MCPS teachers - what would you tell parents in your class(es) if you could?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't you all see?? There isn't one problem, there are many. And it's cyclical and because we aren't working as a team, that's where it fails. Part of why America is falling behind on education is because of the individualism promoted in our culture. My life, my needs, my family. There's not a "we are all in this together" mentality and that's why we are failing.

I'd say the opposite.

We're asking too much from society, and taking too little responsibility for individual selves and our families.

Teacher after teacher has said that their job is literally impossible. Why?

Because we're asking them to do EVERYTHING for kids--nutrition, behavior, academics, special needs, ESOL, G&T, etc., etc., etc.

Society simply cannot do that. Individual parents need to step up and take much more responsibility for their kids.

Some of us do far more than you realize. Others are not capable or doing the best they can. A teacher is a hodgepodge of everything. Teachers need to partner with parents. We were excluded from everything in ES. Very little communication too except one good teacher who did it off hours in secret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That they should be supplementing at home. We aren't allowed to give ELA homework in the early grades (maybe that will change if we ever get a new curriculum) so instead we tell families to “read” when what I really want them to do is a few minutes of fluency drills to reinforce what I’m teaching in class.

This is actually very helpful. How do we find out what to drill them on? There is no textbook or handout that they bring home. What would you recommend to a parent who has bandwidth and motivation to reinforce at home?

Don’t worry about what mcps is doing. Look at the gaps, get workbooks and work through them.

[Anonymous]

If you value an “A” more than your child’s moral integrity, as well as emotional, and physical well-being, you are a bad parent. If you refuse to hold your child accountable for their actions, or stymie teachers trying to hold your child accountable for their actions; or if you enable your child to lie and cheat to get ahead, you are also a bad parent whose child will grow up to be a liar and a cheater, or worse.

Also, before you call or email your child’s teacher, take your child’s phone and put it in the garbage disposal. There. You’ve fixed the problem and saved everyone (except the plumber) a lot of grief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:.... you are required to make sure the student is looking at you before you deliver instruction, check for understanding with that student before moving on, then write the directions on the board, etc. The other students have to wait even if they all can go at a faster pace because you have to spend so much time redirecting the student. Then you have to mark down on a paper every few minutes if the student is on task. Then check in with the student after they have begun to work, allow the student to give verbal answers instead of writing them down if the student chooses, provide alternative assignments if it is too difficult, etc....

Is this typical of an iep, or is this an especially unusual case?

This is unusual but some iep students can suck up a lot of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:.... you are required to make sure the student is looking at you before you deliver instruction, check for understanding with that student before moving on, then write the directions on the board, etc. The other students have to wait even if they all can go at a faster pace because you have to spend so much time redirecting the student. Then you have to mark down on a paper every few minutes if the student is on task. Then check in with the student after they have begun to work, allow the student to give verbal answers instead of writing them down if the student chooses, provide alternative assignments if it is too difficult, etc....

Is this typical of an iep, or is this an especially unusual case?

This is unusual but some iep students can suck up a lot of time.

Yes, some kids with IEPs require a lot more attention for various reasons. But don't put this on the kid in a "suck up a lot of time" kind of way. It shows such disdain for them. It's not their fault. It goes back to the system. It's not set up to help them. Sometimes in my experience the parents or the school team push for a less supported class, and the kid needs even more help to get by. But the kid didn't ask to be put in the situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's talk about the teacher's union and all of the roadblocks to learning they have created.
Discuss how teachers and their union did everything they could to see schools closed during covid. Schools stayed one in much of Europe.

Horrible churn in school systems in states where public school teachers can’t unionize. My cousin just moved to Maryland because her three ES kids had subs all year the last couple years due to teachers quitting.

[Anonymous]

Yep. You don’t want your kid to be in a district without a strong union. Why? Unions fight for the best wages which attracts the best teachers. Also, unions have good contracts so teachers aren’t forced to sub for colleagues during their planning period. Those two reasons alone are why you should want to be in a district with a strong union.

[Anonymous]

This is not atypical. I see it regularly. It does suck up a lot of time and it's impossible with a room full of kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:.... you are required to make sure the student is looking at you before you deliver instruction, check for understanding with that student before moving on, then write the directions on the board, etc. The other students have to wait even if they all can go at a faster pace because you have to spend so much time redirecting the student. Then you have to mark down on a paper every few minutes if the student is on task. Then check in with the student after they have begun to work, allow the student to give verbal answers instead of writing them down if the student chooses, provide alternative assignments if it is too difficult, etc....

Is this typical of an iep, or is this an especially unusual case?

