Have you notice the shortage of teachers in your school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the teachers here think all privates are like this, or only some? Maybe I’m deluded, but as a parent, at our school (K-8) I see a lot of appreciation and respect for our teachers. We have some terrific teachers who know our kid and have worked with their strengths and weaknesses. I’m tremendously grateful for them and have told them so. I don’t see an adversarial relationship between teachers and parents, but of course I don’t see everything.

+1 I’ve never seen weird teacher turnover, multiple teachers leaving mid-year, or signs of difficulty between teachers and admin or teachers and parents at either the k-8 DC used to attend or the upper school of the k-12 DC is at now. I think those kinds of issues should be a red flag but I also don’t think they are pervasive across area private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the teachers here think all privates are like this, or only some? Maybe I’m deluded, but as a parent, at our school (K-8) I see a lot of appreciation and respect for our teachers. We have some terrific teachers who know our kid and have worked with their strengths and weaknesses. I’m tremendously grateful for them and have told them so. I don’t see an adversarial relationship between teachers and parents, but of course I don’t see everything.

When someone says "all privates" they are talking about dozens and dozens in this area alone and thousands nationwide. Any label slapped on all of them is meaningless, just like saying "all stores in this area are" something.

I've worked in two privates and a charter school in DC. Each was very different despite the fact they do essentially the same basic function.

No parent would just pick a generic private for their child, just as no experienced teacher would tell you that all privates or publics are comparable. Attitudes from parents and admins can cover all points of the compass.

Each one can vary a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the teachers here think all privates are like this, or only some? Maybe I’m deluded, but as a parent, at our school (K-8) I see a lot of appreciation and respect for our teachers. We have some terrific teachers who know our kid and have worked with their strengths and weaknesses. I’m tremendously grateful for them and have told them so. I don’t see an adversarial relationship between teachers and parents, but of course I don’t see everything.

Like hopes and prayers, respect and appreciation only go so far, especially when the mortgage is due.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the teachers here think all privates are like this, or only some? Maybe I’m deluded, but as a parent, at our school (K-8) I see a lot of appreciation and respect for our teachers. We have some terrific teachers who know our kid and have worked with their strengths and weaknesses. I’m tremendously grateful for them and have told them so. I don’t see an adversarial relationship between teachers and parents, but of course I don’t see everything.

Good thing the teachers have a choice of how they want to balance pay vs environment and can each decide what is best for themselves. Let’s not equate the situation to the kinds of events that typically produce the pablum of “thoughts and prayers.”
Like hopes and prayers, respect and appreciation only go so far, especially when the mortgage is due.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the teachers here think all privates are like this, or only some? Maybe I’m deluded, but as a parent, at our school (K-8) I see a lot of appreciation and respect for our teachers. We have some terrific teachers who know our kid and have worked with their strengths and weaknesses. I’m tremendously grateful for them and have told them so. I don’t see an adversarial relationship between teachers and parents, but of course I don’t see everything.

Like hopes and prayers, respect and appreciation only go so far, especially when the mortgage is due.

Good thing the teachers have a choice of how they want to balance pay vs environment and can each decide what is best for themselves. Let’s not equate the situation to the kinds of events that typically produce the pablum of “thoughts and prayers.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the teachers here think all privates are like this, or only some? Maybe I’m deluded, but as a parent, at our school (K-8) I see a lot of appreciation and respect for our teachers. We have some terrific teachers who know our kid and have worked with their strengths and weaknesses. I’m tremendously grateful for them and have told them so. I don’t see an adversarial relationship between teachers and parents, but of course I don’t see everything.

1. Yes, I think all privates in the DC area pay far less than public, with limited benefits and no job security. 100% yes. That's so great that you don't see any dissatisfaction in your school. One of the expectations teachers are expected to fulfill in exchange for their paltry salary is that they appear enthusiastic and demonstrate their gratefulness and love for the job. When I was a young teacher at a private, I truly believed I was in a great situation and that working in public would mean horrific conditions. I was naive and looking back, I see I was exploited. You would NEVER think these working conditions are OK if it were your own child in the future. Why is it OK top treat another person this way, just because they accept it and because you can?

I stand by my assertion that most private school parents do look down on teachers for accepting this kind of job/conditions, and that's why they think it is OK.

2. Yes, you are deluded. Very deluded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the teachers here think all privates are like this, or only some? Maybe I’m deluded, but as a parent, at our school (K-8) I see a lot of appreciation and respect for our teachers. We have some terrific teachers who know our kid and have worked with their strengths and weaknesses. I’m tremendously grateful for them and have told them so. I don’t see an adversarial relationship between teachers and parents, but of course I don’t see everything.

