why do parents NEED to volunteer at recess and lunch

[Anonymous]

"It is just sad that people don't have more respect for all that public school teachers do."

They're poor advocates for themselves.
Marketing 101.

They're being judged, in part, by their customers.
Sales 101.

[Anonymous]

If I waited until my students have their 50 minute "special" to eat lunch, it would be 2:30 before I got to eat lunch. My colleagues would be eating lunch at 9:15am b/c that is when their students have their "special." Our school asks for volunteers but that's it. Some days, the special ed aides are the only ones in the cafeteria w/ the students b/c there are no cafeteria aides that day (and no volunteers). Most of my friends who aren't teachers can go out and do whatever they want on their hour long plus lunch break. I would barely get my car out of the parking lot before I would need to return to pick up my students from the cafeteria.

[Anonymous]

Again, back to the subject: is this lack of supervision Safe for children?

Interesting that this discussion encapsulates so much of what is wrong in public education -- so much discussion of teacher pay, rights, breaks, etc. and So Little Discussion of what makes sense for children.

[Anonymous]

Not a teacher. Haven't left my desk for lunch in years. Never have 1 hour, or anything close to it for lunch. Rarely leave the office before 7:30 or 8pm. Work weekends regularly. Don't have summers off. Don't have a union negotiating my benefits.

Again, don't understand why teachers or other staff can't supervise kids during lunch or recess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a teacher. Haven't left my desk for lunch in years. Never have 1 hour, or anything close to it for lunch. Rarely leave the office before 7:30 or 8pm. Work weekends regularly. Don't have summers off. Don't have a union negotiating my benefits.

Again, don't understand why teachers or other staff can't supervise kids during lunch or recess.

You no doubt have the option to leave for lunch. I'm guessing you get paid more than a teacher as well. If not,myou need a better job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Again, back to the subject: is this lack of supervision Safe for children?

Interesting that this discussion encapsulates so much of what is wrong in public education -- so much discussion of teacher pay, rights, breaks, etc. and So Little Discussion of what makes sense for children.

What makes sense for the children is for the county to hire more aides.

[Anonymous]

Exactly PP. Instead of pushing more work onto teachers, the budget needs to allow for such support. I think it's sad that people begrudge teachers 30 mins of time sans students to eat lunch. Many teachers end up using that time emailing parents, making copies, grading, etc anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a teacher. Haven't left my desk for lunch in years. Never have 1 hour, or anything close to it for lunch. Rarely leave the office before 7:30 or 8pm. Work weekends regularly. Don't have summers off. Don't have a union negotiating my benefits.

Again, don't understand why teachers or other staff can't supervise kids during lunch or recess.

How wonderful for you. Please keep in mind though that sitting at one's quiet office desk during the day, is light years away from being in a classroom full of busy children. There really is zero comparison. Environment plays a huge role in the need for a break. Teachers aren't just sitting at their 'desks,' when they're with their students. Not the good ones anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a teacher. Haven't left my desk for lunch in years. Never have 1 hour, or anything close to it for lunch. Rarely leave the office before 7:30 or 8pm. Work weekends regularly. Don't have summers off. Don't have a union negotiating my benefits.

Again, don't understand why teachers or other staff can't supervise kids during lunch or recess.

How wonderful for you. Please keep in mind though that sitting at one's quiet office desk during the day, is light years away from being in a classroom full of busy children. There really is zero comparison. Environment plays a huge role in the need for a break. Teachers aren't just sitting at their 'desks,' when they're with their students. Not the good ones anyway.

Sitting at a quiet desk is a silly fantasy. I think both of you lack compassion for the other. I think everybody should get a lunch beak, but it is rare for many professions. I think teachers should get their lunch and their benefits and planning time. I just don't want tiger women watching my kids. Hire aides or at least set a standard for volunteers and fire the crazy ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I think OP is raising a valid issue. As for the idea that it's not the principal's job to ensure there is sufficient staffing to cover recess/lunch, I disagree. At our elem, the assistant principal has always been responsible. So at elems that don't have an assistant, wouldn't it be the principal's job, or his/her designee? More lunch supervision is needed for the younger kids, especially kindergarten, so I can see not having much coverage for the 4-5th graders. On the playground, though, that's another issue. If a child is seriously injured on the playground, the county would certainly be sued, so it only makes sense to provide sufficient coverage. At our elem, also, we hear constantly of the need for more lunch/recess supervision. I can understand that it's always nice to have more, but the tone of these requests makes it sound as though the supervision is lacking. It's a concern of mine, too, but I can't be up there frequently since I work FT, just as many parents do. I think it's something to ask Starr about. I don't think our elem had a very difficult time finding people to take those jobs, but all their hours were reduced to nothing.

Principals have meetings they are required to attend. So oftentimes, they are out at odd times, leaving - in most cases at the elementary level - ONE AP to run the school. Should the AP leave the school to do recess duty?

That is NOT a reasonable long-term solution.

Furthermore, any teacher forced to step in can grieve that demand and win. This isn't to say that teachers are selfish (although Lord knows that the public thinks so). It means that this is their time for lunch and/or planning. Sadly, the planning period for elementary school teachers is limited. So they need to make the most of the time given.

