Teacher workdays/school planning are ridiculous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Salem City, Virginia school calendar
Same law applies, they get out 20 days sooner!
May 28 is their last day, and they started the same day as FCPS!
https://content.myconnectsuite.com/api/documents/29957869e81249f9ac72713812f81f20.pdf

The argument on this thread is about consistent school. Getting out 20 days earlier, and therefore having a longer summer, would be even more disruptive to student learning.

The summer has the most negative impact on student routine and continuity of learning. If we really want students to be in school and learning, then advocating for even more time off in June isn’t the answer.

The argument is for consistent school in the school year. 20 days earlier means during the school year kids are in school.

I don’t know whether this is true in Salem City but in Fairfax there are plenty of programs for summer enrichment and kids starting those a month sooner would have even more opportunities they don’t presently have.

It’s about consistency with learning. Summer brain drain is a well-document problem. If you are worried about consistent routines and uninterrupted learning, then adding an additional month to summer greatly compounds that problem.

But I’m beginning to think that, at least for a couple of the more vocal posters, the issue isn’t really about what’s best for children at all. Instead, it’s what’s best for parents.

And that’s certainly an important variable, but it isn’t the most important one.

[Anonymous]

Just finished reading this thread. 15 year teacher in a different district. Have been scored at the highest level on evals; consistently high student performance on tests; run multiple clubs a year and I AM LEAVING this job. Way too much work for the pay and conditions. More of us high quality educators are leaving for cushier jobs than staying, and this thread really reinforced my decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished reading this thread. 15 year teacher in a different district. Have been scored at the highest level on evals; consistently high student performance on tests; run multiple clubs a year and I AM LEAVING this job. Way too much work for the pay and conditions. More of us high quality educators are leaving for cushier jobs than staying, and this thread really reinforced my decisions.

LOL, I left 4 years ago after 15 years, best decision I ever made. Higher salary with 100% less stress. Having my nights and weekends back is worth the leaving a profession that I really enjoyed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is just messed up. We have a super short Q3. Teacher work day and school planning immediately after the spring break. 3 days days off in May to celebrate yet another religious holiday. This school year has been a disaster. These kids are barely in school.

There needs to be 1 TW per quarter. One. And follow federal holiday schedule, no religious stuff. FYI, not a Christian here, I don't care if you are closed on my religious holidays or not.

Who are you to decide how many work days teachers get? 🤣🤣

Kids have to be in school X number of days. As long as that is being met you could probably quit complaining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished reading this thread. 15 year teacher in a different district. Have been scored at the highest level on evals; consistently high student performance on tests; run multiple clubs a year and I AM LEAVING this job. Way too much work for the pay and conditions. More of us high quality educators are leaving for cushier jobs than staying, and this thread really reinforced my decisions.

LOL, I left 4 years ago after 15 years, best decision I ever made. Higher salary with 100% less stress. Having my nights and weekends back is worth the leaving a profession that I really enjoyed.

I’ve had several coworkers leave for different careers recently (the last 2-3 years). Most are getting paid more, but not all. What’s notable is that every single one of them has reported back that they can breathe again.

That impact will grow, too. As more people leave, those of us remaining will continue to hear that there’s a life outside teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished reading this thread. 15 year teacher in a different district. Have been scored at the highest level on evals; consistently high student performance on tests; run multiple clubs a year and I AM LEAVING this job. Way too much work for the pay and conditions. More of us high quality educators are leaving for cushier jobs than staying, and this thread really reinforced my decisions.

LOL, I left 4 years ago after 15 years, best decision I ever made. Higher salary with 100% less stress. Having my nights and weekends back is worth the leaving a profession that I really enjoyed.

I’ve had several coworkers leave for different careers recently (the last 2-3 years). Most are getting paid more, but not all. What’s notable is that every single one of them has reported back that they can breathe again.

That impact will grow, too. As more people leave, those of us remaining will continue to hear that there’s a life outside teaching.

