Attendance pressure

[Anonymous]

We lived overseas for many years, and my kids attended either DOD schools or private schools, depending on where we were stationed, so my experience with FCPS elementary schools is limited to late elementary school for the two youngest. However, I have had over twelve years of experience with FCPS middle schools and high schools.

None of my kids have ever mentioned watching a movie when they have a sub, nor have they ever mentioned watching a movie at all that is not something like a short clip related to a topic of history they're studying, a video of how mitosis occurs, or a short video clip of a piece of Shakespeare they're reading. Movies for entertainment have never been part of my kids' education, at least not in middle and high school.

Additionally, it seems like most of my kids' teachers leave sub plans with substantial content, and the subs they use are frequently retired teachers, so lessons still occur even when the teachers are absent.

Maybe this issue with poor sub plans is a bigger issue in elementary school, but as I said, my experience with elementary school is quite limited.

[Anonymous]

Maybe this issue with poor sub plans is a bigger issue in elementary school, but as I said, my experience with elementary school is quite limited.

Retired elementary teacher:

Many years ago, when I first began teaching, my principal had a rule:
When you leave in the afternoon, your desk must be clean.
You leave your lesson plan book open on top of the desk with detailed plans.
You leave your materials for the next day also.
You also have a substitute folder prepared with "busy work" just in case it is needed along with suggestions of how to manage the class.

I am not my nature an orderly person, but I continued to do this throughout my teaching career. I was not frequently absent, but it gave me peace of mind if I did call in sick. But, not only was this helpful for substitutes, it was also helpful to me to be prepared for the next day and not run around gathering materials or lining up at the copy machine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Maybe this issue with poor sub plans is a bigger issue in elementary school, but as I said, my experience with elementary school is quite limited.

Retired elementary teacher:

Many years ago, when I first began teaching, my principal had a rule:
When you leave in the afternoon, your desk must be clean.
You leave your lesson plan book open on top of the desk with detailed plans.
You leave your materials for the next day also.
You also have a substitute folder prepared with "busy work" just in case it is needed along with suggestions of how to manage the class.

I am not my nature an orderly person, but I continued to do this throughout my teaching career. I was not frequently absent, but it gave me peace of mind if I did call in sick. But, not only was this helpful for substitutes, it was also helpful to me to be prepared for the next day and not run around gathering materials or lining up at the copy machine.

And as a retired teacher, is it your judgment that the contents of this folder were so valuable to children’s learning that their parents should spend thousands of extra dollars and spend less time with their extended families to receive it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Maybe this issue with poor sub plans is a bigger issue in elementary school, but as I said, my experience with elementary school is quite limited.

Retired elementary teacher:

Many years ago, when I first began teaching, my principal had a rule:
When you leave in the afternoon, your desk must be clean.
You leave your lesson plan book open on top of the desk with detailed plans.
You leave your materials for the next day also.
You also have a substitute folder prepared with "busy work" just in case it is needed along with suggestions of how to manage the class.

I am not my nature an orderly person, but I continued to do this throughout my teaching career. I was not frequently absent, but it gave me peace of mind if I did call in sick. But, not only was this helpful for substitutes, it was also helpful to me to be prepared for the next day and not run around gathering materials or lining up at the copy machine.

And as a retired teacher, is it your judgment that the contents of this folder were so valuable to children’s learning that their parents should spend thousands of extra dollars and spend less time with their extended families to receive it?

Yes. That folder was "just in case." There were years when I missed NO days. The most I ever missed at a time were five days because of a serious hospitalization with a family member. I had a wonderful sub who praised the plans I left. (I must also admit that the students I taught that year were wonderful.) Most teachers are not absent when your child is away. I would assume that you have made a choice to live away from your extended family. Visit in the summer when school is out.

That folder was "just in case." And, yes, it teaches kids that they need to be in school.

Did you know that your child's absence means that the schools get less money? Funds are dispersed on average daily attendance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am kicking myself that we did not travel for the full week of Thanksgiving. There was no content taught and no assessments and so many kids were out that the school sent several emails begging parents to not call, but to send in absenses through SIS.

Parents, take your children out of school when you need do, especially before breaks. There is nothing going on the days leading up to Winter Break.

Of course families are leaving early.

This is ridiculous and wrong. I hope people don't listen to the likes of these idiots.

I’m a DP but…do you really think kids gain more sitting in front of a movie or on lexia unsupervised than being with family?

Look at the pacing guides sometime. You will be shocked at how little instruction actualy happens in ES many weeks.

