MCPS Teachers Quitting? Who is replacing them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an mcps educator and send my kids to mcps public schools. What I am seeing is disheartening. Teachers are at their breaking point; the behaviors and needs of the kids are unbelievable; Many are quitting even after many years of service; We are hiring whoever we can get- probably subpar people because at this point we need warm bodies; The education is suffering- I see teachers playing a YouTube video of a book read aloud instead of reading the book themselves; Gym and art teachers running their class with videos instead of good direct instruction- I guess they are tired and this isn't forbidden; I work with my own kids on basic facts because I don't trust the system to do a good job. Too many needy kids, burnt out teachers, poor instructional approaches, a growing lack of resources...the list goes on anc on; I truly believe mcps is sinking ship and will continue to decline year over year

Thank you for weighing in, Teacher. I believe you. Hopefully others won’t call you a Trumper.

Seems more like a shell to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can imagine many of the less popular AP classes moving to virtual. That would free up staff for other courses. Expect more full time subs in schools. I don’t foresee large scale lecture style courses for a variety of reasons. Perhaps fewer special programs since those staff might be needed for core classes.

In my 11th grade elective I have two separate courses together. I switch back and forth between groups depending on which one needs more direct instruction or supervision. I have structured the courses so that they could be entirely done online since this was almost a necessity last year with so many kids out.

This is depressing. Truly.

…”depending who needs instruction or supervision…”

In private school as well as in college, the entire class session requires actual instruction.

We’ve devolved to a place where teachers barely instruct and far too much time is spent on independent work. No wonder kids are checked out.

In private school and college they control for the number of students in the institution. Additionally, in college there are frequently large classes. The professor/teacher instructs and there is little attention given to whether the students are actually understanding. If they don’t understand that’s what office hours, study groups, and tutors are for, so still lots of independent learning.

Sure.

But what I’m seeing in mcps is very limited instruction followed by a lot of independent work. That’s not the norm in private schools. Why is it the norm in public? Primarily because teachers are expected to magically teach at multiple levels. And this thread has opened my eyes to teachers simultaneously teaching entirely different courses. What nonsense!

Class size must be limited.

Kids must receive direct instruction at their level—not get a quick overview and then work independently for 30 minutes, and not “learn” via Chromebook assignments during class time.

Perhaps the influx in students is negatively impacting classroom instruction and outcomes? Any truth to that? If so, is anyone willing to say that out loud?

Let’s do a test- How would you limit class sizes?

20 kids for K and 1st

No more than 24 for 2nd through 5th

No more than 26 for middle school and high school

Invest in more trade school opportunities for HS students. Similarly invest in more tech training/coding, etc. so students could be job ready upon graduation or can easily transition to specialty education at Montgomery College.

The numbers in many schools are admittedly problematic. I’m all for increasing taxes as long as the money goes to desperately needed improvements to mcps academics. I think teachers should be paid more so we can attract and retain highly qualified educators.

Great. Let’s begin.

Lots of K and 1st grade teachers will tell you that while they can teach 20kids, beyond 18 they would really like a para at least part time. Currently we don’t have enough of those. So oh well.

Also, if we limit the class sizes to these numbers (which I agree are the max they should be) we need a teacher anytime we are over these thresholds. We’re in the midst of a nationwide teacher shortage. Where would we get more teachers? Additionally, if we get new teachers, if we don’t pair them together then each needs their own classroom. Classrooms require more space. More space requires land already near the school or additional sites. If additional sites then that requires additional bus routes and potentially more buses and bus drivers. All of this requires money. If the teachers are new to teaching or just out of school or career switchers) this also requires time from more senior teachers and staff who want to help mentor and train. Also, when you limit at these threshold at MS/HS you begin to need not just one additional teacher but multiple additional teachers, because the teachers are subject and level based not class based.

MCPS has acknowledge and added to their budget investment in more CTE classes. However, almost all of these professions pay more in Government and private industry, what is going to be the incentive for someone to want to come teach?

