Dr. Duran must go

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t buy that teachers don’t get paid enough for back up childcare. The average teacher salary in Arlington is 80-100k. There is no reason they can not afford childcare care. All other employees from mall workers, grocery workers, sanitation workers, waitresses come to work. They make less than what the teachers make. This is now more about a woke, progressive culture taking over N Virginia to such an extreme level that people are looking out for themselves instead of the greater good and not taking personal responsibility. These people have no sense of professionalism anymore or duty. Dr Duran is a prime example of someone from that woke culture who will put employees first before students because he believes whole heartedly that this school system exists to employ teachers rather than a system made to educate the city’s children.

It was a weather closing. Those other industries are not responsible for transporting students (safety), and, I’m sorry, but it is completely untrue that people in other industries don’t call out for child care issues every now and again. So much ado over a weather closure. I’m jealous of the time some of the people on here have on their hands. Must be “industry specific”….

You don't get it. Of course individuals call out of work from time to time for child care issues. But the EMPLOYER remains open and functioning and serving its customers and clients. Target doesn't close because a few of its employees need to stay home to watch a sick child or because their child has a snow day.

How many APS teachers with elementary - let's even go as far as through 8th grade - aged kids live in Fairfax County AND don't have a (1) stay at home partner or (2) family relative like a grandparent or (3) working partner who can call in to work for a child care issue or (4) friend/neighbor who can at least sometimes tend to their kid in the event Arlington does not need to close schools due to weather?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t buy that teachers don’t get paid enough for back up childcare. The average teacher salary in Arlington is 80-100k. There is no reason they can not afford childcare care. All other employees from mall workers, grocery workers, sanitation workers, waitresses come to work. They make less than what the teachers make. This is now more about a woke, progressive culture taking over N Virginia to such an extreme level that people are looking out for themselves instead of the greater good and not taking personal responsibility. These people have no sense of professionalism anymore or duty. Dr Duran is a prime example of someone from that woke culture who will put employees first before students because he believes whole heartedly that this school system exists to employ teachers rather than a system made to educate the city’s children.

Well that's not very much money for Arlington and back up child care is available in this area but the services are set up so an employer must purchase slots for their employees to use and then the employees can use the service for a daily fee. Of course there are other options and yes teachers just like other working professionals need to be prepared for instances when they need back up care. For example, many at home daycares don't close on snow days becuase they don't need to since the provider doesn't need to leave home to work.

[Anonymous]

Most of the complaints have been about the Syphax staff not working. There is zero reason that office staff should have had either of the questionable snow days off this year. It's not like they're on top of things either, they constantly drop balls from a working covid dashboard to functioning covid testing to staffing subs and summer school to fixing whatever is wrong with APS transportation. There's plenty to be done.


+1000
I see no reason why Syphax staff could not be working those days and getting things organized. Those snow days should not be treated as holidays!

Syphax: WAY overstaffed, underperforming, not getting the job done for schools, students or teachers! Accomplishments: coming up with more things for teachers to do and parents to be upset about. Get these people into the schools to see what is actually happening and to find out where they can actually be of some use! They are NEVER in the schools, just on their computers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t buy that teachers don’t get paid enough for back up childcare. The average teacher salary in Arlington is 80-100k. There is no reason they can not afford childcare care. All other employees from mall workers, grocery workers, sanitation workers, waitresses come to work. They make less than what the teachers make. This is now more about a woke, progressive culture taking over N Virginia to such an extreme level that people are looking out for themselves instead of the greater good and not taking personal responsibility. These people have no sense of professionalism anymore or duty. Dr Duran is a prime example of someone from that woke culture who will put employees first before students because he believes whole heartedly that this school system exists to employ teachers rather than a system made to educate the city’s children.

Well that's not very much money for Arlington and back up child care is available in this area but the services are set up so an employer must purchase slots for their employees to use and then the employees can use the service for a daily fee. Of course there are other options and yes teachers just like other working professionals need to be prepared for instances when they need back up care. For example, many at home daycares don't close on snow days because they don't need to since the provider doesn't need to leave home to work.

1) The sub shortage is due to COVID (increased need for subs and decreased willingness of people to sub). This too shall pass.
2) If in the future the sub system is no longer to be relied upon, then I agree. HOWEVER lets not pretend it isn't a change and that teachers are slackers because their employers had a back up system in place and then that back up system failed.
3) I agree it would have made sense for Syphax to telework, maybe even to call it an additional teacher planning day. But no way is it reasonable to suddenly demand teachers have back up child care when the sub system starts to fail.

When my parent was a teacher they had only 7 days of leave during the school year (sick and personal combined). If my parent needed to miss an additional day for any reason they simply didn't get paid. How many on DCUM have that little leave?

