My 4th grader has no teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It baffles me that people truly think this is OK. It’s ok to look at positives but it’s also ok to acknowledge this is Bs

Of course it's not OK and it's absolutely BS. But complaining on DCUM and deluging the principal and superintendent with complaint emails and taking out your frustration with the situation on the remaining teachers like it's some kind of deliberate conspiracy to anger you and ruin your kid is part of the reason we're in this mess to begin with. Teachers got sick of it and voted with their feet. Major steps need to be taken to make teaching a desirable profession and attract more applicants. Salary is part of that but another part is the right to not have to be a doormat to every parent and admin and to be the authority in your classroom. I'm sure someone will come back with, "But teachers are all stupid and badly educated and don't deserve that respect or authority," but it's a chicken/egg situation and something has to give.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It baffles me that people truly think this is OK. It’s ok to look at positives but it’s also ok to acknowledge this is Bs

Of course it's not OK and it's absolutely BS. But complaining on DCUM and deluging the principal and superintendent with complaint emails and taking out your frustration with the situation on the remaining teachers like it's some kind of deliberate conspiracy to anger you and ruin your kid is part of the reason we're in this mess to begin with. Teachers got sick of it and voted with their feet. Major steps need to be taken to make teaching a desirable profession and attract more applicants. Salary is part of that but another part is the right to not have to be a doormat to every parent and admin and to be the authority in your classroom. I'm sure someone will come back with, "But teachers are all stupid and badly educated and don't deserve that respect or authority," but it's a chicken/egg situation and something has to give.

I don’t really get the impression from ANYTHING the OP said that she’s taking her frustrations out on the teachers. On the contrary, in fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It baffles me that people truly think this is OK. It’s ok to look at positives but it’s also ok to acknowledge this is Bs

Of course it's not OK and it's absolutely BS. But complaining on DCUM and deluging the principal and superintendent with complaint emails and taking out your frustration with the situation on the remaining teachers like it's some kind of deliberate conspiracy to anger you and ruin your kid is part of the reason we're in this mess to begin with. Teachers got sick of it and voted with their feet. Major steps need to be taken to make teaching a desirable profession and attract more applicants. Salary is part of that but another part is the right to not have to be a doormat to every parent and admin and to be the authority in your classroom. I'm sure someone will come back with, "But teachers are all stupid and badly educated and don't deserve that respect or authority," but it's a chicken/egg situation and something has to give.

Oh come on. It's totally reasonable to ask the principal to come up with a more equitable plan. No one is suggesting that teacher get raked over the coals or work beyond contract hours. Departmentalizing language arts and math, for instance, would at least allow all 4th graders to have a teacher in a core subject. And the incoming teacher, when they arrive, would have a lighter lift by mainly picking up science and social studies instead of all subjects.

The proposed solution may be tenable if the new teacher has already been hired and is starting in the next week or two. Otherwise, the principal needs to come up with an actual plan where all students get meaningful instruction in the core subjects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It baffles me that people truly think this is OK. It’s ok to look at positives but it’s also ok to acknowledge this is Bs

Of course it's not OK and it's absolutely BS. But complaining on DCUM and deluging the principal and superintendent with complaint emails and taking out your frustration with the situation on the remaining teachers like it's some kind of deliberate conspiracy to anger you and ruin your kid is part of the reason we're in this mess to begin with. Teachers got sick of it and voted with their feet. Major steps need to be taken to make teaching a desirable profession and attract more applicants. Salary is part of that but another part is the right to not have to be a doormat to every parent and admin and to be the authority in your classroom. I'm sure someone will come back with, "But teachers are all stupid and badly educated and don't deserve that respect or authority," but it's a chicken/egg situation and something has to give.

