$5k bonus for MCPS general educators to become special educators

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Starting salary for teachers needs to be 85K, like in Finland. Only the very top secondary graduates are accepted into university schools of Education. Masters degree required. Parents held accountable for absentee students.

Every teacher I know (I quit after 6 years) want to say to the parent: Parent is a verb. Do your job like I do mine.

Teachers in other countries are also given more time at work to do the prep, planning, and grading. That’s an afterthought in the US. I spend over 90% of my day in front of students, so the clear expectation is that I spend every night grading and preparing for the next day. We should get AT LEAST half of our days to do the prep/planning/grading. I posted above that I’m no longer giving up weekends and I mean it. The stack of papers to grade remains on my desk. I’m no longer spending extra time going the extra mile, which means my lessons will be less engaging. I’m sorry, but the “your students will suffer” argument no longer works. I spent many years sacrificing my health and my family for this job. No more.

We have had teachers returning emails at all hours of the day and night. There are a few bad teachers but many spend nights/weekends on class prep and support. Its even worse with the lack of clear curriculum and text books where they have to make up their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Starting salary for teachers needs to be 85K, like in Finland. Only the very top secondary graduates are accepted into university schools of Education. Masters degree required. Parents held accountable for absentee students.

Every teacher I know (I quit after 6 years) want to say to the parent: Parent is a verb. Do your job like I do mine.

Teachers in other countries are also given more time at work to do the prep, planning, and grading. That’s an afterthought in the US. I spend over 90% of my day in front of students, so the clear expectation is that I spend every night grading and preparing for the next day. We should get AT LEAST half of our days to do the prep/planning/grading. I posted above that I’m no longer giving up weekends and I mean it. The stack of papers to grade remains on my desk. I’m no longer spending extra time going the extra mile, which means my lessons will be less engaging. I’m sorry, but the “your students will suffer” argument no longer works. I spent many years sacrificing my health and my family for this job. No more.

We have had teachers returning emails at all hours of the day and night. There are a few bad teachers but many spend nights/weekends on class prep and support. Its even worse with the lack of clear curriculum and text books where they have to make up their own.

Are you saying teachers who don’t cater to your whim are bad then? I used to be the teacher with email on my phone and would jump when a parent absurdly emails me at 2 am on a Saturday… no more. I’m done. Contract hours. I’ll email you when I get to it. Parents here have lost all privileges to my time and my sanity. You keep taking and taking with zero respect. Call us all victims if it makes you feel better. We are done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spent the summer watching my boyfriend work from home (we have the same educational background) and his life is so chill. He doesn’t have to deal with disgusting people like the parents here… he makes three times what I make. As pre service begins tomorrow and I read this bs on this thread, I’m asking myself wtf am I doing?? This is just straight abuse for abysmal pay when my life could be amazing.

Definitely no victim complex at all.

I’m the pp. victim? I’m a warrior for putting up with the bs I do from people like you. I’m not sitting around feeling sorry for myself, I was saying I finally woke up and realized most people don’t do this and put themselves through this. I’m not a victim. I will be leaving shortly so say goodbye to another teacher. You have yet again contributed to a teacher shortage. Don’t ever get it twisted again though. People do not think they are victims. They just recognize better. And you? You’re the worst. I hope you sincerely do a deep dive into who you are because right now? It isn’t it. I’d be embarrassed to be you.

[Anonymous]

My return email message clearly states I "read and return emails during my working hours 7am until 4pm when I am not teaching or planning. Emails are answered in the order in which they are received."

So yes, parents, it will take several days to get back to you. Or more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Starting salary for teachers needs to be 85K, like in Finland. Only the very top secondary graduates are accepted into university schools of Education. Masters degree required. Parents held accountable for absentee students.

Every teacher I know (I quit after 6 years) want to say to the parent: Parent is a verb. Do your job like I do mine.

Teachers in other countries are also given more time at work to do the prep, planning, and grading. That’s an afterthought in the US. I spend over 90% of my day in front of students, so the clear expectation is that I spend every night grading and preparing for the next day. We should get AT LEAST half of our days to do the prep/planning/grading. I posted above that I’m no longer giving up weekends and I mean it. The stack of papers to grade remains on my desk. I’m no longer spending extra time going the extra mile, which means my lessons will be less engaging. I’m sorry, but the “your students will suffer” argument no longer works. I spent many years sacrificing my health and my family for this job. No more.

