Teachers Resigning Like Crazy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just released the results from the employee engagement survey, lol. One question was a type in answer, "describe your job in 1 word". The top 4 results were:

Overwhelmed
Stressed
Exhausted
Frustrated

Yayyyyyyyyyyy!

The question: “I am optimistic about the future” didn’t fare so well.

I'm not a teacher, but I think we need to rethink how education is structured centered around what will help teachers thrive. Students will be more likely to thrive with teachers that do. Any demands on teachers--for supporting students, for admin, for adjusting to changing needs--need to be considered in the context of how can that be achieved while not undermining the fundamental need for teachers to thrive. There may be some unmet needs that it is the responsibility of society as a whole to figure out how to fund and meet those needs, not unfunded mandates placed upon schools.

US Society as a whole is a failure. Schools are supposed to educate, but we also have to feed, clothe and parent students; the minute we’re not available to do those things (see: April 2020 onward) it’s OUR fault, but the minute we suggest shifting that burden to another part of the societal safety net, the same people who screamed about closing school buildings, scream that we can’t spend the money on that type of thing.

Until teachers can get back to being teachers and not substitute parents things are just going to get worse.

It's not just parenting issues, but also ever expanding content, more access to teachers via technology from students and parents, and more expectations for teachers to post everything online/grade quickly, more requirements to provide accommodations for students with a range of learning needs etc. Each one of these things might seem reasonable but on whole the demands are unsustainable. Before new legislation is passed requiring anything or an admin creates a policy, a review of the new addition in light of a teacher's full job needs to considered--if we add this new thing, what gets taken away. If we require this, when does the time to do it during contracted hours occur?

This is getting ridiculous. Teachers used to grade things all the time. You can say that things are getting harder, but we all know that we received more grades from our teachers than our kids do.

Ok I'll say it....teachers didn't have all the extra demands from the count and ridiculous parent demands we have now. When kids were sent to the office they were dealt with and principals weren't afraid of giving consequences. Parents supported teachers and admin not question there every movement. Parents be parents tell your kids no-tell them when their behavior is not ok. I spend 85% of my day dealing with behaviors. ENOUGH! And I'm done with the do nothings in Gatehouse-we have enough of them doing nothing but creating more for teachers to do-teachers who are not in quiet office. You know what we don't have time to do TEACH-and it's not just the extras from the county it's because parents are not parenting. We shouldn't be spending more than half our day talking to your children about their behavior. For those parents who parent-thank you we see you.

+100
I was subbing the other day in a specials class and the teacher brought her class in. She looked absolutely haggard, wiped out, and exhausted as she handed me a list of her "behavioral" problems and asked me to score them while they were with me. I had them for half an hour and can't even imagine what her days are like with these kids. There couldn't possibly be any learning going on in that classroom - and not because of her. These kids need to be removed and taught separately. It is beyond unfair to pile them into a mainstream class and expect that teacher to deal with them all day, every day.

+1. This right here is the utter failure of the school board and administrators. Nothing will improve until you fix the root cause. That means voting very differently than we’re accustomed. Anyone ready for that?

Yes, because the GOP is so supportive of special education and has solutions for addressing their needs. As a reminder, here is the link for two GOP candidates for the FCPS schoolboard who withdrew after laughing at a child with autism who sang the national anthem: https://wjla.com/newsletter/fairfax-county-school-board-candidates-drops-out-youtube-national-anthem-controvery-harry-jackson-stephanie-lundquist-arora-republican-gop-november-election-gov-glenn-youngkin

Yes, the GOP is on top of special education alright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just released the results from the employee engagement survey, lol. One question was a type in answer, "describe your job in 1 word". The top 4 results were:

Overwhelmed
Stressed
Exhausted
Frustrated

Yayyyyyyyyyyy!

Sums up my day perfectly!

Look, I am sympathetic. I am. But the result is not to NOT grade work or provide appropriate feedback to students. You're not doing your job in that instance and there is nothing you will say to change my mind on that.

Maybe if you did your job as a parent and I didn’t have to be a full-in parent to 120+ students, I’d have more time to hold your hand as well.

But you are not, so I don’t.

