MCPS updated calendar is insane

[Anonymous]

It's time to re-evaluate being off for every single cultural and religious holiday. 25 years ago, we were only off for Christmas, Easter and Jewish holidays. This was because more than 15% of staff and students celebrated these, making finding subs for teachers difficult. There needs to be a way to make it fair for all without sacrificing the continuity of consecutive days of learning. I'm not sure what the answer to this is, but it needs to really be looked at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's time to re-evaluate being off for every single cultural and religious holiday. 25 years ago, we were only off for Christmas, Easter and Jewish holidays. This was because more than 15% of staff and students celebrated these, making finding subs for teachers difficult. There needs to be a way to make it fair for all without sacrificing the continuity of consecutive days of learning. I'm not sure what the answer to this is, but it needs to really be looked at.

Or MCPS could put in more than 1 snow day into the calendar so this disaster doesn't keep occurring annually. And put in makeup days it intends to use. And submit its virtual learning plan for snow like other Maryland districts have done.

Or you could do your pie in the sky plan of trying to take religious holidays off the calendar when they've been there for generations. Personally I believe the other points above are easier to attain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher who already booked a vacation for the week of the 22nd. I never take days off, but I’ve put in for a sub and will leave board games and summer reading for my kids.

I wish the MCPS parents who perpetually complain could direct their vitriol at MSDE and the State Superintendent for being so unreasonable about giving waivers for extreme weather conditions.

Nah, it’s your union and MCPS that are completely inflexible. Stop blaming the state for the county’s issues.

The other county’s figured it out. MCPS put zero effort in, refused to use their 3 allocated snow make up days and just wants the state to sign a form for their incompetence.

+1
MCPS staffers: Don't blame me, I have nothing to do with this calendar.
Parents: It's your administration that prepares and submits the calendar, and your union that signs off on it, and any changes made to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grading and planning days are essential. You can get rid of them if you want but it will be to the detriment of students. Having the day off means we can carefully go through grades and make sure there are no mistakes. It also gives us a few hours to grade stuff. Finally it gives teachers time to reflect and do some planning for future lessons. Take it away and many of us will just hastily throw something together for planning purposes. Think of some of your kids teachers who you like and who do a good job. Good teaching doesn’t just happen. It takes a lot of planning and effort. And trying new things.

In HS there are 8 periods. Teachers have classes for 5-6 periods at most. The school day is exactly 7.5hrs.

Most salary employees work 9-10hrs a day. Many catch up at night too.

I think teachers do not get paid well enough and I would argue for more half days for grading. But full days off are not productive in my opinion. You just had 4 days off. There will be a long Spring Break in late March/early April. Being against April 15th is absolutely ridiculous. Could have made it half day easily.

When the teachers and MCPS are not flexible, why should the state be?

Agree 100%

If MCPS actually went to school 5 days a week, I may have more sympathy for teachers and their need for full days off to grade. But they don't because they are off for every known holiday and then also when it flurries. As well as morning delays and other half days. Do teachers not understand that OTHER working parents that are not teachers, do not have that luxury and struggle with finding daycare, camps, babysitters for all of these days off and snow days and delayed openings, etc... I feel like kids are never in school. So your union denying April 15th after all these days off and after a long Spring Break seems a bit much, no?

If you can’t handle snow days, you shoulda lived in DC.

I love people that tell you to move elsewhere as they are just completely ok with MCPS being inadequate with reopening after snow, not using the make-up days in the calendar, and running school 8 days later instead.

It’s giving I see what Trump is doing but I’m a Republican so my answer is you don’t like it, leave the country.

It's not like the Democrats under Obama and Biden sought compromise; it's just that they knew that the "deplorables" wouldn't leave the country. They just told people to suck it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher who already booked a vacation for the week of the 22nd. I never take days off, but I’ve put in for a sub and will leave board games and summer reading for my kids.

I wish the MCPS parents who perpetually complain could direct their vitriol at MSDE and the State Superintendent for being so unreasonable about giving waivers for extreme weather conditions.