Like hopes and prayers, respect and appreciation only go so far, especially when the mortgage is due.

Good thing the teachers have a choice of how they want to balance pay vs environment and can each decide what is best for themselves. Let’s not equate the situation to the kinds of events that typically produce the pablum of “thoughts and prayers.”

Yes, that's a good thing! It's also what the original OP of this thread doesn't understand as she naively wonders why the quality of teacher at her private doesn't meet her lofty expectations, considering the tuition she pays. Now she knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have noticed that the academic background of the recent hires is very weak. On the contrary older teachers are much better at teaching and dealing with kids at school.

For instance the recent math teacher in my kid school comes from a public school where none the kids are proficient in math according to state evaluations. Also every month 1 teacher is leaving. So the shortage is very disruptive and it seems that the school is not raising salaries to retain top talent. This in spite of setting the tuition at 50+k. Do you experience something similar?

Even if your school raises salaries, they won't match the salary/job security/benefits of a public, and that should concern you. If you want truly "top" talent, you need to EXCEED what the public is offering. Publics in good areas have decent working conditions, and the job security and benefits mean a lot. Sure, some good teachers have their reasons for choosing your private, but the majority of the "top" won't or can't take that financial hit.

In what other industry would you expect lower pay, limited benefits, and no job security to attract top talent when other employers down the road are all offering higher pay, job security, and benefits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the teachers here think all privates are like this, or only some? Maybe I’m deluded, but as a parent, at our school (K-8) I see a lot of appreciation and respect for our teachers. We have some terrific teachers who know our kid and have worked with their strengths and weaknesses. I’m tremendously grateful for them and have told them so. I don’t see an adversarial relationship between teachers and parents, but of course I don’t see everything.

1. Yes, I think all privates in the DC area pay far less than public, with limited benefits and no job security. 100% yes. That's so great that you don't see any dissatisfaction in your school. One of the expectations teachers are expected to fulfill in exchange for their paltry salary is that they appear enthusiastic and demonstrate their gratefulness and love for the job. When I was a young teacher at a private, I truly believed I was in a great situation and that working in public would mean horrific conditions. I was naive and looking back, I see I was exploited. You would NEVER think these working conditions are OK if it were your own child in the future. Why is it OK top treat another person this way, just because they accept it and because you can?

I stand by my assertion that most private school parents do look down on teachers for accepting this kind of job/conditions, and that's why they think it is OK.

2. Yes, you are deluded. Very deluded.

I agree with most of what you said, except the bolded. I’ve worked in both publics and privates, and it’s generally the same kind of entitled parent who looks down on teachers, both public and private. It has nothing to do with parents respecting public school teachers more than private school teachers. If anything, most private school families understand that most private school teachers understand their content more than their public school counterparts, and have more control over their curriculum. On balance, private school teachers tend to be more… um, polished? At least historically, that has been the case. I have no idea whether Covid may have further shifted the teaching demographic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the teachers here think all privates are like this, or only some? Maybe I’m deluded, but as a parent, at our school (K-8) I see a lot of appreciation and respect for our teachers. We have some terrific teachers who know our kid and have worked with their strengths and weaknesses. I’m tremendously grateful for them and have told them so. I don’t see an adversarial relationship between teachers and parents, but of course I don’t see everything.

1. Yes, I think all privates in the DC area pay far less than public, with limited benefits and no job security. 100% yes. That's so great that you don't see any dissatisfaction in your school. One of the expectations teachers are expected to fulfill in exchange for their paltry salary is that they appear enthusiastic and demonstrate their gratefulness and love for the job. When I was a young teacher at a private, I truly believed I was in a great situation and that working in public would mean horrific conditions. I was naive and looking back, I see I was exploited. You would NEVER think these working conditions are OK if it were your own child in the future. Why is it OK top treat another person this way, just because they accept it and because you can?

I stand by my assertion that most private school parents do look down on teachers for accepting this kind of job/conditions, and that's why they think it is OK.

2. Yes, you are deluded. Very deluded.

I agree with most of what you said, except the bolded. I’ve worked in both publics and privates, and it’s generally the same kind of entitled parent who looks down on teachers, both public and private. It has nothing to do with parents respecting public school teachers more than private school teachers. If anything, most private school families understand that most private school teachers understand their content more than their public school counterparts, and have more control over their curriculum. On balance, private school teachers tend to be more… um, polished? At least historically, that has been the case. I have no idea whether Covid may have further shifted the teaching demographic.

I never said parents respect public school teachers more than private. I don't think they respect any teachers, period.

However, the difference between public and private parents is that the private parents are paying a lot of money to a school they know pays the teachers far less than public. They are happy for the service they are purchasing, and this is part of it.

