Root cause of issues at MOCO schools?

[Anonymous]

Race trumps demonstrated academic achievement and merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does MCPS have a plan for goals this year, in 5 years, in 10 years? What are it's top priorities and how well is it achieving them?

With so much ladder climbing, people switching this job for that, the focus on how to be great educators and how to be great schools is lost. A great organization would take feedback from the most important stakeholders - the students and the teachers. They are the core and the front lines of education. They know what bright idea from central office didn't pan out in reality (2.0 anyone?). Trust that the people you hire have the skillset you need to do the job or get rid of them.

Time in and time out, we hear how bullies are running the system. As a parent, I have seen administrators that run their schools with a disrespectful, close-minded bully mentality both as principals and central office positions. I often sat in the room thinking to myself, "Wow, these are the people who run our school system?" I feel sorry for the people who have to work with them day after day and the teachers who don't get credit for the wonderful work they are trying to do.

The best teacher my daughter ever had, pulled me aside after school one day and urged me to take my daughter to get privately tested for disabilities. She thought something was wrong but had to say what the principal told her to say at the IEP screening meeting and on the teacher report forms. The principal did not want my child to receive special education services. Central office who eventually came to the contentious meetings also ignored the elephant in the room that my daughter wasn't reading on grade level at 4th grade. The teacher pleaded me to not divulge her identity or she would loose her job for saying anything. Her honesty saved my daughter and private testing did diagnose that my daughter did have a disability. With interventions and special education services, she learned to read - something that seemed impossible till she received the proper supports. She was an honors and AP student in high school, received honors and awards in college, and her life's work now is researching to find new biological markers to identify learning disabilities in children under 2 years of age.

Brave teacher. My teacher friends are now doing this more and more often. For different realms.

[Anonymous]

At some point, teachers and administrators should be doing a gut check.

1) How can a child ever be best served if you have lie?

2) How is the school served if staff, parents, and/or students are treated with disrespect?

3) Doing the right thing is not always easy, but are you doing what is right to make the system better?

If MCPS doesn't have your back or a way to solve problems, that is why the school system is going down the tubes. Many of the great older teachers who taught for the love of teaching not for a paycheck left almost a decade ago when these types of issues started creeping in. Now it is a rampant problem that needs to be fixed.

You can do a billion climate surveys but in Carver Center employees aren't doing spot checks or picking teachers randomly for confidential / no retaliation discussions (I know this is a pipe dream) then the Superintendent will just get data that is a preconceived outcome by those skewing data to reflect everything is puppy dogs and rainbows in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Don't get me started on the student code of conduct....the inmates are running the asylum and they know they hold the power....

[b]Your analogy is offensive. Students are not criminals.

Students have rights that MCPS teachers and administrators violate all the time. The MCPS Employee Code of Conduct is worthless because nothing happens to employees who violate it.

Teachers have rights as well that administrators violate. The whole system is broken and Central Office keeps shuffling chairs, promoting dead weight, but does nothing to cure the discord in the school climates.

If you are teacher, your experiences are limited.

I suppose the kid with the ankle bracelet (rapist) isn't a criminal. I found that out months into the school year, by the way.

And what about the gang-related funeral I attended? There were no criminals involved in that one, eh?

How about the three gang-related fights that occurred in front of my classroom? I had to lock students inside my classroom.

So apparently, you'd be just fine with your own child seated next to the rapist, I guess . . .

And I love how it's a blame game. You're not the only one, PP, who points the finger. But those of you who place blame are part of the problem, as complaining w/o acting is useless.

What are YOU doing to help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS - Great place to work with people like this.

Whose side are you on?

This is not a response. It's a juvenile post.

Perhaps you can share more of you insight instead of

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Don't get me started on the student code of conduct....the inmates are running the asylum and they know they hold the power....

[b]Your analogy is offensive. Students are not criminals.

