Alleged teacher shortage

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher it seems to me like there is a "war on teachers" coming from politicians who don't want to fund them, principals who want to fire them if they don't inflate the grades for the ones who don't show up, and even the union, which won't protect them for doing a tough job when the kids want to watch movies and play videogames all class. Kids don't want to work, principals don't want to work and they make teachers do a stressed-out song and dance, and then pressure them to fraudulently send as many people into student debt. It is a big corrupt machine of debt creation. Then teachers are fired. The reason no one wants to teach is because they hear the horror stories. MCPS is the worst. Even if you are a great teacher the behavior of the kids sucks because there is no professionalism or support coming out of administration. You're basically halfway fired on the day that you're hired.

Fixed it for you, "teacher." If you are, in fact, a teacher, I'm not surprised that MCPS administrators might be rethinking your employment.

Wow. The post from the teacher sounds like it truly is from a teacher. I assume the 2nd poster replying to the teacher is one of those parents who hates teachers, thinks it’s an easy job (ha ha ha!!!), and wants her darling little ones to get passing grades even if they do nothing and they’re the type of parent who is totally fine with their kids doing nothing.

Doing nothing and passing won’t prepare your kids for future college or employment. It’s too bad so many parents and admin don’t get that.

I'm a young teacher and the things the first poster said started to dawn on me a few weeks ago. The disconnect between the job I thought I was getting into and the job I've gotten into are frankly pretty awful, and I will be getting out whenever I can.

I don't think that the higher ups set out to let failing students pass, but I presume there are accreditation and other state or federal-level pressures that put 100% of the burden of having students pass on the school system and therefore on the teachers. We have students coming to us from MS with grades that are unimaginable given their paltry or sometimes total lack of knowledge. We also have students who are about to graduate and are headed to college and aren't even performing at the middle school level in my subject.

The common thread is that they don't listen, don't study, don't do homework and don't seek help, except sometimes the last week of the quarter when they want to know "how I can improve my grade" or worse, "what can WE do about my grade", as if it suddenly were my responsibility to get them to pass. Many of these kids are not deprived--they have other priorities, which often include hours and hours of sports outside of school. I guess they know the drill?

Imagine being a doctor with a long-term alcoholic patient, who demands that you give them a clean bill of health in spite of their advanced cirrhosis.

The parents who are pushing for higher grades to send these students to college are fooling themselves.

Thank you for sharing your insight. It’s refreshing to see that there are still teachers who haven’t given up on our children’s academic potential and expect more of them than just showing up to school to occupy a seat, or to become a political or radical gender activist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher it seems to me like there is a "war on teachers" coming from politicians who don't want to fund them, principals who want to fire them if they don't inflate the grades for the ones who don't show up, and even the union, which won't protect them for doing a tough job when the kids want to watch movies and play videogames all class. Kids don't want to work, principals don't want to work and they make teachers do a stressed-out song and dance, and then pressure them to fraudulently send as many people into student debt. It is a big corrupt machine of debt creation. Then teachers are fired. The reason no one wants to teach is because they hear the horror stories. MCPS is the worst. Even if you are a great teacher the behavior of the kids sucks because there is no professionalism or support coming out of administration. You're basically halfway fired on the day that you're hired.

Fixed it for you, "teacher." If you are, in fact, a teacher, I'm not surprised that MCPS administrators might be rethinking your employment.

Wow. The post from the teacher sounds like it truly is from a teacher. I assume the 2nd poster replying to the teacher is one of those parents who hates teachers, thinks it’s an easy job (ha ha ha!!!), and wants her darling little ones to get passing grades even if they do nothing and they’re the type of parent who is totally fine with their kids doing nothing.

Doing nothing and passing won’t prepare your kids for future college or employment. It’s too bad so many parents and admin don’t get that.

I'm a young teacher and the things the first poster said started to dawn on me a few weeks ago. The disconnect between the job I thought I was getting into and the job I've gotten into are frankly pretty awful, and I will be getting out whenever I can.

I don't think that the higher ups set out to let failing students pass, but I presume there are accreditation and other state or federal-level pressures that put 100% of the burden of having students pass on the school system and therefore on the teachers. We have students coming to us from MS with grades that are unimaginable given their paltry or sometimes total lack of knowledge. We also have students who are about to graduate and are headed to college and aren't even performing at the middle school level in my subject.

The common thread is that they don't listen, don't study, don't do homework and don't seek help, except sometimes the last week of the quarter when they want to know "how I can improve my grade" or worse, "what can WE do about my grade", as if it suddenly were my responsibility to get them to pass. Many of these kids are not deprived--they have other priorities, which often include hours and hours of sports outside of school. I guess they know the drill?

Imagine being a doctor with a long-term alcoholic patient, who demands that you give them a clean bill of health in spite of their advanced cirrhosis.