Paying teachers well and giving teachers decent benefits is not something the majority of private school parents want or consider important, or teachers would be paid at least as much as public and given decent benefits. It's as simple as that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the teachers here think all privates are like this, or only some? Maybe I’m deluded, but as a parent, at our school (K-8) I see a lot of appreciation and respect for our teachers. We have some terrific teachers who know our kid and have worked with their strengths and weaknesses. I’m tremendously grateful for them and have told them so. I don’t see an adversarial relationship between teachers and parents, but of course I don’t see everything.

1. Yes, I think all privates in the DC area pay far less than public, with limited benefits and no job security. 100% yes. That's so great that you don't see any dissatisfaction in your school. One of the expectations teachers are expected to fulfill in exchange for their paltry salary is that they appear enthusiastic and demonstrate their gratefulness and love for the job. When I was a young teacher at a private, I truly believed I was in a great situation and that working in public would mean horrific conditions. I was naive and looking back, I see I was exploited. You would NEVER think these working conditions are OK if it were your own child in the future. Why is it OK top treat another person this way, just because they accept it and because you can?

I stand by my assertion that most private school parents do look down on teachers for accepting this kind of job/conditions, and that's why they think it is OK.

2. Yes, you are deluded. Very deluded.

I agree with most of what you said, except the bolded. I’ve worked in both publics and privates, and it’s generally the same kind of entitled parent who looks down on teachers, both public and private. It has nothing to do with parents respecting public school teachers more than private school teachers. If anything, most private school families understand that most private school teachers understand their content more than their public school counterparts, and have more control over their curriculum. On balance, private school teachers tend to be more… um, polished? At least historically, that has been the case. I have no idea whether Covid may have further shifted the teaching demographic.

I never said parents respect public school teachers more than private. I don't think they respect any teachers, period.

However, the difference between public and private parents is that the private parents are paying a lot of money to a school they know pays the teachers far less than public. They are happy for the service they are purchasing, and this is part of it.

Paying teachers well and giving teachers decent benefits is not something the majority of private school parents want or consider important, or teachers would be paid at least as much as public and given decent benefits. It's as simple as that.

I don't think most private school parents (or public school parents, for that matter) know that private school teachers are paid so much less than public school teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the teachers here think all privates are like this, or only some? Maybe I’m deluded, but as a parent, at our school (K-8) I see a lot of appreciation and respect for our teachers. We have some terrific teachers who know our kid and have worked with their strengths and weaknesses. I’m tremendously grateful for them and have told them so. I don’t see an adversarial relationship between teachers and parents, but of course I don’t see everything.

1. Yes, I think all privates in the DC area pay far less than public, with limited benefits and no job security. 100% yes. That's so great that you don't see any dissatisfaction in your school. One of the expectations teachers are expected to fulfill in exchange for their paltry salary is that they appear enthusiastic and demonstrate their gratefulness and love for the job. When I was a young teacher at a private, I truly believed I was in a great situation and that working in public would mean horrific conditions. I was naive and looking back, I see I was exploited. You would NEVER think these working conditions are OK if it were your own child in the future. Why is it OK top treat another person this way, just because they accept it and because you can?

I stand by my assertion that most private school parents do look down on teachers for accepting this kind of job/conditions, and that's why they think it is OK.

2. Yes, you are deluded. Very deluded.

I agree with most of what you said, except the bolded. I’ve worked in both publics and privates, and it’s generally the same kind of entitled parent who looks down on teachers, both public and private. It has nothing to do with parents respecting public school teachers more than private school teachers. If anything, most private school families understand that most private school teachers understand their content more than their public school counterparts, and have more control over their curriculum. On balance, private school teachers tend to be more… um, polished? At least historically, that has been the case. I have no idea whether Covid may have further shifted the teaching demographic.

I never said parents respect public school teachers more than private. I don't think they respect any teachers, period.

However, the difference between public and private parents is that the private parents are paying a lot of money to a school they know pays the teachers far less than public. They are happy for the service they are purchasing, and this is part of it.

Paying teachers well and giving teachers decent benefits is not something the majority of private school parents want or consider important, or teachers would be paid at least as much as public and given decent benefits. It's as simple as that.

I don't think most private school parents (or public school parents, for that matter) know that private school teachers are paid so much less than public school teachers.

I always assumed the opposite until I became a private school parent and learned more about the situation. But I also always heard (from teachers!) that the lower pay was a tradeoff for a better teaching environment, more supportive admin, more autonomy, etc. Lower pay, better benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the teachers here think all privates are like this, or only some? Maybe I’m deluded, but as a parent, at our school (K-8) I see a lot of appreciation and respect for our teachers. We have some terrific teachers who know our kid and have worked with their strengths and weaknesses. I’m tremendously grateful for them and have told them so. I don’t see an adversarial relationship between teachers and parents, but of course I don’t see everything.