Students have rights that MCPS teachers and administrators violate all the time. The MCPS Employee Code of Conduct is worthless because nothing happens to employees who violate it.

Teachers have rights as well that administrators violate. The whole system is broken and Central Office keeps shuffling chairs, promoting dead weight, but does nothing to cure the discord in the school climates.

If you are teacher, your experiences are limited.

I suppose the kid with the ankle bracelet (rapist) isn't a criminal. I found that out months into the school year, by the way.

And what about the gang-related funeral I attended? There were no criminals involved in that one, eh?

How about the three gang-related fights that occurred in front of my classroom? I had to lock students inside my classroom.

So apparently, you'd be just fine with your own child seated next to the rapist, I guess . . .

And I love how it's a blame game. You're not the only one, PP, who points the finger. But those of you who place blame are part of the problem, as complaining w/o acting is useless.

What are YOU doing to help?

I’m a fellow teacher in MCPS. Mid-career. Third generation in my family and married to a teacher. So I think I know a bit about schools, students, and teachers. I think it is time for you to move on from MCPS or at least your current position.
Your emotions are valid, but you’re nearing that point where you’re either going to quit in the middle of a class or you will go off on a student and say/do something that will get you fired.
I get it. I was where you seem to be when I taught in an MCPS HS about 10 years ago. Switching to a middle school in a different part of the county helped me enormously. You also need to greatly up your self-care game: more exercise, more sleep, less DCUM. If changing schools/districts and making lifestyle changes doesn’t help, it’s okay to switch professions.
We all face burnout. Teaching demands more of people than any other role in life except parenting. Even cops are allowed to at least yell at the worst behaved people they work with. You got a rough crowd, it seems. Some teachers thrive on working with the most at risk students. But honestly, the majority of teachers don’t. It’s ok. Most people in the military aren’t fighter jet pilots or Navy Seals, but their jobs are vital to the system as a whole and we thank them for their service.
You can go into public school advocacy. We need all the passionate people with real school experience up on the Hill as we can get.
Either way, I wish you the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Don't get me started on the student code of conduct....the inmates are running the asylum and they know they hold the power....

[b]Your analogy is offensive. Students are not criminals.

Students have rights that MCPS teachers and administrators violate all the time. The MCPS Employee Code of Conduct is worthless because nothing happens to employees who violate it.

Teachers have rights as well that administrators violate. The whole system is broken and Central Office keeps shuffling chairs, promoting dead weight, but does nothing to cure the discord in the school climates.

If you are teacher, your experiences are limited.

I suppose the kid with the ankle bracelet (rapist) isn't a criminal. I found that out months into the school year, by the way.

And what about the gang-related funeral I attended? There were no criminals involved in that one, eh?

How about the three gang-related fights that occurred in front of my classroom? I had to lock students inside my classroom.

So apparently, you'd be just fine with your own child seated next to the rapist, I guess . . .

And I love how it's a blame game. You're not the only one, PP, who points the finger. But those of you who place blame are part of the problem, as complaining w/o acting is useless.

What are YOU doing to help?

I’m a fellow teacher in MCPS. Mid-career. Third generation in my family and married to a teacher. So I think I know a bit about schools, students, and teachers. I think it is time for you to move on from MCPS or at least your current position.
Your emotions are valid, but you’re nearing that point where you’re either going to quit in the middle of a class or you will go off on a student and say/do something that will get you fired.
I get it. I was where you seem to be when I taught in an MCPS HS about 10 years ago. Switching to a middle school in a different part of the county helped me enormously. You also need to greatly up your self-care game: more exercise, more sleep, less DCUM. If changing schools/districts and making lifestyle changes doesn’t help, it’s okay to switch professions.
We all face burnout. Teaching demands more of people than any other role in life except parenting. Even cops are allowed to at least yell at the worst behaved people they work with. You got a rough crowd, it seems. Some teachers thrive on working with the most at risk students. But honestly, the majority of teachers don’t. It’s ok. Most people in the military aren’t fighter jet pilots or Navy Seals, but their jobs are vital to the system as a whole and we thank them for their service.
You can go into public school advocacy. We need all the passionate people with real school experience up on the Hill as we can get.
Either way, I wish you the best.

