buy your teacher a nice end of the school year gift please!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

Oh yes, the “summers off” statement. When you work 60+ hours a week at a job that provides absolutely no down time and no flexibility, those UNPAID summers become the only break you get.

And many of us end up working job #2. It’s not like we are lazing around the pool.

And on topic: please don’t get me anything. I’m a professional and I’m simply doing my job.

Sorry, this still doesn't fly. You have multiple long weekends, 1-2 week winter break, federal holidays, 1 week spring break -- all during your PAID months of the year. And while you will likely say you are still working during all of those days off, don't expect us to believe all or even most teachers are. For "no flexibility" and "no down time," there are an awful lot of teachers MIA the last weeks of the school year.

Teachers don't seem to realize or acknowledge that there are a lot of other professions in which people work 60+ hours a week YEAR ROUND and don't get every Federal and religious holiday and two weeks around Christmas/New Year's. Paid leave benefits vary widely. Fed Gov't is very generous. Some private companies, extremely stingy - literally 5 vacation days and 5 personal days (which includes sick leave) even with 20+ years work experience.

If teachers have such generous benefits, then why aren’t all the DCUM complainers applying to teach? That would easily take care of the teacher shortage in the region.

I’m guessing that’s because complainers have most or all of the following: better pay, more flexibility, a better work/life balance, calmer working environments, and more professional respect.

For as good as you want it to sound, I simply don’t see people jumping at the chance to teach. It’s almost like people know it’s not a good deal?

There are various reasons a lot of people aren't interested in teaching. For me, the primary reason is because I would suck at being a teacher. Good teaching is HARD and not all that many people are really great at it. I don't want teachers for the sake of filling positions. I want people who want to teach and who are good at their job - just like every employer wants employees who want to be there and are good at what they're expected to do.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

Oh yes, the “summers off” statement. When you work 60+ hours a week at a job that provides absolutely no down time and no flexibility, those UNPAID summers become the only break you get.

And many of us end up working job #2. It’s not like we are lazing around the pool.

And on topic: please don’t get me anything. I’m a professional and I’m simply doing my job.

Sorry, this still doesn't fly. You have multiple long weekends, 1-2 week winter break, federal holidays, 1 week spring break -- all during your PAID months of the year. And while you will likely say you are still working during all of those days off, don't expect us to believe all or even most teachers are. For "no flexibility" and "no down time," there are an awful lot of teachers MIA the last weeks of the school year.

Teachers don't seem to realize or acknowledge that there are a lot of other professions in which people work 60+ hours a week YEAR ROUND and don't get every Federal and religious holiday and two weeks around Christmas/New Year's. Paid leave benefits vary widely. Fed Gov't is very generous. Some private companies, extremely stingy - literally 5 vacation days and 5 personal days (which includes sick leave) even with 20+ years work experience.

If teachers have such generous benefits, then why aren’t all the DCUM complainers applying to teach? That would easily take care of the teacher shortage in the region.

I’m guessing that’s because complainers have most or all of the following: better pay, more flexibility, a better work/life balance, calmer working environments, and more professional respect.

For as good as you want it to sound, I simply don’t see people jumping at the chance to teach. It’s almost like people know it’s not a good deal?

There are various reasons a lot of people aren't interested in teaching. For me, the primary reason is because I would suck at being a teacher. Good teaching is HARD and not all that many people are really great at it. I don't want teachers for the sake of filling positions. I want people who want to teach and who are good at their job - just like every employer wants employees who want to be there and are good at what they're expected to do.

I am one of those great teachers. I am very, very good at what I do. I’m the teacher who gets all the parent requests each year. Guess how I am treated? Just like the ones with poor performance.

I’m ready to leave, and I know nobody really cares. The PP wants “people who want to teach” (like me), but isn’t willing to see how the profession needs to change to keep us here.

Honest question - what do you expect parents to do about it? It's not like the higher ups listen to us either.

+1. This is like a doctor complaining about being a doctor and then complaining that it's up to their patients to change how their profession works. Teachers, if you don't like how your profession works, then be the change. It's not my job as a parent to fix it. I have my own profession with its own issues.

