MCPS Teachers Quitting? Who is replacing them?

[Anonymous]

It’s an absolute national crisis and I don’t see why it isn’t a top priority for politicians at every level. MoCo just ennounced an intent to majorly raise taxes for the county to increase teacher pay. So don’t quit yet teachers! I’m somewhat hopeful that higher pay rates will increase recruitment.
I wonder if they went back to 5 year vesting on pension if it would help as well.

[Anonymous]

Question: What would improve the situation?

-What is a reasonable starting salary for a 10 month job?

-What would improve the academics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question: What would improve the situation?

-What is a reasonable starting salary for a 10 month job?

-What would improve the academics?

Honestly? Parenting your children better. Holding them accountable for their actions. Being stricter about manners and respecting the adults in charge of them. Limiting screens and the things they are exposed to at SUCH a young age.

It's the out of control behavior that is the #1 problem. And don't say "well if only the teacher had better control" because they are trying their absolute hardest. I'm in and out of elementary classrooms all day in my role and I see how hard they are working. Kids who are entertained by iPads from the time they get home until bedtime can't sit and focus, the attention span is so low for many kids.

And don't get me wrong, there are so many wonderful kids out there, I'm not quitting because I truly care about them, but OVERALL its behavior and parents need to step it up. It's a crisis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question: What would improve the situation?

-What is a reasonable starting salary for a 10 month job?

-What would improve the academics?

Honestly? Parenting your children better. Holding them accountable for their actions. Being stricter about manners and respecting the adults in charge of them. Limiting screens and the things they are exposed to at SUCH a young age.

It's the out of control behavior that is the #1 problem. And don't say "well if only the teacher had better control" because they are trying their absolute hardest. I'm in and out of elementary classrooms all day in my role and I see how hard they are working. Kids who are entertained by iPads from the time they get home until bedtime can't sit and focus, the attention span is so low for many kids.

And don't get me wrong, there are so many wonderful kids out there, I'm not quitting because I truly care about them, but OVERALL its behavior and parents need to step it up. It's a crisis.

How much screen time do kids get in school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question: What would improve the situation?

-What is a reasonable starting salary for a 10 month job?

-What would improve the academics?

Honestly? Parenting your children better. Holding them accountable for their actions. Being stricter about manners and respecting the adults in charge of them. Limiting screens and the things they are exposed to at SUCH a young age.

It's the out of control behavior that is the #1 problem. And don't say "well if only the teacher had better control" because they are trying their absolute hardest. I'm in and out of elementary classrooms all day in my role and I see how hard they are working. Kids who are entertained by iPads from the time they get home until bedtime can't sit and focus, the attention span is so low for many kids.

And don't get me wrong, there are so many wonderful kids out there, I'm not quitting because I truly care about them, but OVERALL its behavior and parents need to step it up. It's a crisis.

How much screen time do kids get in school?

I am a different poster than the one you are responding to but I am also a teacher. Please understand that chromebooks or the such is a requirement, beyond our control. I would much rather have students write their essays by hand instead of on the chromebooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s an absolute national crisis and I don’t see why it isn’t a top priority for politicians at every level. MoCo just ennounced an intent to majorly raise taxes for the county to increase teacher pay. So don’t quit yet teachers! I’m somewhat hopeful that higher pay rates will increase recruitment.
I wonder if they went back to 5 year vesting on pension if it would help as well.

It isn't a top priority for politicians for the same reason that childcare, early childhood development, child poverty, and other children's issues are not top priorities. As a culture, we don't give a rat's a$$ about children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question: What would improve the situation?

-What is a reasonable starting salary for a 10 month job?

-What would improve the academics?

Honestly? Parenting your children better. Holding them accountable for their actions. Being stricter about manners and respecting the adults in charge of them. Limiting screens and the things they are exposed to at SUCH a young age.

It's the out of control behavior that is the #1 problem. And don't say "well if only the teacher had better control" because they are trying their absolute hardest. I'm in and out of elementary classrooms all day in my role and I see how hard they are working. Kids who are entertained by iPads from the time they get home until bedtime can't sit and focus, the attention span is so low for many kids.

And don't get me wrong, there are so many wonderful kids out there, I'm not quitting because I truly care about them, but OVERALL its behavior and parents need to step it up. It's a crisis.

How much screen time do kids get in school?

I am a different poster than the one you are responding to but I am also a teacher. Please understand that chromebooks or the such is a requirement, beyond our control. I would much rather have students write their essays by hand instead of on the chromebooks.

I hear you, but also recognize that screen time in school is also out of parents' control

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question: What would improve the situation?

-What is a reasonable starting salary for a 10 month job?

-What would improve the academics?

Honestly? Parenting your children better. Holding them accountable for their actions. Being stricter about manners and respecting the adults in charge of them. Limiting screens and the things they are exposed to at SUCH a young age.