DP. I get that teachers are overworked and overwhelmed with too many responsibilities and too many behaviors. But attacking parents who ask for their kids to get feedback on assignments is off base.

Its also off base to demand things when you aren’t their boss and don’t really understand the job requirements.

DP, but you can't have it both ways. If it's ultimately parents' responsibility to educate their kids and make sure that they are learning what is being taught at school, parents need access to timely information about how their kids are doing. If timely communication isn't possible, then kids' failures are the teachers' responsibility. That's the source of the conflict. Parents can't control teacher working conditions. If you tell them that they have no right to timely information about what is going on in school, which is the purpose of quizzes and tests, then it's no wonder there is a lack of trust. You can't teach kids that grades and timely completion of work matter if the adults in their lives aren't held to the same standards.

Will it really make a difference in the way you are parenting your child if the essay they wrote on Beloved is returned in 2 weeks instead of 1?

It makes a huge difference if you have an ADHD kid who is working on executive functions skills and you are establishing a routine and rewards and consequences for school work issues. You can't appropriately monitor your kid if all the work gets graded at the end of the quarter (as per professional therapists we worked with). As another example, my son had a middle school teacher who returned quizzes after the unit test. So yes, a lack of timely feedback has consequences.

If you expect essays to be graded within 1 week, you have completely unreasonable expectations. For 140 students, it can take 50+ HOURS to grade all the essays. Even if a teacher graded for 4-5 hours every single afternoon and evening (which is absurd to expect), it could still take 2 full weeks to get through all 140 essays.

It is reasonable to expect multiple-choice assessments to be graded within a week, but not essays.

It is reasonable to expect as much work as possible to be graded prior to the end of the marking period, but not everything can be graded within a week.

Who said anything about essays?

This. I'm talking DBQs and "essays" with a few short paragraphs. My DD has never had any lengthy writing requirement in 10 years of FFX Co. And, we're not talking a week or two turnaround that is the issue (unless it is at the end of the Q) it's the NO FEEDBACK.

Grades are part of the job. And a fundamental one. I'm sorry but it is and should be done thoroughly and timely. You can attack me all you want for that opinion. But if I performed that way in my job, I'd be out of one.

I do the best I can with my grades. I'm not going to attack your opinion but it lacks the perspective of someone who works in a classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course they aren't ! Not any more than other positions. They really have no other skills or opportunities except retail or daycare.

Not true, I know plenty of teachers who left and went directly into office jobs. Anyone can send emails, edit documents, sit in meetings, etc.

People doing the jobs you describe are not even making remotely the salary of an FCPS teacher. Our administrative assistant makes 40k and works 9-5, scheduling meetings, editing documents, sending letters, contracts, taking calls, scheduling travel and reimbursements for work-related expenses, etc. If that's your idea of a good job then I wouldn't want you being a teacher in FCPS anyway

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course they aren't ! Not any more than other positions. They really have no other skills or opportunities except retail or daycare.

Not true, I know plenty of teachers who left and went directly into office jobs. Anyone can send emails, edit documents, sit in meetings, etc.

People doing the jobs you describe are not even making remotely the salary of an FCPS teacher. Our administrative assistant makes 40k and works 9-5, scheduling meetings, editing documents, sending letters, contracts, taking calls, scheduling travel and reimbursements for work-related expenses, etc. If that's your idea of a good job then I wouldn't want you being a teacher in FCPS anyway

Who said admin assistant? Those I knew as colleagues left to go into HR, change management, training, recruiting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course they aren't ! Not any more than other positions. They really have no other skills or opportunities except retail or daycare.

Not true, I know plenty of teachers who left and went directly into office jobs. Anyone can send emails, edit documents, sit in meetings, etc.

People doing the jobs you describe are not even making remotely the salary of an FCPS teacher. Our administrative assistant makes 40k and works 9-5, scheduling meetings, editing documents, sending letters, contracts, taking calls, scheduling travel and reimbursements for work-related expenses, etc. If that's your idea of a good job then I wouldn't want you being a teacher in FCPS anyway

Who said admin assistant? Those I knew as colleagues left to go into HR, change management, training, recruiting.