ES teacher here. This is not true. Especially since we have to keep on pace to give common assessments. It is already hard enough to fit everything in. No teacher is not teaching the week before break. We are allowed to have a party the Friday before break, but only for an hour. Every thing else is normal.

It’s a high volume sub day. So clearly there are quite a few teachers not teaching before the break.

Yes but people seem to forget that there are a ton of other teachers in the building that supports classroom teachers. There are also aides and assistants. Subs could be needed for any position, not just classroom teachers.

OK, but do you understand that a parent who gets an email about the importance of attendance and has their kid watching movies with a sub will absolutely never take the principal seriously?

Again, very few classes in FCPS will be watching movies with a sub. If your school has this problem, then it is a school issue. I think if you surveyed every class in FCPS the week before break, the MAJORITY will be teaching. Most ES do FLE this week. Benchmark has to be taught to stay on pace. I know our team has two assessments that week.

To the parents clamoring on about no teaching happening that week, contact your principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Maybe this issue with poor sub plans is a bigger issue in elementary school, but as I said, my experience with elementary school is quite limited.

Retired elementary teacher:

Many years ago, when I first began teaching, my principal had a rule:
When you leave in the afternoon, your desk must be clean.
You leave your lesson plan book open on top of the desk with detailed plans.
You leave your materials for the next day also.
You also have a substitute folder prepared with "busy work" just in case it is needed along with suggestions of how to manage the class.

I am not my nature an orderly person, but I continued to do this throughout my teaching career. I was not frequently absent, but it gave me peace of mind if I did call in sick. But, not only was this helpful for substitutes, it was also helpful to me to be prepared for the next day and not run around gathering materials or lining up at the copy machine.

And as a retired teacher, is it your judgment that the contents of this folder were so valuable to children’s learning that their parents should spend thousands of extra dollars and spend less time with their extended families to receive it?

Yes. That folder was "just in case." There were years when I missed NO days. The most I ever missed at a time were five days because of a serious hospitalization with a family member. I had a wonderful sub who praised the plans I left. (I must also admit that the students I taught that year were wonderful.) Most teachers are not absent when your child is away. I would assume that you have made a choice to live away from your extended family. Visit in the summer when school is out.

That folder was "just in case." And, yes, it teaches kids that they need to be in school.

Did you know that your child's absence means that the schools get less money? Funds are dispersed on average daily attendance.

You lost me at the contents of the “busy work” folder are more important than the family saving thousands of dollars.

You then lost me again with expecting us to care about funding for the school. We should care about schools saving money, but schools don’t care about families saving money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am kicking myself that we did not travel for the full week of Thanksgiving. There was no content taught and no assessments and so many kids were out that the school sent several emails begging parents to not call, but to send in absenses through SIS.

Parents, take your children out of school when you need do, especially before breaks. There is nothing going on the days leading up to Winter Break.

Of course families are leaving early.

This is ridiculous and wrong. I hope people don't listen to the likes of these idiots.

I’m a DP but…do you really think kids gain more sitting in front of a movie or on lexia unsupervised than being with family?

Look at the pacing guides sometime. You will be shocked at how little instruction actualy happens in ES many weeks.

ES teacher here. This is not true. Especially since we have to keep on pace to give common assessments. It is already hard enough to fit everything in. No teacher is not teaching the week before break. We are allowed to have a party the Friday before break, but only for an hour. Every thing else is normal.

It’s a high volume sub day. So clearly there are quite a few teachers not teaching before the break.

Yes but people seem to forget that there are a ton of other teachers in the building that supports classroom teachers. There are also aides and assistants. Subs could be needed for any position, not just classroom teachers.

OK, but do you understand that a parent who gets an email about the importance of attendance and has their kid watching movies with a sub will absolutely never take the principal seriously?

Again, very few classes in FCPS will be watching movies with a sub. If your school has this problem, then it is a school issue. I think if you surveyed every class in FCPS the week before break, the MAJORITY will be teaching. Most ES do FLE this week. Benchmark has to be taught to stay on pace. I know our team has two assessments that week.

To the parents clamoring on about no teaching happening that week, contact your principal. [/quote]

This. Also, it is a great excuse/justification for PP--to keep telling herself that her child is missing nothing important.

But, the schools need to crack down on this. It is one thing to miss a day or two here or there. It is totally another thing to miss week/s, And, if PP is saving thousands of dollars, it must be weeks.

[Anonymous]

Most businesses (if give any days off) give only 25th or maybe 26th off as holiday. Where do people work that can get/take 2 weeks of vacation at end of year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am kicking myself that we did not travel for the full week of Thanksgiving. There was no content taught and no assessments and so many kids were out that the school sent several emails begging parents to not call, but to send in absenses through SIS.

