MCPS 2nd grade teacher assigned big project to be due in class on Nov 21st, day before Thankksgiving

[Anonymous]

Might I also point out that the kids missed 2 days of school due to Sandy, followed by 2 days of school for the election, followed by 2 1/2 days this week for conferences, and Thanksgiving is early this year.

My guess is that the teacher needed to get the assignment completed. I would also imagine she's not trying to anger anyone. Would you rather it be due the day after you come back from Thanksgiving? I wouldn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^PP here. If a teacher and principal are going to inflict these draconian consequences on a fifth-grader (who is a good student with a perfect attendance record) for missing a half-day of school the day before winter break, then I will do what I need to do to enable my child to avoid those (absurd) consequences, including if necessary, lying.

one of those with whom we DREAD meeting

b/c you are the type who is ALWAYS right

You children will suffer b/c you're one fucked up role model.

Nope, not really. And in fact, my DH is a teacher and agrees with this approach.

so?

I never said ALL teachers were successful at what they did. Your husband is a moron and another terrible role model. Likes attract likes. MY husband, also a teacher, would agree with me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If school days were so important, why have three 1/2 days this week alone instead of scheduling the parent/teacher conferences before and/or after school hours?

Upon whom do you place blame?

certainly NOT teachers, I hope . . .

We don't create the schedule.

idiot

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, is this crappy or what? MCPS has an early release day on November 21st the day before Thanksgiving. DS's second grade teacher assigned a big project that includes an in class presentation on the 21st. This is the only assignment of this size so far his entire year. To the extent that grades matter in 2nd grade, it is clear that this will be an important part of their assessment. In second grade its a big deal to kids to feel like they missed something. There are no make ups or early presentations for kids who would miss the 21st.

If the curriculum was more intense or there were more assignments like this it wouldn't seem so bitchy but this is a teacher who assigns very little homework in general, never comes up with creative assignments like this, doesn't do regular spelling tests and tells the kids that it doesn't matter if they forget they their homework. Its seems very fishy that all of a sudden there is a bog assignment due the day before a holiday on an early release day.

Agree, bitter irrational teacher trying to make a petty, selfish point.
Some of us do prioritize what little time we can find to visit out of state/country family. As well as schoolwork.
The school should be able to meet families and taxpayers halfway, and be reasonable.
I would absolutely turn the project in Tuesday and ask for the 2 minutes of the classes time tuesday to present. Do your best and if teacher screws you on the grade, so be it. Good lesson on teachers pets and office politics and family priorities.

FYI, this kind of deadline holiday "trap" would never happen at a private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If school days were so important, why have three 1/2 days this week alone instead of scheduling the parent/teacher conferences before and/or after school hours?

whom do you place blame?

certainly NOT teachers, I hope . . .

We don't create the schedule.

idiot

I blame teachers unions. Why not have conferences after school days end? Because the unions would never accept that.

[Anonymous]

Or all those "professional days" where kids don't have school. These all add up, and add up fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I blame teachers unions. Why not have conferences after school days end? Because the unions would never accept that.

Yeah, those lazy inconsiderate teachers. They only work 9-3:30, never work weekends or holidays. Summers off too!

YOU ARE A MORON!

[Anonymous]

They work 7 to 5, just like everyone else. Then sometimes bring some reading/grading/prepping material home at night, just like everyone else.

[Anonymous]

I was waiting for this thread to take a turn towards teachers having too much time "off." Because lessons and activities and graded papers just fall out of the sky, so teachers should never been paid for working when the students aren't even there! After all, lawyers are only paid for the time they spend sitting in front of clients or in court, surgeons are only paid for the time they spend actually performing the surgery, and retail employees only get paid when the store is actually open.

Conferences ARE held after the school days end. It varies from school to school, elementary to secondary, but conferences are held in the morning BEFORE school, and in the early afternoon through evening. If they were strictly after school, it would take a week. Do you think it's fair for someone to work required overtime every night for a week without pay? But, since teachers are overpaid and overappreciated anyway, I guess that's how it should be.

[Anonymous]

I don't get why people can't just teach their kids that school is mandatory? Vacation is fun, but not as important as school. Schedule your vacation so it doesn't interfere with school. If you schedule your kids trip so they miss school and affects their grades, that's on you, not on the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^PP here. If a teacher and principal are going to inflict these draconian consequences on a fifth-grader (who is a good student with a perfect attendance record) for missing a half-day of school the day before winter break, then I will do what I need to do to enable my child to avoid those (absurd) consequences, including if necessary, lying.

one of those with whom we DREAD meeting

b/c you are the type who is ALWAYS right

You children will suffer b/c you're one fucked up role model.

Nope, not really. And in fact, my DH is a teacher and agrees with this approach.

so?

I never said ALL teachers were successful at what they did. Your husband is a moron and another terrible role model. Likes attract likes. MY husband, also a teacher, would agree with me.

You have become unhinged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was waiting for this thread to take a turn towards teachers having too much time "off." Because lessons and activities and graded papers just fall out of the sky, so teachers should never been paid for working when the students aren't even there! After all, lawyers are only paid for the time they spend sitting in front of clients or in court, surgeons are only paid for the time they spend actually performing the surgery, and retail employees only get paid when the store is actually open.

Conferences ARE held after the school days end. It varies from school to school, elementary to secondary, but conferences are held in the morning BEFORE school, and in the early afternoon through evening. If they were strictly after school, it would take a week. Do you think it's fair for someone to work required overtime every night for a week without pay? But, since teachers are overpaid and overappreciated anyway, I guess that's how it should be.

I work overtime for no pay all the time. When a big project is in the works, I work evenings and weekends if necessary.

"Overtime" is generally a concept used by people who punch a clock and are paid by the hour. It is not a term normally used by professionals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If school days were so important, why have three 1/2 days this week alone instead of scheduling the parent/teacher conferences before and/or after school hours?

Upon whom do you place blame?

certainly NOT teachers, I hope . . .

We don't create the schedule.

idiot

Are you a teacher? I feel sorry for your kids if so.

loser.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or all those "professional days" where kids don't have school. These all add up, and add up fast.

Are you f-ing kidding me?

I'm sorry that your "daycare" is off that day.

FWIW, don't complain, idiot. If you had the money to take the private route, the professional days double.

Your world is very small, PP.

so very small

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was waiting for this thread to take a turn towards teachers having too much time "off." Because lessons and activities and graded papers just fall out of the sky, so teachers should never been paid for working when the students aren't even there! After all, lawyers are only paid for the time they spend sitting in front of clients or in court, surgeons are only paid for the time they spend actually performing the surgery, and retail employees only get paid when the store is actually open.

Conferences ARE held after the school days end. It varies from school to school, elementary to secondary, but conferences are held in the morning BEFORE school, and in the early afternoon through evening. If they were strictly after school, it would take a week. Do you think it's fair for someone to work required overtime every night for a week without pay? But, since teachers are overpaid and overappreciated anyway, I guess that's how it should be.

I work overtime for no pay all the time. When a big project is in the works, I work evenings and weekends if necessary.

"Overtime" is generally a concept used by people who punch a clock and are paid by the hour. It is not a term normally used by professionals.

uh huh

And how much do YOU make, sweets?

My friend works OT, too, but makes $200K for putting in the same amount of hours per week I do.

So fuck off.