This is unusual but some iep students can suck up a lot of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Another issue with cell phones is that students use them to cheat. Kids are constantly texting each other answers to test questions and also try to google answers. Cheating has become an epidemic in MCPS high schools

Right because there was never cheating before phones. Just more creativity.

You are right. There was always cheating. This did not start with phones. However, since phones have become so common, it is much, much worse.

Then, as a teacher take back your classroom and start by communicating with those parents interested.

I suspect you’re the same parent who has been combative throughout this thread.

You clearly know how to do our job. I encourage you to join us in the classroom and show us how it’s done. Come “take back a classroom” and put the disruptive students and unsupportive admin in line.

(You won’t, of course. Deep down, you know it’s bad and you know teachers are overworked and abused. Your combativeness does serve a purpose, fortunately. You’re demonstrating one of a teacher’s many frustrations: parents who think this job is easy simply because they sat in a classroom themselves decades ago.)

I’d be happy to volunteer in school but our school does not allow parent volunteers. However, even with all that, your job is to manage your classroom and complaining about things that will not change doesn’t help.

Literally, some asked teachers to share what they would tell parents if they could. Because of that question, this teacher responded. It is not the same thing as just randomly coming on to complain.

I would suspect that it is difficult to "take back a classroom" if you are not allowed to use any consequence at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As we gear up for another school year, I would love to know from MCPS teachers what they wish they could tell parents.

Throw out your kids phone. They are doing far more harm then you realize.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Depends - if they have an iep? I’d tell them that most of the services are delivered by the general Ed teacher because inclusion spec Ed teachers are stretched too thin and we spend so much time on paperwork and not with kids. I’d also tell them no matter what they “advocate for” in the iep, it doesn’t actually happen during the school day due to limited resources and time so half the time we just agree to make you go away

We know. Thanks for being a failure in your life's work.

Likewise for being a failure at actual life. (Lack of empathy is the first sign of being a psychopath)

"I decided to use an anonymous forum to taunt distraught parents of special needs kids in a blasé manner about how we fail their children. But you're the psychopath! Poor me!"
PP

Give me a break. The job is easy and gives you incredible job security compared to the corporate world. The teacher's union has captured the Democratic Party, and you have virtual employment for life.

I get you are not paid a significant amount. But it is your choice to go into a field like teaching.


The thread is what we would tell parents if we could. I appreciated that teachers transparency and didn't read it as a taunt. You're clearly dissatisfied with your child's service, but you're lashing out to someone who is telling you there is literally nothing they can do to solve your problem.

I’m the one who posted about spec Ed. Not a taunt just the hard truth. And I’m not a failure at my job, I’m actually a really good spec Ed teacher and I advocate hard for the kids on my caseload. But these are the truths of the conditions in mcps and that’s what the thread asked about. Sometimes I wish parents knew so they didn’t believe the BS . That being said, parents should not be angry at the teachers - it’s the system and lack of appropriate resources

If you really wanted parents to know, why not tell them instead of lying to them to get them to “go away”? I don’t get it. That’s something that is absolutely in your power to do, and doesn’t even take a lot of effort.

And get fired ? Or written up by my boss/ supervisor for telling you that? No way

People outside teaching have no idea what pressures teachers face. No idea at all. I wish it were as simple as the PPs suggest re: just talking to parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends - if they have an iep? I’d tell them that most of the services are delivered by the general Ed teacher because inclusion spec Ed teachers are stretched too thin and we spend so much time on paperwork and not with kids. I’d also tell them no matter what they “advocate for” in the iep, it doesn’t actually happen during the school day due to limited resources and time so half the time we just agree to make you go away

We know. Thanks for being a failure in your life's work.

Likewise for being a failure at actual life. (Lack of empathy is the first sign of being a psychopath)

"I decided to use an anonymous forum to taunt distraught parents of special needs kids in a blasé manner about how we fail their children. But you're the psychopath! Poor me!"
PP

The thread is what we would tell parents if we could. I appreciated that teachers transparency and didn't read it as a taunt. You're clearly dissatisfied with your child's service, but you're lashing out to someone who is telling you there is literally nothing they can do to solve your problem.

I’m the one who posted about spec Ed. Not a taunt just the hard truth. And I’m not a failure at my job, I’m actually a really good spec Ed teacher and I advocate hard for the kids on my caseload. But these are the truths of the conditions in mcps and that’s what the thread asked about. Sometimes I wish parents knew so they didn’t believe the BS . That being said, parents should not be angry at the teachers - it’s the system and lack of appropriate resources

If you really wanted parents to know, why not tell them instead of lying to them to get them to “go away”? I don’t get it. That’s something that is absolutely in your power to do, and doesn’t even take a lot of effort.

