APS teachers - be careful about what you send to parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In fairness, initially a bunch of people dumped on it but then several others chimed in to say what you are saying here.

This. Also in APE though mostly a lurker. Yea some people are reactionary and the post was overblown and got called out on it. So what? Have you seen AEM?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just found and read the thread, and I think you are mischaracterizing the comments.

Isn’t there a moderator? Be careful who you mix in with. Some of them are awful. I wouldn’t be a part of that group.

What a strange response.

Not strange at all. Some of them are f— ing crazy.

Some people here are f— big crazy, but you still come here. Some people on ARM are f— internet crazy, but I don’t see you trying to intimidate people into avoiding that group. Same with Smart Restart.

Totally fair! I’m not in Smart Restart for the same reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just found and read the thread, and I think you are mischaracterizing the comments.

Isn’t there a moderator? Be careful who you mix in with. Some of them are awful. I wouldn’t be a part of that group.

Unlike AEM, there is a moderator. Personal attacks are not allowed, like the horrible misogynistic attack Bicycle Boy did to EHN on AEM this week. Funny that the closed schoolers are still going with the “parents who want their kids in school only want their babysitters and don’t like their kids” attack.

Whiny Union Man’s name was redacted from the post on APE. I wish it had been listed because he’s a complete nut.

Which thread was that? I don’t keep up with AEM much anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why the teacher took it upon themselves to send that email when the messaging on this should (and has) come from school and central administration.

So you're saying the problem here was a proactive teacher. No surprise so many educators have had it with parents.

Do you really want to teach your kid(s) the mentality of "not my problem, waiting for upper management to dictate everything." Its not like the teacher was laying out COVID mitigation measures that apply only to their class.

I would have appreciated an email from my kids' teachers though I do NOT expect one especially during break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why the teacher took it upon themselves to send that email when the messaging on this should (and has) come from school and central administration.

So you're saying the problem here was a proactive teacher. No surprise so many educators have had it with parents.

Do you really want to teach your kid(s) the mentality of "not my problem, waiting for upper management to dictate everything." Its not like the teacher was laying out COVID mitigation measures that apply only to their class.

I would have appreciated an email from my kids' teachers though I do NOT expect one especially during break.

Let’s be honest here - he was actually speaking for the AEA, not his role as a teacher. The AEA is calling for 2 weeks of virtual now too.

Hoped he’s had time to enjoy some motorcycle rides in the unseasonably warm weather though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here. I’m a member of Arlington Parents for Education and support most of their advocacy. I’m disappointed about what some parents are doing though. A few days ago another APS teacher emailed families to say that learning may be uneven next month because of COVID and referenced vaccinations and masking, pointing to the Arlington website. It was a perfectly ordinary message but rubbed some the wrong way. Someone copied it, posted it to the FB group and then everyone dumped on it because some are against masks or vaccines, or because they think a teacher should never mention them. Some thought it was to avoid work. It makes me queasy to think that a well meaning message I might send would get treated that way and scorned for something that I didn’t say or intend. I don’t think the whole group is bad or anything like that. But be careful what you send to parents right now because you could have your message passed around that group.

That email was from one of the heads of the teachers unions too who is a COVID fanatic (his name was redacted but my friend’s kid received it and she was outraged too). But he loves to ride motorcycles in his free time, as he told the W-L newspaper (one of the most dangerous activities around).

His zero COVID evangelicism is completely offputting. We teach our kids not to wear masks, just as the majority of the country is doing. COVID is never going away and these fanatics will not quit until they ruin our children’s childhood completely trying to avoid the equivalent of a bad cold (considering they’re vaccinated and boosted).

This zero COVID fanaticism is so bizarre, and it really only seems to be a neurosis in the deepest of blue America.

Like OP I am an APS teacher who largely supports APEs mission (I have blocked a few people there so I don’t see their toxic comments)
The person who wrote this letter has poor judgment IMO. I don’t like how he often presents as the face of all APS staff, especially considering the low membership in AEA. He riles up the relatively small number of COVID hysterics in our educators group. I think the response in APE was about half supportive, half taking him to task and both sides had a point.

