MCPS teachers - what would you tell parents in your class(es) if you could?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends - if they have an iep? I’d tell them that most of the services are delivered by the general Ed teacher because inclusion spec Ed teachers are stretched too thin and we spend so much time on paperwork and not with kids. I’d also tell them no matter what they “advocate for” in the iep, it doesn’t actually happen during the school day due to limited resources and time so half the time we just agree to make you go away

+1. And most of these times it's supervisors who tell us what to say and agree. It's not pretty but this is honest because the system refuses to staff appropriately.

You have a very strange concept of “honest.” Agreeing to provide something in an IEP that you know you will not be able to provide is not consistent with any definition of “honest” that I’m aware of.

We literally are NOT allowed to say we can’t provide it. What don’t you get about that?

You can certainly say you *won’t* provide it. And if you know you’re not going to, how would it be “honest” to say otherwise?

Obviously that could lead to due process complaints if those services/supports are really warranted. But if it makes you feel any better, that process is so corrupt in Maryland that parents literally never win.

NP. Because if the teacher is honest with the likes of parents on this forum, the parent will sue. The end result, either after mediation or due process, will be tens of hours of time spent away from other students on this dispute, at which point the teacher and paraeducators will be directed to give more attention and hours to your Larlo, at the expense of Aiden, Brayden, and Cayden in the other class being shoved into larger groupings with much less attention, because their parents are less difficult. Extra staff won't materialize out of spare molecules. It's lose-lose.

*thunderous applause*

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends - if they have an iep? I’d tell them that most of the services are delivered by the general Ed teacher because inclusion spec Ed teachers are stretched too thin and we spend so much time on paperwork and not with kids. I’d also tell them no matter what they “advocate for” in the iep, it doesn’t actually happen during the school day due to limited resources and time so half the time we just agree to make you go away

We know. Thanks for being a failure in your life's work.

Likewise for being a failure at actual life. (Lack of empathy is the first sign of being a psychopath)

"I decided to use an anonymous forum to taunt distraught parents of special needs kids in a blasé manner about how we fail their children. But you're the psychopath! Poor me!"
PP

The thread is what we would tell parents if we could. I appreciated that teachers transparency and didn't read it as a taunt. You're clearly dissatisfied with your child's service, but you're lashing out to someone who is telling you there is literally nothing they can do to solve your problem.

I’m the one who posted about spec Ed. Not a taunt just the hard truth. And I’m not a failure at my job, I’m actually a really good spec Ed teacher and I advocate hard for the kids on my caseload. But these are the truths of the conditions in mcps and that’s what the thread asked about. Sometimes I wish parents knew so they didn’t believe the BS . That being said, parents should not be angry at the teachers - it’s the system and lack of appropriate resources

If you really wanted parents to know, why not tell them instead of lying to them to get them to “go away”? I don’t get it. That’s something that is absolutely in your power to do, and doesn’t even take a lot of effort.

And get fired ? Or written up by my boss/ supervisor for telling you that? No way

People outside teaching have no idea what pressures teachers face. No idea at all. I wish it were as simple as the PPs suggest re: just talking to parents.

In that case, let’s at least agree that the public school staff knowingly lying to parents of children with special needs don’t own the moral high ground.

I still don't understand the support in this thread for teachers actively participating in covering-up malfeasance, but I guess some people think that's ok for... reasons.

DCUM asks for the truth from real teachers and just cannot handle it.

I guess that’s it. I expected that they would at least try to act in good faith, and be remorseful when they don’t. Apparently that wasn’t a realistic expectation. As you suggested, it’s a bit shocking.

I’m the OP who shocked everyone with comments about spec Ed. I never said there is lack of good faith or lack of attempt to implement. There is. But at the end of the day, there are many unreasonable requests from parents , advocates and lawyers and they just cannot be provided the way the iep is written. But I can’t say that and there is no way my admin will say it. Some admin will say it depending on the parent but if they have representation (lawyer or advocate) we agree to it all usually. It’s just not worth fighting. But this forum asked what I want you to know. I want you to know that if you have a case manager with 20 kids on a caseload , serving 3 grade levels or more, and large class sizes …. It might not be happening!

