Teachers are Vital Public Servants and Should Act Like It

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is if they accept a vaccine

I don’t have to be forced? This is not N. Korea? You need childcare? Yet you won’t leave your 6 figure earning undeservedly bonus bearing job to become a teacher? So, just kinda like, sort of STFU?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just wish teachers would give kids this “grace,” too. Teachers in our kids’ DL have been sarcastic and unkind. They aren’t modeling this “grace” they want from us.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just wish teachers would give kids this “grace,” too. Teachers in our kids’ DL have been sarcastic and unkind. They aren’t modeling this “grace” they want from us.

I know. This is why I’m worried about ever sending mine back. Not COVID. What the teachers are like when I’m not watching.

Right there with you!

And the more parents notice, the more they put on a floor show when they should be teaching.

These people do not deserve to be trusted with the profession of teaching. They are a poor representation of the profession.

[Anonymous]

The problem with losing 10,000 kids is FCPS plays a game where they are funded for example $8000 per kid, but really spend $6000 to educate a kid with no special issues. The extra $2000 gets spent on other things or more expensive-to-educate kids. If they lost a lot of their “cheap” kids, their numbers don’t work out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The respect for teachers have gone down tremendously after the pandemic. Before, we used to think it is noble profession and they care about teaching and students, blah blah blah. Some of the teacher may still care, but overall it is quite clear that they don't really care about teaching or students well being. Anytime you mention teaching in person, they revert back and tell you that they are not babysitters. The fact of the matter is that no one is expecting them to be babysitters, at least do the job for which you are getting paid which is teaching IN-PERSON.

The entire premise of this post is untrue. Two years ago teachers were absolutely not treated with respect and as if they were fulfilling a noble calling. They were severely underpaid relative to their level of education and responsibility, and they were called names constantly on these fora.

I'm not a teacher (though I'm related to a couple), and I have no particular dog in this fight. But, c'mon, let's at least be honest. All this BS about "teachers are vital public servants". Maybe if we had been treating them like that over the last few decades, things would be different now.

Teachers are well paid for their education level and the amount of days worked in a year. If they weren’t, there wouldn’t be people willing to work as teachers. Some teaching jobs are harder to fill than others because the work is harder or the private sector pays better. There should be a system to pay those teachers more but overall? Teachers’ compensation and benefits package are generous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The respect for teachers have gone down tremendously after the pandemic. Before, we used to think it is noble profession and they care about teaching and students, blah blah blah. Some of the teacher may still care, but overall it is quite clear that they don't really care about teaching or students well being. Anytime you mention teaching in person, they revert back and tell you that they are not babysitters. The fact of the matter is that no one is expecting them to be babysitters, at least do the job for which you are getting paid which is teaching IN-PERSON.

No. Their job is education, which is being provided, whether you like it or not or agree or don't.

"In person" during a pandemic is in neither their contract nor their job description.

160 years of public education in this country says otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wish I could tell whether this article is wise advice or just another UMC professional working from home who is sick of having his children underfoot (I googled — he has two children). In this debate it is so hard to separate the message from the messenger. People are more than happy to embrace risk when it’s not a risk to them personally.

How is that parents aren't undertaking any risk? I hear this a lot. If their kids go to school and get COVID, there's a high chance they might pass it on to their parents. Parents are at risk. Interhousehold transmission is high.

I think your point is that parents are willing to take that risk because they will derive a clear and significant benefit from it -- namely a huge increase in the quality of education of their children.

Teachers are not willing to take the risk because there's no such benefit to them, other than general society benefit. It's just human nature than that really isn't a motivating force like personal benefit.

Exactly this. There's no upside for teachers to go to work.

The “upside” to teachers to do their jobs should be that they get paid, and if they don’t do their jobs then they don’t get paid. The requirements of their jobs are clearly described in their employment contracts, and don’t involve sitting at home all day in their pajamas collecting full pay.

They could have offered some new positions to certain teachers for the DL stuff, at half pay. Some people would have done it, and some not. That’s fine. They could have grouped more kids together for the distance “learning”. But teachers should only have been getting full pay for doing their actual job.

You are incorrect that it appears anywhere in our job description to teach in school buildings during a crisis. Teachers will not be accepting half pay because the government has entirely neglected to do THEIR job and control the pandemic. Other countries have done so, and are now returning to normal. The US continues to spiral out of control and experience death and devastation on a staggering scale.

