My 68 year old, retired dad had to call security thrice and was shoved while subbing

[Anonymous]

Well hopefully this experience encourages your dad to move himself and his tax dollars elsewhere. Things aren't what they once were. He should enjoy his retirement somewhere safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title one schools in affluent area hum…

I included the identifier in order to explain; my sister and I teach at Title I schools (as an aside, my school is a 5 min drive to pike and rose. So yes, we have Title I in affluent zones). At our schools, violence and assault is the norm.

I simply wanted to convey: my dad was NOT at a school like ours. The school he was at is one where this type of behavior would NOT be expected (it shouldn’t be expected anywhere, anyways). And it STILL happened.

That’s fascinating. I’ve worked in multiple Title I schools in some extremely challenging urban neighborhoods in Mid-Atlantic cities. In none of them were “violence and assault…the norm”. In any case, “norms” don’t always correlate perfectly with individual behavior.

Since you haven’t provided any details about what happened, perhaps your Dad isn’t cut out to be a sub — or would benefit from support and training in classroom management. Going from being a prosecutor to a job that requires the ability to immediately connect in positive ways with kids — both individually and in groups — is a huge shift, and might require a decidedly different skill set for everyone’s safety and well-being. Subbing is hard. Viewing it as “essentially volunteering “ despite presumably collecting a pay check might not be the best tack to take. Your conclusions about “absolute insanity and anarchy “ don’t bode well for our future as a community if people holding such views are teaching our kids.

This sounds like union gibberish.

I had a coworker threaten to bring a gun and shoot up our building. (coworker also had been acting erratically, dressing all in black and wearing black eyeliner, which was all out of character). 3 of us heard it. We reported it. The union came down on us HARD. Threatened to get us fired and said by reporting it we were creating a hostile work environment. The letter they sent us read very similar to what pp just wrote. We had no evidence to support our accusation and maybe if we created a more positive environment, things like this wouldn't happen. Victim blaming is wild.

Wow. MCEA attacks its own? Shouldn't they want its members to feel safe and not threatened by other members who threaten to bring a weapon to the school?

you believe this is true? LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 68 year old retired dad was shoved while subbing

My sister and I are both teachers in Title I schools in an (ostensibly) affluent district. Our experiences as teachers are full of violence and difficulty. Nevertheless, my dad (a retired prosecutor) wanted to be a substitute.

His first 3 weeks were wonderful. He chose his schools strategically. Avoided some of our harsher selections. He loved it. He shared stories of making connections, returning to the same classes, making an effort to build relationships with the most disengaged students. He was really proud of his work.
On Friday, while subbing at one of our most successful middle schools, he had to call security three times and was shoved by a student.

If a 68 year old man who is (essentially) volunteering his time to support in schools that are (allegedly) safe and exceeding standards can still be assaulted WHAT HOPE IS THERE?

When will this end? How can we end this? This is absolute insanity, anarchy, and does not bode well for future societal norms.

He isn't volunteering and if he doesn't like it he can stop and get a different job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 68 year old retired dad was shoved while subbing

My sister and I are both teachers in Title I schools in an (ostensibly) affluent district. Our experiences as teachers are full of violence and difficulty. Nevertheless, my dad (a retired prosecutor) wanted to be a substitute.

His first 3 weeks were wonderful. He chose his schools strategically. Avoided some of our harsher selections. He loved it. He shared stories of making connections, returning to the same classes, making an effort to build relationships with the most disengaged students. He was really proud of his work.
On Friday, while subbing at one of our most successful middle schools, he had to call security three times and was shoved by a student.

If a 68 year old man who is (essentially) volunteering his time to support in schools that are (allegedly) safe and exceeding standards can still be assaulted WHAT HOPE IS THERE?

When will this end? How can we end this? This is absolute insanity, anarchy, and does not bode well for future societal norms.

I'm surprised that you're surprised since you and your sister are teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 68 year old retired dad was shoved while subbing

My sister and I are both teachers in Title I schools in an (ostensibly) affluent district. Our experiences as teachers are full of violence and difficulty. Nevertheless, my dad (a retired prosecutor) wanted to be a substitute.

His first 3 weeks were wonderful. He chose his schools strategically. Avoided some of our harsher selections. He loved it. He shared stories of making connections, returning to the same classes, making an effort to build relationships with the most disengaged students. He was really proud of his work.
On Friday, while subbing at one of our most successful middle schools, he had to call security three times and was shoved by a student.

If a 68 year old man who is (essentially) volunteering his time to support in schools that are (allegedly) safe and exceeding standards can still be assaulted WHAT HOPE IS THERE?

