Teachers in my district leaving mid year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm on the verge of leaving. My retirement amount will be greatly reduced. We'll deal with that as a family (and I'll find some other kind of job, with less pay and less vacation time). It just doesn't matter anymore as much. Even the golden handcuffs can be cut off when the price is too high to stay.

I mean school is just for 180 days a year, and at least my kid's teachers are out a few days a month. They'd be pressed to work 160 days total. Meanwhile, int he real world the rest of us work 50-60 hour weeks for 260-270 days a year, but I guess the grass is always greener.

180 days for students is 190 or 210 days for adults.

An 8-hour day of teaching equals a 12-hour day of teaching plus planning/grading.

Remove your head from your butt.
It is not a hat.

Thank you for this!
Signed - a teacher who took a rare Saturday off to go to a college football game. I’ll suffer for it on Monday because I can’t get all my grading and planning done in just one day (Sunday).

Long time teacher here and it pains me to read about teachers dedicating their entire weekend to grading and planning. I totally understand that you want to feel prepared for class, but when teachers put this much of their own time into their work, it enables the school system to continue to pile on unnecessary meetings and trainings, because everything is still getting done. Can you have an honest discussion with your admin about the work load? I have been teaching a long time, which helps, but I work contract hours and that is pretty much it. I work very hard while I am at school, but I leave at the end of the day and don't think about it at home. I don't want to burn out before I retire, so I am fiercely protective of my private time and keep tight boundaries. I would encourage other teachers to try to do the same. No job at our salary level is worth giving up weekends.

I am not a teacher, but yes!! Do what you can do in the hours you are paid to do it. And then say “sorry, can’t do more, I have a life”

I do this. I go in an hour early get what I can done. Leave on time and I don't check emails once I leave. I have a family that needs me. I check email once on Sundays to see whats ahead from my admin but communication with families waits until Monday-unless it's something super important but most can absolutely wait. My day starts at 8 and ends at 4:35 then I go home and do my most important job be a parent.

You aren’t doing this if you are going in an hour early.

Literally nothing would get done. There is so much. And for me this is a huge change because I use to work on weekends and answer emails at night. None of that happens so baby steps but trust me I've cut a lot out.

Maybe that’s what needs to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teachers at my schools always say, "What, are they going to fire us?" when we don't meet these insane BS deadlines. Do they understand we don't sit at a desk all day like the ones making the decisions? The planning, grading, etc usually occurs after hours due to the crazy BS meetings that eat up what little planning time we have. Some of my colleagues volunteer to sub during planning for a teacher who is out that day. I don't so I can pick up my kids at daycare by 5pm and not have to pay extra for the hour between 5-6pm.

You are right. I just said this recently-it's not a desk job. We can't go to our office and close a door to get all the paperwork done. Things have to change for teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm on the verge of leaving. My retirement amount will be greatly reduced. We'll deal with that as a family (and I'll find some other kind of job, with less pay and less vacation time). It just doesn't matter anymore as much. Even the golden handcuffs can be cut off when the price is too high to stay.

I mean school is just for 180 days a year, and at least my kid's teachers are out a few days a month. They'd be pressed to work 160 days total. Meanwhile, int he real world the rest of us work 50-60 hour weeks for 260-270 days a year, but I guess the grass is always greener.

180 days for students is 190 or 210 days for adults.

An 8-hour day of teaching equals a 12-hour day of teaching plus planning/grading.

Remove your head from your butt.
It is not a hat.

Thank you for this!
Signed - a teacher who took a rare Saturday off to go to a college football game. I’ll suffer for it on Monday because I can’t get all my grading and planning done in just one day (Sunday).