I don’t disagree with you that on the whole teachers can be very whiny sometimes (and I am a teacher) but I will say your suggestion for teachers to fix it isn’t quite on target. I teach in the same district my kids are students in and I promise you I get more traction when I speak up about something from the position of being a parent in the district than an employee in the district. The parent voice has much, much more power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

Oh yes, the “summers off” statement. When you work 60+ hours a week at a job that provides absolutely no down time and no flexibility, those UNPAID summers become the only break you get.

And many of us end up working job #2. It’s not like we are lazing around the pool.

And on topic: please don’t get me anything. I’m a professional and I’m simply doing my job.

Sorry, this still doesn't fly. You have multiple long weekends, 1-2 week winter break, federal holidays, 1 week spring break -- all during your PAID months of the year. And while you will likely say you are still working during all of those days off, don't expect us to believe all or even most teachers are. For "no flexibility" and "no down time," there are an awful lot of teachers MIA the last weeks of the school year.

Teachers don't seem to realize or acknowledge that there are a lot of other professions in which people work 60+ hours a week YEAR ROUND and don't get every Federal and religious holiday and two weeks around Christmas/New Year's. Paid leave benefits vary widely. Fed Gov't is very generous. Some private companies, extremely stingy - literally 5 vacation days and 5 personal days (which includes sick leave) even with 20+ years work experience.

If teachers have such generous benefits, then why aren’t all the DCUM complainers applying to teach? That would easily take care of the teacher shortage in the region.

I’m guessing that’s because complainers have most or all of the following: better pay, more flexibility, a better work/life balance, calmer working environments, and more professional respect.

For as good as you want it to sound, I simply don’t see people jumping at the chance to teach. It’s almost like people know it’s not a good deal?

There are various reasons a lot of people aren't interested in teaching. For me, the primary reason is because I would suck at being a teacher. Good teaching is HARD and not all that many people are really great at it. I don't want teachers for the sake of filling positions. I want people who want to teach and who are good at their job - just like every employer wants employees who want to be there and are good at what they're expected to do.

I am one of those great teachers. I am very, very good at what I do. I’m the teacher who gets all the parent requests each year. Guess how I am treated? Just like the ones with poor performance.

I’m ready to leave, and I know nobody really cares. The PP wants “people who want to teach” (like me), but isn’t willing to see how the profession needs to change to keep us here.

Honest question - what do you expect parents to do about it? It's not like the higher ups listen to us either.

+1. This is like a doctor complaining about being a doctor and then complaining that it's up to their patients to change how their profession works. Teachers, if you don't like how your profession works, then be the change. It's not my job as a parent to fix it. I have my own profession with its own issues.

What were parents asked to do on this thread? Nobody asked you to buy presents (other than the OP). Nobody asked you to go to the Board on our behalf. I asked you to just not be so combative if teachers post on DCUM. That’s the only request made.

But it’s DCUM, so we tear teachers apart. It’s a sport here. Every benign comment made by a teacher is registered as a complaint and niceties end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

Oh yes, the “summers off” statement. When you work 60+ hours a week at a job that provides absolutely no down time and no flexibility, those UNPAID summers become the only break you get.

And many of us end up working job #2. It’s not like we are lazing around the pool.

And on topic: please don’t get me anything. I’m a professional and I’m simply doing my job.

Sorry, this still doesn't fly. You have multiple long weekends, 1-2 week winter break, federal holidays, 1 week spring break -- all during your PAID months of the year. And while you will likely say you are still working during all of those days off, don't expect us to believe all or even most teachers are. For "no flexibility" and "no down time," there are an awful lot of teachers MIA the last weeks of the school year.

Teachers don't seem to realize or acknowledge that there are a lot of other professions in which people work 60+ hours a week YEAR ROUND and don't get every Federal and religious holiday and two weeks around Christmas/New Year's. Paid leave benefits vary widely. Fed Gov't is very generous. Some private companies, extremely stingy - literally 5 vacation days and 5 personal days (which includes sick leave) even with 20+ years work experience.

PP is talking about a different kind of down time and flexibility. During the school day, teachers often don’t have breaks for several hours at a time. Getting a three minute break to take some deep breaths or go to the bathroom just isn’t possible during those hours. And spring break doesn’t = flexibility. My husband can sort of shuffle responsibilities around to leave work early if needed; I cannot. It’s easy to say “hey just get a substitute” if you want a day off, but imagine trying to get your projects done if it was a random person off the street covering for you. The detailed instructions you gave to leave take hours of preparation. It is very much not a flexible job.

