demoralized in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, OP, are you at the ES where I teach? I am moving to a higher SES school with a good rep to avoid this.

Haha, maybe! There weren’t any openings in higher SES schools for my position next year. I’m still checking Careers this summer, though. -OP

It’s just a different set of problems. I’ve taught in both. There’s no perfect school. But you can work somewhere where you don’t get a headache every day. Decide what one behavior (from kids or adults) you absolutely can’t tolerate. Work around the rest. For me, it was entitlement. DH can’t abide lying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New poster here. After working for 2 black principals, I will not do that anymore. They bullied white teachers, and were never approachable.

3 of the best Principals I have known in 18 years in MCPS have been Black. 1 was a male. They have been in extremely diverse schools, some with special programs, and all of them were exceptional. At least two of them were targeted by MCPS Central Office and very corrupt administrators who were their bosses. All three of them were replaced with useless White male principals.
- Asian-American parent.

+1. The two best principals I have experienced in 12 years at MCPS and 5 schools just happened to be AA. I never thought about it until I read your post. What does race have to do with the quality of leadership??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many problems would be fixed if the MCPS Employee Code of Conduct was actually followed. Currently it is a worthless document that is rarely enforced.

Same goes for the Student Code of Conduct. However, depending on the school and data points, students are more likely to be disciplined to the maximum penalty than staff.

+1 million

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many problems would be fixed if the MCPS Employee Code of Conduct was actually followed. Currently it is a worthless document that is rarely enforced.

Same goes for the Student Code of Conduct. However, depending on the school and data points, students are more likely to be disciplined to the maximum penalty than staff.

+1 million

What are children taught when they see adults treating others badly? They are taught to be students who treat others badly. The lack of enforcement of the Employee and Student Codes of conduct is why school climate is in the toilet. It's a vicious cycle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many problems would be fixed if the MCPS Employee Code of Conduct was actually followed. Currently it is a worthless document that is rarely enforced.

Same goes for the Student Code of Conduct. However, depending on the school and data points, students are more likely to be disciplined to the maximum penalty than staff.

+1 million

What are children taught when they see adults treating others badly? They are taught to be students who treat others badly. The lack of enforcement of the Employee and Student Codes of conduct is why school climate is in the toilet. It's a vicious cycle.

I also think there’s a lot of aggression among staff that goes undetected by admin. Or they detect it but don’t know what to do or just how demeaning one staff member can be to another, especially if one person has more power. It’s classic bullying, but I think male principals especially often don’t have the savvy to know what to do, particularly when one woman staff member is creating a bad environment for another woman staff member. They’re either scared of the aggressive woman themselves, or just don’t know what to do, or they’re oblivious. I wonder if they’d sit up and pay more attention, or act differently if they knew just how many teachers leave because they’re getting mistreated by another staff person. Principals have to recognize it and stop it, or it continues, and there’s more and more attrition. When there is no consequence, it just destroys morale.

[Anonymous]

As someone who has been experiencing staff on staff bullying, I can promise you that I would never go to my union. I don’t trust them and would sooner quit than go to them. I agree that staff who bully subordinates probably aren’t good to some kids either. Some of the department chairs have been at my school for so long they think they run the place, especially since principals come and go. They even boss around our principal and he lets them. I know I’m not the first victim of my department chair and Im sure I won’t be the last.

[Anonymous]

MCEA and admin will put a target on any teacher that tries to fix problems that are causing violence, rape, and bullying among students and staff. They have rules against retaliation but in the end they will gang up on you if you are a "turd in the punch bowl". Sweep everything under the rug and put blinders on if you want to keep your job and the next time someone gets ass raped with a broom just say " no one could have predicted this".

[Anonymous]

This is what happens when MCPS sweeps issues under the rug:

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/courts/schools-sued-for-allowing-teacher-to-stay-in-classroom-after-abuse-allegations-surfaced/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCEA and admin will put a target on any teacher that tries to fix problems that are causing violence, rape, and bullying among students and staff. They have rules against retaliation but in the end they will gang up on you if you are a "turd in the punch bowl". Sweep everything under the rug and put blinders on if you want to keep your job and the next time someone gets ass raped with a broom just say " no one could have predicted this".

+1 This is why school climate issues are getting worse, not better. Ignoring problems does not fix problems no matter how many new initiatives you profess to have. There is no fidelity at the school level and in Central Office to care about the well-being of students and staff in MCPS schools.

[Anonymous]

I left the county last year. I am surprised by the "walk in" recruitment days the county has offered, however.

The county cannot retain smart, young teachers. The money and benefits aren't enough to make up for the abusive situations that are now very common.

bullying, racial tension. low academic & behavioral expectations

When part of the salary is used toward therapy (and I've had quite a few colleagues seek help), is it really worth it?

[Anonymous]

The biggest problem for MCPS is entitled parents, The rest of these issues pale by comparison.

[Anonymous]

Prime example-. Rape occurs under principal Crouses Management, then she is promoted with same 6 fig salary. New teacher is bullied when they ask questions to try to fix the violent system that holds no kids accountable for their actions- fired for giving 2 shits about making school better. This is education these days. The only way to get ahead is ignore the rapes and violence, blame the new guys, get promoted, give all the kids A's even if they don't show up, pass em along if they can't read, encourage students to take out student loans, then you will be promoted to be the one who can bully, fire, and have job security. This is MCPS in a nut shell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Prime example-. Rape occurs under principal Crouses Management, then she is promoted with same 6 fig salary. New teacher is bullied when they ask questions to try to fix the violent system that holds no kids accountable for their actions- fired for giving 2 shits about making school better. This is education these days. The only way to get ahead is ignore the rapes and violence, blame the new guys, get promoted, give all the kids A's even if they don't show up, pass em along if they can't read, encourage students to take out student loans, then you will be promoted to be the one who can bully, fire, and have job security. This is MCPS in a nut shell.

I agree with this. The parents haven’t been a problem for me at all, in fact, they have agitated on my behalf (and my colleagues’ behalf) at times to the powers-that-be. I don’t blame parents at all. The same forces that are screwing teachers are screwing up their own kids’ education, and many recognize that. Everything from the principal level and on up is about fudging numbers and appearances and making it look like those in charge are implementing cutting edge initiatives. Spoiler alert: it’s all just rhetoric.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Prime example-. Rape occurs under principal Crouses Management, then she is promoted with same 6 fig salary. New teacher is bullied when they ask questions to try to fix the violent system that holds no kids accountable for their actions- fired for giving 2 shits about making school better. This is education these days. The only way to get ahead is ignore the rapes and violence, blame the new guys, get promoted, give all the kids A's even if they don't show up, pass em along if they can't read, encourage students to take out student loans, then you will be promoted to be the one who can bully, fire, and have job security. This is MCPS in a nut shell.

I agree with this. The parents haven’t been a problem for me at all, in fact, they have agitated on my behalf (and my colleagues’ behalf) at times to the powers-that-be. I don’t blame parents at all. The same forces that are screwing teachers are screwing up their own kids’ education, and many recognize that. Everything from the principal level and on up is about fudging numbers and appearances and making it look like those in charge are implementing cutting edge initiatives. Spoiler alert: it’s all just rhetoric.

Isn't this a criminal matter? MCPS doesn't have prisons or courts.

[Anonymous]

Makes teachers lives a living hell and they pressure everyone to fraud everything. The fraud could be Nationwide even as we see how much education is degrading our students, families, and the economy. Perhaps principals have just been playing the game so long they don't know what right and wrong is anymore. They just want a pay check and a cushy job. You just have to break a few teachers along the way who have idealism to try to better things.