much gaslighting in education at every level. This is why teachers are done. Oh and the toxic positivity-nonsense.

what does that mean?

I would quit teaching immediately if that was the feedback I got.

DP. Where I teach, it means something along the lines of "He wouldn't be failing/ refusing to come to school/ initiating fights with classmates/ calling you a f****** b**** if you tried a little harder to build a relationship and made your lesson plans more engaging. We know it's Thanksgiving Break but here's some PD to teach you how to do this more effectively!! Please remember to take time to connect with those around you and enjoy your time off!"

that makes absolutely no sense. you mean that's the messaging parents give you as a teacher???

DP. That makes perfect sense. This is the message teachers are given by both the parents and the administration - "It's YOUR fault if your students aren't engaged. It's YOUR fault if they're acting up and disrupting the class. What can YOU do to make this child behave better?" The PP nailed it.

I'm a parent and I don't think this at all - I think the concept of inclusivity has gone too far and I think that this litigious society has gone too far. FCPS is scared of parents suing them, so they don't allow consequences for bad behavior. In fact, at our school, the poorly behaved kids get rewarded with lunch bunch and playtime in the principal's office or conference room. When I was a kid, if a child behaved poorly, they went straight to the principal's office where they sat on a chair doing nothing until their parents picked them up. Kids were suspended for things like repeatedly pulling a girl's hair, hitting her arm, pushing her down in line, calling her nasty names. Now a victim of repeated bullying just gets gaslit and told "it's not a big deal, it's just your hair/arm/back" and they switch seats while the teacher (who is both witnessing and the victim herself has to leave the classroom to go cry in the hallway for a couple minutes). We KNOW it's not the teacher's fault, and I've expressed frustration to the administration and even FCPS administration, but no consequences other than switched seats and a child scared to go to school every day, and a teacher who probably won't return next year, and I don't blame her one bit.

Wow - you have totally nailed it. I'm a teacher and definitely can relate to this entire post (especially the bolded. This happens too often.). It's disgraceful what admin expects teachers to put up with now. Glad to hear that you, as a parent, understand what's going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a huge reason why public schools are failing. There are no consequences for poor behavior. I think class sizes play a role as well as staffing. We have full grade levels struggling due to the behavior of 5-8 kids. We have parents asking teachers how to parent their kids. It is a mess.

I think a lot of kids misbehave at school because they know they can get away with crap there that they wouldn’t at home. Teachers ‘ ability to deliver meaningful consequences has been stripped from teachers, and school administrators who are more interested in playing politician than in acknowledging their “in loco parentis” responsibilities, are doing little because they prioritize their own self-interest over the community for which they work.

THIS ^^. I'm one of the PPs who wound up quitting due to the horrendous behavior of some of my students. The principal and assistant principal looked at me like I had four heads when I brought the situation to their attention (they already knew about it, but continued to gaslight as if it was my fault). They refused to call the parents because they clearly didn't want the hassle of having to deal with them. I'm looking into teaching a private school, where kids troublemakers are not tolerated and teachers are supported.

There is so much gaslighting in education at every level. This is why teachers are done. Oh and the toxic positivity-nonsense.

what does that mean?

DP. Where I teach, it means something along the lines of "He wouldn't be failing/ refusing to come to school/ initiating fights with classmates/ calling you a f****** b**** if you tried a little harder to build a relationship and made your lesson plans more engaging. We know it's Thanksgiving Break but here's some PD to teach you how to do this more effectively!! Please remember to take time to connect with those around you and enjoy your time off!"

This. In MS and HS, add to that the B.S. of open enrollment and the 50% minimum policy, which mean we end up with classes where a third of students are unequipped to learn the material and show zero initiative to help themselves--but somehow it's our fault and we should just meet there where they're at and call them all in for one-on-one help during advisory to get them caught up on what they didn't learn in years prior and teach them the current material at the same time. Being micromanaged and overworked with all the administrative garbage that some bureaucrat has created to justify their job and thrown under the bus every time a parent decides it's our fault his kid knows nothing.

