Anyone heard from your teacher about classes today?

[Anonymous]

4th grade teacher at Murch (whom I generally like and think is doing a good job) said she is out today so she can "prepare for the second quarter."

[Anonymous]

Why do you all expect teachers to prioritize your kid's learning over their own LIVES? They can care about your kids, want them to learn, and also not be willing to DIE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is logging into Canvas today crossing a picket line?

Yet if our kids don't click on Canvas they are unexcused absent, right? This whole thing is insane. Thanks DC. Thanks WTU. You find new and creative ways to hurt our kids and disappoint us!

You mean the same kids who can turn in work with no penalty up until the last day of the term? The same kids who aren’t required to come to class or login for “attendance” until 11:59pm, yet teachers have to make sure they are learning? Okay.

Get over yourself. I have leave that I can take and it’s not your business why I’m not at work. Do you tell your clients or customers why you take a day off?

Teachers are college educated professionals who SHOULD be respected as such.

Then show up and own your job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WTU had put together a great checklist (sorry, I don't have a link). When I read through it, I remember thinking it was a good place to be but would be hard to implement, would require more money, but would actually convince me that my kids would be safe at school (and wouldn't infect the rest of the family or their teachers). Clearly leadership isn't willing to do what's needed.

the one that gave the LSAT veto power? and n-95s? most of the
safety measures on that list (hvac) have already been agreed too. that’s what’s frustrating about WTU. Their rhetoric is a moving target, and they are proposing no solutions to the issues being raised about staffing to allow for in-person, which are the main complaints getting air time. Even if DCPS granted them everything they would still refuse to a plan that gets any kids back in person. They will.not.return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you all expect teachers to prioritize your kid's learning over their own LIVES? They can care about your kids, want them to learn, and also not be willing to DIE.

because the science actually shows you will not DIE. you need to do your job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Normally I contribute quite generously to the group fund for our teacher’s holiday bonus. I will not be making a contribution this year, as they’re protesting not wanting to teach my SN child who sorely needs in-person to learn. Feels like a slap in her face.

I have zero respect for my kid’s teachers right now.

I feel exactly the same way. Not a penny.

Same.

I’d have reconsidered if my kids teachers at least had the moral fortitude to say honestly why they aren’t working. None of them did. They just lied.
Great example for the kids.

Teachers don't have to disclose why they are out for the day whether sick or otherwise. And besides... KEEP YOUR F'N MONEY... no one asked you to dig deep into your pockets and contribute during holiday season anyways. Besides, that's a drop in the bucket compared to my HIGHLY EFFECTIVE bonus I get in December anyways!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop complaining about teachers “not being honest”, we all know why that is.
Collective action is a violation of their contract, they are being smart with the language. I know this is frustrating but stop asking for the “truth” that you don’t need. We all know why they are out and most are smart enough to just say it’s a mental health day to avoid being penalized.

there’s nothing smart about thinking calling it a mental health day saves them from any penalties. In fact, that’s quite stupid to believe.

I just wouldn't get too caught up in what any teacher says. For all we know, some teachers may totally disagree with this, but feel it's too socially or professionally risky not to take part. I don't think that's something you can discern from one email. (FWIW, our principal emailed yesterday to say we likely wouldn't have live class due a union action.)

It's also worth nothing that, while this whole situation may be a petty frustration for some, MANY children in DC depend on their schools for care, food, and stability – and they haven't had that since MARCH. Just because this isn't objectively dire for some families doesn't mean it isn't for others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Normally I contribute quite generously to the group fund for our teacher’s holiday bonus. I will not be making a contribution this year, as they’re protesting not wanting to teach my SN child who sorely needs in-person to learn. Feels like a slap in her face.

I have zero respect for my kid’s teachers right now.

You're mad that they aren't prioritizing your needs while making no attempt to show any bit of concern for theirs. Maybe if everyone thought about someone else instead of themselves, we wouldn't be in this mess to begin with?

she should be concerned with their need never to come back to work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These teachers should be ashamed of themselves.

Seriously. They get the entire rest of the week off from having to deign themselves to see children on a screen, they need to pull this nonsense as well while our taxes pay their salaries? Public sector unions should be banned.

It’s interesting how you think if they’re not working with kids they have the day off. You do know planning is work right?

Or should we stop paying lawyers, doctors, office workers, etc for any paperwork or planning they have to do?

First of all, please read the bolded part. I did not say they had the week off. Maybe your teacher called in "sick" the day that she was supposed to teach reading comprehension?

