Enough already

[Anonymous]

My child's ES has had two teachers quit so far this year and one not come back from maternity leave. It's rough out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS high school biology teacher isn’t coming back, she was young and I’m not sure why she is going to do with her life now, or she going to go back to mommy and daddy house, but a teacher shouldn’t be allowed to quit halfway though the year. Student loved and her, and to one paragraph email saying you’re quitting isn’t okay in my book.

Maybe parents like you and their kids should have treated her better. It's a job. She has no obligation to stay through the school year and she doesn't owe anyone an explanation as to why.

She has an obligation. If she chooses to break her contract, no, she doesn't need to give an explanation. But if she had a good explanation, she would have given it.

[Anonymous]

The very worst that could happen is a) the teacher is blacklisted from teaching in a particular state or b) the teacher could be contractually obligated to pay a fine for breaking her contract.

But here's the thing: a) do you know anything at all about the state and record keeping? If you do, then you know that it's pretty impossible for the state to keep track of which teachers are quitting. Most teachers are leaving the field entirely. In which case, then even a state wide list (which will never happen because the state wide leadership is incompetent) won't matter. In some catholic schools, teachers who break their contract are required to pay a fine. A hefty one at 2K. But heck, if I wanted to leave teaching, I'd be like, "fine, I'll send you $20 a month until it's paid off". Seriously, what are they going to do besides take my last paycheck?

In the end, parents really have next to no control over individual teachers quitting. Hell, even districts don't really have that power. If I think 3 things have to happen to get teachers to stay, and they all need to happen at once and quickly:
1) pay raise. Big pay raise
2) more prep time. Cut out the stupid meetings
3) more support for students who are ruining the classroom environment. This could mean 1:1 aides, a fast track towards putting some kids in a self contained sped room, more social workers and psychs, more sped teachers, more help in general for kids who aren't succeeding in the regular ed room.

But all of us teachers know these are never going to happen. I'm really glad my kids have graduated from high school and I hope that if my own grandchildren need it, I can homeschool them or afford to send them to private. 30 years in public ed has been the end of me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The very worst that could happen is a) the teacher is blacklisted from teaching in a particular state or b) the teacher could be contractually obligated to pay a fine for breaking her contract.

But here's the thing: a) do you know anything at all about the state and record keeping? If you do, then you know that it's pretty impossible for the state to keep track of which teachers are quitting. Most teachers are leaving the field entirely. In which case, then even a state wide list (which will never happen because the state wide leadership is incompetent) won't matter. In some catholic schools, teachers who break their contract are required to pay a fine. A hefty one at 2K. But heck, if I wanted to leave teaching, I'd be like, "fine, I'll send you $20 a month until it's paid off". Seriously, what are they going to do besides take my last paycheck?

In the end, parents really have next to no control over individual teachers quitting. Hell, even districts don't really have that power. If I think 3 things have to happen to get teachers to stay, and they all need to happen at once and quickly:
1) pay raise. Big pay raise
2) more prep time. Cut out the stupid meetings
3) more support for students who are ruining the classroom environment. This could mean 1:1 aides, a fast track towards putting some kids in a self contained sped room, more social workers and psychs, more sped teachers, more help in general for kids who aren't succeeding in the regular ed room.

But all of us teachers know these are never going to happen. I'm really glad my kids have graduated from high school and I hope that if my own grandchildren need it, I can homeschool them or afford to send them to private. 30 years in public ed has been the end of me.

+1 to all of this, especially the bolded. Someone upthread asked how to solve the crisis. This list covers it. Also, stop expecting IDEA to be almost entirely funded at the local level. The federal government needs to pony up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The very worst that could happen is a) the teacher is blacklisted from teaching in a particular state or b) the teacher could be contractually obligated to pay a fine for breaking her contract.

But here's the thing: a) do you know anything at all about the state and record keeping? If you do, then you know that it's pretty impossible for the state to keep track of which teachers are quitting. Most teachers are leaving the field entirely. In which case, then even a state wide list (which will never happen because the state wide leadership is incompetent) won't matter. In some catholic schools, teachers who break their contract are required to pay a fine. A hefty one at 2K. But heck, if I wanted to leave teaching, I'd be like, "fine, I'll send you $20 a month until it's paid off". Seriously, what are they going to do besides take my last paycheck?

In the end, parents really have next to no control over individual teachers quitting. Hell, even districts don't really have that power. If I think 3 things have to happen to get teachers to stay, and they all need to happen at once and quickly:
1) pay raise. Big pay raise
2) more prep time. Cut out the stupid meetings
3) more support for students who are ruining the classroom environment. This could mean 1:1 aides, a fast track towards putting some kids in a self contained sped room, more social workers and psychs, more sped teachers, more help in general for kids who aren't succeeding in the regular ed room.

But all of us teachers know these are never going to happen. I'm really glad my kids have graduated from high school and I hope that if my own grandchildren need it, I can homeschool them or afford to send them to private. 30 years in public ed has been the end of me.

