Received an email that DS teacher quit Friday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That sucks, and I'm sorry. There must be something really difficult going on in that teacher's life right to make such a decision.

She probably got fed up with the a-hole parents.

Honestly, this is probably accurate.

I wouldn't blame her.

Not this late in the year. It’s unprofessional and rude. Anyone can work another 6 weeks. That’s a really $hitty thing to do to her students. Just finish the damn year and move on.

Why should she wait six weeks? Teachers don't get paid for the summer. So her leaving now for a better job means a better financial future long-term. OP doesn't like it I'm sure she knows were the sub sign-up forms are. It won't even be that long, just six weeks.

Wow, the disrespect towards teachers just doesn't stop.

DP: Why is this disrespect? Teachers are supposed to give up better financial offers just because you think they should conform to your idea of professionalism? They owe it to their students? The same teachers who routinely get pink slips every spring and often don't know if/where they are going to work the next year until mid-summer? The same teachers who have been putting up with a ton of crap from so many angles the past few years? Putting teachers on a pedestal who will suffer through anything--give up their own and their family's well-being-- for their students is not "respect" it's an unreasonable expectation. To couch it as 'respect' is just extra gaslighting. These and many other unreasonable demands are what is gutting the teacher profession. Sure, I'd prefer a teacher--or any worker-- not quit without notice but I can totally understand why someone would if they are at the breaking point. And only hr and the teacher know the actual situation, not OP. But if we don't course correct on demands on teachers, the issue is not whether you'll have the same teacher for the next month or so, but whether you'll have any at all next year.

Spare us your union BS. Unprofessional behavior is unprofessional behavior in any field.

Live in denial of the growing teacher shortage then.

Other fields have labor shortages right now so spare us all the sanctimony. Teachers are respected when they actually behave liked grown-ups.

DP. Okay. We'll see what happens, then, won't we?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look-teaching is hard and there are good teachers and bad teachers, professional and skilled and unprofessional and unskilled. Like any profession! There’s a weird dynamic reminiscent of the gross police unions where any criticism of any teacher is taken as a shocking moral outrage. Suck it up buttercups-if you’re not a bad teacher no one’s talking abt you.

I'm not a teacher, but know the data-- there are an estimated currently .59 possible teachers (not just licensed, this includes provisional and alternately licensed etc.) available for every position (private, public, charter) in the US and the numbers are going down fast. This is SO much lower than it's ever been. As existing teachers have to cover 1.5x as much it's only going to accelerate. Add in the heightened vitriol. So I'm pretty sure it's going to be us parents who are going to have to "suck it up buttercup" as these teachers realize they don't have to put up with unreasonable job conditions. Excellent, highly experienced teachers are quitting ALL OVER and nobody wants to step in.

I don’t think anyone should stay year after year in a miserable job nor do I think parents need to act like each and every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint.

No one has to act like every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint. (That's part of the problem actually---teachers are put on a pedestal while often being denied basic professional treatment--and then the accountability that comes with that). We're just saying she can quit like anyone else can. She doesn't have to be professional in the ways you think she should if she doesn't want to be. You're free to criticize that, but saying that she's free to quit doesn't mean you're disrespecting teachers, just acknowledging they have the same agency as everyone else even though your kids are depending on them and it's really disappointing. And pointing out that she's in the power position here--there is a nationwide shortage that is a huge crisis. You don't actually employ her. People can elect a different school board, whine about taxes, complain about unions or the lack of unions, but the reality is that many skilled and unskilled, professional and unprofessional teachers are walking out across the whole country--whether schools stayed open or closed during the pandemic, whether they are in red or blue counties and states, rich and poor districts-- and we're all going to have to face this and figure out what to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look-teaching is hard and there are good teachers and bad teachers, professional and skilled and unprofessional and unskilled. Like any profession! There’s a weird dynamic reminiscent of the gross police unions where any criticism of any teacher is taken as a shocking moral outrage. Suck it up buttercups-if you’re not a bad teacher no one’s talking abt you.

I'm not a teacher, but know the data-- there are an estimated currently .59 possible teachers (not just licensed, this includes provisional and alternately licensed etc.) available for every position (private, public, charter) in the US and the numbers are going down fast. This is SO much lower than it's ever been. As existing teachers have to cover 1.5x as much it's only going to accelerate. Add in the heightened vitriol. So I'm pretty sure it's going to be us parents who are going to have to "suck it up buttercup" as these teachers realize they don't have to put up with unreasonable job conditions. Excellent, highly experienced teachers are quitting ALL OVER and nobody wants to step in.