Also, very little work is being done right now. I am a teacher and desperately trying to get the kids focused and on task but it’s like herding cats. I wish academic expectations were higher (I cannot believe school goes beyond the deadline to input grades) but no teacher can make these days as academically valuable as other days. It’s much better for a teacher to use their leave at the end of the year, i promise!

I am grateful for summer breaks and spring breaks, for sure. I’ll never downplay how great it is that I can be home with my kids during the summer. But that doesn’t mean that teaching is a flexible job with plenty of down time.

I get that about the limitations during the school day v. someone working in an office, for example. Though there are still many minimum wage jobs where people don't have limitless flexibility and must take a 15 minute break (no more, no less) at a specific time and no other time and a 30 minute meal break at a specific time. Bathroom use has to coincide with those breaks. Don't have the flexibility to leave and pick up a sick kid from school or go to a medical appointment, etc. And they work these jobs year round.

I honestly am not trying to minimize the issues teachers face; but I really don't sympathize on these aspects that are part and parcel of the job and teachers know it going in. The real issues are all the non-teaching requirements teachers have to fulfill; the risk of offending someone by unknowingly using the wrong pronoun or saying something you didn't even know is offensive; having something you say or do misinterpreted and the ensuing accusations; the nasty parents; the disrespectful students; the unsupportive administration; the discipline and grading systems and lowered expectations that have to be adhered to regardless of a teacher's professional experience and opinion re any student; lack of demonstrated appreciation by superiors and admin; etc.

As for little work getting done at the end of the year: this is nothing new. What is new is when that period begins - much earlier, once SOLs are done, leaving weeks of "we're done" attitude to remain for teachers as well as students. related to the above problems with the teaching as a profession above, the goal is to get kids through SOLs. Once that's done, most teachers are done as well. Everyone gets anxious for summer break to begin; but teachers taking off the last 3 weeks is not helpful. Nobody is saying every class needs to continue with lectures and tests until the last day of school. But a variety of "fun" projects and assignments could be given - rather than watching some stupid movie or literally telling students they aren't going to be there and therefore they don't need to come to class. (Obviously, I'm focusing more on high school here).

And for the commenter suggesting parents give the gift of telling their kids to behave: guess what. Some kids misbehave anyway, especially when their parents aren't around. Some of us parents struggle with these kids, too and it isn't always a failure of parenting. So perhaps you should check the judgement from your end just as much as we parents need to check the judgement toward teachers.

1. I never said that all other jobs are flexible. Just that teaching is not.

2. I think that taking off the last three weeks is not just unhelpful, it's inappropriate. I have never seen a teacher do this. I very much wonder how on earth they are able to take so much time off. I have five sick days and two personal days a year, and we have to get prior approval to take the personal days before or after days where there will be a high demand for subs, such as right before a three-day weekend or during the last week of school.

3. On an offer of employment, it is stated that you are expected to work 7.5 hours in a day. I anticipated having to do extra for school events, meetings that go late, final grading periods, etc, and I think most teachers expect that same. I don't think its crazy to be frustrated and surprised to work 60 hours a week to meet expectations.

4. You have never had to teach kids who have bad behavior, I presume. I have a pretty good idea of when kids are being parented well and when they aren't. I know because when I contact parents to report bad behavior, always in a respectful matter because I want to develop good relationships with teachers and students, parents and students respond very differently. Some parents are extremely apologetic and surprised, and say they will ensure the behavior doesn't happen again. Some parents don't respond, but their kids come to school the next day resentful, but behaved. Some parents don't respond and the behavior continues as normal, except now with a smug "you can't do anything about this" attitude. Some parents say it's my job to deal with it, and others say their child couldn't have possibly behaved in a manner any less than perfect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

Oh yes, the “summers off” statement. When you work 60+ hours a week at a job that provides absolutely no down time and no flexibility, those UNPAID summers become the only break you get.

And many of us end up working job #2. It’s not like we are lazing around the pool.

And on topic: please don’t get me anything. I’m a professional and I’m simply doing my job.

Sorry, this still doesn't fly. You have multiple long weekends, 1-2 week winter break, federal holidays, 1 week spring break -- all during your PAID months of the year. And while you will likely say you are still working during all of those days off, don't expect us to believe all or even most teachers are. For "no flexibility" and "no down time," there are an awful lot of teachers MIA the last weeks of the school year.