And while I'm thinking about this, why should the job and NOT caring for a sick family member be the priority? Isn't that thinking exactly what is wrong with America's work culture?

[Anonymous]

If everyone takes off for a personal problem, there would be chaos in the work place and in society. If you had a doctor’s appointment and that doctor canceled that appointment to take care of her family member at the last minute when you were sick and needed her you would be livid. Same for education. We are counting on our school system and teachers to be there for our students and also for the families. Of course, people can take leave but it’s unacceptable to close schools for last minute childcare issues. People count on each other. That’s how society works. We all are connected. It can’t be a “ me first “ mentality for teachers but everyone else in society has to be professional and rise to their duties and obligations.

[Anonymous]

I would like to see data. How many were actually affected that day by child care issues? How many sick? Do teachers have to report the reason why they’re absent and does it have to be verified? Not being argumentative just trying to understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If everyone takes off for a personal problem, there would be chaos in the work place and in society. If you had a doctor’s appointment and that doctor canceled that appointment to take care of her family member at the last minute when you were sick and needed her you would be livid. Same for education. We are counting on our school system and teachers to be there for our students and also for the families. Of course, people can take leave but it’s unacceptable to close schools for last minute childcare issues. People count on each other. That’s how society works. We all are connected. It can’t be a “ me first “ mentality for teachers but everyone else in society has to be professional and rise to their duties and obligations.

It isn't a me first mentality for teachers. The sub system failing is new. Whole school systems shutting down because too many teachers can't come in, when has that ever happened before this month?

When my doctor has been sick someone else in the practice sees me, or they've called and asked if I can reschedule if its just something routine. Get a grip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would like to see data. How many were actually affected that day by child care issues? How many sick? Do teachers have to report the reason why they’re absent and does it have to be verified? Not being argumentative just trying to understand.

I wouldn't expect this level of data, personally. How many employers keep that level of data? None that I've ever worked for. Could be discriminatory if you're tracking whether people have childcare issues or sick kids. Sure FMLA needs verification, but a day off I've never been asked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If everyone takes off for a personal problem, there would be chaos in the work place and in society. If you had a doctor’s appointment and that doctor canceled that appointment to take care of her family member at the last minute when you were sick and needed her you would be livid. Same for education. We are counting on our school system and teachers to be there for our students and also for the families. Of course, people can take leave but it’s unacceptable to close schools for last minute childcare issues. People count on each other. That’s how society works. We all are connected. It can’t be a “ me first “ mentality for teachers but everyone else in society has to be professional and rise to their duties and obligations.

It isn't a me first mentality for teachers. The sub system failing is new. Whole school systems shutting down because too many teachers can't come in, when has that ever happened before this month?

When my doctor has been sick someone else in the practice sees me, or they've called and asked if I can reschedule if its just something routine. Get a grip.

Forgot to add that educators are hardly a "me first" group. They're trying to give an education to your child every.single.day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If everyone takes off for a personal problem, there would be chaos in the work place and in society. If you had a doctor’s appointment and that doctor canceled that appointment to take care of her family member at the last minute when you were sick and needed her you would be livid. Same for education. We are counting on our school system and teachers to be there for our students and also for the families. Of course, people can take leave but it’s unacceptable to close schools for last minute childcare issues. People count on each other. That’s how society works. We all are connected. It can’t be a “ me first “ mentality for teachers but everyone else in society has to be professional and rise to their duties and obligations.

It isn't a me first mentality for teachers. The sub system failing is new. Whole school systems shutting down because too many teachers can't come in, when has that ever happened before this month?

When my doctor has been sick someone else in the practice sees me, or they've called and asked if I can reschedule if its just something routine. Get a grip.

Forgot to add that educators are hardly a "me first" group. They're trying to give an education to your child every.single.day.

They aren't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. They are doing it for compensation like any other job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t buy that teachers don’t get paid enough for back up childcare. The average teacher salary in Arlington is 80-100k. There is no reason they can not afford childcare care. All other employees from mall workers, grocery workers, sanitation workers, waitresses come to work. They make less than what the teachers make. This is now more about a woke, progressive culture taking over N Virginia to such an extreme level that people are looking out for themselves instead of the greater good and not taking personal responsibility. These people have no sense of professionalism anymore or duty. Dr Duran is a prime example of someone from that woke culture who will put employees first before students because he believes whole heartedly that this school system exists to employ teachers rather than a system made to educate the city’s children.

