Today's Wash Post op ed about MCPS

[Anonymous]

You are acting as if you are the only "professionals" and workers who bring home work or write letters of evaluation and recommendations. I suggest you quit while you're ahead. You are doing the rest of us teachers a disservice.

[Anonymous]

The 'teacher's have it tough' comments and the 'everyone hates teachers' comments are just way off-base. MoCo pays teachers better than anywhere, so that should tell you that teachers are valued in MoCo. Most people are ok with top teacher salaries in our county. The point is that we are in an economic crisis and class sizes are too large. 7% over a year is way over the top by the standards of any other profession right now. No one wants to hear that you have given up raises for 3 years because most of the rest of us haven't gotten raises either.

[Anonymous]

MoCO pays its teachers extremely well. In return, the county has received a diminishing quality of instruction with a curriculum that is meant for donkeys. Lets face it teachers have shown that they, like everybody else need to be monitored and evaluated. Otherwise, we will keep paying more for teaching TV watching on the Promethean board.

[Anonymous]

Any "restrictive" and "inflexible" new curriculum in a 2 billion dollar educational system that can't even make accommodation for capable students to and move on towards appropriate challenging material is inherently flawed and not worth the millions paid to the idiotic consultants and MCPS leadership signing off on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can only imagine that many of you are jealous of teachers.

So which is it:

Teachers have it so good that everybody is jealous
OR
We're underpaid and unappreciated and everybody looks down on us.

FWIW, I generally think that teachers are underpaid. I _don't_ think teachers in MoCo are underpaid. I work with several people whose wives are/were teachers in other districts. They're astounded by the salaries MoCo teachers make.

You work with husbands who are not teachers either. It's one thing to be a teacher married to someone NOT in the profession; it's quite another to have a spouse in the profession, too.

And again, I'm advocating for new teachers who are commuting quite a few miles b/c they cannot afford to work and to live in Mo Co.

If we don't look out for our young teachers, you can say good bye to quality b/c the profession is becoming a revolving door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MoCO pays its teachers extremely well. In return, the county has received a diminishing quality of instruction with a curriculum that is meant for donkeys. Lets face it teachers have shown that they, like everybody else need to be monitored and evaluated. Otherwise, we will keep paying more for teaching TV watching on the Promethean board.

uh

Upon whom do you place blame?

You do recognize that teachers MUST follow the curriculum, right? If not, you are seriously ignorant and should take the time to speak to a teacher - particularly one piloting a new program.

I'm assuming you work, PP, which means YOU have guidelines to follow, too. And what happens if you stray? You'll be called on it.

So while you may complain that ". . . we'll keep paying more for teaching TV watching on the Promethean board," don't blame teachers for doing as they're told. We have mouths to feed, too. And if you're so disheartened by these new initiatives, send your kids to private. We welcome smaller classes.

[Anonymous]

uh

Upon whom do you place blame?

You do recognize that teachers MUST follow the curriculum, right? If not, you are seriously ignorant and should take the time to speak to a teacher - particularly one piloting a new program.

I'm assuming you work, PP, which means YOU have guidelines to follow, too. And what happens if you stray? You'll be called on it.

So while you may complain that ". . . we'll keep paying more for teaching TV watching on the Promethean board," don't blame teachers for doing as they're told. We have mouths to feed, too. And if you're so disheartened by these new initiatives, send your kids to private. We welcome smaller classes.

Many high performing students in MCPS already make up the instructional deficit of MCPS by going private after school and the weekends (year round). It's arrived. Where have you been? These students hit it out of the park whether you or a substitute or no one is leading the MCPS class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

uh

Upon whom do you place blame?

You do recognize that teachers MUST follow the curriculum, right? If not, you are seriously ignorant and should take the time to speak to a teacher - particularly one piloting a new program.

I'm assuming you work, PP, which means YOU have guidelines to follow, too. And what happens if you stray? You'll be called on it.

So while you may complain that ". . . we'll keep paying more for teaching TV watching on the Promethean board," don't blame teachers for doing as they're told. We have mouths to feed, too. And if you're so disheartened by these new initiatives, send your kids to private. We welcome smaller classes.

Many high performing students in MCPS already make up the instructional deficit of MCPS by going private after school and the weekends (year round). It's arrived. Where have you been? These students hit it out of the park whether you or a substitute or no one is leading the MCPS class.

What?

Your garbled language is difficult to sift through.

What's your point?

[Anonymous]

What?

Your garbled language is difficult to sift through.

What's your point?

