MCEA and Jennifer Martin act like a bunch of lunatics at Council yesterday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think whenever there are talks about teacher pay, it's helpful to have the actual information
https://www.mceanea.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/0355.21_MCEA_2021-2022_Contract-3.pdf (located on page 90 here)

Otherwise the narrative becomes "teachers are so underpaid".

OK, maybe they are. But let's have that discussion when framed with the actual numbers.

A teacher with 10 years experience and a masters (which you have to get) would earn 80,287.

That is not a bad salary for 10 months.

Maybe it should be more, but it is also higher than many people think, and is more than many Montgomery county residents make.

Lol do you even hear yourself? Someone with ten years experience and a masters should be happy with 80k in Montgomery County? My starting salary with a masters and zero experience was 93k. What an insult and a joke.

And only a teacher that has all the experience in MCPS would get that pay. I have 20 years experience but I’m only paid for 8 because I am new to MCPS.

Let’s also not forget what else teachers deal with. In the same week I was hit with a piece of classroom furniture, threatened twice with a gun (by 2 different students), and cursed at twice (by 2 different students). This is not worth $80k/yr

You filed charges with the police? These are law enforcement matters.

People have no idea how bad it is.
The state changed the law last year. Police won’t do anything regarding minors unless they absolutely must. I was shoved by a high schooler and fell down. kid just got a ‘talk’. For the person who thinks hanging around in an abusive environment for TEN YEARS until we pay for our own masters and survive to reach that 80K- get wrecked. Parent your kids!!! Please!

I have no doubt there are parents that can do better, but having no discipline in the schools is a huge problem. There is only so much parenting can fix when they are sending their kids into that environment.

Typical MoCo parent response.

But you know bashing "MoCo parents" on DCUM is super productive and helpful. That will really get the kids in line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think whenever there are talks about teacher pay, it's helpful to have the actual information
https://www.mceanea.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/0355.21_MCEA_2021-2022_Contract-3.pdf (located on page 90 here)

Otherwise the narrative becomes "teachers are so underpaid".

OK, maybe they are. But let's have that discussion when framed with the actual numbers.

A teacher with 10 years experience and a masters (which you have to get) would earn 80,287.

That is not a bad salary for 10 months.

Maybe it should be more, but it is also higher than many people think, and is more than many Montgomery county residents make.

Lol do you even hear yourself? Someone with ten years experience and a masters should be happy with 80k in Montgomery County? My starting salary with a masters and zero experience was 93k. What an insult and a joke.

And only a teacher that has all the experience in MCPS would get that pay. I have 20 years experience but I’m only paid for 8 because I am new to MCPS.

Let’s also not forget what else teachers deal with. In the same week I was hit with a piece of classroom furniture, threatened twice with a gun (by 2 different students), and cursed at twice (by 2 different students). This is not worth $80k/yr

You filed charges with the police? These are law enforcement matters.

People have no idea how bad it is.
The state changed the law last year. Police won’t do anything regarding minors unless they absolutely must. I was shoved by a high schooler and fell down. kid just got a ‘talk’. For the person who thinks hanging around in an abusive environment for TEN YEARS until we pay for our own masters and survive to reach that 80K- get wrecked. Parent your kids!!! Please!

I have no doubt there are parents that can do better, but having no discipline in the schools is a huge problem. There is only so much parenting can fix when they are sending their kids into that environment.

Typical MoCo parent response.

But you know bashing "MoCo parents" on DCUM is super productive and helpful. That will really get the kids in line.

Just like bashing teachers in public forums, endless OP eds, in board testimonies, on endless news shows was super helpful.