Maybe one of the parents can become a long-term sub? One of the SAHM's in my kid's class last year did this. She thought she'd be subbing just once in a while, but then became a full-time sub once a teacher left in the middle of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It baffles me that people truly think this is OK. It’s ok to look at positives but it’s also ok to acknowledge this is Bs

Of course it's not OK and it's absolutely BS. But complaining on DCUM and deluging the principal and superintendent with complaint emails and taking out your frustration with the situation on the remaining teachers like it's some kind of deliberate conspiracy to anger you and ruin your kid is part of the reason we're in this mess to begin with. Teachers got sick of it and voted with their feet. Major steps need to be taken to make teaching a desirable profession and attract more applicants. Salary is part of that but another part is the right to not have to be a doormat to every parent and admin and to be the authority in your classroom. I'm sure someone will come back with, "But teachers are all stupid and badly educated and don't deserve that respect or authority," but it's a chicken/egg situation and something has to give.

I don’t blame teachers at all. They are not in charge of staffing.

I blame Central Office.
I blame the BOE.
I blame MCPS leadership.
I blame our local politicians - for allowing our schools to get so overcrowded (due to various reasons).

Nobody blames teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It baffles me that people truly think this is OK. It’s ok to look at positives but it’s also ok to acknowledge this is Bs

Of course it's not OK and it's absolutely BS. But complaining on DCUM and deluging the principal and superintendent with complaint emails and taking out your frustration with the situation on the remaining teachers like it's some kind of deliberate conspiracy to anger you and ruin your kid is part of the reason we're in this mess to begin with. Teachers got sick of it and voted with their feet. Major steps need to be taken to make teaching a desirable profession and attract more applicants. Salary is part of that but another part is the right to not have to be a doormat to every parent and admin and to be the authority in your classroom. I'm sure someone will come back with, "But teachers are all stupid and badly educated and don't deserve that respect or authority," but it's a chicken/egg situation and something has to give.

I don’t blame teachers at all. They are not in charge of staffing.

I blame Central Office.
I blame the BOE.
I blame MCPS leadership.
I blame our local politicians - for allowing our schools to get so overcrowded (due to various reasons).

Nobody blames teachers.

I blame DCUM. The vitriol against teachers over the last couple of years has been shocking.

[Anonymous]

Is this Burning Tree?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It baffles me that people truly think this is OK. It’s ok to look at positives but it’s also ok to acknowledge this is Bs

Of course it's not OK and it's absolutely BS. But complaining on DCUM and deluging the principal and superintendent with complaint emails and taking out your frustration with the situation on the remaining teachers like it's some kind of deliberate conspiracy to anger you and ruin your kid is part of the reason we're in this mess to begin with. Teachers got sick of it and voted with their feet. Major steps need to be taken to make teaching a desirable profession and attract more applicants. Salary is part of that but another part is the right to not have to be a doormat to every parent and admin and to be the authority in your classroom. I'm sure someone will come back with, "But teachers are all stupid and badly educated and don't deserve that respect or authority," but it's a chicken/egg situation and something has to give.

Oh come on. It's totally reasonable to ask the principal to come up with a more equitable plan. No one is suggesting that teacher get raked over the coals or work beyond contract hours. Departmentalizing language arts and math, for instance, would at least allow all 4th graders to have a teacher in a core subject. And the incoming teacher, when they arrive, would have a lighter lift by mainly picking up science and social studies instead of all subjects.

The proposed solution may be tenable if the new teacher has already been hired and is starting in the next week or two. Otherwise, the principal needs to come up with an actual plan where all students get meaningful instruction in the core subjects.

See, but the assumption that they HAVEN'T considered all those options and had to reject them for one reason or another, is problematic. Why would you assume that they haven't thought it through, or that they didn't have valid reasons or an "actual plan?" Maybe departmentalizing things would make even more people unhappy or strain the remaining teachers even more. Our school once had to do something similar and decided to "spread the pain" like you suggest and instead of one class of angry parents they then had three. You don't have the data to make that analysis, nor should you because it's their job. Not agreeing with their judgment call when you have 10% of the information doesn't make you right and them wrong and clearly communicates the attitude that you think everyone involved is a moron who can't do their job and you as the parent know better. That basically encapsulates the larger issue right there. DCUM is really good at playing armchair expert and injecting a lot of toxicity, negativity, and assuming the worst of everyone into every interaction.

Yes, it sucks. Sometimes there are things that suck and all the available options are terrible and it's a matter of picking your poison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this Burning Tree?

