demoralized in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's an analogy it's like vampires guarding the blood bank. In all reality the only gate keeper should be a teachers own credentials and liscense from the state of Maryland. Get a abusive principals and micromanagers out of the game and let teachers teach with safety, security and without fear of retaliation or even fear of failure. How can teachers teach properly if they constantly fear reviews that are baseless and have more to do with office politics than productivity. How can teachers grow if they can't practice without fear of principals and bullies playing gotcha on them. They treat education like fear is healthy motivation for teachers. News flash, fear is not healthy for anyone's morale, confidence, or growth. Cheers.

As a teacher and a parent, I disagree. I see worksheets full of errors that my coworkers leave in the copy room. Not typos, but factual and procedural errors. I also have had to teach or reteaching my children things that their teachers screwed up. We should absolutely have input beyond recertifications every 5 years. I’m a career changer and know that incompetence is reported by peers in other fields. I will always go to a coworker first, but if they persist in doing slipshod work, it reflects badly on all of us. Also, if your class is so out of control every day that my students can’t concentrate, I have to say something to someone who can help support you. And you should welcome that support, because at least two classrooms are being impacted. And you want the kids to learn, don’t you. Surely, you aren’t in this for the paycheck?

Who are you? the Mother Teresa of education?

Get off your high horse and see the job for what it is. There's NO time to sit back and reflect. There's hardly any time to plan for that matter. grading? ha! What a joke! Try providing VALUABLE feedback on papers written by 30+ kids in each class!

And you're complaining about worksheets? Do you sit in the copy room waiting for someone to leave behind a sheet that's riddled with errors? If so you CLEARLY have too much time on your hands. And then you rat out colleagues? That's the BEST! unbelievable

You are part of the problem. Your attitude makes me ill. I don't rat out colleagues or look for ways to discourage or shame them. I do my best to support them b/c we're all in the same boat.

- also a teacher (over 20 years in) and a career changer

Not Mother Theresa. Just competent.
I graded 163 essays over winter break with individualized feedback. It’s my job. If I’m noble to do my job, I should quit.
Standing in line for the one copier or one school phone on our floor, I do read what’s left behind. Out of boredom from waiting, but also out of curiosity about what students are learning in other classes. And sometimes what I see is concerning enough that the ethical thing to do is to say something to the creator. Most are grateful because they don’t want to give students erroneous material and improve. If they can’t or won’t get it together, their department head should know so they can get more intensive assistance. If that’s viewed as snitching, so be it. How difficult it is to create materials with accurate facts? It is laziness and it is unfair to students and taxpayers.
You seem like one of those teachers who regards her classroom as a little fiefdom where she is the law and no one is supposed to be able to evaluate her work. But our society bears the brunt of poorly educated children.
You would want a medical professional to point out a careless error to a colleague and report repeats. Professionials have self-policed quality and driven out the incompetent and dishonest since medieval guilds. When you protect the willfully incompetent, you bring into question the integrity of the teaching cadre as a whole.

Kids are lucky to have a teacher like you.

Another educator who agrees with this one. If she's approaching teachers respectfully, and if she's only going above them when they're unresponsive -- and in the spirit of getting them support -- then I think she's got it right. I left MCPS because I was working hard and my department chair told me this was making others in my department uncomfortable. She ordered me to leave the building the minute the last bell rang, but I continued to put in overtime. That's when she called me impossible to control and told me to look for a new job that could handle someone as "intense" as me. I can laugh about it now because it's ridiculous and because my career weathered that storm, but at the time I cried every day. It was abusive and absurd. My new department chair (in a neighboring district) thanks me all the time for my dedication to kids. I'd never go back to an environment where supervisors can get away with humiliating people for holding themselves to a high standard.

another Mother Teresa

This is divisive, as clearly you wish to be a superstar. This is NOT the way to improve situations for ALL teachers, as the system at the CORE is dysfunctional.

You all don't get it.

But I'm not surprised.

