will a lot of kids be out next week?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you’re in a magnet or some other application program, even the AP and “higher level” classes are doing Butkus on half days. I work in an MCPS high school and know this. They are “catch-up if you have work missing” while a movie plays.

I wish I’d known this before, because I would dutifully send my kid on days like this. Now I know and for my youngest who isn’t in a special program? she can absolutely stay home if she wants.

As I said upthread, my daughter's AP Gov teacher is giving them a test on Monday. BCC high school. And my son (already graduated, from Walter Johnson HS) had work from some of his AP teachers on half days. Neither are/were in special programs.

So your experience is not universal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

Tell that to the teachers starting their vacations early this weekend. And their subs, and remaining colleagues, showing movies on Monday and Tuesday.

Well, when 50% of your class is out, whose do you expect a teacher to do? Teach a skill that needs to be retaught in a week?

I know of one colleague on vacation. I know of 4 home with fevers. Should I get angry at them on your behalf?

And should I also be upset with your colleagues who decided to leave early for Thanksgiving? Surely they shouldn’t do that.

Families leave early because they know class is a joke. You don't put two half days in a row if you want students to show up.

It's the other way around. MCPS used to have full days on the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and lots of students would be absent. In the calendar survey, moving the two half days for conferences from Veterans Day week to Thanksgiving week was the more popular choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

Tell that to the teachers starting their vacations early this weekend. And their subs, and remaining colleagues, showing movies on Monday and Tuesday.

Well, when 50% of your class is out, whose do you expect a teacher to do? Teach a skill that needs to be retaught in a week?

I know of one colleague on vacation. I know of 4 home with fevers. Should I get angry at them on your behalf?

And should I also be upset with your colleagues who decided to leave early for Thanksgiving? Surely they shouldn’t do that.

Families leave early because they know class is a joke. You don't put two half days in a row if you want students to show up.

It's the other way around. MCPS used to have full days on the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and lots of students would be absent. In the calendar survey, moving the two half days for conferences from Veterans Day week to Thanksgiving week was the more popular choice.

It's dumb. If they wanted to maximize instructional time, they could have given all of Tuesday off and have Monday be a full day. But instead MCPS gets to count Monday Tuesday as two instructional days, and kids don't learn much on either day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

Tell that to the teachers starting their vacations early this weekend. And their subs, and remaining colleagues, showing movies on Monday and Tuesday.

Well, when 50% of your class is out, whose do you expect a teacher to do? Teach a skill that needs to be retaught in a week?

I know of one colleague on vacation. I know of 4 home with fevers. Should I get angry at them on your behalf?

And should I also be upset with your colleagues who decided to leave early for Thanksgiving? Surely they shouldn’t do that.

Families leave early because they know class is a joke. You don't put two half days in a row if you want students to show up.

It's the other way around. MCPS used to have full days on the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and lots of students would be absent. In the calendar survey, moving the two half days for conferences from Veterans Day week to Thanksgiving week was the more popular choice.

It's dumb. If they wanted to maximize instructional time, they could have given all of Tuesday off and have Monday be a full day. But instead MCPS gets to count Monday Tuesday as two instructional days, and kids don't learn much on either day.

That's more work for teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

Tell that to the teachers starting their vacations early this weekend. And their subs, and remaining colleagues, showing movies on Monday and Tuesday.

Well, when 50% of your class is out, whose do you expect a teacher to do? Teach a skill that needs to be retaught in a week?

I know of one colleague on vacation. I know of 4 home with fevers. Should I get angry at them on your behalf?

And should I also be upset with your colleagues who decided to leave early for Thanksgiving? Surely they shouldn’t do that.

Families leave early because they know class is a joke. You don't put two half days in a row if you want students to show up.

It's the other way around. MCPS used to have full days on the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and lots of students would be absent. In the calendar survey, moving the two half days for conferences from Veterans Day week to Thanksgiving week was the more popular choice.

It's dumb. If they wanted to maximize instructional time, they could have given all of Tuesday off and have Monday be a full day. But instead MCPS gets to count Monday Tuesday as two instructional days, and kids don't learn much on either day.

It's not dumb. Parents don't bother to have their kids come to school because they start vacation early. It would mean teachers have to re-teach the lesson to absent students. It's not fair to students who attended school or teachers. Maybe people should be better parents.