1. Yes, I think all privates in the DC area pay far less than public, with limited benefits and no job security. 100% yes. That's so great that you don't see any dissatisfaction in your school. One of the expectations teachers are expected to fulfill in exchange for their paltry salary is that they appear enthusiastic and demonstrate their gratefulness and love for the job. When I was a young teacher at a private, I truly believed I was in a great situation and that working in public would mean horrific conditions. I was naive and looking back, I see I was exploited. You would NEVER think these working conditions are OK if it were your own child in the future. Why is it OK top treat another person this way, just because they accept it and because you can?

I stand by my assertion that most private school parents do look down on teachers for accepting this kind of job/conditions, and that's why they think it is OK.

2. Yes, you are deluded. Very deluded.

I agree with most of what you said, except the bolded. I’ve worked in both publics and privates, and it’s generally the same kind of entitled parent who looks down on teachers, both public and private. It has nothing to do with parents respecting public school teachers more than private school teachers. If anything, most private school families understand that most private school teachers understand their content more than their public school counterparts, and have more control over their curriculum. On balance, private school teachers tend to be more… um, polished? At least historically, that has been the case. I have no idea whether Covid may have further shifted the teaching demographic.

I never said parents respect public school teachers more than private. I don't think they respect any teachers, period.

However, the difference between public and private parents is that the private parents are paying a lot of money to a school they know pays the teachers far less than public. They are happy for the service they are purchasing, and this is part of it.

Paying teachers well and giving teachers decent benefits is not something the majority of private school parents want or consider important, or teachers would be paid at least as much as public and given decent benefits. It's as simple as that.

I don't think most private school parents (or public school parents, for that matter) know that private school teachers are paid so much less than public school teachers.

I always assumed the opposite until I became a private school parent and learned more about the situation. But I also always heard (from teachers!) that the lower pay was a tradeoff for a better teaching environment, more supportive admin, more autonomy, etc. Lower pay, better benefits.

1. Never in all my career have I said a negative thing about admin/school to a paying parent. Remaining positive is how you keep a job.

2. You and I mean different things when we say "benefits", it seems. I'm not talking about day-to-day conditions at work.

[Anonymous]

The contempt expressed on this thread by teachers for parents and their students does not surprise me at all. We are leaving our private after 7(!) years because ever since Covid, every year has been an experience of enduring a teacher who seems annoyed that they have to teach students. As the mom of a quiet, self-contained kid who just wants to get though their day, it’s hard to get them home every day and hear stories about teachers sniping at each other in the halls, badmouthing administrators, giving each other the silent treatment, or spilling the personal business of kids to the rest of the class when kids aren’t in school that day. I’m sure it sucks for teachers who are doing a genuinely good job and feel devotion to their work, but for everyone else: don’t go into teaching if you resent children or their parents. Working with them is literally your job.

It reminds me of what a friend in medicine said about pediatrics, which is that people shouldn’t pursue it because they like kids, because the bulk of the job requires working with parents. Same for teaching: if you don’t want to interact with other adults or parents, maybe public school or community college teaching is a better answer.

Also, plenty of parents here are getting their kids to school and rushing to distant jobs. The idea that it’s ok to arrive at the same time as students for that reason is silly. Hire a nanny, find a carpool, or have a partner take a more flexible job like the rest of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The contempt expressed on this thread by teachers for parents and their students does not surprise me at all. We are leaving our private after 7(!) years because ever since Covid, every year has been an experience of enduring a teacher who seems annoyed that they have to teach students. As the mom of a quiet, self-contained kid who just wants to get though their day, it’s hard to get them home every day and hear stories about teachers sniping at each other in the halls, badmouthing administrators, giving each other the silent treatment, or spilling the personal business of kids to the rest of the class when kids aren’t in school that day. I’m sure it sucks for teachers who are doing a genuinely good job and feel devotion to their work, but for everyone else: don’t go into teaching if you resent children or their parents. Working with them is literally your job.

It reminds me of what a friend in medicine said about pediatrics, which is that people shouldn’t pursue it because they like kids, because the bulk of the job requires working with parents. Same for teaching: if you don’t want to interact with other adults or parents, maybe public school or community college teaching is a better answer.

Also, plenty of parents here are getting their kids to school and rushing to distant jobs. The idea that it’s ok to arrive at the same time as students for that reason is silly. Hire a nanny, find a carpool, or have a partner take a more flexible job like the rest of us.

Hear that, teachers? Y'all need to hire nannies.