The people you are describing are glorified secretaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course they aren't ! Not any more than other positions. They really have no other skills or opportunities except retail or daycare.

Not true, I know plenty of teachers who left and went directly into office jobs. Anyone can send emails, edit documents, sit in meetings, etc.

People doing the jobs you describe are not even making remotely the salary of an FCPS teacher. Our administrative assistant makes 40k and works 9-5, scheduling meetings, editing documents, sending letters, contracts, taking calls, scheduling travel and reimbursements for work-related expenses, etc. If that's your idea of a good job then I wouldn't want you being a teacher in FCPS anyway

Who said admin assistant? Those I knew as colleagues left to go into HR, change management, training, recruiting.

The people you are describing are glorified secretaries.

And they’re still making more than 70K or more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just released the results from the employee engagement survey, lol. One question was a type in answer, "describe your job in 1 word". The top 4 results were:

Overwhelmed
Stressed
Exhausted
Frustrated

Yayyyyyyyyyyy!

Sums up my day perfectly!

Look, I am sympathetic. I am. But the result is not to NOT grade work or provide appropriate feedback to students. You're not doing your job in that instance and there is nothing you will say to change my mind on that.

Maybe if you did your job as a parent and I didn’t have to be a full-in parent to 120+ students, I’d have more time to hold your hand as well.

But you are not, so I don’t.

DP. I get that teachers are overworked and overwhelmed with too many responsibilities and too many behaviors. But attacking parents who ask for their kids to get feedback on assignments is off base.

Its also off base to demand things when you aren’t their boss and don’t really understand the job requirements.

DP, but you can't have it both ways. If it's ultimately parents' responsibility to educate their kids and make sure that they are learning what is being taught at school, parents need access to timely information about how their kids are doing. If timely communication isn't possible, then kids' failures are the teachers' responsibility. That's the source of the conflict. Parents can't control teacher working conditions. If you tell them that they have no right to timely information about what is going on in school, which is the purpose of quizzes and tests, then it's no wonder there is a lack of trust. You can't teach kids that grades and timely completion of work matter if the adults in their lives aren't held to the same standards.

Will it really make a difference in the way you are parenting your child if the essay they wrote on Beloved is returned in 2 weeks instead of 1?

It makes a huge difference if you have an ADHD kid who is working on executive functions skills and you are establishing a routine and rewards and consequences for school work issues. You can't appropriately monitor your kid if all the work gets graded at the end of the quarter (as per professional therapists we worked with). As another example, my son had a middle school teacher who returned quizzes after the unit test. So yes, a lack of timely feedback has consequences.

If you expect essays to be graded within 1 week, you have completely unreasonable expectations. For 140 students, it can take 50+ HOURS to grade all the essays. Even if a teacher graded for 4-5 hours every single afternoon and evening (which is absurd to expect), it could still take 2 full weeks to get through all 140 essays.

It is reasonable to expect multiple-choice assessments to be graded within a week, but not essays.

It is reasonable to expect as much work as possible to be graded prior to the end of the marking period, but not everything can be graded within a week.

Who said anything about essays?

This. I'm talking DBQs and "essays" with a few short paragraphs. My DD has never had any lengthy writing requirement in 10 years of FFX Co. And, we're not talking a week or two turnaround that is the issue (unless it is at the end of the Q) it's the NO FEEDBACK.

Grades are part of the job. And a fundamental one. I'm sorry but it is and should be done thoroughly and timely. You can attack me all you want for that opinion. But if I performed that way in my job, I'd be out of one.

I do the best I can with my grades. I'm not going to attack your opinion but it lacks the perspective of someone who works in a classroom.

But that's the point, you're not doing the work w/o the timely and appropriate feedback. The only ones suffering here are the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just released the results from the employee engagement survey, lol. One question was a type in answer, "describe your job in 1 word". The top 4 results were:

Overwhelmed
Stressed
Exhausted
Frustrated

Yayyyyyyyyyyy!

Sums up my day perfectly!

Look, I am sympathetic. I am. But the result is not to NOT grade work or provide appropriate feedback to students. You're not doing your job in that instance and there is nothing you will say to change my mind on that.

