Received an email that DS teacher quit Friday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a good conversation about what is expected of teachers.

We have people expecting teachers, despite low pay and contract employment, to stay in a job until the end of the year and only look for new employment during a 2 month window of time in the year. Is that an expectation you set for yourself?

The pandemic showed us that people don't consider teachers to be professionals. Instead, they consider them doormats. They second-guess everything teachers do and say, and the governor has created tip sheets so that people can tattle on them. They blame them for the pandemic, and blame them for making policy decisions that are way above their pay grade (virtual learning) They consider teachers to be glorified babysitters who should martyr themselves, their own health, and the health of their families (they are parents, too) so that other parents can go to work or work out at the gym.

If you are going to treat teachers this way, expect them to leave. And if they do, you have no one to blame but yourselves. Do not set expectations of them that equal those of doctors, as someone in this thread has.

Here's the thing. I'm an attorney who works in state government. My annual pay is lower that a teacher with the same years of experience, and I don't get all of the breaks that teachers get during the school year. My professional responsibilities to my clients do not change based on how much money I make. I'm either a professional or I'm not. I might have months of leave, but I am not free to use it at times when it would injury my clients. None of this is to say that some teachers don't have good reasons for absences or quitting, but that doesn't mean some don't take advantage or that their inability to fulfill their job duties doesn't have a detrimental impact on students. Which is it? Are teachers professionals who deserve to be paid much more? Or are they workers whose only obligation is to fulfill the terms of their contracts as best they can, taking every hour of leave available to them, leaving mid-year if necessary, while at the same time working in a system that punishes kids for their late work and missed assignments in order to teach students about the "real world"?

What is your point? Teachers are not indentured servants. They are free to leave whenever they want. They just never used to do so (but I get why they do now, even if I wish they didn't). You are also free to leave your position at any time.

And fwiw, I have no problem taking every single bit of leave available to me. I've earned it. It's mine to use. And you shouldn't either.

You don't care if it screws over your students? Surely your presence has some benefit?

[Anonymous]

Teachers who don't want to teach should quit. Bitter, burnt-out teachers are terrible for children, both academically and emotionally. I'd rather have fewer good teachers than have my child stuck with a dud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That sucks, and I'm sorry. There must be something really difficult going on in that teacher's life right to make such a decision.

She probably got fed up with the a-hole parents.

Honestly, this is probably accurate.

I wouldn't blame her.

Not this late in the year. It’s unprofessional and rude. Anyone can work another 6 weeks. That’s a really $hitty thing to do to her students. Just finish the damn year and move on.

No one here has any idea what is happening with this teacher in her personal life.

They shouldn't quit. people were not quitting their jobs like this 3 years ago. Biden needs to banned this and do something to stop people from quitting. MY DD English teacher quit last month, she said quit and ain't coming back. It's a sad day in America. November can't come soon enough, I will be voting and something will be done to stop the labor shortage.

You can't force labor. People aren't slaves. That is a route to have zero teachers available to teach in the fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really? 34 days left and she quits.

The email says they are looking for a permanent sub but they have been difficult to find.

So basically for the next month+ he'll just have a revolving door of subs it sounds like.

My favorite part of the email was actually for us to prepare the kids that their classroom will look different on Monday morning. I'm assuming because she took a bunch of decorations and furniture with her that she'd purchased.

He's so bummed and I'm bummed for him.

Yes, really. I’m a teacher with a decade of experience and would like to quit as well. This year has been awful.

Yeah, me too.

I am a consultant. I work for one company but the work I do benefits my clients. I am getting ready to quit my job, but I am giving my employer two weeks notice and my clients the courtesy of finishing out the projects I am currently working on (or in one case, transitioning it to another consultant) before I leave. I don't blame teachers for quitting, it's been a really awful two years, but it would be nice if the ones quitting a month before school ends could give their employer/clients the same courtesy.

There are so many assumptions in this post it’s crazy. Maybe they were fired, maybe there are gravely ill…no one on here knows!

Exactly. Maybe the teacher did give notice to the school and it didn’t make it to the parents.

It doesn’t even matter. Teachers are allowed to quit. They don’t have to martyr themselves for other people’s children. They have their own needs and it’s 100% acceptable for teachers to focus on those first. It’s time to start respecting teachers and the choices they have to make.

That's fine, quit, just remember that this is a reflection on all teachers - so by doing something like this, you are disrespecting all your co-workers because parents WILL take it out on them.

Nope. Sorry. It’s 2022. The whole Demanding Teachers Be Martyrs thing is over.

One teacher’s decision is a “reflection” on no one but themselves.

We learned that teachers aren't essential. And some of them aren't professional, either.

Martyrdom is entirely different.

You’re right. They’re not essential workers to be forced to work in person unvaccinated while the majority of white collar parents sat happily at home. And some of them aren’t professional, just as some people in all professions aren’t professional.

Glad you’ve caught up.

I am married to a pulmonologist. He would never, ever up and quit and leave his patients hanging without any information about their care plan. Not sure why you feel so entitled.

There are lesson plans and pacing guides in place for any new person taking on the role. There is a plan of care. And I'm sure when teachers get the benefits and quality of life afforded to a pulmonologist, there will be many highly professional ones lining up for the job so you don't have to worry about the ones who quit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That sucks, and I'm sorry. There must be something really difficult going on in that teacher's life right to make such a decision.

She probably got fed up with the a-hole parents.

Honestly, this is probably accurate.

I wouldn't blame her.

Not this late in the year. It’s unprofessional and rude. Anyone can work another 6 weeks. That’s a really $hitty thing to do to her students. Just finish the damn year and move on.

No one here has any idea what is happening with this teacher in her personal life.