20 kids is not a huge number especially when it’s very mixed needs. You are making excuses

LOLOLOL.Then you get in there and do it then. Show the, how it’s done! Enjoy the steep salary drop.

And no, don’t even try to have a gotcha moment and claim that you’re a teacher, case manager, etc because it’s an anonymous message board. Sorry, but no. You’ve made that abundantly clear by your ridiculous response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

Private school comments are not relevant. As a teacher you tell them to put them away and manage your classroom. If we are not there we cannot do that for you. Classroom management is part of teaching.

Later start time for high school would be a disaster with homework and activities.

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

That’s a lovely fantasy “in your view.” Now do reality.

We’ll wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends - if they have an iep? I’d tell them that most of the services are delivered by the general Ed teacher because inclusion spec Ed teachers are stretched too thin and we spend so much time on paperwork and not with kids. I’d also tell them no matter what they “advocate for” in the iep, it doesn’t actually happen during the school day due to limited resources and time so half the time we just agree to make you go away

We know. Thanks for being a failure in your life's work.

Likewise for being a failure at actual life. (Lack of empathy is the first sign of being a psychopath)

"I decided to use an anonymous forum to taunt distraught parents of special needs kids in a blasé manner about how we fail their children. But you're the psychopath! Poor me!"
PP

The thread is what we would tell parents if we could. I appreciated that teachers transparency and didn't read it as a taunt. You're clearly dissatisfied with your child's service, but you're lashing out to someone who is telling you there is literally nothing they can do to solve your problem.

I’m the one who posted about spec Ed. Not a taunt just the hard truth. And I’m not a failure at my job, I’m actually a really good spec Ed teacher and I advocate hard for the kids on my caseload. But these are the truths of the conditions in mcps and that’s what the thread asked about. Sometimes I wish parents knew so they didn’t believe the BS . That being said, parents should not be angry at the teachers - it’s the system and lack of appropriate resources

If you really wanted parents to know, why not tell them instead of lying to them to get them to “go away”? I don’t get it. That’s something that is absolutely in your power to do, and doesn’t even take a lot of effort.

And get fired ? Or written up by my boss/ supervisor for telling you that? No way

People outside teaching have no idea what pressures teachers face. No idea at all. I wish it were as simple as the PPs suggest re: just talking to parents.

In that case, let’s at least agree that the public school staff knowingly lying to parents of children with special needs don’t own the moral high ground.

I still don't understand the support in this thread for teachers actively participating in covering-up malfeasance, but I guess some people think that's ok for... reasons.

DCUM asks for the truth from real teachers and just cannot handle it.

I guess that’s it. I expected that they would at least try to act in good faith, and be remorseful when they don’t. Apparently that wasn’t a realistic expectation. As you suggested, it’s a bit shocking.

I’m the OP who shocked everyone with comments about spec Ed. I never said there is lack of good faith or lack of attempt to implement. There is. But at the end of the day, there are many unreasonable requests from parents , advocates and lawyers and they just cannot be provided the way the iep is written. But I can’t say that and there is no way my admin will say it. Some admin will say it depending on the parent but if they have representation (lawyer or advocate) we agree to it all usually. It’s just not worth fighting. But this forum asked what I want you to know. I want you to know that if you have a case manager with 20 kids on a caseload , serving 3 grade levels or more, and large class sizes …. It might not be happening!

20 kids is not a huge number especially when it’s very mixed needs. You are making excuses

LOLOLOL.Then you get in there and do it then. Show the, how it’s done! Enjoy the steep salary drop.

And no, don’t even try to have a gotcha moment and claim that you’re a teacher, case manager, etc because it’s an anonymous message board. Sorry, but no. You’ve made that abundantly clear by your ridiculous response.