Maybe if you did your job as a parent and I didn’t have to be a full-in parent to 120+ students, I’d have more time to hold your hand as well.

But you are not, so I don’t.

DP. I get that teachers are overworked and overwhelmed with too many responsibilities and too many behaviors. But attacking parents who ask for their kids to get feedback on assignments is off base.

Its also off base to demand things when you aren’t their boss and don’t really understand the job requirements.

DP, but you can't have it both ways. If it's ultimately parents' responsibility to educate their kids and make sure that they are learning what is being taught at school, parents need access to timely information about how their kids are doing. If timely communication isn't possible, then kids' failures are the teachers' responsibility. That's the source of the conflict. Parents can't control teacher working conditions. If you tell them that they have no right to timely information about what is going on in school, which is the purpose of quizzes and tests, then it's no wonder there is a lack of trust. You can't teach kids that grades and timely completion of work matter if the adults in their lives aren't held to the same standards.

Will it really make a difference in the way you are parenting your child if the essay they wrote on Beloved is returned in 2 weeks instead of 1?

It makes a huge difference if you have an ADHD kid who is working on executive functions skills and you are establishing a routine and rewards and consequences for school work issues. You can't appropriately monitor your kid if all the work gets graded at the end of the quarter (as per professional therapists we worked with). As another example, my son had a middle school teacher who returned quizzes after the unit test. So yes, a lack of timely feedback has consequences.

If you expect essays to be graded within 1 week, you have completely unreasonable expectations. For 140 students, it can take 50+ HOURS to grade all the essays. Even if a teacher graded for 4-5 hours every single afternoon and evening (which is absurd to expect), it could still take 2 full weeks to get through all 140 essays.

It is reasonable to expect multiple-choice assessments to be graded within a week, but not essays.

It is reasonable to expect as much work as possible to be graded prior to the end of the marking period, but not everything can be graded within a week.

Who said anything about essays?

This. I'm talking DBQs and "essays" with a few short paragraphs. My DD has never had any lengthy writing requirement in 10 years of FFX Co. And, we're not talking a week or two turnaround that is the issue (unless it is at the end of the Q) it's the NO FEEDBACK.

Grades are part of the job. And a fundamental one. I'm sorry but it is and should be done thoroughly and timely. You can attack me all you want for that opinion. But if I performed that way in my job, I'd be out of one.

I do the best I can with my grades. I'm not going to attack your opinion but it lacks the perspective of someone who works in a classroom.

But that's the point, you're not doing the work w/o the timely and appropriate feedback. The only ones suffering here are the kids.

DP, but a teacher, it’s not a top priority and won’t be anytime soon. I know that annoys you, but it’s the way it is right now.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I didn't find a high paying corporate job. I did find a nanny position that pays me more than I made teaching, with 8 weeks paid vacation and about 70% of the hours I was working. I'm extremely happy

Lame! All your hard work and education down the drain! And what will you do when the kids grow up and you aren’t needed? You’ll have no real work experience.

Wow. You don't have many friends, do you?
DP

No friends who are nannies, correct.

Wow, PP. You are a peach and exemplify a civilization in decline. -NP

Because I don’t have nanny friends? Ok…you sound unhinged.

Why are you so angry that this woman got a better paying job with more perks? I am happy for her.

Where did you read any anger from my posts? I think it’s sad to leave an actual career that you worked hard for to simply become a nanny. A nanny isn’t a career.

DP, why is being a nanny not a career?

Because you can’t grow or move up. The kids grow up and you aren’t needed for that family anymore. It is not a career at all. It is a temporary gig and maybe you make more money temporarily but no one needs to “prepare” for a career in nannying.

Can you imagine a 46 year old woman saying , “Hi, I’m a nanny.”

When the kids grow up, you move to a new family. And, yes, older people are nannies but maybe they use different words. Why the heck to you care so much to judge these people/choices? Plenty of people work in jobs where they have not been promoted or moved in a decade.

Also, these older people may shift from nanny to "caregiver". Perhaps for a special needs adult or an elderly person. Both very much needed positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just released the results from the employee engagement survey, lol. One question was a type in answer, "describe your job in 1 word". The top 4 results were:

Overwhelmed
Stressed
Exhausted
Frustrated

Yayyyyyyyyyyy!