9:47 you are part of the culture of mediocrity. Wonder how you treat your coworkers who simply want to do right by kids. You are NOT helping your case.

[Anonymous]

This is the whole problem with the MCPS culture. If you want to work hard and hold yourself to a high standard, then that means you want to be a "superstar." Take a hard look at yourself, 9:47, and ask yourself why you're so threatened by your high-functioning colleagues. Referring to them as Mother Theresa speaks volumes about your insecurity. How about you raise your own game instead of worrying about what others are doing well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the whole problem with the MCPS culture. If you want to work hard and hold yourself to a high standard, then that means you want to be a "superstar." Take a hard look at yourself, 9:47, and ask yourself why you're so threatened by your high-functioning colleagues. Referring to them as Mother Theresa speaks volumes about your insecurity. How about you raise your own game instead of worrying about what others are doing well?

She can’t bear to take a hard look at herself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the whole problem with the MCPS culture. If you want to work hard and hold yourself to a high standard, then that means you want to be a "superstar." Take a hard look at yourself, 9:47, and ask yourself why you're so threatened by your high-functioning colleagues. Referring to them as Mother Theresa speaks volumes about your insecurity. How about you raise your own game instead of worrying about what others are doing well?

She can’t bear to take a hard look at herself.

She justifies her own mediocrity as a teacher by ascribing blame on forces beyond her control and trying (but failing) to ridicule those who don’t stand in solidarity with her and instead continue to work diligent.

It’s like an unproductive auto worker on strike spending all her time complaining about the scabs, rather than considering why her production line turns out junk vehicles.

[Anonymous]

Yes! I'm someone who can find plenty of fault with MCPS, but one of the biggest problems is teachers like 9:47 who hold others back (and way worse) to justify their own deficiencies or unwillingness to put in the hard work it takes to do a good job. They accuse high performers of having a big ego when the real issue is that they have a fragile ego.

[Anonymous]

Soany teachers have ego trips and they will try to overlord over each other because they think they should be the principal even though they are not. They bully each other because it helps their ego. You literally have to tell these people to stop bullying me because if they don't like your style they will try to get whole teams to hate and bully you. They call this support. It's actually anti education and it feels a narcissists soul.

[Anonymous]

Feeds a narcissists soul*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Soany teachers have ego trips and they will try to overlord over each other because they think they should be the principal even though they are not. They bully each other because it helps their ego. You literally have to tell these people to stop bullying me because if they don't like your style they will try to get whole teams to hate and bully you. They call this support. It's actually anti education and it feels a narcissists soul.

I say this as gently as I can. It is 2020. You lost your MCPS teaching position, what...two years ago or more? Have you tried therapy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes! I'm someone who can find plenty of fault with MCPS, but one of the biggest problems is teachers like 9:47 who hold others back (and way worse) to justify their own deficiencies or unwillingness to put in the hard work it takes to do a good job. They accuse high performers of having a big ego when the real issue is that they have a fragile ego.

I actually have more of an issue with the teachers who believe that they are high performers and think highly of themselves but they are actually mediocre at best. There are a few teachers at my school who consider themselves to be "superstars" but they actually teach things incorrectly (but believe that they are correct), or equate "fun and popular" with good teaching. In other words, it's more about getting kids and parents to like them than actually being an effective teacher. They are the ones who cannot take constructive feedback and immediately try to cut anyone off at the knees who dares to question them. Often these teachers are in the principal's inner circles and are considered to be untouchable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes! I'm someone who can find plenty of fault with MCPS, but one of the biggest problems is teachers like 9:47 who hold others back (and way worse) to justify their own deficiencies or unwillingness to put in the hard work it takes to do a good job. They accuse high performers of having a big ego when the real issue is that they have a fragile ego.

I actually have more of an issue with the teachers who believe that they are high performers and think highly of themselves but they are actually mediocre at best. There are a few teachers at my school who consider themselves to be "superstars" but they actually teach things incorrectly (but believe that they are correct), or equate "fun and popular" with good teaching. In other words, it's more about getting kids and parents to like them than actually being an effective teacher. They are the ones who cannot take constructive feedback and immediately try to cut anyone off at the knees who dares to question them. Often these teachers are in the principal's inner circles and are considered to be untouchable.