More evidence for the cluelessness of MCPS. Don't worry be happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the Post is right, unfortunately. It's union appeasement. I know more and more highly educated, affluent parents who are pulling their kids out of MCPS for private school because of large class sizes and the relative dearth of music, science, art, PE, recess, etc. I know some folks will say good riddance, but in realistic terms, it does not help MCPS to have those families leaving the system. I don't think the county cares about that, but I think that's shortsighted.

We're looking to move to Howard county once our daughter finishes the HGC elementary program. HoCo schools seem to be significantly better on average.

You will find issues in Ho Co, too. Good luck finding an affordable home that feeds into River Hill, which is one of the top schools in the county (and not too shabby nationally either). Glenelg is so so - sort of like Damascus HS.

Reservoir, not too far from Laurel, will always have boundary issues as Maple Lawn grows and as the farming communities in Fulton continue to transform into areas housing McMansions.

Centennial is solid, but unless you work from home, don't work, or work in Balt., your commute will be miserable.

The one advantage Ho Co has is size; it's tiny compared to Mo Co. And much of Ho Co promotes smart growth. So you don't find packed communities in the western parts of the county. Furthermore, b/c it's small with a budget that can't compare to Mo Co's, there are fewer avenues for the gifted. You won't find IB, for example.

They've got better options for GT students in HoCo. They've got a better GT organization too. I know--I live and work here.

Can you be a bit more specific or describe what the GT options/plans/programs are on the ground-level in HoCo - we have opportunities for positions close to HoCo but haven't moved because we couldn't figure out what the GT scenarios really look like.

Take a look at this: http://www.hcpss.org/gt/

Seems pretty good to me, plus it's in the local schools.

I'm glad you agree. I know we have a lot more options and better teaching. Before you people scream just note I said BETTER TEACHING.

What does THAT mean?

Are you STATING OUTRIGHT that Mo Co teachers aren't that stellar? Such a lame statement w/o any backing . . . Is that how you make claims? using NO evidence?

You're certainly stellar, no doubt.

I don't think MoCo teachers are any better or worse than their counterparts in other, similar schools systems.

I do however, think that teachers in general are not as smart and capable as they were a few generations ago. Several decades ago, smart women became teachers or nurses, because other professions were largely not available to them. Now, however, women with similar capabilities are choosing other professions. Therefore IMO the quality of the teaching workforce is lower than it used to be.

[Anonymous]

I support the teachers. My kids have had wonderful teachers in MCPS, for the most part. But my question: Why don't they ( in the form of the union) stand up for quality curriculum and against the dumbing down, one-size-fits all and expectation that one teacher can teach six or eight levels effectively in one classroom? Why does the Apple ballot just support the status-quo?

[Anonymous]

I don't think MoCo teachers are any better or worse than their counterparts in other, similar schools systems.

I do however, think that teachers in general are not as smart and capable as they were a few generations ago. Several decades ago, smart women became teachers or nurses, because other professions were largely not available to them. Now, however, women with similar capabilities are choosing other professions. Therefore IMO the quality of the teaching workforce is lower than it used to be.

No argument here. Today's teaching profession (primary and secondary schools) does not attract the sharpest tools in the shed (or the brightest bulbs in the firmament). Your points are well taken.

[Anonymous]

What if all of this isn't about how much we like our teachers or how dedicated our teachers are or how overworked our teachers are or how many months of vacation our teachers get?

What if it is simply a money issue?

What if, at some point, you can not ask taxpayers - people who are not getting raises - to continue to pay for teacher raises (and commensurate increases in the pension numbers, etc.)? I happen to think we've reached that point. I'd call it a breaking point.

[Anonymous]

I support the teachers. My kids have had wonderful teachers in MCPS, for the most part. But my question: Why don't they ( in the form of the union) stand up for quality curriculum and against the dumbing down, one-size-fits all and expectation that one teacher can teach six or eight levels effectively in one classroom? Why does the Apple ballot just support the status-quo?

The goal (teacher union) is solely personal benefit and gain to the exclusion of the customer (children). Witness the long winding downfall of the Detroit automobile industry. At the end of the day the product (well educated children) suffers. Our children increasing enter colleges not knowing how to write and essay, speak in public and weak in subjects supporting the technology age.

[Anonymous]

But that is exactly what a union is for! They are doing their job.

We should not allow the union to set educational policy -- that's not the union's funciton. Parents should have a more direct involvement, and the board should be independent of the union.

This way, we can achieve balance and still have a union that advocates for issues like pay and benefits, and working hours, etc.

My problem is NOT with having a union -- it's the fact that the union exercises too much influence in areas that aren't it's bailiwick.