Love to, but I’ve got to take mine to therapies and continue to supplement to make sure mine are on target. Cannot work except if you will provide the services and you will not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

We are not allowed to take phones away, and frankly, I don't want to be responsible for keeping them safe. I have 36 students in my room for most classes, and I am one person, without eyes in the back of my head. Teachers sometimes get their own phones stolen.

I don't think PP appreciates what we mean when we say kids are addicted to their phones. I watch their fingers twitch while they try not to pick them up. I see their sheepish looks when I tell them for 10th time to put them away. I listen to them during conferences sincerely promise their parents they will keep them put away. Many of them admit to me they have a really hard time not constantly checking them. There is research that shows just having the phone with them lowers their ability to focus on tasks, even if they don't check the phone itself, because they are thinking about what texts or whatever they are missing. It is insidious, and we are not giving the kids the tools or policies they need to deal with it.

I will say, I have not had the disruptive behaviors so many teachers talk about, and I think that, too, is because of the phones. The kids who would normally be acting out because they find academics boring or frustrating are mostly just on their phones instead. I secretly appreciate the kid who talks too much or skips class to hang out outside because at least he's not a zombie.

Mcps does not really have parent conferences after es and they don’t include kids. Do you work for mcps. You set the tone in your classroom.

You are absolutely delusional. Just stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid needs a lot of sleep in order to learn. Please put your kids to bed earlier and cut back the screen time at home!!

How about cutting back the screen time at school and not speculating what happens at home.

No. How about you do your job, Mama Bear, and stop deflecting and blaming everything g on teachers and schools.

I am doing my job as a parent and monitoring my kids. That’s how I know. See how that works. I log on and can see what programs you have them on for how long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand what “need” a parent has to be texting their high-schooler during math class. Get a life.

To help them as most teachers don’t teach and expect peer help or google.

OK. Enjoy homeschooling!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

We are not allowed to take phones away, and frankly, I don't want to be responsible for keeping them safe. I have 36 students in my room for most classes, and I am one person, without eyes in the back of my head. Teachers sometimes get their own phones stolen.

I don't think PP appreciates what we mean when we say kids are addicted to their phones. I watch their fingers twitch while they try not to pick them up. I see their sheepish looks when I tell them for 10th time to put them away. I listen to them during conferences sincerely promise their parents they will keep them put away. Many of them admit to me they have a really hard time not constantly checking them. There is research that shows just having the phone with them lowers their ability to focus on tasks, even if they don't check the phone itself, because they are thinking about what texts or whatever they are missing. It is insidious, and we are not giving the kids the tools or policies they need to deal with it.

I will say, I have not had the disruptive behaviors so many teachers talk about, and I think that, too, is because of the phones. The kids who would normally be acting out because they find academics boring or frustrating are mostly just on their phones instead. I secretly appreciate the kid who talks too much or skips class to hang out outside because at least he's not a zombie.

Mcps does not really have parent conferences after es and they don’t include kids. Do you work for mcps. You set the tone in your classroom.

You are absolutely delusional. Just stop.

Where are the conferences for older kids? They have one day, limited spots and it’s 5 minutes a teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand what “need” a parent has to be texting their high-schooler during math class. Get a life.

To help them as most teachers don’t teach and expect peer help or google.

OK. Enjoy homeschooling!

I basically do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand what “need” a parent has to be texting their high-schooler during math class. Get a life.

To help them as most teachers don’t teach and expect peer help or google.

Are you serious? Why don’t you homeschool your kids?

We basically have or used the tutors for years.

No, not “basically.” Withdraw and homeschool if the teachers are so inept. Hypocrite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends - if they have an iep? I’d tell them that most of the services are delivered by the general Ed teacher because inclusion spec Ed teachers are stretched too thin and we spend so much time on paperwork and not with kids. I’d also tell them no matter what they “advocate for” in the iep, it doesn’t actually happen during the school day due to limited resources and time so half the time we just agree to make you go away

We know. Thanks for being a failure in your life's work.

