20 percent of teachers not likely to return to classrooms if schools reopen in fall

[Anonymous]

There is a teacher survey every year and teachers are asked if they plan to leave. A good portion says they are planning to leave but less than quarter of those actually do. Many people are planning on leaving their jobs, a smaller number actually do.

The fact is around the country most schools systems are cutting costs which often means cutting jobs. Sure there'll be some in-person learning next year but families will be encouraged to do virtual where the class sizes are typically much larger (and therefore need fewer teachers). It will balance out.

[Anonymous]

I agree. Parents are just being lazy.

Teachers should not risk their lives when school can be online.

[Anonymous]

Teacher pay is decent (not amazing, and our contract expired this past fall). But substitute pay is horrible. Many of our best subs are age 60+. I think large-scale hiring would be really tough. I have no intention of “refusing to work” but I’m worried that we won’t have safe classrooms. Keep in mind that ms and hs teachers have multiple classes every day. Even with scaled-down classes teachers Would be interacting with 50+ students every week and perhaps floating into multiple classrooms. We need to make real plans to improve equity and quality of distance learning even though it’s no one’s first choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree. Parents are just being lazy.

Teachers should not risk their lives when school can be online.

you think you're being respectful to teachers but you're being quite the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are essential personnel. If they refuse to go into work they can be fired and lose all retirement benefits. If they refuse to teach, they are an enemy of the American people.

Ok, that's a little much. Teachers have to make the best decisions for themselves and their families - just like all other workers. If the health department says it is ok to reopen and schools can prove that they have put safety measures in place, teachers and other workers would be expected to return. Those who don't might lose their jobs. That's their choice and doesn't make them an enemy of anything.

My school is considering making it flexible fo those who are medically fragile or in higher risk categories. They would have the all-virtual option for work. That seems fair. All others would be expected to return but if they don't, it's still their choice.

If someone is medically not able to come into work because they are "high risk" or "fragile", perhaps, they should find a new job. How will some teachers teach "virtually" and some teachers be in the classroom? It boggles the mind that anybody is even considering this. Schools aren't in business to give teachers a job, they are in business to educate children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers should not be paid if they don’t show up. Ridiculous.

Are you asking teachers to risk their health, and the health of their loved ones, to teach your child in person?

Teachers are not being asked to do anything more than everyone else. It sucks, but it is what it is. We are all having to make the same choices.

Not all of us. The people who can telework are not having to expose themselves to as much risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers should not be paid if they don’t show up. Ridiculous.

Not a single person on this thread is suggesting that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers should not be paid if they don’t show up. Ridiculous.

Are you asking teachers to risk their health, and the health of their loved ones, to teach your child in person?

Teachers are not being asked to do anything more than everyone else. It sucks, but it is what it is. We are all having to make the same choices.

Not all of us. The people who can telework are not having to expose themselves to as much risk.

Teleworking isn't happening forever. Most jobs aren't 100% telework and the exact same issues are discussed and contemplated in millions of homes across the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher with a child in public PK. If school is 2 days a week for my child I will be taking leave 1-2 days a week (trading off with DH who also has to work). I know it’s disruptive but nannies and babysitters are expensive (and finding them will be challenging) and I need to do what’s best for my family.

Then quit. You are selfish. Let someone else do your job since you won’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher with a child in public PK. If school is 2 days a week for my child I will be taking leave 1-2 days a week (trading off with DH who also has to work). I know it’s disruptive but nannies and babysitters are expensive (and finding them will be challenging) and I need to do what’s best for my family.

How do you have a child and that much leave saved? That’s 18-36 days. Are you going to do unpaid leave?

I have two kids and have 25 days of leave. I worked in the district for 7 years before having kids and took maybe 1 or 2 days a year off during that period.

You took 1-2 days of maternity leave?

No I took FMLA leave (which was unpaid the first time) and paid leave the second. The 1 to 2 days was before I had kids. I’ve been in DCPS over 16 years now.

To add I work because I love my job. I can take unpaid leave and be fine. I’m fortunate my husband has a great job.

If you’re fortunate and your husband has a great job then get a babysitter. Why are you even a teacher? You sound lazy. You’re okay with your students having subs half the week because you’re selfish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher with a child in public PK. If school is 2 days a week for my child I will be taking leave 1-2 days a week (trading off with DH who also has to work). I know it’s disruptive but nannies and babysitters are expensive (and finding them will be challenging) and I need to do what’s best for my family.

How do you have a child and that much leave saved? That’s 18-36 days. Are you going to do unpaid leave?

I have two kids and have 25 days of leave. I worked in the district for 7 years before having kids and took maybe 1 or 2 days a year off during that period.

You took 1-2 days of maternity leave?