When will this end? How can we end this? This is absolute insanity, anarchy, and does not bode well for future societal norms.

Since he worked in law enforcement, he should know how to file charges against the people who assaulted him. He also knows this is how our society deal with these things and that MCPS isn't equipped to dole out justice.

And as a prosecutor, he'll know that a citizen (including an ex prosecutor) doesn't 'file charges' against someone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 68 year old retired dad was shoved while subbing

My sister and I are both teachers in Title I schools in an (ostensibly) affluent district. Our experiences as teachers are full of violence and difficulty. Nevertheless, my dad (a retired prosecutor) wanted to be a substitute.

His first 3 weeks were wonderful. He chose his schools strategically. Avoided some of our harsher selections. He loved it. He shared stories of making connections, returning to the same classes, making an effort to build relationships with the most disengaged students. He was really proud of his work.
On Friday, while subbing at one of our most successful middle schools, he had to call security three times and was shoved by a student.

If a 68 year old man who is (essentially) volunteering his time to support in schools that are (allegedly) safe and exceeding standards can still be assaulted WHAT HOPE IS THERE?

When will this end? How can we end this? This is absolute insanity, anarchy, and does not bode well for future societal norms.

Since he worked in law enforcement, he should know how to file charges against the people who assaulted him. He also knows this is how our society deal with these things and that MCPS isn't equipped to dole out justice.

And as a prosecutor, he'll know that a citizen (including an ex prosecutor) doesn't 'file charges' against someone.

Yes, only MCPS has the authority! Oh wait...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's going to be a flight out of Montgomery County. Its no longer a nice place to live or to raise children. You couldn't pay me to put my children in mcps though we are stuck here with 2 left in high school. It was a very different place 20 years ago.

This isn't unusual, though. UMC takes over an area, makes it a desirable place to live and the second generation starts voting as if they didn't understand why the first generation moved to a place. Third and fourth generation moves out (if they're lucky) rinse and repeat.

Bye Felicia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 68 year old retired dad was shoved while subbing

My sister and I are both teachers in Title I schools in an (ostensibly) affluent district. Our experiences as teachers are full of violence and difficulty. Nevertheless, my dad (a retired prosecutor) wanted to be a substitute.

His first 3 weeks were wonderful. He chose his schools strategically. Avoided some of our harsher selections. He loved it. He shared stories of making connections, returning to the same classes, making an effort to build relationships with the most disengaged students. He was really proud of his work.
On Friday, while subbing at one of our most successful middle schools, he had to call security three times and was shoved by a student.

If a 68 year old man who is (essentially) volunteering his time to support in schools that are (allegedly) safe and exceeding standards can still be assaulted WHAT HOPE IS THERE?

When will this end? How can we end this? This is absolute insanity, anarchy, and does not bode well for future societal norms.

I'm surprised that you're surprised since you and your sister are teachers.

If this were true, they wouldn't be surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's going to be a flight out of Montgomery County. Its no longer a nice place to live or to raise children. You couldn't pay me to put my children in mcps though we are stuck here with 2 left in high school. It was a very different place 20 years ago.

This isn't unusual, though. UMC takes over an area, makes it a desirable place to live and the second generation starts voting as if they didn't understand why the first generation moved to a place. Third and fourth generation moves out (if they're lucky) rinse and repeat.

I don't think I could imagine a more absurd (and fact-free) history of Montgomery County. Congratulations to the PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's going to be a flight out of Montgomery County. Its no longer a nice place to live or to raise children. You couldn't pay me to put my children in mcps though we are stuck here with 2 left in high school. It was a very different place 20 years ago.

This isn't unusual, though. UMC takes over an area, makes it a desirable place to live and the second generation starts voting as if they didn't understand why the first generation moved to a place. Third and fourth generation moves out (if they're lucky) rinse and repeat.

Someone screams this every few years. That ship sailed. The real UMC are no longer in the county as it's not affordable and they left so they can afford bigger, nice houses. It has nothing to do with MCPS. If you are unhappy, put your kids in private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's going to be a flight out of Montgomery County. Its no longer a nice place to live or to raise children. You couldn't pay me to put my children in mcps though we are stuck here with 2 left in high school. It was a very different place 20 years ago.

This isn't unusual, though. UMC takes over an area, makes it a desirable place to live and the second generation starts voting as if they didn't understand why the first generation moved to a place. Third and fourth generation moves out (if they're lucky) rinse and repeat.

