Are DCPS teachers legally allowed to teach in-person (pods/ tutoring)?

[Anonymous]

I’m finding it pretty shocking that currently employed DCPS teachers are charging high rates to provide in-person tutoring after school hours, while their union has fought the notion that they return to work. Loads of them working with various tutoring agencies. Something about this rubs me the wrong way - like public resources becoming unofficially but effectively privatized.

[Anonymous]

First of all, teachers are free people. They are allowed to do what they like with their own free time. The school system does not own them. Obviously, they can't tutor during school hours, or tutor their own students, but tother than that there are no restrictions.

Secondly, the teacher's union is just like any other large group, it has people with a variety of opinions. Not every teacher took the same position on hybrid vs virtual.

Finally, the difference between being in a room with one masked child, without shared bathrooms or hallways, and the ability to leave if the child takes off their mask is entirely unlike being in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

If you are concerned about private fingers in the public purse, you should see what they are doing to the Post Office.

I wonder if you are shocked, shocked by the high rates, but would be fine if they were "privatizing" in a way that you could afford?

(Also -- DCPS teachers are working ... or did I miss strike news?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m finding it pretty shocking that currently employed DCPS teachers are charging high rates to provide in-person tutoring after school hours, while their union has fought the notion that they return to work. Loads of them working with various tutoring agencies. Something about this rubs me the wrong way - like public resources becoming unofficially but effectively privatized.

Were you concerned about this prior to COVID? Teachers have always been allowed to tutor after contract hours. They should not be tutoring in the school building. At my school, teachers babysit on the weekends for kids not in their classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all, teachers are free people. They are allowed to do what they like with their own free time. The school system does not own them. Obviously, they can't tutor during school hours, or tutor their own students, but tother than that there are no restrictions.

Secondly, the teacher's union is just like any other large group, it has people with a variety of opinions. Not every teacher took the same position on hybrid vs virtual.

Finally, the difference between being in a room with one masked child, without shared bathrooms or hallways, and the ability to leave if the child takes off their mask is entirely unlike being in the classroom.

+1

[Anonymous]

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all, teachers are free people. They are allowed to do what they like with their own free time. The school system does not own them. Obviously, they can't tutor during school hours, or tutor their own students, but tother than that there are no restrictions.

Secondly, the teacher's union is just like any other large group, it has people with a variety of opinions. Not every teacher took the same position on hybrid vs virtual.

Finally, the difference between being in a room with one masked child, without shared bathrooms or hallways, and the ability to leave if the child takes off their mask is entirely unlike being in the classroom.

It's called a "conflict of interest" and most companies don't allow it. It has nothing to do with being "free people".

Secondly, if allowed by the union, it should be limited to non DCPS students. I don't recall hearing (from news media or social media) from the teachers who wanted hybrid and wish they had been more vocal.

Note, pods by definition are not one student but rather groups of students. Granted tutoring one child is a different situation unless you tutor multiple students.

[Anonymous]

Teachers who tutor private pods in someone's unventilated basement should not get to say "they're too afraid" to return to in-person teaching at school. Total hypocrites.

[Anonymous]

The reason it rubs you the wrong way is because it’s a clear conflict of interest. If a teacher can make $80 an hour (as one teacher I spoke to told me they are getting) private tutoring, they have obvious incentives to divert attention and planning towards that.

But this is America - for a country with no real culture, the one thing that is undeniably American is the ability for people to exploit moments like this for financial gain.

It bothers me because I’m sure kids will pay the price, but then again, having attempted to teach for 3 months and realizing how hard it is, if my 5th grade teacher moonlights and gets an extra $100K by milking someone, I’m kind of the view “good for you”.

[Anonymous]

Not all teachers were against returning in person.

Teachers are under contract for a certain number of hours a day, and that time includes planning. So the rest of their time is theirs, and they are allowed to tutor on that time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m finding it pretty shocking that currently employed DCPS teachers are charging high rates to provide in-person tutoring after school hours, while their union has fought the notion that they return to work. Loads of them working with various tutoring agencies. Something about this rubs me the wrong way - like public resources becoming unofficially but effectively privatized.[/quote

This is the part that really scares me. Similar to how some aftercare programs will operate in school buildings and charge for educating children in those buildings.

Our charter is allowing teachers to work after their completed 30 or 40 hours a week (depending on the employee) but they will have no way to know if teachers are really working 30 to 40 hours a week for the public school before accepting private dollars. I understand the decision, respect why teachers would want to do it, but really really worry about the incentive structure it will create.

I trust our teachers but why wouldn't they want to fit in less salaried teaching and more private hours teaching? Why would they ever want to go back to in person instruction if this virtual only world means they can make much more? It's not their fault but we need policies to make sure it doesn't happen, I think.

[Anonymous]

It's a massive conflict of interest because teachers said it was too unsafe to open regular schools and therefore created this crazy need for private pods in the first place!

Imagine if the water company turned off your line but the next day showed up with a truck of bottled water to sell it to you for 10X the cost.

[Anonymous]

public resources becoming unofficially but effectively privatized.

This is the part that really scares me. Similar to how some aftercare programs will operate in school buildings and charge for educating children in those buildings.

Our charter is allowing teachers to work after their completed 30 or 40 hours a week (depending on the employee) but they will have no way to know if teachers are really working 30 to 40 hours a week for the public school before accepting private dollars. I understand the decision, respect why teachers would want to do it, but really really worry about the incentive structure it will create.

I trust our teachers but why wouldn't they want to fit in less salaried teaching and more private hours teaching? Why would they ever want to go back to in person instruction if this virtual only world means they can make much more? It's not their fault but we need policies to make sure it doesn't happen, I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m finding it pretty shocking that currently employed DCPS teachers are charging high rates to provide in-person tutoring after school hours, while their union has fought the notion that they return to work. Loads of them working with various tutoring agencies. Something about this rubs me the wrong way - like public resources becoming unofficially but effectively privatized.

If they were doing it during the school day - it would be an issue.
If they are teaching their students - it is an issue.

If they are fulfilling the obligations of their contract and doing this on the side, I have no issue.

I have co-workers who have side gigs - they are fitness instructors, uber drivers, work retail. I have no issue with a teacher having a side gig. Sharing their expertise and getting paid market value for their services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

public resources becoming unofficially but effectively privatized.

This is the part that really scares me. Similar to how some aftercare programs will operate in school buildings and charge for educating children in those buildings.

Our charter is allowing teachers to work after their completed 30 or 40 hours a week (depending on the employee) but they will have no way to know if teachers are really working 30 to 40 hours a week for the public school before accepting private dollars. I understand the decision, respect why teachers would want to do it, but really really worry about the incentive structure it will create.

I trust our teachers but why wouldn't they want to fit in less salaried teaching and more private hours teaching? Why would they ever want to go back to in person instruction if this virtual only world means they can make much more? It's not their fault but we need policies to make sure it doesn't happen, I think.

I’m a teacher and I’ve always had a problem Witt this. This is rampant in my Ward 3 school. Teachers babysitting on the weekends, tutoring in the school building etc. it should not be allowed. It also creates a weird vibe in the school. Parents are able to call favorite teachers for babysitting services and in later grades those same teachers are teaching those kids. It’s a huge problem. I’m glad people are just now noticing this, but it’s been going on for years.