Today's Wash Post op ed about MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You kids go to the tops schools in the country taught by the top teachers in the country. What would you do if you look at the lists that all of you look at and you don't see any Montgomery County Schools on it?

Look at the law firms your absentee husbands work for, what if they said we decided we want to be a 2nd or 3rd tier law firm so we are letting go of all the good lawyers and paying less for mediocre lawyers?

Quality gets quality. Now go ahead and bitch about the teacher your kid has and then go put them in PG County schools and see them thrive.

And I am not a teacher

+1 and a big high five too

[Anonymous]

I support high salaries for teachers. I just don't like Starr -- I think he's arrogant and self-important and I don't see how he's qualified to lead this huge district.

There has to be a way to pay teachers well without foregoing art, music, etc. If it's slightly higher taxes, so be it.

[Anonymous]

To those who are claiming it's a 2% raise - you're being disengenuous.

From the Post:
"It would give most of the county’s 12,000 teachers not one but two raises — the first in July, the other next May — with the distinct possibility of a third increase (sure to be demanded by the union) later next year. Together, the first two raises would boost the average teacher’s salary to around $80,000, up from $74,700 today. . . . But a two-step increase averaging nearly 7 percent for about three-quarters of the county’s teachers is neither good policy nor affordable."

Now, if you think that's incorrect, please let me know. But if it's accurate, please don't try to obfuscate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To those who are claiming it's a 2% raise - you're being disengenuous.

From the Post:
"It would give most of the county’s 12,000 teachers not one but two raises — the first in July, the other next May — with the distinct possibility of a third increase (sure to be demanded by the union) later next year. Together, the first two raises would boost the average teacher’s salary to around $80,000, up from $74,700 today. . . . But a two-step increase averaging nearly 7 percent for about three-quarters of the county’s teachers is neither good policy nor affordable."

Now, if you think that's incorrect, please let me know. But if it's accurate, please don't try to obfuscate.

Paying teachers more would make sense if MCPS was a good school system It ain't ... not anymore. Parents are part of the problem because

1. They vote in this BOE
2. Elect the MCCPTA that votes on the secret budget
3. Produce children and the let them lose in the care of a nanny
4. Keep those PTA types pandering to the school system by testifying for more taxes

Stop complaining and start making a public protest that you've had enough. Otherwise shut up and pay up.

[Anonymous]

I think the Post is right, unfortunately. It's union appeasement. I know more and more highly educated, affluent parents who are pulling their kids out of MCPS for private school because of large class sizes and the relative dearth of music, science, art, PE, recess, etc. I know some folks will say good riddance, but in realistic terms, it does not help MCPS to have those families leaving the system. I don't think the county cares about that, but I think that's shortsighted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I support high salaries for teachers. I just don't like Starr -- I think he's arrogant and self-important and I don't see how he's qualified to lead this huge district.

There has to be a way to pay teachers well without foregoing art, music, etc. If it's slightly higher taxes, so be it.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To those who are claiming it's a 2% raise - you're being disengenuous.

From the Post:
"It would give most of the county’s 12,000 teachers not one but two raises — the first in July, the other next May — with the distinct possibility of a third increase (sure to be demanded by the union) later next year. Together, the first two raises would boost the average teacher’s salary to around $80,000, up from $74,700 today. . . . But a two-step increase averaging nearly 7 percent for about three-quarters of the county’s teachers is neither good policy nor affordable."

Now, if you think that's incorrect, please let me know. But if it's accurate, please don't try to obfuscate.

The Editorial in question is flat out wrong regarding the salary increase. No one, not a single solitary person, is receiving a "nearly 7 percent" increase. Teachers are receiving a STEP increase this year for the first time in THREE years. The LARGEST STEP increase is 3%. Then, in MAY of NEXT YEAR, teachers will receive another STEP increase, which is a maximum of 3% as previously stated. This STEP nex May is to make up for ONE of the TWO STEP increases that MCPS teachers did NOT receive the past two years. These salary increases are longevity increases. There are NO COLA'S in the new agreement, and there have been no COLA's for FOUR years now.

The Stanley Kaplan Post, oh excuse me the Washington Post, has been anti-union for years now as the only part of their company that makes a profit is their Kaplan subsidiary. It is in the Post's best interests that public schools fail. Is it in your best interests that they do so? Think about it before you believe anything the Stanley Kaplan Post writes concerning public school unions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the Post is right, unfortunately. It's union appeasement. I know more and more highly educated, affluent parents who are pulling their kids out of MCPS for private school because of large class sizes and the relative dearth of music, science, art, PE, recess, etc. I know some folks will say good riddance, but in realistic terms, it does not help MCPS to have those families leaving the system. I don't think the county cares about that, but I think that's shortsighted.

We're looking to move to Howard county once our daughter finishes the HGC elementary program. HoCo schools seem to be significantly better on average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You kids go to the tops schools in the country taught by the top teachers in the country. What would you do if you look at the lists that all of you look at and you don't see any Montgomery County Schools on it?

Look at the law firms your absentee husbands work for, what if they said we decided we want to be a 2nd or 3rd tier law firm so we are letting go of all the good lawyers and paying less for mediocre lawyers?

Quality gets quality. Now go ahead and bitch about the teacher your kid has and then go put them in PG County schools and see them thrive.

And I am not a teacher

MoCo already has higher pay than Fairfax and other systems in the area. How much higher do we have to go to get the best? We aren't competing with law firms, we are competing with these other systems. Many, many taxpayers, like Federal employees, don't get raises.