The numbers in any one school ebb and flow and the district also has to be good stewards of tax dollars so instead of building new schools or requesting new teachers, they instead move students to a different school that has more space and staff. This invariably leads to disgruntled parents who for some reason think they should only have to go in the area where they purchased a home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an mcps educator and send my kids to mcps public schools. What I am seeing is disheartening. Teachers are at their breaking point; the behaviors and needs of the kids are unbelievable; Many are quitting even after many years of service; We are hiring whoever we can get- probably subpar people because at this point we need warm bodies; The education is suffering- I see teachers playing a YouTube video of a book read aloud instead of reading the book themselves; Gym and art teachers running their class with videos instead of good direct instruction- I guess they are tired and this isn't forbidden; I work with my own kids on basic facts because I don't trust the system to do a good job. Too many needy kids, burnt out teachers, poor instructional approaches, a growing lack of resources...the list goes on anc on; I truly believe mcps is sinking ship and will continue to decline year over year

As a parent, we are at our breaking point too. Teachers who don’t teach, grade assignments, review assignments and give feedback, don’t return emails from students or parents and do the absolute minimum. My kids are in tutoring for some subjects more than the actual class time because of the lack of instruction and textbooks to teach your self. You need to work with parents instead of complaining and kids will not thrive without a good support system. And enough with the small group projects and discussions. Get back to teaching.

[Anonymous]

With the terrible attitude I'm seeing in the other thread, it"s for the best if many just leave the profession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With the terrible attitude I'm seeing in the other thread, it"s for the best if many just leave the profession.

Which leads to the second question... Who is replacing them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an mcps educator and send my kids to mcps public schools. What I am seeing is disheartening. Teachers are at their breaking point; the behaviors and needs of the kids are unbelievable; Many are quitting even after many years of service; We are hiring whoever we can get- probably subpar people because at this point we need warm bodies; The education is suffering- I see teachers playing a YouTube video of a book read aloud instead of reading the book themselves; Gym and art teachers running their class with videos instead of good direct instruction- I guess they are tired and this isn't forbidden; I work with my own kids on basic facts because I don't trust the system to do a good job. Too many needy kids, burnt out teachers, poor instructional approaches, a growing lack of resources...the list goes on anc on; I truly believe mcps is sinking ship and will continue to decline year over year

As a parent, we are at our breaking point too. Teachers who don’t teach, grade assignments, review assignments and give feedback, don’t return emails from students or parents and do the absolute minimum. My kids are in tutoring for some subjects more than the actual class time because of the lack of instruction and textbooks to teach your self. You need to work with parents instead of complaining and kids will not thrive without a good support system. And enough with the small group projects and discussions. Get back to teaching.

Cool let me know when they invent a machine that adds more hours to the day. Get back to yelling at the void I guess

[Anonymous]

It doesn’t make sense to be a teacher in HCOL where you’re competing with people who have corporate jobs for housing. Where I am from, there are no corporate jobs and teaching is one the best jobs you can get. Young teachers live in SFHs with inground pools and go on vacation over the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the terrible attitude I'm seeing in the other thread, it"s for the best if many just leave the profession.

Which leads to the second question... Who is replacing them?

According to the other thread ChatGPT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an mcps educator and send my kids to mcps public schools. What I am seeing is disheartening. Teachers are at their breaking point; the behaviors and needs of the kids are unbelievable; Many are quitting even after many years of service; We are hiring whoever we can get- probably subpar people because at this point we need warm bodies; The education is suffering- I see teachers playing a YouTube video of a book read aloud instead of reading the book themselves; Gym and art teachers running their class with videos instead of good direct instruction- I guess they are tired and this isn't forbidden; I work with my own kids on basic facts because I don't trust the system to do a good job. Too many needy kids, burnt out teachers, poor instructional approaches, a growing lack of resources...the list goes on anc on; I truly believe mcps is sinking ship and will continue to decline year over year

As a parent, we are at our breaking point too. Teachers who don’t teach, grade assignments, review assignments and give feedback, don’t return emails from students or parents and do the absolute minimum. My kids are in tutoring for some subjects more than the actual class time because of the lack of instruction and textbooks to teach your self. You need to work with parents instead of complaining and kids will not thrive without a good support system. And enough with the small group projects and discussions. Get back to teaching.