Allocations from central office ARE TO BE USED specifically for X, Y, and Z. So if a principal tries to use an academic intervention allocation to pay for an aide, it may not fly. So they are restricted in how many aides they can hire.

Again, put your money where your mouth is and agree to pay more taxes to support YOUR public school. And I highly doubt, based on your post, that your school is overcrowded if your principal can remedy the problem this easily.

So until you know how the system works from the inside out, you can't begin to offer suggestions on this forum.

Frankly, screw you. People like you are the reason I have developed a poor impression of MCPS. I am not required to know all about how the system works from the inside to ask a simple question about who supervises recess. Your lack of professionalism on this forum does not reflect well on you or your fellow teachers. You need to GROW UP.

No, sweets, you need to get our head out of your ass and understand that THIS IS HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS! WE pay for our school system. And any public employee for that matter agrees to take a lower paying job with the understanding that benefits help to even things out.

I can't believe how ignorant you (and others) are.

You can't understand how a public school system works, and yet, when it's explained to you, you ignore it and STILL complain that you don't have your aides to watch the 100+ kids on the playground.

Quit your job, stay at home and volunteer. That's my advice to you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Again, back to the subject: is this lack of supervision Safe for children?

Interesting that this discussion encapsulates so much of what is wrong in public education -- so much discussion of teacher pay, rights, breaks, etc. and So Little Discussion of what makes sense for children.

dense

Do you think we just make our money?

There is no money in the budget to pay for aides. bottom line

And to expect elementary teachers to give up their pathetic planning period to do so is unreasonable. They're jobs are demanding enough.

[Anonymous]

"I just don't want tiger women watching my kids. Hire aides or at least set a standard for volunteers and fire the crazy ones."

Ditto. Ditch the gossiping room mothers and the PTA harpies! Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I think OP is raising a valid issue. As for the idea that it's not the principal's job to ensure there is sufficient staffing to cover recess/lunch, I disagree. At our elem, the assistant principal has always been responsible. So at elems that don't have an assistant, wouldn't it be the principal's job, or his/her designee? More lunch supervision is needed for the younger kids, especially kindergarten, so I can see not having much coverage for the 4-5th graders. On the playground, though, that's another issue. If a child is seriously injured on the playground, the county would certainly be sued, so it only makes sense to provide sufficient coverage. At our elem, also, we hear constantly of the need for more lunch/recess supervision. I can understand that it's always nice to have more, but the tone of these requests makes it sound as though the supervision is lacking. It's a concern of mine, too, but I can't be up there frequently since I work FT, just as many parents do. I think it's something to ask Starr about. I don't think our elem had a very difficult time finding people to take those jobs, but all their hours were reduced to nothing.

Principals have meetings they are required to attend. So oftentimes, they are out at odd times, leaving - in most cases at the elementary level - ONE AP to run the school. Should the AP leave the school to do recess duty?

That is NOT a reasonable long-term solution.

Furthermore, any teacher forced to step in can grieve that demand and win. This isn't to say that teachers are selfish (although Lord knows that the public thinks so). It means that this is their time for lunch and/or planning. Sadly, the planning period for elementary school teachers is limited. So they need to make the most of the time given.

Allocations from central office ARE TO BE USED specifically for X, Y, and Z. So if a principal tries to use an academic intervention allocation to pay for an aide, it may not fly. So they are restricted in how many aides they can hire.

Again, put your money where your mouth is and agree to pay more taxes to support YOUR public school. And I highly doubt, based on your post, that your school is overcrowded if your principal can remedy the problem this easily.

So until you know how the system works from the inside out, you can't begin to offer suggestions on this forum.

Frankly, screw you. People like you are the reason I have developed a poor impression of MCPS. I am not required to know all about how the system works from the inside to ask a simple question about who supervises recess. Your lack of professionalism on this forum does not reflect well on you or your fellow teachers. You need to GROW UP.

teacher here - When I come across posts like yours, I always say that despite the hours I put into my job each day for 10 months, I'm happy about two things: 1) the lives I change and 2) the chance to spend my summer with my children so that they're not forced to attend camp after camp. No amount of money can entice me to give those up.

So you can shout at me to grow up all you want. I think I have the sweeter end of the deal here.

[Anonymous]

better beat the grammar police!

Their

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again, back to the subject: is this lack of supervision Safe for children?

Interesting that this discussion encapsulates so much of what is wrong in public education -- so much discussion of teacher pay, rights, breaks, etc. and So Little Discussion of what makes sense for children.

dense

Do you think we just make our money?

There is no money in the budget to pay for aides. bottom line

And to expect elementary teachers to give up their pathetic planning period to do so is unreasonable. They're jobs are demanding enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids go to private school where they are always cognizant of the required ratios. For school aged kids I think that is 1:15. Teachers and staff supervise recess. They can't use volunteers unless the volunteers are supervised by staff. I think this is all completely mandatory and required by the licensing regulations. They could lose their right to operate if they don't comply. Aren't public schools subject to the same rules?

Each year, tuition goes up, correct?

So there you go - money in the pot to pay for aides.

public sector? not always as easy . . .

Find me the money, and I'll show you 2 more recess aides per school.