Do DC parents still blame teacher unions for everything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I personally hold the mayor, dcps chancellor, OSSE and the WTU responsible. Equal blame all around. Being closed in the fall I understand as no one really knew whether virtual would work or not. But they all dropped the ball starting in Jan/Feb.

Anyone with half a brain knew last summer that virtual was useless for elementary school, and for all the kids who struggled to focus or even attend class when it was in person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just settle down. People are still dying and only 50 percent of the population is vaccinated. You people in upper NW have an entirely different existence than the rest of the city and you prove it on this site every day. You don't know everything and stop blaming worker organizations that are mostly comprised of women of color for your own weird preconceptions and slated view of the world.

Sincere question here. I’m a teacher in NW who is IPL, happily. For families of color who aren’t sending kids in now, are the adults in your home vaccinated? If not, how come? If so, are you worried that your masked kids will catch it in school? I really want to understand the hesitation about sending your children to school.

I'm a teach at a title 1 school in ward 5. Most of my students parents, at this point, are vaccinated or at least in the process. Most did not want to be first when the vaccine was first offered, so that was one barrier. They have gotten more comfortable as the vaccine has become more widespread, but thst also means that most are not fully vaccinated yet. Another major issue for my parents, thst people on this site and on upper northwest schools don't seem to understand, is that they simply don't trust DCPS to keep their children safe from a virus. Most of my students have witnessed MULTIPLE deaths in their family from covid over the last year. Most have most been able to attend funerals or, in many cases, even afford funerals, for their relatives. I have a few students who have experienced 4-5 deaths in their family, so part of their reluctance to sending their children in person is not wanting them to get sick and die. Now, I'm sure people on this website will respond that it's irrational because children don't get sick, etc., But that's much easier to understand when you haven't watched lots of family members die, and when you have good healthcare that assure you that you can go or a doctor for even a little concern.

Thank you for sharing this perspective. Posters on this website cannot think beyond their own personal situations

I’m positive that an actual survey of parents would find they all overwhelming want to return now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids’ families know I didn’t participate in the sick out this year and haven’t directed any angst my way. I’m not looking forward to spill over drama next year from families who think we all did.

I'm a parent who feels quite strongly that keeping schools closed for more than a couple of months was a terrible policy failure and an abdication of responsibility on the part of teachers as a professional group. However, I hold no angry feelings against the individual teachers at our school. I don't know who participated in the sick-out and who didn't, because we were out of the country last fall (to go to school where they were open), and I don't feel an urge to find out. I do know who came back in term 3 and who didn't, but again I don't know or care about the individual reasons, and I know there were constraints on opening classrooms then besides teacher availability. I don't hold any grudges against individual teachers. I mean, if I knew the teachers who participated in the body bag stunt, that would be a different story, but I am not assuming it was someone from our school. I think a lot of parents are able to separate their anger at how this whole situation was handled by policy makers from their feelings about individual teachers.

honestly, I’m not. The strike was a choice. Teachers can’t escape the consequences of that choice. I am really looking forward to new teachers next year so I can feel more trust in them. (Irrational because they themselves may have gone on strike, I know.)

How many teachers even participated? Where's the actual number? You guys keep bringing this ONE day up like it was weeks like the teachers in LA, Chicago, etc.

It was all my kids teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have been wrong with just giving everyone a choice? Families that want IPL should get IPL. Families that want virtual can stay virtual. So tired of the condescending sermons on both sides. The only winner was WTU fanning all this division to keep schools shut for everyone.

Because as much as people here don’t want to accept, we should not give parents the “choice” to keep their kids out of school.

School isn't buildings. Sorry. In a pandemic, distance learning IS education, and those students will graduate to the next grade after their year in distance learning.

As much as people like YOU don't want to accept, we should not (and thankfully, did not, despite all your interminable screaming) give privileged parents the "choice" to force everyone else's kids into buildings during a pandemic for the benefit of their own special, special bebes.

If you are a teacher, please do everyone a favor and quit. You obviously don't care about your job or about educating children. You just want to sit at home and work as little as possible. Let someone who actually wants to teach have your job.

The teachers still working from home are generally speaking the worst-of-the-worst teachers. Everyone would be better off if they were fired.

You can still move...

Or we can hold our public servants to account. Out of the bunny slippers and back to work!

Grow up. No one is your "servant" (here's that attention you ordered). Feel free to go pay $40k for private if you want to pretend you're the teachers' employer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have been wrong with just giving everyone a choice? Families that want IPL should get IPL. Families that want virtual can stay virtual. So tired of the condescending sermons on both sides. The only winner was WTU fanning all this division to keep schools shut for everyone.

