APS cancels Summer school for many previously qualified students due to lack of staffing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physician here. An essential worker is an essential! If you want to be in job that isn’t important , requires dedication and sacrifice and very necessary, then don’t be a teacher. I never once complained that my employer asked me go to VHC to take care of Covid patients. I never questioned anyones intentions. I took the proper precautions , followed CDD guidelines and did my job. I am still alive and kicking. There was no need for closing schools and hiding. Everyone who was essential needed to rise up, wear PPE, gloves and work. We are supposed to be in a different class all together and it’s sad teachers didn’t understand that but every other essential worker did. Sorry to break it to you...masks actually work and that was all that was really needed. That is the truth the private schools teachers and the rest of the public schools systems knew already.

What does your comment have to do with summer school? You’re compensated well for your work, right? What do you actually know about summer school pay? What do you suggest I do with my own children? WHY do you think I had anything to do with schools being closed (although for the record, I agree it as the right move in the fall)? I was incredibly disappointed at my own children’s VHC pediatrician going to the school board and talking about depression, obesity- all of these things that yes, schools could help, but also, I’m sorry- good parenting. I hope Dr. Wu really cares about these kids and tells their over scheduling, anxious guardians that’s time to try to understand WHY their kids collapsed and others didn’t.

Do NOT say that depression is cured with good parenting. Just stop.

I’m just saying schools can’t be responsible for everything. He listed a bunch of things that have nothing to do with education, so I wonder why he doesn’t use his position as a pediatrician to talk to parents, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physician here. An essential worker is an essential! If you want to be in job that isn’t important , requires dedication and sacrifice and very necessary, then don’t be a teacher. I never once complained that my employer asked me go to VHC to take care of Covid patients. I never questioned anyones intentions. I took the proper precautions , followed CDD guidelines and did my job. I am still alive and kicking. There was no need for closing schools and hiding. Everyone who was essential needed to rise up, wear PPE, gloves and work. We are supposed to be in a different class all together and it’s sad teachers didn’t understand that but every other essential worker did. Sorry to break it to you...masks actually work and that was all that was really needed. That is the truth the private schools teachers and the rest of the public schools systems knew already.

What does your comment have to do with summer school? You’re compensated well for your work, right? What do you actually know about summer school pay? What do you suggest I do with my own children? WHY do you think I had anything to do with schools being closed (although for the record, I agree it as the right move in the fall)? I was incredibly disappointed at my own children’s VHC pediatrician going to the school board and talking about depression, obesity- all of these things that yes, schools could help, but also, I’m sorry- good parenting. I hope Dr. Wu really cares about these kids and tells their over scheduling, anxious guardians that’s time to try to understand WHY their kids collapsed and others didn’t.

Do NOT say that depression is cured with good parenting. Just stop.

I’m just saying schools can’t be responsible for everything. He listed a bunch of things that have nothing to do with education, so I wonder why he doesn’t use his position as a pediatrician to talk to parents, too.

Instead of catering to the loud ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physician here. An essential worker is an essential! If you want to be in job that isn’t important , requires dedication and sacrifice and very necessary, then don’t be a teacher. I never once complained that my employer asked me go to VHC to take care of Covid patients. I never questioned anyones intentions. I took the proper precautions , followed CDD guidelines and did my job. I am still alive and kicking. There was no need for closing schools and hiding. Everyone who was essential needed to rise up, wear PPE, gloves and work. We are supposed to be in a different class all together and it’s sad teachers didn’t understand that but every other essential worker did. Sorry to break it to you...masks actually work and that was all that was really needed. That is the truth the private schools teachers and the rest of the public schools systems knew already.

Perhaps APS should pay them physician’s wages then.

As a teacher, I’m completely offended by this comparison. A doctor having to work during a pandemic? Yes. You chose that. A teacher having to teach during the summer? No. I chose my profession because I love children, but I also wanted to have my own, and it is conducive to having a family. Anyone that knows teachers, knows we make up for it by putting in long hours during the school year, and should not resent this choice.