Cool let me know when they invent a machine that adds more hours to the day. Get back to yelling at the void I guess

Then, don't complain about parents not caring or not being involved when we try and the teachers aren't responsive. This is why so many kids are struggling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t make sense to be a teacher in HCOL where you’re competing with people who have corporate jobs for housing. Where I am from, there are no corporate jobs and teaching is one the best jobs you can get. Young teachers live in SFHs with inground pools and go on vacation over the summer.

There are teacher housing programs but the housing is still crazy expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an mcps educator and send my kids to mcps public schools. What I am seeing is disheartening. Teachers are at their breaking point; the behaviors and needs of the kids are unbelievable; Many are quitting even after many years of service; We are hiring whoever we can get- probably subpar people because at this point we need warm bodies; The education is suffering- I see teachers playing a YouTube video of a book read aloud instead of reading the book themselves; Gym and art teachers running their class with videos instead of good direct instruction- I guess they are tired and this isn't forbidden; I work with my own kids on basic facts because I don't trust the system to do a good job. Too many needy kids, burnt out teachers, poor instructional approaches, a growing lack of resources...the list goes on anc on; I truly believe mcps is sinking ship and will continue to decline year over year

As a parent, we are at our breaking point too. Teachers who don’t teach, grade assignments, review assignments and give feedback, don’t return emails from students or parents and do the absolute minimum. My kids are in tutoring for some subjects more than the actual class time because of the lack of instruction and textbooks to teach your self. You need to work with parents instead of complaining and kids will not thrive without a good support system. And enough with the small group projects and discussions. Get back to teaching.

Teacher here and I can’t do any more than I’m doing. Seriously. I’m being asked to do the work of three people and I devote seven days a week to my job.

And my own kids? I tutor them for the reasons you mentioned above.

The difference between us is I’m not blaming their teachers for the deficiencies I see in their educations. I know those teachers are doing their best in a broken system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an mcps educator and send my kids to mcps public schools. What I am seeing is disheartening. Teachers are at their breaking point; the behaviors and needs of the kids are unbelievable; Many are quitting even after many years of service; We are hiring whoever we can get- probably subpar people because at this point we need warm bodies; The education is suffering- I see teachers playing a YouTube video of a book read aloud instead of reading the book themselves; Gym and art teachers running their class with videos instead of good direct instruction- I guess they are tired and this isn't forbidden; I work with my own kids on basic facts because I don't trust the system to do a good job. Too many needy kids, burnt out teachers, poor instructional approaches, a growing lack of resources...the list goes on anc on; I truly believe mcps is sinking ship and will continue to decline year over year

As a parent, we are at our breaking point too. Teachers who don’t teach, grade assignments, review assignments and give feedback, don’t return emails from students or parents and do the absolute minimum. My kids are in tutoring for some subjects more than the actual class time because of the lack of instruction and textbooks to teach your self. You need to work with parents instead of complaining and kids will not thrive without a good support system. And enough with the small group projects and discussions. Get back to teaching.

Cool let me know when they invent a machine that adds more hours to the day. Get back to yelling at the void I guess

Then, don't complain about parents not caring or not being involved when we try and the teachers aren't responsive. This is why so many kids are struggling.

If you're actually doing the proper job of a parent, why are you so incredibly defensive then? I've found that people who are doing their jobs properly know the discussion isn't aimed to them. Defensive people are usually defensive because they know they are guilty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an mcps educator and send my kids to mcps public schools. What I am seeing is disheartening. Teachers are at their breaking point; the behaviors and needs of the kids are unbelievable; Many are quitting even after many years of service; We are hiring whoever we can get- probably subpar people because at this point we need warm bodies; The education is suffering- I see teachers playing a YouTube video of a book read aloud instead of reading the book themselves; Gym and art teachers running their class with videos instead of good direct instruction- I guess they are tired and this isn't forbidden; I work with my own kids on basic facts because I don't trust the system to do a good job. Too many needy kids, burnt out teachers, poor instructional approaches, a growing lack of resources...the list goes on anc on; I truly believe mcps is sinking ship and will continue to decline year over year

As a parent, we are at our breaking point too. Teachers who don’t teach, grade assignments, review assignments and give feedback, don’t return emails from students or parents and do the absolute minimum. My kids are in tutoring for some subjects more than the actual class time because of the lack of instruction and textbooks to teach your self. You need to work with parents instead of complaining and kids will not thrive without a good support system. And enough with the small group projects and discussions. Get back to teaching.

