How does this end?

[Anonymous]

For the record, nobody has advocated for a Friday afternoon off. Some have advocated for shifting weekend or non-contract work into an actual work day so that our teachers can be parents and spouses at night. Students can do asynchronous math and reading for 2 hours and be completely fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the record, nobody has advocated for a Friday afternoon off. Some have advocated for shifting weekend or non-contract work into an actual work day so that our teachers can be parents and spouses at night. Students can do asynchronous math and reading for 2 hours and be completely fine.

^ Example of completely nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the record, nobody has advocated for a Friday afternoon off. Some have advocated for shifting weekend or non-contract work into an actual work day so that our teachers can be parents and spouses at night. Students can do asynchronous math and reading for 2 hours and be completely fine.

^ Example of completely nuts.

Somebody told me the definition of insanity is perpetuating a status quo that isn’t working. So let’s then continue to work our underpaid public workers into the ground and cross our fingers that teachers stop resigning and that college students wake up next year and want to be teachers again.

I’ll hold my breath for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the record, nobody has advocated for a Friday afternoon off. Some have advocated for shifting weekend or non-contract work into an actual work day so that our teachers can be parents and spouses at night. Students can do asynchronous math and reading for 2 hours and be completely fine.

The pp said she wanted early release days on Fridays.

[Anonymous]

I sure hope the collective bargaining positions mentioned on this thread are not real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only hope I have is that FCPS will finally pass a collective bargaining agreement. Teachers are the experts on what teachers need and don’t need. I’m sick of the entire profession being controlled by people who have never spent time in a classroom professionally and have NO idea.

With power, teachers can insist on the class sizes, planning time, staffing ratios, and compensation that our community needs in order to strengthen our entire public education system and make the teaching profession more attractive to retain existing good teachers and recruit new teachers.

Teachers know what our classrooms need. We need the power to actually do what we know the KIDS need. Please help us get that power by letting your school board know that you support collective bargaining!!!

What do teachers plan to ask for? Are they expecting double digit raises even though there is no money? I don’t understand how collective bargaining helps. I’m sure it will happen since the board is all democrats but, as a parent, all I think is there will be strikes and more closed schools like what’s happened in other districts with unions.

VA law made collective bargaining legal, but strikes are illegal. They won’t happen as employees would be immediately terminated. Here are some things that could be included (others can add more) for bargaining:

- max class size
- increased non student facing time (planning time)
- flexibility for telework on teacher work days
- reduced professional development to only essentials, redirect this time to planning
- calendar considerations, such as having an early release day every Friday or every other Friday
- guaranteed pay when forced to give up their planning time to substitute for a sick colleague
- and much much more

Teachers couldn’t legally strike in DC, yet they effectively did. Same thing in Chicago.

Parents would be nuts not to fight collective bargaining for teachers in FCPS. Particularly given some of the demands in this thread, like Friday afternoons off.

So you’re saying the possibility exists now without collective bargaining? Then why the angst over the possibility of gaining a CBA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only hope I have is that FCPS will finally pass a collective bargaining agreement. Teachers are the experts on what teachers need and don’t need. I’m sick of the entire profession being controlled by people who have never spent time in a classroom professionally and have NO idea.

With power, teachers can insist on the class sizes, planning time, staffing ratios, and compensation that our community needs in order to strengthen our entire public education system and make the teaching profession more attractive to retain existing good teachers and recruit new teachers.

Teachers know what our classrooms need. We need the power to actually do what we know the KIDS need. Please help us get that power by letting your school board know that you support collective bargaining!!!

What do teachers plan to ask for? Are they expecting double digit raises even though there is no money? I don’t understand how collective bargaining helps. I’m sure it will happen since the board is all democrats but, as a parent, all I think is there will be strikes and more closed schools like what’s happened in other districts with unions.

VA law made collective bargaining legal, but strikes are illegal. They won’t happen as employees would be immediately terminated. Here are some things that could be included (others can add more) for bargaining:

- max class size
- increased non student facing time (planning time)
- flexibility for telework on teacher work days
- reduced professional development to only essentials, redirect this time to planning
- calendar considerations, such as having an early release day every Friday or every other Friday
- guaranteed pay when forced to give up their planning time to substitute for a sick colleague
- and much much more

Teachers couldn’t legally strike in DC, yet they effectively did. Same thing in Chicago.

Parents would be nuts not to fight collective bargaining for teachers in FCPS. Particularly given some of the demands in this thread, like Friday afternoons off.

So you’re saying the possibility exists now without collective bargaining? Then why the angst over the possibility of gaining a CBA?

Because with CBA comes a union with much more resources with which to organize anti-student actions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only hope I have is that FCPS will finally pass a collective bargaining agreement. Teachers are the experts on what teachers need and don’t need. I’m sick of the entire profession being controlled by people who have never spent time in a classroom professionally and have NO idea.

With power, teachers can insist on the class sizes, planning time, staffing ratios, and compensation that our community needs in order to strengthen our entire public education system and make the teaching profession more attractive to retain existing good teachers and recruit new teachers.