And I don’t know that this physician understands education, or teaching and learning. I don’t know that I believe that summer school is essential for all kids. I think in some cases, it just may kill their joy and enthusiasm for learning altogether.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physician here. An essential worker is an essential! If you want to be in job that isn’t important , requires dedication and sacrifice and very necessary, then don’t be a teacher. I never once complained that my employer asked me go to VHC to take care of Covid patients. I never questioned anyones intentions. I took the proper precautions , followed CDD guidelines and did my job. I am still alive and kicking. There was no need for closing schools and hiding. Everyone who was essential needed to rise up, wear PPE, gloves and work. We are supposed to be in a different class all together and it’s sad teachers didn’t understand that but every other essential worker did. Sorry to break it to you...masks actually work and that was all that was really needed. That is the truth the private schools teachers and the rest of the public schools systems knew already.

Perhaps APS should pay them physician’s wages then.

Perhaps teachers’ degrees should be harder to obtain. As it stands, it’s one of the easiest degrees to get.

PP is a physician, but I am a nurse that also had to go in. Hospital custodians, and hell, even Costco workers, went to work without complaint. The entire time.
Without sufficient PPE. Was it stressful? Absolutely! But we are essential workers, just as teachers are.

So cut the crap about having “the worst year ever”. It’s a bit tone deaf when WE ALL HAVE HAD THE FIRST YEAR EVER.

Or fine, take the summer break, and then don’t ever complain about your low salaries ever again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physician here. An essential worker is an essential! If you want to be in job that isn’t important , requires dedication and sacrifice and very necessary, then don’t be a teacher. I never once complained that my employer asked me go to VHC to take care of Covid patients. I never questioned anyones intentions. I took the proper precautions , followed CDD guidelines and did my job. I am still alive and kicking. There was no need for closing schools and hiding. Everyone who was essential needed to rise up, wear PPE, gloves and work. We are supposed to be in a different class all together and it’s sad teachers didn’t understand that but every other essential worker did. Sorry to break it to you...masks actually work and that was all that was really needed. That is the truth the private schools teachers and the rest of the public schools systems knew already.

Perhaps APS should pay them physician’s wages then.

Perhaps teachers’ degrees should be harder to obtain. As it stands, it’s one of the easiest degrees to get.

PP is a physician, but I am a nurse that also had to go in. Hospital custodians, and hell, even Costco workers, went to work without complaint. The entire time.
Without sufficient PPE. Was it stressful? Absolutely! But we are essential workers, just as teachers are.

So cut the crap about having “the worst year ever”. It’s a bit tone deaf when WE ALL HAVE HAD THE FIRST YEAR EVER.

Or fine, take the summer break, and then don’t ever complain about your low salaries ever again.

*WORST

Stupid autocorrect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I think many of us are just over this constant shit storm. No one wins, but someone has to take one for the team, and while teachers shouldn't have to work summer (it's in the contract) it's just more shit on parents and families who have yet another thing reneged on.

There are families at all levels who would have been planning for summer school, making their care arrangements and other plans around it. To have it taken away when there are few other alternatives for the summer now is incredibly insensitive. It's the same problem with the school year in that parents keep being strung along and having everything pulled from under them at the last minute. Yes, there are teachers with families who might not be inclined to work this summer, when their salary won't cover the cost of camps, but APS SHOULD HAVE FIGURED THIS THE f*** OUT!

How hard is that? Bonuses didn't work? Did you offer child care? Did you offer to start new, graduating teachers this summer early to meet need? J-1 Visas? Make it work. I think that's all we were asking. The rest of us have to make it work.

At my job, we worked this whole time with no vaccine. I'm DoD and civilians were dead last to be offered vaccines, even though we had to go to work this whole time in person in some capacity. We currently work shifts starting at 0400 to keep the numbers low in our facility, so I have little sympathy for APS to not get it's shit together and make it work. We all have our sacrifices to keep our jobs and school not working the way it should has already cost some people their careers.