Long time teacher here and it pains me to read about teachers dedicating their entire weekend to grading and planning. I totally understand that you want to feel prepared for class, but when teachers put this much of their own time into their work, it enables the school system to continue to pile on unnecessary meetings and trainings, because everything is still getting done. Can you have an honest discussion with your admin about the work load? I have been teaching a long time, which helps, but I work contract hours and that is pretty much it. I work very hard while I am at school, but I leave at the end of the day and don't think about it at home. I don't want to burn out before I retire, so I am fiercely protective of my private time and keep tight boundaries. I would encourage other teachers to try to do the same. No job at our salary level is worth giving up weekends.

I am not a teacher, but yes!! Do what you can do in the hours you are paid to do it. And then say “sorry, can’t do more, I have a life”

I do this. I go in an hour early get what I can done. Leave on time and I don't check emails once I leave. I have a family that needs me. I check email once on Sundays to see whats ahead from my admin but communication with families waits until Monday-unless it's something super important but most can absolutely wait. My day starts at 8 and ends at 4:35 then I go home and do my most important job be a parent.

You aren’t doing this if you are going in an hour early.

Literally nothing would get done. There is so much. And for me this is a huge change because I use to work on weekends and answer emails at night. None of that happens so baby steps but trust me I've cut a lot out.

Maybe that’s what needs to happen.

yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers at my schools always say, "What, are they going to fire us?" when we don't meet these insane BS deadlines. Do they understand we don't sit at a desk all day like the ones making the decisions? The planning, grading, etc usually occurs after hours due to the crazy BS meetings that eat up what little planning time we have. Some of my colleagues volunteer to sub during planning for a teacher who is out that day. I don't so I can pick up my kids at daycare by 5pm and not have to pay extra for the hour between 5-6pm.

You are right. I just said this recently-it's not a desk job. We can't go to our office and close a door to get all the paperwork done. Things have to change for teachers.

Why don't administrators care about these working conditions? Why do they stay silent?

Maybe it's just the nature of social media, but teachers' valid complaints about working conditions tend to pit parents against them when there is little parents can do to change these unreasonable administrative demands. Instead of individual teachers telling parents on social media that they are unreasonable to want teachers to stay a full year or grade or communicate timely, why don't administrators own these problems and address them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers at my schools always say, "What, are they going to fire us?" when we don't meet these insane BS deadlines. Do they understand we don't sit at a desk all day like the ones making the decisions? The planning, grading, etc usually occurs after hours due to the crazy BS meetings that eat up what little planning time we have. Some of my colleagues volunteer to sub during planning for a teacher who is out that day. I don't so I can pick up my kids at daycare by 5pm and not have to pay extra for the hour between 5-6pm.

You are right. I just said this recently-it's not a desk job. We can't go to our office and close a door to get all the paperwork done. Things have to change for teachers.

Why don't administrators care about these working conditions? Why do they stay silent?

Maybe it's just the nature of social media, but teachers' valid complaints about working conditions tend to pit parents against them when there is little parents can do to change these unreasonable administrative demands. Instead of individual teachers telling parents on social media that they are unreasonable to want teachers to stay a full year or grade or communicate timely, why don't administrators own these problems and address them?

They can’t do anything about these conditions because they aren’t the ones requiring most of the BS busywork. It comes from higher up and those people are still working from home most of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers at my schools always say, "What, are they going to fire us?" when we don't meet these insane BS deadlines. Do they understand we don't sit at a desk all day like the ones making the decisions? The planning, grading, etc usually occurs after hours due to the crazy BS meetings that eat up what little planning time we have. Some of my colleagues volunteer to sub during planning for a teacher who is out that day. I don't so I can pick up my kids at daycare by 5pm and not have to pay extra for the hour between 5-6pm.

You are right. I just said this recently-it's not a desk job. We can't go to our office and close a door to get all the paperwork done. Things have to change for teachers.

Why don't administrators care about these working conditions? Why do they stay silent?

Maybe it's just the nature of social media, but teachers' valid complaints about working conditions tend to pit parents against them when there is little parents can do to change these unreasonable administrative demands. Instead of individual teachers telling parents on social media that they are unreasonable to want teachers to stay a full year or grade or communicate timely, why don't administrators own these problems and address them?

