Why don't teachers demand more planning time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't demand anything anymore. When I first started out, I used to try and make cases for more time/supplies/money. Now, I just pretend to agree and do whatever the hell I was going to do in the first place.

All of my principals have been incredibly petty. Complain about planning time? They stand by the sign in sheet in the morning and note that you were a minute late. Complain about meetings running 90 minutes after school despite the contract limiting it to an hour? They move all the meetings to 6am. Complain about having 35 kids in a class? They make sure you teach three different preps next time around.

It's not worth it. I'm just biding my time until I find a job outside of the classroom.

This. 100% this. You may win the battle but you'll lose the war.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I tried to reply above, but for some odd reason it quoted an earlier poster and put my words in the middle.

I was able to read what you put in the middle of the previous post. For me I don't think it's a matter of adding more planning time. It's more a matter of protecting the planning time that are currently supposed to have. Independent planning time is valuable to me. 240 minutes of independent, teacher directed planning time is what my district's policy calls for and I get more accomplished during that time compared to sitting through two or three CT meetings/week. The district doesn't have to hire any more people or make any changes to ensure that I can have 4 hours of planning to myself each week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously. It's insane that teachers are flat out expected to spend hours beyond their contract time just to meet the bare minimum requirements of their job. What little of their planning time they receive is eaten up by meetings, yet they don't say anything. Teachers, why don't you stand up for yourselves and say enough is enough?

They could. But it wouldn't happen and would just trigger more "lazy teacher" sentiments.

[Anonymous]

The problem starts at Gatehouse. Too many grandiose programs that require team planning, etc, when the teachers really just want to get together with their colleagues to plan when they need to do so, not when it is mandated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem starts at Gatehouse. Too many grandiose programs that require team planning, etc, when the teachers really just want to get together with their colleagues to plan when they need to do so, not when it is mandated.

What is Gatehouse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem starts at Gatehouse. Too many grandiose programs that require team planning, etc, when the teachers really just want to get together with their colleagues to plan when they need to do so, not when it is mandated.

What is Gatehouse?

Basically the main administration building for Fairfax County Schools.

[Anonymous]

If you make too much noise you’ll be in trouble and there’s little recourse as a teacher. You’ll be blacklisted if you try to transfer. There’s not enough oversight of principals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't demand anything anymore. When I first started out, I used to try and make cases for more time/supplies/money. Now, I just pretend to agree and do whatever the hell I was going to do in the first place.

All of my principals have been incredibly petty. Complain about planning time? They stand by the sign in sheet in the morning and note that you were a minute late. Complain about meetings running 90 minutes after school despite the contract limiting it to an hour? They move all the meetings to 6am. Complain about having 35 kids in a class? They make sure you teach three different preps next time around.

It's not worth it. I'm just biding my time until I find a job outside of the classroom.

This is what most teachers end up having to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I tried to reply above, but for some odd reason it quoted an earlier poster and put my words in the middle.

I was able to read what you put in the middle of the previous post. For me I don't think it's a matter of adding more planning time. It's more a matter of protecting the planning time that are currently supposed to have. Independent planning time is valuable to me. 240 minutes of independent, teacher directed planning time is what my district's policy calls for and I get more accomplished during that time compared to sitting through two or three CT meetings/week. The district doesn't have to hire any more people or make any changes to ensure that I can have 4 hours of planning to myself each week.

But even if you did get your four hours of uninterrupted planning time, how much time would you spend at home after school and on the weekends to simply meet the basic requirements of your job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem starts at Gatehouse. Too many grandiose programs that require team planning, etc, when the teachers really just want to get together with their colleagues to plan when they need to do so, not when it is mandated.

What is gatehouse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem starts at Gatehouse. Too many grandiose programs that require team planning, etc, when the teachers really just want to get together with their colleagues to plan when they need to do so, not when it is mandated.

What is gatehouse?

That was answered in the next post. Look back four.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I tried to reply above, but for some odd reason it quoted an earlier poster and put my words in the middle.

I was able to read what you put in the middle of the previous post. For me I don't think it's a matter of adding more planning time. It's more a matter of protecting the planning time that are currently supposed to have. Independent planning time is valuable to me. 240 minutes of independent, teacher directed planning time is what my district's policy calls for and I get more accomplished during that time compared to sitting through two or three CT meetings/week. The district doesn't have to hire any more people or make any changes to ensure that I can have 4 hours of planning to myself each week.

But even if you did get your four hours of uninterrupted planning time, how much time would you spend at home after school and on the weekends to simply meet the basic requirements of your job?

There would still be time spent at home, but those four hours would help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I tried to reply above, but for some odd reason it quoted an earlier poster and put my words in the middle.

I was able to read what you put in the middle of the previous post. For me I don't think it's a matter of adding more planning time. It's more a matter of protecting the planning time that are currently supposed to have. Independent planning time is valuable to me. 240 minutes of independent, teacher directed planning time is what my district's policy calls for and I get more accomplished during that time compared to sitting through two or three CT meetings/week. The district doesn't have to hire any more people or make any changes to ensure that I can have 4 hours of planning to myself each week.

But even if you did get your four hours of uninterrupted planning time, how much time would you spend at home after school and on the weekends to simply meet the basic requirements of your job?

There would still be time spent at home, but those four hours would help.

Or take Columbus Day. Instead of spending between 4.5 and 5 hours in meetings I could have spent some time organizing, making notes on student work, entering data. I could have used it to get ready for the next day.

[Anonymous]

"I don't demand anything anymore. When I first started out, I used to try and make cases for more time/supplies/money. Now, I just pretend to agree and do whatever the hell I was going to do in the first place.

All of my principals have been incredibly petty. Complain about planning time? They stand by the sign in sheet in the morning and note that you were a minute late. Complain about meetings running 90 minutes after school despite the contract limiting it to an hour? They move all the meetings to 6am. Complain about having 35 kids in a class? They make sure you teach three different preps next time around.

It's not worth it. I'm just biding my time until I find a job outside of the classroom.


This. 100% this. You may win the battle but you'll lose the war."

Sounds like the battle is not about resources or even time but rather teachers having more say in picking principals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I don't demand anything anymore. When I first started out, I used to try and make cases for more time/supplies/money. Now, I just pretend to agree and do whatever the hell I was going to do in the first place.

All of my principals have been incredibly petty. Complain about planning time? They stand by the sign in sheet in the morning and note that you were a minute late. Complain about meetings running 90 minutes after school despite the contract limiting it to an hour? They move all the meetings to 6am. Complain about having 35 kids in a class? They make sure you teach three different preps next time around.

It's not worth it. I'm just biding my time until I find a job outside of the classroom.


This. 100% this. You may win the battle but you'll lose the war."

Sounds like the battle is not about resources or even time but rather teachers having more say in picking principals.

Not defending the principals, but, remember, there is a pecking order. The principals are trying to please their superiors.