We're all fried. Everyone. As tax payers, we expect the school system to work for us. I think APS knows that we can't all go private (unless there are dozens of new private schools opening). A 7% loss of students is a big deal and it's the students with means who are leaving.

I'm just disappointed for the families who were counting on summer school to educate their kids and now need a place for them to go when most camps cut numbers and are full. I'm so thankful we weren't even entertaining summer school.

I mean - I also work there and honestly don't know a single person who isn't looking for a new job and trying to quit, because of how we were treated. Just like I don't know any teachers who are signing up to teach summer school for pennies after being treated they way they have been this past year. The lessen here isn't be more like D** The lesson is that labor is finite resource that has to be properly compensated and treated with some minimal amount of respect. Or you will lose them. People vote with their feet. Always.

The problem is, who will hire you? I would never, ever consider hiring a former teacher after this year.

And what else can be done with an elementary education degree? LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friends who bailed for private tell me that they are also getting summer enrichment. I feel like a fool.

I mean, they are paying for that. There are other options for summer enrichment for all kids, you just have to pay!

APS summer school is—was?—free?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did you all expect to happen? Harangue and harass teachers all year and this is what you get.

According to Duran's email, he's blaming the teachers too. They got it from both sides.

Do you mind posting the email?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think many of us are just over this constant shit storm. No one wins, but someone has to take one for the team, and while teachers shouldn't have to work summer (it's in the contract) it's just more shit on parents and families who have yet another thing reneged on.

There are families at all levels who would have been planning for summer school, making their care arrangements and other plans around it. To have it taken away when there are few other alternatives for the summer now is incredibly insensitive. It's the same problem with the school year in that parents keep being strung along and having everything pulled from under them at the last minute. Yes, there are teachers with families who might not be inclined to work this summer, when their salary won't cover the cost of camps, but APS SHOULD HAVE FIGURED THIS THE f*** OUT!

How hard is that? Bonuses didn't work? Did you offer child care? Did you offer to start new, graduating teachers this summer early to meet need? J-1 Visas? Make it work. I think that's all we were asking. The rest of us have to make it work.

At my job, we worked this whole time with no vaccine. I'm DoD and civilians were dead last to be offered vaccines, even though we had to go to work this whole time in person in some capacity. We currently work shifts starting at 0400 to keep the numbers low in our facility, so I have little sympathy for APS to not get it's shit together and make it work. We all have our sacrifices to keep our jobs and school not working the way it should has already cost some people their careers.

We're all fried. Everyone. As tax payers, we expect the school system to work for us. I think APS knows that we can't all go private (unless there are dozens of new private schools opening). A 7% loss of students is a big deal and it's the students with means who are leaving.

I'm just disappointed for the families who were counting on summer school to educate their kids and now need a place for them to go when most camps cut numbers and are full. I'm so thankful we weren't even entertaining summer school.

I mean - I also work there and honestly don't know a single person who isn't looking for a new job and trying to quit, because of how we were treated. Just like I don't know any teachers who are signing up to teach summer school for pennies after being treated they way they have been this past year. The lessen here isn't be more like D** The lesson is that labor is finite resource that has to be properly compensated and treated with some minimal amount of respect. Or you will lose them. People vote with their feet. Always.

The problem is, who will hire you? I would never, ever consider hiring a former teacher after this year.

And what else can be done with an elementary education degree? LOL

That’s the dumbest statement ever. DH left teaching in March and now earns much more, plus has a better work life balance.

After the first few years, teachers have degrees beyond their undergrad and increasingly, even novice teachers were not education majors, but rather alt cert. this means a more widely marketable degree and sometimes advanced degrees. But as for those elementary ed degrees: A friend’s DD graduated last spring, has Type 1 diabetes, and was advised to avoid classrooms. She was hired by a textbook company. She earns almost twice a starting teacher’s salary in her district. That’s one other thing that can be done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physician here. An essential worker is an essential! If you want to be in job that isn’t important , requires dedication and sacrifice and very necessary, then don’t be a teacher. I never once complained that my employer asked me go to VHC to take care of Covid patients. I never questioned anyones intentions. I took the proper precautions , followed CDD guidelines and did my job. I am still alive and kicking. There was no need for closing schools and hiding. Everyone who was essential needed to rise up, wear PPE, gloves and work. We are supposed to be in a different class all together and it’s sad teachers didn’t understand that but every other essential worker did. Sorry to break it to you...masks actually work and that was all that was really needed. That is the truth the private schools teachers and the rest of the public schools systems knew already.

