will a lot of kids be out next week?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

It is unexcused but do know that excused or unexcused does not truly matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

It is unexcused but do know that excused or unexcused does not truly matter.

Why? Is it just the total number of absences that matters?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's a vicious cycle. A bunch of kids skip school those days, so teachers learn to not cover anything. Other parents learn of this from one year to another, and so keep their kids out of school, also. So the teachers cover even less the next year. We're now at year one-million of the process and few teachers cover anything at all (that's why, I think, they scheduled half-days for those days).

I had my kids double check before we finalized plans. 3 of 7 teachers will have subs. And her hard classes (math/science) will be doing review problems (frankly, this is quite useful for the kids so kudos to those teachers).

Half days are always like this. Schools shouldn't be able to count half days as instructional days.

Nor should they ding the kids for 2 full days of absence when they're half days.

If half-days didn't count as instructional days, then MCPS would have to have real school days. Half days are just a way to offer MCEA a day off while still getting paid as a work day.

And the new MCEA board members are going to try to add more.

I’m not an MCPS teacher, but I know many and I teach in a neighboring county.

Guess what half days are to most of us? Full work days. Students go home early, but we stay and grade and plan.

And then we go home and grade/plan more. And then we wake up on Saturdays to grade/plan. And then we wake up on Sundays to grade/plan.

I just looked at a calendar. I haven’t had a day without work in 28 days.

So I’m going to take offense when you accuse teachers of laziness.

Then make it a non-instructional workday, since meaningful classes aren't going to happen.

Teachers have absolutely no control over most things that enrage parents, but we take the heat anyway. I can’t change the calendar.

My high school students are constantly working and meeting standards. I’m not going to consider myself lazy or underperforming if I tailor an activity that fosters community or wellness on a half day. I see my students’ needs and their burnout and I’m able to respond to it. A light day is not wasted. It just fills a different need.

Half days are added to the calendar based on negotiations with the teachers union. You can't say you didn't play a part in that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

[Anonymous]

Unless you’re in a magnet or some other application program, even the AP and “higher level” classes are doing Butkus on half days. I work in an MCPS high school and know this. They are “catch-up if you have work missing” while a movie plays.

I wish I’d known this before, because I would dutifully send my kid on days like this. Now I know and for my youngest who isn’t in a special program? she can absolutely stay home if she wants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's a vicious cycle. A bunch of kids skip school those days, so teachers learn to not cover anything. Other parents learn of this from one year to another, and so keep their kids out of school, also. So the teachers cover even less the next year. We're now at year one-million of the process and few teachers cover anything at all (that's why, I think, they scheduled half-days for those days).

I had my kids double check before we finalized plans. 3 of 7 teachers will have subs. And her hard classes (math/science) will be doing review problems (frankly, this is quite useful for the kids so kudos to those teachers).

Half days are always like this. Schools shouldn't be able to count half days as instructional days.

Nor should they ding the kids for 2 full days of absence when they're half days.

If half-days didn't count as instructional days, then MCPS would have to have real school days. Half days are just a way to offer MCEA a day off while still getting paid as a work day.

And the new MCEA board members are going to try to add more.

I’m not an MCPS teacher, but I know many and I teach in a neighboring county.

Guess what half days are to most of us? Full work days. Students go home early, but we stay and grade and plan.

And then we go home and grade/plan more. And then we wake up on Saturdays to grade/plan. And then we wake up on Sundays to grade/plan.

I just looked at a calendar. I haven’t had a day without work in 28 days.

So I’m going to take offense when you accuse teachers of laziness.

Then make it a non-instructional workday, since meaningful classes aren't going to happen.

Teachers have absolutely no control over most things that enrage parents, but we take the heat anyway. I can’t change the calendar.

My high school students are constantly working and meeting standards. I’m not going to consider myself lazy or underperforming if I tailor an activity that fosters community or wellness on a half day. I see my students’ needs and their burnout and I’m able to respond to it. A light day is not wasted. It just fills a different need.

Half days are added to the calendar based on negotiations with the teachers union. You can't say you didn't play a part in that.

Half days aren't going away-deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's a vicious cycle. A bunch of kids skip school those days, so teachers learn to not cover anything. Other parents learn of this from one year to another, and so keep their kids out of school, also. So the teachers cover even less the next year. We're now at year one-million of the process and few teachers cover anything at all (that's why, I think, they scheduled half-days for those days).

I had my kids double check before we finalized plans. 3 of 7 teachers will have subs. And her hard classes (math/science) will be doing review problems (frankly, this is quite useful for the kids so kudos to those teachers).

Half days are always like this. Schools shouldn't be able to count half days as instructional days.

Nor should they ding the kids for 2 full days of absence when they're half days.

If half-days didn't count as instructional days, then MCPS would have to have real school days. Half days are just a way to offer MCEA a day off while still getting paid as a work day.

And the new MCEA board members are going to try to add more.

I’m not an MCPS teacher, but I know many and I teach in a neighboring county.

Guess what half days are to most of us? Full work days. Students go home early, but we stay and grade and plan.

And then we go home and grade/plan more. And then we wake up on Saturdays to grade/plan. And then we wake up on Sundays to grade/plan.

I just looked at a calendar. I haven’t had a day without work in 28 days.

So I’m going to take offense when you accuse teachers of laziness.

Then make it a non-instructional workday, since meaningful classes aren't going to happen.

Teachers have absolutely no control over most things that enrage parents, but we take the heat anyway. I can’t change the calendar.

