Report of a massive fight at Clarksburg HS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know how administration can conduct performance reviews when there are mental health, safety concerns , and retaliation for reporting concerns that teachers have. We are just put between a rock and a hard place at every situation and we get no support, low pay, and further no fair playing field for us to demonstrate our abilities as there is no autonomy. Just us pushing mgmts flawed resource depleted curriculum( or lack there of). It's just not a respected profession.

Most teachers are paid decently for a 10 month job. The other staff like bus drivers, support staff, etc are not paid well.

Decently compared to most red states, and Moco is an extremely high cost of living area. The problem is, 2 teachers cannot buy a house in most of the county. And, those teachers can make a lot more, with a lot less stress, doing something else. It used to be worth it, making less money because the benefits were so good. But those have been whittled away, so now it's mediocre pay (unless you've been around forever with me benefits

For those who think teaching is so easy, summers and holidays off, etc., why aren't you doing it? It either is too hard or doesn't pay enough.

Two teachers each making 80-120k can easily afford a house. It may not be a big, fancy house but there are still houses for $400k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B-CC Parents say "Oh Please"

Certainly not. How dumb are you? This BCC parent says we need to band together and pressure the Board and MCPS to keep violent students OUT of our schools!!!

We need to pay for expanded alternate schools for these kids. They do not belong in mainstream schools. Period.

This. The only way out of this is to have a massive group of parents show up at every BOE meeting and speak out against what's happening. Enough is enough. We need to stop being fearful of what other people might say about us.

Aren't there federal requirements mandating the least restricted environment fur all students? That is where all those separate programs went

LRE has been the law since the 70s. The programs were eliminated because they're expensive.

Nope
They were closed because they had low test scores.

Of course they have low test score. Those kids I’d not get the help they needed early on and many cannot read or write.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know how administration can conduct performance reviews when there are mental health, safety concerns , and retaliation for reporting concerns that teachers have. We are just put between a rock and a hard place at every situation and we get no support, low pay, and further no fair playing field for us to demonstrate our abilities as there is no autonomy. Just us pushing mgmts flawed resource depleted curriculum( or lack there of). It's just not a respected profession.

Most teachers are paid decently for a 10 month job. The other staff like bus drivers, support staff, etc are not paid well.

This again.

Come teach for a year and see if you feel the same way.

When I worked for the county at an equally hard job, if not harder, I made less with a masters and 12 months. They pay well for a county job as they don’t require a masters and help pay for it. If they are unhappy they are welcome to quit. Given this, I could not blame them if they quit. I would and did for safety reasons.

Teachers are quitting, so clearly they don’t like the conditions.

But I am curious, what county job did you have that you assume is harder than teaching and pays less?

You don't think any county jobs are harder than teaching? What about the police, fire fighters, social workers, public health nurses, etc. Social workers and public health nurses are 12 month employees and benefits are not as good with the county as MCPS. And, you don't think they aren't working long hours?

Teacher married to police officer here. We laughed at this. He works only 40 hours and gets paid overtime if he chooses to do more. I work 60 or more hours with no paid overtime. He gets down time at work and can eat lunch/pee. I only got lunch twice last week. I deal with far more disruptive behavior in a day than he does, and he has more ability to deal with it. The list goes on and on and on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know how administration can conduct performance reviews when there are mental health, safety concerns , and retaliation for reporting concerns that teachers have. We are just put between a rock and a hard place at every situation and we get no support, low pay, and further no fair playing field for us to demonstrate our abilities as there is no autonomy. Just us pushing mgmts flawed resource depleted curriculum( or lack there of). It's just not a respected profession.

Most teachers are paid decently for a 10 month job. The other staff like bus drivers, support staff, etc are not paid well.

This again.

Come teach for a year and see if you feel the same way.

When I worked for the county at an equally hard job, if not harder, I made less with a masters and 12 months. They pay well for a county job as they don’t require a masters and help pay for it. If they are unhappy they are welcome to quit. Given this, I could not blame them if they quit. I would and did for safety reasons.

Teachers are quitting, so clearly they don’t like the conditions.

But I am curious, what county job did you have that you assume is harder than teaching and pays less?

You don't think any county jobs are harder than teaching? What about the police, fire fighters, social workers, public health nurses, etc. Social workers and public health nurses are 12 month employees and benefits are not as good with the county as MCPS. And, you don't think they aren't working long hours?

Teacher married to police officer here. We laughed at this. He works only 40 hours and gets paid overtime if he chooses to do more. I work 60 or more hours with no paid overtime. He gets down time at work and can eat lunch/pee. I only got lunch twice last week. I deal with far more disruptive behavior in a day than he does, and he has more ability to deal with it. The list goes on and on and on.

So he’s a traffic cop.