No school is missing teachers. At the BOE meeting there was a lot of clapping. McKnight has fixed everything. Subs, high school students are just fine in classrooms. There's an adult in every classroom. Why should anyone want a highly qualified teacher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It baffles me that people truly think this is OK. It’s ok to look at positives but it’s also ok to acknowledge this is Bs

Of course it's not OK and it's absolutely BS. But complaining on DCUM and deluging the principal and superintendent with complaint emails and taking out your frustration with the situation on the remaining teachers like it's some kind of deliberate conspiracy to anger you and ruin your kid is part of the reason we're in this mess to begin with. Teachers got sick of it and voted with their feet. Major steps need to be taken to make teaching a desirable profession and attract more applicants. Salary is part of that but another part is the right to not have to be a doormat to every parent and admin and to be the authority in your classroom. I'm sure someone will come back with, "But teachers are all stupid and badly educated and don't deserve that respect or authority," but it's a chicken/egg situation and something has to give.

I don’t blame teachers at all. They are not in charge of staffing.

I blame Central Office.
I blame the BOE.
I blame MCPS leadership.
I blame our local politicians - for allowing our schools to get so overcrowded (due to various reasons).

Nobody blames teachers.

I blame DCUM. The vitriol against teachers over the last couple of years has been shocking.

Weird. But, you’re entitled to your opinion.

Do you think that eliminating DCUM will fix all of MCPS’ issues?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It baffles me that people truly think this is OK. It’s ok to look at positives but it’s also ok to acknowledge this is Bs

Of course it's not OK and it's absolutely BS. But complaining on DCUM and deluging the principal and superintendent with complaint emails and taking out your frustration with the situation on the remaining teachers like it's some kind of deliberate conspiracy to anger you and ruin your kid is part of the reason we're in this mess to begin with. Teachers got sick of it and voted with their feet. Major steps need to be taken to make teaching a desirable profession and attract more applicants. Salary is part of that but another part is the right to not have to be a doormat to every parent and admin and to be the authority in your classroom. I'm sure someone will come back with, "But teachers are all stupid and badly educated and don't deserve that respect or authority," but it's a chicken/egg situation and something has to give.

Oh come on. It's totally reasonable to ask the principal to come up with a more equitable plan. No one is suggesting that teacher get raked over the coals or work beyond contract hours. Departmentalizing language arts and math, for instance, would at least allow all 4th graders to have a teacher in a core subject. And the incoming teacher, when they arrive, would have a lighter lift by mainly picking up science and social studies instead of all subjects.

The proposed solution may be tenable if the new teacher has already been hired and is starting in the next week or two. Otherwise, the principal needs to come up with an actual plan where all students get meaningful instruction in the core subjects.

See, but the assumption that they HAVEN'T considered all those options and had to reject them for one reason or another, is problematic. Why would you assume that they haven't thought it through, or that they didn't have valid reasons or an "actual plan?" Maybe departmentalizing things would make even more people unhappy or strain the remaining teachers even more. Our school once had to do something similar and decided to "spread the pain" like you suggest and instead of one class of angry parents they then had three. You don't have the data to make that analysis, nor should you because it's their job. Not agreeing with their judgment call when you have 10% of the information doesn't make you right and them wrong and clearly communicates the attitude that you think everyone involved is a moron who can't do their job and you as the parent know better. That basically encapsulates the larger issue right there. DCUM is really good at playing armchair expert and injecting a lot of toxicity, negativity, and assuming the worst of everyone into every interaction.

Yes, it sucks. Sometimes there are things that suck and all the available options are terrible and it's a matter of picking your poison.

You think it's okay to have random floaters teach one class while the other two classes are kept per usual just because it might lead to fewer parent complaints? You think the administration is in the right to not educate 1/3 of the grade just to keep 2/3 of parents happy? Seriously? It's not the job of the administration to take the easiest out but to find the best solution for educating students with the available resources. Resources should be spread equitably. Your view is appalling and the kind of thing that leads to law suits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It baffles me that people truly think this is OK. It’s ok to look at positives but it’s also ok to acknowledge this is Bs

Of course it's not OK and it's absolutely BS. But complaining on DCUM and deluging the principal and superintendent with complaint emails and taking out your frustration with the situation on the remaining teachers like it's some kind of deliberate conspiracy to anger you and ruin your kid is part of the reason we're in this mess to begin with. Teachers got sick of it and voted with their feet. Major steps need to be taken to make teaching a desirable profession and attract more applicants. Salary is part of that but another part is the right to not have to be a doormat to every parent and admin and to be the authority in your classroom. I'm sure someone will come back with, "But teachers are all stupid and badly educated and don't deserve that respect or authority," but it's a chicken/egg situation and something has to give.