Likewise for being a failure at actual life. (Lack of empathy is the first sign of being a psychopath)

"I decided to use an anonymous forum to taunt distraught parents of special needs kids in a blasé manner about how we fail their children. But you're the psychopath! Poor me!"
PP

The thread is what we would tell parents if we could. I appreciated that teachers transparency and didn't read it as a taunt. You're clearly dissatisfied with your child's service, but you're lashing out to someone who is telling you there is literally nothing they can do to solve your problem.

I’m the one who posted about spec Ed. Not a taunt just the hard truth. And I’m not a failure at my job, I’m actually a really good spec Ed teacher and I advocate hard for the kids on my caseload. But these are the truths of the conditions in mcps and that’s what the thread asked about. Sometimes I wish parents knew so they didn’t believe the BS . That being said, parents should not be angry at the teachers - it’s the system and lack of appropriate resources

If you really wanted parents to know, why not tell them instead of lying to them to get them to “go away”? I don’t get it. That’s something that is absolutely in your power to do, and doesn’t even take a lot of effort.

And get fired ? Or written up by my boss/ supervisor for telling you that? No way

People outside teaching have no idea what pressures teachers face. No idea at all. I wish it were as simple as the PPs suggest re: just talking to parents.

In that case, let’s at least agree that the public school staff knowingly lying to parents of children with special needs don’t own the moral high ground.

I still don't understand the support in this thread for teachers actively participating in covering-up malfeasance, but I guess some people think that's ok for... reasons.

DCUM asks for the truth from real teachers and just cannot handle it.

I guess that’s it. I expected that they would at least try to act in good faith, and be remorseful when they don’t. Apparently that wasn’t a realistic expectation. As you suggested, it’s a bit shocking.

I’m the OP who shocked everyone with comments about spec Ed. I never said there is lack of good faith or lack of attempt to implement. There is. But at the end of the day, there are many unreasonable requests from parents , advocates and lawyers and they just cannot be provided the way the iep is written. But I can’t say that and there is no way my admin will say it. Some admin will say it depending on the parent but if they have representation (lawyer or advocate) we agree to it all usually. It’s just not worth fighting. But this forum asked what I want you to know. I want you to know that if you have a case manager with 20 kids on a caseload , serving 3 grade levels or more, and large class sizes …. It might not be happening!

20 kids is not a huge number especially when it’s very mixed needs. You are making excuses

LOLOLOL.Then you get in there and do it then. Show the, how it’s done! Enjoy the steep salary drop.

And no, don’t even try to have a gotcha moment and claim that you’re a teacher, case manager, etc because it’s an anonymous message board. Sorry, but no. You’ve made that abundantly clear by your ridiculous response.

Love to, but I’ve got to take mine to therapies and continue to supplement to make sure mine are on target. Cannot work except if you will provide the services and you will not.

I’m not a teacher. I’m a parent.

And suuuure, you’d “love to.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid needs a lot of sleep in order to learn. Please put your kids to bed earlier and cut back the screen time at home!!

How about cutting back the screen time at school and not speculating what happens at home.

No. How about you do your job, Mama Bear, and stop deflecting and blaming everything g on teachers and schools.

I am doing my job as a parent and monitoring my kids. That’s how I know. See how that works. I log on and can see what programs you have them on for how long.

I don’t “have them on (any) programs.” Just a parent tired of other lazy, entitled parents constantly screaming that they are perfect parents and teachers and schools are the antichrist.

[Anonymous]

Ok, new topic!

I would tell them that complaints from parents go much further with admin than complaints from teachers. Be the squeaky wheel. We try to fix problems but often can’t without ruffling our boss’s feathers or risking our own jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

DP here. We used to collect phones, but no longer. Quite honestly, I don’t want to. If that phone gets taken out of my desk, I will be held liable and I’ll have to pay the family back. I’ve found students rummaging through my desk on occasion, so this idea isn’t too hard for me to imagine. (I even have clear policies about not going behind my desk and I’m known as a firm teacher. That doesn’t matter anymore since there are students who don’t respect rules or boundaries.)

I would give my kid a fake phone. No way I’d allow them to hand it over. My kids have phones for my needs, not theirs.

Huh? Like for your needs, such as what?