[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:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

Tell that to the teachers starting their vacations early this weekend. And their subs, and remaining colleagues, showing movies on Monday and Tuesday.

Well, when 50% of your class is out, whose do you expect a teacher to do? Teach a skill that needs to be retaught in a week?

I know of one colleague on vacation. I know of 4 home with fevers. Should I get angry at them on your behalf?

And should I also be upset with your colleagues who decided to leave early for Thanksgiving? Surely they shouldn’t do that.

Families leave early because they know class is a joke. You don't put two half days in a row if you want students to show up.

It's the other way around. MCPS used to have full days on the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and lots of students would be absent. In the calendar survey, moving the two half days for conferences from Veterans Day week to Thanksgiving week was the more popular choice.

It's dumb. If they wanted to maximize instructional time, they could have given all of Tuesday off and have Monday be a full day. But instead MCPS gets to count Monday Tuesday as two instructional days, and kids don't learn much on either day.

It's not dumb. Parents don't bother to have their kids come to school because they start vacation early. It would mean teachers have to re-teach the lesson to absent students. It's not fair to students who attended school or teachers. Maybe people should be better parents.

They don't send their kids to school because they know half the teachers aren't bothering to show up.

[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:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

Tell that to the teachers starting their vacations early this weekend. And their subs, and remaining colleagues, showing movies on Monday and Tuesday.

Well, when 50% of your class is out, whose do you expect a teacher to do? Teach a skill that needs to be retaught in a week?

I know of one colleague on vacation. I know of 4 home with fevers. Should I get angry at them on your behalf?

And should I also be upset with your colleagues who decided to leave early for Thanksgiving? Surely they shouldn’t do that.

Families leave early because they know class is a joke. You don't put two half days in a row if you want students to show up.

It's the other way around. MCPS used to have full days on the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and lots of students would be absent. In the calendar survey, moving the two half days for conferences from Veterans Day week to Thanksgiving week was the more popular choice.

It's dumb. If they wanted to maximize instructional time, they could have given all of Tuesday off and have Monday be a full day. But instead MCPS gets to count Monday Tuesday as two instructional days, and kids don't learn much on either day.

It's not dumb. Parents don't bother to have their kids come to school because they start vacation early. It would mean teachers have to re-teach the lesson to absent students. It's not fair to students who attended school or teachers. Maybe people should be better parents.

If MCPS isn't going to teach anything those days, then they should just close and call the whole week a fall break. But then teachers would actually have to work those two days.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the grade, both of my HSers will be in school. I know fewer people who stick the whole week than in elementary school.

[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:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

Tell that to the teachers starting their vacations early this weekend. And their subs, and remaining colleagues, showing movies on Monday and Tuesday.

Well, when 50% of your class is out, whose do you expect a teacher to do? Teach a skill that needs to be retaught in a week?

I know of one colleague on vacation. I know of 4 home with fevers. Should I get angry at them on your behalf?

And should I also be upset with your colleagues who decided to leave early for Thanksgiving? Surely they shouldn’t do that.

Families leave early because they know class is a joke. You don't put two half days in a row if you want students to show up.

It's the other way around. MCPS used to have full days on the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and lots of students would be absent. In the calendar survey, moving the two half days for conferences from Veterans Day week to Thanksgiving week was the more popular choice.

It's dumb. If they wanted to maximize instructional time, they could have given all of Tuesday off and have Monday be a full day. But instead MCPS gets to count Monday Tuesday as two instructional days, and kids don't learn much on either day.

That's more work for teachers.

Its parent teacher conferences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the grade, both of my HSers will be in school. I know fewer people who stick the whole week than in elementary school.

That should be skip not stick.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

Tell that to the teachers starting their vacations early this weekend. And their subs, and remaining colleagues, showing movies on Monday and Tuesday.

Well, when 50% of your class is out, whose do you expect a teacher to do? Teach a skill that needs to be retaught in a week?

I know of one colleague on vacation. I know of 4 home with fevers. Should I get angry at them on your behalf?

And should I also be upset with your colleagues who decided to leave early for Thanksgiving? Surely they shouldn’t do that.

Families leave early because they know class is a joke. You don't put two half days in a row if you want students to show up.

