Can we hear from the teachers please?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hundreds of thousands of teachers have been back in the classroom since August without a vaccine. What makes MCPS teachers so special?

Well that was their choice

And they sound like idiots for accepting that kind of treatment.

Even DL teachers have been chumps since last September. Many were working 14-16 hour days and spending thousands of dollars of upgrading home technology in order to do the job their employer told them to do.

Must be nice to be able to quit your job with nothing else lined up!

Luckily, people still have 5 weeks and I know teachers who are interviewing during lunch and getting offers.

If teachers have other options besides teaching in MCPS that work better for them, they should take them. Vote with your feet.

I agree. But in reality, we all know this is an empty threat. This threat happened at almost every district that returned, and spoiler alert: there were enough teachers left to teach.

I think any teacher that leaves for a private sector job is in for a rude awakening. Whenever their boss tells them they are needed for a weekend. Or whenever their job description changes. Or whenever their benefits package changes.

And likewise if anyone came from the private sector to teaching, they would have their own rude awakening. I am no longer a teacher, but it is incredibly hard work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hundreds of thousands of teachers have been back in the classroom since August without a vaccine. What makes MCPS teachers so special?

Well that was their choice

And they sound like idiots for accepting that kind of treatment.

Even DL teachers have been chumps since last September. Many were working 14-16 hour days and spending thousands of dollars of upgrading home technology in order to do the job their employer told them to do.

Must be nice to be able to quit your job with nothing else lined up!

Luckily, people still have 5 weeks and I know teachers who are interviewing during lunch and getting offers.

If teachers have other options besides teaching in MCPS that work better for them, they should take them. Vote with your feet.

I agree. But in reality, we all know this is an empty threat. This threat happened at almost every district that returned, and spoiler alert: there were enough teachers left to teach.

I think any teacher that leaves for a private sector job is in for a rude awakening. Whenever their boss tells them they are needed for a weekend. Or whenever their job description changes. Or whenever their benefits package changes.

All of those things have happened to teachers as well. I worked in the corporate world and decided to become a teacher. Realized it was a mistake and quit MCPS last summer to return to the corporate world, but with a different company. Truly the best decision ever.

LinkedIn has opened up many teachers’ eyes to positions outside of schools.

And for those who do not have non-teaching work experience as adults, there are still many options. Several friends began teach Outschool and other online courses. A former colleague works for ETS full time. I know several people who are corporate trainers or textbook consultants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hundreds of thousands of teachers have been back in the classroom since August without a vaccine. What makes MCPS teachers so special?

Well that was their choice

And they sound like idiots for accepting that kind of treatment.

Even DL teachers have been chumps since last September. Many were working 14-16 hour days and spending thousands of dollars of upgrading home technology in order to do the job their employer told them to do.

Must be nice to be able to quit your job with nothing else lined up!

Luckily, people still have 5 weeks and I know teachers who are interviewing during lunch and getting offers.

If teachers have other options besides teaching in MCPS that work better for them, they should take them. Vote with your feet.

I agree. But in reality, we all know this is an empty threat. This threat happened at almost every district that returned, and spoiler alert: there were enough teachers left to teach.

I think any teacher that leaves for a private sector job is in for a rude awakening. Whenever their boss tells them they are needed for a weekend. Or whenever their job description changes. Or whenever their benefits package changes.

As a parent, I find it mind-boggling that so many parents seem to think that teaching is an easy job and don't recognize and appreciate how incredibly hard most teachers work (even in normal times, let alone dealing with all the extra challenges this year, which somehow some people think is an easier year for teachers rather than a harder one?!) I would think that most private sector jobs that a teacher would switch to would be easier and "better" (and I'm not sure how people could think otherwise unless they're somehow confused and think that classroom hours are the only part of teaching.) We are so freaking lucky to have so many amazing teachers willing to make the sacrifices necessary to teach our kids, and it's awful to see so many parents bash them rather than thank them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hundreds of thousands of teachers have been back in the classroom since August without a vaccine. What makes MCPS teachers so special?

