I'm so tired of the "think of the teachers and administrators" rhetoric on every thread.

[Anonymous]

I think a big part of the complaints is that teaching attracts a certain personality type--someone who loves human interaction and thrives on relationships but is comfortable doing essentially the same thing for their entire career. Teachers inherently aren't risk takers and haven't sought out a career where they are expected to make big leaps in their skills, but more of a slow evolution as they acquire new methods via continuing learning.

Those of us in corporate America are routinely told to adapt or make way for the next generation. We're expected to take on new positions and learn on the job. We have significant career risk, not job security with a union and a pension. Those in many essential fields, e.g., healthcare or law enforcement, proactively sought out fast paced fields where they would have to adapt on the fly and take on risk.

The best example I have is that our corporation rolled out Microsoft Teams the day we shut down--Friday, March 13--with zero advanced warning. By Monday, every single person was using Teams with very few snags. It was seamless. By contrast, APS also rolled out Microsoft Teams in March. In mid-April I was still getting messages from teachers about needing training courses and how hard it is to use. They still had issues signing on and finding the mute button. My first grader was giving her teacher instruction on how to share her screen well into May. (No comment on teaching--purely her ability to use basic software.)

Teacher's complaints are largely that they are unreasonably being asked to do something they haven't been trained to do and to take on risk that they fundamentally aren't used to taking. Those of us in other fields find it ridiculous as we are asked to do these types of things every day, including during this pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What if teachers don’t already own washable cloth masks? I don’t. I have a couple boxes of N95 that we share as a family of four. We reuse the masks until they get gross, but the truth is that we sheltered in place largely. Those masks would go much faster with daily use.

Oh good grief. I am sure that you will be able to figure something out. Wear the masks provided by the school. Buy your family some cloth masks, which you will need anyway. Reuse your gross N95 masks. I don't care. Just don't insist that schools must stay closed because masks are an insuperable obstacle.

+1. Is the PP going to SIP forever? Once she and her family start going out into the world again, which they'll eventually have to (unless they would rather keep paying others to take the risk of visiting a grocery store for them), they'll need masks like they need clothing.

What is wrong with that? People pay to have pizzas delivered in snowstorms or Chinese delivered on a rainy Sunday. And the argument was that the Instacart workers desperately needed the work. Three out of four people in my household have higher risks. I don’t see any shame in paying for delivery whether or not a family has high risk members.

[Anonymous]

Not all parents are like OP. I find her viewpoint despicable. I don’t want my children’s teachers to suffer, and I know many parents who agree with me. Go crawl back into your hole, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a big part of the complaints is that teaching attracts a certain personality type--someone who loves human interaction and thrives on relationships but is comfortable doing essentially the same thing for their entire career. Teachers inherently aren't risk takers and haven't sought out a career where they are expected to make big leaps in their skills, but more of a slow evolution as they acquire new methods via continuing learning.

Those of us in corporate America are routinely told to adapt or make way for the next generation. We're expected to take on new positions and learn on the job. We have significant career risk, not job security with a union and a pension. Those in many essential fields, e.g., healthcare or law enforcement, proactively sought out fast paced fields where they would have to adapt on the fly and take on risk.

The best example I have is that our corporation rolled out Microsoft Teams the day we shut down--Friday, March 13--with zero advanced warning. By Monday, every single person was using Teams with very few snags. It was seamless. By contrast, APS also rolled out Microsoft Teams in March. In mid-April I was still getting messages from teachers about needing training courses and how hard it is to use. They still had issues signing on and finding the mute button. My first grader was giving her teacher instruction on how to share her screen well into May. (No comment on teaching--purely her ability to use basic software.)

Teacher's complaints are largely that they are unreasonably being asked to do something they haven't been trained to do and to take on risk that they fundamentally aren't used to taking. Those of us in other fields find it ridiculous as we are asked to do these types of things every day, including during this pandemic.

What's your industry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is forcing teachers to go back to work. They are at will employees just like everyone else.

So you are too scared to come back? Don't go back. Of course that means you don't get paid. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

I don't know why people keep assuming that when teachers say they won't return that they assume it's a paid leave. They are talking about quitting.

There are already teachers quoting and retiring. My school normally has 9-15 people out of 150 leave each June, but over 3/4 are just transferring schools usually. This time, we had just 3 transfers. The other ten were retirements or people leaving teaching altogether. Coincidence? Possibly, but it seems more likely that they meant what they said when they expressed being scared about dying of COVID or exposing a medically fragile family member.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a big part of the complaints is that teaching attracts a certain personality type--someone who loves human interaction and thrives on relationships but is comfortable doing essentially the same thing for their entire career. Teachers inherently aren't risk takers and haven't sought out a career where they are expected to make big leaps in their skills, but more of a slow evolution as they acquire new methods via continuing learning.