Teachers don't seem to realize or acknowledge that there are a lot of other professions in which people work 60+ hours a week YEAR ROUND and don't get every Federal and religious holiday and two weeks around Christmas/New Year's. Paid leave benefits vary widely. Fed Gov't is very generous. Some private companies, extremely stingy - literally 5 vacation days and 5 personal days (which includes sick leave) even with 20+ years work experience.

If teachers have such generous benefits, then why aren’t all the DCUM complainers applying to teach? That would easily take care of the teacher shortage in the region.

I’m guessing that’s because complainers have most or all of the following: better pay, more flexibility, a better work/life balance, calmer working environments, and more professional respect.

For as good as you want it to sound, I simply don’t see people jumping at the chance to teach. It’s almost like people know it’s not a good deal?

There are various reasons a lot of people aren't interested in teaching. For me, the primary reason is because I would suck at being a teacher. Good teaching is HARD and not all that many people are really great at it. I don't want teachers for the sake of filling positions. I want people who want to teach and who are good at their job - just like every employer wants employees who want to be there and are good at what they're expected to do.

I am one of those great teachers. I am very, very good at what I do. I’m the teacher who gets all the parent requests each year. Guess how I am treated? Just like the ones with poor performance.

I’m ready to leave, and I know nobody really cares. The PP wants “people who want to teach” (like me), but isn’t willing to see how the profession needs to change to keep us here.

Honest question - what do you expect parents to do about it? It's not like the higher ups listen to us either.

+1. This is like a doctor complaining about being a doctor and then complaining that it's up to their patients to change how their profession works. Teachers, if you don't like how your profession works, then be the change. It's not my job as a parent to fix it. I have my own profession with its own issues.

I don’t disagree with you that on the whole teachers can be very whiny sometimes (and I am a teacher) but I will say your suggestion for teachers to fix it isn’t quite on target. I teach in the same district my kids are students in and I promise you I get more traction when I speak up about something from the position of being a parent in the district than an employee in the district. The parent voice has much, much more power.

Well. I don't think we parents have the power you think we do. I have spoken up many, many times as a parent, and crickets. What about your union? Whe are you complaining to parents and telling us to fix things instead of going to your union? Isn't that the literal point of a union?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

Oh yes, the “summers off” statement. When you work 60+ hours a week at a job that provides absolutely no down time and no flexibility, those UNPAID summers become the only break you get.

And many of us end up working job #2. It’s not like we are lazing around the pool.

And on topic: please don’t get me anything. I’m a professional and I’m simply doing my job.

Sorry, this still doesn't fly. You have multiple long weekends, 1-2 week winter break, federal holidays, 1 week spring break -- all during your PAID months of the year. And while you will likely say you are still working during all of those days off, don't expect us to believe all or even most teachers are. For "no flexibility" and "no down time," there are an awful lot of teachers MIA the last weeks of the school year.

Teachers don't seem to realize or acknowledge that there are a lot of other professions in which people work 60+ hours a week YEAR ROUND and don't get every Federal and religious holiday and two weeks around Christmas/New Year's. Paid leave benefits vary widely. Fed Gov't is very generous. Some private companies, extremely stingy - literally 5 vacation days and 5 personal days (which includes sick leave) even with 20+ years work experience.

If teachers have such generous benefits, then why aren’t all the DCUM complainers applying to teach? That would easily take care of the teacher shortage in the region.

I’m guessing that’s because complainers have most or all of the following: better pay, more flexibility, a better work/life balance, calmer working environments, and more professional respect.

For as good as you want it to sound, I simply don’t see people jumping at the chance to teach. It’s almost like people know it’s not a good deal?

There are various reasons a lot of people aren't interested in teaching. For me, the primary reason is because I would suck at being a teacher. Good teaching is HARD and not all that many people are really great at it. I don't want teachers for the sake of filling positions. I want people who want to teach and who are good at their job - just like every employer wants employees who want to be there and are good at what they're expected to do.

I am one of those great teachers. I am very, very good at what I do. I’m the teacher who gets all the parent requests each year. Guess how I am treated? Just like the ones with poor performance.

I’m ready to leave, and I know nobody really cares. The PP wants “people who want to teach” (like me), but isn’t willing to see how the profession needs to change to keep us here.

Honest question - what do you expect parents to do about it? It's not like the higher ups listen to us either.