Cool let me know when they invent a machine that adds more hours to the day. Get back to yelling at the void I guess

Then, don't complain about parents not caring or not being involved when we try and the teachers aren't responsive. This is why so many kids are struggling.

If you're actually doing the proper job of a parent, why are you so incredibly defensive then? I've found that people who are doing their jobs properly know the discussion isn't aimed to them. Defensive people are usually defensive because they know they are guilty.

EXACTLY. I am a parent and none of these posts from teaching are offensive to me because I know I'm doing my part. I am able to empathsize with them because I see others acting exactly and behaving exactly as the teachers here are describing. I'm not about to pretend I know what goes on in your work place day in and day out- don't do it to teachers either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an mcps educator and send my kids to mcps public schools. What I am seeing is disheartening. Teachers are at their breaking point; the behaviors and needs of the kids are unbelievable; Many are quitting even after many years of service; We are hiring whoever we can get- probably subpar people because at this point we need warm bodies; The education is suffering- I see teachers playing a YouTube video of a book read aloud instead of reading the book themselves; Gym and art teachers running their class with videos instead of good direct instruction- I guess they are tired and this isn't forbidden; I work with my own kids on basic facts because I don't trust the system to do a good job. Too many needy kids, burnt out teachers, poor instructional approaches, a growing lack of resources...the list goes on anc on; I truly believe mcps is sinking ship and will continue to decline year over year

As a parent, we are at our breaking point too. Teachers who don’t teach, grade assignments, review assignments and give feedback, don’t return emails from students or parents and do the absolute minimum. My kids are in tutoring for some subjects more than the actual class time because of the lack of instruction and textbooks to teach your self. You need to work with parents instead of complaining and kids will not thrive without a good support system. And enough with the small group projects and discussions. Get back to teaching.

Cool let me know when they invent a machine that adds more hours to the day. Get back to yelling at the void I guess

Then, don't complain about parents not caring or not being involved when we try and the teachers aren't responsive. This is why so many kids are struggling.

Students are not struggling because a teacher answered their email the next day. Students are not struggling because they can go ask their teacher what they need to turn in and what their grade is at any point. Students are struggling parents expect schools to raise them as if schools are in your home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Nah, this is on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not in MCPS, but I'm a teacher who quit. I was extremely successful and every single year my students made about a year and a half worth of growth. I was definitely underpaid, results or not. But, I was so demoralized when I left that it's really difficult to come up with a number that might have gotten me to stay. The entire education system has to change.

And I truly believe that in the next 5-10 years, schools won't be able to remain open. I think it is extremely realistic to imagine parents will be getting robo calls on Sunday nights to learn their school won't be able to open that week because there isn't staff to open safely. I think it's realistic to think that high schools won't be able to offer ANY clubs, sports, AP classes, etc, and that academic classes will have 80-200 kids in them, lecture style. I suspect online learning will be the norm for people who can afford a sahp and internet and everyone else will be screwed. I think buildings are going to close, most of the education programs in universities will close (the ones that haven't already). I think students with special needs won't be getting any services. The system is crumbling and is far worse than any parent I know realizes.

This is actually a good thing. Give families the money and the market will educate. New Americans already do this with cram schools - Kumon, mathnasium. In MCPS this is where real education happens anyways. Let’s cut out the middleman. Product of Buffalo public schools and taught kids/used cram schools during pandemic But realize places like MCPS need to close. So much better than public school. RIP.

No, sorry, Right Winger. You want private school or Christian “school,” you pay for it.

Enjoy your 10% tax hike for suboptimal outcomes.