Parents, take your children out of school when you need do, especially before breaks. There is nothing going on the days leading up to Winter Break.

Of course families are leaving early.

This is ridiculous and wrong. I hope people don't listen to the likes of these idiots.

I’m a DP but…do you really think kids gain more sitting in front of a movie or on lexia unsupervised than being with family?

Look at the pacing guides sometime. You will be shocked at how little instruction actualy happens in ES many weeks.

ES teacher here. This is not true. Especially since we have to keep on pace to give common assessments. It is already hard enough to fit everything in. No teacher is not teaching the week before break. We are allowed to have a party the Friday before break, but only for an hour. Every thing else is normal.

It’s a high volume sub day. So clearly there are quite a few teachers not teaching before the break.

Yes but people seem to forget that there are a ton of other teachers in the building that supports classroom teachers. There are also aides and assistants. Subs could be needed for any position, not just classroom teachers.

OK, but do you understand that a parent who gets an email about the importance of attendance and has their kid watching movies with a sub will absolutely never take the principal seriously?

Again, very few classes in FCPS will be watching movies with a sub. If your school has this problem, then it is a school issue. I think if you surveyed every class in FCPS the week before break, the MAJORITY will be teaching. Most ES do FLE this week. Benchmark has to be taught to stay on pace. I know our team has two assessments that week.

To the parents clamoring on about no teaching happening that week, contact your principal.

This. FLE is not real content. They are not tested on it, it’s not part of the pacing guide and it is optional. Which makes that week the perfect time to go on vacation early to save money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am kicking myself that we did not travel for the full week of Thanksgiving. There was no content taught and no assessments and so many kids were out that the school sent several emails begging parents to not call, but to send in absenses through SIS.

Parents, take your children out of school when you need do, especially before breaks. There is nothing going on the days leading up to Winter Break.

Of course families are leaving early.

This is ridiculous and wrong. I hope people don't listen to the likes of these idiots.

I’m a DP but…do you really think kids gain more sitting in front of a movie or on lexia unsupervised than being with family?

Look at the pacing guides sometime. You will be shocked at how little instruction actualy happens in ES many weeks.

ES teacher here. This is not true. Especially since we have to keep on pace to give common assessments. It is already hard enough to fit everything in. No teacher is not teaching the week before break. We are allowed to have a party the Friday before break, but only for an hour. Every thing else is normal.

It’s a high volume sub day. So clearly there are quite a few teachers not teaching before the break.

Yes but people seem to forget that there are a ton of other teachers in the building that supports classroom teachers. There are also aides and assistants. Subs could be needed for any position, not just classroom teachers.

OK, but do you understand that a parent who gets an email about the importance of attendance and has their kid watching movies with a sub will absolutely never take the principal seriously?

Again, very few classes in FCPS will be watching movies with a sub. If your school has this problem, then it is a school issue. I think if you surveyed every class in FCPS the week before break, the MAJORITY will be teaching. Most ES do FLE this week. Benchmark has to be taught to stay on pace. I know our team has two assessments that week.

To the parents clamoring on about no teaching happening that week, contact your principal.

This. FLE is not real content. They are not tested on it, it’s not part of the pacing guide and it is optional. Which makes that week the perfect time to go on vacation early to save money.

Being in school is a value. Clearly, you do not place a value on dependability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most businesses (if give any days off) give only 25th or maybe 26th off as holiday. Where do people work that can get/take 2 weeks of vacation at end of year?

Exactly. Two weeks at the end of the year and a whole summer. Where the calendars are available at least a year in advance.

Families can travel over the summer and winter breaks and purchase tickets in advance at reduced prices.

And children can be in school, too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Maybe this issue with poor sub plans is a bigger issue in elementary school, but as I said, my experience with elementary school is quite limited.

Retired elementary teacher:

Many years ago, when I first began teaching, my principal had a rule:
When you leave in the afternoon, your desk must be clean.
You leave your lesson plan book open on top of the desk with detailed plans.
You leave your materials for the next day also.
You also have a substitute folder prepared with "busy work" just in case it is needed along with suggestions of how to manage the class.

I am not my nature an orderly person, but I continued to do this throughout my teaching career. I was not frequently absent, but it gave me peace of mind if I did call in sick. But, not only was this helpful for substitutes, it was also helpful to me to be prepared for the next day and not run around gathering materials or lining up at the copy machine.

And as a retired teacher, is it your judgment that the contents of this folder were so valuable to children’s learning that their parents should spend thousands of extra dollars and spend less time with their extended families to receive it?