Those of us in corporate America are routinely told to adapt or make way for the next generation. We're expected to take on new positions and learn on the job. We have significant career risk, not job security with a union and a pension. Those in many essential fields, e.g., healthcare or law enforcement, proactively sought out fast paced fields where they would have to adapt on the fly and take on risk.

The best example I have is that our corporation rolled out Microsoft Teams the day we shut down--Friday, March 13--with zero advanced warning. By Monday, every single person was using Teams with very few snags. It was seamless. By contrast, APS also rolled out Microsoft Teams in March. In mid-April I was still getting messages from teachers about needing training courses and how hard it is to use. They still had issues signing on and finding the mute button. My first grader was giving her teacher instruction on how to share her screen well into May. (No comment on teaching--purely her ability to use basic software.)

Teacher's complaints are largely that they are unreasonably being asked to do something they haven't been trained to do and to take on risk that they fundamentally aren't used to taking. Those of us in other fields find it ridiculous as we are asked to do these types of things every day, including during this pandemic.

Interesting perspective, I think you have a point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a big part of the complaints is that teaching attracts a certain personality type--someone who loves human interaction and thrives on relationships but is comfortable doing essentially the same thing for their entire career. Teachers inherently aren't risk takers and haven't sought out a career where they are expected to make big leaps in their skills, but more of a slow evolution as they acquire new methods via continuing learning.

Those of us in corporate America are routinely told to adapt or make way for the next generation. We're expected to take on new positions and learn on the job. We have significant career risk, not job security with a union and a pension. Those in many essential fields, e.g., healthcare or law enforcement, proactively sought out fast paced fields where they would have to adapt on the fly and take on risk.

The best example I have is that our corporation rolled out Microsoft Teams the day we shut down--Friday, March 13--with zero advanced warning. By Monday, every single person was using Teams with very few snags. It was seamless. By contrast, APS also rolled out Microsoft Teams in March. In mid-April I was still getting messages from teachers about needing training courses and how hard it is to use. They still had issues signing on and finding the mute button. My first grader was giving her teacher instruction on how to share her screen well into May. (No comment on teaching--purely her ability to use basic software.)

Teacher's complaints are largely that they are unreasonably being asked to do something they haven't been trained to do and to take on risk that they fundamentally aren't used to taking. Those of us in other fields find it ridiculous as we are asked to do these types of things every day, including during this pandemic.

Not sure your anti-teacher stereotyping and bigotry is really helping here, PP.

-not a teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is forcing teachers to go back to work. They are at will employees just like everyone else.

So you are too scared to come back? Don't go back. Of course that means you don't get paid. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

I don't know why people keep assuming that when teachers say they won't return that they assume it's a paid leave. They are talking about quitting.

No they are not talking about quitting. They are talking about pushing the district into DL for years until they feel comfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sick and tired of parents saying that schools should be the only institutions to open up at full capacity without any infection control protocols in place. Parents aren’t special. If you can’t care for your children, then you should surrender them.
See how that works both ways?

Nobody said anything about them doing back without any infection control protocols. The discourse I am hearing as that pretty much nothing will be acceptable to teachers no matter what the protocols are. They want 100% DL or nothing.

There have been numerous articles showing data that kids not only don't spread it to each other but don't spread it to adults.

Districts are all putting loopholes in the language about precautions so they can shrug innocently when the first day of school rolls around and there’s almost nothing in place. I expect to receive a “cute” cloth masks with a cheesy teaching theme print, a single large bottle of sanitizer, and class rosters of 30-35 students, plus my advisory and home room above 35 students.

If only there were something you could do, using materials you already have anyway, if you considered the employer-provided masks to be inadequate.

Interestingly I pay taxes for my kids to receive a public education and algae no problem making sure my kids have plenty of masks so they have a fresh one everyday. Maybe the school will end up providing them for the kids. Great. But it's my personal responsibility to make sure we have them. Teachers are people just like everyone else-they should be responsible as well. The masks aren't just for school. We are still required to wear them inside every closed space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a big part of the complaints is that teaching attracts a certain personality type--someone who loves human interaction and thrives on relationships but is comfortable doing essentially the same thing for their entire career. Teachers inherently aren't risk takers and haven't sought out a career where they are expected to make big leaps in their skills, but more of a slow evolution as they acquire new methods via continuing learning.