My high school students are constantly working and meeting standards. I’m not going to consider myself lazy or underperforming if I tailor an activity that fosters community or wellness on a half day. I see my students’ needs and their burnout and I’m able to respond to it. A light day is not wasted. It just fills a different need.

Half days are added to the calendar based on negotiations with the teachers union. You can't say you didn't play a part in that.

Half days aren't going away-deal with it.

They might if we change the law that allows them to count as an instructional day. Everyone here knows they shouldn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's a vicious cycle. A bunch of kids skip school those days, so teachers learn to not cover anything. Other parents learn of this from one year to another, and so keep their kids out of school, also. So the teachers cover even less the next year. We're now at year one-million of the process and few teachers cover anything at all (that's why, I think, they scheduled half-days for those days).

I had my kids double check before we finalized plans. 3 of 7 teachers will have subs. And her hard classes (math/science) will be doing review problems (frankly, this is quite useful for the kids so kudos to those teachers).

Half days are always like this. Schools shouldn't be able to count half days as instructional days.

Nor should they ding the kids for 2 full days of absence when they're half days.

If half-days didn't count as instructional days, then MCPS would have to have real school days. Half days are just a way to offer MCEA a day off while still getting paid as a work day.

And the new MCEA board members are going to try to add more.

I’m not an MCPS teacher, but I know many and I teach in a neighboring county.

Guess what half days are to most of us? Full work days. Students go home early, but we stay and grade and plan.

And then we go home and grade/plan more. And then we wake up on Saturdays to grade/plan. And then we wake up on Sundays to grade/plan.

I just looked at a calendar. I haven’t had a day without work in 28 days.

So I’m going to take offense when you accuse teachers of laziness.

Then make it a non-instructional workday, since meaningful classes aren't going to happen.

Teachers have absolutely no control over most things that enrage parents, but we take the heat anyway. I can’t change the calendar.

My high school students are constantly working and meeting standards. I’m not going to consider myself lazy or underperforming if I tailor an activity that fosters community or wellness on a half day. I see my students’ needs and their burnout and I’m able to respond to it. A light day is not wasted. It just fills a different need.

Half days are added to the calendar based on negotiations with the teachers union. You can't say you didn't play a part in that.

Half days aren't going away-deal with it.

They might if we change the law that allows them to count as an instructional day. Everyone here knows they shouldn't.

No one is changing half-day laws. There are WAY bigger problems in education to deal with first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's a vicious cycle. A bunch of kids skip school those days, so teachers learn to not cover anything. Other parents learn of this from one year to another, and so keep their kids out of school, also. So the teachers cover even less the next year. We're now at year one-million of the process and few teachers cover anything at all (that's why, I think, they scheduled half-days for those days).

I had my kids double check before we finalized plans. 3 of 7 teachers will have subs. And her hard classes (math/science) will be doing review problems (frankly, this is quite useful for the kids so kudos to those teachers).

Half days are always like this. Schools shouldn't be able to count half days as instructional days.

Nor should they ding the kids for 2 full days of absence when they're half days.

If half-days didn't count as instructional days, then MCPS would have to have real school days. Half days are just a way to offer MCEA a day off while still getting paid as a work day.

And the new MCEA board members are going to try to add more.

I’m not an MCPS teacher, but I know many and I teach in a neighboring county.

Guess what half days are to most of us? Full work days. Students go home early, but we stay and grade and plan.

And then we go home and grade/plan more. And then we wake up on Saturdays to grade/plan. And then we wake up on Sundays to grade/plan.

I just looked at a calendar. I haven’t had a day without work in 28 days.

So I’m going to take offense when you accuse teachers of laziness.

Then make it a non-instructional workday, since meaningful classes aren't going to happen.

Teachers have absolutely no control over most things that enrage parents, but we take the heat anyway. I can’t change the calendar.

My high school students are constantly working and meeting standards. I’m not going to consider myself lazy or underperforming if I tailor an activity that fosters community or wellness on a half day. I see my students’ needs and their burnout and I’m able to respond to it. A light day is not wasted. It just fills a different need.

Half days are added to the calendar based on negotiations with the teachers union. You can't say you didn't play a part in that.

Half days aren't going away-deal with it.

They might if we change the law that allows them to count as an instructional day. Everyone here knows they shouldn't.

No one is changing half-day laws. There are WAY bigger problems in education to deal with first.

If we won't bother to fix the easy problems, how do you expect us to deal with the hard ones?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

Tell that to the teachers starting their vacations early this weekend. And their subs, and remaining colleagues, showing movies on Monday and Tuesday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

Tell that to the teachers starting their vacations early this weekend. And their subs, and remaining colleagues, showing movies on Monday and Tuesday.

Well, when 50% of your class is out, whose do you expect a teacher to do? Teach a skill that needs to be retaught in a week?

I know of one colleague on vacation. I know of 4 home with fevers. Should I get angry at them on your behalf?

And should I also be upset with your colleagues who decided to leave early for Thanksgiving? Surely they shouldn’t do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

Tell that to the teachers starting their vacations early this weekend. And their subs, and remaining colleagues, showing movies on Monday and Tuesday.

Well, when 50% of your class is out, whose do you expect a teacher to do? Teach a skill that needs to be retaught in a week?

I know of one colleague on vacation. I know of 4 home with fevers. Should I get angry at them on your behalf?

And should I also be upset with your colleagues who decided to leave early for Thanksgiving? Surely they shouldn’t do that.

Families leave early because they know class is a joke. You don't put two half days in a row if you want students to show up.