Teachers aren’t going to take the fall for this, although it would be convenient for the inept governors, senators, congressman, and president to push us all back to the buildings so the economy can thrive. The economy never provides for education. IDEA has never been funded-its just a huge unfounded mandate that government threw at our feet. Teachers are never relieved of the burden of purchasing their own supplies and materials in a boom economy. School buildings are in disrepair, without modern ventilation, technology, or sufficient plumbing. Education budgets are slashed again and again as politicians talk about making “tough choices” while giving tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations.

Enough with the “sitting at home in their pajamas” vitriol that is reserved for teachers and not the rest of the remote economy. Parents complain that teachers aren’t doing their jobs while bemoaning the difficulties of managing their own zoom meetings while supervising their kids. I thought you were just relaxing in your pjs? Anyone with half a brain should be able to ensure their children aren’t playing Fortnite during math class if that’s all they’re doing.

Keep rambling. Meanwhile, countless essential workers have been working in-person this entire time — myself included.

if you think a teacher is essential like a doctor - many have the same years of education and training - then pay her like you pay a doctor!!!

Did you just say some teachers have education comparable to doctors? Oh my god you people are insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wish I could tell whether this article is wise advice or just another UMC professional working from home who is sick of having his children underfoot (I googled — he has two children). In this debate it is so hard to separate the message from the messenger. People are more than happy to embrace risk when it’s not a risk to them personally.

How is that parents aren't undertaking any risk? I hear this a lot. If their kids go to school and get COVID, there's a high chance they might pass it on to their parents. Parents are at risk. Interhousehold transmission is high.

I think your point is that parents are willing to take that risk because they will derive a clear and significant benefit from it -- namely a huge increase in the quality of education of their children.

Teachers are not willing to take the risk because there's no such benefit to them, other than general society benefit. It's just human nature than that really isn't a motivating force like personal benefit.

Exactly this. There's no upside for teachers to go to work.

The “upside” to teachers to do their jobs should be that they get paid, and if they don’t do their jobs then they don’t get paid. The requirements of their jobs are clearly described in their employment contracts, and don’t involve sitting at home all day in their pajamas collecting full pay.

They could have offered some new positions to certain teachers for the DL stuff, at half pay. Some people would have done it, and some not. That’s fine. They could have grouped more kids together for the distance “learning”. But teachers should only have been getting full pay for doing their actual job.

You are incorrect that it appears anywhere in our job description to teach in school buildings during a crisis. Teachers will not be accepting half pay because the government has entirely neglected to do THEIR job and control the pandemic. Other countries have done so, and are now returning to normal. The US continues to spiral out of control and experience death and devastation on a staggering scale.

Teachers aren’t going to take the fall for this, although it would be convenient for the inept governors, senators, congressman, and president to push us all back to the buildings so the economy can thrive. The economy never provides for education. IDEA has never been funded-its just a huge unfounded mandate that government threw at our feet. Teachers are never relieved of the burden of purchasing their own supplies and materials in a boom economy. School buildings are in disrepair, without modern ventilation, technology, or sufficient plumbing. Education budgets are slashed again and again as politicians talk about making “tough choices” while giving tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations.

Enough with the “sitting at home in their pajamas” vitriol that is reserved for teachers and not the rest of the remote economy. Parents complain that teachers aren’t doing their jobs while bemoaning the difficulties of managing their own zoom meetings while supervising their kids. I thought you were just relaxing in your pjs? Anyone with half a brain should be able to ensure their children aren’t playing Fortnite during math class if that’s all they’re doing.

Keep rambling. Meanwhile, countless essential workers have been working in-person this entire time — myself included.

if you think a teacher is essential like a doctor - many have the same years of education and training - then pay her like you pay a doctor!!!

Did you just say some teachers have education comparable to doctors? Oh my god you people are insane.

NP. No but I’ll wager similar or more than - nurses, nursing home employees, and meat packing workers to name a few.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The respect for teachers have gone down tremendously after the pandemic. Before, we used to think it is noble profession and they care about teaching and students, blah blah blah. Some of the teacher may still care, but overall it is quite clear that they don't really care about teaching or students well being. Anytime you mention teaching in person, they revert back and tell you that they are not babysitters. The fact of the matter is that no one is expecting them to be babysitters, at least do the job for which you are getting paid which is teaching IN-PERSON.