They shouldn't quit. people were not quitting their jobs like this 3 years ago. Biden needs to banned this and do something to stop people from quitting. MY DD English teacher quit last month, she said quit and ain't coming back. It's a sad day in America. November can't come soon enough, I will be voting and something will be done to stop the labor shortage.

You can't force labor. People aren't slaves. That is a route to have zero teachers available to teach in the fall.

The ones who quit midyear won't be working this fall anyway. Maybe you need to rethink your route.

[Anonymous]

Serious question for OP: What did your 5th grader tell you about the class prior to the teacher quitting? I have a 5th grader as well and frankly I wouldn’t be shocked if her teacher quit on the spot either, based on the stories my DD tells me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Serious question for OP: What did your 5th grader tell you about the class prior to the teacher quitting? I have a 5th grader as well and frankly I wouldn’t be shocked if her teacher quit on the spot either, based on the stories my DD tells me.

Same for my DD's sixth grade class. Wow.

My third grader's class, on the other hand, not crazy at all. Anxiety levels high, yes; misbehavior, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a good conversation about what is expected of teachers.

We have people expecting teachers, despite low pay and contract employment, to stay in a job until the end of the year and only look for new employment during a 2 month window of time in the year. Is that an expectation you set for yourself?

The pandemic showed us that people don't consider teachers to be professionals. Instead, they consider them doormats. They second-guess everything teachers do and say, and the governor has created tip sheets so that people can tattle on them. They blame them for the pandemic, and blame them for making policy decisions that are way above their pay grade (virtual learning) They consider teachers to be glorified babysitters who should martyr themselves, their own health, and the health of their families (they are parents, too) so that other parents can go to work or work out at the gym.

If you are going to treat teachers this way, expect them to leave. And if they do, you have no one to blame but yourselves. Do not set expectations of them that equal those of doctors, as someone in this thread has.

Here's the thing. I'm an attorney who works in state government. My annual pay is lower that a teacher with the same years of experience, and I don't get all of the breaks that teachers get during the school year. My professional responsibilities to my clients do not change based on how much money I make. I'm either a professional or I'm not. I might have months of leave, but I am not free to use it at times when it would injury my clients. None of this is to say that some teachers don't have good reasons for absences or quitting, but that doesn't mean some don't take advantage or that their inability to fulfill their job duties doesn't have a detrimental impact on students. Which is it? Are teachers professionals who deserve to be paid much more? Or are they workers whose only obligation is to fulfill the terms of their contracts as best they can, taking every hour of leave available to them, leaving mid-year if necessary, while at the same time working in a system that punishes kids for their late work and missed assignments in order to teach students about the "real world"?

+1. Amen. Most of us would face repercussions if we quit without finishing the work our client expected. Kids are the client of the teacher. Quitting 6 weeks before the end of the year with no substitute in place is unprofessional and uncaring.

Um, no. That work would be given to someone else.
-also an attorney here

Um, only if you’re an office worker. But a contractor who quit a construction job or a manufacturer who closed down after promising a delivery? People can come after you in court if you just quit with no notice and no replacement for delivery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My niece will graduate next weekend with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She's no longer going into teaching. She's graduating with 800 hours of in-classroom experience and she said that's 760 hours too many.

She lined up a job as a Social Media Marketing Specialist for a minor league sports team that will start training in June.

That's sad, its all about the money....

\

You think this social media specialist for a minor league team will pay more than a 1st year teacher? Bwhahahah!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My niece will graduate next weekend with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She's no longer going into teaching. She's graduating with 800 hours of in-classroom experience and she said that's 760 hours too many.

She lined up a job as a Social Media Marketing Specialist for a minor league sports team that will start training in June.

That's sad, its all about the money....

\

You think this social media specialist for a minor league team will pay more than a 1st year teacher? Bwhahahah!

DP: it's about the quality of life.

[Anonymous]

Colleges are out for the summer. FCPS should try to reach out to the new teachers they are hiring for next year to see if the new teachers want to start a little early. Bet they could find a recent college grad who would love some extra cash before the summer break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Serious question for OP: What did your 5th grader tell you about the class prior to the teacher quitting? I have a 5th grader as well and frankly I wouldn’t be shocked if her teacher quit on the spot either, based on the stories my DD tells me.

What are the stories?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question for OP: What did your 5th grader tell you about the class prior to the teacher quitting? I have a 5th grader as well and frankly I wouldn’t be shocked if her teacher quit on the spot either, based on the stories my DD tells me.

Same for my DD's sixth grade class. Wow.

My third grader's class, on the other hand, not crazy at all. Anxiety levels high, yes; misbehavior, no.

Why are anxiety levels high in third grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colleges are out for the summer. FCPS should try to reach out to the new teachers they are hiring for next year to see if the new teachers want to start a little early. Bet they could find a recent college grad who would love some extra cash before the summer break.

They are already doing this and have been throughout the pandemic. Most of these "recent college grads" have been holding done long term sub positions while finishing up their work. Many have had long term sub jobs long enough that instead of doing student teaching, they are just doing their jobs with alternate licensing exemptions. FCPS is tapping all possibilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question for OP: What did your 5th grader tell you about the class prior to the teacher quitting? I have a 5th grader as well and frankly I wouldn’t be shocked if her teacher quit on the spot either, based on the stories my DD tells me.

Same for my DD's sixth grade class. Wow.

My third grader's class, on the other hand, not crazy at all. Anxiety levels high, yes; misbehavior, no.

Why are anxiety levels high in third grade?

I'm not sure if covid has made it worse or if this is just a bunch of anxious kids. They panic at the sound of the fire alarm, scare themselves routinely about all sorts of things, etc. My DS has a diagnosis of GAD and from the things he says, it sounds like he has found his people.