In some European countries Wednesday is a full day or half day off for the students. It is a planning/working/meeting day for teachers. Yes, the kids stay in school for a longer school day but they (and teachers) get a full hour for lunch. Civilized!

[Anonymous]

My sister used to teach for a school district that decided not to open schools on Fridays to save money running the buildings and on school buses. The students stayed an extra hour each day for the other 4 days. Morale soared and the district saw the fewest departures from employees on record. No drop in academic success.

My sister was a SPED teacher and yes, she was paid a bit more than General Ed. Not enough to make anyone switch careers.

Work-life balance, people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Starting salary for teachers needs to be 85K, like in Finland. Only the very top secondary graduates are accepted into university schools of Education. Masters degree required. Parents held accountable for absentee students.

Every teacher I know (I quit after 6 years) want to say to the parent: Parent is a verb. Do your job like I do mine.

In Finland, all the teachers are white

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Starting salary for teachers needs to be 85K, like in Finland. Only the very top secondary graduates are accepted into university schools of Education. Masters degree required. Parents held accountable for absentee students.

Every teacher I know (I quit after 6 years) want to say to the parent: Parent is a verb. Do your job like I do mine.

In Finland, all the teachers are white

Kudos to you for spotting the systemic racism in Finland!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister used to teach for a school district that decided not to open schools on Fridays to save money running the buildings and on school buses. The students stayed an extra hour each day for the other 4 days. Morale soared and the district saw the fewest departures from employees on record. No drop in academic success.

My sister was a SPED teacher and yes, she was paid a bit more than General Ed. Not enough to make anyone switch careers.

Work-life balance, people.

Morale soared for the teachers, but not the working parents who suddenly needed to spend thousands of dollars a year on child care on Fridays.

How much support would there be for public schools if you tried that here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister used to teach for a school district that decided not to open schools on Fridays to save money running the buildings and on school buses. The students stayed an extra hour each day for the other 4 days. Morale soared and the district saw the fewest departures from employees on record. No drop in academic success.

My sister was a SPED teacher and yes, she was paid a bit more than General Ed. Not enough to make anyone switch careers.

Work-life balance, people.

Morale soared for the teachers, but not the working parents who suddenly needed to spend thousands of dollars a year on child care on Fridays.

How much support would there be for public schools if you tried that here?

Then school systems can provide some type of childcare situation on the 5th day. The teachers, who are not childcare providers, would still benefit from the planning/grading time built into the weekly schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister used to teach for a school district that decided not to open schools on Fridays to save money running the buildings and on school buses. The students stayed an extra hour each day for the other 4 days. Morale soared and the district saw the fewest departures from employees on record. No drop in academic success.

My sister was a SPED teacher and yes, she was paid a bit more than General Ed. Not enough to make anyone switch careers.

Work-life balance, people.

Morale soared for the teachers, but not the working parents who suddenly needed to spend thousands of dollars a year on child care on Fridays.

How much support would there be for public schools if you tried that here?

Its called parenting, so yes, they need to work it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Starting salary for teachers needs to be 85K, like in Finland. Only the very top secondary graduates are accepted into university schools of Education. Masters degree required. Parents held accountable for absentee students.

Every teacher I know (I quit after 6 years) want to say to the parent: Parent is a verb. Do your job like I do mine.

Teachers in other countries are also given more time at work to do the prep, planning, and grading. That’s an afterthought in the US. I spend over 90% of my day in front of students, so the clear expectation is that I spend every night grading and preparing for the next day. We should get AT LEAST half of our days to do the prep/planning/grading. I posted above that I’m no longer giving up weekends and I mean it. The stack of papers to grade remains on my desk. I’m no longer spending extra time going the extra mile, which means my lessons will be less engaging. I’m sorry, but the “your students will suffer” argument no longer works. I spent many years sacrificing my health and my family for this job. No more.

We have had teachers returning emails at all hours of the day and night. There are a few bad teachers but many spend nights/weekends on class prep and support. Its even worse with the lack of clear curriculum and text books where they have to make up their own.