Because as much as people here don’t want to accept, we should not give parents the “choice” to keep their kids out of school.

School isn't buildings. Sorry. In a pandemic, distance learning IS education, and those students will graduate to the next grade after their year in distance learning.

As much as people like YOU don't want to accept, we should not (and thankfully, did not, despite all your interminable screaming) give privileged parents the "choice" to force everyone else's kids into buildings during a pandemic for the benefit of their own special, special bebes.

If you are a teacher, please do everyone a favor and quit. You obviously don't care about your job or about educating children. You just want to sit at home and work as little as possible. Let someone who actually wants to teach have your job.

The teachers still working from home are generally speaking the worst-of-the-worst teachers. Everyone would be better off if they were fired.

You can still move...

Or we can hold our public servants to account. Out of the bunny slippers and back to work!

Grow up. No one is your "servant" (here's that attention you ordered). Feel free to go pay $40k for private if you want to pretend you're the teachers' employer.

ok ... I am also a public servant. Weird that you find that term offensive. If you don’t want to be a public servant feel free to quit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher but this is my job. I know parents except us to always sacrifice for the greater good but at the end of the day, this is how we make a living. I like teaching and interacting with students but teachers are not respected or valued in this country and no way I’m going to be a sacrificial lamb. I’ve been back since Feb but I teach at a title 1 school and most families and kids at our school don’t feel ready to come back yet.

Actually, you're a public servant paid for with public dollars, to serve the greater public (not just parents). All of society rightfully expects you to actually do your job, just like we expect garbage collectors and nurses to do their jobs. Your job requires being in the classroom.

No. It does.t. Their employers, not you, set the terms of their employment, and itbhas INDEED been done without being in a physical classroom for the better part of f a year.

You don't like it and you tantrumed about it. Oh well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher but this is my job. I know parents except us to always sacrifice for the greater good but at the end of the day, this is how we make a living. I like teaching and interacting with students but teachers are not respected or valued in this country and no way I’m going to be a sacrificial lamb. I’ve been back since Feb but I teach at a title 1 school and most families and kids at our school don’t feel ready to come back yet.

im afraid of flying. does that mean flying is unsafe? doctors have said a thousand times that it's safe for schools to reopen. and in fact schools in most of the rest of the country have been open every day for months, if not this entire school year. just because you're afraid doesn't mean it's not safe. you need to separate your feelings from the actual facts in the world.

I’m not afraid. I’ve been in school. But I ignore stupid parents who think they can lecture me about how to do my job.

Really hope that if you are a teacher, you don't bring that attitude to your classroom. I feel bad for your students. The only person demonstrating stupidity here is you.

The students and I get along great. No attitude with them. I always get asked for multiple college recommendations for students. It is you crazy parents I have a problem with. If you actually care about what is happening in schools, you should be advocating that teachers actually get classroom supplies on time and working laptops for kids. How should I run labs when DCPS does not provide me with lab supplies until March instead of last August? There is a reason that teachers run into the arms of WTU. It’s because they are treated so badly by DCPS.

Teachers walked away from their responsibilities to educate children during the pandemic. It was inexcusable and unforgiveable. If you think I'm going to advocate on your behalf now, you are crazy.

Right? “You’re all terrible, lazy, and racist for expecting me to do the job I get paid for! Now call the mayor’s office and get me some laptops!” Oh yes, jumping right on that.

I guess it might work on the type of white woman who wants to pay $5000 to attend a dinner party to be told how bigoted and horrible she is. But even in upper NW there’s a very limited supply of those.

I teach at an upper nw school. My students’ parents were incredibly understanding when I wanted to wait until I was vaxxed to return. They nominated me for TOY for my flexibility with all the changes in virtual teaching. I’m back and me and my students are having an incredible fourth term. Its so fun to read this site and watch the crazies think they have some sort of quorum. Keep screaming into the void on your way to private school and moco.

Oh honey. You weren’t hearing from ALL the parents - just the suck-ups who have psychological projection issues that make them need to perform how much they “support teachers.” The rest of us were silently seething at your selfishness, and rolling out eyes at the suck-ups and your TOY nomination.

Oh, honey. You live in a spiteful, entitled vacuum and mistakenly think all parents agree with your angry, privileged friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have been wrong with just giving everyone a choice? Families that want IPL should get IPL. Families that want virtual can stay virtual. So tired of the condescending sermons on both sides. The only winner was WTU fanning all this division to keep schools shut for everyone.

