Attendance pressure

[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.

Cut off nose to spite face?

[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: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.

It's almost like you are in child of your own children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why should schools spend resources trying to convince parents to send their kids to school? It’s not a business; it’s a free public good.

If it’s a free public good, there would be no problem with my choosing not to avail myself of it for a few days this winter. Since FCPS seems to have money on the line, they can start working harder to make it make sense for those few days to be spent in school. Right now it would be foolish. I welcome them to do better.

Agree. Better for the schools to skip the attendance emails and not tie funding to attendance when families do not prioritize their children’s schooling.

The fact that there is any significant number of parents (highly educated, UMC etc. etc. as is the demographic of this board) can take their children out to travel or whatever and still get their desired academic results suggests that missing those days is not a big deal.

Now, is it just that the super smarties can miss due to their intelligence and involved parents and not missing more than a day or so in a year is only vital for the merely above average and below, or is "schooling" simply not what it used to be?

As these parents continue to "poo-poo" rigorous school attendance, they may increasingly come to the conclusion that the "free public good" of this kind of school isn't actually up to par. Perhaps their children need an environment in which missing a chunk of days would have an impact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Cut off nose to spite face?

My kid isn’t missing anything from people like that “teacher”

[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.

FCPS made it very clear they did not care about kids being in school during Covid. Other districts were open and operating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why should schools spend resources trying to convince parents to send their kids to school? It’s not a business; it’s a free public good.

If it’s a free public good, there would be no problem with my choosing not to avail myself of it for a few days this winter. Since FCPS seems to have money on the line, they can start working harder to make it make sense for those few days to be spent in school. Right now it would be foolish. I welcome them to do better.

Agree. Better for the schools to skip the attendance emails and not tie funding to attendance when families do not prioritize their children’s schooling.

The fact that there is any significant number of parents (highly educated, UMC etc. etc. as is the demographic of this board) can take their children out to travel or whatever and still get their desired academic results suggests that missing those days is not a big deal.

Now, is it just that the super smarties can miss due to their intelligence and involved parents and not missing more than a day or so in a year is only vital for the merely above average and below, or is "schooling" simply not what it used to be?

As these parents continue to "poo-poo" rigorous school attendance, they may increasingly come to the conclusion that the "free public good" of this kind of school isn't actually up to par. Perhaps their children need an environment in which missing a chunk of days would have an impact.

Very good point

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

For medical reasons we cannot see my FIL in the summers, I assure you we didn’t choose his diagnosis.

Families are made up of more than one person. It would be impossible to choose to live in the same country as all of our immediate family, as they are in three countries.

An educator blithely assuming everyone chooses the circumstances of where they live is ignorance of the highest caliber.

Our families story is a happy one,
there are plenty who cannot choose where they’re resettled as refugees, where cancer treatments are available to their children, where their military orders will send them or where their spouses and children can legally live. A teacher who doesn’t know that has no business teaching especially in this area.

Could you be any more self important? Just bloviating.

[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.

It is part of the health curriculum and in the pacing guide. You can opt out and there are other health lessons for those kids. Secondly, that is one thing. We are still teaching science, math and LA those days. My kids have a math test that Thursday. Kids who miss it will need to make it up when they return. I have a student starting their winter break next week and will miss the whole unit of instruction. I don’t have a problem with kids missing school. I do have a problem when parents ask for work and expect teachers to catch them up.

[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.

It is part of the health curriculum and in the pacing guide. You can opt out and there are other health lessons for those kids. Secondly, that is one thing. We are still teaching science, math and LA those days. My kids have a math test that Thursday. Kids who miss it will need to make it up when they return. I have a student starting their winter break next week and will miss the whole unit of instruction. I don’t have a problem with kids missing school. I do have a problem when parents ask for work and expect teachers to catch them up.

So you’re mad if parents keep their kids on track, and mad if they don’t. Got it. Very flexible and sensible of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

For medical reasons we cannot see my FIL in the summers, I assure you we didn’t choose his diagnosis.

Families are made up of more than one person. It would be impossible to choose to live in the same country as all of our immediate family, as they are in three countries.