Well that was their choice

And they sound like idiots for accepting that kind of treatment.

Even DL teachers have been chumps since last September. Many were working 14-16 hour days and spending thousands of dollars of upgrading home technology in order to do the job their employer told them to do.

14-16 hour days? Give me a break. One of my neighbors is a MCPS teacher and I see her out walking her dog multiple times a day. What could they possibly be doing for that much time with so little actual class time.

I’m not getting the connection between dog walking and hours walked. If I’ve been sitting behind my desk for hours, I need to get up and move around. I think taking the dog for a walk is the perfect break. It doesn’t mean the neighbor you are stalking isn’t putting in a lot of hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hundreds of thousands of teachers have been back in the classroom since August without a vaccine. What makes MCPS teachers so special?

It has nothing to do with teachers being special or not. Numbers in Montgomery County are higher than in other areas in the country. Even higher than other counties in Maryland.

Well, not really... https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html

No, but we're sure that MCPS is special in other ways!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hundreds of thousands of teachers have been back in the classroom since August without a vaccine. What makes MCPS teachers so special?

Yep, including my sister who teaches in another stare. The issue is. . . Your job is essential and can’t get done remotely (effectively).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hundreds of thousands of teachers have been back in the classroom since August without a vaccine. What makes MCPS teachers so special?

Well that was their choice

And they sound like idiots for accepting that kind of treatment.

Even DL teachers have been chumps since last September. Many were working 14-16 hour days and spending thousands of dollars of upgrading home technology in order to do the job their employer told them to do.

Must be nice to be able to quit your job with nothing else lined up!

Luckily, people still have 5 weeks and I know teachers who are interviewing during lunch and getting offers.

If teachers have other options besides teaching in MCPS that work better for them, they should take them. Vote with your feet.

I agree. But in reality, we all know this is an empty threat. This threat happened at almost every district that returned, and spoiler alert: there were enough teachers left to teach.

I think any teacher that leaves for a private sector job is in for a rude awakening. Whenever their boss tells them they are needed for a weekend. Or whenever their job description changes. Or whenever their benefits package changes.

As a parent, I find it mind-boggling that so many parents seem to think that teaching is an easy job and don't recognize and appreciate how incredibly hard most teachers work (even in normal times, let alone dealing with all the extra challenges this year, which somehow some people think is an easier year for teachers rather than a harder one?!) I would think that most private sector jobs that a teacher would switch to would be easier and "better" (and I'm not sure how people could think otherwise unless they're somehow confused and think that classroom hours are the only part of teaching.) We are so freaking lucky to have so many amazing teachers willing to make the sacrifices necessary to teach our kids, and it's awful to see so many parents bash them rather than thank them.

I started out as a classroom teacher and got burned out working 12-14 hour days. After eight years, we moved for my husband’s job, and I took a job in the private sector. It was great in the sense my hours were manageable, the pay was better than teaching, but I missed teaching and working with children.

Teaching is a job like no other, particularly in k-5. There are so many variables that impact your classroom instruction that are out of your control. I’ve had parents shot and killed in a gang fight, students dealing with parents in and out of jail, students having cigarettes extinguished on their thigh if they misbehaved at home, another that was pimped out by their mom and uncle so they could buy drugs, and others wondering where their next meal will come from. I also had a student rape another student. My students begged for indoor recess because I made the classroom safe and comfortable. The sirens they heard while on the playground served as a reminder of the struggles they faced at home. Learning wasn’t their priority, survival was.

It may sound cheesy, but teaching is my calling. I’m am fortunate that I don’t need to work full time. While I still work many hours beyond my duty day, I can be present for my own children. I never wanted to choose between the needs of my students and the needs of my own children. Unfortunately, many teachers don’t have that luxury.