[Anonymous]

When it comes to the budget, MCEA and MCPS always do this. They coordinate to make the Council into the bad guy, often making deceptive and inaccurate arguments. Their only goal is to get as much money for the school system as possible. The Council has to actually consider the tradeoffs, including the wisdom of raising taxes when housing costs have gone up so much. They can't just raise property taxes on the rich, the state constitution does not allow that. To say that they don't appreciate teachers because they won't give MCPS everything they are demanding is an incredibly childish argument. Grow up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every time the parent entitlement issue comes up, I go back to one very vocal MoCo parent...during the pandemic, took a picture of their kid still sleeping when they were supposed to be in class....posted it online and somehow thought it was a great way to roast the district/teachers when not even stopping to realize, they are the parent. They could easily wake their kid up and have them sign-into class. So MoCo. So, so, so pathetic. Everyone else's fault but the person who is actually at fault.

Yeah, but stuff like that only goes so far.

Its like the teachers that post selfies of themselves at the golf course on teacher work days. Some people just arent self aware. At all

Breaking news: Teachers are allowed to take personal days. The aren't prisoners for the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These are legit concerns about kids (and parents') behavior.

However none of that is on the county council, and is also not a compensation issue.

Sure it is a compensation issue. Teacher's who feel disrespected by parents and endangered by kids are naturally going to expect higher salaries. Look at the difference between private school and public school salaries

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are legit concerns about kids (and parents') behavior.

However none of that is on the county council, and is also not a compensation issue.

Sure it is a compensation issue. Teacher's who feel disrespected by parents and endangered by kids are naturally going to expect higher salaries. Look at the difference between private school and public school salaries

Don't private school teachers make a lot less than public school teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think whenever there are talks about teacher pay, it's helpful to have the actual information
https://www.mceanea.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/0355.21_MCEA_2021-2022_Contract-3.pdf (located on page 90 here)

Otherwise the narrative becomes "teachers are so underpaid".

OK, maybe they are. But let's have that discussion when framed with the actual numbers.

A teacher with 10 years experience and a masters (which you have to get) would earn 80,287.

That is not a bad salary for 10 months.

Maybe it should be more, but it is also higher than many people think, and is more than many Montgomery county residents make.

Lol do you even hear yourself? Someone with ten years experience and a masters should be happy with 80k in Montgomery County? My starting salary with a masters and zero experience was 93k. What an insult and a joke.

And only a teacher that has all the experience in MCPS would get that pay. I have 20 years experience but I’m only paid for 8 because I am new to MCPS.

Let’s also not forget what else teachers deal with. In the same week I was hit with a piece of classroom furniture, threatened twice with a gun (by 2 different students), and cursed at twice (by 2 different students). This is not worth $80k/yr

You filed charges with the police? These are law enforcement matters.

People have no idea how bad it is.
The state changed the law last year. Police won’t do anything regarding minors unless they absolutely must. I was shoved by a high schooler and fell down. kid just got a ‘talk’. For the person who thinks hanging around in an abusive environment for TEN YEARS until we pay for our own masters and survive to reach that 80K- get wrecked. Parent your kids!!! Please!

I have no doubt there are parents that can do better, but having no discipline in the schools is a huge problem. There is only so much parenting can fix when they are sending their kids into that environment.

Typical MoCo parent response.

But you know bashing "MoCo parents" on DCUM is super productive and helpful. That will really get the kids in line.

Just like bashing teachers in public forums, endless OP eds, in board testimonies, on endless news shows was super helpful.

You're treating parents like we're a monolith, which is obviously false. Just as it is wrong to bash all teachers, it is also wrong to bash all parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think whenever there are talks about teacher pay, it's helpful to have the actual information
https://www.mceanea.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/0355.21_MCEA_2021-2022_Contract-3.pdf (located on page 90 here)

Otherwise the narrative becomes "teachers are so underpaid".

OK, maybe they are. But let's have that discussion when framed with the actual numbers.

A teacher with 10 years experience and a masters (which you have to get) would earn 80,287.

That is not a bad salary for 10 months.

Maybe it should be more, but it is also higher than many people think, and is more than many Montgomery county residents make.