I don’t think anyone should stay year after year in a miserable job nor do I think parents need to act like each and every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint.

No one has to act like every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint. (That's part of the problem actually---teachers are put on a pedestal while often being denied basic professional treatment--and then the accountability that comes with that). We're just saying she can quit like anyone else can. She doesn't have to be professional in the ways you think she should if she doesn't want to be. You're free to criticize that, but saying that she's free to quit doesn't mean you're disrespecting teachers, just acknowledging they have the same agency as everyone else even though your kids are depending on them and it's really disappointing. And pointing out that she's in the power position here--there is a nationwide shortage that is a huge crisis. You don't actually employ her. People can elect a different school board, whine about taxes, complain about unions or the lack of unions, but the reality is that many skilled and unskilled, professional and unprofessional teachers are walking out across the whole country--whether schools stayed open or closed during the pandemic, whether they are in red or blue counties and states, rich and poor districts-- and we're all going to have to face this and figure out what to do.

Omg no one is saying she’s not free to quit! Op said she’s bummed for her 5th grader and half the responses are like “she’s not an indentured servant! You can’t force her to work! She’s a hUMaN bEeInG!”

No sh1t! Of course she f%@king is!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look-teaching is hard and there are good teachers and bad teachers, professional and skilled and unprofessional and unskilled. Like any profession! There’s a weird dynamic reminiscent of the gross police unions where any criticism of any teacher is taken as a shocking moral outrage. Suck it up buttercups-if you’re not a bad teacher no one’s talking abt you.

I'm not a teacher, but know the data-- there are an estimated currently .59 possible teachers (not just licensed, this includes provisional and alternately licensed etc.) available for every position (private, public, charter) in the US and the numbers are going down fast. This is SO much lower than it's ever been. As existing teachers have to cover 1.5x as much it's only going to accelerate. Add in the heightened vitriol. So I'm pretty sure it's going to be us parents who are going to have to "suck it up buttercup" as these teachers realize they don't have to put up with unreasonable job conditions. Excellent, highly experienced teachers are quitting ALL OVER and nobody wants to step in.

I don’t think anyone should stay year after year in a miserable job nor do I think parents need to act like each and every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint.

No one has to act like every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint. (That's part of the problem actually---teachers are put on a pedestal while often being denied basic professional treatment--and then the accountability that comes with that). We're just saying she can quit like anyone else can. She doesn't have to be professional in the ways you think she should if she doesn't want to be. You're free to criticize that, but saying that she's free to quit doesn't mean you're disrespecting teachers, just acknowledging they have the same agency as everyone else even though your kids are depending on them and it's really disappointing. And pointing out that she's in the power position here--there is a nationwide shortage that is a huge crisis. You don't actually employ her. People can elect a different school board, whine about taxes, complain about unions or the lack of unions, but the reality is that many skilled and unskilled, professional and unprofessional teachers are walking out across the whole country--whether schools stayed open or closed during the pandemic, whether they are in red or blue counties and states, rich and poor districts-- and we're all going to have to face this and figure out what to do.

Omg no one is saying she’s not free to quit! Op said she’s bummed for her 5th grader and half the responses are like “she’s not an indentured servant! You can’t force her to work! She’s a hUMaN bEeInG!”

No sh1t! Of course she f%@king is!

Do you know what "tone" is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look-teaching is hard and there are good teachers and bad teachers, professional and skilled and unprofessional and unskilled. Like any profession! There’s a weird dynamic reminiscent of the gross police unions where any criticism of any teacher is taken as a shocking moral outrage. Suck it up buttercups-if you’re not a bad teacher no one’s talking abt you.

I'm not a teacher, but know the data-- there are an estimated currently .59 possible teachers (not just licensed, this includes provisional and alternately licensed etc.) available for every position (private, public, charter) in the US and the numbers are going down fast. This is SO much lower than it's ever been. As existing teachers have to cover 1.5x as much it's only going to accelerate. Add in the heightened vitriol. So I'm pretty sure it's going to be us parents who are going to have to "suck it up buttercup" as these teachers realize they don't have to put up with unreasonable job conditions. Excellent, highly experienced teachers are quitting ALL OVER and nobody wants to step in.

I don’t think anyone should stay year after year in a miserable job nor do I think parents need to act like each and every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint.