DP
Workload is just one reason I’m three years “early” turning in my retirement notice this winter and there is plenty I could write about workload.

I’m tired of walking on eggshells around administrators. Heaven forbid there would be a student who is talking in the hallway or doesn’t know what to say when someone comes into the room and quizzes multiple students with the question, “Do you know what you are supposed to be doing?” I’m tired of being blamed when a student does not meet expectations for behavior. It must have been because I didn’t built the appropriate relationship with the child. I’m expected to be able to see what every student does at all times. If the principal walks into the classroom and I have started my intervention block that was supposed to start 5 minutes ago, I better have a good reason why.

[Anonymous]

Unpopular opinion: It is completely impossible to educate children in any way close to how public schools operate. It is economically unsustainable to provide what is expected

Another unpopular opinion: The root cause of ALL of these issues is a breakdown of society/culture...beginning with the parents.


Flame away

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers at my schools always say, "What, are they going to fire us?" when we don't meet these insane BS deadlines. Do they understand we don't sit at a desk all day like the ones making the decisions? The planning, grading, etc usually occurs after hours due to the crazy BS meetings that eat up what little planning time we have. Some of my colleagues volunteer to sub during planning for a teacher who is out that day. I don't so I can pick up my kids at daycare by 5pm and not have to pay extra for the hour between 5-6pm.

You are right. I just said this recently-it's not a desk job. We can't go to our office and close a door to get all the paperwork done. Things have to change for teachers.

Why don't administrators care about these working conditions? Why do they stay silent?

Maybe it's just the nature of social media, but teachers' valid complaints about working conditions tend to pit parents against them when there is little parents can do to change these unreasonable administrative demands. Instead of individual teachers telling parents on social media that they are unreasonable to want teachers to stay a full year or grade or communicate timely, why don't administrators own these problems and address them?

They can’t do anything about these conditions because they aren’t the ones requiring most of the BS busywork. It comes from higher up and those people are still working from home most of the time.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers at my schools always say, "What, are they going to fire us?" when we don't meet these insane BS deadlines. Do they understand we don't sit at a desk all day like the ones making the decisions? The planning, grading, etc usually occurs after hours due to the crazy BS meetings that eat up what little planning time we have. Some of my colleagues volunteer to sub during planning for a teacher who is out that day. I don't so I can pick up my kids at daycare by 5pm and not have to pay extra for the hour between 5-6pm.

You are right. I just said this recently-it's not a desk job. We can't go to our office and close a door to get all the paperwork done. Things have to change for teachers.

Why don't administrators care about these working conditions? Why do they stay silent?

Maybe it's just the nature of social media, but teachers' valid complaints about working conditions tend to pit parents against them when there is little parents can do to change these unreasonable administrative demands. Instead of individual teachers telling parents on social media that they are unreasonable to want teachers to stay a full year or grade or communicate timely, why don't administrators own these problems and address them?

DP
Workload is just one reason I’m three years “early” turning in my retirement notice this winter and there is plenty I could write about workload.

I’m tired of walking on eggshells around administrators. Heaven forbid there would be a student who is talking in the hallway or doesn’t know what to say when someone comes into the room and quizzes multiple students with the question, “Do you know what you are supposed to be doing?” I’m tired of being blamed when a student does not meet expectations for behavior. It must have been because I didn’t built the appropriate relationship with the child. I’m expected to be able to see what every student does at all times. If the principal walks into the classroom and I have started my intervention block that was supposed to start 5 minutes ago, I better have a good reason why.

Teacher here.

Perhaps it’s time for us to move to a model in which administrators still teach. Perhaps each administrator should teach just a class or two.

I’m an experienced teacher. I feel observations would carry more weight if they came from administrators who still taught. I get observed by administrators who taught 3-4 years before jumping to assistant principal. If they still taught and gained experience themselves, observations would feel more legitimate. Admin would also feel the pressure for TIME that teachers feel. I floated this idea once and was told admin doesn’t have enough time to take on a class, yet I’m expected to have time for every extra task thrown my way.

