I'm an MCPS elementary school teacher...AMA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a question for OP. Do you think this culture of teachers bashing "parents" online is helpful? Do you think it changes behavior? Do you think it inspires sympathy for people in your profession? Do you think it makes you look good?

DP here, but also a teacher.

For every one post where a teacher is “bashing” a parent, there are easily 20 in which posters are tearing apart teachers.

And what often passes for “bashing” is a comment regarding what may/may not be happening at home. And as a teacher, I can tell you we often hear what happens at home. Out of the mouth of babes…

There are more parents than teachers and only a tiny minority of either group posts on DCUM and a tiny minority of them bashes the other group as a group. Using the other group as an excuse for talking sh&t about all teachers or parents is a.lame excuse and just makes you look worse.

As for what you hear from kids, if you are attributing that to "parents" as a group, that is going to piss people off and not going engender much sympathy. Because it's a dumb a petty thing to do.

Your first paragraph makes little sense, so I can’t comment on it much. But you do realize teachers are also parents, correct? And that our children also have teachers? We are just able to see situations from multiple angles because we experience them from multiple angles.

As for what we hear, it’s simple fact. You may not like that, but it is. We are often considerably gracious and understanding toward parents, too. When a student says something to us, we are able to remember the source. Do you do the same when your child says something about their teacher? Because according to all the evidence on this site, teachers become the enemy pretty quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for reaffirming our decision to move DD from a W-area elementary to an all-girls private. It's costing us $50k+/year, but she's in a class of 18 kids and no behavioral issues.

18 is a high class size for a private. There are entire grade levels in MCPS elementary schools that also have class sizes of 18-20.

However, I'm glad there's no behavioral issues though. It really does make a difference!

I actually applied for a job at a private school a few years back. The pay was at least 10k lower and wasn't going to go up every year (I make over 110k currently). The benefits sucked. I was totally thrown by the fact that most of the teaching staff there had Bachelor's or Master's degrees....but not in teaching. Not sure how you can teach well or understand how kids learn without a teaching degree. Having content knowledge isn't enough. The way they select the curriculum they use also seemed questionable. Where's the accountability and transparency?

Wishing your daughter all the best!

At our private, each classrom is 15-18, trending lower for the younger grades in ES. Our same DD had a classroom size of 25 in K in public, and 30 in 2nd grade.

I think a big draw at privates for teachers is your kid can attend for reduced or free tuition (in our case, the all-girls school has a brother school where teachers can send their sons), and they provide free on-site pre-K only for teacher's children (our school starts at 3rd grade). I guess the lower salaries are addressed by those benefits, at least for teachers with children.

What is your point? If you are at a private, go to the private group, this is for MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does parent advocacy have any chance of reducing the use of screens in schools or even in an individual classroom?

Zero chance. And a question to ponder..... Does teacher advocacy have any chance of reducing the use of screens at home????

Also...my students are rarely on their Chromebooks. Is that where the parent concerns are? Are you all going to fight for their to be less screen use in college too? Teaching students how to properly utilize screens is important. It's part of life.

I use the Boxlight to teach with bc it's efficient and engaging. I'm not showing them YouTube videos all day long on it or anything....

My kids are zero screens so throwing it back to the family doesn’t work in this case, the problem is schools.

We are an extremely low-screen family (no phones or personal tablets at all, just some limited TV time with family plus a typing class on the computer and that's about it) and I agree with the teacher that the problem is in the homes. My kids are not being destroyed by screen time at school -- they get some limited Chromebook time during solo work time and the teachers often use a smart board to teach. This does not in any way undo our low screen approach and my kids have great attention spans, are comfortable with books and pencil and paper, and aren't being exposed to inappropriate content.

The issue is that other parents allow liberal screen use at home, are sending even elementary kids to school with phones and tablets, and dont' seem to care. These kids have all this exposure to garbage content, especially on YouTube and TikTok (don't even get me started with elementary age kids having access to TikTok, it is absolutely rotting their brains). They are coming to school with info about that content, plus have awful attention spans, are disruptive, try to abuse the use of Chromebooks in class, never read outside school. These kids are actively diminishing the educational experience and the teachers can't do anything about it.

Your beef is with other parents, but there's nothing you can do about it. They don't care and think people like you and I are crazy and condescending.

I can be upset that MCPS uses screens in schools unnecessarily and also know that other parents are coming to school with terrible attention spans because of their screen use. MCPS is supposed to educate my kids. I can’t do anything about other parents (and yes most of them think we are being holier than thou by making this choice for our families). So yeah I don’t appreciate the way teachers simply don’t care about screen time because they assume all the kids are getting even more at home.

How much time do you spend on screens?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does parent advocacy have any chance of reducing the use of screens in schools or even in an individual classroom?

Zero chance. And a question to ponder..... Does teacher advocacy have any chance of reducing the use of screens at home????