The entire premise of this post is untrue. Two years ago teachers were absolutely not treated with respect and as if they were fulfilling a noble calling. They were severely underpaid relative to their level of education and responsibility, and they were called names constantly on these fora.

I'm not a teacher (though I'm related to a couple), and I have no particular dog in this fight. But, c'mon, let's at least be honest. All this BS about "teachers are vital public servants". Maybe if we had been treating them like that over the last few decades, things would be different now.

Teachers are well paid for their education level and the amount of days worked in a year. If they weren’t, there wouldn’t be people willing to work as teachers. Some teaching jobs are harder to fill than others because the work is harder or the private sector pays better. There should be a system to pay those teachers more but overall? Teachers’ compensation and benefits package are generous.

Exactly.

If there became an actual teacher shortage, schools districts would simply be forced to move away from the fixed payscales that the union fights for, and instead pay extra for hard-to-fill positions in STEM and SPED.

Or we could start down the path of outsourcing to private contractors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The respect for teachers have gone down tremendously after the pandemic. Before, we used to think it is noble profession and they care about teaching and students, blah blah blah. Some of the teacher may still care, but overall it is quite clear that they don't really care about teaching or students well being. Anytime you mention teaching in person, they revert back and tell you that they are not babysitters. The fact of the matter is that no one is expecting them to be babysitters, at least do the job for which you are getting paid which is teaching IN-PERSON.

The entire premise of this post is untrue. Two years ago teachers were absolutely not treated with respect and as if they were fulfilling a noble calling. They were severely underpaid relative to their level of education and responsibility, and they were called names constantly on these fora.

I'm not a teacher (though I'm related to a couple), and I have no particular dog in this fight. But, c'mon, let's at least be honest. All this BS about "teachers are vital public servants". Maybe if we had been treating them like that over the last few decades, things would be different now.

Teachers are well paid for their education level and the amount of days worked in a year. If they weren’t, there wouldn’t be people willing to work as teachers. Some teaching jobs are harder to fill than others because the work is harder or the private sector pays better. There should be a system to pay those teachers more but overall? Teachers’ compensation and benefits package are generous.

In this area, if it were spread out to a full work year, they would be comparable to Feds with a si par education level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wish I could tell whether this article is wise advice or just another UMC professional working from home who is sick of having his children underfoot (I googled — he has two children). In this debate it is so hard to separate the message from the messenger. People are more than happy to embrace risk when it’s not a risk to them personally.

How is that parents aren't undertaking any risk? I hear this a lot. If their kids go to school and get COVID, there's a high chance they might pass it on to their parents. Parents are at risk. Interhousehold transmission is high.

I think your point is that parents are willing to take that risk because they will derive a clear and significant benefit from it -- namely a huge increase in the quality of education of their children.

Teachers are not willing to take the risk because there's no such benefit to them, other than general society benefit. It's just human nature than that really isn't a motivating force like personal benefit.

Exactly this. There's no upside for teachers to go to work.

The “upside” to teachers to do their jobs should be that they get paid, and if they don’t do their jobs then they don’t get paid. The requirements of their jobs are clearly described in their employment contracts, and don’t involve sitting at home all day in their pajamas collecting full pay.

They could have offered some new positions to certain teachers for the DL stuff, at half pay. Some people would have done it, and some not. That’s fine. They could have grouped more kids together for the distance “learning”. But teachers should only have been getting full pay for doing their actual job.

You are incorrect that it appears anywhere in our job description to teach in school buildings during a crisis. Teachers will not be accepting half pay because the government has entirely neglected to do THEIR job and control the pandemic. Other countries have done so, and are now returning to normal. The US continues to spiral out of control and experience death and devastation on a staggering scale.

Teachers aren’t going to take the fall for this, although it would be convenient for the inept governors, senators, congressman, and president to push us all back to the buildings so the economy can thrive. The economy never provides for education. IDEA has never been funded-its just a huge unfounded mandate that government threw at our feet. Teachers are never relieved of the burden of purchasing their own supplies and materials in a boom economy. School buildings are in disrepair, without modern ventilation, technology, or sufficient plumbing. Education budgets are slashed again and again as politicians talk about making “tough choices” while giving tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations.