+1. This is like a doctor complaining about being a doctor and then complaining that it's up to their patients to change how their profession works. Teachers, if you don't like how your profession works, then be the change. It's not my job as a parent to fix it. I have my own profession with its own issues.

What were parents asked to do on this thread? Nobody asked you to buy presents (other than the OP). Nobody asked you to go to the Board on our behalf. I asked you to just not be so combative if teachers post on DCUM. That’s the only request made.

But it’s DCUM, so we tear teachers apart. It’s a sport here. Every benign comment made by a teacher is registered as a complaint and niceties end.

I mean there's literally a post right before yours saying parents should speak up because we get more traction than teacher voices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

Oh yes, the “summers off” statement. When you work 60+ hours a week at a job that provides absolutely no down time and no flexibility, those UNPAID summers become the only break you get.

And many of us end up working job #2. It’s not like we are lazing around the pool.

And on topic: please don’t get me anything. I’m a professional and I’m simply doing my job.

Sorry, this still doesn't fly. You have multiple long weekends, 1-2 week winter break, federal holidays, 1 week spring break -- all during your PAID months of the year. And while you will likely say you are still working during all of those days off, don't expect us to believe all or even most teachers are. For "no flexibility" and "no down time," there are an awful lot of teachers MIA the last weeks of the school year.

Teachers don't seem to realize or acknowledge that there are a lot of other professions in which people work 60+ hours a week YEAR ROUND and don't get every Federal and religious holiday and two weeks around Christmas/New Year's. Paid leave benefits vary widely. Fed Gov't is very generous. Some private companies, extremely stingy - literally 5 vacation days and 5 personal days (which includes sick leave) even with 20+ years work experience.

If teachers have such generous benefits, then why aren’t all the DCUM complainers applying to teach? That would easily take care of the teacher shortage in the region.

I’m guessing that’s because complainers have most or all of the following: better pay, more flexibility, a better work/life balance, calmer working environments, and more professional respect.

For as good as you want it to sound, I simply don’t see people jumping at the chance to teach. It’s almost like people know it’s not a good deal?

There are various reasons a lot of people aren't interested in teaching. For me, the primary reason is because I would suck at being a teacher. Good teaching is HARD and not all that many people are really great at it. I don't want teachers for the sake of filling positions. I want people who want to teach and who are good at their job - just like every employer wants employees who want to be there and are good at what they're expected to do.

I am one of those great teachers. I am very, very good at what I do. I’m the teacher who gets all the parent requests each year. Guess how I am treated? Just like the ones with poor performance.

I’m ready to leave, and I know nobody really cares. The PP wants “people who want to teach” (like me), but isn’t willing to see how the profession needs to change to keep us here.

Honest question - what do you expect parents to do about it? It's not like the higher ups listen to us either.

+1. This is like a doctor complaining about being a doctor and then complaining that it's up to their patients to change how their profession works. Teachers, if you don't like how your profession works, then be the change. It's not my job as a parent to fix it. I have my own profession with its own issues.

I don’t disagree with you that on the whole teachers can be very whiny sometimes (and I am a teacher) but I will say your suggestion for teachers to fix it isn’t quite on target. I teach in the same district my kids are students in and I promise you I get more traction when I speak up about something from the position of being a parent in the district than an employee in the district. The parent voice has much, much more power.

Well. I don't think we parents have the power you think we do. I have spoken up many, many times as a parent, and crickets. What about your union? Whe are you complaining to parents and telling us to fix things instead of going to your union? Isn't that the literal point of a union?

It’s not really a union, it’s an education association. Schools don’t even let the LCPS education association in the building anymore and we don’t have every staff member choose to be parent of it. Again, you’re treating me like I’m an “other” when I TOO am a parent in this community. I engage in advocacy AS A PARENT because it gets me further than when I attempt as staff whom they see as replaceable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

Oh yes, the “summers off” statement. When you work 60+ hours a week at a job that provides absolutely no down time and no flexibility, those UNPAID summers become the only break you get.

And many of us end up working job #2. It’s not like we are lazing around the pool.

And on topic: please don’t get me anything. I’m a professional and I’m simply doing my job.

Literally everyone is working long hours. Literally everyone would NOT complain about summers off.

PLEASE don’t use “literally”. I know plenty of people making 2 or 3 times more than me who work about 20 hours a week. There are threads under “jobs and careers” here on DCUM where people admit to doing 2-3 hours of work a day.

