Disappearing Teachers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is going to start being a new normal. Teachers (yes even private school teachers) are overworked and underpaid. Little support from admin and picked apart from enough parents that it’s not worth it to stay.

Start normalizing it. Your children will be fine.

There’s a problem with the “start normalizing it” part.

People generally leave bad bosses and stay for good ones. We should be telling administrators to shape up.

Part of running a school is supporting your teachers, creating an environment where they have resources, feel safe and have a voice, one where they can continue to grow professionally. This puts teachers in the best position to serve the students.

But in certain schools, teachers have no voice, they are left to defend themselves against unfair accusations from people who have not taught before or have a hidden agenda (like a higher grade).

Yes, it is too much. No, it is not normal and school leaders can absolutely do more, but who is going to make them do that?

You are leaving out an entire group of people who regularly make teachers’ lives miserable: parents. What do you propose to do about that?

- No, not an admin

Good administrators articulate grand visions backed by solid pedagogy and intellectual grounding. They are visionaries and missionaries. They are able to keep the worst parents at bay by providing solid, research and evidence-based rationale for their decision-making.. and convey those decisions calmly and with empathy. They are also strong enough to politely but firmly push back on those parents who insist on being irrational or hysterical or belligerent, and support, inspire, and positively reinforce the teachers who are doing their best. Without super competent, smart, true philosophical educators at the helm, parents will direct their venom toward teachers.

[Anonymous]

In 14 years of private schools - I have only had one of my child's teachers leave in the middle of the year. It was very unprofessional.

Others in our schools - but not our teachers:

Of course, there are pregnancy/birth related leave of absences that occur mid year.

I know of approximately three teachers who left (forever) midyear due to health and two others who had a health event midyear but were able to return the following year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One was fired right before school started. One fired around winter. 2 left because they were relocating. 1 left because of some conflict with admin.

So 5 that I know of.

That seems high. Is this the Bullis lower school turnover that others on this post have commented on?

Here we go again. You’re so transparent. I was just waiting for your post. Everyone knows you are the same disgruntled teacher who keeps trashing the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One was fired right before school started. One fired around winter. 2 left because they were relocating. 1 left because of some conflict with admin.

So 5 that I know of.

That seems high. Is this the Bullis lower school turnover that others on this post have commented on?

Only one of those were lower school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One was fired right before school started. One fired around winter. 2 left because they were relocating. 1 left because of some conflict with admin.

So 5 that I know of.

That seems high. Is this the Bullis lower school turnover that others on this post have commented on?

Only one of those were lower school.

There’s now two in LS. 6 total from the whole school that I know of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In 14 years of private schools - I have only had one of my child's teachers leave in the middle of the year. It was very unprofessional.

Others in our schools - but not our teachers:

Of course, there are pregnancy/birth related leave of absences that occur mid year.

I know of approximately three teachers who left (forever) midyear due to health and two others who had a health event midyear but were able to return the following year.

Why is that unprofessional? They are an at will employee who is free to quit whenever they please, just as the school can fire them at a moment’s notice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In 14 years of private schools - I have only had one of my child's teachers leave in the middle of the year. It was very unprofessional.

Others in our schools - but not our teachers:

Of course, there are pregnancy/birth related leave of absences that occur mid year.

I know of approximately three teachers who left (forever) midyear due to health and two others who had a health event midyear but were able to return the following year.

Why is that unprofessional? They are an at will employee who is free to quit whenever they please, just as the school can fire them at a moment’s notice.

This is exactly 100% correct. You want teachers to commit for the whole year? Pay them what they deserve and commit to them that they will at least have a job for at least that long. Private school "contracts" are no such thing. They are, instead, servitude documents that issue demands of teachers, tell them that their duties and workload can change at any time without notice, and tell them that they can be fired at any time with OR without cause. But shock, horror! when they decide to leave at mid-year for a better gig, or maybe because a nasty administrator is treating them like garbage. All parents should be asking more questions across the board about how teachers at their schools are being treated.

[Anonymous]

If teachers in private, religious, and or boarding schools are so important why are they paid low and treated like min wage workers. Even the greedy scumbag fundraisers make more than teachers. I recommend teachers leave until respect comes back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If teachers in private, religious, and or boarding schools are so important why are they paid low and treated like min wage workers. Even the greedy scumbag fundraisers make more than teachers. I recommend teachers leave until respect comes back.

or maybe they should just all walk off the job at the same time on the same day. why should they leave when the greedy scumbags get to stay?

[Anonymous]

Everyone is applauded for exploiting education for their own personal gain except for teachers who make starvation wages . But as long as they are acting in the name of Jesus they get a free pass.

[Anonymous]

2

I don’t know why.

Student is reporting that the current hire is using a consumer direct sold curriculum to teach now. It’s been going fine as far as I know. He seems to be learning the content despite the disruption.

[Anonymous]

PP again: the divisional head at our school is outstanding. I can tell as a parent and no amount of gossip online or in person is going to change my mind about that. I’ve seen enough to know that.

If I thought the administration was the problem, I would withdraw my student, but a couple of teachers leaving mid year for reasons that are none of my business does not concern me as long as my child is learning and safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If teachers in private, religious, and or boarding schools are so important why are they paid low and treated like min wage workers. Even the greedy scumbag fundraisers make more than teachers. I recommend teachers leave until respect comes back.

I am a private school teacher. I make less than I did when I worked in the public system, but I am treated FAR better. I was belittled and demeaned in public. I am supported and appreciated in my current private school.

I work hard, and now I feel like that hard work is valued. I’ll ride out the rest of my career here, and I’ll do it happily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If teachers in private, religious, and or boarding schools are so important why are they paid low and treated like min wage workers. Even the greedy scumbag fundraisers make more than teachers. I recommend teachers leave until respect comes back.

I am a private school teacher. I make less than I did when I worked in the public system, but I am treated FAR better. I was belittled and demeaned in public. I am supported and appreciated in my current private school.

I work hard, and now I feel like that hard work is valued. I’ll ride out the rest of my career here, and I’ll do it happily.

Where do you work?

I am sure you know that we do not all work in such supportive environments, where we feel valued and are treated well.

How nice you found a place that works for you!

[Anonymous]

I'm a private school teacher, who left public because of student behavior issues. I've found that at student behavior is as bad or worse than at my former public. My administrator, who is a lovely person, will advocate for students no matter how disruptive the behaviors are. But she does not stand up for teachers. At all. I'd LOVE to leave, but like most people I have bills to pay. I am doing the bare minimum, am taking every personal and sick day, and have checked out as much as possible. After 22 years, teaching has come close to destroying me.