There are fine people on both sides, huh?

What part of his message did you disagree with?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here. I’m a member of Arlington Parents for Education and support most of their advocacy. I’m disappointed about what some parents are doing though. A few days ago another APS teacher emailed families to say that learning may be uneven next month because of COVID and referenced vaccinations and masking, pointing to the Arlington website. It was a perfectly ordinary message but rubbed some the wrong way. Someone copied it, posted it to the FB group and then everyone dumped on it because some are against masks or vaccines, or because they think a teacher should never mention them. Some thought it was to avoid work. It makes me queasy to think that a well meaning message I might send would get treated that way and scorned for something that I didn’t say or intend. I don’t think the whole group is bad or anything like that. But be careful what you send to parents right now because you could have your message passed around that group.

That email was from one of the heads of the teachers unions too who is a COVID fanatic (his name was redacted but my friend’s kid received it and she was outraged too). But he loves to ride motorcycles in his free time, as he told the W-L newspaper (one of the most dangerous activities around).

His zero COVID evangelicism is completely offputting. We teach our kids not to wear masks, just as the majority of the country is doing. COVID is never going away and these fanatics will not quit until they ruin our children’s childhood completely trying to avoid the equivalent of a bad cold (considering they’re vaccinated and boosted).

This zero COVID fanaticism is so bizarre, and it really only seems to be a neurosis in the deepest of blue America.

Like OP I am an APS teacher who largely supports APEs mission (I have blocked a few people there so I don’t see their toxic comments)
The person who wrote this letter has poor judgment IMO. I don’t like how he often presents as the face of all APS staff, especially considering the low membership in AEA. He riles up the relatively small number of COVID hysterics in our educators group. I think the response in APE was about half supportive, half taking him to task and both sides had a point.

NP. Also a teacher. Found the thread. That's the correct assessment. It went both ways. I wouldn't have sent that email. If I did, however, I wouldn't want it posted for general commentary on FB just because someone didn't like it. Geez. I expect the parents wouldn't like someone taking their posts on FB and copying them over to DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here. I’m a member of Arlington Parents for Education and support most of their advocacy. I’m disappointed about what some parents are doing though. A few days ago another APS teacher emailed families to say that learning may be uneven next month because of COVID and referenced vaccinations and masking, pointing to the Arlington website. It was a perfectly ordinary message but rubbed some the wrong way. Someone copied it, posted it to the FB group and then everyone dumped on it because some are against masks or vaccines, or because they think a teacher should never mention them. Some thought it was to avoid work. It makes me queasy to think that a well meaning message I might send would get treated that way and scorned for something that I didn’t say or intend. I don’t think the whole group is bad or anything like that. But be careful what you send to parents right now because you could have your message passed around that group.

That email was from one of the heads of the teachers unions too who is a COVID fanatic (his name was redacted but my friend’s kid received it and she was outraged too). But he loves to ride motorcycles in his free time, as he told the W-L newspaper (one of the most dangerous activities around).

His zero COVID evangelicism is completely offputting. We teach our kids not to wear masks, just as the majority of the country is doing. COVID is never going away and these fanatics will not quit until they ruin our children’s childhood completely trying to avoid the equivalent of a bad cold (considering they’re vaccinated and boosted).

This zero COVID fanaticism is so bizarre, and it really only seems to be a neurosis in the deepest of blue America.

Like OP I am an APS teacher who largely supports APEs mission (I have blocked a few people there so I don’t see their toxic comments)
The person who wrote this letter has poor judgment IMO. I don’t like how he often presents as the face of all APS staff, especially considering the low membership in AEA. He riles up the relatively small number of COVID hysterics in our educators group. I think the response in APE was about half supportive, half taking him to task and both sides had a point.