No one has to act like every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint. (That's part of the problem actually---teachers are put on a pedestal while often being denied basic professional treatment--and then the accountability that comes with that). We're just saying she can quit like anyone else can. She doesn't have to be professional in the ways you think she should if she doesn't want to be. You're free to criticize that, but saying that she's free to quit doesn't mean you're disrespecting teachers, just acknowledging they have the same agency as everyone else even though your kids are depending on them and it's really disappointing. And pointing out that she's in the power position here--there is a nationwide shortage that is a huge crisis. You don't actually employ her. People can elect a different school board, whine about taxes, complain about unions or the lack of unions, but the reality is that many skilled and unskilled, professional and unprofessional teachers are walking out across the whole country--whether schools stayed open or closed during the pandemic, whether they are in red or blue counties and states, rich and poor districts-- and we're all going to have to face this and figure out what to do.

Omg no one is saying she’s not free to quit! Op said she’s bummed for her 5th grader and half the responses are like “she’s not an indentured servant! You can’t force her to work! She’s a hUMaN bEeInG!”

No sh1t! Of course she f%@king is!

Do you know what "tone" is?

Do you know what histrionic is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look-teaching is hard and there are good teachers and bad teachers, professional and skilled and unprofessional and unskilled. Like any profession! There’s a weird dynamic reminiscent of the gross police unions where any criticism of any teacher is taken as a shocking moral outrage. Suck it up buttercups-if you’re not a bad teacher no one’s talking abt you.

I'm not a teacher, but know the data-- there are an estimated currently .59 possible teachers (not just licensed, this includes provisional and alternately licensed etc.) available for every position (private, public, charter) in the US and the numbers are going down fast. This is SO much lower than it's ever been. As existing teachers have to cover 1.5x as much it's only going to accelerate. Add in the heightened vitriol. So I'm pretty sure it's going to be us parents who are going to have to "suck it up buttercup" as these teachers realize they don't have to put up with unreasonable job conditions. Excellent, highly experienced teachers are quitting ALL OVER and nobody wants to step in.

I don’t think anyone should stay year after year in a miserable job nor do I think parents need to act like each and every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint.

No one has to act like every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint. (That's part of the problem actually---teachers are put on a pedestal while often being denied basic professional treatment--and then the accountability that comes with that). We're just saying she can quit like anyone else can. She doesn't have to be professional in the ways you think she should if she doesn't want to be. You're free to criticize that, but saying that she's free to quit doesn't mean you're disrespecting teachers, just acknowledging they have the same agency as everyone else even though your kids are depending on them and it's really disappointing. And pointing out that she's in the power position here--there is a nationwide shortage that is a huge crisis. You don't actually employ her. People can elect a different school board, whine about taxes, complain about unions or the lack of unions, but the reality is that many skilled and unskilled, professional and unprofessional teachers are walking out across the whole country--whether schools stayed open or closed during the pandemic, whether they are in red or blue counties and states, rich and poor districts-- and we're all going to have to face this and figure out what to do.

You think you're right. And I think you're wrong. Some professions are different, including teaching. That's known by both teachers and non-teachers. The expectation of a teacher staying on until the end of the year is understood by all parties.

Maybe the pandemic has changed that. But I don't think that change will benefit teachers or anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look-teaching is hard and there are good teachers and bad teachers, professional and skilled and unprofessional and unskilled. Like any profession! There’s a weird dynamic reminiscent of the gross police unions where any criticism of any teacher is taken as a shocking moral outrage. Suck it up buttercups-if you’re not a bad teacher no one’s talking abt you.

I'm not a teacher, but know the data-- there are an estimated currently .59 possible teachers (not just licensed, this includes provisional and alternately licensed etc.) available for every position (private, public, charter) in the US and the numbers are going down fast. This is SO much lower than it's ever been. As existing teachers have to cover 1.5x as much it's only going to accelerate. Add in the heightened vitriol. So I'm pretty sure it's going to be us parents who are going to have to "suck it up buttercup" as these teachers realize they don't have to put up with unreasonable job conditions. Excellent, highly experienced teachers are quitting ALL OVER and nobody wants to step in.

I don’t think anyone should stay year after year in a miserable job nor do I think parents need to act like each and every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint.