It's the other way around. MCPS used to have full days on the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and lots of students would be absent. In the calendar survey, moving the two half days for conferences from Veterans Day week to Thanksgiving week was the more popular choice.

It's dumb. If they wanted to maximize instructional time, they could have given all of Tuesday off and have Monday be a full day. But instead MCPS gets to count Monday Tuesday as two instructional days, and kids don't learn much on either day.

That's more work for teachers.

Its parent teacher conferences.

Kind of. Who is doing conferences on Tuesday afternoon? We didn't get any sign-up options that day.

Regardless, do conferences one day and school the other day.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

Tell that to the teachers starting their vacations early this weekend. And their subs, and remaining colleagues, showing movies on Monday and Tuesday.

Well, when 50% of your class is out, whose do you expect a teacher to do? Teach a skill that needs to be retaught in a week?

I know of one colleague on vacation. I know of 4 home with fevers. Should I get angry at them on your behalf?

And should I also be upset with your colleagues who decided to leave early for Thanksgiving? Surely they shouldn’t do that.

Families leave early because they know class is a joke. You don't put two half days in a row if you want students to show up.

It's the other way around. MCPS used to have full days on the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and lots of students would be absent. In the calendar survey, moving the two half days for conferences from Veterans Day week to Thanksgiving week was the more popular choice.

It's dumb. If they wanted to maximize instructional time, they could have given all of Tuesday off and have Monday be a full day. But instead MCPS gets to count Monday Tuesday as two instructional days, and kids don't learn much on either day.

It's not dumb. Parents don't bother to have their kids come to school because they start vacation early. It would mean teachers have to re-teach the lesson to absent students. It's not fair to students who attended school or teachers. Maybe people should be better parents.

If MCPS isn't going to teach anything those days, then they should just close and call the whole week a fall break. But then teachers would actually have to work those two days.

Thank you, DCUM, for my daily reminder that all teachers are lazy.

I guess I forgot that while I worked over 12 hours already this weekend and I’m not even done.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

Tell that to the teachers starting their vacations early this weekend. And their subs, and remaining colleagues, showing movies on Monday and Tuesday.

Well, when 50% of your class is out, whose do you expect a teacher to do? Teach a skill that needs to be retaught in a week?

I know of one colleague on vacation. I know of 4 home with fevers. Should I get angry at them on your behalf?

And should I also be upset with your colleagues who decided to leave early for Thanksgiving? Surely they shouldn’t do that.

Families leave early because they know class is a joke. You don't put two half days in a row if you want students to show up.

It's the other way around. MCPS used to have full days on the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and lots of students would be absent. In the calendar survey, moving the two half days for conferences from Veterans Day week to Thanksgiving week was the more popular choice.

It's dumb. If they wanted to maximize instructional time, they could have given all of Tuesday off and have Monday be a full day. But instead MCPS gets to count Monday Tuesday as two instructional days, and kids don't learn much on either day.

It's not dumb. Parents don't bother to have their kids come to school because they start vacation early. It would mean teachers have to re-teach the lesson to absent students. It's not fair to students who attended school or teachers. Maybe people should be better parents.

If MCPS isn't going to teach anything those days, then they should just close and call the whole week a fall break. But then teachers would actually have to work those two days.

Thank you, DCUM, for my daily reminder that all teachers are lazy.

I guess I forgot that while I worked over 12 hours already this weekend and I’m not even done.

Me too PP! I teach two classes of students and my partner teacher and I have 44 scheduled conferences. We started several days ago and will go through late Tuesday
afternoon. A handful of parents signed up for a conference, but never showed up. However, the majority have arrived as scheduled. Prepping for 44 conferences is a lot of work.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

Tell that to the teachers starting their vacations early this weekend. And their subs, and remaining colleagues, showing movies on Monday and Tuesday.

Well, when 50% of your class is out, whose do you expect a teacher to do? Teach a skill that needs to be retaught in a week?

I know of one colleague on vacation. I know of 4 home with fevers. Should I get angry at them on your behalf?

And should I also be upset with your colleagues who decided to leave early for Thanksgiving? Surely they shouldn’t do that.

Families leave early because they know class is a joke. You don't put two half days in a row if you want students to show up.

