demoralized in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just don't understand that when in college and accumulating a lifetime worth of debt and they say you're great, they need teachers, you're a rock star etc. When you are hired at MCPS and you try to find solutions to kids outbursts, fighting, violence, and disrespect; you are targeted for admitting there are issues. When you try to do your job and calculate grades that are purely based on data and standards you are targeted as some kind of do gooder. Then you are fired with no protection when teachers need to be protected for the integrity of the system. I had a principal who tried to get me with a trick question. He brought me into his office and started to ask me if I felt "entitled". I said I felt entitled to respect, entitled to support, entitled to not be intimidated by students etc. I think it was another racially gotcha question where they wanted me to I think theressay something stupid so they could say you bad bad racist whitey. It's really tough if you don't get support on common goals and many people are playing their own agenda game. It's also tough when you see so many people busted for illegal stuff and good people working hard are fired without a chance like, "you're college must of made a mistake graduating you with a 4.0 in education we'll make sure you never teach again, good luck with your debt". Uh, think there's a disconnect somewhere. When the union supports this whistleblower witch-hunt it creates hostility and constant fear. Then on a regular basis you see straight up illegal things happening all around and alcoholics and abusers thriving in MCPS like that is what is valued and striving for ideals in education is being smug and entitled. It truly is the twilight zone and I hope this corruption does not radiate through our nation's education system.

It doesn’t radiate through other states, counties, and township public school districts. nyC, SF, LA, and Wash DC area public schools are their own special cesspools of leftist experiments and mismanagement. Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

BS! I teach in a PBIS school. Even our admin tells students “STOP”.

[Anonymous]

Does union protect teachers from mistreatment from MCPS?

[Anonymous]

No the union only cares about the union and making that revolving door spin. Also they work to confuse you of your rights.

[Anonymous]

I agree with that poster about teachers that are not your boss wanting to constantly berate new teachers so they can play a little game behind your back to show the admin that they are so great and that the new teacher is crap. That's how they try to move into admin themselves and if they succeed the bullying continues. It's like this because they know it works and they get positive feedback, financial incentives, and no one to tell them hey- THATS NOT YOUR JOB- we have enough bosses darnit and don't need another rat trying to climb by sabotaging colleague teachers.

[Anonymous]

The mid level, school-based faculty are the worst. The team leaders and department chairs, the ILT members and the ASAs and SDT types. The ones who want to climb the rungs but are insecure and have no real authority in the building. They will take down anyone who threatens their position or ties to the principal. It's all about currying favor with the principal. The principals typically prioritize these relationships, too, even though those same people are the ones most likely to be trashing the principal behind their back. They also are the same ones who are busy driving out many of the school's best teachers, or the ones with even less authority than they have, anyway. But they kiss up and ** down, so they get away with it. If I were a principal I really would trust no one.

[Anonymous]

Its doesn't have it's checks and balances like the government and you would think that it would or should at least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does union protect teachers from mistreatment from MCPS?

Not any more. They stated that teachers should empowered to solve their own problems by working with the FSR.

[Anonymous]

So relieved that my building is not full of people who need to quit teaching like yesterday. It must be exhausting.

[Anonymous]

Well, the county can dismiss these teachers as complainers who can't hack it, or it can get its head out of the sand and do some due diligence in the name of retaining good teachers. Most of these people are not teachers who should have "quit yesterday." And if one day you find yourself in their shoes, you're going to wish you hadn't written off their complaints. They're real. But they probably will have left by then -- not to quit teaching, but to head over to neighboring counties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, the county can dismiss these teachers as complainers who can't hack it, or it can get its head out of the sand and do some due diligence in the name of retaining good teachers. Most of these people are not teachers who should have "quit yesterday." And if one day you find yourself in their shoes, you're going to wish you hadn't written off their complaints. They're real. But they probably will have left by then -- not to quit teaching, but to head over to neighboring counties.

There are legitimate complaints by thousands of competent teachers. Just not the complaints listed in this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, the county can dismiss these teachers as complainers who can't hack it, or it can get its head out of the sand and do some due diligence in the name of retaining good teachers. Most of these people are not teachers who should have "quit yesterday." And if one day you find yourself in their shoes, you're going to wish you hadn't written off their complaints. They're real. But they probably will have left by then -- not to quit teaching, but to head over to neighboring counties.

There are legitimate complaints by thousands of competent teachers. Just not the complaints listed in this thread.

Because you are a mind reader? You're pretty insufferable yourself.

[Anonymous]

What if the better choice for a student is kirking out in class and filming it for YouTube which is what's known as viral material these days. YouTube "crazy teacher/students". When college and education is so devalued these days getting hits on their YouTube channel might pay off a bit if they can get you to kirk. This type of student behavior is also what teachers have to account for when considering a jerk student can get you fired or labeled ineffective. Don't get me started about the kids hyped up on drugs these days both legal and not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So relieved that my building is not full of people who need to quit teaching like yesterday. It must be exhausting.

Your head is in the sand. There are plenty of teachers who are dead inside - just given up b/c they realize they need the $ and benefits for survival.

so many in therapy! I know: i'm one. My own therapist says she sees far too many teachers and nurses.

You're another one who's insufferable. completely condescending and lacking empathy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The mid level, school-based faculty are the worst. The team leaders and department chairs, the ILT members and the ASAs and SDT types. The ones who want to climb the rungs but are insecure and have no real authority in the building. They will take down anyone who threatens their position or ties to the principal. It's all about currying favor with the principal. The principals typically prioritize these relationships, too, even though those same people are the ones most likely to be trashing the principal behind their back. They also are the same ones who are busy driving out many of the school's best teachers, or the ones with even less authority than they have, anyway. But they kiss up and ** down, so they get away with it. If I were a principal I really would trust no one.

I was an SDT early on in my career, with a principal who didn't micromanage my time. I used PD subs to free up teachers on a rotating basis for planning purposes. Teachers spent all day in computer labs co-planning and integrating reading strategies into lessons. Our reading specialist was amazing. This was at the HS level! I co-taught with teachers and modeled lessons. Early on, the job was fun and worthwhile. Once the county began to micromanage our time, nothing was organic. I left the spot and returned to the classroom b/c I didn't like being sandwiched between admin (We had a new principal.) and teachers.

So yes, I agree, PP. The "mid-level" folks are the worst b/c they use these jobs as steppingstones - NOT as ways to support teachers.

I've been in this field for over 20 years. I trust very few people in my school. I look at teachers who are tormented unfairly, and I think to myself - Anyone of us could be next. This is a miserable existence for many of us.