The school system is ok., but I don't think it is as great as MoCo voters think it is. It certainly isn't great for gifted kids. I have two kids in ES. I think a lot of the reputation is based on the well-to do kids of phds, doctors, and lawyers that go to Wooton, Whitman, BCC, Walter Johnson, and Churchill. Any system would look good with these kids.

Here is my problem. The school board consists of apple ballot candidates. These are union picked candidates. This means that the union-endorsed candidates negotiate with themselves. Taxpaying voters constantly give up the right to have their own interests represented in the room. It doesn't matter who the union rolls out on the ballot, we will vote for any candidate with an apple on their sign. If you don't like this, then stop voting for the apple ballot. You will get another chance next fall. We get what we deserve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is wrong with teachers getting a 2% raise after a 3-year freeze?

I am tired of fat cats bashing union and government workers. I wish there are unions in professional jobs besides teaching. I can use one.

7% at the expense of the students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the Post is right, unfortunately. It's union appeasement. I know more and more highly educated, affluent parents who are pulling their kids out of MCPS for private school because of large class sizes and the relative dearth of music, science, art, PE, recess, etc. I know some folks will say good riddance, but in realistic terms, it does not help MCPS to have those families leaving the system. I don't think the county cares about that, but I think that's shortsighted.

We're looking to move to Howard county once our daughter finishes the HGC elementary program. HoCo schools seem to be significantly better on average.

You will find issues in Ho Co, too. Good luck finding an affordable home that feeds into River Hill, which is one of the top schools in the county (and not too shabby nationally either). Glenelg is so so - sort of like Damascus HS.

Reservoir, not too far from Laurel, will always have boundary issues as Maple Lawn grows and as the farming communities in Fulton continue to transform into areas housing McMansions.

Centennial is solid, but unless you work from home, don't work, or work in Balt., your commute will be miserable.

The one advantage Ho Co has is size; it's tiny compared to Mo Co. And much of Ho Co promotes smart growth. So you don't find packed communities in the western parts of the county. Furthermore, b/c it's small with a budget that can't compare to Mo Co's, there are fewer avenues for the gifted. You won't find IB, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is wrong with teachers getting a 2% raise after a 3-year freeze?

I am tired of fat cats bashing union and government workers. I wish there are unions in professional jobs besides teaching. I can use one.

7% at the expense of the students.

Then fight it. Demand that we lose our steps after being frozen for 3 years. Demand that the money be used to make class sizes smaller b/c you KNOW that's the answer, right? Demand that we work longer hours, be data-driven by looking at kids as just numbers, be under scrutiny by all - b/c by making our working lives (and personal lives) more difficult, we'll be more productive.

Go ahead. Fight it.

The nastier you are to us - the less respect we receive - the higher the turnover rate. As it stands now, 40% leave w/in the first 5 years. Those are great statistics.

Thanks for the support, PP. Our students thank you, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the Post is right, unfortunately. It's union appeasement. I know more and more highly educated, affluent parents who are pulling their kids out of MCPS for private school because of large class sizes and the relative dearth of music, science, art, PE, recess, etc. I know some folks will say good riddance, but in realistic terms, it does not help MCPS to have those families leaving the system. I don't think the county cares about that, but I think that's shortsighted.

I am not sure the numbers bear out the flight. My DC is at Whitman and the 9th and 10th grades are huge because of an influx of kids from private schools. Most of the schools in the cluster are at or over capacity. At the same time some of the local private schools are under enrolled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the Post is right, unfortunately. It's union appeasement. I know more and more highly educated, affluent parents who are pulling their kids out of MCPS for private school because of large class sizes and the relative dearth of music, science, art, PE, recess, etc. I know some folks will say good riddance, but in realistic terms, it does not help MCPS to have those families leaving the system. I don't think the county cares about that, but I think that's shortsighted.

I am not sure the numbers bear out the flight. My DC is at Whitman and the 9th and 10th grades are huge because of an influx of kids from private schools. Most of the schools in the cluster are at or over capacity. At the same time some of the local private schools are under enrolled.

White flight is well underway. Google the MCPS enrollment figures and you'll find out. The Whitman cluster isn't one to hold up as an example. That's where Starr has his children. So, all you are proving is that Starr is pandering to unions while keeping his children in the only very white cluster.

How many parents can afford to live in that cluster?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the Post is right, unfortunately. It's union appeasement. I know more and more highly educated, affluent parents who are pulling their kids out of MCPS for private school because of large class sizes and the relative dearth of music, science, art, PE, recess, etc. I know some folks will say good riddance, but in realistic terms, it does not help MCPS to have those families leaving the system. I don't think the county cares about that, but I think that's shortsighted.

We're looking to move to Howard county once our daughter finishes the HGC elementary program. HoCo schools seem to be significantly better on average.

You will find issues in Ho Co, too. Good luck finding an affordable home that feeds into River Hill, which is one of the top schools in the county (and not too shabby nationally either). Glenelg is so so - sort of like Damascus HS.

Reservoir, not too far from Laurel, will always have boundary issues as Maple Lawn grows and as the farming communities in Fulton continue to transform into areas housing McMansions.

Centennial is solid, but unless you work from home, don't work, or work in Balt., your commute will be miserable.

The one advantage Ho Co has is size; it's tiny compared to Mo Co. And much of Ho Co promotes smart growth. So you don't find packed communities in the western parts of the county. Furthermore, b/c it's small with a budget that can't compare to Mo Co's, there are fewer avenues for the gifted. You won't find IB, for example.

PP here. I've looked at the housing prices in River Hill; they're affordable for us, and since we both work in HoCo the commute will be better. I used to work in DC (thus the MoCo home to split the difference) but no longer. The bit about lack of gifted programs is concerning; my child is in the magnet program for elementary, and I assumed that HoCo would have something at least somewhat comparable.