Teachers know what our classrooms need. We need the power to actually do what we know the KIDS need. Please help us get that power by letting your school board know that you support collective bargaining!!!

What do teachers plan to ask for? Are they expecting double digit raises even though there is no money? I don’t understand how collective bargaining helps. I’m sure it will happen since the board is all democrats but, as a parent, all I think is there will be strikes and more closed schools like what’s happened in other districts with unions.

VA law made collective bargaining legal, but strikes are illegal. They won’t happen as employees would be immediately terminated. Here are some things that could be included (others can add more) for bargaining:

- max class size
- increased non student facing time (planning time)
- flexibility for telework on teacher work days
- reduced professional development to only essentials, redirect this time to planning
- calendar considerations, such as having an early release day every Friday or every other Friday
- guaranteed pay when forced to give up their planning time to substitute for a sick colleague
- and much much more

Teachers couldn’t legally strike in DC, yet they effectively did. Same thing in Chicago.

Parents would be nuts not to fight collective bargaining for teachers in FCPS. Particularly given some of the demands in this thread, like Friday afternoons off.

So you’re saying the possibility exists now without collective bargaining? Then why the angst over the possibility of gaining a CBA?

Because with CBA comes a union with much more resources with which to organize anti-student actions.

The whole “what’s good for the mental health and productivity of teaching staff must be terrible for students” framework never quite made sense to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sure hope the collective bargaining positions mentioned on this thread are not real.

Like protected planning time? That one seems fair to me. I think guaranteed pay when forced to give up their planning time to substitute for a sick colleague is good too. How about extra $ for IAs who cover a class for an entire day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only hope I have is that FCPS will finally pass a collective bargaining agreement. Teachers are the experts on what teachers need and don’t need. I’m sick of the entire profession being controlled by people who have never spent time in a classroom professionally and have NO idea.

With power, teachers can insist on the class sizes, planning time, staffing ratios, and compensation that our community needs in order to strengthen our entire public education system and make the teaching profession more attractive to retain existing good teachers and recruit new teachers.

Teachers know what our classrooms need. We need the power to actually do what we know the KIDS need. Please help us get that power by letting your school board know that you support collective bargaining!!!

What do teachers plan to ask for? Are they expecting double digit raises even though there is no money? I don’t understand how collective bargaining helps. I’m sure it will happen since the board is all democrats but, as a parent, all I think is there will be strikes and more closed schools like what’s happened in other districts with unions.

VA law made collective bargaining legal, but strikes are illegal. They won’t happen as employees would be immediately terminated. Here are some things that could be included (others can add more) for bargaining:

- max class size
- increased non student facing time (planning time)
- flexibility for telework on teacher work days
- reduced professional development to only essentials, redirect this time to planning
- calendar considerations, such as having an early release day every Friday or every other Friday
- guaranteed pay when forced to give up their planning time to substitute for a sick colleague
- and much much more

Teachers couldn’t legally strike in DC, yet they effectively did. Same thing in Chicago.

Parents would be nuts not to fight collective bargaining for teachers in FCPS. Particularly given some of the demands in this thread, like Friday afternoons off.

So you’re saying the possibility exists now without collective bargaining? Then why the angst over the possibility of gaining a CBA?

Because with CBA comes a union with much more resources with which to organize anti-student actions.

Resources such as...?
Anti-student actions such as...?

[Anonymous]

In fire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only hope I have is that FCPS will finally pass a collective bargaining agreement. Teachers are the experts on what teachers need and don’t need. I’m sick of the entire profession being controlled by people who have never spent time in a classroom professionally and have NO idea.

With power, teachers can insist on the class sizes, planning time, staffing ratios, and compensation that our community needs in order to strengthen our entire public education system and make the teaching profession more attractive to retain existing good teachers and recruit new teachers.

Teachers know what our classrooms need. We need the power to actually do what we know the KIDS need. Please help us get that power by letting your school board know that you support collective bargaining!!!

What do teachers plan to ask for? Are they expecting double digit raises even though there is no money? I don’t understand how collective bargaining helps. I’m sure it will happen since the board is all democrats but, as a parent, all I think is there will be strikes and more closed schools like what’s happened in other districts with unions.

VA law made collective bargaining legal, but strikes are illegal. They won’t happen as employees would be immediately terminated. Here are some things that could be included (others can add more) for bargaining:

- max class size
- increased non student facing time (planning time)
- flexibility for telework on teacher work days
- reduced professional development to only essentials, redirect this time to planning
- calendar considerations, such as having an early release day every Friday or every other Friday
- guaranteed pay when forced to give up their planning time to substitute for a sick colleague
- and much much more

Teachers couldn’t legally strike in DC, yet they effectively did. Same thing in Chicago.

Parents would be nuts not to fight collective bargaining for teachers in FCPS. Particularly given some of the demands in this thread, like Friday afternoons off.