Enough with the “sitting at home in their pajamas” vitriol that is reserved for teachers and not the rest of the remote economy. Parents complain that teachers aren’t doing their jobs while bemoaning the difficulties of managing their own zoom meetings while supervising their kids. I thought you were just relaxing in your pjs? Anyone with half a brain should be able to ensure their children aren’t playing Fortnite during math class if that’s all they’re doing.

Keep rambling. Meanwhile, countless essential workers have been working in-person this entire time — myself included.

if you think a teacher is essential like a doctor - many have the same years of education and training - then pay her like you pay a doctor!!!

Did you just say some teachers have education comparable to doctors? Oh my god you people are insane.

You weren’t aware teachers did 11-12 years of post college training?

[Anonymous]

^^ sorry. Post HS. Need coffee

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wish I could tell whether this article is wise advice or just another UMC professional working from home who is sick of having his children underfoot (I googled — he has two children). In this debate it is so hard to separate the message from the messenger. People are more than happy to embrace risk when it’s not a risk to them personally.

How is that parents aren't undertaking any risk? I hear this a lot. If their kids go to school and get COVID, there's a high chance they might pass it on to their parents. Parents are at risk. Interhousehold transmission is high.

I think your point is that parents are willing to take that risk because they will derive a clear and significant benefit from it -- namely a huge increase in the quality of education of their children.

Teachers are not willing to take the risk because there's no such benefit to them, other than general society benefit. It's just human nature than that really isn't a motivating force like personal benefit.

Exactly this. There's no upside for teachers to go to work.

The “upside” to teachers to do their jobs should be that they get paid, and if they don’t do their jobs then they don’t get paid. The requirements of their jobs are clearly described in their employment contracts, and don’t involve sitting at home all day in their pajamas collecting full pay.

They could have offered some new positions to certain teachers for the DL stuff, at half pay. Some people would have done it, and some not. That’s fine. They could have grouped more kids together for the distance “learning”. But teachers should only have been getting full pay for doing their actual job.

You are incorrect that it appears anywhere in our job description to teach in school buildings during a crisis. Teachers will not be accepting half pay because the government has entirely neglected to do THEIR job and control the pandemic. Other countries have done so, and are now returning to normal. The US continues to spiral out of control and experience death and devastation on a staggering scale.

Teachers aren’t going to take the fall for this, although it would be convenient for the inept governors, senators, congressman, and president to push us all back to the buildings so the economy can thrive. The economy never provides for education. IDEA has never been funded-its just a huge unfounded mandate that government threw at our feet. Teachers are never relieved of the burden of purchasing their own supplies and materials in a boom economy. School buildings are in disrepair, without modern ventilation, technology, or sufficient plumbing. Education budgets are slashed again and again as politicians talk about making “tough choices” while giving tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations.

Enough with the “sitting at home in their pajamas” vitriol that is reserved for teachers and not the rest of the remote economy. Parents complain that teachers aren’t doing their jobs while bemoaning the difficulties of managing their own zoom meetings while supervising their kids. I thought you were just relaxing in your pjs? Anyone with half a brain should be able to ensure their children aren’t playing Fortnite during math class if that’s all they’re doing.

Keep rambling. Meanwhile, countless essential workers have been working in-person this entire time — myself included.

if you think a teacher is essential like a doctor - many have the same years of education and training - then pay her like you pay a doctor!!!

Did you just say some teachers have education comparable to doctors? Oh my god you people are insane.

You weren’t aware teachers did 11-12 years of post college training?

If you did that many years post hs to become a qualified k-12 educator, then you must have been a poor student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is if they accept a vaccine

I don’t have to be forced? This is not N. Korea? You need childcare? Yet you won’t leave your 6 figure earning undeservedly bonus bearing job to become a teacher? So, just kinda like, sort of STFU?

Excuse me? So your logic is that, unless we all become teachers, we have no right to judge? And yet ... wait for it ... you judge us?

So, just kinda like, sort of STFU?

[Anonymous]

I wonder if this teacher, who is teaching children in the London Underground during WWII because it was unsafe to be above ground, would be complaining about having to put on a mask and teach during COVID.