Also don't pretend that planning time is equivalent to actual teaching time in terms of benefit to children. The same with doctors and lawyers- if my doctor said that she had to cancel my appointment but would research my complaints in the intervening period I would not be happy with that. Adding two additional planning days to during a week when there were already two days without in person instruction is absolutely less taxing than actual teaching. My teacher friends go on and on about how much easier people with office jobs have it because they have to be "on" all day. Which I agree with and is why I wouldn't be a teacher BUT you can't then say that planning is the same amount of work as actual teaching. Yes it is work but not equivalent work.

I’m a teacher in a neighboring school district although I live in DC and my kids go to DCPS schools. Planning is actually a huge part of the job. I usually spend 4-6 hours planning for one lesson. Sometimes more and sometimes less. Maybe I spend more time than most because this is only my 3rd year teaching and I have a new prep this year. I also teach HS which is obviously very content heavy but planning is a very heavy burden

If you teach 5 classes per day, 5 days per week, that's (conservatively) 100 hours of planning, on top of your 20 or so hours of teaching. There are 168 hours in a week. You're telling us that there are only 48 hours per week that you are not teaching or preparing? That you have an average of less that 7 hours per day to eat, sleep, go grocery shopping, etc.?

I don't believe you. And if somehow this is true, you should find a new job.

[Anonymous]

My kids teacher just texted and at least was once and said they are on strike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These teachers should be ashamed of themselves.

Seriously. They get the entire rest of the week off from having to deign themselves to see children on a screen, they need to pull this nonsense as well while our taxes pay their salaries? Public sector unions should be banned.

It’s interesting how you think if they’re not working with kids they have the day off. You do know planning is work right?

Or should we stop paying lawyers, doctors, office workers, etc for any paperwork or planning they have to do?

First of all, please read the bolded part. I did not say they had the week off. Maybe your teacher called in "sick" the day that she was supposed to teach reading comprehension?

Also don't pretend that planning time is equivalent to actual teaching time in terms of benefit to children. The same with doctors and lawyers- if my doctor said that she had to cancel my appointment but would research my complaints in the intervening period I would not be happy with that. Adding two additional planning days to during a week when there were already two days without in person instruction is absolutely less taxing than actual teaching. My teacher friends go on and on about how much easier people with office jobs have it because they have to be "on" all day. Which I agree with and is why I wouldn't be a teacher BUT you can't then say that planning is the same amount of work as actual teaching. Yes it is work but not equivalent work.

I’m a teacher in a neighboring school district although I live in DC and my kids go to DCPS schools. Planning is actually a huge part of the job. I usually spend 4-6 hours planning for one lesson. Sometimes more and sometimes less. Maybe I spend more time than most because this is only my 3rd year teaching and I have a new prep this year. I also teach HS which is obviously very content heavy but planning is a very heavy burden

If you teach 5 classes per day, 5 days per week, that's (conservatively) 100 hours of planning, on top of your 20 or so hours of teaching. There are 168 hours in a week. You're telling us that there are only 48 hours per week that you are not teaching or preparing? That you have an average of less that 7 hours per day to eat, sleep, go grocery shopping, etc.?

I don't believe you. And if somehow this is true, you should find a new job.

HS teacher likely uses 1-2 lessons per day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Normally I contribute quite generously to the group fund for our teacher’s holiday bonus. I will not be making a contribution this year, as they’re protesting not wanting to teach my SN child who sorely needs in-person to learn. Feels like a slap in her face.

I have zero respect for my kid’s teachers right now.

I feel exactly the same way. Not a penny.

Same.

I’d have reconsidered if my kids teachers at least had the moral fortitude to say honestly why they aren’t working. None of them did. They just lied.
Great example for the kids.

Teachers don't have to disclose why they are out for the day whether sick or otherwise. And besides... KEEP YOUR F'N MONEY... no one asked you to dig deep into your pockets and contribute during holiday season anyways. Besides, that's a drop in the bucket compared to my HIGHLY EFFECTIVE bonus I get in December anyways!

That's true. But there's a difference between not disclosing and lying. It should be easy to understand why people are annoyed at being lied to.

[Anonymous]

So much love and gratitude to my daughter's teacher who showed up in support of the special need kids who NEED to go back (not my daughter)

[Anonymous]

NP here: parents that say teachers don't care about children are deranged. DERANGED!

The person who says they give generously? Please, I gagged a little in the back of my throat. Clearly you think teaching is a quid pro quo. It's not and you owe your child an apology for teaching them it is.

Give or don't give, no one cares and the new teacher will never know. Just like they never knew it was you before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you all expect teachers to prioritize your kid's learning over their own LIVES? They can care about your kids, want them to learn, and also not be willing to DIE.

because the science actually shows you will not DIE. you need to do your job.

What other school district has as many black teachers and a 70% obesity rate (ward 7&8) and is in person?