buy your teacher a nice end of the school year gift please!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here and no, this isn't how it works. (Plus, PLENTY of parents give me $...allowed or not.)

You want teachers to stay? Parent your child. Get them off screens (teachers cannot compete with non stop entertainment).
Support us: call the principals with good news about us.
Talk to admin about discipling kids. Be pro suspending kids, and bringing back detention.
Admin doesn't enforce anything anymore because they're afraid of parents so teachers have to deal with kids misbehaving all day.

I hope you move on from APS. I wouldn't want my children being taught by you. Yikes.

Sorry about your raise though. Teachers do deserve better.

You cannot assume PP is addressing you specifically when she says "parent your child." She's talking about what teachers want generally, and enough parents do neglect to parent their children to the point where teachers are stuck with the task. Obviously someone who is going to talk to admin about disciplining kids isn't going to be the type of parent who has to parent their child.

Please don't hope that PP moves on. We really do need teachers to stay.

OP.

I get that the teaching isn't what it used to be and that there's a lot of disrespect from all sides, and that the pay raise is insulting too. But in the end, just like I don't like angry parents around my children, I don't want bitter teachers to spend 6 hours/day with them either. Get yourselves together or get out of the profession please.

Why can’t we fix teachers’ pay and working conditions instead?

Why is your solution simply to “get yourselves together” and deal with it? Why should teachers accept this? Would you?

And what do we do when all teachers take your advice and leave?

Because if it is that easy, all school boards around us would have fixed compensation issues already. In every single DCUM board, everybody's complaining about the same things. The budget isn't there to do what we need to do. In Virginia in particular, Youngkin has done his best to divert funding from public schools, which has impacted Arlington significantly, because whatever initiative the state approves, we only get 20% of it. The school board has to find the other 80%. Google the "JLARC report" if you want to get into the weeds.

Yes, I expect teachers and honestly any paid APS employee to be the professionals. Especially around my children. I see too much bad behavior not just fro kids but also from the adults when I volunteer in the school, and my children tell me how bad some of their teachers are. If teaching has become that demoralizing that you have to take it out on the kids, PLEASE LEAVE! Go find your next career in the private sector.

As for question #3, I would have walked away too. Remember during the pandemic when people got fed up with their working conditions and quit en masse? Even McDonalds had to raise their salary and provide somewhat decent benefits to get people back flipping burgers. APS has a union now too. I wonder just how effective they are.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

Oh yes, the “summers off” statement. When you work 60+ hours a week at a job that provides absolutely no down time and no flexibility, those UNPAID summers become the only break you get.

And many of us end up working job #2. It’s not like we are lazing around the pool.

And on topic: please don’t get me anything. I’m a professional and I’m simply doing my job.

Sorry, this still doesn't fly. You have multiple long weekends, 1-2 week winter break, federal holidays, 1 week spring break -- all during your PAID months of the year. And while you will likely say you are still working during all of those days off, don't expect us to believe all or even most teachers are. For "no flexibility" and "no down time," there are an awful lot of teachers MIA the last weeks of the school year.

Teachers don't seem to realize or acknowledge that there are a lot of other professions in which people work 60+ hours a week YEAR ROUND and don't get every Federal and religious holiday and two weeks around Christmas/New Year's. Paid leave benefits vary widely. Fed Gov't is very generous. Some private companies, extremely stingy - literally 5 vacation days and 5 personal days (which includes sick leave) even with 20+ years work experience.

PP is talking about a different kind of down time and flexibility. During the school day, teachers often don’t have breaks for several hours at a time. Getting a three minute break to take some deep breaths or go to the bathroom just isn’t possible during those hours. And spring break doesn’t = flexibility. My husband can sort of shuffle responsibilities around to leave work early if needed; I cannot. It’s easy to say “hey just get a substitute” if you want a day off, but imagine trying to get your projects done if it was a random person off the street covering for you. The detailed instructions you gave to leave take hours of preparation. It is very much not a flexible job.

Also, very little work is being done right now. I am a teacher and desperately trying to get the kids focused and on task but it’s like herding cats. I wish academic expectations were higher (I cannot believe school goes beyond the deadline to input grades) but no teacher can make these days as academically valuable as other days. It’s much better for a teacher to use their leave at the end of the year, i promise!

