I really don't understand why so many people attack teachers. I am a parent and I just don't get it. Would you appreciate if people were on message boards all day saying terrible things about you? Would you like people telling you how to do your job? Doubt it.

One PP said "they are on calls most of the day." Not sure how that translates to a teacher and the work they do. They are in front of kids all day. They don't get to zone out and maybe multitask on a phone call. One parent once told me they "had a very demanding job and teachers need to be working just as hard." Well, congratulations. You're probably earning 3-4x what that teacher is.

If there's any fault for this swiss cheese calendar, it's the superintendent and the school board. Full stop. I would wager the "feedback" we as parents provide carries little to no weight, and if teachers are given an opportunity to give feedback I'd imagine it gets the same amount of consideration.

FCPS needs to get back to the basics: School. Holding school. Maintaining consistency so that teachers and students can at least walk into an environment where they are set up for success. Days off here, there and for every blink of an eye just doesn't make sense when you need a structured schedule where you can implement curriculum and lesson plans. How do school districts all over the US have more consistent and significantly shorter school calendars and we can't seem to do it?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m of two thoughts:

Yes, the calendar is too disjointed and it needs to be fixed.

But teachers need work days. If we want teachers to stay in the profession, they need to be granted time during the work week (even just occasionally) to get their work done. It shouldn’t be the expectation that nights and weekends belong to their jobs, too.

I have a demanding job. It has me on calls for a good portion of the day. This means I have to work outside of work hours to get my work done.

Teachers need to also use their time more efficiently. FCPS ES and MS have very little grading to do.

Judging by the amount of quizzes, tests, and homework my middle schooler has, I disagree!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m of two thoughts:

Yes, the calendar is too disjointed and it needs to be fixed.

But teachers need work days. If we want teachers to stay in the profession, they need to be granted time during the work week (even just occasionally) to get their work done. It shouldn’t be the expectation that nights and weekends belong to their jobs, too.

I have a demanding job. It has me on calls for a good portion of the day. This means I have to work outside of work hours to get my work done.

Teachers need to also use their time more efficiently. FCPS ES and MS have very little grading to do.

Do you give the equivalent of 28 hours of presentations a week? Are you directly responsible for how those presentations are received? Do you need to collect constant feedback, comment on it, analyze it, and record it? Daily?

Do you have 140 stakeholders you need to individually check in on every single day? Add an additional 140 for their supervisors (parents), who also email and expect prompt feedback?

Oh… and do you receive about 4 hours of work time a week to evaluate the feedback, some of which is extensive and written? And let’s not forget you need to prepare for the 28 hours of presentations (creating slides, deliverables, etc.).

It’s a bit more than “calls for a good portion of the day.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m of two thoughts:

Yes, the calendar is too disjointed and it needs to be fixed.

But teachers need work days. If we want teachers to stay in the profession, they need to be granted time during the work week (even just occasionally) to get their work done. It shouldn’t be the expectation that nights and weekends belong to their jobs, too.

I have a demanding job. It has me on calls for a good portion of the day. This means I have to work outside of work hours to get my work done.

Teachers need to also use their time more efficiently. FCPS ES and MS have very little grading to do.

You think MS teachers have little grading to do? Are you insane?

I grade almost 300 essays every quarter, in addition to all the tests, quizzes, and formative work.

You don't think that is a lot of grading?

Every extra teacher work day added is probably a reaction to absentee parents who never bother to discipline their children and expect the schools to raise them.

Nope.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m of two thoughts:

Yes, the calendar is too disjointed and it needs to be fixed.

But teachers need work days. If we want teachers to stay in the profession, they need to be granted time during the work week (even just occasionally) to get their work done. It shouldn’t be the expectation that nights and weekends belong to their jobs, too.

I have a demanding job. It has me on calls for a good portion of the day. This means I have to work outside of work hours to get my work done.

Teachers need to also use their time more efficiently. FCPS ES and MS have very little grading to do.

What percentage of your 40 hours are you on the phone with a client. Don’t count anything else, like meeting with a colleague to plan a call, or reviewing information before a call. Also if the call is such that you can multitask, don’t include that.

Anonymous wrote:This is just messed up. We have a super short Q3. Teacher work day and school planning immediately after the spring break. 3 days days off in May to celebrate yet another religious holiday. This school year has been a disaster. These kids are barely in school.

There needs to be 1 TW per quarter. One. And follow federal holiday schedule, no religious stuff. FYI, not a Christian here, I don't care if you are closed on my religious holidays or not.

Will you promise not to complain if your kid’s teacher switches to all multiple choice assessments, and doesn’t get things in grade book? Or would you prefer if they put videos on the SMART board and graded at school?

Kids are so poorly behaved today that I cannot criticize teachers for needing extra mental health days and planning days.

Anonymous wrote:I’m of two thoughts:

Yes, the calendar is too disjointed and it needs to be fixed.

But teachers need work days. If we want teachers to stay in the profession, they need to be granted time during the work week (even just occasionally) to get their work done. It shouldn’t be the expectation that nights and weekends belong to their jobs, too.

I have a demanding job. It has me on calls for a good portion of the day. This means I have to work outside of work hours to get my work done.

Teachers need to also use their time more efficiently. FCPS ES and MS have very little grading to do.

Memorial Day weekend/closures are terrible.

This school year has been terrible. Absolutely too many disruptions.

I’m of two thoughts:

Yes, the calendar is too disjointed and it needs to be fixed.

But teachers need work days. If we want teachers to stay in the profession, they need to be granted time during the work week (even just occasionally) to get their work done. It shouldn’t be the expectation that nights and weekends belong to their jobs, too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Memorial Day is not a religious holiday.

Fine, but the one right after? Are you kidding me?

I'm pretty excited about an extended Memorial Day. That one worked out well.

Anonymous wrote:Memorial Day is not a religious holiday.

Fine, but the one right after? Are you kidding me?

Memorial Day is not a religious holiday.

This is just messed up. We have a super short Q3. Teacher work day and school planning immediately after the spring break. 3 days days off in May to celebrate yet another religious holiday. This school year has been a disaster. These kids are barely in school.

There needs to be 1 TW per quarter. One. And follow federal holiday schedule, no religious stuff. FYI, not a Christian here, I don't care if you are closed on my religious holidays or not.