And the offer still stands: if you want summers off, then quit your job and enter the classroom. We have openings because teachers are fleeing. Why haven’t you done that yet? Stop complaining and join an alternative route to education program today.

Um... I went to college. I'm literally never going to be a teacher. And the folks you are referring to are few and far between (2-3 hrs of work). Don't be so dramatic.

So the summers off you keep yammering about aren't so attractive to you after all. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anything wrong with Target gift cards? I would hate for it to be wasted. Any other suggestions. I’m hesitant to give Starbucks cards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

Oh yes, the “summers off” statement. When you work 60+ hours a week at a job that provides absolutely no down time and no flexibility, those UNPAID summers become the only break you get.

And many of us end up working job #2. It’s not like we are lazing around the pool.

And on topic: please don’t get me anything. I’m a professional and I’m simply doing my job.

Sorry, this still doesn't fly. You have multiple long weekends, 1-2 week winter break, federal holidays, 1 week spring break -- all during your PAID months of the year. And while you will likely say you are still working during all of those days off, don't expect us to believe all or even most teachers are. For "no flexibility" and "no down time," there are an awful lot of teachers MIA the last weeks of the school year.

Teachers don't seem to realize or acknowledge that there are a lot of other professions in which people work 60+ hours a week YEAR ROUND and don't get every Federal and religious holiday and two weeks around Christmas/New Year's. Paid leave benefits vary widely. Fed Gov't is very generous. Some private companies, extremely stingy - literally 5 vacation days and 5 personal days (which includes sick leave) even with 20+ years work experience.

If teachers have such generous benefits, then why aren’t all the DCUM complainers applying to teach? That would easily take care of the teacher shortage in the region.

I’m guessing that’s because complainers have most or all of the following: better pay, more flexibility, a better work/life balance, calmer working environments, and more professional respect.

For as good as you want it to sound, I simply don’t see people jumping at the chance to teach. It’s almost like people know it’s not a good deal?

There are various reasons a lot of people aren't interested in teaching. For me, the primary reason is because I would suck at being a teacher. Good teaching is HARD and not all that many people are really great at it. I don't want teachers for the sake of filling positions. I want people who want to teach and who are good at their job - just like every employer wants employees who want to be there and are good at what they're expected to do.

I am one of those great teachers. I am very, very good at what I do. I’m the teacher who gets all the parent requests each year. Guess how I am treated? Just like the ones with poor performance.

I’m ready to leave, and I know nobody really cares. The PP wants “people who want to teach” (like me), but isn’t willing to see how the profession needs to change to keep us here.

Honest question - what do you expect parents to do about it? It's not like the higher ups listen to us either.

+1. This is like a doctor complaining about being a doctor and then complaining that it's up to their patients to change how their profession works. Teachers, if you don't like how your profession works, then be the change. It's not my job as a parent to fix it. I have my own profession with its own issues.

I don’t disagree with you that on the whole teachers can be very whiny sometimes (and I am a teacher) but I will say your suggestion for teachers to fix it isn’t quite on target. I teach in the same district my kids are students in and I promise you I get more traction when I speak up about something from the position of being a parent in the district than an employee in the district. The parent voice has much, much more power.

Well. I don't think we parents have the power you think we do. I have spoken up many, many times as a parent, and crickets. What about your union? Whe are you complaining to parents and telling us to fix things instead of going to your union? Isn't that the literal point of a union?

It’s not really a union, it’s an education association. Schools don’t even let the LCPS education association in the building anymore and we don’t have every staff member choose to be parent of it. Again, you’re treating me like I’m an “other” when I TOO am a parent in this community. I engage in advocacy AS A PARENT because it gets me further than when I attempt as staff whom they see as replaceable.

I thought this changed and now they are truly unions. Just saw that AEA negotiated a contract with APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

Oh yes, the “summers off” statement. When you work 60+ hours a week at a job that provides absolutely no down time and no flexibility, those UNPAID summers become the only break you get.

And many of us end up working job #2. It’s not like we are lazing around the pool.

And on topic: please don’t get me anything. I’m a professional and I’m simply doing my job.

Sorry, this still doesn't fly. You have multiple long weekends, 1-2 week winter break, federal holidays, 1 week spring break -- all during your PAID months of the year. And while you will likely say you are still working during all of those days off, don't expect us to believe all or even most teachers are. For "no flexibility" and "no down time," there are an awful lot of teachers MIA the last weeks of the school year.