I am grateful for summer breaks and spring breaks, for sure. I’ll never downplay how great it is that I can be home with my kids during the summer. But that doesn’t mean that teaching is a flexible job with plenty of down time.

I get that about the limitations during the school day v. someone working in an office, for example. Though there are still many minimum wage jobs where people don't have limitless flexibility and must take a 15 minute break (no more, no less) at a specific time and no other time and a 30 minute meal break at a specific time. Bathroom use has to coincide with those breaks. Don't have the flexibility to leave and pick up a sick kid from school or go to a medical appointment, etc. And they work these jobs year round.

I honestly am not trying to minimize the issues teachers face; but I really don't sympathize on these aspects that are part and parcel of the job and teachers know it going in. The real issues are all the non-teaching requirements teachers have to fulfill; the risk of offending someone by unknowingly using the wrong pronoun or saying something you didn't even know is offensive; having something you say or do misinterpreted and the ensuing accusations; the nasty parents; the disrespectful students; the unsupportive administration; the discipline and grading systems and lowered expectations that have to be adhered to regardless of a teacher's professional experience and opinion re any student; lack of demonstrated appreciation by superiors and admin; etc.

As for little work getting done at the end of the year: this is nothing new. What is new is when that period begins - much earlier, once SOLs are done, leaving weeks of "we're done" attitude to remain for teachers as well as students. related to the above problems with the teaching as a profession above, the goal is to get kids through SOLs. Once that's done, most teachers are done as well. Everyone gets anxious for summer break to begin; but teachers taking off the last 3 weeks is not helpful. Nobody is saying every class needs to continue with lectures and tests until the last day of school. But a variety of "fun" projects and assignments could be given - rather than watching some stupid movie or literally telling students they aren't going to be there and therefore they don't need to come to class. (Obviously, I'm focusing more on high school here).

And for the commenter suggesting parents give the gift of telling their kids to behave: guess what. Some kids misbehave anyway, especially when their parents aren't around. Some of us parents struggle with these kids, too and it isn't always a failure of parenting. So perhaps you should check the judgement from your end just as much as we parents need to check the judgement toward teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

+1

You have that option. Come teach.

Yup. Stop throwing around meaningless words and do it if you actually mean it.

[Anonymous]

Wasn’t teacher appreciation very recent?

If we did gift cards then should we do them again now?

Planning to send a note either way.

[Anonymous]

I can’t believe some of these comments.

I gave $25 for the main teachers before winter break, snacks and drinks during teacher appreciation week and last week $25 to some teachers and staff that have made a difference in m child’s life. I also contribute to teachers birthday/class appreciation class gifts and PTA sponsored teacher appreciation events.

I will do it all again next year. If you want to give something do it, if you don’t, don’t.

I could not do what these teachers do and appreciate it. Some have gone above and beyond to help my child.

A post is not going to change how people feel. YOU DO YOU!

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. I honestly hate receiving gifts from parents/students/family. I receive a paycheck for my performance. It makes me feel so low class. It’s like tipping a garbage man. I am a professional. No, I don’t need an email either. Your email, be it bad or good, does nothing when it comes to my paycheck or evaluation. The best thing you can do for me and any other teacher, is to be a partner with us in your child’s educational journey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here and no, this isn't how it works. (Plus, PLENTY of parents give me $...allowed or not.)

You want teachers to stay? Parent your child. Get them off screens (teachers cannot compete with non stop entertainment).
Support us: call the principals with good news about us.
Talk to admin about discipling kids. Be pro suspending kids, and bringing back detention.
Admin doesn't enforce anything anymore because they're afraid of parents so teachers have to deal with kids misbehaving all day.

I’m fine if you leave with this attitude

I thought the same way until I became a teacher! I don’t like the way PP is spurning the idea of a nice gift but the reasons teachers are leaving isn’t pay. Pay has always been lackluster. The deal was that you accept bad pay for rewarding job with more feee time. But the educational and social landscape has completely changed. It’s not rewarding because as things are it’s anyone’s guess whether or not kids will actually learn something, you really have to work more than your 7.5 contract hours in order to make things run remotely smoothly, and many teachers have to work during the summer and do side gigs to make ends meet.

If you don’t want burned out, stressed out teachers who don’t have the emotional bandwidth to be patient with your kids, or if you don’t want teacher shortages to increase, PP does actually have some good suggestions.

