Real talk: are there going to be enough teachers for summer school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if it was the right thing to do, you have to at least recognize that taking a major source of child care away from working parents - not just during school hours, but also all the before and after care programs that were shut down (as well as several full day child care providers for young children that operated in schools and were not permitted to reopen for months), put families in a huge bind. So when teachers (REAL TEACHERS) go on Facebook whining about how "school is not child care" and "take care of your children" it sounds really glib and insensitive. You can whine all you want about how it's "not the school system's responsibility" - but that choice, by the school system to essentially wash its hands of this issue until child care providers got together and advocated for a solution for parents (after 5 months) had major negative economic impacts for families, to say nothing of the impact on children.

It was always a completely disingenuous POV from day one. Those teachers shamed others for not having having childcare when the school buildings closed, while obviously being in position to work from home with their own kids. Those particular teachers, and posters on this board supporting them, are simply clowns.

Some of those same posters are saying how could you expect teachers to teach in-person and/or summer school without childcare. None of them are credible at all.

Early on with covid child care was shut down. There is no vaccine for little ones. However, they have a contract to teach 10 months, not 12. So, summer school is voluntary. They are two separate issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who think teachers have “great benefits” don’t really want to listen otherwise. The benefits and pension are constantly getting chopped and nickel and dimed every year just like the private sector has gone through. Things are very different now even compared to just 10 years ago. The Great Recession forced the state and local school systems to cut back on benefits and pension by at least 20%. Now salaries and benefits and copays are getting getting a tiny bit worse every year or not keeping up with inflation.

Schools systems are notorious for giving a cost of living increase but then raising premiums by an almost equal amount and then calling it a pay increase.

I mean if you just make sh$t up you can argue anything you want.

Health care costs are going up for everyone. Your cost of living increase is more than your premium increase, that is just a bald-faced lie. MCPS cannot control the fact that it costs more to provide the same health benefits.

You'll have to elaborate on the cuts to pensions. That will be news the BOE and the County Council lol.

There is just too much dishonesty here. SMH.

Ok. Even though it off topic for this thread, I’ll bite. Teachers in Maryland hired after 2011 or working since 2011 are the in the “ reformed pension program”. Pensions were cut 20% for future retirees. Since the 1970’s Maryland has cut (reformed) pensions every 10 to 15 years. They always end making younger employees pay more and get less in return. Currently 70% of the money I pay into the pension system each pay period goes to pay current retirees. Pension systems don’t work like 401ks where you get to keep your own money directly. Pay and salary cuts always seem directed at the new and younger teachers, while older or retired teachers still get most of their promised benefits. Additionally the state has forced the counties to contribute more to the pension funds directly in addition to matching what is takenit out of staff salaries.

So, if you want to be fair direct your snark at older or retired teachers. But please pity the newer, younger teachers who won’t get as much of these benefits and will subsidize the older and retired staff.

Overall, I agree that benefits are still better than the private sector. But again, it is not fair to blame teachers for the govt and CEOs not wanting to pay or fix the American health care system. On the flip side I make less money including salaryand benefits than any of my friends with similar education experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who think teachers have “great benefits” don’t really want to listen otherwise. The benefits and pension are constantly getting chopped and nickel and dimed every year just like the private sector has gone through. Things are very different now even compared to just 10 years ago. The Great Recession forced the state and local school systems to cut back on benefits and pension by at least 20%. Now salaries and benefits and copays are getting getting a tiny bit worse every year or not keeping up with inflation.

Schools systems are notorious for giving a cost of living increase but then raising premiums by an almost equal amount and then calling it a pay increase.

I mean if you just make sh$t up you can argue anything you want.

Health care costs are going up for everyone. Your cost of living increase is more than your premium increase, that is just a bald-faced lie. MCPS cannot control the fact that it costs more to provide the same health benefits.

You'll have to elaborate on the cuts to pensions. That will be news the BOE and the County Council lol.

There is just too much dishonesty here. SMH.

Ok. Even though it off topic for this thread, I’ll bite. Teachers in Maryland hired after 2011 or working since 2011 are the in the “ reformed pension program”. Pensions were cut 20% for future retirees. Since the 1970’s Maryland has cut (reformed) pensions every 10 to 15 years. They always end making younger employees pay more and get less in return. Currently 70% of the money I pay into the pension system each pay period goes to pay current retirees. Pension systems don’t work like 401ks where you get to keep your own money directly. Pay and salary cuts always seem directed at the new and younger teachers, while older or retired teachers still get most of their promised benefits. Additionally the state has forced the counties to contribute more to the pension funds directly in addition to matching what is takenit out of staff salaries.

So, if you want to be fair direct your snark at older or retired teachers. But please pity the newer, younger teachers who won’t get as much of these benefits and will subsidize the older and retired staff.

Overall, I agree that benefits are still better than the private sector. But again, it is not fair to blame teachers for the govt and CEOs not wanting to pay or fix the American health care system. On the flip side I make less money including salaryand benefits than any of my friends with similar education experience.

Nobody is blaming teachers for the health care system issues. You are trying to argue that the taxpayers of Montgomery County should make up the difference for you, in addition to paying for their own increases in health care costs. That is really the epitomy of entitlement. JFC.

Pensions everywhere have been cut because they aren't sustainable. The government has to pay a lot into them in order to ensure they can pay out benefits, and they often neglect to do this because politicians don't get any credit for funding retirement benefits they've already promised. Most groups, including all non-public safety county government employees back in 1994, lost their pensions entirely. You mention a 2011 cut to pensions, but neglect the 2008 increase in pension benefits through the county supplement.