No I took FMLA leave (which was unpaid the first time) and paid leave the second. The 1 to 2 days was before I had kids. I’ve been in DCPS over 16 years now.

To add I work because I love my job. I can take unpaid leave and be fine. I’m fortunate my husband has a great job.

If you’re fortunate and your husband has a great job then get a babysitter. Why are you even a teacher? You sound lazy. You’re okay with your students having subs half the week because you’re selfish?

How am I selfish? I work because I love my job. I was pointing out how I was able to accumulate so much time. Was it selfish to take maternity leave? I don’t think so. I never said I was taking 1-2 days off a week and I do have a nanny. Thanks for asking.

You seem really angry and I’m not sure why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in DC are paid a lot compared to teachers in other areas. They'll find replacements.

Do you not realize that we get paid more in DC because the cost of living is ridiculously high? And we still don’t get paid enough to afford the city? There was already a teacher shortage to begin with. We went all school year with vacancies. So no,
I really don’t think they will be able to find enough replacements.

The unemployment rate is 15 percent. There are art and music and gym teachers in DC who make six figures. I think they'll find people.

https://dchr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dchr/publication/attachments/public_body_employee_information_200331.pdf

How many of those 15% unemployed have a bachelor’s degree, are eligible for teacher certification, and can pass a background check? How many years experience until they get to $100k? And are they working at your WOTP school or will you demand they work at the EOTP schools?

I will never understand why teacher certification is important when there are so many crappy teachers. What is the point of the certification? Why not a different system where if you have the appropriate education for what you teach, perhaps you could learn the finer points of classroom management by being mentored by good experienced teachers who are compensated for putting in extra time to guide teaching newbies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in DC are paid a lot compared to teachers in other areas. They'll find replacements.

Do you not realize that we get paid more in DC because the cost of living is ridiculously high? And we still don’t get paid enough to afford the city? There was already a teacher shortage to begin with. We went all school year with vacancies. So no,
I really don’t think they will be able to find enough replacements.

The unemployment rate is 15 percent. There are art and music and gym teachers in DC who make six figures. I think they'll find people.

https://dchr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dchr/publication/attachments/public_body_employee_information_200331.pdf

How many of those 15% unemployed have a bachelor’s degree, are eligible for teacher certification, and can pass a background check? How many years experience until they get to $100k? And are they working at your WOTP school or will you demand they work at the EOTP schools?

I will never understand why teacher certification is important when there are so many crappy teachers. What is the point of the certification? Why not a different system where if you have the appropriate education for what you teach, perhaps you could learn the finer points of classroom management by being mentored by good experienced teachers who are compensated for putting in extra time to guide teaching newbies

Considering that hairdressers, lawyers and interior designers need certification too, i'll let this one pass since it's a much broader societal issue. The answer is almost always special interest groups putting up barriers to entry for potential competitors and it happens in almost every part of our society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher pay is decent (not amazing, and our contract expired this past fall). But substitute pay is horrible. Many of our best subs are age 60+. I think large-scale hiring would be really tough. I have no intention of “refusing to work” but I’m worried that we won’t have safe classrooms. Keep in mind that ms and hs teachers have multiple classes every day. Even with scaled-down classes teachers Would be interacting with 50+ students every week and perhaps floating into multiple classrooms. We need to make real plans to improve equity and quality of distance learning even though it’s no one’s first choice.

Large scale hiring would be a hot mess. DH’s oncologist said he could not return under any of the scenarios being shared. We’re looking at either long term sick leave or early retirement for him, but there’s still the question of me bringing germs home from the students and the huge cohort of 22 year old brand new subs that seem to be in the works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in DC are paid a lot compared to teachers in other areas. They'll find replacements.

Do you not realize that we get paid more in DC because the cost of living is ridiculously high? And we still don’t get paid enough to afford the city? There was already a teacher shortage to begin with. We went all school year with vacancies. So no,
I really don’t think they will be able to find enough replacements.

The unemployment rate is 15 percent. There are art and music and gym teachers in DC who make six figures. I think they'll find people.

https://dchr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dchr/publication/attachments/public_body_employee_information_200331.pdf

How many of those 15% unemployed have a bachelor’s degree, are eligible for teacher certification, and can pass a background check? How many years experience until they get to $100k? And are they working at your WOTP school or will you demand they work at the EOTP schools?

I will never understand why teacher certification is important when there are so many crappy teachers. What is the point of the certification? Why not a different system where if you have the appropriate education for what you teach, perhaps you could learn the finer points of classroom management by being mentored by good experienced teachers who are compensated for putting in extra time to guide teaching newbies

I'm the PP you're responding to and it's not a debate about whether certification is important, it's whether it's required (currently, yes).