So you’re saying the possibility exists now without collective bargaining? Then why the angst over the possibility of gaining a CBA?

Because with CBA comes a union with much more resources with which to organize anti-student actions.

Resources such as...?
Anti-student actions such as...?

Compare FCTF and FEA with Montgomery County's MCEA. What organization has the most resources?

We saw during the pandemic what collective bargaining and unions can and would do to hurt students. And we're seeing other examples in this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only hope I have is that FCPS will finally pass a collective bargaining agreement. Teachers are the experts on what teachers need and don’t need. I’m sick of the entire profession being controlled by people who have never spent time in a classroom professionally and have NO idea.

With power, teachers can insist on the class sizes, planning time, staffing ratios, and compensation that our community needs in order to strengthen our entire public education system and make the teaching profession more attractive to retain existing good teachers and recruit new teachers.

Teachers know what our classrooms need. We need the power to actually do what we know the KIDS need. Please help us get that power by letting your school board know that you support collective bargaining!!!

What do teachers plan to ask for? Are they expecting double digit raises even though there is no money? I don’t understand how collective bargaining helps. I’m sure it will happen since the board is all democrats but, as a parent, all I think is there will be strikes and more closed schools like what’s happened in other districts with unions.

VA law made collective bargaining legal, but strikes are illegal. They won’t happen as employees would be immediately terminated. Here are some things that could be included (others can add more) for bargaining:

- max class size
- increased non student facing time (planning time)
- flexibility for telework on teacher work days
- reduced professional development to only essentials, redirect this time to planning
- calendar considerations, such as having an early release day every Friday or every other Friday
- guaranteed pay when forced to give up their planning time to substitute for a sick colleague
- and much much more

Teachers couldn’t legally strike in DC, yet they effectively did. Same thing in Chicago.

Parents would be nuts not to fight collective bargaining for teachers in FCPS. Particularly given some of the demands in this thread, like Friday afternoons off.

So you’re saying the possibility exists now without collective bargaining? Then why the angst over the possibility of gaining a CBA?

Because with CBA comes a union with much more resources with which to organize anti-student actions.

The whole “what’s good for the mental health and productivity of teaching staff must be terrible for students” framework never quite made sense to me.

It’s not. But some of the teachers here are choosing to push for policies that would harm students, as opposed to simply trying to make things better for themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If there aren't step increases in the budget, I'm just leaving, it's that simple. I am sick of FCPS prioritizing everything except compensation. One year of appropriate compensation doesn't make up for two years of total freezes when they were getting flooded with federal Covid funds and this year won't buy my tolerance for another freeze. They can pay for online tutoring no one asked for or uses or numerous trainings that ultimately are of no benefit in any way, but when it comes to teacher pay, suddenly the bank is empty and we can't afford it. Add on top of that they abruptly changed our health insurance with absolutely no input or warning, and I'm running out of reasons for a sane person to stay with the county. It's one thing to lose out on a raise if you don't earn it, but all we hear is how much the county 'values' us. I appreciate the sentiment, but sentiment doesn't pay my mortgage.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only hope I have is that FCPS will finally pass a collective bargaining agreement. Teachers are the experts on what teachers need and don’t need. I’m sick of the entire profession being controlled by people who have never spent time in a classroom professionally and have NO idea.

With power, teachers can insist on the class sizes, planning time, staffing ratios, and compensation that our community needs in order to strengthen our entire public education system and make the teaching profession more attractive to retain existing good teachers and recruit new teachers.

Teachers know what our classrooms need. We need the power to actually do what we know the KIDS need. Please help us get that power by letting your school board know that you support collective bargaining!!!

What do teachers plan to ask for? Are they expecting double digit raises even though there is no money? I don’t understand how collective bargaining helps. I’m sure it will happen since the board is all democrats but, as a parent, all I think is there will be strikes and more closed schools like what’s happened in other districts with unions.

There IS money. And we are choosing to spend it on things like Tutor.com, ST Math, the boondoggle of Schoology, layer upon layer upon layer of bureaucracy, and all kinds of things that do not directly benefit students…and in many cases detract from student learning.

Having been at negotiating meetings in another state, I can say that a seat at the table would have gotten us a saner school calendar with fewer random PD days strewn about the place, interrupting routine. More teacher workdays at the end of the quarter, with teacher-directed work time and predicable schedule to allow for family travel or child care programs like 2-day camps adjacent to the weekend.

That budget-neutral change alone would have had a huge impact on instruction for me this fall. It’s been nearly impossible to re-establish routine with so many missed instructional days scattered all over October and November.

It’s not all about money in teacher pockets but yes, that’s part of it. Fairfax County voters and cowardly elected officials have repeatedly chosen to buckle and dime our school system rather than finding teacher compensation adequately. Things like biting down the meals tax which would have had very little impact on lost families but could have had a huge positive impact on schools. I believe our community in general understands the value of good teachers and would support budgets that prioritize teachers. But teachers have had little power to effect this change.

+1