Nah, it’s your union and MCPS that are completely inflexible. Stop blaming the state for the county’s issues.

The other county’s figured it out. MCPS put zero effort in, refused to use their 3 allocated snow make up days and just wants the state to sign a form for their incompetence.

The union is not asking teachers what they want and decides for them. Stop scapegoating teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher who already booked a vacation for the week of the 22nd. I never take days off, but I’ve put in for a sub and will leave board games and summer reading for my kids.

I wish the MCPS parents who perpetually complain could direct their vitriol at MSDE and the State Superintendent for being so unreasonable about giving waivers for extreme weather conditions.

Nah, it’s your union and MCPS that are completely inflexible. Stop blaming the state for the county’s issues.

The other county’s figured it out. MCPS put zero effort in, refused to use their 3 allocated snow make up days and just wants the state to sign a form for their incompetence.

The union is not asking teachers what they want and decides for them. Stop scapegoating teachers.

You might be right that a majority of teachers would prefer to teach April 15 than June 25, but if so, they should speak out to the BOE that the union is misrepresenting them. Not just for this year but in advocating for a more rational calendar going forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher who already booked a vacation for the week of the 22nd. I never take days off, but I’ve put in for a sub and will leave board games and summer reading for my kids.

I wish the MCPS parents who perpetually complain could direct their vitriol at MSDE and the State Superintendent for being so unreasonable about giving waivers for extreme weather conditions.

Nah, it’s your union and MCPS that are completely inflexible. Stop blaming the state for the county’s issues.

The other county’s figured it out. MCPS put zero effort in, refused to use their 3 allocated snow make up days and just wants the state to sign a form for their incompetence.

The union is not asking teachers what they want and decides for them. Stop scapegoating teachers.

You might be right that a majority of teachers would prefer to teach April 15 than June 25, but if so, they should speak out to the BOE that the union is misrepresenting them. Not just for this year but in advocating for a more rational calendar going forward.

Instead of telling others what to do, why don't you do it? If teachers do that kind of stuff, it puts them in the line of fire for being terminated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grading and planning days are essential. You can get rid of them if you want but it will be to the detriment of students. Having the day off means we can carefully go through grades and make sure there are no mistakes. It also gives us a few hours to grade stuff. Finally it gives teachers time to reflect and do some planning for future lessons. Take it away and many of us will just hastily throw something together for planning purposes. Think of some of your kids teachers who you like and who do a good job. Good teaching doesn’t just happen. It takes a lot of planning and effort. And trying new things.

In HS there are 8 periods. Teachers have classes for 5-6 periods at most. The school day is exactly 7.5hrs.

Most salary employees work 9-10hrs a day. Many catch up at night too.

I think teachers do not get paid well enough and I would argue for more half days for grading. But full days off are not productive in my opinion. You just had 4 days off. There will be a long Spring Break in late March/early April. Being against April 15th is absolutely ridiculous. Could have made it half day easily.

When the teachers and MCPS are not flexible, why should the state be?

Agree 100%

If MCPS actually went to school 5 days a week, I may have more sympathy for teachers and their need for full days off to grade. But they don't because they are off for every known holiday and then also when it flurries. As well as morning delays and other half days. Do teachers not understand that OTHER working parents that are not teachers, do not have that luxury and struggle with finding daycare, camps, babysitters for all of these days off and snow days and delayed openings, etc... I feel like kids are never in school. So your union denying April 15th after all these days off and after a long Spring Break seems a bit much, no?

If you can’t handle snow days, you shoulda lived in DC.

I love people that tell you to move elsewhere as they are just completely ok with MCPS being inadequate with reopening after snow, not using the make-up days in the calendar, and running school 8 days later instead.

It’s giving I see what Trump is doing but I’m a Republican so my answer is you don’t like it, leave the country.

DCPS doesn't use bus service like MCPS does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher who already booked a vacation for the week of the 22nd. I never take days off, but I’ve put in for a sub and will leave board games and summer reading for my kids.

