20 percent of teachers not likely to return to classrooms if schools reopen in fall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, just so you know. DCPS elementary school teachers get paid more than college professors in other parts of the country.

+1

I Googled our child's DCPS pre-k teacher for something unrelated and one of the links about her contained her DC government reported salary. She makes over $110K, more than I do!

$110,000 including benefits in DC is not a lot.

I know a ton of lawyers working 80+ hours a week who don’t make that.

Totally apples and oranges. Young lawyers at big-city law firms are putting in the hours for the chance to become highly overpaid partners some years down the road. Teachers making $110,000 are already at the top of their earnings range.

+1

And I would say the lawyers you know should look for other jobs because ones I know were making at least 150 straight out of law school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Working parents, would you be okay returning to your offices as they once were? This means the large communal spaces, or times when you were crammed into a smaller room for meetings. Or maybe much of you day is spent at a desk next to or amongst numerous colleagues for hours on end. How about your commute on a packed metro train?

If returning to normal with no change isn’t okay with you, then why are you asking teachers and school staff to do the same? If you plan on continuing to work from home, then why not give that same courtesy to teachers? We are in close proximity to students all day. For high school teachers that means sometimes hundreds of people daily. Not many other jobs can say the same. Put yourself in our shoes.

Some jobs can be done from home (albeit not with young kids around on a "distance learning" regimen), and others can't. Teaching school falls in the latter category. If you have reason to believe, or believe anyway, that the risk is too high for you, find a new job.

And yes, I would be fine returning to my office, since I am not in a high-risk category. If I was and my job could not be done remotely, I would need to look for alternatives.

Give me an example of a job that has made absolutely no changes as a result of the pandemic.

Nobody is suggesting making absolutely no changes. Clearly, schools need to improve their sanitation and infection control protocols, and enforce sick policies strictly. They should have done this a long time ago and now they finally have incentive to do so. They can even require masks if they absolutely must.

Schools have long had an incentive to do it since teachers on short term paid sick leave cost the system. Schools just haven’t had the power to do so. I still think they don’t. When Larlo arrives with a 100.6 F temp and slight cough, is the principal going to drive him to mom and dad’s place of work and dump him there? If not, parents know they can “Tylenol and ignore that call.”

If they have an incentive to control infections, then why do they not provide the facilities that would make it possible for an entire class to wash their hands before lunch? There are lots of viruses that are not killed by the hand-sanitizer that is provided as a substitute for proper hygiene.

Because they don’t have the financial ability to do so. Parents don’t want their taxes raised to pay for hand washing stations. Non-parents certainly don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ And, besides, why should teachers not make more than lawyers?

Exactly.

I trust you will walk-the-walk and hire a lawyer with a very low hourly rate the next time you need one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ And, besides, why should teachers not make more than lawyers?

I'm not a lawyer, but I would say that they should make more because their job requires quite a bit more education than that of a teacher. Don't teachers only need a BA plus certification, which takes like a year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ And, besides, why should teachers not make more than lawyers?

I'm not a lawyer, but I would say that they should make more because their job requires quite a bit more education than that of a teacher. Don't teachers only need a BA plus certification, which takes like a year?

Certification generally comes with the BA or MA, depending on which route you took. DCPS doesn't require masters, but other districts do by a certain point. My old district required I at least begin one within 5 years of starting.

[Anonymous]

If schools are truly committed to distance learning next year, do they really need the number of teachers we currently have? Probably not.
Teachers who want flexible hours can surely find students who want and need one on one tutoring. The money would probably be better!
It’s kind of a win win if we approach the situation creatively. There is no classroom - teachers need to evolve and adapt along with the rest of us.

[Anonymous]

The bottom line is that DCPS teachers are not underpaid. In other areas they are but not in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/05/26/polls-20-percent-teachers-not-likely-return-classrooms-if-schools-reopen-this-fall/

More than 20% of teachers don't return each year, DCPS is a tough place to work!

This was a national poll

I suspect it would be higher if done just in the DMV. It’s the local trifecta of being underpaid proportionate to other white collar jobs, the stank attitude of DCUM parents, and COVID that is making people want to leave. Not just COVID, but COVID on top of everything else. Like cheating in an already unhappy marriage —there was an emotionally toxic atmosphere that was making you stressed and ill, now your health is clearly at risk due to potential infection.

I just don't get this whole underpaid thing. I was shocked when I saw how high the teacher's salaries are at our school. Way way higher than most of the masters degree level jobs around town. Way higher than the equivalent GS level.

It's not just teachers. It's city employees generally -- they all make way more than they would in the private market. The DC government pays interns $40,000. DC politicians are very generous with other people's money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If schools are truly committed to distance learning next year, do they really need the number of teachers we currently have? Probably not.
Teachers who want flexible hours can surely find students who want and need one on one tutoring. The money would probably be better!
It’s kind of a win win if we approach the situation creatively. There is no classroom - teachers need to evolve and adapt along with the rest of us.

It’s a win-win until people want school to resume full time and they can’t find enough staff to return

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bottom line is that DCPS teachers are not underpaid. In other areas they are but not in DC.

