Have you notice the shortage of teachers in your school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The contempt expressed on this thread by teachers for parents and their students does not surprise me at all. We are leaving our private after 7(!) years because ever since Covid, every year has been an experience of enduring a teacher who seems annoyed that they have to teach students. As the mom of a quiet, self-contained kid who just wants to get though their day, it’s hard to get them home every day and hear stories about teachers sniping at each other in the halls, badmouthing administrators, giving each other the silent treatment, or spilling the personal business of kids to the rest of the class when kids aren’t in school that day. I’m sure it sucks for teachers who are doing a genuinely good job and feel devotion to their work, but for everyone else: don’t go into teaching if you resent children or their parents. Working with them is literally your job.

It reminds me of what a friend in medicine said about pediatrics, which is that people shouldn’t pursue it because they like kids, because the bulk of the job requires working with parents. Same for teaching: if you don’t want to interact with other adults or parents, maybe public school or community college teaching is a better answer.

Also, plenty of parents here are getting their kids to school and rushing to distant jobs. The idea that it’s ok to arrive at the same time as students for that reason is silly. Hire a nanny, find a carpool, or have a partner take a more flexible job like the rest of us.

False. It is not a teacher’s job to deal with rude, disrespectful parents. You are part of the problem.

[Anonymous]

Part of the issue is that private school tend to pay less than public schools, in particular considering the pension and healthcare programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not at all. Multiple teachers leaving on an ongoing basis during the school year definitely suggests a systemic issue with the school.

Usually the above is correct.

One way someone well off can have an impact - at some schools - is to fund a dedicated endowment for a STEM teacher at a higher than typical level and stipulate specific minimum academic criteria. Contrived example: The John Smith Math Instructor position, with a salary supplement beyond usual, but requiring that the incumbent must have an MS in Mathematics or PhD in Mathematics from an accredited university. “John Smith” might be name of donor or the name of a beloved and effective math teacher who already retired.

I could never do this because we are not wealthy, but I have seen it done at established K-12 schools in a different metro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not at all. Multiple teachers leaving on an ongoing basis during the school year definitely suggests a systemic issue with the school.

Usually the above is correct.

One way someone well off can have an impact - at some schools - is to fund a dedicated endowment for a STEM teacher at a higher than typical level and stipulate specific minimum academic criteria. Contrived example: The John Smith Math Instructor position, with a salary supplement beyond usual, but requiring that the incumbent must have an MS in Mathematics or PhD in Mathematics from an accredited university. “John Smith” might be name of donor or the name of a beloved and effective math teacher who already retired.

I could never do this because we are not wealthy, but I have seen it done at established K-12 schools in a different metro.

That’s a good idea and is taken from universities. My school board somehow prefer
To use donations for brick and mortar projects rather than improving the quality of education.

[Anonymous]

Yes - IME this is most notable for the world language teachers. I found out recently that my kid's teacher is splitting time between two grades in two different classrooms during one period. They had been in the same, split classroom but it was too disruptive...as though this current setup isn't?!

This is at a $50k+ school. Ridiculous. And I won't even start on the qualifications of the athletic coaches. But no longer my concern. Moving to public next year.

[Anonymous]

Parents, please make noise about this. Too many administrations try to save money by overloading classrooms or teachers. They need to know you notice and won't accept it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents, please make noise about this. Too many administrations try to save money by overloading classrooms or teachers. They need to know you notice and won't accept it.

Yes, they need more money to hire an associate head of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, please make noise about this. Too many administrations try to save money by overloading classrooms or teachers. They need to know you notice and won't accept it.

Yes, they need more money to hire an associate head of school.

Have you complained to the school half as much as you’ve complained on DCUM?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, please make noise about this. Too many administrations try to save money by overloading classrooms or teachers. They need to know you notice and won't accept it.

Yes, they need more money to hire an associate head of school.

Have you complained to the school half as much as you’ve complained on DCUM?

NP but I sure have

[Anonymous]

Usually private school teachers aren't paid as much. STEM teachers have other options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, please make noise about this. Too many administrations try to save money by overloading classrooms or teachers. They need to know you notice and won't accept it.

Yes, they need more money to hire an associate head of school.

Have you complained to the school half as much as you’ve complained on DCUM?

Not complaining at all. Just stating the facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Usually private school teachers aren't paid as much. STEM teachers have other options.

Agree. That’s why “elite” schools hire mediocre math teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not at all. Multiple teachers leaving on an ongoing basis during the school year definitely suggests a systemic issue with the school.

Usually the above is correct.

One way someone well off can have an impact - at some schools - is to fund a dedicated endowment for a STEM teacher at a higher than typical level and stipulate specific minimum academic criteria. Contrived example: The John Smith Math Instructor position, with a salary supplement beyond usual, but requiring that the incumbent must have an MS in Mathematics or PhD in Mathematics from an accredited university. “John Smith” might be name of donor or the name of a beloved and effective math teacher who already retired.

I could never do this because we are not wealthy, but I have seen it done at established K-12 schools in a different metro.

MS/PHD/ and other educational markers don't equate to good teaching. One of the worse math teachers I ever had had advanced degrees in math and had previously worked for NASA. I couldn't understand a thing he taught that year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not at all. Multiple teachers leaving on an ongoing basis during the school year definitely suggests a systemic issue with the school.

Usually the above is correct.

One way someone well off can have an impact - at some schools - is to fund a dedicated endowment for a STEM teacher at a higher than typical level and stipulate specific minimum academic criteria. Contrived example: The John Smith Math Instructor position, with a salary supplement beyond usual, but requiring that the incumbent must have an MS in Mathematics or PhD in Mathematics from an accredited university. “John Smith” might be name of donor or the name of a beloved and effective math teacher who already retired.

I could never do this because we are not wealthy, but I have seen it done at established K-12 schools in a different metro.

MS/PHD/ and other educational markers don't equate to good teaching. One of the worse math teachers I ever had had advanced degrees in math and had previously worked for NASA. I couldn't understand a thing he taught that year.

I agree. But that doesn’t mean that if you hire psychologists or biologists as math teachers they will excel at teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Part of the issue is that private school tend to pay less than public schools, in particular considering the pension and healthcare programs.

To be fair, public schools may pay more and have better benefits but teaching at a public school is usually a lot more work than teaching at private. You teach more classes per day and you may have 30+ students per class. The range of students is huge as well. Lot of time consuming tasks that teachers have to do due to district and state requirements. Classroom management is tougher. Shorter summer breaks.