NP. Also a teacher. Found the thread. That's the correct assessment. It went both ways. I wouldn't have sent that email. If I did, however, I wouldn't want it posted for general commentary on FB just because someone didn't like it. Geez. I expect the parents wouldn't like someone taking their posts on FB and copying them over to DCUM.

PP, I think he is often dramatic and it has the opposite effect that he intends. I think his letter probably wouldn't have even been shared if he hadn't included the bit about content slowing down or not moving at all. Clearly he is irritating other teachers as well because they screenshot that and spread it around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here. I’m a member of Arlington Parents for Education and support most of their advocacy. I’m disappointed about what some parents are doing though. A few days ago another APS teacher emailed families to say that learning may be uneven next month because of COVID and referenced vaccinations and masking, pointing to the Arlington website. It was a perfectly ordinary message but rubbed some the wrong way. Someone copied it, posted it to the FB group and then everyone dumped on it because some are against masks or vaccines, or because they think a teacher should never mention them. Some thought it was to avoid work. It makes me queasy to think that a well meaning message I might send would get treated that way and scorned for something that I didn’t say or intend. I don’t think the whole group is bad or anything like that. But be careful what you send to parents right now because you could have your message passed around that group.

That email was from one of the heads of the teachers unions too who is a COVID fanatic (his name was redacted but my friend’s kid received it and she was outraged too). But he loves to ride motorcycles in his free time, as he told the W-L newspaper (one of the most dangerous activities around).

His zero COVID evangelicism is completely offputting. We teach our kids not to wear masks, just as the majority of the country is doing. COVID is never going away and these fanatics will not quit until they ruin our children’s childhood completely trying to avoid the equivalent of a bad cold (considering they’re vaccinated and boosted).

This zero COVID fanaticism is so bizarre, and it really only seems to be a neurosis in the deepest of blue America.

Like OP I am an APS teacher who largely supports APEs mission (I have blocked a few people there so I don’t see their toxic comments)
The person who wrote this letter has poor judgment IMO. I don’t like how he often presents as the face of all APS staff, especially considering the low membership in AEA. He riles up the relatively small number of COVID hysterics in our educators group. I think the response in APE was about half supportive, half taking him to task and both sides had a point.

There are fine people on both sides, huh?

What part of his message did you disagree with?

He knows how inflammatory the "no new content" debate can be. He didn't need to include the part about slowing down or stopping new content. It's winter break, how about we go back and see how things are going? If after a couple days there are disruptions requiring adaptations to the curriculum send another email.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here. I’m a member of Arlington Parents for Education and support most of their advocacy. I’m disappointed about what some parents are doing though. A few days ago another APS teacher emailed families to say that learning may be uneven next month because of COVID and referenced vaccinations and masking, pointing to the Arlington website. It was a perfectly ordinary message but rubbed some the wrong way. Someone copied it, posted it to the FB group and then everyone dumped on it because some are against masks or vaccines, or because they think a teacher should never mention them. Some thought it was to avoid work. It makes me queasy to think that a well meaning message I might send would get treated that way and scorned for something that I didn’t say or intend. I don’t think the whole group is bad or anything like that. But be careful what you send to parents right now because you could have your message passed around that group.

That email was from one of the heads of the teachers unions too who is a COVID fanatic (his name was redacted but my friend’s kid received it and she was outraged too). But he loves to ride motorcycles in his free time, as he told the W-L newspaper (one of the most dangerous activities around).

His zero COVID evangelicism is completely offputting. We teach our kids not to wear masks, just as the majority of the country is doing. COVID is never going away and these fanatics will not quit until they ruin our children’s childhood completely trying to avoid the equivalent of a bad cold (considering they’re vaccinated and boosted).

This zero COVID fanaticism is so bizarre, and it really only seems to be a neurosis in the deepest of blue America.

Like OP I am an APS teacher who largely supports APEs mission (I have blocked a few people there so I don’t see their toxic comments)
The person who wrote this letter has poor judgment IMO. I don’t like how he often presents as the face of all APS staff, especially considering the low membership in AEA. He riles up the relatively small number of COVID hysterics in our educators group. I think the response in APE was about half supportive, half taking him to task and both sides had a point.