Because as much as people here don’t want to accept, we should not give parents the “choice” to keep their kids out of school.

School isn't buildings. Sorry. In a pandemic, distance learning IS education, and those students will graduate to the next grade after their year in distance learning.

As much as people like YOU don't want to accept, we should not (and thankfully, did not, despite all your interminable screaming) give privileged parents the "choice" to force everyone else's kids into buildings during a pandemic for the benefit of their own special, special bebes.

If you are a teacher, please do everyone a favor and quit. You obviously don't care about your job or about educating children. You just want to sit at home and work as little as possible. Let someone who actually wants to teach have your job.

The teachers still working from home are generally speaking the worst-of-the-worst teachers. Everyone would be better off if they were fired.

You can still move...

Or we can hold our public servants to account. Out of the bunny slippers and back to work!

Grow up. No one is your "servant" (here's that attention you ordered). Feel free to go pay $40k for private if you want to pretend you're the teachers' employer.

ok ... I am also a public servant. Weird that you find that term offensive. If you don’t want to be a public servant feel free to quit.

Zzzzzzz.

It doesn't MATTER one damn bit no matter how much you scream and shout. Those "public servants" have employers, WHO ARE NOT YOU, and who set the standards and conditions for their job performance for the past year. Keep wailing about "but...but garbage collectors!!!" all you like.

[Anonymous]

Why is this still going? Why is there no thread about what the mayor and chancellor are doing?
There's zero specifics about the Fall.

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher and I will be honest here. I have been back since February and I am in a school that is four full days a week. It’s fine. But I did not want to go back in August and I participated in the “strike” in November. You know why? I did NOT TRUST DCPS to do the right thing if cases got worse (like we all knew they were going to on the winter). I knew DCPS would not protect me and would not do the right thing when cases skyrocketed. That’s why I participated. It had nothing to do with you or your children. It had to do with DCPS and their lies. Be mad, hate me, think I’m trash...I don’t care. I did what was best for me at that time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have been wrong with just giving everyone a choice? Families that want IPL should get IPL. Families that want virtual can stay virtual. So tired of the condescending sermons on both sides. The only winner was WTU fanning all this division to keep schools shut for everyone.

Because as much as people here don’t want to accept, we should not give parents the “choice” to keep their kids out of school.

School isn't buildings. Sorry. In a pandemic, distance learning IS education, and those students will graduate to the next grade after their year in distance learning.

As much as people like YOU don't want to accept, we should not (and thankfully, did not, despite all your interminable screaming) give privileged parents the "choice" to force everyone else's kids into buildings during a pandemic for the benefit of their own special, special bebes.

If you are a teacher, please do everyone a favor and quit. You obviously don't care about your job or about educating children. You just want to sit at home and work as little as possible. Let someone who actually wants to teach have your job.

The teachers still working from home are generally speaking the worst-of-the-worst teachers. Everyone would be better off if they were fired.

You can still move...

Or we can hold our public servants to account. Out of the bunny slippers and back to work!

Grow up. No one is your "servant" (here's that attention you ordered). Feel free to go pay $40k for private if you want to pretend you're the teachers' employer.

ok ... I am also a public servant. Weird that you find that term offensive. If you don’t want to be a public servant feel free to quit.

+1. "Public servant" means dedicating your career to public service. But if your job attitude is only about what's in it for you, maybe it's time to quit teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher and I will be honest here. I have been back since February and I am in a school that is four full days a week. It’s fine. But I did not want to go back in August and I participated in the “strike” in November. You know why? I did NOT TRUST DCPS to do the right thing if cases got worse (like we all knew they were going to on the winter). I knew DCPS would not protect me and would not do the right thing when cases skyrocketed. That’s why I participated. It had nothing to do with you or your children. It had to do with DCPS and their lies. Be mad, hate me, think I’m trash...I don’t care. I did what was best for me at that time.

Makes sense I guess

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have been wrong with just giving everyone a choice? Families that want IPL should get IPL. Families that want virtual can stay virtual. So tired of the condescending sermons on both sides. The only winner was WTU fanning all this division to keep schools shut for everyone.

Because as much as people here don’t want to accept, we should not give parents the “choice” to keep their kids out of school.

School isn't buildings. Sorry. In a pandemic, distance learning IS education, and those students will graduate to the next grade after their year in distance learning.

As much as people like YOU don't want to accept, we should not (and thankfully, did not, despite all your interminable screaming) give privileged parents the "choice" to force everyone else's kids into buildings during a pandemic for the benefit of their own special, special bebes.