DP

So instead of saying that we should support teachers more, your answer is that the PP should leave teaching and go into advocacy?

Sounds like that teacher does like to teach, but just is not getting enough support from administration and from parents. I think that’s a valid issue that needs to be addressed in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Actually, I am a Democrat and I don't believe in the Union. I think the greater good would be better served without it. The Union is dysfunctional and is like a dog with his tail between his legs anytime it tries to stand up for something important. It keeps the profession stuck in mediocracy.

If the Union is so great, then why are salaries so low? Benefits??? We have crap for benefits. I had a coworker who could not use his right hand and the MCPS insurance company denied the MRI the orthopedic doctor was ordering.

As far as being like PG County, with the grade fixing and washing down the curriculum - we are already there.

Compared to what?

Well, I'll tell you compared to what, actually. Compare your salary and benefits to salaries and benefits for teachers in states where teachers' unions aren't allowed to bargain over salaries and benefits.

The cost of living is so much higher in the DC area that teachers might actually have a better standard of living in the nonunion states. PP is compairing apples to oranges.

I have a friend who is a teacher in a non union state. In addition to teaching special ed ES, she walks dogs after school, tutors four nights a week, and works at a clothing store Sat and Sun. She also has a housemate to help with the lower cost of living. She worries she will never be able to own a house or have a family unless she marries a high-earning spouse.

Obviously many of the teachers here are not subject matter experts in economics. Wages are correlated with the ability to fill the jobs. As long as there are people willing to take teaching jobs at the current salary level, wages will not rise. There is no obligation for an employer to ensure a given lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Don't get me started on the student code of conduct....the inmates are running the asylum and they know they hold the power....

[b]Your analogy is offensive. Students are not criminals.

Students have rights that MCPS teachers and administrators violate all the time. The MCPS Employee Code of Conduct is worthless because nothing happens to employees who violate it.

Teachers have rights as well that administrators violate. The whole system is broken and Central Office keeps shuffling chairs, promoting dead weight, but does nothing to cure the discord in the school climates.

If you are teacher, your experiences are limited.

I suppose the kid with the ankle bracelet (rapist) isn't a criminal. I found that out months into the school year, by the way.

And what about the gang-related funeral I attended? There were no criminals involved in that one, eh?

How about the three gang-related fights that occurred in front of my classroom? I had to lock students inside my classroom.

So apparently, you'd be just fine with your own child seated next to the rapist, I guess . . .

And I love how it's a blame game. You're not the only one, PP, who points the finger. But those of you who place blame are part of the problem, as complaining w/o acting is useless.

What are YOU doing to help?

I’m a fellow teacher in MCPS. Mid-career. Third generation in my family and married to a teacher. So I think I know a bit about schools, students, and teachers. I think it is time for you to move on from MCPS or at least your current position.
Your emotions are valid, but you’re nearing that point where you’re either going to quit in the middle of a class or you will go off on a student and say/do something that will get you fired.
I get it. I was where you seem to be when I taught in an MCPS HS about 10 years ago. Switching to a middle school in a different part of the county helped me enormously. You also need to greatly up your self-care game: more exercise, more sleep, less DCUM. If changing schools/districts and making lifestyle changes doesn’t help, it’s okay to switch professions.
We all face burnout. Teaching demands more of people than any other role in life except parenting. Even cops are allowed to at least yell at the worst behaved people they work with. You got a rough crowd, it seems. Some teachers thrive on working with the most at risk students. But honestly, the majority of teachers don’t. It’s ok. Most people in the military aren’t fighter jet pilots or Navy Seals, but their jobs are vital to the system as a whole and we thank them for their service.
You can go into public school advocacy. We need all the passionate people with real school experience up on the Hill as we can get.
Either way, I wish you the best.