It's the other way around. MCPS used to have full days on the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and lots of students would be absent. In the calendar survey, moving the two half days for conferences from Veterans Day week to Thanksgiving week was the more popular choice.

It's dumb. If they wanted to maximize instructional time, they could have given all of Tuesday off and have Monday be a full day. But instead MCPS gets to count Monday Tuesday as two instructional days, and kids don't learn much on either day.

It's not dumb. Parents don't bother to have their kids come to school because they start vacation early. It would mean teachers have to re-teach the lesson to absent students. It's not fair to students who attended school or teachers. Maybe people should be better parents.

If MCPS isn't going to teach anything those days, then they should just close and call the whole week a fall break. But then teachers would actually have to work those two days.

Thank you, DCUM, for my daily reminder that all teachers are lazy.

I guess I forgot that while I worked over 12 hours already this weekend and I’m not even done.

I don't think teachers are lazy. I think MCEA is terrible at prioritizing what is the biggest issue facing teachers and doesn't care about impacts on students. I suspect most teachers know half days are jokes and should be abolished.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is skipping school to start the Tgiving holiday an excused or unexcused absence?

Unexcused

Then why do teachers get to do it?

Help me out here.

Why do teachers get to do WHAT? Are you referring to their professional leave?

It may pain you to realize this, but teachers are adult professionals. They are entitled to adult things like professional leave. You know, kind of like your job gives you?

These may be adults who decided to work with children, but they are NOT children. It would be great if you could treat them like the professional adults they are.

Most jobs don't let so many people take off on the same day that the remaining workers can't cover the mission. 3/7 teachers being absent, effectively leading to an instructional shutdown, is not covering the mission.

If you want to be treated like a professional adult, then start acting like one.

Oh, dear poster: you clearly don’t know anything about teaching.

If I have an hour appt, I have to take a half day of leave. If I need to show up 15 minutes late, I have to take a half day of leave. I can’t take personal leave on Mondays or Fridays. I can’t take leave before holidays or after them. If I’m sick, I need to produce a doctor’s note.

And taking leave requires plans. I have to put in 2+ hours of unpaid time making plans and another 3+ hours grading work just to take 8 hours off. The last time I went to the hospital? I was told to make plans on the way to the ER, as if I had nothing else going on.

You’re welcome to lecture me on professionalism. But know this: I’m not taking a silly day off just to avoid work. It’s too much WORK for me to take a day off.

Tell that to the teachers starting their vacations early this weekend. And their subs, and remaining colleagues, showing movies on Monday and Tuesday.

Well, when 50% of your class is out, whose do you expect a teacher to do? Teach a skill that needs to be retaught in a week?

I know of one colleague on vacation. I know of 4 home with fevers. Should I get angry at them on your behalf?

And should I also be upset with your colleagues who decided to leave early for Thanksgiving? Surely they shouldn’t do that.

Families leave early because they know class is a joke. You don't put two half days in a row if you want students to show up.

It's the other way around. MCPS used to have full days on the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and lots of students would be absent. In the calendar survey, moving the two half days for conferences from Veterans Day week to Thanksgiving week was the more popular choice.

It's dumb. If they wanted to maximize instructional time, they could have given all of Tuesday off and have Monday be a full day. But instead MCPS gets to count Monday Tuesday as two instructional days, and kids don't learn much on either day.

It's not dumb. Parents don't bother to have their kids come to school because they start vacation early. It would mean teachers have to re-teach the lesson to absent students. It's not fair to students who attended school or teachers. Maybe people should be better parents.

If MCPS isn't going to teach anything those days, then they should just close and call the whole week a fall break. But then teachers would actually have to work those two days.

Thank you, DCUM, for my daily reminder that all teachers are lazy.

I guess I forgot that while I worked over 12 hours already this weekend and I’m not even done.

I don't think teachers are lazy. I think MCEA is terrible at prioritizing what is the biggest issue facing teachers and doesn't care about impacts on students. I suspect most teachers know half days are jokes and should be abolished.

It’s the “teachers would actually have to work” comment. That appears to be a cut at teachers, not MCEA.

We work. We work all day, and then at night, and then all weekend.

And we have no control over calendars, but that won’t stop posters here from blaming us anyway.