Sums up my day perfectly!

Look, I am sympathetic. I am. But the result is not to NOT grade work or provide appropriate feedback to students. You're not doing your job in that instance and there is nothing you will say to change my mind on that.

Maybe if you did your job as a parent and I didn’t have to be a full-in parent to 120+ students, I’d have more time to hold your hand as well.

But you are not, so I don’t.

DP. I get that teachers are overworked and overwhelmed with too many responsibilities and too many behaviors. But attacking parents who ask for their kids to get feedback on assignments is off base.

Its also off base to demand things when you aren’t their boss and don’t really understand the job requirements.

DP, but you can't have it both ways. If it's ultimately parents' responsibility to educate their kids and make sure that they are learning what is being taught at school, parents need access to timely information about how their kids are doing. If timely communication isn't possible, then kids' failures are the teachers' responsibility. That's the source of the conflict. Parents can't control teacher working conditions. If you tell them that they have no right to timely information about what is going on in school, which is the purpose of quizzes and tests, then it's no wonder there is a lack of trust. You can't teach kids that grades and timely completion of work matter if the adults in their lives aren't held to the same standards.

Will it really make a difference in the way you are parenting your child if the essay they wrote on Beloved is returned in 2 weeks instead of 1?

It makes a huge difference if you have an ADHD kid who is working on executive functions skills and you are establishing a routine and rewards and consequences for school work issues. You can't appropriately monitor your kid if all the work gets graded at the end of the quarter (as per professional therapists we worked with). As another example, my son had a middle school teacher who returned quizzes after the unit test. So yes, a lack of timely feedback has consequences.

If you expect essays to be graded within 1 week, you have completely unreasonable expectations. For 140 students, it can take 50+ HOURS to grade all the essays. Even if a teacher graded for 4-5 hours every single afternoon and evening (which is absurd to expect), it could still take 2 full weeks to get through all 140 essays.

It is reasonable to expect multiple-choice assessments to be graded within a week, but not essays.

It is reasonable to expect as much work as possible to be graded prior to the end of the marking period, but not everything can be graded within a week.

Who said anything about essays?

This. I'm talking DBQs and "essays" with a few short paragraphs. My DD has never had any lengthy writing requirement in 10 years of FFX Co. And, we're not talking a week or two turnaround that is the issue (unless it is at the end of the Q) it's the NO FEEDBACK.

Grades are part of the job. And a fundamental one. I'm sorry but it is and should be done thoroughly and timely. You can attack me all you want for that opinion. But if I performed that way in my job, I'd be out of one.

I do the best I can with my grades. I'm not going to attack your opinion but it lacks the perspective of someone who works in a classroom.

But that's the point, you're not doing the work w/o the timely and appropriate feedback. The only ones suffering here are the kids.

Suffering? Ma'am or sir let's tone down the drama.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just released the results from the employee engagement survey, lol. One question was a type in answer, "describe your job in 1 word". The top 4 results were:

Overwhelmed
Stressed
Exhausted
Frustrated

Yayyyyyyyyyyy!

Sums up my day perfectly!

Look, I am sympathetic. I am. But the result is not to NOT grade work or provide appropriate feedback to students. You're not doing your job in that instance and there is nothing you will say to change my mind on that.

Maybe if you did your job as a parent and I didn’t have to be a full-in parent to 120+ students, I’d have more time to hold your hand as well.

But you are not, so I don’t.

DP. I get that teachers are overworked and overwhelmed with too many responsibilities and too many behaviors. But attacking parents who ask for their kids to get feedback on assignments is off base.

Its also off base to demand things when you aren’t their boss and don’t really understand the job requirements.

DP, but you can't have it both ways. If it's ultimately parents' responsibility to educate their kids and make sure that they are learning what is being taught at school, parents need access to timely information about how their kids are doing. If timely communication isn't possible, then kids' failures are the teachers' responsibility. That's the source of the conflict. Parents can't control teacher working conditions. If you tell them that they have no right to timely information about what is going on in school, which is the purpose of quizzes and tests, then it's no wonder there is a lack of trust. You can't teach kids that grades and timely completion of work matter if the adults in their lives aren't held to the same standards.