[Anonymous]

What difference does it make if they think they're awesome? Live and let live. If they bully you, fill out a report. If they're just insufferable, try to ignore them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's an analogy it's like vampires guarding the blood bank. In all reality the only gate keeper should be a teachers own credentials and liscense from the state of Maryland. Get a abusive principals and micromanagers out of the game and let teachers teach with safety, security and without fear of retaliation or even fear of failure. How can teachers teach properly if they constantly fear reviews that are baseless and have more to do with office politics than productivity. How can teachers grow if they can't practice without fear of principals and bullies playing gotcha on them. They treat education like fear is healthy motivation for teachers. News flash, fear is not healthy for anyone's morale, confidence, or growth. Cheers.

As a teacher and a parent, I disagree. I see worksheets full of errors that my coworkers leave in the copy room. Not typos, but factual and procedural errors. I also have had to teach or reteaching my children things that their teachers screwed up. We should absolutely have input beyond recertifications every 5 years. I’m a career changer and know that incompetence is reported by peers in other fields. I will always go to a coworker first, but if they persist in doing slipshod work, it reflects badly on all of us. Also, if your class is so out of control every day that my students can’t concentrate, I have to say something to someone who can help support you. And you should welcome that support, because at least two classrooms are being impacted. And you want the kids to learn, don’t you. Surely, you aren’t in this for the paycheck?

Who are you? the Mother Teresa of education?

Get off your high horse and see the job for what it is. There's NO time to sit back and reflect. There's hardly any time to plan for that matter. grading? ha! What a joke! Try providing VALUABLE feedback on papers written by 30+ kids in each class!

And you're complaining about worksheets? Do you sit in the copy room waiting for someone to leave behind a sheet that's riddled with errors? If so you CLEARLY have too much time on your hands. And then you rat out colleagues? That's the BEST! unbelievable

You are part of the problem. Your attitude makes me ill. I don't rat out colleagues or look for ways to discourage or shame them. I do my best to support them b/c we're all in the same boat.

- also a teacher (over 20 years in) and a career changer

Not Mother Theresa. Just competent.
I graded 163 essays over winter break with individualized feedback. It’s my job. If I’m noble to do my job, I should quit.
Standing in line for the one copier or one school phone on our floor, I do read what’s left behind. Out of boredom from waiting, but also out of curiosity about what students are learning in other classes. And sometimes what I see is concerning enough that the ethical thing to do is to say something to the creator. Most are grateful because they don’t want to give students erroneous material and improve. If they can’t or won’t get it together, their department head should know so they can get more intensive assistance. If that’s viewed as snitching, so be it. How difficult it is to create materials with accurate facts? It is laziness and it is unfair to students and taxpayers.
You seem like one of those teachers who regards her classroom as a little fiefdom where she is the law and no one is supposed to be able to evaluate her work. But our society bears the brunt of poorly educated children.
You would want a medical professional to point out a careless error to a colleague and report repeats. Professionials have self-policed quality and driven out the incompetent and dishonest since medieval guilds. When you protect the willfully incompetent, you bring into question the integrity of the teaching cadre as a whole.

Kids are lucky to have a teacher like you.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's an analogy it's like vampires guarding the blood bank. In all reality the only gate keeper should be a teachers own credentials and liscense from the state of Maryland. Get a abusive principals and micromanagers out of the game and let teachers teach with safety, security and without fear of retaliation or even fear of failure. How can teachers teach properly if they constantly fear reviews that are baseless and have more to do with office politics than productivity. How can teachers grow if they can't practice without fear of principals and bullies playing gotcha on them. They treat education like fear is healthy motivation for teachers. News flash, fear is not healthy for anyone's morale, confidence, or growth. Cheers.

