I ran into a MOCO math teacher (middle school) and she said she would be teaching the new curriculum next year but hadn't yet seen it. She seemed a bit perturbed that she hadn't seen it as she felt she could not prepare. Otherwise she seemed less informed about 2.0 than most of the posters on DCUM. Not sure if she was just holding her tongue or what.

I don't think it is really appropriate for teachers to harshly criticize 2.0 in front of parents. I would hope, though, that they have the opportunity to voice their opinions to administrators and others inside the school system (or through their union).

Anonymous wrote:You clearly haven't heard what your students say about you!

?

You clearly haven't heard what your students say about you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, would it be professional of you to speak negatively about your employer to the public?

+1

+1 from me too. Anyway, as teachers, we'd much rather talk openly about annoying parents, but we try to refrain from that too just as a matter of taste.

Teachers are unionized civil servants. They have adifferent relationship with their employer and the public than most of us do.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, would it be professional of you to speak negatively about your employer to the public?

+1

Teachers will speak negatively about it in private and, yes, they are afraid to speak about their concerns in public. Even our principal who, while choosing his words very carefully last year (b/f implementing 2.0) is clearly speaking the MCPS party-line now.
I don't buy that teachers "really like" 2.0 as some PP's have said. I'm beginning to think that MCPS staff is starting to lurk on boards like this in order to put out even more of their pr spin about this ridiculous new curriculum. Hmmm.

I don't know, would it be professional of you to speak negatively about your employer to the public?

I lump 2.0 and the new grading scale together. The complaints that I hear is that it is too prescriptive, teachers can't be innovative and the ones who used it first didn't receive enough time or training to adequately prepare. I have heard complaints that the math is not challenging and all the different ways to solve a relatively basic problem is confusing the kids who struggle more in math, creating battles with kids who can figure out the answer easily, and creating more mistakes with kids who don't follow instructions. The grading system seems to be the biggest issue with teachers complaining about how they are expected to give out or not give out the ES grades on anything other than a writing assignment.

Anonymous wrote:Do they really like it or is that just the party line? Seems odd that they could support the old system and tell us that was great and then tell us that this one is great too!

I think the ones I've talked to really like it. The big things that seem to come up is that the kids get more science and social studies and that the curriculum is integrated. The negative that I hear is that there isn't advancement in math, but that it really only impacts a small percentage of kids. But, I don't think it's odd that they could like the old system and like this one as well.

Do they really like it or is that just the party line? Seems odd that they could support the old system and tell us that was great and then tell us that this one is great too!

My experience is the same as PPs. Teachers I know and talk with seem to like it and they seem to feel free to discuss it.

I haven't heard teachers complain about 2.0. Ones I have spoken to seem very happy with it. I have heard a few teachers complain about the new grading system. A couple mild grumbles a me one outright"this is ridiculous and they shouldn't have changed it."

I have a few kids in elementary school, help out in the classroom, and attend all the school activities etc. I have noticed in the past two years that teachers and staff keep making very odd comments about 2.0 and multiple references to how there are good things but some bad things and they can't talk about them. I had one more senior teacher tell me some things that she didn't like but quickly follow up with I can't share this widely please don't repeat this. I heard one staff member tell another parent that as an MCPS employee she could say anything negative about it. Its hard to describe but they actually seem worried.

The controversial aspects of 2.0 aren't exactly a mystery as everyone talks about the same things being an issue. It isn't as if they are divulging secrets from a classified educational lab. I am not incredibly into the actual 2.0 debate but I am disturbed at the idea that teachers and local school staff are not allowed to speak freely. I'm concerned that teachers are required to stay on message, are somehow threatened not to speak in anyway that could be negative or are told what to say rather than actually feeling that their engagement is welcome.