No one has to act like every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint. (That's part of the problem actually---teachers are put on a pedestal while often being denied basic professional treatment--and then the accountability that comes with that). We're just saying she can quit like anyone else can. She doesn't have to be professional in the ways you think she should if she doesn't want to be. You're free to criticize that, but saying that she's free to quit doesn't mean you're disrespecting teachers, just acknowledging they have the same agency as everyone else even though your kids are depending on them and it's really disappointing. And pointing out that she's in the power position here--there is a nationwide shortage that is a huge crisis. You don't actually employ her. People can elect a different school board, whine about taxes, complain about unions or the lack of unions, but the reality is that many skilled and unskilled, professional and unprofessional teachers are walking out across the whole country--whether schools stayed open or closed during the pandemic, whether they are in red or blue counties and states, rich and poor districts-- and we're all going to have to face this and figure out what to do.

Omg no one is saying she’s not free to quit! Op said she’s bummed for her 5th grader and half the responses are like “she’s not an indentured servant! You can’t force her to work! She’s a hUMaN bEeInG!”

No sh1t! Of course she f%@king is!

Do you know what "tone" is?

Do you know what histrionic is?

If you leave your job, is anyone going to point out that you took the things that you purchased with your own money home with you, even if other people enjoyed them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look-teaching is hard and there are good teachers and bad teachers, professional and skilled and unprofessional and unskilled. Like any profession! There’s a weird dynamic reminiscent of the gross police unions where any criticism of any teacher is taken as a shocking moral outrage. Suck it up buttercups-if you’re not a bad teacher no one’s talking abt you.

I'm not a teacher, but know the data-- there are an estimated currently .59 possible teachers (not just licensed, this includes provisional and alternately licensed etc.) available for every position (private, public, charter) in the US and the numbers are going down fast. This is SO much lower than it's ever been. As existing teachers have to cover 1.5x as much it's only going to accelerate. Add in the heightened vitriol. So I'm pretty sure it's going to be us parents who are going to have to "suck it up buttercup" as these teachers realize they don't have to put up with unreasonable job conditions. Excellent, highly experienced teachers are quitting ALL OVER and nobody wants to step in.

I don’t think anyone should stay year after year in a miserable job nor do I think parents need to act like each and every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint.

No one has to act like every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint. (That's part of the problem actually---teachers are put on a pedestal while often being denied basic professional treatment--and then the accountability that comes with that). We're just saying she can quit like anyone else can. She doesn't have to be professional in the ways you think she should if she doesn't want to be. You're free to criticize that, but saying that she's free to quit doesn't mean you're disrespecting teachers, just acknowledging they have the same agency as everyone else even though your kids are depending on them and it's really disappointing. And pointing out that she's in the power position here--there is a nationwide shortage that is a huge crisis. You don't actually employ her. People can elect a different school board, whine about taxes, complain about unions or the lack of unions, but the reality is that many skilled and unskilled, professional and unprofessional teachers are walking out across the whole country--whether schools stayed open or closed during the pandemic, whether they are in red or blue counties and states, rich and poor districts-- and we're all going to have to face this and figure out what to do.

You think you're right. And I think you're wrong. Some professions are different, including teaching. That's known by both teachers and non-teachers. The expectation of a teacher staying on until the end of the year is understood by all parties.

Maybe the pandemic has changed that. But I don't think that change will benefit teachers or anyone else.

The problem is in insisting that they aren't any different from anyone else but also expecting them to be different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look-teaching is hard and there are good teachers and bad teachers, professional and skilled and unprofessional and unskilled. Like any profession! There’s a weird dynamic reminiscent of the gross police unions where any criticism of any teacher is taken as a shocking moral outrage. Suck it up buttercups-if you’re not a bad teacher no one’s talking abt you.

I'm not a teacher, but know the data-- there are an estimated currently .59 possible teachers (not just licensed, this includes provisional and alternately licensed etc.) available for every position (private, public, charter) in the US and the numbers are going down fast. This is SO much lower than it's ever been. As existing teachers have to cover 1.5x as much it's only going to accelerate. Add in the heightened vitriol. So I'm pretty sure it's going to be us parents who are going to have to "suck it up buttercup" as these teachers realize they don't have to put up with unreasonable job conditions. Excellent, highly experienced teachers are quitting ALL OVER and nobody wants to step in.

I don’t think anyone should stay year after year in a miserable job nor do I think parents need to act like each and every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint.