Yes back to parenting....when parents behave badly and disrespect schools....little Johnny will do the same. See how that works. When parents start doing the parenting teachers can teach and grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just released the results from the employee engagement survey, lol. One question was a type in answer, "describe your job in 1 word". The top 4 results were:

Overwhelmed
Stressed
Exhausted
Frustrated

Yayyyyyyyyyyy!

Sums up my day perfectly!

Look, I am sympathetic. I am. But the result is not to NOT grade work or provide appropriate feedback to students. You're not doing your job in that instance and there is nothing you will say to change my mind on that.

Maybe if you did your job as a parent and I didn’t have to be a full-in parent to 120+ students, I’d have more time to hold your hand as well.

But you are not, so I don’t.

DP. I get that teachers are overworked and overwhelmed with too many responsibilities and too many behaviors. But attacking parents who ask for their kids to get feedback on assignments is off base.

Its also off base to demand things when you aren’t their boss and don’t really understand the job requirements.

DP, but you can't have it both ways. If it's ultimately parents' responsibility to educate their kids and make sure that they are learning what is being taught at school, parents need access to timely information about how their kids are doing. If timely communication isn't possible, then kids' failures are the teachers' responsibility. That's the source of the conflict. Parents can't control teacher working conditions. If you tell them that they have no right to timely information about what is going on in school, which is the purpose of quizzes and tests, then it's no wonder there is a lack of trust. You can't teach kids that grades and timely completion of work matter if the adults in their lives aren't held to the same standards.

Will it really make a difference in the way you are parenting your child if the essay they wrote on Beloved is returned in 2 weeks instead of 1?

It makes a huge difference if you have an ADHD kid who is working on executive functions skills and you are establishing a routine and rewards and consequences for school work issues. You can't appropriately monitor your kid if all the work gets graded at the end of the quarter (as per professional therapists we worked with). As another example, my son had a middle school teacher who returned quizzes after the unit test. So yes, a lack of timely feedback has consequences.

Wouldn't the executive functioning skill be for the child to turn in the work? Not the actual grading of the work? If it's so dire that they need accommodations that require immediate feedback I'd suggest getting an IEP that documents your child must see scores in x days or they won't be able to process.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just released the results from the employee engagement survey, lol. One question was a type in answer, "describe your job in 1 word". The top 4 results were:

Overwhelmed
Stressed
Exhausted
Frustrated

Yayyyyyyyyyyy!

The question: “I am optimistic about the future” didn’t fare so well.

I'm not a teacher, but I think we need to rethink how education is structured centered around what will help teachers thrive. Students will be more likely to thrive with teachers that do. Any demands on teachers--for supporting students, for admin, for adjusting to changing needs--need to be considered in the context of how can that be achieved while not undermining the fundamental need for teachers to thrive. There may be some unmet needs that it is the responsibility of society as a whole to figure out how to fund and meet those needs, not unfunded mandates placed upon schools.

US Society as a whole is a failure. Schools are supposed to educate, but we also have to feed, clothe and parent students; the minute we’re not available to do those things (see: April 2020 onward) it’s OUR fault, but the minute we suggest shifting that burden to another part of the societal safety net, the same people who screamed about closing school buildings, scream that we can’t spend the money on that type of thing.

Until teachers can get back to being teachers and not substitute parents things are just going to get worse.

It's not just parenting issues, but also ever expanding content, more access to teachers via technology from students and parents, and more expectations for teachers to post everything online/grade quickly, more requirements to provide accommodations for students with a range of learning needs etc. Each one of these things might seem reasonable but on whole the demands are unsustainable. Before new legislation is passed requiring anything or an admin creates a policy, a review of the new addition in light of a teacher's full job needs to considered--if we add this new thing, what gets taken away. If we require this, when does the time to do it during contracted hours occur?

This is getting ridiculous. Teachers used to grade things all the time. You can say that things are getting harder, but we all know that we received more grades from our teachers than our kids do.