DP

So instead of saying that we should support teachers more, your answer is that the PP should leave teaching and go into advocacy?

Sounds like that teacher does like to teach, but just is not getting enough support from administration and from parents. I think that’s a valid issue that needs to be addressed in MCPS.

It sounds like the teacher does not like to teach the population of students that he/she currently has. I thought the PP's suggestions were very compassionate and realistic. MCPS is not going to just kick troubled kids out of school. There are a variety of reasons that they can't and shouldn't do that. If the teacher is getting to the point of being frustrated, bitter, and angry a lot of the time, he/she should really look for a change - which the PP gave an example of having done her/himself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Actually, I am a Democrat and I don't believe in the Union. I think the greater good would be better served without it. The Union is dysfunctional and is like a dog with his tail between his legs anytime it tries to stand up for something important. It keeps the profession stuck in mediocracy.

If the Union is so great, then why are salaries so low? Benefits??? We have crap for benefits. I had a coworker who could not use his right hand and the MCPS insurance company denied the MRI the orthopedic doctor was ordering.

As far as being like PG County, with the grade fixing and washing down the curriculum - we are already there.

Compared to what?

Well, I'll tell you compared to what, actually. Compare your salary and benefits to salaries and benefits for teachers in states where teachers' unions aren't allowed to bargain over salaries and benefits.

The cost of living is so much higher in the DC area that teachers might actually have a better standard of living in the nonunion states. PP is compairing apples to oranges.

I have a friend who is a teacher in a non union state. In addition to teaching special ed ES, she walks dogs after school, tutors four nights a week, and works at a clothing store Sat and Sun. She also has a housemate to help with the lower cost of living. She worries she will never be able to own a house or have a family unless she marries a high-earning spouse.

Obviously many of the teachers here are not subject matter experts in economics. Wages are correlated with the ability to fill the jobs. As long as there are people willing to take teaching jobs at the current salary level, wages will not rise. There is no obligation for an employer to ensure a given lifestyle.

That's "pure" economics devoid of the understanding that people actually, predictably, act in ways that are not rational. I'm sure companies could find CEOs, even qualified CEOs who would take a lot less than the millions they offer them. But they are friends and cronies and "this is the way things are done" and end up doing exactly that - ensuring a certain lifestyle. Economics really needs to incorporate more of how real humans function and make decisions. Because "pure" economics happens exactly nowhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Don't get me started on the student code of conduct....the inmates are running the asylum and they know they hold the power....

[b]Your analogy is offensive. Students are not criminals.

Students have rights that MCPS teachers and administrators violate all the time. The MCPS Employee Code of Conduct is worthless because nothing happens to employees who violate it.

Teachers have rights as well that administrators violate. The whole system is broken and Central Office keeps shuffling chairs, promoting dead weight, but does nothing to cure the discord in the school climates.

If you are teacher, your experiences are limited.

I suppose the kid with the ankle bracelet (rapist) isn't a criminal. I found that out months into the school year, by the way.

And what about the gang-related funeral I attended? There were no criminals involved in that one, eh?

How about the three gang-related fights that occurred in front of my classroom? I had to lock students inside my classroom.

So apparently, you'd be just fine with your own child seated next to the rapist, I guess . . .

And I love how it's a blame game. You're not the only one, PP, who points the finger. But those of you who place blame are part of the problem, as complaining w/o acting is useless.

What are YOU doing to help?