I'm so excited! What was most telling was the reactions of my coworkers and principal. You could see the mixed emotions of being so happy for me for getting out and so sad that they are still stuck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished reading this thread. 15 year teacher in a different district. Have been scored at the highest level on evals; consistently high student performance on tests; run multiple clubs a year and I AM LEAVING this job. Way too much work for the pay and conditions. More of us high quality educators are leaving for cushier jobs than staying, and this thread really reinforced my decisions.

LOL, I left 4 years ago after 15 years, best decision I ever made. Higher salary with 100% less stress. Having my nights and weekends back is worth the leaving a profession that I really enjoyed.

I’ve had several coworkers leave for different careers recently (the last 2-3 years). Most are getting paid more, but not all. What’s notable is that every single one of them has reported back that they can breathe again.

That impact will grow, too. As more people leave, those of us remaining will continue to hear that there’s a life outside teaching.

Literally since 2020 we’ve been hearing about this dire shortage and it has not materialized in Fairfax. It doesn’t justify 12 days out of school to make teachers feel better about their job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished reading this thread. 15 year teacher in a different district. Have been scored at the highest level on evals; consistently high student performance on tests; run multiple clubs a year and I AM LEAVING this job. Way too much work for the pay and conditions. More of us high quality educators are leaving for cushier jobs than staying, and this thread really reinforced my decisions.

LOL, I left 4 years ago after 15 years, best decision I ever made. Higher salary with 100% less stress. Having my nights and weekends back is worth the leaving a profession that I really enjoyed.

I’ve had several coworkers leave for different careers recently (the last 2-3 years). Most are getting paid more, but not all. What’s notable is that every single one of them has reported back that they can breathe again.

That impact will grow, too. As more people leave, those of us remaining will continue to hear that there’s a life outside teaching.

Literally since 2020 we’ve been hearing about this dire shortage and it has not materialized in Fairfax. It doesn’t justify 12 days out of school to make teachers feel better about their job.

How do you know that the shortage hasn't materialized? If you had any experience working in schools you would know how many classrooms are staffed with long term substitutes and provisionally licensed teachers. They need extra support and don't tend to stick around long.

You could also look at the FCPS job postings, which are public information. But don't let any facts get in the way of your narrative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished reading this thread. 15 year teacher in a different district. Have been scored at the highest level on evals; consistently high student performance on tests; run multiple clubs a year and I AM LEAVING this job. Way too much work for the pay and conditions. More of us high quality educators are leaving for cushier jobs than staying, and this thread really reinforced my decisions.

LOL, I left 4 years ago after 15 years, best decision I ever made. Higher salary with 100% less stress. Having my nights and weekends back is worth the leaving a profession that I really enjoyed.

I’ve had several coworkers leave for different careers recently (the last 2-3 years). Most are getting paid more, but not all. What’s notable is that every single one of them has reported back that they can breathe again.

That impact will grow, too. As more people leave, those of us remaining will continue to hear that there’s a life outside teaching.

Literally since 2020 we’ve been hearing about this dire shortage and it has not materialized in Fairfax. It doesn’t justify 12 days out of school to make teachers feel better about their job.

How do you know that the shortage hasn't materialized? If you had any experience working in schools you would know how many classrooms are staffed with long term substitutes and provisionally licensed teachers. They need extra support and don't tend to stick around long.

You could also look at the FCPS job postings, which are public information. But don't let any facts get in the way of your narrative.

Like the fact that FCPS isn’t even accepting applications for new subs because it’s so saturated? The fact that county unemployment is at an all time high?

Fairfax residents should be prioritized for FCPS postings. That will limit how many people are taking advantage of taxpayers while availing themselves of rational schedules for their own families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BTW the teachers union in NYC is amazingly powerful but even they don’t advocate for schedule disruptions/more “work days”

Perhaps they advocate for better conditions in other ways: teaching fewer classes, a cap on the number of total students, a reasonable retake/retest policy, more dedicated planning time, fewer non-teaching duties, fewer meetings.

There are many ways to show support to teachers.