Also...my students are rarely on their Chromebooks. Is that where the parent concerns are? Are you all going to fight for their to be less screen use in college too? Teaching students how to properly utilize screens is important. It's part of life.

I use the Boxlight to teach with bc it's efficient and engaging. I'm not showing them YouTube videos all day long on it or anything....

My kids are zero screens so throwing it back to the family doesn’t work in this case, the problem is schools.

We are an extremely low-screen family (no phones or personal tablets at all, just some limited TV time with family plus a typing class on the computer and that's about it) and I agree with the teacher that the problem is in the homes. My kids are not being destroyed by screen time at school -- they get some limited Chromebook time during solo work time and the teachers often use a smart board to teach. This does not in any way undo our low screen approach and my kids have great attention spans, are comfortable with books and pencil and paper, and aren't being exposed to inappropriate content.

The issue is that other parents allow liberal screen use at home, are sending even elementary kids to school with phones and tablets, and dont' seem to care. These kids have all this exposure to garbage content, especially on YouTube and TikTok (don't even get me started with elementary age kids having access to TikTok, it is absolutely rotting their brains). They are coming to school with info about that content, plus have awful attention spans, are disruptive, try to abuse the use of Chromebooks in class, never read outside school. These kids are actively diminishing the educational experience and the teachers can't do anything about it.

Your beef is with other parents, but there's nothing you can do about it. They don't care and think people like you and I are crazy and condescending.

I can be upset that MCPS uses screens in schools unnecessarily and also know that other parents are coming to school with terrible attention spans because of their screen use. MCPS is supposed to educate my kids. I can’t do anything about other parents (and yes most of them think we are being holier than thou by making this choice for our families). So yeah I don’t appreciate the way teachers simply don’t care about screen time because they assume all the kids are getting even more at home.

How much time do you spend on screens?

DP the constant deflection is getting a little desperate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does parent advocacy have any chance of reducing the use of screens in schools or even in an individual classroom?

Zero chance. And a question to ponder..... Does teacher advocacy have any chance of reducing the use of screens at home????

Also...my students are rarely on their Chromebooks. Is that where the parent concerns are? Are you all going to fight for their to be less screen use in college too? Teaching students how to properly utilize screens is important. It's part of life.

I use the Boxlight to teach with bc it's efficient and engaging. I'm not showing them YouTube videos all day long on it or anything....

My kids are zero screens so throwing it back to the family doesn’t work in this case, the problem is schools.

We are an extremely low-screen family (no phones or personal tablets at all, just some limited TV time with family plus a typing class on the computer and that's about it) and I agree with the teacher that the problem is in the homes. My kids are not being destroyed by screen time at school -- they get some limited Chromebook time during solo work time and the teachers often use a smart board to teach. This does not in any way undo our low screen approach and my kids have great attention spans, are comfortable with books and pencil and paper, and aren't being exposed to inappropriate content.

The issue is that other parents allow liberal screen use at home, are sending even elementary kids to school with phones and tablets, and dont' seem to care. These kids have all this exposure to garbage content, especially on YouTube and TikTok (don't even get me started with elementary age kids having access to TikTok, it is absolutely rotting their brains). They are coming to school with info about that content, plus have awful attention spans, are disruptive, try to abuse the use of Chromebooks in class, never read outside school. These kids are actively diminishing the educational experience and the teachers can't do anything about it.

Your beef is with other parents, but there's nothing you can do about it. They don't care and think people like you and I are crazy and condescending.

I can be upset that MCPS uses screens in schools unnecessarily and also know that other parents are coming to school with terrible attention spans because of their screen use. MCPS is supposed to educate my kids. I can’t do anything about other parents (and yes most of them think we are being holier than thou by making this choice for our families). So yeah I don’t appreciate the way teachers simply don’t care about screen time because they assume all the kids are getting even more at home.

How much time do you spend on screens?

All day. I sit in front of a computer and work. So glad my childhood was not like this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you think about the parents who are convinced there kids are geniuses and want to have them taught advanced work? Like moving grades ahead in math etc

OP here. This post has gotten wild! At this point I'm only responding to actual questions and not the bickering.

It's exhausting having to explain to them that their child is not a genius by showing them their grades and testing scores. When they want their child to move grades ahead, I refer them to admin at that point bc that is above my pay grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a question for OP. Do you think this culture of teachers bashing "parents" online is helpful? Do you think it changes behavior? Do you think it inspires sympathy for people in your profession? Do you think it makes you look good?

OP here. I am not bashing parents at all. Simply answering questions honestly because I know a lot of parents never get actual answers for some questions like the ones asked here because their own child's teachers and administration have to follow the party line and feed you MCPS scripted bullshit. I had no agenda at all...this is DCUM. AMAs are fun.

[Anonymous]

Is you reading specialist helpful for lesson planning and WIN time planning? Is there someone to help with math?