Someone screams this every few years. That ship sailed. The real UMC are no longer in the county as it's not affordable and they left so they can afford bigger, nice houses. It has nothing to do with MCPS. If you are unhappy, put your kids in private.

It's so crowded, nobody goes there anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title one schools in affluent area hum…

I included the identifier in order to explain; my sister and I teach at Title I schools (as an aside, my school is a 5 min drive to pike and rose. So yes, we have Title I in affluent zones). At our schools, violence and assault is the norm.

I simply wanted to convey: my dad was NOT at a school like ours. The school he was at is one where this type of behavior would NOT be expected (it shouldn’t be expected anywhere, anyways). And it STILL happened.

That’s fascinating. I’ve worked in multiple Title I schools in some extremely challenging urban neighborhoods in Mid-Atlantic cities. In none of them were “violence and assault…the norm”. In any case, “norms” don’t always correlate perfectly with individual behavior.

Since you haven’t provided any details about what happened, perhaps your Dad isn’t cut out to be a sub — or would benefit from support and training in classroom management. Going from being a prosecutor to a job that requires the ability to immediately connect in positive ways with kids — both individually and in groups — is a huge shift, and might require a decidedly different skill set for everyone’s safety and well-being. Subbing is hard. Viewing it as “essentially volunteering “ despite presumably collecting a pay check might not be the best tack to take. Your conclusions about “absolute insanity and anarchy “ don’t bode well for our future as a community if people holding such views are teaching our kids.

I strongly disagree with you. No student should be shoving a staff member for any reason, ever. You cannot "classroom manage" your way out of student aggression much of the time. I don't agree that the father was essentially volunteering--he's paid. But when kids are allowed to repeatedly assault staff, no learning is going to happen.
To the OP: please encourage your father to press charges against the student. Teachers need to band together and start doing this.
To the person who thinks that PreK-2nd grade is better/safer: No. Maybe 30 years ago but not now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title one schools in affluent area hum…

I included the identifier in order to explain; my sister and I teach at Title I schools (as an aside, my school is a 5 min drive to pike and rose. So yes, we have Title I in affluent zones). At our schools, violence and assault is the norm.

I simply wanted to convey: my dad was NOT at a school like ours. The school he was at is one where this type of behavior would NOT be expected (it shouldn’t be expected anywhere, anyways). And it STILL happened.

That’s fascinating. I’ve worked in multiple Title I schools in some extremely challenging urban neighborhoods in Mid-Atlantic cities. In none of them were “violence and assault…the norm”. In any case, “norms” don’t always correlate perfectly with individual behavior.

Since you haven’t provided any details about what happened, perhaps your Dad isn’t cut out to be a sub — or would benefit from support and training in classroom management. Going from being a prosecutor to a job that requires the ability to immediately connect in positive ways with kids — both individually and in groups — is a huge shift, and might require a decidedly different skill set for everyone’s safety and well-being. Subbing is hard. Viewing it as “essentially volunteering “ despite presumably collecting a pay check might not be the best tack to take. Your conclusions about “absolute insanity and anarchy “ don’t bode well for our future as a community if people holding such views are teaching our kids.

I strongly disagree with you. No student should be shoving a staff member for any reason, ever. You cannot "classroom manage" your way out of student aggression much of the time. I don't agree that the father was essentially volunteering--he's paid. But when kids are allowed to repeatedly assault staff, no learning is going to happen.
To the OP: please encourage your father to press charges against the student. Teachers need to band together and start doing this.
To the person who thinks that PreK-2nd grade is better/safer: No. Maybe 30 years ago but not now.

What exactly do you disagree with? Since I’ve hardly said that students should be “shoving a staff member for any reason, ever” that can’t be it. Are you disagreeing with my comment that support and training would be beneficial for subs? Something else? Disagreeing— however strongly— with points I’ve never made isn’t a very useful stance.

[Anonymous]

This deep in and nobody mentions the absurdly low pay for substitutes? You'd make the same (or more) at Target, and probably get a discount.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title one schools in affluent area hum…

I included the identifier in order to explain; my sister and I teach at Title I schools (as an aside, my school is a 5 min drive to pike and rose. So yes, we have Title I in affluent zones). At our schools, violence and assault is the norm.

I simply wanted to convey: my dad was NOT at a school like ours. The school he was at is one where this type of behavior would NOT be expected (it shouldn’t be expected anywhere, anyways). And it STILL happened.

Your narrative structure needs some work. You got your facts right, but you presented them in a confusing way or a casual reader who shouldn't have to go back and reconcile previous statements.

As a casual reader I had no trouble understanding it.