Why is it like this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is happening in schools throughout MCPS at all grade levels. It's so sad! We moved to the area for the schools, and in the past few years, pulled our kids out of public HS and moved them to private (I still work in public).

My friends and I that are still teaching are miserable. I don't see changes coming any time soon, but I am telling you, something's got to give. We already don't have enough teachers, paraeducators, special educators or substitutes. How the heck does this shake down?!?!

They seem like post from some alternate reality. My kids schools are nothing like what's being described here and I just have to wonder if this is even real.

If you are in MCPS then you aren't paying attention.

Totally agree! Two DC in MCLS for last 4 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is happening in schools throughout MCPS at all grade levels. It's so sad! We moved to the area for the schools, and in the past few years, pulled our kids out of public HS and moved them to private (I still work in public).

My friends and I that are still teaching are miserable. I don't see changes coming any time soon, but I am telling you, something's got to give. We already don't have enough teachers, paraeducators, special educators or substitutes. How the heck does this shake down?!?!

They seem like post from some alternate reality. My kids schools are nothing like what's being described here and I just have to wonder if this is even real.

If you are in MCPS then you aren't paying attention.

Totally agree! Two DC in MCLS for last 4 years.

Sorry, typo, MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP sounds like a weak educator and also seems to need more training. Some of the things you mentioned are legit issues like parents being really high maintenance but some of things are developmentally appropriate like fidgets and issues with the Chromebook.

Let's unpack this a bit. 7 year olds don't see these as comfort items, they see them as toys from home. They carry around dirty germ laden stuffies, play with the toys instead of doing their work, feel jealous, want a turn, and use them in the most bizarre and antisocial ways.

In the course of the day, the teachers who limit the use of these "tools" have students who are learning more and are happier. The teachers who are trying to be "responsive" and nice have kids with lice, illness, and little learning.

The fact is that to "feel safe" kids need to be safe, have the boundaries they crave, and learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is happening in schools throughout MCPS at all grade levels. It's so sad! We moved to the area for the schools, and in the past few years, pulled our kids out of public HS and moved them to private (I still work in public).

My friends and I that are still teaching are miserable. I don't see changes coming any time soon, but I am telling you, something's got to give. We already don't have enough teachers, paraeducators, special educators or substitutes. How the heck does this shake down?!?!

They seem like post from some alternate reality. My kids schools are nothing like what's being described here and I just have to wonder if this is even real.

What schools are you kids at? This is definitely the reality at a good number of schools in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP sounds like a weak educator and also seems to need more training. Some of the things you mentioned are legit issues like parents being really high maintenance but some of things are developmentally appropriate like fidgets and issues with the Chromebook.

It isn't developmentally appropriate or necessary to allow a student to keep a ton of shit on their desk so that their parents don't get mad. It might be developmentally appropriate for a kid to WANT to do that. I never said it wasn't developmentally appropriate for kids to do all the things I mentioned. I said that we are not able to effectively set and maintain expectations because parents don't really want us to say no to their kids.

Some kids have a supplementary aid that allows them access to a fidget. ONE fidget to allow a student with attention or focus issues isn't the problem.

The problem is our inability to set and maintain clear expectations with students AND know that parents and admin will support them even when their own kid is unhappy if we close their "fun" tabs on the chrome book or say no to a snack or a trip to the hall for their doodling markers or limit them to one "fidget," per kid (or NONE unless it's an allowed accommodation in a legal document).

[Anonymous]

We had paper grocery bag covers on our books back in the olden times and would doodle on them to keep from being bored. Kids need something to do other than listening to the teacher all class. Bring back textbooks and cover those books with paper bags. Bring back doodling!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had paper grocery bag covers on our books back in the olden times and would doodle on them to keep from being bored. Kids need something to do other than listening to the teacher all class. Bring back textbooks and cover those books with paper bags. Bring back doodling!

Oh, okay. So you're saying I SHOULD let your kid go out to the hall for their multi-packs of markers in the middle of the math concept development so they can draw on a notebook instead of using their white board to try and answer and follow along with the concepts.

Yep, that tracks.

Of course, you'll also be angry when your kid doesn't know how to do their homework (if you "believe" in having them try homework) because they doodled through the lesson and doodled instead of working on the problem set. And, you'll also blame their teacher.

So...allow my child to doodle whenever they feel like it AND teach them math. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had paper grocery bag covers on our books back in the olden times and would doodle on them to keep from being bored. Kids need something to do other than listening to the teacher all class. Bring back textbooks and cover those books with paper bags. Bring back doodling!