I’m a fellow teacher in MCPS. Mid-career. Third generation in my family and married to a teacher. So I think I know a bit about schools, students, and teachers. I think it is time for you to move on from MCPS or at least your current position.
Your emotions are valid, but you’re nearing that point where you’re either going to quit in the middle of a class or you will go off on a student and say/do something that will get you fired.
I get it. I was where you seem to be when I taught in an MCPS HS about 10 years ago. Switching to a middle school in a different part of the county helped me enormously. You also need to greatly up your self-care game: more exercise, more sleep, less DCUM. If changing schools/districts and making lifestyle changes doesn’t help, it’s okay to switch professions.
We all face burnout. Teaching demands more of people than any other role in life except parenting. Even cops are allowed to at least yell at the worst behaved people they work with. You got a rough crowd, it seems. Some teachers thrive on working with the most at risk students. But honestly, the majority of teachers don’t. It’s ok. Most people in the military aren’t fighter jet pilots or Navy Seals, but their jobs are vital to the system as a whole and we thank them for their service.
You can go into public school advocacy. We need all the passionate people with real school experience up on the Hill as we can get.
Either way, I wish you the best.

DP

So instead of saying that we should support teachers more, your answer is that the PP should leave teaching and go into advocacy?

Sounds like that teacher does like to teach, but just is not getting enough support from administration and from parents. I think that’s a valid issue that needs to be addressed in MCPS.

It sounds like the teacher does not like to teach the population of students that he/she currently has. I thought the PP's suggestions were very compassionate and realistic. MCPS is not going to just kick troubled kids out of school. There are a variety of reasons that they can't and shouldn't do that. If the teacher is getting to the point of being frustrated, bitter, and angry a lot of the time, he/she should really look for a change - which the PP gave an example of having done her/himself.

It may be true that the teacher PP should look for a change, but what about the next teacher that comes into that same situation?

Would you be happy working in an environment where your boss is a bully, you're not supported by management, and your clients (students) don't appreciate you and/or abuse you on a daily basis? Because that is what the environment is like in many MCPS schools currently.

It sounds an awful lot like both of you are blaming the teacher for her unhappiness with the system. Rather than acknowledging that there are some systemic problems in the system causing MANY teachers to feel the same way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does MCPS have a plan for goals this year, in 5 years, in 10 years? What are it's top priorities and how well is it achieving them?

With so much ladder climbing, people switching this job for that, the focus on how to be great educators and how to be great schools is lost. A great organization would take feedback from the most important stakeholders - the students and the teachers. They are the core and the front lines of education. They know what bright idea from central office didn't pan out in reality (2.0 anyone?). Trust that the people you hire have the skillset you need to do the job or get rid of them.

Time in and time out, we hear how bullies are running the system. As a parent, I have seen administrators that run their schools with a disrespectful, close-minded bully mentality both as principals and central office positions. I often sat in the room thinking to myself, "Wow, these are the people who run our school system?" I feel sorry for the people who have to work with them day after day and the teachers who don't get credit for the wonderful work they are trying to do.

The best teacher my daughter ever had, pulled me aside after school one day and urged me to take my daughter to get privately tested for disabilities. She thought something was wrong but had to say what the principal told her to say at the IEP screening meeting and on the teacher report forms. The principal did not want my child to receive special education services. Central office who eventually came to the contentious meetings also ignored the elephant in the room that my daughter wasn't reading on grade level at 4th grade. The teacher pleaded me to not divulge her identity or she would loose her job for saying anything. Her honesty saved my daughter and private testing did diagnose that my daughter did have a disability. With interventions and special education services, she learned to read - something that seemed impossible till she received the proper supports. She was an honors and AP student in high school, received honors and awards in college, and her life's work now is researching to find new biological markers to identify learning disabilities in children under 2 years of age.

Brave teacher. My teacher friends are now doing this more and more often. For different realms.

We have so many issues with our IEP we don't even worry about it or look for school help. Our last IEP meeting we and the teacher said the same thing and the admin took it in a different direction and wanted to find other diagnosis not fitting as it better met their needs instead of providing the services my child really needed. If you can afford it, its best to do private testing and services. You cannot count on MCPS for anything. Our principal sets a terrible tone and teachers are scare of her. They don't allow parent volunteers and it really makes you wonder what they are hiding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Don't get me started on the student code of conduct....the inmates are running the asylum and they know they hold the power....