An educator blithely assuming everyone chooses the circumstances of where they live is ignorance of the highest caliber.

Our families story is a happy one,
there are plenty who cannot choose where they’re resettled as refugees, where cancer treatments are available to their children, where their military orders will send them or where their spouses and children can legally live. A teacher who doesn’t know that has no business teaching especially in this area.

You get two weeks off plus weekends. Go during vacation. It sounds like you want our system to adapt to yours. Sorry about the expense, but that is your choice. With three different countries, surely you can visit one of them in the summer.

Happily, I get as many days off as I say I do. The only adaptation needed is for FCPS to come yo realize that the time and money of the parents isn’t at their disposal, and if they want families to make sacrifices they need to make it worth it.

And teachers are saying those days are instructional days when they do teach content.

Then they should be easy for FCPS to solve. Next year, release the data that shows that there were no substitutes in the final week of school. Then the parents will see that the teachers are being asked to make the same financial sacrifices they are.

There always will be subs. Teachers get sick, their kids get sick, and things happen. I guess the gist is, very few teachers in FCPS are taking off a full week to go travel. Very few will be taking the Thursday/Friday off to start their vacation early. Does that mean some are? Yes. But that needs to be approved by the principal. Many principals limit personal leave before a break.

So unless you ask for data of personal leave vs sick leave, you won’t get much info.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

For medical reasons we cannot see my FIL in the summers, I assure you we didn’t choose his diagnosis.

Families are made up of more than one person. It would be impossible to choose to live in the same country as all of our immediate family, as they are in three countries.

An educator blithely assuming everyone chooses the circumstances of where they live is ignorance of the highest caliber.

Our families story is a happy one,
there are plenty who cannot choose where they’re resettled as refugees, where cancer treatments are available to their children, where their military orders will send them or where their spouses and children can legally live. A teacher who doesn’t know that has no business teaching especially in this area.

You get two weeks off plus weekends. Go during vacation. It sounds like you want our system to adapt to yours. Sorry about the expense, but that is your choice. With three different countries, surely you can visit one of them in the summer.

Happily, I get as many days off as I say I do. The only adaptation needed is for FCPS to come yo realize that the time and money of the parents isn’t at their disposal, and if they want families to make sacrifices they need to make it worth it.

And teachers are saying those days are instructional days when they do teach content.

Then they should be easy for FCPS to solve. Next year, release the data that shows that there were no substitutes in the final week of school. Then the parents will see that the teachers are being asked to make the same financial sacrifices they are.

There always will be subs. Teachers get sick, their kids get sick, and things happen. I guess the gist is, very few teachers in FCPS are taking off a full week to go travel. Very few will be taking the Thursday/Friday off to start their vacation early. Does that mean some are? Yes. But that needs to be approved by the principal. Many principals limit personal leave before a break.

So unless you ask for data of personal leave vs sick leave, you won’t get much info.

And for the kids to do it, it needs to be approved by their parents. There can’t be one set of expectations for teachers attendance vs students, it looks (and is) comically unserious,

[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:

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?

For medical reasons we cannot see my FIL in the summers, I assure you we didn’t choose his diagnosis.

Families are made up of more than one person. It would be impossible to choose to live in the same country as all of our immediate family, as they are in three countries.

An educator blithely assuming everyone chooses the circumstances of where they live is ignorance of the highest caliber.

Our families story is a happy one,
there are plenty who cannot choose where they’re resettled as refugees, where cancer treatments are available to their children, where their military orders will send them or where their spouses and children can legally live. A teacher who doesn’t know that has no business teaching especially in this area.

You get two weeks off plus weekends. Go during vacation. It sounds like you want our system to adapt to yours. Sorry about the expense, but that is your choice. With three different countries, surely you can visit one of them in the summer.

Happily, I get as many days off as I say I do. The only adaptation needed is for FCPS to come yo realize that the time and money of the parents isn’t at their disposal, and if they want families to make sacrifices they need to make it worth it.

And teachers are saying those days are instructional days when they do teach content.