NP. Also a teacher. Found the thread. That's the correct assessment. It went both ways. I wouldn't have sent that email. If I did, however, I wouldn't want it posted for general commentary on FB just because someone didn't like it. Geez. I expect the parents wouldn't like someone taking their posts on FB and copying them over to DCUM.

He sent that in his professional capacity, not his personal capacity. There is no expectation of privacy for a mass email sent out in that context.

[Anonymous]

I think there are extremists on both sides of the aisle, but I kinda feel sorry for him. If I sent an email like that at work, I’m pretty sure I’d be disciplined or worse. I guess the stress has totally got to him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just found and read the thread, and I think you are mischaracterizing the comments.

Isn’t there a moderator? Be careful who you mix in with. Some of them are awful. I wouldn’t be a part of that group.

What a strange response.

Not strange at all. Some of them are f— ing crazy.

Some people here are f— big crazy, but you still come here. Some people on ARM are f— internet crazy, but I don’t see you trying to intimidate people into avoiding that group. Same with Smart Restart.

Totally fair! I’m not in Smart Restart for the same reason.

Attacking teachers is an APE thing. Have never seen SR do that. Never.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here. I’m a member of Arlington Parents for Education and support most of their advocacy. I’m disappointed about what some parents are doing though. A few days ago another APS teacher emailed families to say that learning may be uneven next month because of COVID and referenced vaccinations and masking, pointing to the Arlington website. It was a perfectly ordinary message but rubbed some the wrong way. Someone copied it, posted it to the FB group and then everyone dumped on it because some are against masks or vaccines, or because they think a teacher should never mention them. Some thought it was to avoid work. It makes me queasy to think that a well meaning message I might send would get treated that way and scorned for something that I didn’t say or intend. I don’t think the whole group is bad or anything like that. But be careful what you send to parents right now because you could have your message passed around that group.

That email was from one of the heads of the teachers unions too who is a COVID fanatic (his name was redacted but my friend’s kid received it and she was outraged too). But he loves to ride motorcycles in his free time, as he told the W-L newspaper (one of the most dangerous activities around).

His zero COVID evangelicism is completely offputting. We teach our kids not to wear masks, just as the majority of the country is doing. COVID is never going away and these fanatics will not quit until they ruin our children’s childhood completely trying to avoid the equivalent of a bad cold (considering they’re vaccinated and boosted).

This zero COVID fanaticism is so bizarre, and it really only seems to be a neurosis in the deepest of blue America.

Like OP I am an APS teacher who largely supports APEs mission (I have blocked a few people there so I don’t see their toxic comments)
The person who wrote this letter has poor judgment IMO. I don’t like how he often presents as the face of all APS staff, especially considering the low membership in AEA. He riles up the relatively small number of COVID hysterics in our educators group. I think the response in APE was about half supportive, half taking him to task and both sides had a point.

NP. Also a teacher. Found the thread. That's the correct assessment. It went both ways. I wouldn't have sent that email. If I did, however, I wouldn't want it posted for general commentary on FB just because someone didn't like it. Geez. I expect the parents wouldn't like someone taking their posts on FB and copying them over to DCUM.

He sent that in his professional capacity, not his personal capacity. There is no expectation of privacy for a mass email sent out in that context.

LOL, really? Glad that APE is cool that stuff posted to their 1000 member group can be re-posted here. Can't be any expectation of privacy there, either. Good to know. This will be fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here. I’m a member of Arlington Parents for Education and support most of their advocacy. I’m disappointed about what some parents are doing though. A few days ago another APS teacher emailed families to say that learning may be uneven next month because of COVID and referenced vaccinations and masking, pointing to the Arlington website. It was a perfectly ordinary message but rubbed some the wrong way. Someone copied it, posted it to the FB group and then everyone dumped on it because some are against masks or vaccines, or because they think a teacher should never mention them. Some thought it was to avoid work. It makes me queasy to think that a well meaning message I might send would get treated that way and scorned for something that I didn’t say or intend. I don’t think the whole group is bad or anything like that. But be careful what you send to parents right now because you could have your message passed around that group.