Oh, okay. So you're saying I SHOULD let your kid go out to the hall for their multi-packs of markers in the middle of the math concept development so they can draw on a notebook instead of using their white board to try and answer and follow along with the concepts.

Yep, that tracks.

Of course, you'll also be angry when your kid doesn't know how to do their homework (if you "believe" in having them try homework) because they doodled through the lesson and doodled instead of working on the problem set. And, you'll also blame their teacher.

So...allow my child to doodle whenever they feel like it AND teach them math. Got it.

The smart kids can doodle and listen when needed. They can double doodle multi task. And that mam, tracks. Oh boy does it track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP sounds like a weak educator and also seems to need more training. Some of the things you mentioned are legit issues like parents being really high maintenance but some of things are developmentally appropriate like fidgets and issues with the Chromebook.

You don't have a clue what you're talking about and it's so obvious from your answer. No one is taking any of your replies serious. Time to put down the wine and log off.

[Anonymous]

I teach high school. A lot of parents are perfectly ok with their kid using a phone all day, cursing in class, and not doing work. The parents are the same. I don’t care about the food issue as long as it doesn’t distract anyone, create a mess or any drama.

Weird how often the kids need to go to the bathroom and get a drink though. They can’t wait when they have the urge to do something. Very middle school like

[Anonymous]

My school keeps talking about engaging kids. It’s tough when they have 24 hour entertainment devices already in their hands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had paper grocery bag covers on our books back in the olden times and would doodle on them to keep from being bored. Kids need something to do other than listening to the teacher all class. Bring back textbooks and cover those books with paper bags. Bring back doodling!

Oh, okay. So you're saying I SHOULD let your kid go out to the hall for their multi-packs of markers in the middle of the math concept development so they can draw on a notebook instead of using their white board to try and answer and follow along with the concepts.

Yep, that tracks.

Of course, you'll also be angry when your kid doesn't know how to do their homework (if you "believe" in having them try homework) because they doodled through the lesson and doodled instead of working on the problem set. And, you'll also blame their teacher.

So...allow my child to doodle whenever they feel like it AND teach them math. Got it.

If your kid gets 10 minutes of instruction a class period, they are lucky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach high school. A lot of parents are perfectly ok with their kid using a phone all day, cursing in class, and not doing work. The parents are the same. I don’t care about the food issue as long as it doesn’t distract anyone, create a mess or any drama.

Weird how often the kids need to go to the bathroom and get a drink though. They can’t wait when they have the urge to do something. Very middle school like

Maybe we aren't but we don't know what's going on when teachers don't respond to emails or engage parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP sounds like a weak educator and also seems to need more training. Some of the things you mentioned are legit issues like parents being really high maintenance but some of things are developmentally appropriate like fidgets and issues with the Chromebook.

Let's unpack this a bit. 7 year olds don't see these as comfort items, they see them as toys from home. They carry around dirty germ laden stuffies, play with the toys instead of doing their work, feel jealous, want a turn, and use them in the most bizarre and antisocial ways.

In the course of the day, the teachers who limit the use of these "tools" have students who are learning more and are happier. The teachers who are trying to be "responsive" and nice have kids with lice, illness, and little learning.

The fact is that to "feel safe" kids need to be safe, have the boundaries they crave, and learn.

Yet, we are not just talking about seven year olds. How about ten and eleven year olds walking around with their stuffed animals, while others play with fidgets throughout class. Then, there is the constant need to get something from their lockers, get water, go the bathroom, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP sounds like a weak educator and also seems to need more training. Some of the things you mentioned are legit issues like parents being really high maintenance but some of things are developmentally appropriate like fidgets and issues with the Chromebook.

Let's unpack this a bit. 7 year olds don't see these as comfort items, they see them as toys from home. They carry around dirty germ laden stuffies, play with the toys instead of doing their work, feel jealous, want a turn, and use them in the most bizarre and antisocial ways.

In the course of the day, the teachers who limit the use of these "tools" have students who are learning more and are happier. The teachers who are trying to be "responsive" and nice have kids with lice, illness, and little learning.

The fact is that to "feel safe" kids need to be safe, have the boundaries they crave, and learn.

Yet, we are not just talking about seven year olds. How about ten and eleven year olds walking around with their stuffed animals, while others play with fidgets throughout class. Then, there is the constant need to get something from their lockers, get water, go the bathroom, etc.

Most es don’t have lockers. And most ms and his kids don’t use theirs.