Ok I'll say it....teachers didn't have all the extra demands from the count and ridiculous parent demands we have now. When kids were sent to the office they were dealt with and principals weren't afraid of giving consequences. Parents supported teachers and admin not question there every movement. Parents be parents tell your kids no-tell them when their behavior is not ok. I spend 85% of my day dealing with behaviors. ENOUGH! And I'm done with the do nothings in Gatehouse-we have enough of them doing nothing but creating more for teachers to do-teachers who are not in quiet office. You know what we don't have time to do TEACH-and it's not just the extras from the county it's because parents are not parenting. We shouldn't be spending more than half our day talking to your children about their behavior. For those parents who parent-thank you we see you.

+100
I was subbing the other day in a specials class and the teacher brought her class in. She looked absolutely haggard, wiped out, and exhausted as she handed me a list of her "behavioral" problems and asked me to score them while they were with me. I had them for half an hour and can't even imagine what her days are like with these kids. There couldn't possibly be any learning going on in that classroom - and not because of her. These kids need to be removed and taught separately. It is beyond unfair to pile them into a mainstream class and expect that teacher to deal with them all day, every day.

+1. This right here is the utter failure of the school board and administrators. Nothing will improve until you fix the root cause. That means voting very differently than we’re accustomed. Anyone ready for that?

Stop trying to make this political. Republicans aren't automatically going to put the special ed and ADHD kids in their own classroom. Republicans are the ones who started this crap with No Child Left Behind and making everyone teach to and give constant assessments instead of teaching to kids' strengths and weaknesses. Republicans are the ones who ruined textbooks. Saying "vote for republicans" isn't going to do anything except ban some books and take away diversity from lessons.

+1 and our bigger problem is parents who have IEP's thinking their kids matter more than the other kids desperately trying to learn in this crazy environments where kids are tearing up rooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just released the results from the employee engagement survey, lol. One question was a type in answer, "describe your job in 1 word". The top 4 results were:

Overwhelmed
Stressed
Exhausted
Frustrated

Yayyyyyyyyyyy!

Sums up my day perfectly!

Look, I am sympathetic. I am. But the result is not to NOT grade work or provide appropriate feedback to students. You're not doing your job in that instance and there is nothing you will say to change my mind on that.

Maybe if you did your job as a parent and I didn’t have to be a full-in parent to 120+ students, I’d have more time to hold your hand as well.

But you are not, so I don’t.

DP. I get that teachers are overworked and overwhelmed with too many responsibilities and too many behaviors. But attacking parents who ask for their kids to get feedback on assignments is off base.

Its also off base to demand things when you aren’t their boss and don’t really understand the job requirements.

DP, but you can't have it both ways. If it's ultimately parents' responsibility to educate their kids and make sure that they are learning what is being taught at school, parents need access to timely information about how their kids are doing. If timely communication isn't possible, then kids' failures are the teachers' responsibility. That's the source of the conflict. Parents can't control teacher working conditions. If you tell them that they have no right to timely information about what is going on in school, which is the purpose of quizzes and tests, then it's no wonder there is a lack of trust. You can't teach kids that grades and timely completion of work matter if the adults in their lives aren't held to the same standards.

Will it really make a difference in the way you are parenting your child if the essay they wrote on Beloved is returned in 2 weeks instead of 1?

It makes a huge difference if you have an ADHD kid who is working on executive functions skills and you are establishing a routine and rewards and consequences for school work issues. You can't appropriately monitor your kid if all the work gets graded at the end of the quarter (as per professional therapists we worked with). As another example, my son had a middle school teacher who returned quizzes after the unit test. So yes, a lack of timely feedback has consequences.

If you expect essays to be graded within 1 week, you have completely unreasonable expectations. For 140 students, it can take 50+ HOURS to grade all the essays. Even if a teacher graded for 4-5 hours every single afternoon and evening (which is absurd to expect), it could still take 2 full weeks to get through all 140 essays.

It is reasonable to expect multiple-choice assessments to be graded within a week, but not essays.

It is reasonable to expect as much work as possible to be graded prior to the end of the marking period, but not everything can be graded within a week.

