demoralized in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So why exactly can’t schools suspend or expel violent and dangerous students?

Special education laws and racial issues

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I left teaching a few years ago. I have many years of experience, two graduate degrees, and I mentored new teachers. I know what I'm doing and I know how to control a classroom. I had months of unused sick leave because I was never out. However- I really felt that the situation had come to a point where I could not guarantee the physical and emotional safety of my students or even myself. It's a very different world with regard to discipline- meaning there is none. Kids have more mental illness and serious behavioral problems. Bullying is rampant. Parents are not always in synch with accepted parenting practices. There is no support anywhere...from admin, from school, from home, or from the county. Some newer teachers actually had emotional breakdowns, and I comforted the rest every day. It's really a horrible environment for anyone to be in. I thought that staying might affect my health in a serious and negative way.

I taught in a well regarded Md county, where people actually move to, but my schools were moderate to low income. My colleagues in higher income schools had fewer (still quite a lot, though )everyday behavior problems, but endured serious bullying and intimidation from parents and students to the point that many were on medication for anxiety.
I thought...."It's time to rethink this." I was a very good teacher, and I know many more who are as well but also have gone. The rest are not willing to forfeit their years in the retirement system and start over and/or are paying off massive loans. No one can afford to retrain. I am not exaggerrating when I say that few teachers are staying because they want to for the love of the job.

P.S
I didn't even begin to address the 24/7 obsession to generate, mine, and presrnt meaningless data- data that proves nothing and changes nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the "insider" view -- it's disheartening but that's not your fault. I guess you can't name the school, but are you at the ES, MS, or HS level? What's the FARMS rate?

Ours are just entering MCPS, and I plan to get more involved in school issues as I see MCPS just being grossly mismanaged. I know I'll be out their campaiging at the next BoE election for anyone who is not an incumbent.

I'm surprised MCEA is unable to do anything. They've been notorious for securing great benefits packages for teachers -- better than any other county employees -- so why can't they step in to protect their members?

Not OP but pretty sure from the description OP is in an ES.

[Anonymous]

I don't know what else to say OP other than "I'm sorry" and I wish that there was something we as parents can do.

[Anonymous]

And you only have six hundred something at your Elementary School. Imagine if you are Rachel Carson, or Ashburton. Agree, MCPS is a disaster.
Central Office has never cared about staff - treat them like cogs in a giant machine.

- MCPS staff member

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And you only have six hundred something at your Elementary School. Imagine if you are Rachel Carson, or Ashburton. Agree, MCPS is a disaster.
Central Office has never cared about staff - treat them like cogs in a giant machine.

- MCPS staff member

It’s an absolutely miserable soulless place to work full of bullies and know-it-alls.

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry. Let us know what us parents can do to make your jobs easier.

Can we put some political pressure on them to change things?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So why exactly can’t schools suspend or expel violent and dangerous students?

Ask the folks who work in the DOE. Bet more than a few post right here on DCUM. They make a lot of oh so helpful regulations that aren't necessarily in the best interests of kids who truly want to be in school to learn and achieve.

[Anonymous]

Help us get rid of corruption and unethical behavior and brushing things under rug. Help us reward good teachers and fire bad ones. Help us be heard.

[Anonymous]

And get rid of the awful weak principals who allow misdeeds on their watch. Hold them accountable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the "insider" view -- it's disheartening but that's not your fault. I guess you can't name the school, but are you at the ES, MS, or HS level? What's the FARMS rate?

Ours are just entering MCPS, and I plan to get more involved in school issues as I see MCPS just being grossly mismanaged. I know I'll be out their campaiging at the next BoE election for anyone who is not an incumbent.

I'm surprised MCEA is unable to do anything. They've been notorious for securing great benefits packages for teachers -- better than any other county employees -- so why can't they step in to protect their members?

The only way to have one counselor for 600 kids is ES. Which narrows things down considerably given the other details OP provided.

[Anonymous]

Op is elementary
Second teacher responding is middle

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This has always been MCPS and nothing new. Get used to it or change jobs. We know.

just curious - Are you a teacher?

Do you have kids in the system?

Status aside, you're pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why exactly can’t schools suspend or expel violent and dangerous students?

Ask the folks who work in the DOE. Bet more than a few post right here on DCUM. They make a lot of oh so helpful regulations that aren't necessarily in the best interests of kids who truly want to be in school to learn and achieve.

Different reasons for different ages but basically, a violent ES student has issues. The school should identify and address those issues, not just kick the student out. Schools have an obligation to educate all students, not just the easy ones. Acting out is a cry for help, not the same as an adult who does such things. Older kids - pushing the kid out of school pushes the kid further away from positive influences and services and towards negative influences. Reduces opportunity for the kid to turn it around.

I don’t know the a ser. These are hard issues and I don’t think anyone has found the “best” or even a really good solution. I think bigger and bigger schools is a problem both for ratios like ES counselors and for a sense of community and feeling known as an individual which is important for non-punitive behavior modification. It’s tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has always been MCPS and nothing new. Get used to it or change jobs. We know.

Most parents do NOT know.
And why the condescension and anger toward a teacher who cares enough to write this out on a parenting forum?

Hi PP. I’m an MCPS teacher too, but in a middle school, and I just want to thank you for posting on here. I know you speak the truth. To the pp who says it’s nothing new, it’s much worse than it used to be. I will say that even when central had extra bloat, they never came to support my mediocre principal and morale is still sinking. The only reason turnover has slowed a bit is because so many people are new at this point. The home school model is a problem too. They claim it’s about least restrictive environment, but it’s about saving money. Bad teachers never get fired, bad principals never get fired, so anyone who works hard and is decent is demoralized. It’s bad.

agree

Sadly, new teachers entering think this is the new norm and are more accepting of this watered down approach toward discipline.

OP - Years ago, we (high school) called the union in to discuss terrible morale and an administrative team that did nothing to support teachers with disciplinary issues. Nothing changed. I left the school - and eventually, we moved out of the county b/c the thought of keeping my own kids in that dysfunctional atmosphere - where breathing "earns" you an A and vaping in bathrooms is the norm - made me sick. And don't get started on the perverted behaviors boys got away with in the school. I put my safety on the line just trying to get a gang member out of my classroom. I've taught plenty in the past, but he was disturbed, and instead of doing his business outside of the school, he thought the school was his playground.

MCPS draws in very educated teachers b/c of salary and benefits, but eventually- very soon, I imagine - it will implode. I don't know how much longer you have, but you either hang in there and lower your standards or you take a cut in salary (I did.) and move to another system. Or, you can try to find another profession altogether.

People used to laugh at some of the more rural systems, but smaller is better, imo, as there's more autonomy.

I am very sorry and have nothing but empathy. I do think the entire system has to implode before it gets better. We are reaching the tipping point at a fast rate.