[b]Your analogy is offensive. Students are not criminals.

Students have rights that MCPS teachers and administrators violate all the time. The MCPS Employee Code of Conduct is worthless because nothing happens to employees who violate it.

Teachers have rights as well that administrators violate. The whole system is broken and Central Office keeps shuffling chairs, promoting dead weight, but does nothing to cure the discord in the school climates.

If you are teacher, your experiences are limited.

I suppose the kid with the ankle bracelet (rapist) isn't a criminal. I found that out months into the school year, by the way.

And what about the gang-related funeral I attended? There were no criminals involved in that one, eh?

How about the three gang-related fights that occurred in front of my classroom? I had to lock students inside my classroom.

So apparently, you'd be just fine with your own child seated next to the rapist, I guess . . .

And I love how it's a blame game. You're not the only one, PP, who points the finger. But those of you who place blame are part of the problem, as complaining w/o acting is useless.

What are YOU doing to help?

I’m a fellow teacher in MCPS. Mid-career. Third generation in my family and married to a teacher. So I think I know a bit about schools, students, and teachers. I think it is time for you to move on from MCPS or at least your current position.
Your emotions are valid, but you’re nearing that point where you’re either going to quit in the middle of a class or you will go off on a student and say/do something that will get you fired.
I get it. I was where you seem to be when I taught in an MCPS HS about 10 years ago. Switching to a middle school in a different part of the county helped me enormously. You also need to greatly up your self-care game: more exercise, more sleep, less DCUM. If changing schools/districts and making lifestyle changes doesn’t help, it’s okay to switch professions.
We all face burnout. Teaching demands more of people than any other role in life except parenting. Even cops are allowed to at least yell at the worst behaved people they work with. You got a rough crowd, it seems. Some teachers thrive on working with the most at risk students. But honestly, the majority of teachers don’t. It’s ok. Most people in the military aren’t fighter jet pilots or Navy Seals, but their jobs are vital to the system as a whole and we thank them for their service.
You can go into public school advocacy. We need all the passionate people with real school experience up on the Hill as we can get.
Either way, I wish you the best.

DP

So instead of saying that we should support teachers more, your answer is that the PP should leave teaching and go into advocacy?

Sounds like that teacher does like to teach, but just is not getting enough support from administration and from parents. I think that’s a valid issue that needs to be addressed in MCPS.

It sounds like the teacher does not like to teach the population of students that he/she currently has. I thought the PP's suggestions were very compassionate and realistic. MCPS is not going to just kick troubled kids out of school. There are a variety of reasons that they can't and shouldn't do that. If the teacher is getting to the point of being frustrated, bitter, and angry a lot of the time, he/she should really look for a change - which the PP gave an example of having done her/himself.

It may be true that the teacher PP should look for a change, but what about the next teacher that comes into that same situation?

Would you be happy working in an environment where your boss is a bully, you're not supported by management, and your clients (students) don't appreciate you and/or abuse you on a daily basis? Because that is what the environment is like in many MCPS schools currently.

It sounds an awful lot like both of you are blaming the teacher for her unhappiness with the system. Rather than acknowledging that there are some systemic problems in the system causing MANY teachers to feel the same way.

Agree admin is a huge issue but the teachers set the tone in the classroom and they can do more to manage the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Don't get me started on the student code of conduct....the inmates are running the asylum and they know they hold the power....

[b]Your analogy is offensive. Students are not criminals.

Students have rights that MCPS teachers and administrators violate all the time. The MCPS Employee Code of Conduct is worthless because nothing happens to employees who violate it.

Teachers have rights as well that administrators violate. The whole system is broken and Central Office keeps shuffling chairs, promoting dead weight, but does nothing to cure the discord in the school climates.

If you are teacher, your experiences are limited.