Perhaps APS should pay them physician’s wages then.

Perhaps teachers’ degrees should be harder to obtain. As it stands, it’s one of the easiest degrees to get.

PP is a physician, but I am a nurse that also had to go in. Hospital custodians, and hell, even Costco workers, went to work without complaint. The entire time.
Without sufficient PPE. Was it stressful? Absolutely! But we are essential workers, just as teachers are.

So cut the crap about having “the worst year ever”. It’s a bit tone deaf when WE ALL HAVE HAD THE FIRST YEAR EVER.

Or fine, take the summer break, and then don’t ever complain about your low salaries ever again.

They didn’t go in without complaint. Be clear. You’re literally here complaining that you, a nurse, had to handle a health crisis. Teachers did not ever sign up to teach in summer and don’t get paid to. It’s not the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physician here. An essential worker is an essential! If you want to be in job that isn’t important , requires dedication and sacrifice and very necessary, then don’t be a teacher. I never once complained that my employer asked me go to VHC to take care of Covid patients. I never questioned anyones intentions. I took the proper precautions , followed CDD guidelines and did my job. I am still alive and kicking. There was no need for closing schools and hiding. Everyone who was essential needed to rise up, wear PPE, gloves and work. We are supposed to be in a different class all together and it’s sad teachers didn’t understand that but every other essential worker did. Sorry to break it to you...masks actually work and that was all that was really needed. That is the truth the private schools teachers and the rest of the public schools systems knew already.

Perhaps APS should pay them physician’s wages then.

Perhaps teachers’ degrees should be harder to obtain. As it stands, it’s one of the easiest degrees to get.

PP is a physician, but I am a nurse that also had to go in. Hospital custodians, and hell, even Costco workers, went to work without complaint. The entire time.
Without sufficient PPE. Was it stressful? Absolutely! But we are essential workers, just as teachers are.

So cut the crap about having “the worst year ever”. It’s a bit tone deaf when WE ALL HAVE HAD THE FIRST YEAR EVER.

Or fine, take the summer break, and then don’t ever complain about your low salaries ever again.

They didn’t go in without complaint. Be clear. You’re literally here complaining that you, a nurse, had to handle a health crisis. Teachers did not ever sign up to teach in summer and don’t get paid to. It’s not the same.

Exactly. The indignant self-righteous nurse contingent on DCUM has done nothing BUT complain that they, medical.professionals, were forced to work in person during a pandemic of a virus while others could and did work from home (which yes, teachers could and did, no matter how many tantrums parents threw shrieking UNACCEPTABLE!!

If nurses weren't prepared for that possibility in nursing school, they should get a refund, and leave teachers the hell alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think many of us are just over this constant shit storm. No one wins, but someone has to take one for the team, and while teachers shouldn't have to work summer (it's in the contract) it's just more shit on parents and families who have yet another thing reneged on.

There are families at all levels who would have been planning for summer school, making their care arrangements and other plans around it. To have it taken away when there are few other alternatives for the summer now is incredibly insensitive. It's the same problem with the school year in that parents keep being strung along and having everything pulled from under them at the last minute. Yes, there are teachers with families who might not be inclined to work this summer, when their salary won't cover the cost of camps, but APS SHOULD HAVE FIGURED THIS THE f*** OUT!

How hard is that? Bonuses didn't work? Did you offer child care? Did you offer to start new, graduating teachers this summer early to meet need? J-1 Visas? Make it work. I think that's all we were asking. The rest of us have to make it work.