No one has to act like every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint. (That's part of the problem actually---teachers are put on a pedestal while often being denied basic professional treatment--and then the accountability that comes with that). We're just saying she can quit like anyone else can. She doesn't have to be professional in the ways you think she should if she doesn't want to be. You're free to criticize that, but saying that she's free to quit doesn't mean you're disrespecting teachers, just acknowledging they have the same agency as everyone else even though your kids are depending on them and it's really disappointing. And pointing out that she's in the power position here--there is a nationwide shortage that is a huge crisis. You don't actually employ her. People can elect a different school board, whine about taxes, complain about unions or the lack of unions, but the reality is that many skilled and unskilled, professional and unprofessional teachers are walking out across the whole country--whether schools stayed open or closed during the pandemic, whether they are in red or blue counties and states, rich and poor districts-- and we're all going to have to face this and figure out what to do.

You think you're right. And I think you're wrong. Some professions are different, including teaching. That's known by both teachers and non-teachers. The expectation of a teacher staying on until the end of the year is understood by all parties.

Maybe the pandemic has changed that. But I don't think that change will benefit teachers or anyone else.

The problem is in insisting that they aren't any different from anyone else but also expecting them to be different.

Teenagers give notice before quitting a fast food job. If you don’t want to be held to that high standard fair enough!

[Anonymous]

The kids will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No offense, but my job doesn’t do anything for my anniversary at the job. I got a coin and a certificate for my 5 year anniversary. I am coming up on my 10 year anniversary and I bet I get the same thing. There is no bonus, no special gift. My job pays better then a Teachers but that was my choice. I don’t get an annual bonus, that is not a part of my compensation packet, which was also my choice.

People choose jobs with different pay packets. A bonus is a part of that packet. My brothers job has bonuses built into his pay packet. If he doesn’t hit his bonuses, then he should be rethinking his job.

I am not sure why people think Teachers should get a bonus, it is not a part of their pay package. Yes, it is nice, but if it is that important then it should be written into the contract.

Teacher appreciation week at our school is mainly different special meals, because the PTA knows that the Teachers don’t need or want the coffee mugs and water bottles. I know they ask for food allergies and requirements so that all the Teachers get food that they like. Winter Break and end of the year Room gifts include gift cards but none of that is a guarantee. Our parents and PTA do it because there is enough money to do it but that is not a guarantee. Not every school has families with the money to do that.

I get that Teaching is hard and getting harder but most Teachers know what their compensation package looks like. I think Teachers should be paid more but the idea that anniversary’s should be marked with a bonus or something that isn’t included in the contract is far fetched.

NP. Sure. And I don't disagree.

It's a choice. And now I am asking you if it's okay that teachers make the same choice as you did to get a job with the same actual benefits as you -- by leaving the profession.

It's okay for them to make the same choice as you, right? No hard feeling, just a choice everyone is free to make. Right?

Yup, they can leave when they want. I would be upset if one of the people on my team left in the middle of a project that they were assigned but they have the right to do so. They will have burned some professional bridges for doing so, unless they had a really good reason. And I can think of a bunch of good reasons for leaving immediately. But most of the people who have quit before finishing out their tasks end up burning bridges. That is their choice.

I can think of reasons why a Teacher might quit right now that would be valid in the sense that they really do have leave right now and there is no other choice. I hope for the Teachers sake that they are not in that tight of a position.

So yes, the Teacher can quit when they want. But don’t think that it looks bad to quit when you agreed to teach a specific period of time and don’t be surprised that parents and students find it upsetting.

DS had a Teacher take a leave of absence last year starting after the winter break. She sent an email home explaining why. We all understood and are happy to see her back this year. A Teacher sending a note home saying they quit with little explanation is not likely to be as well received. I get that the Teacher doesn’t care but it sounds like the response one of my workers leaving mid project would get from me. Bye, can’t stop you, but don’t put me down as a referal for future jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look-teaching is hard and there are good teachers and bad teachers, professional and skilled and unprofessional and unskilled. Like any profession! There’s a weird dynamic reminiscent of the gross police unions where any criticism of any teacher is taken as a shocking moral outrage. Suck it up buttercups-if you’re not a bad teacher no one’s talking abt you.

I'm not a teacher, but know the data-- there are an estimated currently .59 possible teachers (not just licensed, this includes provisional and alternately licensed etc.) available for every position (private, public, charter) in the US and the numbers are going down fast. This is SO much lower than it's ever been. As existing teachers have to cover 1.5x as much it's only going to accelerate. Add in the heightened vitriol. So I'm pretty sure it's going to be us parents who are going to have to "suck it up buttercup" as these teachers realize they don't have to put up with unreasonable job conditions. Excellent, highly experienced teachers are quitting ALL OVER and nobody wants to step in.