I suppose the kid with the ankle bracelet (rapist) isn't a criminal. I found that out months into the school year, by the way.

And what about the gang-related funeral I attended? There were no criminals involved in that one, eh?

How about the three gang-related fights that occurred in front of my classroom? I had to lock students inside my classroom.

So apparently, you'd be just fine with your own child seated next to the rapist, I guess . . .

And I love how it's a blame game. You're not the only one, PP, who points the finger. But those of you who place blame are part of the problem, as complaining w/o acting is useless.

What are YOU doing to help?

I’m a fellow teacher in MCPS. Mid-career. Third generation in my family and married to a teacher. So I think I know a bit about schools, students, and teachers. I think it is time for you to move on from MCPS or at least your current position.
Your emotions are valid, but you’re nearing that point where you’re either going to quit in the middle of a class or you will go off on a student and say/do something that will get you fired.
I get it. I was where you seem to be when I taught in an MCPS HS about 10 years ago. Switching to a middle school in a different part of the county helped me enormously. You also need to greatly up your self-care game: more exercise, more sleep, less DCUM. If changing schools/districts and making lifestyle changes doesn’t help, it’s okay to switch professions.
We all face burnout. Teaching demands more of people than any other role in life except parenting. Even cops are allowed to at least yell at the worst behaved people they work with. You got a rough crowd, it seems. Some teachers thrive on working with the most at risk students. But honestly, the majority of teachers don’t. It’s ok. Most people in the military aren’t fighter jet pilots or Navy Seals, but their jobs are vital to the system as a whole and we thank them for their service.
You can go into public school advocacy. We need all the passionate people with real school experience up on the Hill as we can get.
Either way, I wish you the best.

DP

So instead of saying that we should support teachers more, your answer is that the PP should leave teaching and go into advocacy?

Sounds like that teacher does like to teach, but just is not getting enough support from administration and from parents. I think that’s a valid issue that needs to be addressed in MCPS.

It sounds like the teacher does not like to teach the population of students that he/she currently has. I thought the PP's suggestions were very compassionate and realistic. MCPS is not going to just kick troubled kids out of school. There are a variety of reasons that they can't and shouldn't do that. If the teacher is getting to the point of being frustrated, bitter, and angry a lot of the time, he/she should really look for a change - which the PP gave an example of having done her/himself.

It may be true that the teacher PP should look for a change, but what about the next teacher that comes into that same situation?

Would you be happy working in an environment where your boss is a bully, you're not supported by management, and your clients (students) don't appreciate you and/or abuse you on a daily basis? Because that is what the environment is like in many MCPS schools currently.

It sounds an awful lot like both of you are blaming the teacher for her unhappiness with the system. Rather than acknowledging that there are some systemic problems in the system causing MANY teachers to feel the same way.

Agree admin is a huge issue but the teachers set the tone in the classroom and they can do more to manage the kids.

Yes, teachers set the tone in the classroom, but it incredibly difficult to 'set the tone' and enforce disciplinary actions when you have zero support from admin/the principal. The kids are not stupid and recognize that they can get away with all sorts of behavior with no negative consequences. This is a system wide problem, in all schools, across all SES levels, but incredibly challenging in the type of school that the PP teacher is describing.

Again, you're putting the responsibility on the teacher, when it really should be a team effort - parent/teacher/administration/society.

[Anonymous]

I set the tone in my classroom but there are so many undisciplined students and the admin wants nothing to do with discipline. Neither do the parents for that matter. The last week of school, I had a student throw a chair at me. Luckily, he didn't hit anyone. Class was over so I took him to the office while the admin called his parent. His mother screamed so loudly on the phone that others in the office could hear and then she hung up. She wants no part of being bothered about her child's behavior at school. Many parents have the mentality (and have voiced it) that what happens at school is the school's problem. Admin can't do much so back to class he went. He's no dummy. Lather, rinse, repeat.