+ a million

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a huge reason why public schools are failing. There are no consequences for poor behavior. I think class sizes play a role as well as staffing. We have full grade levels struggling due to the behavior of 5-8 kids. We have parents asking teachers how to parent their kids. It is a mess.

I think a lot of kids misbehave at school because they know they can get away with crap there that they wouldn’t at home. Teachers ‘ ability to deliver meaningful consequences has been stripped from teachers, and school administrators who are more interested in playing politician than in acknowledging their “in loco parentis” responsibilities, are doing little because they prioritize their own self-interest over the community for which they work.

THIS ^^. I'm one of the PPs who wound up quitting due to the horrendous behavior of some of my students. The principal and assistant principal looked at me like I had four heads when I brought the situation to their attention (they already knew about it, but continued to gaslight as if it was my fault). They refused to call the parents because they clearly didn't want the hassle of having to deal with them. I'm looking into teaching a private school, where kids troublemakers are not tolerated and teachers are supported.

There is so much gaslighting in education at every level. This is why teachers are done. Oh and the toxic positivity-nonsense.

what does that mean?

DP. Where I teach, it means something along the lines of "He wouldn't be failing/ refusing to come to school/ initiating fights with classmates/ calling you a f****** b**** if you tried a little harder to build a relationship and made your lesson plans more engaging. We know it's Thanksgiving Break but here's some PD to teach you how to do this more effectively!! Please remember to take time to connect with those around you and enjoy your time off!"

that makes absolutely no sense. you mean that's the messaging parents give you as a teacher???

DP. That makes perfect sense. This is the message teachers are given by both the parents and the administration - "It's YOUR fault if your students aren't engaged. It's YOUR fault if they're acting up and disrupting the class. What can YOU do to make this child behave better?" The PP nailed it.

DP, but I could have been the PP and written that post. Not only have I been told that I need to have a plan to support the disruptive students, but I also need to have and communicate my plans to support the students who are most affected (or have parents who are most vocal) by the disruptive students. Apparently if I set expectations, am consistent and model expected behaviors the disruptive students will behave appropriately. When they don’t it must be because I’m not doing these things. I also need to make sure I know what all of the students are doing, 100% of the time, which is tough to manage when so much time is spent working with small groups.

In my decades of teaching for FCPS I never had difficulty managing a class until just a few years ago (still pre-pandemic). I rarely needed to refer to the administrators, but when I did you could be sure I needed assistance. I’ve stopped doing that. It just creates too much trouble for me and draws the spotlight of criticism. Almost the entire day is disrupted in some way by outbursts, side conversations, arguments or students who are just off task in some way. I keep trying Responsive Classroom techniques, but if they work it is short-lived. I’ve always allowed for movement and I never have expected a silent classroom, but something has changed and each day is very difficult.

Exactly this. When I spoke to admin, they asked if I was using the chimes to quiet down the class. The f-ing chimes??!!? Sure, I use the chimes - and the kids completely ignore them. They.do.not.care. My voice is constantly hoarse from having to yell just to be heard - and I am not a yeller. If I'm trying to work with small groups, inevitably the troublemakers make it impossible for me to devote any time at all to the few kids who just want to learn and need my help. I'm constantly putting out metaphorical fires - spats between kids that are absurd - when I could be actually teaching them something. And apparently, all this bad behavior is my fault. No wonder teachers are leaving in droves. No doubt I'll be joining them if I can make it through this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they paid me $20k more I’d stay regardless of the nonsense. Instead I’m leaving after winter break for a job that pays DOUBLE my teaching salary.

I can put up with crap if I’m compensated. But I never will be as a teacher.

What’s your new job? I need to start looking.

+100
I would love to get a group of dedicated, good teachers together and open a private school. I love teaching kids who want to learn. I have had it with the extraneous nonsense and behavioral issues.