Those of us in corporate America are routinely told to adapt or make way for the next generation. We're expected to take on new positions and learn on the job. We have significant career risk, not job security with a union and a pension. Those in many essential fields, e.g., healthcare or law enforcement, proactively sought out fast paced fields where they would have to adapt on the fly and take on risk.

The best example I have is that our corporation rolled out Microsoft Teams the day we shut down--Friday, March 13--with zero advanced warning. By Monday, every single person was using Teams with very few snags. It was seamless. By contrast, APS also rolled out Microsoft Teams in March. In mid-April I was still getting messages from teachers about needing training courses and how hard it is to use. They still had issues signing on and finding the mute button. My first grader was giving her teacher instruction on how to share her screen well into May. (No comment on teaching--purely her ability to use basic software.)

Teacher's complaints are largely that they are unreasonably being asked to do something they haven't been trained to do and to take on risk that they fundamentally aren't used to taking. Those of us in other fields find it ridiculous as we are asked to do these types of things every day, including during this pandemic.

How do you explain the concerns of career changers like myself, my DH, and many of my teacher friends. My DH was a Marine!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is forcing teachers to go back to work. They are at will employees just like everyone else.

So you are too scared to come back? Don't go back. Of course that means you don't get paid. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Really, public-school teachers in Maryland are at-will employees?

Do you think that if a teacher refuses to go back someone is going to go to their house and drag them to school anyway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is forcing teachers to go back to work. They are at will employees just like everyone else.

So you are too scared to come back? Don't go back. Of course that means you don't get paid. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

I don't know why people keep assuming that when teachers say they won't return that they assume it's a paid leave. They are talking about quitting.

No they are not talking about quitting. They are talking about pushing the district into DL for years until they feel comfortable.

They aren’t just talking. They are starting to quit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is forcing teachers to go back to work. They are at will employees just like everyone else.

So you are too scared to come back? Don't go back. Of course that means you don't get paid. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Really, public-school teachers in Maryland are at-will employees?

Do you think that if a teacher refuses to go back someone is going to go to their house and drag them to school anyway?

I am not a lawyer, but as far as I know, "If you don't show up to work, your employer can fire you" is not the definition of an at-will employee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is forcing teachers to go back to work. They are at will employees just like everyone else.

So you are too scared to come back? Don't go back. Of course that means you don't get paid. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

I don't know why people keep assuming that when teachers say they won't return that they assume it's a paid leave. They are talking about quitting.

No they are not talking about quitting. They are talking about pushing the district into DL for years until they feel comfortable.

They aren’t just talking. They are starting to quit.

OK, then they quit. That's regrettable, but it's not as regrettable as keeping kids out of school for further months or even years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a big part of the complaints is that teaching attracts a certain personality type--someone who loves human interaction and thrives on relationships but is comfortable doing essentially the same thing for their entire career. Teachers inherently aren't risk takers and haven't sought out a career where they are expected to make big leaps in their skills, but more of a slow evolution as they acquire new methods via continuing learning.

Those of us in corporate America are routinely told to adapt or make way for the next generation. We're expected to take on new positions and learn on the job. We have significant career risk, not job security with a union and a pension. Those in many essential fields, e.g., healthcare or law enforcement, proactively sought out fast paced fields where they would have to adapt on the fly and take on risk.

The best example I have is that our corporation rolled out Microsoft Teams the day we shut down--Friday, March 13--with zero advanced warning. By Monday, every single person was using Teams with very few snags. It was seamless. By contrast, APS also rolled out Microsoft Teams in March. In mid-April I was still getting messages from teachers about needing training courses and how hard it is to use. They still had issues signing on and finding the mute button. My first grader was giving her teacher instruction on how to share her screen well into May. (No comment on teaching--purely her ability to use basic software.)

Teacher's complaints are largely that they are unreasonably being asked to do something they haven't been trained to do and to take on risk that they fundamentally aren't used to taking. Those of us in other fields find it ridiculous as we are asked to do these types of things every day, including during this pandemic.

How do you explain the concerns of career changers like myself, my DH, and many of my teacher friends. My DH was a Marine!

Some teachers are adapting better than others. Some are more comfortable than others with the various proposals. Some were uncomfortable in their prior profession. This isn't talking about any person individually, but of a general trend in a cohort. You don't seek out teaching because you want a risky career--it has to be other reasons.