Now that I think about it, this simple change could keep me in teaching a while longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular opinion: It is completely impossible to educate children in any way close to how public schools operate. It is economically unsustainable to provide what is expected

Another unpopular opinion: The root cause of ALL of these issues is a breakdown of society/culture...beginning with the parents.


Flame away

It is unpopular but there is truth in it.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps it’s time for us to move to a model in which administrators still teach. Perhaps each administrator should teach just a class or two.

I’m an experienced teacher. I feel observations would carry more weight if they came from administrators who still taught. I get observed by administrators who taught 3-4 years before jumping to assistant principal. If they still taught and gained experience themselves, observations would feel more legitimate. Admin would also feel the pressure for TIME that teachers feel. I floated this idea once and was told admin doesn’t have enough time to take on a class, yet I’m expected to have time for every extra task thrown my way.

This is so true. Especially since at this point in my career, I have seen many teachers who I mentored and worked with and KNOW they were not particularly stellar in the classroom move into leadership roles where they are judging and instructing teachers. I think administrators need to stay aware of the challenges and stresses in some way. I think this is doubly true of all the facilitators our schools now employ, who often serve as mini-administrators who pile more work on teachers without themselves being in touch with life in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Admin or head teachers still teach in many parts of the world. It keeps things real for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Admin or head teachers still teach in many parts of the world. It keeps things real for them.

Excellent point. I have a friend who teaches in Europe. Her school is run by a committee of master teachers. They all teach half schedules and share administrative duties. I’d love to see American systems transition to this model.

Many of the complaints (the excessive duties, sub coverage, mandated meetings, required paperwork) would probably lesson or disappear once administrators were held to the same expectations as teachers. As you said… it would keep things real for those in charge of schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Admin or head teachers still teach in many parts of the world. It keeps things real for them.

Excellent point. I have a friend who teaches in Europe. Her school is run by a committee of master teachers. They all teach half schedules and share administrative duties. I’d love to see American systems transition to this model.

Many of the complaints (the excessive duties, sub coverage, mandated meetings, required paperwork) would probably lesson or disappear once administrators were held to the same expectations as teachers. As you said… it would keep things real for those in charge of schools.

YUP! I am an experienced teacher and have decided not to pursue admin because I am worried I would lose touch with the classroom and that classroom teachers need experienced voices speaking for them. If this were a model, I would definitely sign up. I also would miss the kids if I were only admin, but the blend of classroom and administration would be perfect. THIS is the way to fix our teacher shortage and working conditions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Admin or head teachers still teach in many parts of the world. It keeps things real for them.

Excellent point. I have a friend who teaches in Europe. Her school is run by a committee of master teachers. They all teach half schedules and share administrative duties. I’d love to see American systems transition to this model.

Many of the complaints (the excessive duties, sub coverage, mandated meetings, required paperwork) would probably lesson or disappear once administrators were held to the same expectations as teachers. As you said… it would keep things real for those in charge of schools.

YUP! I am an experienced teacher and have decided not to pursue admin because I am worried I would lose touch with the classroom and that classroom teachers need experienced voices speaking for them. If this were a model, I would definitely sign up. I also would miss the kids if I were only admin, but the blend of classroom and administration would be perfect. THIS is the way to fix our teacher shortage and working conditions.

I’m the PP. I’ve been thinking about this for the past several years, but I’m even more in support of this idea since the teacher shortage is getting worse. It really does fix several problems simultaneously: more authentic and useful observations, more teachers in classrooms, more people to “share the wealth” with the school’s tasks, less “us vs. them” mentality between teachers and admin, etc. It also solves the problem about no upward mobility for teachers. Becoming administration is effectively leaving teaching. Many of us want to progress in our career, but we don’t want to leave it. Having a committee of master teachers running the school would create an upward trajectory for teachers. It’s win-win-win.