Are DCPS teachers legally allowed to teach in-person (pods/ tutoring)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents just want teachers to do the job that they are paid for, to the best of their ability (not DL).

As most everyone else in a capitalist society is required to do. Or you lose your job.

Keyword most. Teachers are doing their job through DL. School isn’t childcare. Teachers are truly not trained in that, that’s a benefit of in person.

So you can be angry but at this point it’s like a broken record. Enjoy DL for the rest of the year or get a pod.

[Anonymous]

Why do people on this site think their opinions actually matter. Teachers don’t care what you think, unless specifically asking you.
Non teacher parents have also shown they do not care what teachers think or what we are saying.

There are thousands of teachers and maybe 50, if that are running pods.

[Anonymous]

Are DCPS parents legally allowed to work from home while facilitating DL for their child?

They aren’t 100% focused on work.

[Anonymous]

Why is this forum so toxic lately?

[Anonymous]

Yeah. Seems at first there was an interesting conversation about how it's unethical for teachers to make money off private pods and how that also puts their public school class at a serious disadvantage. Then a bunch of trolls started screaming and threw around the K-word just to muddy the discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes we can teach pods, as long as it isn’t during contracted hours.

Although I think maybe some will blur that line by doing it during their lunch.

Why are people so interested in teacher’s money? I mean I get if you are still delusional and think we shut down in person that’s one thing. But those who are sane, why do you care?

Because it is extremely unethical. Talk about sleazy.

Simple answer, because as parents we want 100% focus on the kids you were hired under contract to teach at DCPS. Side hustles are just that, a side hustle. It's not hard to understand "conflict of interest".

I 100% focus on the students I teach when I’m working. After work I’m free to do whatever I want. I like to teach. I like to work with students. I want to make some extra money. Why shouldn’t I tutor? Some of my colleagues wait tables, bartend, or work retail in the evenings and on weekends. Do you object to that too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher and have never heard of an actual policy before, and I don’t tutor so it’s not a concern of mine. A friend’s DCPS school sent this out though:

Q: Can a family hire DCPS teachers and staff to tutor or supervise a student outside of their tours of duty?
A: DCPS teachers or staff may not be employed by a family whose child attends the school where the teacher or staff member works. DCPS employees, including teachers, are bound by strict DC ethics regulations regarding outside employment and conflicts of interest. These prohibit DCPS staff members from tutoring students who attend the school where that staff member is employed. Additionally, teachers providing tutoring services to any students, regardless of whether the students attend DCPS, may not tutor students during their tour of duty, may not use government resources or non-public DCPS information while tutoring, and may not advertise their services (or allow the family to advertise their services) by describing their DCPS employment.

I just scoured DCPs and did not find this document. Please attach a link. I think this may be written by your friend’s school. There are programs run by DCpS where teachers are paid admin premium to tutor DCPS kids. I know you can’t tutor in a DC building but I have not read anything the quoted mentions.

Like I said, as a teacher I have never seen this before and it was sent by a principal. I don’t know how to link an email.

[Anonymous]

I think this conflict of interest situation with dcps teachers teaching pods is going to blow up and generate a ton of anger media stories and backlash and the Mayor will demand that teachers be back in school on November 9.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this conflict of interest situation with dcps teachers teaching pods is going to blow up and generate a ton of anger media stories and backlash and the Mayor will demand that teachers be back in school on November 9.

No teachers have the power remember? That’s what you are all saying on this forum, therefore even if there’s backlash it won’t matter. Teachers are in power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah. Seems at first there was an interesting conversation about how it's unethical for teachers to make money off private pods and how that also puts their public school class at a serious disadvantage. Then a bunch of trolls started screaming and threw around the K-word just to muddy the discussion.

It’s also unethical to group a few with the many. Some teachers may be doing pods but it’s not even close to being the majority yet you all think it’s ‘interesting’ to spread false accusations just because of your own personal beliefs.

There’s been many, many comments asking people like you to back up your argument. Why was it ok for teachers tutor before? This is something DCPS knows about and some schools even pay teachers to do it at their school.

Also is it ok for teachers to have a 2nd teaching job that’s not a pod? I taught classes to kids online before Covid for yes, money.

I also know teachers who work at bars, hotels, have different teaching jobs, etc.

You all have not made a valid statement regarding ethics, except ‘teachers are scum’ last time I check ad hominem arguments are not valid.

If the children in their regular classes have the same quality as they would if their teacher was not taking outside jobs what is the issue?

The argument that it’s not fair, is not one of ethics but of personal feeling. There are children going to school in person right now, children with multiple private tutors, children whose parents make 7-8 figures. Is that unethical or just capitalism?

I must admit as a teacher I’m really appalled at these attitudes of parents and sad that teachers feel they have to stoop down to the level of some of the more callous posts.

The funny thing is not one of you would say this to a teacher’s face, especially not your child’s teacher. Even high school aged children have more class. Teachers and parents we can do better than name calling and passive aggressive quips.

[Anonymous]

It’s not multiple people. My guess is that it’s 1-3 parents, likely 1, who keep posting threads like this. And then respond to every person who has a different point of view.

But I do take issue with your ‘teachers, do better’ garbage. Teachers are not saints or martyrs. They can respond to a character attack any way they please. My advice- ignore it. But if you want to dig in you are not restrained in your choice of actions to conform to how people in a profession should behave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all, teachers are free people. They are allowed to do what they like with their own free time. The school system does not own them. Obviously, they can't tutor during school hours, or tutor their own students, but tother than that there are no restrictions.

Secondly, the teacher's union is just like any other large group, it has people with a variety of opinions. Not every teacher took the same position on hybrid vs virtual.

Finally, the difference between being in a room with one masked child, without shared bathrooms or hallways, and the ability to leave if the child takes off their mask is entirely unlike being in the classroom.

It's called a "conflict of interest" and most companies don't allow it. It has nothing to do with being "free people".

Secondly, if allowed by the union, it should be limited to non DCPS students. I don't recall hearing (from news media or social media) from the teachers who wanted hybrid and wish they had been more vocal.

Note, pods by definition are not one student but rather groups of students. Granted tutoring one child is a different situation unless you tutor multiple students.

Point A: "Conflict of interest" is contractual. There is no such proviso in the teachers' contract as what you describe.

Point B: It is not. It is limited to after school hours and not their own students. Understanding that this is how you would like it to be, it is not, in fact, the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can’t be that stupid. You don’t really think working with the same 3 students in a controlled pod environment is remotely similar to teaching in a DCPS school. I will have zero issues if my child’s teacher chooses to do that in the evenings. Sounds like some of you (or one persistent voice) just want to come up with new threads each week to slam teachers because you’re overwhelmed (like us all) during this pandemic and you need to direct your frustration somewhere. That’s the only way I can explain these illogical arguments.

They really are that stupid. They have an absolute bloodlust for teachers, because these ridiculous parents are Just. So. Angry.

It's pitiful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents just want teachers to do the job that they are paid for, to the best of their ability (not DL).

As most everyone else in a capitalist society is required to do. Or you lose your job.

Keyword most. Teachers are doing their job through DL. School isn’t childcare. Teachers are truly not trained in that, that’s a benefit of in person.

So you can be angry but at this point it’s like a broken record. Enjoy DL for the rest of the year or get a pod.

+1,000,000

[Anonymous]

DCPS teachers cannot work during their work hours 8:30-4pm nor can they tutor their own students for pay. Definitely a conflict of interest. And I believe it's covered by DC Board of Ethics regulations.