And you’ve listed a few that aren’t at the expense of students. Pushing for more disruption and workdays, in addition to (clearly) alienating parents, also shows teachers as wholly out for themselves and not at all interested in whats best for their students— even when its things like missed meals, or whole days alone/unsupervised. Advocating a smaller classroom size at least has the appearance of recognizing that schools are supposed to care about students.

Smaller classroom size means more teachers, which means more funding, which means higher taxes. And the public already balks at that. So, direct your anger at those who deserve it - everyone.

The CBA isn’t making classroom size their issue, they’re making “planning time” their issue. They should focus on something that is better for students not clearly bad for students and families to benefit teachers.

Also, this schedule has higher costs for families. Higher costs spread across all of Fairfax is a lot saner than higher costs concentrated on households with children.

New Jersey has preferential hiring for residents into public jobs, that would be another change that would align teachers and parents better.

1- planning time benefits your child and you more than you think. Teachers can be trained in new techniques, or ways to identify disabilities or answer you emails with more planning time. They can grade papers and give more meaningful feedback etc, etc.

2- No teachers aren’t the ones pushing for this- it is coming from new curriculum initiatives and science of reading training.

3- If all you are concerned about is the amount you pay for camps, angle to get taxpayers to pay for school aged camp subsidies. ACPS used to sponsor minicamps. I”m going to bet you see that would be impossible, so instead you are choosing to pick on teachers who are the low hanging fruit for you. A group of women who don’t have much power and dedicated themselves to trying to teach your kids should be easy for you to steam roll. It is very maddening that you have to pay for camps and can’t tell them what to do.

You are hilarious if you think teachers in Greenwich don’t respond to emails, grade papers, etc. They just manage it without shutting down schools eight extra days every year. And their outcomes suggest their training is as good or better than what Fairfax gets.

Their outcomes suggest they teach kids who were born on third base. I teach students who haven’t made it out of the dugout.

And all the planning days off mean that those kids who “never make it out of the dugout” go hungry and unsupervised. It’s so nice to be able to fail at both ends of the economic extremes.

Do you also worry about these children during the summer? Or is your concern only on teacher workdays?

Why aren’t you advocating for year-round school? Or summer programs to support these children?

There *is* summer programming to support these kids. There ARE summer opportunities for kids who qualify for FARMS. Thats why the shortened summer is so doubly problematic— it creates a bunch of random days where there is no support and it shortens the time where there is reliable, consistent support.

Amazing that camp counselors, even at elite educational camps like Hopkins, make it through whole months without taking random days off to “plan”.

Most camp counselors are glorified babysitters. If they are at an educational camp like Hopkins, I’m sure there is a curriculum that is given to them to follow lock, step and key. The kids that go to these camps are smart, well behaved. Absolutely no comparison to teaching in FCPS.

NP- This is what we want from our school systems. We want curriculum for teachers and books for kids. We also want well behaved kids and that very badly behaved kids are removed/disciplined.

Instead we have no curriculum, no books, and nonstop laptop usage. Teacher planning days are stupid team building activities and workshops that teachers don't want or need.

Parents aren't against teachers. We're against the admins and school board.

[Anonymous]

Like the fact that FCPS isn’t even accepting applications for new subs because it’s so saturated? The fact that county unemployment is at an all time high?

Fairfax residents should be prioritized for FCPS postings. That will limit how many people are taking advantage of taxpayers while availing themselves of rational schedules for their own families.

What do sub applications have to do with FCPS full time job positions? Subbing is a much easier gig, especially at the middle and high school level. teachers leave plans/work and the sub monitors to make sure kids are behaving (no planning, no grading). Subs can also pick which days they want to work, making it a super flexible schedule.

Do you honestly think teachers live in other counties and work in FCPS because FCPS has more days off?? I work in FCPS but live in Loudoun because I can't afford to live anywhere near my school. My kids go to LCPS schools and with only 1-2 exceptions have the same days off I do (they are also going to be off 4/21 they just haven't had the official vote yet.

[Anonymous]

NP- This is what we want from our school systems. We want curriculum for teachers and books for kids. We also want well behaved kids and that very badly behaved kids are removed/disciplined.