And get fired ? Or written up by my boss/ supervisor for telling you that? No way

People outside teaching have no idea what pressures teachers face. No idea at all. I wish it were as simple as the PPs suggest re: just talking to parents.

Please, you have a job for life. It's almost impossible to get fired.
The union has captured the Democratic Party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends - if they have an iep? I’d tell them that most of the services are delivered by the general Ed teacher because inclusion spec Ed teachers are stretched too thin and we spend so much time on paperwork and not with kids. I’d also tell them no matter what they “advocate for” in the iep, it doesn’t actually happen during the school day due to limited resources and time so half the time we just agree to make you go away

We know. Thanks for being a failure in your life's work.

Likewise for being a failure at actual life. (Lack of empathy is the first sign of being a psychopath)

"I decided to use an anonymous forum to taunt distraught parents of special needs kids in a blasé manner about how we fail their children. But you're the psychopath! Poor me!"
PP

The thread is what we would tell parents if we could. I appreciated that teachers transparency and didn't read it as a taunt. You're clearly dissatisfied with your child's service, but you're lashing out to someone who is telling you there is literally nothing they can do to solve your problem.

I’m the one who posted about spec Ed. Not a taunt just the hard truth. And I’m not a failure at my job, I’m actually a really good spec Ed teacher and I advocate hard for the kids on my caseload. But these are the truths of the conditions in mcps and that’s what the thread asked about. Sometimes I wish parents knew so they didn’t believe the BS . That being said, parents should not be angry at the teachers - it’s the system and lack of appropriate resources

If you really wanted parents to know, why not tell them instead of lying to them to get them to “go away”? I don’t get it. That’s something that is absolutely in your power to do, and doesn’t even take a lot of effort.

And get fired ? Or written up by my boss/ supervisor for telling you that? No way

People outside teaching have no idea what pressures teachers face. No idea at all. I wish it were as simple as the PPs suggest re: just talking to parents.

Please, you have a job for life. It's almost impossible to get fired.
The union has captured the Democratic Party.

I see you didn’t actually address the point:
You have NO IDEA what teachers face. I had a prospective teacher shadow me for two days. He left saying he had no idea that’s what a teacher’s day is actually like. He then went back to school and joined another profession.

Shadow for two days. It’ll open your eyes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends - if they have an iep? I’d tell them that most of the services are delivered by the general Ed teacher because inclusion spec Ed teachers are stretched too thin and we spend so much time on paperwork and not with kids. I’d also tell them no matter what they “advocate for” in the iep, it doesn’t actually happen during the school day due to limited resources and time so half the time we just agree to make you go away

We know. Thanks for being a failure in your life's work.

Likewise for being a failure at actual life. (Lack of empathy is the first sign of being a psychopath)

"I decided to use an anonymous forum to taunt distraught parents of special needs kids in a blasé manner about how we fail their children. But you're the psychopath! Poor me!"
PP

Try working in the corporate world. Teaching is so much easier.

The thread is what we would tell parents if we could. I appreciated that teachers transparency and didn't read it as a taunt. You're clearly dissatisfied with your child's service, but you're lashing out to someone who is telling you there is literally nothing they can do to solve your problem.

I’m the one who posted about spec Ed. Not a taunt just the hard truth. And I’m not a failure at my job, I’m actually a really good spec Ed teacher and I advocate hard for the kids on my caseload. But these are the truths of the conditions in mcps and that’s what the thread asked about. Sometimes I wish parents knew so they didn’t believe the BS . That being said, parents should not be angry at the teachers - it’s the system and lack of appropriate resources

If you really wanted parents to know, why not tell them instead of lying to them to get them to “go away”? I don’t get it. That’s something that is absolutely in your power to do, and doesn’t even take a lot of effort.

And get fired ? Or written up by my boss/ supervisor for telling you that? No way

People outside teaching have no idea what pressures teachers face. No idea at all. I wish it were as simple as the PPs suggest re: just talking to parents.

Please, you have a job for life. It's almost impossible to get fired.
The union has captured the Democratic Party.

I see you didn’t actually address the point:
You have NO IDEA what teachers face. I had a prospective teacher shadow me for two days. He left saying he had no idea that’s what a teacher’s day is actually like. He then went back to school and joined another profession.

Shadow for two days. It’ll open your eyes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends - if they have an iep? I’d tell them that most of the services are delivered by the general Ed teacher because inclusion spec Ed teachers are stretched too thin and we spend so much time on paperwork and not with kids. I’d also tell them no matter what they “advocate for” in the iep, it doesn’t actually happen during the school day due to limited resources and time so half the time we just agree to make you go away

We know. Thanks for being a failure in your life's work.

How is lack of resources the teacher's fault?