Lol do you even hear yourself? Someone with ten years experience and a masters should be happy with 80k in Montgomery County? My starting salary with a masters and zero experience was 93k. What an insult and a joke.

And only a teacher that has all the experience in MCPS would get that pay. I have 20 years experience but I’m only paid for 8 because I am new to MCPS.

Let’s also not forget what else teachers deal with. In the same week I was hit with a piece of classroom furniture, threatened twice with a gun (by 2 different students), and cursed at twice (by 2 different students). This is not worth $80k/yr

You filed charges with the police? These are law enforcement matters.

People have no idea how bad it is.
The state changed the law last year. Police won’t do anything regarding minors unless they absolutely must. I was shoved by a high schooler and fell down. kid just got a ‘talk’. For the person who thinks hanging around in an abusive environment for TEN YEARS until we pay for our own masters and survive to reach that 80K- get wrecked. Parent your kids!!! Please!

Threatening a teacher with a illegal firearm would fall under the heading of Police MUST do their jobs.

Please call the state then. Call the chief at MCPD. The police won't do anything. Stop arguing what are all you people trying to prove? WE ARE IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING AND KNOW MORE THAN YOU. PARENT YOUR KIDS then they won't threaten us!! Until then, no one at MCPS can change the law.

So MCPD only enforces laws when they feel it's convenient? Maybe we need to clean house and hire police that will protect everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am reading this a few ways. County Council honors teachers during teacher appreciation week in the middle of a teacher shortage by not funding a pay raise/school budget? Come on. That is terrible optics and should rightly be called out. My feeling is that the county council wants to use the tax money for their own self promoting pet projects without dedicating funds to schools permanently.

The CC did not deny teachers a pay raise. They didn’t sign off on the full tax hike. Teachers can and will still get a pay rise. MCPS wants to give teachers a raise, and Maryland Blueprint requires that starting salaries increase to 60k.

Can we please stop spreading this incorrect information. That’s one of the biggest problem with politics, lack of truth and context.

I thought we voted to require the CC to be unanimous to raise taxes. How can they just ignore the laws when they feel its inconvenient?

We did but they're ignoring it.

[Anonymous]

Mcea is great at theatrics. They put on a whole dog and pony show when the non-renewable new teachers while simultaneously throwing themselves a pizza party. I had the lower level gangsta kid classes BTW. I will not be back to this abusive profession. It felt like mcea was not on the side of teachers. They just want to make a show that always ends up with the teachers downfall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every time the parent entitlement issue comes up, I go back to one very vocal MoCo parent...during the pandemic, took a picture of their kid still sleeping when they were supposed to be in class....posted it online and somehow thought it was a great way to roast the district/teachers when not even stopping to realize, they are the parent. They could easily wake their kid up and have them sign-into class. So MoCo. So, so, so pathetic. Everyone else's fault but the person who is actually at fault.

Yeah, but stuff like that only goes so far.

Its like the teachers that post selfies of themselves at the golf course on teacher work days. Some people just arent self aware. At all

Breaking news: Teachers are allowed to take personal days. The aren't prisoners for the school year.

Yes....Sure. I'm 100% positive those teachers took personal leave days that just happened to coincide with a teacher work day. [/sarcasm]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is saying teachers are rich, or overpaid.

But when you look at the actual pay tables, and steps- and factor in very good family healthcare, and a defined benefit pension (!) it is certainly a solidly middle class job.

There are plenty of places in the country that do not pay their teachers like professionals.

Montgomery County, MD is not one of them.

NP. Great. You think the pay is fine. Why can't they find enough staff to work for it, then? Why can't they retain staff if it's all fine and dandy? What should they change and how should they fund it?

And please don't quote "central office bloat." The people squawking about that on here have no concept of what's actually bloat and what isn't. They cut special ed cluster supervisors a few years ago and it was a disaster. Special ed in general is a disaster. And I haven't heard one single productive, feasible solution from anyone.