I get why MCEA wants their members to complain about their benefits. It's a complex issue and it's difficult for regular citizens to cut through the incessant dishonest talking MCEA talking points. You can't really pretend you aren't getting raises but most people won't fact check when someone comes on here and claims their benefits are getting cut.

[Anonymous]

Even as some parents are worried that there won’t be enough teachers for summer school, they can’t stop attacking the people they need to volunteer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even as some parents are worried that there won’t be enough teachers for summer school, they can’t stop attacking the people they need to volunteer.

Suddenly explaining that MCPS benefits are not that bad is "attacking"? SMH.

[Anonymous]

MCPS just extended the bonus for summer school again. They need to increase it, instead. For Paras, it's $500 extra for 5 weeks. Sorry, that won't get me off the beach!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS just extended the bonus for summer school again. They need to increase it, instead. For Paras, it's $500 extra for 5 weeks. Sorry, that won't get me off the beach!

They also just extended the deadline for applying.

Our principal told us that he hopes we all check out and get the rest we need this summer, which is what I plan to do!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even as some parents are worried that there won’t be enough teachers for summer school, they can’t stop attacking the people they need to volunteer.

Suddenly explaining that MCPS benefits are not that bad is "attacking"? SMH.

Also, they're being PAID. It's not volunteer work.

[Anonymous]

I didn't say anything about the quality of the benefits. The prior PP, who identifies as a teacher with 16 years experience, said "The benefits are great but I can’t pay my bills with them." Clearly that PP does not think the benefits are horrible. And yes, if you work for MCPS, your employer pays for a larger share of your health insurance than county government or neighboring school systems do for their employees. Your health plans do not have deductibles and your copays are between $10-$25. MCPS is the only Maryland school system to provide a pension supplement for its employees. Your pension is not integrated with Social Security, so your benefits do not go down when you reach Social Security retirement age. For those of us that don't work for MCPS, that sounds pretty good. I agree the salaries are nothing to write home about, especially in a high cost area like this, but they are comparable to other school systems in the area. And I don't know about you, but it has never been a secret that teaching is not going to earn you big bucks. It's not terrible, but it's not great either.


Come join us! We all float down here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s hard to find teachers because of all the credentialing involved in Maryland. If some of the licensing is relaxed, people will run to get MCPS jobs for the high salaries and amazing benefits. Private schools have no issues finding teachers because they don’t subscribe to the same credentialing rules. And no, you don’t need all those credentials to be a great teacher .

High salaries? My DS just graduated from college last spring. He got his first job right away and made more money in his first year of working than I make in my 16th year of teaching. Maybe they look like high salaries for teachers who have high earning spouses but not for many of us. The benefits are great but I can’t pay my bills with them.

The benefits mean you don't have as many bills, and you don't have to save as much for retirement. It is real money.

But yes if your goal is to make a high salary, don't go into teaching and don't go into government. There are always going to be people with less experience who make more money than you do. It doesn't mean your salary is "low".

How many days of vacation does your DS get? Is he off all summer, two weeks at Christmas, a week in spring, etc? Teachers work part-time.

Teacher don't get paid vacation. They are paid for 190 days of work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even as some parents are worried that there won’t be enough teachers for summer school, they can’t stop attacking the people they need to volunteer.

Suddenly explaining that MCPS benefits are not that bad is "attacking"? SMH.

Also, they're being PAID. It's not volunteer work.

But they have to volunteer to take the work. No one can be forced to do it. If not enough teachers volunteer, you won’t have summer school. It’s telling that the extra pay isn’t enticing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even as some parents are worried that there won’t be enough teachers for summer school, they can’t stop attacking the people they need to volunteer.

Suddenly explaining that MCPS benefits are not that bad is "attacking"? SMH.

Also, they're being PAID. It's not volunteer work.

But they have to volunteer to take the work. No one can be forced to do it. If not enough teachers volunteer, you won’t have summer school. It’s telling that the extra pay isn’t enticing.

Sounds like the salary they get for working 10 months is enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even as some parents are worried that there won’t be enough teachers for summer school, they can’t stop attacking the people they need to volunteer.

Suddenly explaining that MCPS benefits are not that bad is "attacking"? SMH.

Also, they're being PAID. It's not volunteer work.

But they have to volunteer to take the work. No one can be forced to do it. If not enough teachers volunteer, you won’t have summer school. It’s telling that the extra pay isn’t enticing.

Sounds like the salary they get for working 10 months is enough.

Many teachers work summers. But the past school year has been utterly exhausting for everyone (despite the scorn heaped on from various DCUM parents).

[Anonymous]

I am front office staff and I just asked a teacher if she will be working this summer. She replied that she would have to be crazy/down on her luck / desperate/ homeless to do summer school after this past year!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even as some parents are worried that there won’t be enough teachers for summer school, they can’t stop attacking the people they need to volunteer.

Suddenly explaining that MCPS benefits are not that bad is "attacking"? SMH.

Also, they're being PAID. It's not volunteer work.

But they have to volunteer to take the work. No one can be forced to do it. If not enough teachers volunteer, you won’t have summer school. It’s telling that the extra pay isn’t enticing.

Sounds like the salary they get for working 10 months is enough.

I’m working outside at a garden center this summer for a lot less than summer school. I’d rather scrimp during the school year than work summer school.