Why don't teachers demand more planning time?

[Anonymous]

Seriously. It's insane that teachers are flat out expected to spend hours beyond their contract time just to meet the bare minimum requirements of their job. What little of their planning time they receive is eaten up by meetings, yet they don't say anything. Teachers, why don't you stand up for yourselves and say enough is enough?

[Anonymous]

They'd probably lengthen the school day, which we don't want. I'd rather work at home.

[Anonymous]

What makes you think that teachers don't say anything?

Planning time is one of those things that is negotiated in union contracts, at least in union states. But there are lots of issues facing education, and this is just one of them.

[Anonymous]

I am a teacher and honestly wonder this myself. So many of my colleagues are sheep and just keep setting the precedent that they'll accept meeting after meeting during their planning time. Today we had a data chat scheduled during our lunch (supposed to be 30 minute duty free) and recess. I only stayed for half so that I could eat my lunch while completing some paperwork that was due today. I do always work through lunch (but on my own planning or admin work) because then I don't have to stay before or after school for 30 minutes longer than I have to.

I remember when I first started working as a teacher and I was so fearful of speaking out or doing something wrong and getting in trouble for it (like not attending a meeting scheduled during my lunch time). The fear is real because I did speak out and I went to the union about a few things and my principal found out and I was on her s**t list for a few years. I stayed under the radar for a while and now the things they take up our time with are so out of control that I can't just go along to get along. And I don't understand how more people don't feel this way as well and actually act on it instead of complaining to each other about it.

[Anonymous]

I think most would settle for actual teaching time. They don’t even seem to get that these days, with all the behavioral issues etc to deal with.

[Anonymous]

People are afraid of retribution from admin.

Even in some Right To Work districts such as those in VA there may be school board policies that are meant to protect teacher planning time, but admin doesn't always adhere to them. Look at FCPS for example. There are SB policies that specify how much planning time (collaborative vs. individual teacher directed) there should be each week but many administrators either don't know about them or choose to ignore. Ask HR and you'll get some vague response that leaves the policies open to interpretation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are afraid of retribution from admin.

Even in some Right To Work districts such as those in VA there may be school board policies that are meant to protect teacher planning time, but admin doesn't always adhere to them. Look at FCPS for example. There are SB policies that specify how much planning time (collaborative vs. individual teacher directed) there should be each week but many administrators either don't know about them or choose to ignore. Ask HR and you'll get some vague response that leaves the policies open to interpretation.

This exactly. I'm in MCPS and if you read the contract there's a lot of "other duties as assigned" ,"up to the discretion of the principal/as deemed necessary by the principal", "for the benefit of the school" and "as related to the School Improvement Plan". Basically principals can get away with anything they want because of the way the contract is written. It's really not worth more than the paper it's printed on.

[Anonymous]

Because we are actually never done planning/ preparing. Seriously, we are never done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are afraid of retribution from admin.

Even in some Right To Work districts such as those in VA there may be school board policies that are meant to protect teacher planning time, but admin doesn't always adhere to them. Look at FCPS for example. There are SB policies that specify how much planning time (collaborative vs. individual teacher directed) there should be each week but many administrators either don't know about them or choose to ignore. Ask HR and you'll get some vague response that leaves the policies open to interpretation.

This exactly. I'm in MCPS and if you read the contract there's a lot of "other duties as assigned" ,"up to the discretion of the principal/as deemed necessary by the principal", "for the benefit of the school" and "as related to the School Improvement Plan". Basically principals can get away with anything they want because of the way the contract is written. It's really not worth more than the paper it's printed on.

Policies can be more specific than that. Here is the wording in FCPS’ policy 4422.10 as it pertains to elementary planning time:

V. ELEMENTARY TEACHING ASSIGNMENTS (Grades K-6)
Elementary teachers engaged in the responsibilities associated with their position on a full- time basis shall be allowed 300 minutes of planning time per week or 600 minutes over a 2-week period. Within that time, a minimum of 60 minutes of collaborative planning time and 240 minutes of teacher-directed planning times per week or 120 minutes of collaborative planning time and 480 minutes of teacher-directed planning times over a 2- week period will be provided.
Classroom planning time is provided during art, physical education, music, and/or other instructional programming. Other certified personnel without direct classroom responsibilities may also be assigned in a manner that provides planning time. Such assignments may only exceed 10 hours per week per position with the approval of the region assistant superintendent.
Every effort shall be made to avoid assigning shared instructional personnel to more than two schools in one day. Inclusion of students with special needs or scheduling self- contained special education classes shall be reviewed at the school level based on the students’ individualized education programs (IEP).

[Anonymous]

Have you not been aware of all the teaching strikes around the country for this very thing? Do you expect to be held personally responsible for not single handedly changing everything that isn’t great about YOUR job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a teacher and honestly wonder this myself. So many of my colleagues are sheep and just keep setting the precedent that they'll accept meeting after meeting during their planning time. Today we had a data chat scheduled during our lunch (supposed to be 30 minute duty free) and recess. I only stayed for half so that I could eat my lunch while completing some paperwork that was due today. I do always work through lunch (but on my own planning or admin work) because then I don't have to stay before or after school for 30 minutes longer than I have to.

I remember when I first started working as a teacher and I was so fearful of speaking out or doing something wrong and getting in trouble for it (like not attending a meeting scheduled during my lunch time). The fear is real because I did speak out and I went to the union about a few things and my principal found out and I was on her s**t list for a few years. I stayed under the radar for a while and now the things they take up our time with are so out of control that I can't just go along to get along. And I don't understand how more people don't feel this way as well and actually act on it instead of complaining to each other about it.

They're too scared to complain. This is why there needs to be a real teacher's union in all states.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They'd probably lengthen the school day, which we don't want. I'd rather work at home.

Well if that were too happen, teachers should speak out about that as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you not been aware of all the teaching strikes around the country for this very thing? Do you expect to be held personally responsible for not single handedly changing everything that isn’t great about YOUR job?

I'm in Virginia. That doesn't happen here.

[Anonymous]

How would that happen? There is a shortage of teachers and subs. The choice would be to lengthen the school day or shorten classes. The obvious solution would be to stop all meetings. Just yesterday I was told I could not say no to parent meeting requests. More come in than you can imagine just to touch base for students with no concerns and most are from freshman parents. There simply is not time to meet with parents during the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What makes you think that teachers don't say anything?

Planning time is one of those things that is negotiated in union contracts, at least in union states. But there are lots of issues facing education, and this is just one of them.

Because I used to be a teacher. Teachers don't complain to administration. They just sit back and take it.