A big problem IS central office bloat. That’s one of the reasons I left teaching. There were so many people at the district level who make either a negative impact on students or no impact at all. I grew tired of all the new initiatives, each one that cost $$$$ justifying tons of non-classroom based positions.

I’m all for education and I’m all for fully-funding schools. I’m NOT for giving money that isn’t going to directly impact students. Higher salaries for teachers? Yes. Supplies, facilities, strong curriculum (written by actual teachers)? Yes.

More office jobs and more “this will change the fact of education” initiatives? No.

+1 This!!!

[Anonymous]

And when I pointed out yesterday that most of us are in favor of raising salaries for classroom positions, but want more scrutiny on the admin bloat- someone instantly jumped in and said there was no such thing.

HA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think whenever there are talks about teacher pay, it's helpful to have the actual information
https://www.mceanea.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/0355.21_MCEA_2021-2022_Contract-3.pdf (located on page 90 here)

Otherwise the narrative becomes "teachers are so underpaid".

OK, maybe they are. But let's have that discussion when framed with the actual numbers.

A teacher with 10 years experience and a masters (which you have to get) would earn 80,287.

That is not a bad salary for 10 months.

Maybe it should be more, but it is also higher than many people think, and is more than many Montgomery county residents make.

Lol do you even hear yourself? Someone with ten years experience and a masters should be happy with 80k in Montgomery County? My starting salary with a masters and zero experience was 93k. What an insult and a joke.

And only a teacher that has all the experience in MCPS would get that pay. I have 20 years experience but I’m only paid for 8 because I am new to MCPS.

Let’s also not forget what else teachers deal with. In the same week I was hit with a piece of classroom furniture, threatened twice with a gun (by 2 different students), and cursed at twice (by 2 different students). This is not worth $80k/yr

You filed charges with the police? These are law enforcement matters.

People have no idea how bad it is.
The state changed the law last year. Police won’t do anything regarding minors unless they absolutely must. I was shoved by a high schooler and fell down. kid just got a ‘talk’. For the person who thinks hanging around in an abusive environment for TEN YEARS until we pay for our own masters and survive to reach that 80K- get wrecked. Parent your kids!!! Please!

Threatening a teacher with a illegal firearm would fall under the heading of Police MUST do their jobs.

Please call the state then. Call the chief at MCPD. The police won't do anything. Stop arguing what are all you people trying to prove? WE ARE IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING AND KNOW MORE THAN YOU. PARENT YOUR KIDS then they won't threaten us!! Until then, no one at MCPS can change the law.

So MCPD only enforces laws when they feel it's convenient? Maybe we need to clean house and hire police that will protect everyone.

Your state lawmakers changed several laws regarding juvenile delinquency that make it much harder for police to both investigate or enforce laws. This isn't about the police department. Now, if a 16 year old robs a gun store, police cannot question him to find out where the guns are. Now, if a 12 year old threatens a teacher, police can't even refer that kid to the juvenile justice system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am reading this a few ways. County Council honors teachers during teacher appreciation week in the middle of a teacher shortage by not funding a pay raise/school budget? Come on. That is terrible optics and should rightly be called out. My feeling is that the county council wants to use the tax money for their own self promoting pet projects without dedicating funds to schools permanently.

The CC did not deny teachers a pay raise. They didn’t sign off on the full tax hike. Teachers can and will still get a pay rise. MCPS wants to give teachers a raise, and Maryland Blueprint requires that starting salaries increase to 60k.

Can we please stop spreading this incorrect information. That’s one of the biggest problem with politics, lack of truth and context.

I thought we voted to require the CC to be unanimous to raise taxes. How can they just ignore the laws when they feel its inconvenient?

State law allows a majority vote if the tax increase is for education. It's shady and really finding loopholes that hurt the county. My guess is Rich Madaleno had a lot to do with that approach. He's dogged us before when he was State Senator.