As a teacher and a parent, I disagree. I see worksheets full of errors that my coworkers leave in the copy room. Not typos, but factual and procedural errors. I also have had to teach or reteaching my children things that their teachers screwed up. We should absolutely have input beyond recertifications every 5 years. I’m a career changer and know that incompetence is reported by peers in other fields. I will always go to a coworker first, but if they persist in doing slipshod work, it reflects badly on all of us. Also, if your class is so out of control every day that my students can’t concentrate, I have to say something to someone who can help support you. And you should welcome that support, because at least two classrooms are being impacted. And you want the kids to learn, don’t you. Surely, you aren’t in this for the paycheck?

Who are you? the Mother Teresa of education?

Get off your high horse and see the job for what it is. There's NO time to sit back and reflect. There's hardly any time to plan for that matter. grading? ha! What a joke! Try providing VALUABLE feedback on papers written by 30+ kids in each class!

And you're complaining about worksheets? Do you sit in the copy room waiting for someone to leave behind a sheet that's riddled with errors? If so you CLEARLY have too much time on your hands. And then you rat out colleagues? That's the BEST! unbelievable

You are part of the problem. Your attitude makes me ill. I don't rat out colleagues or look for ways to discourage or shame them. I do my best to support them b/c we're all in the same boat.

- also a teacher (over 20 years in) and a career changer

Not Mother Theresa. Just competent.
I graded 163 essays over winter break with individualized feedback. It’s my job. If I’m noble to do my job, I should quit.
Standing in line for the one copier or one school phone on our floor, I do read what’s left behind. Out of boredom from waiting, but also out of curiosity about what students are learning in other classes. And sometimes what I see is concerning enough that the ethical thing to do is to say something to the creator. Most are grateful because they don’t want to give students erroneous material and improve. If they can’t or won’t get it together, their department head should know so they can get more intensive assistance. If that’s viewed as snitching, so be it. How difficult it is to create materials with accurate facts? It is laziness and it is unfair to students and taxpayers.
You seem like one of those teachers who regards her classroom as a little fiefdom where she is the law and no one is supposed to be able to evaluate her work. But our society bears the brunt of poorly educated children.
You would want a medical professional to point out a careless error to a colleague and report repeats. Professionials have self-policed quality and driven out the incompetent and dishonest since medieval guilds. When you protect the willfully incompetent, you bring into question the integrity of the teaching cadre as a whole.

Well said!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes! I'm someone who can find plenty of fault with MCPS, but one of the biggest problems is teachers like 9:47 who hold others back (and way worse) to justify their own deficiencies or unwillingness to put in the hard work it takes to do a good job. They accuse high performers of having a big ego when the real issue is that they have a fragile ego.

I actually have more of an issue with the teachers who believe that they are high performers and think highly of themselves but they are actually mediocre at best. There are a few teachers at my school who consider themselves to be "superstars" but they actually teach things incorrectly (but believe that they are correct), or equate "fun and popular" with good teaching. In other words, it's more about getting kids and parents to like them than actually being an effective teacher. They are the ones who cannot take constructive feedback and immediately try to cut anyone off at the knees who dares to question them. Often these teachers are in the principal's inner circles and are considered to be untouchable.

Why the eyeroll?

[Anonymous]

I like this thread because it makes it clear why GOOD teachers are leaving MCPS. If you want to bring your A game, you run the risk of getting crucified by colleagues who consider you a threat. You either are told you have a big ego or a Mother Theresa complex or you're conceited and so forth. If the insecure teachers spent less energy tearing good ones apart -- or worrying about who is in whose inner circle --- and more time focusing on growing as a professional, everyone would be happier, attrition would slow down, and guess what? KIDS would benefit. Too many sour grapes. Principals need to make it clear that they value excellence, though, and show everyone that they will shut down teacher-on-teacher aggression. Too many principals don't get involved at all, or maybe they think they'll have more collegiality if everyone performs at exactly the same level, even if that means everyone has to sink to the lowest common denominator.