[Anonymous]

Hi Op, thank you so much for doing this. Would you mind clarifying when you are the one answering or commenting ? Maybe by starting with “op here:” or “OP-“

Helps to follow your specific answers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi Op, thank you so much for doing this. Would you mind clarifying when you are the one answering or commenting ? Maybe by starting with “op here:” or “OP-“

Helps to follow your specific answers

Nevermind I was only on page 3 when I typed this and I see you started saying op here

[Anonymous]

Hi Op, on the girls versus boys behavior issue. My son (5th grade) who is a very well behaved kid according to his teachers regularly tells me how unfair he thinks the teachers and in particular the teacher’s aides are, always being harsh on boys and very nice to girls.

He says “they never say anything when the girls say mean things, create drama, tattle tell etc..but boys get punished even when they just say - i am done I don’t want to deal with the girls group they are just too mean-. It is not fair. Teachers just prefer girls”.

I can actually see why thishappens. Boys are louder, take space, are annoying and that’s the key disruptive behavior to tackle. I get it and I try to explain that to my son. I have my son and my girl’s friends at home regularly and know the difference.

BUT, my question to you is : do you get the sense that boys generally tend to feel like they are indeed less favored by the teachers in school (fairly or unfairly)? It is a current political trope, and not one I want to believe. But it is a recurring complaint from my son (who again is a straight A student with no discipline issue himself, he comments on what he sees). Not sure if this is generalized or not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you truly feel about the horrible behaviors that are now being left in the classroom?

And the complete failure of modern parenting.

Many parents do a good job.

Sounds to me like she is saying only the girl parents do. 🙄

Hmm if the only kids with behavior problems are boys that seems like it could indicate a broader issue with how schools serve boys, rather than a situation where parents parent their girls perfectly fine yet fail outright at parenting boys

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is you reading specialist helpful for lesson planning and WIN time planning? Is there someone to help with math?

OP here

Our reading specialist is a phenomenal resource! Love her. She helps with CKLA planning and FIT/WIN time planning.
Yes! Our staff development teacher helps us plan for math. She is also amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi Op, on the girls versus boys behavior issue. My son (5th grade) who is a very well behaved kid according to his teachers regularly tells me how unfair he thinks the teachers and in particular the teacher’s aides are, always being harsh on boys and very nice to girls.

He says “they never say anything when the girls say mean things, create drama, tattle tell etc..but boys get punished even when they just say - i am done I don’t want to deal with the girls group they are just too mean-. It is not fair. Teachers just prefer girls”.

I can actually see why thishappens. Boys are louder, take space, are annoying and that’s the key disruptive behavior to tackle. I get it and I try to explain that to my son. I have my son and my girl’s friends at home regularly and know the difference.

BUT, my question to you is : do you get the sense that boys generally tend to feel like they are indeed less favored by the teachers in school (fairly or unfairly)? It is a current political trope, and not one I want to believe. But it is a recurring complaint from my son (who again is a straight A student with no discipline issue himself, he comments on what he sees). Not sure if this is generalized or not

OP here...I am SO sad to hear that your child feels that way!! I never want my students to feel as if I favor any of them over others.

I personally have not gotten that sense that boys feel like I favor girls at all from my class. I just recently (last Friday actually) heard from a teacher that some boys did mention feeling they were treated unfairly in a different grade level.

My personal style is....I don't tolerate bullshit from anyone. I think my students know and appreciate this. However, I'm not sure all the teachers in my school operate as I do. We are all unique and have our different styles. Especially the paras/teacher's aides...they are wonderful humans but do not necessarily have the child development and classroom management training that classroom teachers do.

This is a very important topic though and one I would consider sharing with the teacher and even with admin. Your son's voice matters. I may bring this up to my school's admin bc we are a deeply reflective school. We could discuss this topic in depth at a future staff meeting and do some professional development on it. Thank you for bringing this to my attention!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's insane. I cannot believe what kids can get away with. Serious behavior issues have no consequences. 99 percent of the behavior issues I see are boys. Constant and blatant disrespect to teachers and fellow students. Clearly their parents do not follow up about their behavior at home....no parenting or consequences. Many hire au pairs and nannies so their kids never actually are parented. The kids are entitled shits at the age of 9. Imagine when they're in high school. I cringe.

I cringe at this comment, OP. Contrary to the narrative that we are just constantly giving our kids screens instead of parenting (or using ::gasp:: child care), parents today spend more time than ever engaging with our kids - playing with them, helping with homework, etc. Parental stress is a known public health issue. Parents are not okay and bashing them for using child care is really low.

You have no idea what goes on in their homes or why they are behaving in such an entitled way, but it strikes me you are relying solely on parents to address discipline issues at school. That's really hard for a couple of reasons, the main one being that consequences work best when they are in the setting where they occurred. Certainly, if a child behaves disrespectfully, their parents should punish them too, but the total lack of consequences at school is a real problem. On top of that, a common theme among parents at my kid's school is that we get very little information about our children from the teachers, and certainly not sufficient timely information to implement consequences at home for behavior during the school day.