Teachers don't seem to realize or acknowledge that there are a lot of other professions in which people work 60+ hours a week YEAR ROUND and don't get every Federal and religious holiday and two weeks around Christmas/New Year's. Paid leave benefits vary widely. Fed Gov't is very generous. Some private companies, extremely stingy - literally 5 vacation days and 5 personal days (which includes sick leave) even with 20+ years work experience.

If teachers have such generous benefits, then why aren’t all the DCUM complainers applying to teach? That would easily take care of the teacher shortage in the region.

I’m guessing that’s because complainers have most or all of the following: better pay, more flexibility, a better work/life balance, calmer working environments, and more professional respect.

For as good as you want it to sound, I simply don’t see people jumping at the chance to teach. It’s almost like people know it’s not a good deal?

There are various reasons a lot of people aren't interested in teaching. For me, the primary reason is because I would suck at being a teacher. Good teaching is HARD and not all that many people are really great at it. I don't want teachers for the sake of filling positions. I want people who want to teach and who are good at their job - just like every employer wants employees who want to be there and are good at what they're expected to do.

I am one of those great teachers. I am very, very good at what I do. I’m the teacher who gets all the parent requests each year. Guess how I am treated? Just like the ones with poor performance.

I’m ready to leave, and I know nobody really cares. The PP wants “people who want to teach” (like me), but isn’t willing to see how the profession needs to change to keep us here.

Honest question - what do you expect parents to do about it? It's not like the higher ups listen to us either.

+1. This is like a doctor complaining about being a doctor and then complaining that it's up to their patients to change how their profession works. Teachers, if you don't like how your profession works, then be the change. It's not my job as a parent to fix it. I have my own profession with its own issues.

I don’t disagree with you that on the whole teachers can be very whiny sometimes (and I am a teacher) but I will say your suggestion for teachers to fix it isn’t quite on target. I teach in the same district my kids are students in and I promise you I get more traction when I speak up about something from the position of being a parent in the district than an employee in the district. The parent voice has much, much more power.

I’m a parent and a teacher. I’ve spoken up as a parent and as a teacher. My parent voice gets more attention every single time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

Oh yes, the “summers off” statement. When you work 60+ hours a week at a job that provides absolutely no down time and no flexibility, those UNPAID summers become the only break you get.

And many of us end up working job #2. It’s not like we are lazing around the pool.

And on topic: please don’t get me anything. I’m a professional and I’m simply doing my job.

Sorry, this still doesn't fly. You have multiple long weekends, 1-2 week winter break, federal holidays, 1 week spring break -- all during your PAID months of the year. And while you will likely say you are still working during all of those days off, don't expect us to believe all or even most teachers are. For "no flexibility" and "no down time," there are an awful lot of teachers MIA the last weeks of the school year.

Teachers don't seem to realize or acknowledge that there are a lot of other professions in which people work 60+ hours a week YEAR ROUND and don't get every Federal and religious holiday and two weeks around Christmas/New Year's. Paid leave benefits vary widely. Fed Gov't is very generous. Some private companies, extremely stingy - literally 5 vacation days and 5 personal days (which includes sick leave) even with 20+ years work experience.

If teachers have such generous benefits, then why aren’t all the DCUM complainers applying to teach? That would easily take care of the teacher shortage in the region.

I’m guessing that’s because complainers have most or all of the following: better pay, more flexibility, a better work/life balance, calmer working environments, and more professional respect.

For as good as you want it to sound, I simply don’t see people jumping at the chance to teach. It’s almost like people know it’s not a good deal?

There are various reasons a lot of people aren't interested in teaching. For me, the primary reason is because I would suck at being a teacher. Good teaching is HARD and not all that many people are really great at it. I don't want teachers for the sake of filling positions. I want people who want to teach and who are good at their job - just like every employer wants employees who want to be there and are good at what they're expected to do.

I am one of those great teachers. I am very, very good at what I do. I’m the teacher who gets all the parent requests each year. Guess how I am treated? Just like the ones with poor performance.

I’m ready to leave, and I know nobody really cares. The PP wants “people who want to teach” (like me), but isn’t willing to see how the profession needs to change to keep us here.