The parents who are pushing for higher grades to send these students to college are fooling themselves.

Thank you for sharing your insight. It’s refreshing to see that there are still teachers who haven’t given up on our children’s academic potential and expect more of them than just showing up to school to occupy a seat, or to become a political or radical gender activist.

This is where you are showing your extreme bias and imposing your distortions on someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There isn’t a shortage. There are enough certified teachers to work but they are choosing not to. Of course, the school districts don’t care about why teachers leave.

This is false. Less people are majoring in education. There is data to support it.

Teachers don't typically major in education--they major in a subject (e.g., literature, biology, math, history) and then get their licenses through an education program. This is required in VA. Only in the past couple years have undergraduate education programs even been allowed (the state did this to address the teacher shortage which is definitely real). But in VA you don't major in education, you major in whatever your academic subject is and enroll in an education licensure program.

Not true for elementary education. That is its own major and has been.

Correct. All teachers I know in ES majored in Elementary Education.

Not all states allow this. It was either a minor or added endorsement when I was in college

Well VA does and has since forever, and this is the VA Schools forum sooooo......

Most teachers I know did not go to college in Virginia sooooo...

Huh, that’s interesting. Nearly every single one of my middle schooler’s teachers were JMU grads. Some of the counselors, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher it seems to me like there is a "war on teachers" coming from politicians who don't want to fund them, principals who want to fire them if they don't inflate the grades for the ones who don't show up, and even the union, which won't protect them for doing a tough job when the kids want to watch movies and play videogames all class. Kids don't want to work, principals don't want to work and they make teachers do a stressed-out song and dance, and then pressure them to fraudulently send as many people into student debt. It is a big corrupt machine of debt creation. Then teachers are fired. The reason no one wants to teach is because they hear the horror stories. MCPS is the worst. Even if you are a great teacher the behavior of the kids sucks because there is no professionalism or support coming out of administration. You're basically halfway fired on the day that you're hired.

Fixed it for you, "teacher." If you are, in fact, a teacher, I'm not surprised that MCPS administrators might be rethinking your employment.

Wow. The post from the teacher sounds like it truly is from a teacher. I assume the 2nd poster replying to the teacher is one of those parents who hates teachers, thinks it’s an easy job (ha ha ha!!!), and wants her darling little ones to get passing grades even if they do nothing and they’re the type of parent who is totally fine with their kids doing nothing.

Doing nothing and passing won’t prepare your kids for future college or employment. It’s too bad so many parents and admin don’t get that.

Hi, PP here who did the grammar check. Actually, no. You are wrong. I support teachers. Both of my parents were public school teachers. I know how hard a job it is. And how badly paid. If my kid isn’t doing a good job at school, I want to know so I can help her get back on track. I just don’t understand why a teacher would post something so poorly written.

Hi, Grammar check woman. You use a lot of periods. And you were mean in your post. This is an anonymous forum. It is not a job application or even a task related to a job. People posts from phones to this forum. There are more typos when you are typing from a phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Legitimately curious where people get their information who claim there is a teacher shortage in FCPS.

I am sure there are shortages in specialized subject areas, especially special ed, but not buying it re general ed classroom teachers.

I understand there are no substitutes since their daily pay is like $100 pre-tax and our school sent an email to parents begging them to get certified, put names on sublist. Just havent seen any sign the county has widespread difficulty filling normal classroom positions.

People who post things like this and are not in education make me laugh. Let's see how this ages-let's chat in October and see how you're feeling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fewer people majoring in education does not necessarily mean there is a teacher shortage. Nor does having people leave at the end of a school year -- people quit jobs in every profession. People quitting after 5 years also does not mean a teacher shortage. Also not applicable is saying that "we have to fill jobs with young people who dont have a lot of experience."

A shortage is when open positions literally cannot be filled.

Yes...find an administrator and ask how their summer was-you sound very ignorant. They were emailing and begging people to take positions night and day. It was bad and if FCPS continues down the same path it will get worse. Also the data does not lie- numbers are going down for education majors

[Anonymous]

Per the Superintendent’s email, things are fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Legitimately curious where people get their information who claim there is a teacher shortage in FCPS.

I am sure there are shortages in specialized subject areas, especially special ed, but not buying it re general ed classroom teachers.

I understand there are no substitutes since their daily pay is like $100 pre-tax and our school sent an email to parents begging them to get certified, put names on sublist. Just havent seen any sign the county has widespread difficulty filling normal classroom positions.

People who post things like this and are not in education make me laugh. Let's see how this ages-let's chat in October and see how you're feeling

Last summer people were screaming about teachers dying after being “forced” back into the classroom.

Forgive me if I take this “teacher shortage” with a grain of salt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Legitimately curious where people get their information who claim there is a teacher shortage in FCPS.