If you are a teacher, please do everyone a favor and quit. You obviously don't care about your job or about educating children. You just want to sit at home and work as little as possible. Let someone who actually wants to teach have your job.

The teachers still working from home are generally speaking the worst-of-the-worst teachers. Everyone would be better off if they were fired.

You can still move...

Or we can hold our public servants to account. Out of the bunny slippers and back to work!

Grow up. No one is your "servant" (here's that attention you ordered). Feel free to go pay $40k for private if you want to pretend you're the teachers' employer.

ok ... I am also a public servant. Weird that you find that term offensive. If you don’t want to be a public servant feel free to quit.

+1. "Public servant" means dedicating your career to public service. But if your job attitude is only about what's in it for you, maybe it's time to quit teaching.

Got it. You convinced me. I will go ahead and submit my resignation letter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just settle down. People are still dying and only 50 percent of the population is vaccinated. You people in upper NW have an entirely different existence than the rest of the city and you prove it on this site every day. You don't know everything and stop blaming worker organizations that are mostly comprised of women of color for your own weird preconceptions and slated view of the world.

Sincere question here. I’m a teacher in NW who is IPL, happily. For families of color who aren’t sending kids in now, are the adults in your home vaccinated? If not, how come? If so, are you worried that your masked kids will catch it in school? I really want to understand the hesitation about sending your children to school.

I'm a teach at a title 1 school in ward 5. Most of my students parents, at this point, are vaccinated or at least in the process. Most did not want to be first when the vaccine was first offered, so that was one barrier. They have gotten more comfortable as the vaccine has become more widespread, but thst also means that most are not fully vaccinated yet. Another major issue for my parents, thst people on this site and on upper northwest schools don't seem to understand, is that they simply don't trust DCPS to keep their children safe from a virus. Most of my students have witnessed MULTIPLE deaths in their family from covid over the last year. Most have most been able to attend funerals or, in many cases, even afford funerals, for their relatives. I have a few students who have experienced 4-5 deaths in their family, so part of their reluctance to sending their children in person is not wanting them to get sick and die. Now, I'm sure people on this website will respond that it's irrational because children don't get sick, etc., But that's much easier to understand when you haven't watched lots of family members die, and when you have good healthcare that assure you that you can go or a doctor for even a little concern.

Thank you! I’m the teacher who asked the question and I REALLY appreciate your reply. It helps so much when we can calmly, peacefully exchange perspectives to try and understand where others are coming from. This has been a very complex issue and I truly respect that each person and family has a unique situation- some aspects of which are none of my business. Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just settle down. People are still dying and only 50 percent of the population is vaccinated. You people in upper NW have an entirely different existence than the rest of the city and you prove it on this site every day. You don't know everything and stop blaming worker organizations that are mostly comprised of women of color for your own weird preconceptions and slated view of the world.

Sincere question here. I’m a teacher in NW who is IPL, happily. For families of color who aren’t sending kids in now, are the adults in your home vaccinated? If not, how come? If so, are you worried that your masked kids will catch it in school? I really want to understand the hesitation about sending your children to school.

I'm a teach at a title 1 school in ward 5. Most of my students parents, at this point, are vaccinated or at least in the process. Most did not want to be first when the vaccine was first offered, so that was one barrier. They have gotten more comfortable as the vaccine has become more widespread, but thst also means that most are not fully vaccinated yet. Another major issue for my parents, thst people on this site and on upper northwest schools don't seem to understand, is that they simply don't trust DCPS to keep their children safe from a virus. Most of my students have witnessed MULTIPLE deaths in their family from covid over the last year. Most have most been able to attend funerals or, in many cases, even afford funerals, for their relatives. I have a few students who have experienced 4-5 deaths in their family, so part of their reluctance to sending their children in person is not wanting them to get sick and die. Now, I'm sure people on this website will respond that it's irrational because children don't get sick, etc., But that's much easier to understand when you haven't watched lots of family members die, and when you have good healthcare that assure you that you can go or a doctor for even a little concern.

Thank you! I’m the teacher who asked the question and I REALLY appreciate your reply. It helps so much when we can calmly, peacefully exchange perspectives to try and understand where others are coming from. This has been a very complex issue and I truly respect that each person and family has a unique situation- some aspects of which are none of my business. Thanks again.

except ... you actually have no clue what the prefences of black and latino parents actually are. back in December a survey showed 50% wanted in person. I haven’t seen another DC survey, but research shows that if schools open, then black and latino families want to return. Nobody should make any assumptions based on “media narratives” that actually support a particular interest group. https://www.crpe.org/thelens/whats-behind-racial-divide-school-reopening