I'm not talking about pay, I'm talking about the attitude from a teacher on here of wanting more suspensions. Suspension doesn't solve a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

+1

You have that option. Come teach.

I know I have that option, and I might someday. But not at this stage in my career. In the meantime, I carry on with my job and I don’t expect anything other than my salary. I don’t ask my clients or my audience for gifts.

Uh, teachers aren’t asking. Also, you must not be a secretary. Gifts are customary in many situations and it’s reasonable to expect a gift or bonus at certain times of the year.

Sure a gift from your boss (in the case of a secretary) or a bonus from your company. Not from your customers/clients.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

Oh yes, the “summers off” statement. When you work 60+ hours a week at a job that provides absolutely no down time and no flexibility, those UNPAID summers become the only break you get.

And many of us end up working job #2. It’s not like we are lazing around the pool.

And on topic: please don’t get me anything. I’m a professional and I’m simply doing my job.

Sorry, this still doesn't fly. You have multiple long weekends, 1-2 week winter break, federal holidays, 1 week spring break -- all during your PAID months of the year. And while you will likely say you are still working during all of those days off, don't expect us to believe all or even most teachers are. For "no flexibility" and "no down time," there are an awful lot of teachers MIA the last weeks of the school year.

Teachers don't seem to realize or acknowledge that there are a lot of other professions in which people work 60+ hours a week YEAR ROUND and don't get every Federal and religious holiday and two weeks around Christmas/New Year's. Paid leave benefits vary widely. Fed Gov't is very generous. Some private companies, extremely stingy - literally 5 vacation days and 5 personal days (which includes sick leave) even with 20+ years work experience.

If teachers have such generous benefits, then why aren’t all the DCUM complainers applying to teach? That would easily take care of the teacher shortage in the region.

I’m guessing that’s because complainers have most or all of the following: better pay, more flexibility, a better work/life balance, calmer working environments, and more professional respect.

For as good as you want it to sound, I simply don’t see people jumping at the chance to teach. It’s almost like people know it’s not a good deal?

There are various reasons a lot of people aren't interested in teaching. For me, the primary reason is because I would suck at being a teacher. Good teaching is HARD and not all that many people are really great at it. I don't want teachers for the sake of filling positions. I want people who want to teach and who are good at their job - just like every employer wants employees who want to be there and are good at what they're expected to do.

I am one of those great teachers. I am very, very good at what I do. I’m the teacher who gets all the parent requests each year. Guess how I am treated? Just like the ones with poor performance.

I’m ready to leave, and I know nobody really cares. The PP wants “people who want to teach” (like me), but isn’t willing to see how the profession needs to change to keep us here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I honestly hate receiving gifts from parents/students/family. I receive a paycheck for my performance. It makes me feel so low class. It’s like tipping a garbage man. I am a professional. No, I don’t need an email either. Your email, be it bad or good, does nothing when it comes to my paycheck or evaluation. The best thing you can do for me and any other teacher, is to be a partner with us in your child’s educational journey.

A “garbage man” is someone you look down on, eh? He’s a professional, too. At least he does his job with no whining and receives gifts and tips with thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wasn’t teacher appreciation very recent?

If we did gift cards then should we do them again now?

Planning to send a note either way.

Not only was Teacher Appreciation very recent, Teacher Appreciation wasn’t too far off from the winter holidays, which wasn’t too far off from the beginning of the school year.

So, I gave gifts for:
Beginning of year (personal gifts AND Amazon Wish List items for the classroom)
General set-up-the-classroom requests for tissues, hand sanitizer, paper towels, etc., at start of and throughout year
Winter holiday gifts
Teacher appreciation gifts
End of year gifts

Plus contributions to PTA-sponsored breakfasts, lunches, gift card draws, supply donation drives, coffee carts…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wasn’t teacher appreciation very recent?

If we did gift cards then should we do them again now?

Planning to send a note either way.

Not only was Teacher Appreciation very recent, Teacher Appreciation wasn’t too far off from the winter holidays, which wasn’t too far off from the beginning of the school year.

So, I gave gifts for:
Beginning of year (personal gifts AND Amazon Wish List items for the classroom)
General set-up-the-classroom requests for tissues, hand sanitizer, paper towels, etc., at start of and throughout year
Winter holiday gifts
Teacher appreciation gifts
End of year gifts

Plus contributions to PTA-sponsored breakfasts, lunches, gift card draws, supply donation drives, coffee carts…

Thank you, but it really isn’t necessary.

