I feel like MCPS sucks the joy out of teaching

[Anonymous]

The problem with working for private schools is no job security. Our region pays teachers very well but I agree about the needless red tape. I wish we could do a hard reset for public education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound really dedicated. I have kids in MCPS and also friends who teach in MCPS. Can you maybe find a mentor to help you make the demands work? My friends aren’t this stressed and they write more college recommendations. I hope you can find joy in your job.

They've probably taught longer and care less. That's a good coping mechanism IMO. I do my work but I rarely ever bring any work home. If it doesn't get done at school, it just doesn't get done.

I’m sure they taught longer. But they definitely care a lot. I love hearing them talk about their work. I love running into them at extracurricular activities that they don’t have to attend. I’m just saying that a lot of teachers figure out the balance and maybe OP can find advice. No need to disparage my friends and teachers that I admire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound really dedicated. I have kids in MCPS and also friends who teach in MCPS. Can you maybe find a mentor to help you make the demands work? My friends aren’t this stressed and they write more college recommendations. I hope you can find joy in your job.

They've probably taught longer and care less. That's a good coping mechanism IMO. I do my work but I rarely ever bring any work home. If it doesn't get done at school, it just doesn't get done.

I’m sure they taught longer. But they definitely care a lot. I love hearing them talk about their work. I love running into them at extracurricular activities that they don’t have to attend. I’m just saying that a lot of teachers figure out the balance and maybe OP can find advice. No need to disparage my friends and teachers that I admire.

I love teaching but I don't care about the BS they dump on us. I eventually get it all done but I'll be damned if I let it stress me out.

[Anonymous]

Thx all. This is OP. I appreciate the support.
I probably need to lighten up but I find it hard not to do a ton of preparation for my classes. That’s just how I am. Not that my teaching is perfect or even close to it. But I do try my best. I get frustrated at the amount of busy work that MCPS and my school administrators throw at us. And I would like to support my EML students but it is hard when I have 31 students in my classroom with a range of abilities and needs. And the SLO is the biggest waste of time and should be eliminated. Cell phone use among students is a huge issue at my school. Which is ironic because I was so busy at school today that I didn’t even check my text messages all day until I was driving home at 4 pm. Curious what teachers thought of the EML PD from Central. I could not figure out how I would implement what they were suggesting.

[Anonymous]

Op- I’m curious if the cell phone ban has helped at all ? I thought they weren’t allowed in HS anymore? Sorry it’s been so bad for you

[Anonymous]

The EML situation at some of the schools is out of control. Today I had to give out letters that need to be signed by the parents of EML students. ONE student in my 4th-grade class did not get a letter. ONE out of 23. The class is impossible to teach. Not only are there so many newcomers with little English, but they are also coming in with minimal education even in their native language. Yet we are required to make sure that we keep up with the grade level curriculum. And now we are supposed to somehow design every lesson around their language needs. Impossible!

Yet instead of having help from the ELD teachers, they are busy doing county mandated paperwork- individually scanning in tons of documents page by page. What a waste of time. Focus on the children- not paperwork. That also goes toward the SLO's that were mentioned. Let us teach the children. Provide the support that is needed.

And then there is Home School Model. Why am I having no support with students who cannot do 4 + 1 without their fingers? CKLA- So far above their heads. But where are the SPED teachers? Oh yeah- they are no longer able to support in ELA and all is left to the classroom teacher.

MCPS has ruined education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem with working for private schools is no job security. Our region pays teachers very well but I agree about the needless red tape. I wish we could do a hard reset for public education.

Huh? What’s your experience in private school, PP? I have over a decade of experience in multiple privates plus MCPS. I only worried about job security when I worked for MCPS. I was also only bullied and harassed when I worked for MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Moving my kids to private school was the best decision we have ever made. Just hearing these rants if part of the proof. The teachers in her new private school are so dedicated and happy. Perhaps not paid as well, but they are happy and they are more mission driven than a typical miserable public school teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with working for private schools is no job security. Our region pays teachers very well but I agree about the needless red tape. I wish we could do a hard reset for public education.

Huh? What’s your experience in private school, PP? I have over a decade of experience in multiple privates plus MCPS. I only worried about job security when I worked for MCPS. I was also only bullied and harassed when I worked for MCPS.

Public schools have to jump through hoops to fire tenured teachers. Private schools can easily fire teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with working for private schools is no job security. Our region pays teachers very well but I agree about the needless red tape. I wish we could do a hard reset for public education.

Huh? What’s your experience in private school, PP? I have over a decade of experience in multiple privates plus MCPS. I only worried about job security when I worked for MCPS. I was also only bullied and harassed when I worked for MCPS.

Public schools have to jump through hoops to fire tenured teachers. Private schools can easily fire teachers.

That’s nice. How often do private schools actually fire teachers?

Maybe ground your claims in data rather than theory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not teaching in a public school anymore, but when I was, I took a sick day each quarter just to get caught up on work.

When I taught public school, I did this 1-2 times per year. And I think paperwork requirements were less than they are now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with working for private schools is no job security. Our region pays teachers very well but I agree about the needless red tape. I wish we could do a hard reset for public education.

Huh? What’s your experience in private school, PP? I have over a decade of experience in multiple privates plus MCPS. I only worried about job security when I worked for MCPS. I was also only bullied and harassed when I worked for MCPS.

Public schools have to jump through hoops to fire tenured teachers. Private schools can easily fire teachers.

That’s nice. How often do private schools actually fire teachers?

Maybe ground your claims in data rather than theory.

Mine has fired two over the last three years. A few more finished the year and weren’t renewed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moving my kids to private school was the best decision we have ever made. Just hearing these rants if part of the proof. The teachers in her new private school are so dedicated and happy. Perhaps not paid as well, but they are happy and they are more mission driven than a typical miserable public school teacher.

How do you know the teachers in your private are happier? Have you asked them about their experience? Many public school teachers seem happy in class and around parents and are dedicated. Believe me same is true for private school teachers. It’s not all sunshine and roses on the other side. Are the problems less or different, perhaps.

Also, many a private school teacher used to work for public schools. So don’t assume they are more mission driven than a typical public school teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op- I’m curious if the cell phone ban has helped at all ? I thought they weren’t allowed in HS anymore? Sorry it’s been so bad for you

This is OP. What cell phone ban? Is there a cell phone ban? There are no limits to cell phones at the high school where I teach. Admin just throw up their hands and say there is nothing they can do. There is pretty much zero discipline. I guess I should try moving high schools for next year. Maybe the one I’m at is particularly badly run

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op- I’m curious if the cell phone ban has helped at all ? I thought they weren’t allowed in HS anymore? Sorry it’s been so bad for you

This is OP. What cell phone ban? Is there a cell phone ban? There are no limits to cell phones at the high school where I teach. Admin just throw up their hands and say there is nothing they can do. There is pretty much zero discipline. I guess I should try moving high schools for next year. Maybe the one I’m at is particularly badly run

There was/is a whole pilot that any MS and HS could opt into this year.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/D87PE763E3F5/$file/00%20Safety%20and%20Security%20Update%20240820.pdf