Yes. That folder was "just in case." There were years when I missed NO days. The most I ever missed at a time were five days because of a serious hospitalization with a family member. I had a wonderful sub who praised the plans I left. (I must also admit that the students I taught that year were wonderful.) Most teachers are not absent when your child is away. I would assume that you have made a choice to live away from your extended family. Visit in the summer when school is out.

That folder was "just in case." And, yes, it teaches kids that they need to be in school.

Did you know that your child's absence means that the schools get less money? Funds are dispersed on average daily attendance.

This is an incredibly offensive sentiment and a really good example of what my teachers told
me happens when we “assume”.

While I know you’re not going to teach my child as you are retired, your attitude toward international families would make me more, not less, likely to take my kid out during school. I would want to limit her exposure to ignorant people who make assumptions about her family.

[Anonymous]

If this is such a Very Important Issue, other than sending Very Stern Self-Important Emails, what is FCPS doing to engage with parents to make a strong case for why they should lose money and time? It’s a business proposition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Maybe this issue with poor sub plans is a bigger issue in elementary school, but as I said, my experience with elementary school is quite limited.

Retired elementary teacher:

Many years ago, when I first began teaching, my principal had a rule:
When you leave in the afternoon, your desk must be clean.
You leave your lesson plan book open on top of the desk with detailed plans.
You leave your materials for the next day also.
You also have a substitute folder prepared with "busy work" just in case it is needed along with suggestions of how to manage the class.

I am not my nature an orderly person, but I continued to do this throughout my teaching career. I was not frequently absent, but it gave me peace of mind if I did call in sick. But, not only was this helpful for substitutes, it was also helpful to me to be prepared for the next day and not run around gathering materials or lining up at the copy machine.

And as a retired teacher, is it your judgment that the contents of this folder were so valuable to children’s learning that their parents should spend thousands of extra dollars and spend less time with their extended families to receive it?

Yes. That folder was "just in case." There were years when I missed NO days. The most I ever missed at a time were five days because of a serious hospitalization with a family member. I had a wonderful sub who praised the plans I left. (I must also admit that the students I taught that year were wonderful.) Most teachers are not absent when your child is away. I would assume that you have made a choice to live away from your extended family. Visit in the summer when school is out.

That folder was "just in case." And, yes, it teaches kids that they need to be in school.

Did you know that your child's absence means that the schools get less money? Funds are dispersed on average daily attendance.

This is an incredibly offensive sentiment and a really good example of what my teachers told
me happens when we “assume”.

While I know you’re not going to teach my child as you are retired, your attitude toward international families would make me more, not less, likely to take my kid out during school. I would want to limit her exposure to ignorant people who make assumptions about her family.

DP. Why is this offensive? Can you not see family AND keep your kids in school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am kicking myself that we did not travel for the full week of Thanksgiving. There was no content taught and no assessments and so many kids were out that the school sent several emails begging parents to not call, but to send in absenses through SIS.

Parents, take your children out of school when you need do, especially before breaks. There is nothing going on the days leading up to Winter Break.

Of course families are leaving early.

This is ridiculous and wrong. I hope people don't listen to the likes of these idiots.

I’m a DP but…do you really think kids gain more sitting in front of a movie or on lexia unsupervised than being with family?

Look at the pacing guides sometime. You will be shocked at how little instruction actualy happens in ES many weeks.

ES teacher here. This is not true. Especially since we have to keep on pace to give common assessments. It is already hard enough to fit everything in. No teacher is not teaching the week before break. We are allowed to have a party the Friday before break, but only for an hour. Every thing else is normal.

It’s a high volume sub day. So clearly there are quite a few teachers not teaching before the break.

Yes but people seem to forget that there are a ton of other teachers in the building that supports classroom teachers. There are also aides and assistants. Subs could be needed for any position, not just classroom teachers.

OK, but do you understand that a parent who gets an email about the importance of attendance and has their kid watching movies with a sub will absolutely never take the principal seriously?

Again, very few classes in FCPS will be watching movies with a sub. If your school has this problem, then it is a school issue. I think if you surveyed every class in FCPS the week before break, the MAJORITY will be teaching. Most ES do FLE this week. Benchmark has to be taught to stay on pace. I know our team has two assessments that week.

To the parents clamoring on about no teaching happening that week, contact your principal.

This. FLE is not real content. They are not tested on it, it’s not part of the pacing guide and it is optional. Which makes that week the perfect time to go on vacation early to save money.

Being in school is a value. Clearly, you do not place a value on dependability.

Not who you’re quoting, but while I see dependability as a value, I don’t see it as a greater value for students than for teachers. In the same way, teachers are given days off at their discretion, I consider it at my discretion when to take my student out.