Have you ever watched an athlete who made a sport look incredibly easy? What you don’t see are the failed attempts, the struggles, the blood, sweat and tears. Great athletes make themselves look flawless. Teaching virtually has been a challenge for many. The new curriculum, and learning several new platforms combined with technology that often fails us, I don’t know a single teacher that prefers teaching virtually to teaching in school pre-covid. The only thing teachers want is a safe place to work. There are so many moving parts that unless you work in a school, you can’t see the blood sweat and tears the staff is shedding to prepare for the return of our beloved students. We want to go back, we just want policies in place to keep us safe. Unfortunately, many teachers don’t trust the higher ups in the district. We also don’t have the money private schools have to create a safe learning environment. If students opt to not wear a mask, we have no recourse. We don’t have extra personnel to chase students that elope. Private schools can force a student to return to virtual learning or leave the school. Public schools don’t have that option. Daycares and preschools already have lower numbers, they are also private organizations.

I have not applied for an ADA request. I plan to return once schools reopen and have already stocked up on PPE, wipes, and cleaners. I worry about how to meet with each of my students, as they are in multiple classrooms, potentially more once we return, in addition to the students at home. My school is struggling to figure out the logistics of one way hallways, bathroom usage, lunch, recess, specials, and special education and ESOL services, and what to do when the number of students that return exceed the capacity of the room.

How will most elementary classrooms look? It will be dependent on the school. Factors to consider are the size of the school, what percent of kids actually participate in hybrid, how many classrooms move around for math, literacy, etc. Some teachers will be teaching from home due to medical accommodations but I have heard that most teachers that applied for accommodations were denied.

I’ve read a lot of misinformation on this board, so best to ask the admin at your school or attend a PTA meet to get more information about reopening plans. Each school will looks a little different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going a bit off topic, but this probably pretty true, at least for MCPS teachers.

Most private sector jobs do not have the type of benefits and bargaining power that teachers here have.

That said, I would never want to be a teacher just because I find working with kids really hard, and I'm super grateful for those teachers who are sticking it out. My kids (HS/MS) have had some really good teachers who seem to be trying to lift up everyone's spirits. There are a handful, though, who seem to be just dialing it in.

Wait, are you sure you're allowed to post this on DCUM?

On behalf of teachers (and paras), thanks!

[Anonymous]

My neighbor is a supervisor in MCPS transportation and I randomly got to chat with him outside yesterday. Remember that they aren’t just vaccinating teachers, it’s also all support staff. He just had his first shot 2 days ago, and said his bus drivers were also getting appointments. They have ramped up checking all the buses and are definitely aiming to start bus runs 3/1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a 5th-grade teacher. We have not heard a word from our administration, even when we ask. We are being told that she wants to wait to tell us anything until there are clear directions from the higher-ups.

Only around 25% of my school elected to come back for hybrid, so I am not sure how that changes things.

So 75% of the teacher suck at your school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a 5th-grade teacher. We have not heard a word from our administration, even when we ask. We are being told that she wants to wait to tell us anything until there are clear directions from the higher-ups.

Only around 25% of my school elected to come back for hybrid, so I am not sure how that changes things.

So 75% of the teacher suck at your school?

I think she meant 25% of students. Y’all are so mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a 5th-grade teacher. We have not heard a word from our administration, even when we ask. We are being told that she wants to wait to tell us anything until there are clear directions from the higher-ups.

Only around 25% of my school elected to come back for hybrid, so I am not sure how that changes things.

So 75% of the teacher suck at your school?

I think she meant 25% of students. Y’all are so mean.

Teachers never got a survey. We were told you either return when you are told, take leave or get an ADA Accommodation.

[Anonymous]

MCPS is trying to hire retirees for admin and classroom teachers. That’s right, retirees. That tells you they anticipate current staff quitting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is trying to hire retirees for admin and classroom teachers. That’s right, retirees. That tells you they anticipate current staff quitting.

I anticipate current staff leaving, too. This is a thing that happens. People find different jobs, people switch fields, people move, people retire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is trying to hire retirees for admin and classroom teachers. That’s right, retirees. That tells you they anticipate current staff quitting.

I anticipate current staff leaving, too. This is a thing that happens. People find different jobs, people switch fields, people move, people retire.

Not sure they're going to get a lot of takers but A for effort