I am sure there are shortages in specialized subject areas, especially special ed, but not buying it re general ed classroom teachers.

I understand there are no substitutes since their daily pay is like $100 pre-tax and our school sent an email to parents begging them to get certified, put names on sublist. Just havent seen any sign the county has widespread difficulty filling normal classroom positions.

People who post things like this and are not in education make me laugh. Let's see how this ages-let's chat in October and see how you're feeling

Last summer people were screaming about teachers dying after being “forced” back into the classroom.

Forgive me if I take this “teacher shortage” with a grain of salt.

You are forgiven as long as you forgive me if your kid gets hurt/upset/bitten or hit by another kid because there isn’t enough sub coverage and I can’t get through our regular routine when my Kindergarten assistant is out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Legitimately curious where people get their information who claim there is a teacher shortage in FCPS.

I am sure there are shortages in specialized subject areas, especially special ed, but not buying it re general ed classroom teachers.

I understand there are no substitutes since their daily pay is like $100 pre-tax and our school sent an email to parents begging them to get certified, put names on sublist. Just havent seen any sign the county has widespread difficulty filling normal classroom positions.

People who post things like this and are not in education make me laugh. Let's see how this ages-let's chat in October and see how you're feeling

Last summer people were screaming about teachers dying after being “forced” back into the classroom.

Forgive me if I take this “teacher shortage” with a grain of salt.

I know of 2 who did, in fact, die and I also know that my “fully staffed” school has relied on long-term subs, IAs and larger classes. Manage your sodium intake how you please but that doesn’t make you correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Government schools are by and large for those in poverty or overwhelmed. If normal people choose them then they are not too bright.

ITA. You get what you pay for.

Go tell that to the BASIS McLean parents who are freaked out because 20-30% of their teachers have resigned this summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Legitimately curious where people get their information who claim there is a teacher shortage in FCPS.

I am sure there are shortages in specialized subject areas, especially special ed, but not buying it re general ed classroom teachers.

I understand there are no substitutes since their daily pay is like $100 pre-tax and our school sent an email to parents begging them to get certified, put names on sublist. Just havent seen any sign the county has widespread difficulty filling normal classroom positions.

People who post things like this and are not in education make me laugh. Let's see how this ages-let's chat in October and see how you're feeling

Last summer people were screaming about teachers dying after being “forced” back into the classroom.

Forgive me if I take this “teacher shortage” with a grain of salt.

Clearly, a parent who doesn’t give a fig about their child’s education or happiness at school. I imagine you are a climate change denier, too. If you care about your community and your child’s future, start tuning into the issues that will affect them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There isn’t a shortage. There are enough certified teachers to work but they are choosing not to. Of course, the school districts don’t care about why teachers leave.

This is false. Less people are majoring in education. There is data to support it.

Teachers don't typically major in education--they major in a subject (e.g., literature, biology, math, history) and then get their licenses through an education program. This is required in VA. Only in the past couple years have undergraduate education programs even been allowed (the state did this to address the teacher shortage which is definitely real). But in VA you don't major in education, you major in whatever your academic subject is and enroll in an education licensure program.

Not true for elementary education. That is its own major and has been.

Correct. All teachers I know in ES majored in Elementary Education.

Not all states allow this. It was either a minor or added endorsement when I was in college

Well VA does and has since forever, and this is the VA Schools forum sooooo......

Most teachers I know did not go to college in Virginia sooooo...

Huh, that’s interesting. Nearly every single one of my middle schooler’s teachers were JMU grads. Some of the counselors, too.

The majority of FCPS teachers have graduated from Virginia public colleges.

[Anonymous]

I personally don't think that teachers basher is a parent. I think it sounds like someone who works at central. Call me paranoid but the money wasted in the system to crush dissent and teachers speaking out to paint a rosey picture is very common. The data doesn't lie but many people on the top have goals to pressure teachers to skew the data because all they want is high numbers even if they don't reflect the truth bc many times in public Ed the ends justify the means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Legitimately curious where people get their information who claim there is a teacher shortage in FCPS.

I am sure there are shortages in specialized subject areas, especially special ed, but not buying it re general ed classroom teachers.

I understand there are no substitutes since their daily pay is like $100 pre-tax and our school sent an email to parents begging them to get certified, put names on sublist. Just havent seen any sign the county has widespread difficulty filling normal classroom positions.

People who post things like this and are not in education make me laugh. Let's see how this ages-let's chat in October and see how you're feeling

Last summer people were screaming about teachers dying after being “forced” back into the classroom.

Forgive me if I take this “teacher shortage” with a grain of salt.

I know of 2 who did, in fact, die and I also know that my “fully staffed” school has relied on long-term subs, IAs and larger classes. Manage your sodium intake how you please but that doesn’t make you correct.

THIS!!