Who said anything about essays?

This. I'm talking DBQs and "essays" with a few short paragraphs. My DD has never had any lengthy writing requirement in 10 years of FFX Co. And, we're not talking a week or two turnaround that is the issue (unless it is at the end of the Q) it's the NO FEEDBACK.

Grades are part of the job. And a fundamental one. I'm sorry but it is and should be done thoroughly and timely. You can attack me all you want for that opinion. But if I performed that way in my job, I'd be out of one.

When you find a way to add more hours to the day, please let all teachers know so they can be more "timely" in their feedback and grading. Teachers only get 24 hours in a day, and because they are human, they do require a little sleep, so they cannot work more than 18 hours per day. If you can find a way to add more hours to the day, please share your idea.

I've been impressed with how quickly my kids have gotten back their work, almost always with feedback on a rubric, if not also on the assignment itself. My kids almost always have results (with feedback) within a week or two, though I have noticed that my daughter's AP Language teacher usually takes a little longer to return assignments. That does not bother my daughter, nor does it ruffle any of my feathers.

I'm sorry to hear that your daughter's teachers do not meet your expectations. I do hope her teachers will give her helpful feedback regarding her writing skills, for based on your own writing skills, she shouldn't expect to get accurate assistance at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just released the results from the employee engagement survey, lol. One question was a type in answer, "describe your job in 1 word". The top 4 results were:

Overwhelmed
Stressed
Exhausted
Frustrated

Yayyyyyyyyyyy!

Sums up my day perfectly!

Look, I am sympathetic. I am. But the result is not to NOT grade work or provide appropriate feedback to students. You're not doing your job in that instance and there is nothing you will say to change my mind on that.

Maybe if you did your job as a parent and I didn’t have to be a full-in parent to 120+ students, I’d have more time to hold your hand as well.

But you are not, so I don’t.

DP. I get that teachers are overworked and overwhelmed with too many responsibilities and too many behaviors. But attacking parents who ask for their kids to get feedback on assignments is off base.

Its also off base to demand things when you aren’t their boss and don’t really understand the job requirements.

DP, but you can't have it both ways. If it's ultimately parents' responsibility to educate their kids and make sure that they are learning what is being taught at school, parents need access to timely information about how their kids are doing. If timely communication isn't possible, then kids' failures are the teachers' responsibility. That's the source of the conflict. Parents can't control teacher working conditions. If you tell them that they have no right to timely information about what is going on in school, which is the purpose of quizzes and tests, then it's no wonder there is a lack of trust. You can't teach kids that grades and timely completion of work matter if the adults in their lives aren't held to the same standards.

Will it really make a difference in the way you are parenting your child if the essay they wrote on Beloved is returned in 2 weeks instead of 1?

It makes a huge difference if you have an ADHD kid who is working on executive functions skills and you are establishing a routine and rewards and consequences for school work issues. You can't appropriately monitor your kid if all the work gets graded at the end of the quarter (as per professional therapists we worked with). As another example, my son had a middle school teacher who returned quizzes after the unit test. So yes, a lack of timely feedback has consequences.

If you expect essays to be graded within 1 week, you have completely unreasonable expectations. For 140 students, it can take 50+ HOURS to grade all the essays. Even if a teacher graded for 4-5 hours every single afternoon and evening (which is absurd to expect), it could still take 2 full weeks to get through all 140 essays.

It is reasonable to expect multiple-choice assessments to be graded within a week, but not essays.

It is reasonable to expect as much work as possible to be graded prior to the end of the marking period, but not everything can be graded within a week.

Who said anything about essays?

This. I'm talking DBQs and "essays" with a few short paragraphs. My DD has never had any lengthy writing requirement in 10 years of FFX Co. And, we're not talking a week or two turnaround that is the issue (unless it is at the end of the Q) it's the NO FEEDBACK.

Grades are part of the job. And a fundamental one. I'm sorry but it is and should be done thoroughly and timely. You can attack me all you want for that opinion. But if I performed that way in my job, I'd be out of one.

Yes and you are probably in working conditions that allow you to do your job. Enjoy the warm bodies next year. Oh you have a pulse you're hired!