I don’t think anyone should stay year after year in a miserable job nor do I think parents need to act like each and every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint.

No one has to act like every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint. (That's part of the problem actually---teachers are put on a pedestal while often being denied basic professional treatment--and then the accountability that comes with that). We're just saying she can quit like anyone else can. She doesn't have to be professional in the ways you think she should if she doesn't want to be. You're free to criticize that, but saying that she's free to quit doesn't mean you're disrespecting teachers, just acknowledging they have the same agency as everyone else even though your kids are depending on them and it's really disappointing. And pointing out that she's in the power position here--there is a nationwide shortage that is a huge crisis. You don't actually employ her. People can elect a different school board, whine about taxes, complain about unions or the lack of unions, but the reality is that many skilled and unskilled, professional and unprofessional teachers are walking out across the whole country--whether schools stayed open or closed during the pandemic, whether they are in red or blue counties and states, rich and poor districts-- and we're all going to have to face this and figure out what to do.

You think you're right. And I think you're wrong. Some professions are different, including teaching. That's known by both teachers and non-teachers. The expectation of a teacher staying on until the end of the year is understood by all parties.

Maybe the pandemic has changed that. But I don't think that change will benefit teachers or anyone else.

The problem is in insisting that they aren't any different from anyone else but also expecting them to be different.

Teenagers give notice before quitting a fast food job. If you don’t want to be held to that high standard fair enough!

Wait, just to be sure -- you are claiming most teenagers give notice before quitting a fast food job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids will be fine.

Funny how this line is always pulled out to justify bad action by adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look-teaching is hard and there are good teachers and bad teachers, professional and skilled and unprofessional and unskilled. Like any profession! There’s a weird dynamic reminiscent of the gross police unions where any criticism of any teacher is taken as a shocking moral outrage. Suck it up buttercups-if you’re not a bad teacher no one’s talking abt you.

I'm not a teacher, but know the data-- there are an estimated currently .59 possible teachers (not just licensed, this includes provisional and alternately licensed etc.) available for every position (private, public, charter) in the US and the numbers are going down fast. This is SO much lower than it's ever been. As existing teachers have to cover 1.5x as much it's only going to accelerate. Add in the heightened vitriol. So I'm pretty sure it's going to be us parents who are going to have to "suck it up buttercup" as these teachers realize they don't have to put up with unreasonable job conditions. Excellent, highly experienced teachers are quitting ALL OVER and nobody wants to step in.

I don’t think anyone should stay year after year in a miserable job nor do I think parents need to act like each and every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint.

No one has to act like every teacher is a hard-working, highly skilled saint. (That's part of the problem actually---teachers are put on a pedestal while often being denied basic professional treatment--and then the accountability that comes with that). We're just saying she can quit like anyone else can. She doesn't have to be professional in the ways you think she should if she doesn't want to be. You're free to criticize that, but saying that she's free to quit doesn't mean you're disrespecting teachers, just acknowledging they have the same agency as everyone else even though your kids are depending on them and it's really disappointing. And pointing out that she's in the power position here--there is a nationwide shortage that is a huge crisis. You don't actually employ her. People can elect a different school board, whine about taxes, complain about unions or the lack of unions, but the reality is that many skilled and unskilled, professional and unprofessional teachers are walking out across the whole country--whether schools stayed open or closed during the pandemic, whether they are in red or blue counties and states, rich and poor districts-- and we're all going to have to face this and figure out what to do.

You think you're right. And I think you're wrong. Some professions are different, including teaching. That's known by both teachers and non-teachers. The expectation of a teacher staying on until the end of the year is understood by all parties.

Maybe the pandemic has changed that. But I don't think that change will benefit teachers or anyone else.

The problem is in insisting that they aren't any different from anyone else but also expecting them to be different.

Teenagers give notice before quitting a fast food job. If you don’t want to be held to that high standard fair enough!

Wait, just to be sure -- you are claiming most teenagers give notice before quitting a fast food job?

Yes I am!

[Anonymous]

A recent survey showed that more than half the people who quit jobs in the prior year gave less than 1 week's notice.

https://wtop.com/business-finance/2022/03/planning-to-quit-how-much-notice-will-you-give/

Businesses don't hold to the same assumptions that used to hold true, either.

If you want teachers to consider their job as special, don't keep telling them that it isn't. That's just common sense.