The worst has already been posted on this thread - students lose out the rest of the year. They don't learn the subject, or anything positive.

[Anonymous]

They learn that teachers aren't slaves and if you push too much, they will leave. Good lesson there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a principal. I spent most of December giving gifts, having fun events, visiting with teachers and doing everything possible to show the love. Basically it was a please-don’t-quit-over-break campaign. It’s a hard time to be a teacher.

That’s really nice of you. I like my principal. If you are him, get rid of the professional development and all of the extra meetings that suck up my planning time (team and coaching, not IEP etc). The gift of time would make a difference to most of us. I don’t have time to do my actual job anymore and that’s why so many are stressed. It’s no longer about teaching students but a dog and pony show of the latest craze.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a principal. I spent most of December giving gifts, having fun events, visiting with teachers and doing everything possible to show the love. Basically it was a please-don’t-quit-over-break campaign. It’s a hard time to be a teacher.

That’s really nice of you. I like my principal. If you are him, get rid of the professional development and all of the extra meetings that suck up my planning time (team and coaching, not IEP etc). The gift of time would make a difference to most of us. I don’t have time to do my actual job anymore and that’s why so many are stressed. It’s no longer about teaching students but a dog and pony show of the latest craze.

I was just coming to say that this is what I heard from a Fairfax County teacher with whom I was chatting recently.

[Anonymous]

The freaking CLT meetings that are worthless and eat up an hour when I could be getting things done made me crazy. They added no value to my job and the instructional coaches just yammer on. It’s so frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS high school biology teacher isn’t coming back, she was young and I’m not sure why she is going to do with her life now, or she going to go back to mommy and daddy house, but a teacher shouldn’t be allowed to quit halfway though the year. Student loved and her, and to one paragraph email saying you’re quitting isn’t okay in my book.

Maybe parents like you and their kids should have treated her better. It's a job. She has no obligation to stay through the school year and she doesn't owe anyone an explanation as to why.

She has an obligation. If she chooses to break her contract, no, she doesn't need to give an explanation. But if she had a good explanation, she would have given it.

She is entitled to leave at any time, just like you can leave any job at any time. You can always step up and teach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The freaking CLT meetings that are worthless and eat up an hour when I could be getting things done made me crazy. They added no value to my job and the instructional coaches just yammer on. It’s so frustrating.

+1
An hour, twice a week. More often than not we leave those meetings with another task added to our list of things to do and we aren't planned for the next day. Just the small groups and math centers I'm expected to plan take well over an hour to prepare. For me, order of importance would look like:

1) More prep time. Cut out the stupid meetings
2) More support for students who are ruining the classroom environment.
3) Perhaps pay, but I really have no complaints here. I have benefit improvements that I'd put over pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS high school biology teacher isn’t coming back, she was young and I’m not sure why she is going to do with her life now, or she going to go back to mommy and daddy house, but a teacher shouldn’t be allowed to quit halfway though the year. Student loved and her, and to one paragraph email saying you’re quitting isn’t okay in my book.

Maybe parents like you and their kids should have treated her better. It's a job. She has no obligation to stay through the school year and she doesn't owe anyone an explanation as to why.

She has an obligation. If she chooses to break her contract, no, she doesn't need to give an explanation. But if she had a good explanation, she would have given it.

She didn't have to explain anything if she didn't want to do so.

If she left for a health-related reason, she is not required to disclose that. She doesn't even have to say something general such as "I am resigning due to a personal health need."

If she left because her mental health is at risk, she doesn't have to explain that.

If she left because she is getting married and her spouse is out-of-state, she doesn't have to explain that.

A teacher's personal business is just that-- PERSONAL business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS high school biology teacher isn’t coming back, she was young and I’m not sure why she is going to do with her life now, or she going to go back to mommy and daddy house, but a teacher shouldn’t be allowed to quit halfway though the year. Student loved and her, and to one paragraph email saying you’re quitting isn’t okay in my book.

Your word choice is appalling and sheds a light on your incredible sense of entitlement.

What does the teacher's age have to do with anything, and how is it your business what she chooses to do with her life? Questioning her living arrangement, especially saying "Mommy and Daddy's house," is disgusting. You are a piece of work, OP.

[Anonymous]

It sucks but they will survive. One of my HS math teachers took the second half of the year off as extended maternity leave. We had a crappy long term sun and learned very little. I still went on to a top school and majored in math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS high school biology teacher isn’t coming back, she was young and I’m not sure why she is going to do with her life now, or she going to go back to mommy and daddy house, but a teacher shouldn’t be allowed to quit halfway though the year. Student loved and her, and to one paragraph email saying you’re quitting isn’t okay in my book.

Your word choice is appalling and sheds a light on your incredible sense of entitlement.

What does the teacher's age have to do with anything, and how is it your business what she chooses to do with her life? Questioning her living arrangement, especially saying "Mommy and Daddy's house," is disgusting. You are a piece of work, OP.

+1
Very condescending.