Honest question - what do you expect parents to do about it? It's not like the higher ups listen to us either.

+1. This is like a doctor complaining about being a doctor and then complaining that it's up to their patients to change how their profession works. Teachers, if you don't like how your profession works, then be the change. It's not my job as a parent to fix it. I have my own profession with its own issues.

I don’t disagree with you that on the whole teachers can be very whiny sometimes (and I am a teacher) but I will say your suggestion for teachers to fix it isn’t quite on target. I teach in the same district my kids are students in and I promise you I get more traction when I speak up about something from the position of being a parent in the district than an employee in the district. The parent voice has much, much more power.

Well. I don't think we parents have the power you think we do. I have spoken up many, many times as a parent, and crickets. What about your union? Whe are you complaining to parents and telling us to fix things instead of going to your union? Isn't that the literal point of a union?

It’s not really a union, it’s an education association. Schools don’t even let the LCPS education association in the building anymore and we don’t have every staff member choose to be parent of it. Again, you’re treating me like I’m an “other” when I TOO am a parent in this community. I engage in advocacy AS A PARENT because it gets me further than when I attempt as staff whom they see as replaceable.

I thought this changed and now they are truly unions. Just saw that AEA negotiated a contract with APS.

Well I’m in LCPS and it is not a union here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many parents are not getting ANY raise at all, and will also effectively be making less money due to inflation.
It's not the parents' job to subsidize your salary.

NP, and not a teacher myself.

Fair enough, but more and more teachers are leaving, and we can't force them to stay -- of course. So get ready for that, too.

Life's been a real B lately.

Even if we wanted to subsidize their salary we can’t give above a certain amount.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a summer job and it won’t be a problem. I’d agree to make 30% less money if I had summers off.

Oh yes, the “summers off” statement. When you work 60+ hours a week at a job that provides absolutely no down time and no flexibility, those UNPAID summers become the only break you get.

And many of us end up working job #2. It’s not like we are lazing around the pool.

And on topic: please don’t get me anything. I’m a professional and I’m simply doing my job.

Sorry, this still doesn't fly. You have multiple long weekends, 1-2 week winter break, federal holidays, 1 week spring break -- all during your PAID months of the year. And while you will likely say you are still working during all of those days off, don't expect us to believe all or even most teachers are. For "no flexibility" and "no down time," there are an awful lot of teachers MIA the last weeks of the school year.

Teachers don't seem to realize or acknowledge that there are a lot of other professions in which people work 60+ hours a week YEAR ROUND and don't get every Federal and religious holiday and two weeks around Christmas/New Year's. Paid leave benefits vary widely. Fed Gov't is very generous. Some private companies, extremely stingy - literally 5 vacation days and 5 personal days (which includes sick leave) even with 20+ years work experience.

If teachers have such generous benefits, then why aren’t all the DCUM complainers applying to teach? That would easily take care of the teacher shortage in the region.

I’m guessing that’s because complainers have most or all of the following: better pay, more flexibility, a better work/life balance, calmer working environments, and more professional respect.

For as good as you want it to sound, I simply don’t see people jumping at the chance to teach. It’s almost like people know it’s not a good deal?

It’s very simple actually. I’m not a teacher because I don’t think I would be able to work with kids all day and come back to my kids. I’m also not good at teaching. I am good at learning though which is why I got to where I am. Also most of us are the profession we are because we found ourselves in it. So no we aren’t all going to suddenly quit, get a teaching certification and teach. My friend is an ESL teacher in Fairfax county and loves her days off. She thinks the teacher schedule is great as it allows her to balance raising her three kids with work. When she complains it’s about whiny coworkers who hate the kids they work with (specifically she can’t stand it when coworkers medically diagnose a kid with something like adhd and push parents to put the kid on medication). She also can’t stand admin who refuse to discipline kids who are distrupting the class for everyone else. But she doesn’t pretend, like pp that her schedule isn’t great.

I agree that teachers should be paid more and admin should go back to disciplining kids. But I do find it disgusting that a teacher would come here and tell us to give teachers more gifts. My kids are in elementary school and we have room parents. We basically fork out money for a holiday gift, a gift on teachers appreciation week, a gift for the teachers birthday and an end of the year gift. Pretty insane if you ask me but I do it regardless. At least my kids teachers seem grateful unlike this OP

[Anonymous]

We don’t know from her/his post that OP is a teacher.