Are you saying teachers who don’t cater to your whim are bad then? I used to be the teacher with email on my phone and would jump when a parent absurdly emails me at 2 am on a Saturday… no more. I’m done. Contract hours. I’ll email you when I get to it. Parents here have lost all privileges to my time and my sanity. You keep taking and taking with zero respect. Call us all victims if it makes you feel better. We are done.

No, I was saying some teachers are working very hard. However, it is very frustrating when some teachers don't return emails at all. You are really nasty and I hope you are no longer teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister used to teach for a school district that decided not to open schools on Fridays to save money running the buildings and on school buses. The students stayed an extra hour each day for the other 4 days. Morale soared and the district saw the fewest departures from employees on record. No drop in academic success.

My sister was a SPED teacher and yes, she was paid a bit more than General Ed. Not enough to make anyone switch careers.

Work-life balance, people.

Morale soared for the teachers, but not the working parents who suddenly needed to spend thousands of dollars a year on child care on Fridays.

How much support would there be for public schools if you tried that here?

Its called parenting, so yes, they need to work it out.

Which they would do, in MoCo, by a combination of moving kids to private schools and voting out the BoE members that approved the plan. It wouldn't go well for MCEA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Starting salary for teachers needs to be 85K, like in Finland. Only the very top secondary graduates are accepted into university schools of Education. Masters degree required. Parents held accountable for absentee students.

Every teacher I know (I quit after 6 years) want to say to the parent: Parent is a verb. Do your job like I do mine.

Teachers in other countries are also given more time at work to do the prep, planning, and grading. That’s an afterthought in the US. I spend over 90% of my day in front of students, so the clear expectation is that I spend every night grading and preparing for the next day. We should get AT LEAST half of our days to do the prep/planning/grading. I posted above that I’m no longer giving up weekends and I mean it. The stack of papers to grade remains on my desk. I’m no longer spending extra time going the extra mile, which means my lessons will be less engaging. I’m sorry, but the “your students will suffer” argument no longer works. I spent many years sacrificing my health and my family for this job. No more.

We have had teachers returning emails at all hours of the day and night. There are a few bad teachers but many spend nights/weekends on class prep and support. Its even worse with the lack of clear curriculum and text books where they have to make up their own.

Are you saying teachers who don’t cater to your whim are bad then? I used to be the teacher with email on my phone and would jump when a parent absurdly emails me at 2 am on a Saturday… no more. I’m done. Contract hours. I’ll email you when I get to it. Parents here have lost all privileges to my time and my sanity. You keep taking and taking with zero respect. Call us all victims if it makes you feel better. We are done.

No, I was saying some teachers are working very hard. However, it is very frustrating when some teachers don't return emails at all. You are really nasty and I hope you are no longer teaching.

I’m a teacher and a parent. I would not mind at all if my own children’s teachers took the PP’s stance of no off-hour email responses. I want my kids to have well-rested, respected, and present teachers. I know they’ll only get that if the teacher is afforded a work / life balance. If we want teachers to respond to emails quicker, then time needs to be given to them to do that.

When I’m teaching, I don’t get a chance to sit at my laptop until 2:30pm. I usually have a ton of unanswered emails by then since they were piling up all day. I also have to prepare for the next day, make any alterations to my lesson plans or student data books, and I have to grade some papers. I leave at 4. If the email responses don’t happen, I’ll try again in the morning at 6:30 when I get to my desk. I’m no longer doing work past 4pm. I’m already devoting 9.5 hours of each day to work. My family gets me at home.

This does not make me a bad teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister used to teach for a school district that decided not to open schools on Fridays to save money running the buildings and on school buses. The students stayed an extra hour each day for the other 4 days. Morale soared and the district saw the fewest departures from employees on record. No drop in academic success.

My sister was a SPED teacher and yes, she was paid a bit more than General Ed. Not enough to make anyone switch careers.

Work-life balance, people.

Morale soared for the teachers, but not the working parents who suddenly needed to spend thousands of dollars a year on child care on Fridays.

How much support would there be for public schools if you tried that here?

Teachers and schools are not day-care providers. Responsibility of the parents. It was the first argument that got knocked down when the system changed to 4-days per week. Overwhelming support for the change. Great business opportunity for daycare providers. Do you see how capitalism works? Do you see how parenting works?