The principal chose which 29 kids in that grade to screw over. If my kid is one of those 29, I'm going to do everything possible to create more work and more headache for them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It baffles me that people truly think this is OK. It’s ok to look at positives but it’s also ok to acknowledge this is Bs

Of course it's not OK and it's absolutely BS. But complaining on DCUM and deluging the principal and superintendent with complaint emails and taking out your frustration with the situation on the remaining teachers like it's some kind of deliberate conspiracy to anger you and ruin your kid is part of the reason we're in this mess to begin with. Teachers got sick of it and voted with their feet. Major steps need to be taken to make teaching a desirable profession and attract more applicants. Salary is part of that but another part is the right to not have to be a doormat to every parent and admin and to be the authority in your classroom. I'm sure someone will come back with, "But teachers are all stupid and badly educated and don't deserve that respect or authority," but it's a chicken/egg situation and something has to give.

Maybe one of the parents can become a long-term sub? One of the SAHM's in my kid's class last year did this. She thought she'd be subbing just once in a while, but then became a full-time sub once a teacher left in the middle of the year.

Or, maybe one of the working parents with professional experience can quit their job to become a sub.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- the 29 kids is one class. That class stays together. Here’s their schedule-

8:40- breakfast and morning circle with an “extra teacher” I think she teaches something else after she sees them.

9:15- this is reading time. They don’t know who is teaching it. They said they will try to get subs and the reading specialist will help when she can. If they don’t have a sub, it will be whomever is available.

11:15- lunch/recess

12:25- Specials. They are hoping to keep this class together and not with the not hired yet teachers.

1:10- Math with the math specialist. Once a teacher gets hired, they will be broken up into smaller classes.

2:30- Sci/SsThey don’t know who will cover. They are hoping for daily subs until they can find someone. Until then, it will most likely be a different teacher or para than reading as the teachers also all have different jobs.

The other classes get to just stay with 1 teacher all day. I know you all say that I should just think this is fine and normal, but different teachers all day and each day being different is not going to create the community that my child needs. And it will be a completely different experience than the other 4th grade classes.

Teacher here. Clearly many folks commenting have no idea how ES runs. It’s actually okay if the class has different teachers during the day, and actually pretty great if the reading specialist covers reading and math specialist covers math. They are the best trained in those subjects and are supposed to help other teachers. In fact, this is what I would advocate for - until a permanent teacher or long term substitute is hired to take on the whole day, then the class has the two math and reading specialists as primary teacher every day. Daily substitutes or a consistent para can cover homeroom and follow the SS/Science lessons given by the other grade level teachers. Specials should just happen normally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It baffles me that people truly think this is OK. It’s ok to look at positives but it’s also ok to acknowledge this is Bs

Of course it's not OK and it's absolutely BS. But complaining on DCUM and deluging the principal and superintendent with complaint emails and taking out your frustration with the situation on the remaining teachers like it's some kind of deliberate conspiracy to anger you and ruin your kid is part of the reason we're in this mess to begin with. Teachers got sick of it and voted with their feet. Major steps need to be taken to make teaching a desirable profession and attract more applicants. Salary is part of that but another part is the right to not have to be a doormat to every parent and admin and to be the authority in your classroom. I'm sure someone will come back with, "But teachers are all stupid and badly educated and don't deserve that respect or authority," but it's a chicken/egg situation and something has to give.

I don’t blame teachers at all. They are not in charge of staffing.

I blame Central Office.
I blame the BOE.
I blame MCPS leadership.
I blame our local politicians - for allowing our schools to get so overcrowded (due to various reasons).

Nobody blames teachers.

Have you just woken up from a years-long slumber?