Winter break should be two weeks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has 180 days of school "officially" these include days where each class in HS is 15 mins long because it's really an early release day, or there are zero classes. because it is a pep rally.

The schools need MORE teaching days, not fewer you absolute numpty.

You clearly have never been in a classroom. The kids stop functioning mid-May. More days are absolutely not the answer, but nice try.

This is due to teachers who also check out and start showing movies, etc. There are no expectations, so kids do not rise to them. - 15 year teacher

Not a teacher but seriously? You continue to blame teachers? I’m embarrassed for you. You clearly expect schools to do everything for you. Think twice about having kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has 180 days of school "officially" these include days where each class in HS is 15 mins long because it's really an early release day, or there are zero classes. because it is a pep rally.

The schools need MORE teaching days, not fewer you absolute numpty.

You clearly have never been in a classroom. The kids stop functioning mid-May. More days are absolutely not the answer, but nice try.

This is due to teachers who also check out and start showing movies, etc. There are no expectations, so kids do not rise to them. - 15 year teacher

Wow, you’re a teacher? Doubtful. Nice try. Teachers continue to work until the end of the term while students check out. Nice try though. Easy to claim to be someone on am anonymous forum. Pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has 180 days of school "officially" these include days where each class in HS is 15 mins long because it's really an early release day, or there are zero classes. because it is a pep rally.

The schools need MORE teaching days, not fewer you absolute numpty.

You clearly have never been in a classroom. The kids stop functioning mid-May. More days are absolutely not the answer, but nice try.

This is due to teachers who also check out and start showing movies, etc. There are no expectations, so kids do not rise to them. - 15 year teacher

Wow, you’re a teacher? Doubtful. Nice try. Teachers continue to work until the end of the term while students check out. Nice try though. Easy to claim to be someone on am anonymous forum. Pathetic.

NP. Just want to give a shout out to the teachers. I have met so many passionate, talented caring people teaching our kids. Sure, a dud here and there, but some truly amazing people who could be earning so much more. Thanks for investing in my kids, Teachers. Happy holidays!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m French. Schools have a shorter summer vacation (less brain drain), 2 weeks in the fall around All Saints Day, 2 weeks for Christmas, 2 weeks in winter, and 2 weeks for Easter.

How I wish my American children could have the same calendar here!

That’s the schedule we had overseas and it was great. So much better for students and teachers.

Seems more of a personal preference.

[Anonymous]

School year should be early-mid August til early -mid June with more frequent/longer breaks during the year. Less burnout. Practically year-round school. My sister teaches in a district like this. She would never go back to an unneeded 3-month break. 2 weeks at Christmas, 2 week at Spring, etc. 6ish weeks summer break. No re-teaching for a month in the Fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:School year should be early-mid August til early -mid June with more frequent/longer breaks during the year. Less burnout. Practically year-round school. My sister teaches in a district like this. She would never go back to an unneeded 3-month break. 2 weeks at Christmas, 2 week at Spring, etc. 6ish weeks summer break. No re-teaching for a month in the Fall.

It’s not 3 months, it’s two… we only get two more weeks than your sister. I highly doubt those two weeks provide any more of a relief from summer slide, but thanks for playing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has 180 days of school "officially" these include days where each class in HS is 15 mins long because it's really an early release day, or there are zero classes. because it is a pep rally.

The schools need MORE teaching days, not fewer you absolute numpty.

What HS?

I have children at two different high schools and they’ve never had 15 min classes on early release days. Classes were about 22-25 min long. On pep rally days, they had shorter classes, but still at least 22 min.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were in FCPS for several years. The complaint was the opposite. Why is winter break so long? I much prefer the shorter break.

If they made it longer, most of us would need to arrange childcare since most jobs don't have limits on the amount of time off their employees can have. Sure, teachers and gov employees may have limitless days off but those of us who work in the private sector have far fewer.

Right, but a lot of schools offer winter break camp through their after school programs. And for people who have to work but are willing to shell out more money, there are other specialized winter break camps (gymnastics, art, etc).

So your saying I should be willing to shell out for camps so some rich dude can go to London for holiday over Xmas break?

It is not all rich dudes. I work with lower income immigrant families who often take their kids to visit family in their home countries. Their kids end up missing 1-2 weeks of school because our winter break is so short. These kids desperately need school but would be way better off with a 2 week winter vacation. Some of these families were telling me that back in their native countries, winter break was a month long. They don’t understand the MCPS system

My students go back to their countries for a good 4-6 weeks. It doesn't matter if they have off for a week and a half or two weeks, they are still gone from mid December until the end of January.

This is my experience as well. And when they come back, they are frequent exhausted and/or ill. They would need 7-8 weeks off probably.

[Anonymous]

I teach in a high-immigrant low-income high school. We have many kids each year who leave for a month to visit their families in December. We now have to un-enroll them and then re-enroll when they return. They are mostly low-achievers and and often do not catch up at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach in a high-immigrant low-income high school. We have many kids each year who leave for a month to visit their families in December. We now have to un-enroll them and then re-enroll when they return. They are mostly low-achievers and and often do not catch up at all.

What I am learning now is that many of our newcomers are not here in the US for educational or economic opportunities. They are here because it is safer than their home countries. They fled gangs and corrupt police or national government. They don’t want to be Dreamers, they want to be alive. And the girls don’t want to be in sex work. They hope to return to their home countries. They don’t see anyone from their current community succeeding economically or academically so they don’t believe we offer anything of value other than the three meals a day my school serves. School is a place to socialize, a respite from “home”, which is often depressing and stressful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:one week at thanksgiving, 2 at Christmas, 2 at Easter, and shorten summer. Done.

Not going to happen. Done.

[Anonymous]

Any one who thinks that immigrants come here for the education has never worked in a school in MCPS. They come to work, but the laws require them to go to school. Just ask this or any other ESL teacher of the past 20 years. I watch my students leave as soon as they are able to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any one who thinks that immigrants come here for the education has never worked in a school in MCPS. They come to work, but the laws require them to go to school. Just ask this or any other ESL teacher of the past 20 years. I watch my students leave as soon as they are able to.

A lot of diversity in reasons why immigrants come here. All of my DD’s friends are African or Caribbean immigrants or the children of. They are here for education.

[Anonymous]

As a former teacher I have had all types of immigrant children at my urban school. Nigerian students are really stellar students who work hard and get good grades, similar to my Chinese and Vietnamese students. Indian and Pakistan kids are respectful but can vary in their academics. My hispanic students mostly are not always in school as they do work a lot and put priority in it. Some don't even stay long as they are transient and move a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a former teacher I have had all types of immigrant children at my urban school. Nigerian students are really stellar students who work hard and get good grades, similar to my Chinese and Vietnamese students. Indian and Pakistan kids are respectful but can vary in their academics. My hispanic students mostly are not always in school as they do work a lot and put priority in it. Some don't even stay long as they are transient and move a lot.

Stereotype much?