Instead we have no curriculum, no books, and nonstop laptop usage. Teacher planning days are stupid team building activities and workshops that teachers don't want or need.

Parents aren't against teachers. We're against the admins and school board.


This is what teachers want too! High quality curriculum (made by long term/experienced teachers!), full novels/plays, well behaved students and consequences for their actions. It's like we all have the same goals

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like the fact that FCPS isn’t even accepting applications for new subs because it’s so saturated? The fact that county unemployment is at an all time high?

Fairfax residents should be prioritized for FCPS postings. That will limit how many people are taking advantage of taxpayers while availing themselves of rational schedules for their own families.

What do sub applications have to do with FCPS full time job positions? Subbing is a much easier gig, especially at the middle and high school level. teachers leave plans/work and the sub monitors to make sure kids are behaving (no planning, no grading). Subs can also pick which days they want to work, making it a super flexible schedule.

Do you honestly think teachers live in other counties and work in FCPS because FCPS has more days off?? I work in FCPS but live in Loudoun because I can't afford to live anywhere near my school. My kids go to LCPS schools and with only 1-2 exceptions have the same days off I do (they are also going to be off 4/21 they just haven't had the official vote yet.

Grr. We need to start using churches and libraries instead of schools for voting! It's not a big deal at all to shut down a library one day for voting. Random days off like 4/21 are really hard to get backups for parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished reading this thread. 15 year teacher in a different district. Have been scored at the highest level on evals; consistently high student performance on tests; run multiple clubs a year and I AM LEAVING this job. Way too much work for the pay and conditions. More of us high quality educators are leaving for cushier jobs than staying, and this thread really reinforced my decisions.

LOL, I left 4 years ago after 15 years, best decision I ever made. Higher salary with 100% less stress. Having my nights and weekends back is worth the leaving a profession that I really enjoyed.

I’ve had several coworkers leave for different careers recently (the last 2-3 years). Most are getting paid more, but not all. What’s notable is that every single one of them has reported back that they can breathe again.

That impact will grow, too. As more people leave, those of us remaining will continue to hear that there’s a life outside teaching.

Literally since 2020 we’ve been hearing about this dire shortage and it has not materialized in Fairfax. It doesn’t justify 12 days out of school to make teachers feel better about their job.

How do you know that the shortage hasn't materialized? If you had any experience working in schools you would know how many classrooms are staffed with long term substitutes and provisionally licensed teachers. They need extra support and don't tend to stick around long.

You could also look at the FCPS job postings, which are public information. But don't let any facts get in the way of your narrative.

Like the fact that FCPS isn’t even accepting applications for new subs because it’s so saturated? The fact that county unemployment is at an all time high?

Fairfax residents should be prioritized for FCPS postings. That will limit how many people are taking advantage of taxpayers while availing themselves of rational schedules for their own families.

The other poster already clarified this for you, but I’ll add more:

Sure, FCPS may appear staffed. But how many are provisional? How many will leave in their first two years after they realize the workload / stress isn’t for them? How often are you replacing, and therefore needing to onboard and train new teachers? What is a teacher’s tenure with FCPS? How has staffing been manipulated to hide / solve vacancies (class size increases, dropped electives, etc.)?

One thing that isn’t mentioned on this thread: the value of training and teacher support, and how that also impacts students. I want a well-supported, rested, and invested teacher for all children. I don’t want just a body, which is what occurs in shortage. Yes, classes have coverage, but do they have teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is just messed up. We have a super short Q3. Teacher work day and school planning immediately after the spring break. 3 days days off in May to celebrate yet another religious holiday. This school year has been a disaster. These kids are barely in school.

There needs to be 1 TW per quarter. One. And follow federal holiday schedule, no religious stuff. FYI, not a Christian here, I don't care if you are closed on my religious holidays or not.

Who are you to decide how many work days teachers get? 🤣🤣

Kids have to be in school X number of days. As long as that is being met you could probably quit complaining.

We can't vote for school board members anymore?