Well that's not very much money for Arlington and back up child care is available in this area but the services are set up so an employer must purchase slots for their employees to use and then the employees can use the service for a daily fee. Of course there are other options and yes teachers just like other working professionals need to be prepared for instances when they need back up care. For example, many at home daycares don't close on snow days because they don't need to since the provider doesn't need to leave home to work.

1) The sub shortage is due to COVID (increased need for subs and decreased willingness of people to sub). This too shall pass.
2) If in the future the sub system is no longer to be relied upon, then I agree. HOWEVER lets not pretend it isn't a change and that teachers are slackers because their employers had a back up system in place and then that back up system failed.
3) I agree it would have made sense for Syphax to telework, maybe even to call it an additional teacher planning day. But no way is it reasonable to suddenly demand teachers have back up child care when the sub system starts to fail.

When my parent was a teacher they had only 7 days of leave during the school year (sick and personal combined). If my parent needed to miss an additional day for any reason they simply didn't get paid. How many on DCUM have that little leave?

And while I'm thinking about this, why should the job and NOT caring for a sick family member be the priority? Isn't that thinking exactly what is wrong with America's work culture?

What does a sub shortage have to do with back up child care? If a teacher is at a school that is going to open, but their child's school is not, the teacher would need to have back up child care available for their child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I don’t buy that teachers don’t get paid enough for back up childcare. The average teacher salary in Arlington is 80-100k. There is no reason they can not afford childcare care. All other employees from mall workers, grocery workers, sanitation workers, waitresses come to work. They make less than what the teachers make. This is now more about a woke, progressive culture taking over N Virginia to such an extreme level that people are looking out for themselves instead of the greater good and not taking personal responsibility. These people have no sense of professionalism anymore or duty. Dr Duran is a prime example of someone from that woke culture who will put employees first before students because he believes whole heartedly that this school system exists to employ teachers rather than a system made to educate the city’s children

Source? I know teachers in APS that have worked there 10-12 years who are making $70K. With master's degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If everyone takes off for a personal problem, there would be chaos in the work place and in society. If you had a doctor’s appointment and that doctor canceled that appointment to take care of her family member at the last minute when you were sick and needed her you would be livid. Same for education. We are counting on our school system and teachers to be there for our students and also for the families. Of course, people can take leave but it’s unacceptable to close schools for last minute childcare issues. People count on each other. That’s how society works. We all are connected. It can’t be a “ me first “ mentality for teachers but everyone else in society has to be professional and rise to their duties and obligations.



It isn't a me first mentality for teachers. The sub system failing is new. Whole school systems shutting down because too many teachers can't come in, when has that ever happened before this month?

When my doctor has been sick someone else in the practice sees me, or they've called and asked if I can reschedule if its just something routine. Get a grip.



Forgot to add that educators are hardly a "me first" group. They're trying to give an education to your child every.single.day.




They aren't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. They are doing it for compensation like any other job.

They are choosing this field, knowing full well that it doesn't pay as well as other fields, because they care about kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don’t buy that teachers don’t get paid enough for back up childcare. The average teacher salary in Arlington is 80-100k. There is no reason they can not afford childcare care. All other employees from mall workers, grocery workers, sanitation workers, waitresses come to work. They make less than what the teachers make. This is now more about a woke, progressive culture taking over N Virginia to such an extreme level that people are looking out for themselves instead of the greater good and not taking personal responsibility. These people have no sense of professionalism anymore or duty. Dr Duran is a prime example of someone from that woke culture who will put employees first before students because he believes whole heartedly that this school system exists to employ teachers rather than a system made to educate the city’s children

Source? I know teachers in APS that have worked there 10-12 years who are making $70K. With master's degrees.

We’ve had a ton of salary freezes over the past 12 years or so- the only teacher making 80k-100k have been there at least 20 years. Not comparable to most other professionals in this area with masters degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don’t buy that teachers don’t get paid enough for back up childcare. The average teacher salary in Arlington is 80-100k. There is no reason they can not afford childcare care. All other employees from mall workers, grocery workers, sanitation workers, waitresses come to work. They make less than what the teachers make. This is now more about a woke, progressive culture taking over N Virginia to such an extreme level that people are looking out for themselves instead of the greater good and not taking personal responsibility. These people have no sense of professionalism anymore or duty. Dr Duran is a prime example of someone from that woke culture who will put employees first before students because he believes whole heartedly that this school system exists to employ teachers rather than a system made to educate the city’s children

Source? I know teachers in APS that have worked there 10-12 years who are making $70K. With master's degrees.

We’ve had a ton of salary freezes over the past 12 years or so- the only teacher making 80k-100k have been there at least 20 years. Not comparable to most other professionals in this area with masters degrees.

And the ones making that much probably don’t have elementary aged kids.