- wife of major crimes cop (no it’s not easier)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B-CC Parents say "Oh Please"

Certainly not. How dumb are you? This BCC parent says we need to band together and pressure the Board and MCPS to keep violent students OUT of our schools!!!

We need to pay for expanded alternate schools for these kids. They do not belong in mainstream schools. Period.

This. The only way out of this is to have a massive group of parents show up at every BOE meeting and speak out against what's happening. Enough is enough. We need to stop being fearful of what other people might say about us.

Aren't there federal requirements mandating the least restricted environment fur all students? That is where all those separate programs went

LRE has been the law since the 70s. The programs were eliminated because they're expensive.

Nope
They were closed because they had low test scores.

A few things:

-Teachers joke that Least restrictive environment really mean least expensive environment.

-We don’t know if the students involved were in any specialized programs. It is very hard to get placed into one. In my experience, most of the worst kids are not in these programs since it isn’t really a learning issue or an emotional disturbance issue. They are just intent on disrupting the school due to control issues, drama, gang affiliation, etc. I don’t buy into the whole generational poverty excuse. These kids know exactly what they are doing and that there are no consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B-CC Parents say "Oh Please"

Certainly not. How dumb are you? This BCC parent says we need to band together and pressure the Board and MCPS to keep violent students OUT of our schools!!!

We need to pay for expanded alternate schools for these kids. They do not belong in mainstream schools. Period.

This. The only way out of this is to have a massive group of parents show up at every BOE meeting and speak out against what's happening. Enough is enough. We need to stop being fearful of what other people might say about us.

Aren't there federal requirements mandating the least restricted environment fur all students? That is where all those separate programs went

LRE has been the law since the 70s. The programs were eliminated because they're expensive.

Nope
They were closed because they had low test scores.

A few things:

-Teachers joke that Least restrictive environment really mean least expensive environment.

-We don’t know if the students involved were in any specialized programs. It is very hard to get placed into one. In my experience, most of the worst kids are not in these programs since it isn’t really a learning issue or an emotional disturbance issue. They are just intent on disrupting the school due to control issues, drama, gang affiliation, etc. I don’t buy into the whole generational poverty excuse. These kids know exactly what they are doing and that there are no consequences.

A lot of those kids act up because they are not able to complete the class work as a distraction. Many only have very basic academics. And, yes there is far more going on with them. I have reached out to teachers with a concern and they tell me my kid is ok when they are not. Then again, that teacher often gets the wrong so they clearly don’t know who my kid even is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B-CC Parents say "Oh Please"

Certainly not. How dumb are you? This BCC parent says we need to band together and pressure the Board and MCPS to keep violent students OUT of our schools!!!

We need to pay for expanded alternate schools for these kids. They do not belong in mainstream schools. Period.

This. The only way out of this is to have a massive group of parents show up at every BOE meeting and speak out against what's happening. Enough is enough. We need to stop being fearful of what other people might say about us.

Aren't there federal requirements mandating the least restricted environment fur all students? That is where all those separate programs went

LRE has been the law since the 70s. The programs were eliminated because they're expensive.

Nope
They were closed because they had low test scores.

A few things:

-Teachers joke that Least restrictive environment really mean least expensive environment.

-We don’t know if the students involved were in any specialized programs. It is very hard to get placed into one. In my experience, most of the worst kids are not in these programs since it isn’t really a learning issue or an emotional disturbance issue. They are just intent on disrupting the school due to control issues, drama, gang affiliation, etc. I don’t buy into the whole generational poverty excuse. These kids know exactly what they are doing and that there are no consequences.

Nobody said these kids are in a special program it was said Clarksburg has more suspensions because it had a special program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B-CC Parents say "Oh Please"

Certainly not. How dumb are you? This BCC parent says we need to band together and pressure the Board and MCPS to keep violent students OUT of our schools!!!

We need to pay for expanded alternate schools for these kids. They do not belong in mainstream schools. Period.

This. The only way out of this is to have a massive group of parents show up at every BOE meeting and speak out against what's happening. Enough is enough. We need to stop being fearful of what other people might say about us.

Aren't there federal requirements mandating the least restricted environment fur all students? That is where all those separate programs went

LRE has been the law since the 70s. The programs were eliminated because they're expensive.

Nope
They were closed because they had low test scores.

A few things:

-Teachers joke that Least restrictive environment really mean least expensive environment.

-We don’t know if the students involved were in any specialized programs. It is very hard to get placed into one. In my experience, most of the worst kids are not in these programs since it isn’t really a learning issue or an emotional disturbance issue. They are just intent on disrupting the school due to control issues, drama, gang affiliation, etc. I don’t buy into the whole generational poverty excuse. These kids know exactly what they are doing and that there are no consequences.