That email was from one of the heads of the teachers unions too who is a COVID fanatic (his name was redacted but my friend’s kid received it and she was outraged too). But he loves to ride motorcycles in his free time, as he told the W-L newspaper (one of the most dangerous activities around).

His zero COVID evangelicism is completely offputting. We teach our kids not to wear masks, just as the majority of the country is doing. COVID is never going away and these fanatics will not quit until they ruin our children’s childhood completely trying to avoid the equivalent of a bad cold (considering they’re vaccinated and boosted).

This zero COVID fanaticism is so bizarre, and it really only seems to be a neurosis in the deepest of blue America.

Like OP I am an APS teacher who largely supports APEs mission (I have blocked a few people there so I don’t see their toxic comments)
The person who wrote this letter has poor judgment IMO. I don’t like how he often presents as the face of all APS staff, especially considering the low membership in AEA. He riles up the relatively small number of COVID hysterics in our educators group. I think the response in APE was about half supportive, half taking him to task and both sides had a point.

There are fine people on both sides, huh?

What part of his message did you disagree with?

He knows how inflammatory the "no new content" debate can be. He didn't need to include the part about slowing down or stopping new content. It's winter break, how about we go back and see how things are going? If after a couple days there are disruptions requiring adaptations to the curriculum send another email.

I think he is being realistic and setting expectations. Because it is very clear that some parents have very unreasonable expectations of teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here. I’m a member of Arlington Parents for Education and support most of their advocacy. I’m disappointed about what some parents are doing though. A few days ago another APS teacher emailed families to say that learning may be uneven next month because of COVID and referenced vaccinations and masking, pointing to the Arlington website. It was a perfectly ordinary message but rubbed some the wrong way. Someone copied it, posted it to the FB group and then everyone dumped on it because some are against masks or vaccines, or because they think a teacher should never mention them. Some thought it was to avoid work. It makes me queasy to think that a well meaning message I might send would get treated that way and scorned for something that I didn’t say or intend. I don’t think the whole group is bad or anything like that. But be careful what you send to parents right now because you could have your message passed around that group.

That email was from one of the heads of the teachers unions too who is a COVID fanatic (his name was redacted but my friend’s kid received it and she was outraged too). But he loves to ride motorcycles in his free time, as he told the W-L newspaper (one of the most dangerous activities around).

His zero COVID evangelicism is completely offputting. We teach our kids not to wear masks, just as the majority of the country is doing. COVID is never going away and these fanatics will not quit until they ruin our children’s childhood completely trying to avoid the equivalent of a bad cold (considering they’re vaccinated and boosted).

This zero COVID fanaticism is so bizarre, and it really only seems to be a neurosis in the deepest of blue America.

Like OP I am an APS teacher who largely supports APEs mission (I have blocked a few people there so I don’t see their toxic comments)
The person who wrote this letter has poor judgment IMO. I don’t like how he often presents as the face of all APS staff, especially considering the low membership in AEA. He riles up the relatively small number of COVID hysterics in our educators group. I think the response in APE was about half supportive, half taking him to task and both sides had a point.

NP. Also a teacher. Found the thread. That's the correct assessment. It went both ways. I wouldn't have sent that email. If I did, however, I wouldn't want it posted for general commentary on FB just because someone didn't like it. Geez. I expect the parents wouldn't like someone taking their posts on FB and copying them over to DCUM.

He sent that in his professional capacity, not his personal capacity. There is no expectation of privacy for a mass email sent out in that context.

LOL, really? Glad that APE is cool that stuff posted to their 1000 member group can be re-posted here. Can't be any expectation of privacy there, either. Good to know. This will be fun.

People have posted their newsletters here repeatedly. Things that individual people post in their personal capacity in a closed Facebook group is different.