When did parent teacher conference days become teacher vacation days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Consider them flex days. They don’t owe you that time before / after.

Don't they owe us the PTC days? Wouldn't it be part of the contract?

Yes they owe you the contract hours. They don’t owe you for those hours to happen between 9am and 3pm. Teachers are people with families too. They are hiring babysitters and missing kids sports to have evening times twice a year for working parents who can’t go during the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't have this issue in FCC. The teachers publish a calendar with meeting times every 15 minutes (or shorter if it's HS/middle school) and parents sign up for the time slot they want.

It seems that a lot of people on DCUM like to find reasons to view FCC negatively but I find that despite the flaws, and there definitely are some, FCC is better than pretty much every other local school division in almost every way.

That’s what my APS school and my son’s APS school does

[Anonymous]

OP if you are having trouble finding a time that works for you contact your teacher and I’m sure they will be able to work something out. I have done this before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's cute that you think teachers are taking these days off using personal leave.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Consider them flex days. They don’t owe you that time before / after.

Don't they owe us the PTC days? Wouldn't it be part of the contract?

Teachers don’t owe you anything! There is this horrifying trend of trying to “catch teachers” not doing their job. This job is hard and every teacher I know, including myself, is busting their butt to get everything done. I can’t remember the last time I didn’t do work after putting my own children to bed. The demand from parents is constant, not to mention the added pressures of the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes I’ve noticed but honestly, I’d rather do it a random day at 4 after school and use those days for a vacation. So many people go to Disney or other vacation those days anyway.

This is why. Parents wanted conferences at 7:45 or 4:45 on a random day, not at 1:30pm on a Thursday on a day their kids don't have school. To give teachers some incentive to do these meetings on their own time (yes, moms and dads, some time is our own), they allow us some flexibility.

[Anonymous]

I’m so glad my child’s teacher offered times in the early morning and evening for conferences. Those times were clearly outside of her contact hours. I noticed that she didn’t offer conferences on one of the scheduled conference days and didn’t think anything of it. She has her own kids’ conferences to attend and may have scheduled some other appointments on that day rather than have to get a sub on a regular week day. Why should it matter as long as she offers plenty of options that work for parents’ schedules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone notice how teachers aren't available for conferences on the actual parent teacher conference calendar days? Just a bunch of mornings/evenings before and after...

Why even have PTC days on the calendar?

Which district has scheduled conference days on the calendar?

APS does - how do other districts handle it?

Fairfax doesn't have scheduled conference dates.

Yes, two days in the fall.

No. Look at the calendar. There are no scheduled PTC days. There are two teacher workdays at the beginning of November, but conferences aren’t required. Parents can request a conference at any time however. Next year’s calendar doesn’t have those TWs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone notice how teachers aren't available for conferences on the actual parent teacher conference calendar days? Just a bunch of mornings/evenings before and after...

Why even have PTC days on the calendar?

Which district has scheduled conference days on the calendar?

APS does - how do other districts handle it?

Fairfax doesn't have scheduled conference dates.

Yes, two days in the fall.

Not all schools. Both of my children’s schools stopped years ago in FCPS.

But those are workdays that you can request a conference. (ES Teacher in FCPS)

[Anonymous]

OP, I don’t get what you are upset about. There is an early release on Thursday which gives teachers about 2.5 contract hours. Then the following day there is the whole day of house which is 7. So teachers are given 9.5 hours to meet with parents. I have 26 students and if I can meet with 3 per hour (I only schedule 2 generally and need a few minutes for bathroom and my lunch on Friday).

I do most of mine in the 2 weeks prior to conferences before and after school andbmy admin is fine with that. Not sure why you are in a huff. Did your kids teacher not have time for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don’t get what you are upset about. There is an early release on Thursday which gives teachers about 2.5 contract hours. Then the following day there is the whole day of house which is 7. So teachers are given 9.5 hours to meet with parents. I have 26 students and if I can meet with 3 per hour (I only schedule 2 generally and need a few minutes for bathroom and my lunch on Friday).

I do most of mine in the 2 weeks prior to conferences before and after school and my admin is fine with that. Not sure why you are in a huff. Did your kids teacher not have time for you?

Do all of the parents meet with you?

Just more days to find daycare. Let's get rid of them, keep the same pay and have a longer summer break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone notice how teachers aren't available for conferences on the actual parent teacher conference calendar days? Just a bunch of mornings/evenings before and after...

Why even have PTC days on the calendar?

Which district has scheduled conference days on the calendar?

LCPS does, and yes, the conferences are never on the actual conference day.

Since it's always a 4 day weekend I assume they go on vacation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Consider them flex days. They don’t owe you that time before / after.

Don't they owe us the PTC days? Wouldn't it be part of the contract?

Teachers don’t owe you anything! There is this horrifying trend of trying to “catch teachers” not doing their job. This job is hard and every teacher I know, including myself, is busting their butt to get everything done. I can’t remember the last time I didn’t do work after putting my own children to bed. The demand from parents is constant, not to mention the added pressures of the pandemic.

Plenty of people are working weekends and after their kids are in bed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Consider them flex days. They don’t owe you that time before / after.

Don't they owe us the PTC days? Wouldn't it be part of the contract?

Yes they owe you the contract hours. They don’t owe you for those hours to happen between 9am and 3pm. Teachers are people with families too. They are hiring babysitters and missing kids sports to have evening times twice a year for working parents who can’t go during the day.

You really have evening conferences? Our last slot is 3pm so I am still time off work, esp. when the conference is in person.

[Anonymous]

PP here who’s a teacher. Yes, I meet with all the parents of my students. The exception is if we have had an IEP meeting in the last 2 weeks or one coming up in the next 2 weeks because it covers the same information. I send out a sign up and if they don’t sign up I reach out to them.