Then they should be easy for FCPS to solve. Next year, release the data that shows that there were no substitutes in the final week of school. Then the parents will see that the teachers are being asked to make the same financial sacrifices they are.

There always will be subs. Teachers get sick, their kids get sick, and things happen. I guess the gist is, very few teachers in FCPS are taking off a full week to go travel. Very few will be taking the Thursday/Friday off to start their vacation early. Does that mean some are? Yes. But that needs to be approved by the principal. Many principals limit personal leave before a break.

So unless you ask for data of personal leave vs sick leave, you won’t get much info.

And for the kids to do it, it needs to be approved by their parents. There can’t be one set of expectations for teachers attendance vs students, it looks (and is) comically unserious,

This is ludicrous. Yes there can be different expectations for kids who are LEARNING and need food, supervision, instruction, passing grades and test scores to attend school and a different one for the grown adults with multiple responsibilities who are at their job that has PTO like any other job. Yall have GOT to quit normalizing treating kids and adults as equals!

[Anonymous]

Once more:

The PP said they were saving money by taking the kids out of school. So, they are valuing their $$$ over school attendance.

The schools receive funds based on average daily attendance. When kids are out because it is cheaper for their parents to travel then, that means the schools get less money.

No one begrudges a day or two here and there--but if your child is missing weeks of school for travel, you are the problem.

[Anonymous]

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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?

For medical reasons we cannot see my FIL in the summers, I assure you we didn’t choose his diagnosis.

Families are made up of more than one person. It would be impossible to choose to live in the same country as all of our immediate family, as they are in three countries.

An educator blithely assuming everyone chooses the circumstances of where they live is ignorance of the highest caliber.

Our families story is a happy one,
there are plenty who cannot choose where they’re resettled as refugees, where cancer treatments are available to their children, where their military orders will send them or where their spouses and children can legally live. A teacher who doesn’t know that has no business teaching especially in this area.

You get two weeks off plus weekends. Go during vacation. It sounds like you want our system to adapt to yours. Sorry about the expense, but that is your choice. With three different countries, surely you can visit one of them in the summer.

Happily, I get as many days off as I say I do. The only adaptation needed is for FCPS to come yo realize that the time and money of the parents isn’t at their disposal, and if they want families to make sacrifices they need to make it worth it.

And teachers are saying those days are instructional days when they do teach content.

Then they should be easy for FCPS to solve. Next year, release the data that shows that there were no substitutes in the final week of school. Then the parents will see that the teachers are being asked to make the same financial sacrifices they are.

There always will be subs. Teachers get sick, their kids get sick, and things happen. I guess the gist is, very few teachers in FCPS are taking off a full week to go travel. Very few will be taking the Thursday/Friday off to start their vacation early. Does that mean some are? Yes. But that needs to be approved by the principal. Many principals limit personal leave before a break.

So unless you ask for data of personal leave vs sick leave, you won’t get much info.

And for the kids to do it, it needs to be approved by their parents. There can’t be one set of expectations for teachers attendance vs students, it looks (and is) comically unserious,

This is ludicrous. Yes there can be different expectations for kids who are LEARNING and need food, supervision, instruction, passing grades and test scores to attend school and a different one for the grown adults with multiple responsibilities who are at their job that has PTO like any other job. Yall have GOT to quit normalizing treating kids and adults as equals!

Is “dependability” a value or not? Is being in school more important than family or budget or not?

If it is, teachers shouldn’t be out.

If it isn’t, schools shouldn’t be grouchy when kids are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once more:

The PP said they were saving money by taking the kids out of school. So, they are valuing their $$$ over school attendance.

The schools receive funds based on average daily attendance. When kids are out because it is cheaper for their parents to travel then, that means the schools get less money.

No one begrudges a day or two here and there--but if your child is missing weeks of school for travel, you are the problem.

Except for high achieving kids, you still haven’t articulated a problem.

The problem is the schools get less money? FCPS fixes that next year by moving the planning days to the high-volume sub days of the day before Xmas break, spring break, and Thanksgiving break. Solved your worst attendance stats for you!