It's the out of control behavior that is the #1 problem. And don't say "well if only the teacher had better control" because they are trying their absolute hardest. I'm in and out of elementary classrooms all day in my role and I see how hard they are working. Kids who are entertained by iPads from the time they get home until bedtime can't sit and focus, the attention span is so low for many kids.

And don't get me wrong, there are so many wonderful kids out there, I'm not quitting because I truly care about them, but OVERALL its behavior and parents need to step it up. It's a crisis.

I wonder if the teachers in affluent elementary schools have the same issues as those at more diverse schools?

I know all kids use screens, but I think there are other factors related to what you are describing.

My two cents:

-Starting salaries should be $65k.

-Teachers should receive loan forgiveness if they teach at a public school for 10 years.

-Teachers should receive some sort of tax credit.

-The curriculum should be overhauled. Kids should be grouped by ability and receive instruction for math and reading for the entire period (meaning kids switch classrooms, not relying on one teacher to race through groups while kids work independently). The blocks could be scaled back leaving more time to teach things like cursive, vocabulary, grammar, etc.

-Invest in workbooks or materials and assign legit homework.

-Put kids in rows instead of group tables for the bulk of the day.

-No screens at elementary school unless there is a compelling academic reason.

-Kids who are repeatedly disruptive should be sent home. I don’t care if their parents are working or not. Quickly make it an issue they need to address at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can change systems in Maryland and stay in the pension system to keep vesting. It seems like every school system has pro and cons though. All are under major pressure to avoid suspensions and expulsions.

+1 teachers leaving the profession is a national problem, not just an MCPS problem.

[Anonymous]

I think it is interesting how MCPD has really raised awareness about police vacancies and advocated to get them filled. MCPS doesn't seem too keen on talking about it or drawing attention to the problems.

To get public support to fix this it would help to have data on what percentage of class time has a sub or no teacher at all right now. Instead they talk about how everything is perfect and fine https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2022/09/how-montgomery-co-schools-combatted-its-teacher-shortage/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question: What would improve the situation?

-What is a reasonable starting salary for a 10 month job?

-What would improve the academics?

Honestly? Parenting your children better. Holding them accountable for their actions. Being stricter about manners and respecting the adults in charge of them. Limiting screens and the things they are exposed to at SUCH a young age.

It's the out of control behavior that is the #1 problem. And don't say "well if only the teacher had better control" because they are trying their absolute hardest. I'm in and out of elementary classrooms all day in my role and I see how hard they are working. Kids who are entertained by iPads from the time they get home until bedtime can't sit and focus, the attention span is so low for many kids.

And don't get me wrong, there are so many wonderful kids out there, I'm not quitting because I truly care about them, but OVERALL its behavior and parents need to step it up. It's a crisis.

I wonder if the teachers in affluent elementary schools have the same issues as those at more diverse schools?

I know all kids use screens, but I think there are other factors related to what you are describing.

My two cents:

-Starting salaries should be $65k.

-Teachers should receive loan forgiveness if they teach at a public school for 10 years.

-Teachers should receive some sort of tax credit.

-The curriculum should be overhauled. Kids should be grouped by ability and receive instruction for math and reading for the entire period (meaning kids switch classrooms, not relying on one teacher to race through groups while kids work independently). The blocks could be scaled back leaving more time to teach things like cursive, vocabulary, grammar, etc.

-Invest in workbooks or materials and assign legit homework.

-Put kids in rows instead of group tables for the bulk of the day.

-No screens at elementary school unless there is a compelling academic reason.

-Kids who are repeatedly disruptive should be sent home. I don’t care if their parents are working or not. Quickly make it an issue they need to address at home.

Are teachers not eligible for public service loan forgiveness after 10 years?

[Anonymous]

It's pretty ridiculous that a police recruit with an associate's degree makes more than an entry-level teacher with a master's degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I left last year. I’m even Nationally Board Certified and decided to call it quits. All I ever wanted to be was a teacher and I naively went into this profession thinking I’d change the world. I didn’t even mind working overtime and on weekends because this is my passion. But sadly I learned it’s not worth the low pay and constant harassment from parents, kids, and unsupportive admin. Still miss what it used to be, but the climate and system have changed and it’s become so toxic.

Yep, also NBCT and I'm done after this year. Today while restraining a child, they threatened to bite me and all I could think of was the time off I'd get if he did.

It's time to go.

The NBCT salary bump is really the only thing that's keeping me going. I love my job and I love my students, but I can't be a martyr. Also, I've been bitten and did not get time off. Maybe I should have pushed for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering how well MCPS was negotiating the teacher shortage.

How many teachers are quitting at your school this year?

What are the qualifications of your student's teachers?

MCPS is doing great! It's as if there's no shortage and it's just another year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's pretty ridiculous that a police recruit with an associate's degree makes more than an entry-level teacher with a master's degree.

Well, if you look at $/hour, they don't. Teachers work around 180 days per year at most, and many take a lot of personal leave, which reduces that number further.