At my job, we worked this whole time with no vaccine. I'm DoD and civilians were dead last to be offered vaccines, even though we had to go to work this whole time in person in some capacity. We currently work shifts starting at 0400 to keep the numbers low in our facility, so I have little sympathy for APS to not get it's shit together and make it work. We all have our sacrifices to keep our jobs and school not working the way it should has already cost some people their careers.

We're all fried. Everyone. As tax payers, we expect the school system to work for us. I think APS knows that we can't all go private (unless there are dozens of new private schools opening). A 7% loss of students is a big deal and it's the students with means who are leaving.

I'm just disappointed for the families who were counting on summer school to educate their kids and now need a place for them to go when most camps cut numbers and are full. I'm so thankful we weren't even entertaining summer school.

I mean - I also work there and honestly don't know a single person who isn't looking for a new job and trying to quit, because of how we were treated. Just like I don't know any teachers who are signing up to teach summer school for pennies after being treated they way they have been this past year. The lessen here isn't be more like D** The lesson is that labor is finite resource that has to be properly compensated and treated with some minimal amount of respect. Or you will lose them. People vote with their feet. Always.

The problem is, who will hire you? I would never, ever consider hiring a former teacher after this year.

And what else can be done with an elementary education degree? LOL

That’s the dumbest statement ever. DH left teaching in March and now earns much more, plus has a better work life balance.

After the first few years, teachers have degrees beyond their undergrad and increasingly, even novice teachers were not education majors, but rather alt cert. this means a more widely marketable degree and sometimes advanced degrees. But as for those elementary ed degrees: A friend’s DD graduated last spring, has Type 1 diabetes, and was advised to avoid classrooms. She was hired by a textbook company. She earns almost twice a starting teacher’s salary in her district. That’s one other thing that can be done.

+1. I have friends who left the classroom to work for Pearson, The College Board, became educational advocates, started private tutoring companies or worked as private tutors, became BCBAs, got fed government jobs, etc.

[Anonymous]

I had a colleague who had health issues but was denied P1 status. Started looking as soon as they were told they had to return and is now doing talent development for a large company and working from home. It’s pretty goofy to say in one breath there aren’t enough teachers to even staff summer school while also saying they can’t possibly get hired anywhere else. Obviously they can and do or districts wouldn’t be short employees.

[Anonymous]

Teachers are not well compensated compared to other college-degreed professionals. Stop saying they got 2 months off. We do, but without pay. They spread the measly pay over 12 months if you elect that but you aren't getting paid to not work.

If my spouse didn't make a very good living I could not afford to do this job, support my children, and live in this area.


https://www.epi.org/publication/teacher-pay-penalty-dips-but-persists-in-2019-public-school-teachers-earn-about-20-less-in-weekly-wages-than-nonteacher-college-graduates/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most people generally fault APS leadership and admin for this manufactured crisis. There is also resentment for teachers who were very vocal on social media with their Open Coffins Now rhetoric, etc.

Here is a nice and tidy summary of why parents are beyond frustrated and furious:

-APS March 2020: We're not going to teach new material, but we will get the kids caught back up with intense instruction next year.
-APS September 2020: We're going to shorten the school day and cut one day of instruction a week, but this will not affect instruction.
-APS November 2020: A lot more kids are failing, but we will identify kids at risk and reach out to them to get them caught up.
-APS February 2021: The kids are still failing, but we will offer summer school to everyone to make up for a lack of instruction this year.
-APS May 2021: We're not going to offer summer school to everyone who needs it.

And moaning about the achievement gap the whole time while every action they take exacerbates it

+1
Why some schools shortened the school day is still a puzzle...

I am 90% sure that schools said they shortened the school day so that kids would be on computers for less time and then it carried over to hybrid because the school day needed to be the same length as virtual.

I think they shortened the day without losing instructional time because they didn’t need as much time for transitions. Think about all the time “lost” to moving through the hallways. Probably adds up to that hour. Even in hybrid the kids aren’t moving classrooms at the ES level, so they didn’t need to add the time back in, and it also meant the concurrent model schedules matched up.