A lot of those kids act up because they are not able to complete the class work as a distraction. Many only have very basic academics. And, yes there is far more going on with them. I have reached out to teachers with a concern and they tell me my kid is ok when they are not. Then again, that teacher often gets the wrong so they clearly don’t know who my kid even is.

Teachers know very little about the background of students. No one tells us. Just because a vice principal or counselor was told something doesn't mean any of that will ever be communicated to teachers.
I get that they don't want to bias teachers. But if we are given no information, how do you expect outcomes to improve. The teacher gets blamed no matter what.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B-CC Parents say "Oh Please"

Certainly not. How dumb are you? This BCC parent says we need to band together and pressure the Board and MCPS to keep violent students OUT of our schools!!!

We need to pay for expanded alternate schools for these kids. They do not belong in mainstream schools. Period.

This. The only way out of this is to have a massive group of parents show up at every BOE meeting and speak out against what's happening. Enough is enough. We need to stop being fearful of what other people might say about us.

Aren't there federal requirements mandating the least restricted environment fur all students? That is where all those separate programs went

LRE has been the law since the 70s. The programs were eliminated because they're expensive.

Nope
They were closed because they had low test scores.

Of course they have low test score. Those kids I’d not get the help they needed early on and many cannot read or write.

I remember teaching both my kids to read. I never expected the school system to do this at least not on its own. Maybe the parents of these kids need to be more involved and stop expecting the county to do everything for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you factored in 70 hour work weeks, no breaks during 12 hr work days, buying thousands of dollars of supplies that you can't write off on taxes as your school refuses to let you use books etc. Have you factored in being assaulted by students and then being blamed by admin because you were disrespected or attacked trying to teach. Then written up negatively that you didn't do enough. Then Having to explain to unemployment the circumstances of educators because the school system lied about your reason for leaving to hack any small benefits that you might have accrued. It's not only that they don't support, or dont want to pay us, but they try to ruin our careers when we devote 100% of our lives to teaching kids

Most teachers are paid pretty well for a 10 month job. If you aren't happy, quit.

Yes, they work at most 180 days per year. My kids teachers are out a couple days a month on top of that. They also have an amazing pension the likes of which nobody else gets. It would be like your job sets aside half your pay to help you retire someday. The pension alone is worth 40k a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know how administration can conduct performance reviews when there are mental health, safety concerns , and retaliation for reporting concerns that teachers have. We are just put between a rock and a hard place at every situation and we get no support, low pay, and further no fair playing field for us to demonstrate our abilities as there is no autonomy. Just us pushing mgmts flawed resource depleted curriculum( or lack there of). It's just not a respected profession.

Most teachers are paid decently for a 10 month job. The other staff like bus drivers, support staff, etc are not paid well.

This again.

Come teach for a year and see if you feel the same way.

When I worked for the county at an equally hard job, if not harder, I made less with a masters and 12 months. They pay well for a county job as they don’t require a masters and help pay for it. If they are unhappy they are welcome to quit. Given this, I could not blame them if they quit. I would and did for safety reasons.

Teachers are quitting, so clearly they don’t like the conditions.

But I am curious, what county job did you have that you assume is harder than teaching and pays less?

You don't think any county jobs are harder than teaching? What about the police, fire fighters, social workers, public health nurses, etc. Social workers and public health nurses are 12 month employees and benefits are not as good with the county as MCPS. And, you don't think they aren't working long hours?

Teacher married to police officer here. We laughed at this. He works only 40 hours and gets paid overtime if he chooses to do more. I work 60 or more hours with no paid overtime. He gets down time at work and can eat lunch/pee. I only got lunch twice last week. I deal with far more disruptive behavior in a day than he does, and he has more ability to deal with it. The list goes on and on and on.

So he’s a traffic cop.

- wife of major crimes cop (no it’s not easier)

You are so wrong. He hasn’t worked a patrol shift in years.

Do you teach? Do you know what the conditions are, or are you merely assuming?

My husband and I are actively in these professions. Both of us. We can easily compare our workloads. The 140 students I am responsible for daily (and the associated paperwork) is far more than he deals with daily.

Does he have high stress situations? Sure, but so do I. And I haven’t been as well trained for them as he has.

Join us in the classroom before you comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you factored in 70 hour work weeks, no breaks during 12 hr work days, buying thousands of dollars of supplies that you can't write off on taxes as your school refuses to let you use books etc. Have you factored in being assaulted by students and then being blamed by admin because you were disrespected or attacked trying to teach. Then written up negatively that you didn't do enough. Then Having to explain to unemployment the circumstances of educators because the school system lied about your reason for leaving to hack any small benefits that you might have accrued. It's not only that they don't support, or dont want to pay us, but they try to ruin our careers when we devote 100% of our lives to teaching kids

Most teachers are paid pretty well for a 10 month job. If you aren't happy, quit.