If contributing to these school events causes some form of resentment, then please don’t do it.

Plenty of teachers here have said the gifts aren’t necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wasn’t teacher appreciation very recent?

If we did gift cards then should we do them again now?

Planning to send a note either way.

Not only was Teacher Appreciation very recent, Teacher Appreciation wasn’t too far off from the winter holidays, which wasn’t too far off from the beginning of the school year.

So, I gave gifts for:
Beginning of year (personal gifts AND Amazon Wish List items for the classroom)
General set-up-the-classroom requests for tissues, hand sanitizer, paper towels, etc., at start of and throughout year
Winter holiday gifts
Teacher appreciation gifts
End of year gifts

Plus contributions to PTA-sponsored breakfasts, lunches, gift card draws, supply donation drives, coffee carts…

Thank you, but it really isn’t necessary.

If contributing to these school events causes some form of resentment, then please don’t do it.

Plenty of teachers here have said the gifts aren’t necessary.

The problem with giving gifts is that everyone else (who are usually receive less compensation than teachers) get left out. Who gives gifts to the cafeteria/janitorial staff, your SLPs, aides, crossing guards, and administrative staff that aren't front end? It creates real resentment with them when they see teachers being rained on, particularly in North Arlington where gift-giving limits are regularly ignored.

I don't know what the answer is, but gift giving is optional and no one should be shamed into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wasn’t teacher appreciation very recent?

If we did gift cards then should we do them again now?

Planning to send a note either way.

Not only was Teacher Appreciation very recent, Teacher Appreciation wasn’t too far off from the winter holidays, which wasn’t too far off from the beginning of the school year.

So, I gave gifts for:
Beginning of year (personal gifts AND Amazon Wish List items for the classroom)
General set-up-the-classroom requests for tissues, hand sanitizer, paper towels, etc., at start of and throughout year
Winter holiday gifts
Teacher appreciation gifts
End of year gifts

Plus contributions to PTA-sponsored breakfasts, lunches, gift card draws, supply donation drives, coffee carts…

Thank you, but it really isn’t necessary.

If contributing to these school events causes some form of resentment, then please don’t do it.

Plenty of teachers here have said the gifts aren’t necessary.

The problem with giving gifts is that everyone else (who are usually receive less compensation than teachers) get left out. Who gives gifts to the cafeteria/janitorial staff, your SLPs, aides, crossing guards, and administrative staff that aren't front end? It creates real resentment with them when they see teachers being rained on, particularly in North Arlington where gift-giving limits are regularly ignored.

I don't know what the answer is, but gift giving is optional and no one should be shamed into it.

Our school gives all staff two $25 gift card twice a year. The money is raised by the PTA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wasn’t teacher appreciation very recent?

If we did gift cards then should we do them again now?

Planning to send a note either way.

Not only was Teacher Appreciation very recent, Teacher Appreciation wasn’t too far off from the winter holidays, which wasn’t too far off from the beginning of the school year.

So, I gave gifts for:
Beginning of year (personal gifts AND Amazon Wish List items for the classroom)
General set-up-the-classroom requests for tissues, hand sanitizer, paper towels, etc., at start of and throughout year
Winter holiday gifts
Teacher appreciation gifts
End of year gifts

Plus contributions to PTA-sponsored breakfasts, lunches, gift card draws, supply donation drives, coffee carts…

Thank you, but it really isn’t necessary.

If contributing to these school events causes some form of resentment, then please don’t do it.

Plenty of teachers here have said the gifts aren’t necessary.

The problem with giving gifts is that everyone else (who are usually receive less compensation than teachers) get left out. Who gives gifts to the cafeteria/janitorial staff, your SLPs, aides, crossing guards, and administrative staff that aren't front end? It creates real resentment with them when they see teachers being rained on, particularly in North Arlington where gift-giving limits are regularly ignored.

I don't know what the answer is, but gift giving is optional and no one should be shamed into it.

Our school gives all staff two $25 gift card twice a year. The money is raised by the PTA.

Cool. While the teachers get gifts on top of gifts about 4x a year?

Some PTA's don't even have that much money. Some APS don't even have PTAs due to lack of volunteer time and/or money that no parent has.

You're proving my point.