I wish the MCPS parents who perpetually complain could direct their vitriol at MSDE and the State Superintendent for being so unreasonable about giving waivers for extreme weather conditions.

Nah, it’s your union and MCPS that are completely inflexible. Stop blaming the state for the county’s issues.

The other county’s figured it out. MCPS put zero effort in, refused to use their 3 allocated snow make up days and just wants the state to sign a form for their incompetence.

The union is not asking teachers what they want and decides for them. Stop scapegoating teachers.

You might be right that a majority of teachers would prefer to teach April 15 than June 25, but if so, they should speak out to the BOE that the union is misrepresenting them. Not just for this year but in advocating for a more rational calendar going forward.

Instead of telling others what to do, why don't you do it? If teachers do that kind of stuff, it puts them in the line of fire for being terminated.

I can only speak to what I think makes sense as a parent. I can’t speak for what teachers want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's time to re-evaluate being off for every single cultural and religious holiday. 25 years ago, we were only off for Christmas, Easter and Jewish holidays. This was because more than 15% of staff and students celebrated these, making finding subs for teachers difficult. There needs to be a way to make it fair for all without sacrificing the continuity of consecutive days of learning. I'm not sure what the answer to this is, but it needs to really be looked at.

Let's cut out the Christian holidays. The issue with some holidays is teachers want to take off, reasonably and there aren't enough subs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's time to re-evaluate being off for every single cultural and religious holiday. 25 years ago, we were only off for Christmas, Easter and Jewish holidays. This was because more than 15% of staff and students celebrated these, making finding subs for teachers difficult. There needs to be a way to make it fair for all without sacrificing the continuity of consecutive days of learning. I'm not sure what the answer to this is, but it needs to really be looked at.

Let's cut out the Christian holidays. The issue with some holidays is teachers want to take off, reasonably and there aren't enough subs.

I agree the spring Christian holidays should be the first to go. Unlike the Jewish or Muslim holidays, Easter always falls on a Sunday. There is no season for school to take time off for that. But state law has to change. Maybe it’s delusional, but if the legislature is already addressing school calendar issues, they could take care of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher who already booked a vacation for the week of the 22nd. I never take days off, but I’ve put in for a sub and will leave board games and summer reading for my kids.

I wish the MCPS parents who perpetually complain could direct their vitriol at MSDE and the State Superintendent for being so unreasonable about giving waivers for extreme weather conditions.

Nah, it’s your union and MCPS that are completely inflexible. Stop blaming the state for the county’s issues.

The other county’s figured it out. MCPS put zero effort in, refused to use their 3 allocated snow make up days and just wants the state to sign a form for their incompetence.

The union is not asking teachers what they want and decides for them. Stop scapegoating teachers.

You might be right that a majority of teachers would prefer to teach April 15 than June 25, but if so, they should speak out to the BOE that the union is misrepresenting them. Not just for this year but in advocating for a more rational calendar going forward.

Instead of telling others what to do, why don't you do it? If teachers do that kind of stuff, it puts them in the line of fire for being terminated.

Calling out their own union will get them fired? lol.

[Anonymous]

Why don’t Spring break be cut short?

[Anonymous]

What I'm wondering is why MCPS gave up on the asynchronous learning day concept that was done two years ago. I mean people complained about it for sure, but we thought this was better than tacking an extra day onto the end of the year. Kids got some work that they had like 10 days to complete and it counted as a school day. So no conflict with the teacher contract because it wasn't virtual learning, and students could still take the day off for a religious observance. I'm not suggesting having four of these but why not at least have this option?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I'm wondering is why MCPS gave up on the asynchronous learning day concept that was done two years ago. I mean people complained about it for sure, but we thought this was better than tacking an extra day onto the end of the year. Kids got some work that they had like 10 days to complete and it counted as a school day. So no conflict with the teacher contract because it wasn't virtual learning, and students could still take the day off for a religious observance. I'm not suggesting having four of these but why not at least have this option?

There are so many solutions but no adults in the room. Or so it appears. They are just hoping to get a pass.