Yes, they work at most 180 days per year. My kids teachers are out a couple days a month on top of that. They also have an amazing pension the likes of which nobody else gets. It would be like your job sets aside half your pay to help you retire someday. The pension alone is worth 40k a year.

And how many of today’s teachers will see these pensions? Most will quit.

The job is HARD. Absurdly hard. That’s why we can’t keep classrooms filled.

If you truly believe the pension and the pay are so good, PLEASE JOIN US. I would love to work in a fully staffed school. If all of the DCUMers who think teachers have it so good would actually brave the classroom, we wouldn’t be facing the shortage we are.

So apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you factored in 70 hour work weeks, no breaks during 12 hr work days, buying thousands of dollars of supplies that you can't write off on taxes as your school refuses to let you use books etc. Have you factored in being assaulted by students and then being blamed by admin because you were disrespected or attacked trying to teach. Then written up negatively that you didn't do enough. Then Having to explain to unemployment the circumstances of educators because the school system lied about your reason for leaving to hack any small benefits that you might have accrued. It's not only that they don't support, or dont want to pay us, but they try to ruin our careers when we devote 100% of our lives to teaching kids

Most teachers are paid pretty well for a 10 month job. If you aren't happy, quit.

Yes, they work at most 180 days per year. My kids teachers are out a couple days a month on top of that. They also have an amazing pension the likes of which nobody else gets. It would be like your job sets aside half your pay to help you retire someday. The pension alone is worth 40k a year.

And how many of today’s teachers will see these pensions? Most will quit.

The job is HARD. Absurdly hard. That’s why we can’t keep classrooms filled.

If you truly believe the pension and the pay are so good, PLEASE JOIN US. I would love to work in a fully staffed school. If all of the DCUMers who think teachers have it so good would actually brave the classroom, we wouldn’t be facing the shortage we are.

So apply.

Nah. DCUMers can only talk the talk. We can't walk the walk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you factored in 70 hour work weeks, no breaks during 12 hr work days, buying thousands of dollars of supplies that you can't write off on taxes as your school refuses to let you use books etc. Have you factored in being assaulted by students and then being blamed by admin because you were disrespected or attacked trying to teach. Then written up negatively that you didn't do enough. Then Having to explain to unemployment the circumstances of educators because the school system lied about your reason for leaving to hack any small benefits that you might have accrued. It's not only that they don't support, or dont want to pay us, but they try to ruin our careers when we devote 100% of our lives to teaching kids

Most teachers are paid pretty well for a 10 month job. If you aren't happy, quit.

Yes, they work at most 180 days per year. My kids teachers are out a couple days a month on top of that. They also have an amazing pension the likes of which nobody else gets. It would be like your job sets aside half your pay to help you retire someday. The pension alone is worth 40k a year.

And how many of today’s teachers will see these pensions? Most will quit.

The job is HARD. Absurdly hard. That’s why we can’t keep classrooms filled.

If you truly believe the pension and the pay are so good, PLEASE JOIN US. I would love to work in a fully staffed school. If all of the DCUMers who think teachers have it so good would actually brave the classroom, we wouldn’t be facing the shortage we are.

So apply.

you realize that's a choice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you factored in 70 hour work weeks, no breaks during 12 hr work days, buying thousands of dollars of supplies that you can't write off on taxes as your school refuses to let you use books etc. Have you factored in being assaulted by students and then being blamed by admin because you were disrespected or attacked trying to teach. Then written up negatively that you didn't do enough. Then Having to explain to unemployment the circumstances of educators because the school system lied about your reason for leaving to hack any small benefits that you might have accrued. It's not only that they don't support, or dont want to pay us, but they try to ruin our careers when we devote 100% of our lives to teaching kids

Most teachers are paid pretty well for a 10 month job. If you aren't happy, quit.

Yes, they work at most 180 days per year. My kids teachers are out a couple days a month on top of that. They also have an amazing pension the likes of which nobody else gets. It would be like your job sets aside half your pay to help you retire someday. The pension alone is worth 40k a year.

And how many of today’s teachers will see these pensions? Most will quit.

The job is HARD. Absurdly hard. That’s why we can’t keep classrooms filled.

If you truly believe the pension and the pay are so good, PLEASE JOIN US. I would love to work in a fully staffed school. If all of the DCUMers who think teachers have it so good would actually brave the classroom, we wouldn’t be facing the shortage we are.

So apply.

you realize that's a choice

What’s a choice? Taking the plunge and joining the profession? It sure is! Can DCUMers please make this choice?

I can’t tell you how helpful it would be. You can show us how it should be done.

(More likely, you’d be back here on DCUM next fall writing about how rough the first year is.)