Bottom line is they are. DC you need at least 130k to live comfortably, if you want to live here that is.
Also if you want to argue we only need a BA even with a MS or PhD like I have it doesn't really change the fact that someone who also works for DCPS and only needs a HS diploma makes more than me.
All I am asking is the cap be a little higher than $117k at least $140k. I'm young and I have many impact scores and years in DC left but I'll be hitting that cap soon enough.

I'd like to leave my part time professor job but I need the money to live comfortably and pay off my student loans.

I don't just feel this way about teachers but police officers and firefighters, nurses, etc. too. A lot of times we do more than the 'leaders' yet their pays are double or triple. I don't expect that much but not so far off the difference is staggering. The US really needs to change this mindset. Without us APs and Principals are nothing.


Whatever the teacher turnover rate can stay one of the highest in the nation, obviously you don't actually care about education but just tut tuting teachers! lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bottom line is that DCPS teachers are not underpaid. In other areas they are but not in DC.

Bottom line is they are. DC you need at least 130k to live comfortably, if you want to live here that is.
Also if you want to argue we only need a BA even with a MS or PhD like I have it doesn't really change the fact that someone who also works for DCPS and only needs a HS diploma makes more than me.
All I am asking is the cap be a little higher than $117k at least $140k. I'm young and I have many impact scores and years in DC left but I'll be hitting that cap soon enough.

I'd like to leave my part time professor job but I need the money to live comfortably and pay off my student loans.

I don't just feel this way about teachers but police officers and firefighters, nurses, etc. too. A lot of times we do more than the 'leaders' yet their pays are double or triple. I don't expect that much but not so far off the difference is staggering. The US really needs to change this mindset. Without us APs and Principals are nothing.


Whatever the teacher turnover rate can stay one of the highest in the nation, obviously you don't actually care about education but just tut tuting teachers! lol

Do you see what they pay university professors in the DMV, education in general severely underpaid for job but because there is enough teachers and more willing to step into shoes for now no willingness to make pay increases, also charter movement put a stop to that! It's supply and demand..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/05/26/polls-20-percent-teachers-not-likely-return-classrooms-if-schools-reopen-this-fall/

More than 20% of teachers don't return each year, DCPS is a tough place to work!

This was a national poll

I suspect it would be higher if done just in the DMV. It’s the local trifecta of being underpaid proportionate to other white collar jobs, the stank attitude of DCUM parents, and COVID that is making people want to leave. Not just COVID, but COVID on top of everything else. Like cheating in an already unhappy marriage —there was an emotionally toxic atmosphere that was making you stressed and ill, now your health is clearly at risk due to potential infection.

I just don't get this whole underpaid thing. I was shocked when I saw how high the teacher's salaries are at our school. Way way higher than most of the masters degree level jobs around town. Way higher than the equivalent GS level.

It's not just teachers. It's city employees generally -- they all make way more than they would in the private market. The DC government pays interns $40,000. DC politicians are very generous with other people's money.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/05/26/polls-20-percent-teachers-not-likely-return-classrooms-if-schools-reopen-this-fall/

More than 20% of teachers don't return each year, DCPS is a tough place to work!

This was a national poll

I suspect it would be higher if done just in the DMV. It’s the local trifecta of being underpaid proportionate to other white collar jobs, the stank attitude of DCUM parents, and COVID that is making people want to leave. Not just COVID, but COVID on top of everything else. Like cheating in an already unhappy marriage —there was an emotionally toxic atmosphere that was making you stressed and ill, now your health is clearly at risk due to potential infection.

I just don't get this whole underpaid thing. I was shocked when I saw how high the teacher's salaries are at our school. Way way higher than most of the masters degree level jobs around town. Way higher than the equivalent GS level.

It's not just teachers. It's city employees generally -- they all make way more than they would in the private market. The DC government pays interns $40,000. DC politicians are very generous with other people's money.

+1

Perhaps one day we'll only have to deal with appreciative parents and the rest of you can go to private or charter. Please go.

[Anonymous]

Keep saying teachers don't deserve more and we'll start doing the amount of work to match the salary

I don't get why parents like this don't just stay charter or private, go we definitely don't want you. You probably don't even pay your taxes lol.

It's odd how so many of you don't seem to understand why teachers are paid more, even a McDonald's employee in DC is paid more than in Kentucky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/05/26/polls-20-percent-teachers-not-likely-return-classrooms-if-schools-reopen-this-fall/

More than 20% of teachers don't return each year, DCPS is a tough place to work!

This was a national poll

I suspect it would be higher if done just in the DMV. It’s the local trifecta of being underpaid proportionate to other white collar jobs, the stank attitude of DCUM parents, and COVID that is making people want to leave. Not just COVID, but COVID on top of everything else. Like cheating in an already unhappy marriage —there was an emotionally toxic atmosphere that was making you stressed and ill, now your health is clearly at risk due to potential infection.

I just don't get this whole underpaid thing. I was shocked when I saw how high the teacher's salaries are at our school. Way way higher than most of the masters degree level jobs around town. Way higher than the equivalent GS level.

It's not just teachers. It's city employees generally -- they all make way more than they would in the private market. The DC government pays interns $40,000. DC politicians are very generous with other people's money.

+1

Perhaps one day we'll only have to deal with appreciative parents and the rest of you can go to private or charter. Please go.

Honestly, teachers are SUCH crybabies. I mean, for Pete's sake. Grow up.