Anonymous
Post 02/27/2014 07:32     Subject: Anyone know how many days MCPS schools clsoed this year?
If you add the days at the end, it pushes back the 3rd marking period and whatever some of you think happens during the last few days (videos and nothing most of you say) will happen during those days and the current last few days will be used as exams. I really hope they add them. The staff and teachers have it way to easy if they don't. I want the kids in school learning.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2014 00:20     Subject: Re:Anyone know how many days MCPS schools clsoed this year?
Anonymous wrote:"Teachers are required to teach 180 days"? Weird, I have never seen that in my contract, and I've been teaching for over 15 years. And as far as taking away our contractually obligated "teacher work days" since we have "time during the day" to get grades done...I assume you are referring to the 4 hours and 45 minutes of planning time a week thst I get? I spend most of that in meetings, answering emails from clueless parents, moh, and actually planning instruction or preparing materials for your kids!


Oh please with your sob story and clueless parents. You work 6-7hrs a day in the school with 2-3 periods off for planning and/or lunch. You are a salary employee so like 90% of other salary employees you end up working 9-10hr days. Guess what? I don't get my summers, Spring/winter break and 8 holidays off either. I get 1wk of vacation. I sure hope my kids don't have you as a teacher.
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 22:42     Subject: Re:Anyone know how many days MCPS schools clsoed this year?
"Teachers are required to teach 180 days"? Weird, I have never seen that in my contract, and I've been teaching for over 15 years. And as far as taking away our contractually obligated "teacher work days" since we have "time during the day" to get grades done...I assume you are referring to the 4 hours and 45 minutes of planning time a week thst I get? I spend most of that in meetings, answering emails from clueless parents, moh, and actually planning instruction or preparing materials for your kids!
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2014 13:41     Subject: Anyone know how many days MCPS schools clsoed this year?
Teachers are required to teach 180 days and I surely hope that MCPS has not agreed to a contract that makes it impossible to make up days. If they won't give up a Professional Day, they would have to be willing to give up something else, and if there is no alternative, then the days would be added at the end. But as a number of people have pointed out, adding days late June serves little purpose for many teachers and students. Finding a way to add them in earlier is a much better option. Not having meaningless closures and frequent delays is an even better option.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2014 11:57     Subject: Anyone know how many days MCPS schools clsoed this year?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think one of the most distressing aspects of the school closings is there is no indication that MCPS cares at all about the loss of instruction time. Other school districts are working to increase days not at the end of the year, and there is a half day on Friday that could have perhaps been cancelled or the various teacher days that are worked into the schedule to allow time for grading, even though in many schools, grading is all done on line throughout the semester and there is time set aside every day for such things. Maybe just a notice to the Community along the lines of, "We are working on it," might be helpful . . . .


Exactly. Fairfax County opened on President's Day. Others are taking away all professional days.


I'm not sure that having a school day instead of a professional day is a net win for your child's education.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2014 11:50     Subject: Anyone know how many days MCPS schools clsoed this year?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think one of the most distressing aspects of the school closings is there is no indication that MCPS cares at all about the loss of instruction time. Other school districts are working to increase days not at the end of the year, and there is a half day on Friday that could have perhaps been cancelled or the various teacher days that are worked into the schedule to allow time for grading, even though in many schools, grading is all done on line throughout the semester and there is time set aside every day for such things. Maybe just a notice to the Community along the lines of, "We are working on it," might be helpful . . . .


Exactly. Fairfax County opened on President's Day. Others are taking away all professional days.


As much as I'd love to drop President's Day as a school holiday or remove Easter Monday from Spring break, it isn't fair to compare school systems in VA to those in MD. What are Howard, PG, Frederick doing?

I'm sure the MCPS teacher's union has a pretty tight contract over removing holidays/teacher workdays.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2014 11:29     Subject: Anyone know how many days MCPS schools clsoed this year?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Honestly, almost no real instruction is going to happen on the last few extra added on days of school. It is the end of the year, kids brains are tired and summer holidays are on their mind. This is not when learning and consolidating learning happens.


That is the dumbest reason ever. Kids brains are tired? Okay helicopter mom. I am shocked how little my child learned this year so far.


She's not being a helicopter mom. In fact, she's being pretty accurate. When was the last time you were in school? Because clearly you don't know how it works the last few days, even the last week. Teachers provide no real instruction, it's mostly just hanging out in the classroom and watching videos. Everyone's brains are tired, teachers and students included.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2014 10:46     Subject: Anyone know how many days MCPS schools clsoed this year?
Anonymous wrote:I think one of the most distressing aspects of the school closings is there is no indication that MCPS cares at all about the loss of instruction time. Other school districts are working to increase days not at the end of the year, and there is a half day on Friday that could have perhaps been cancelled or the various teacher days that are worked into the schedule to allow time for grading, even though in many schools, grading is all done on line throughout the semester and there is time set aside every day for such things. Maybe just a notice to the Community along the lines of, "We are working on it," might be helpful . . . .


Exactly. Fairfax County opened on President's Day. Others are taking away all professional days.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2014 10:45     Subject: Anyone know how many days MCPS schools clsoed this year?
Anonymous wrote:Honestly, almost no real instruction is going to happen on the last few extra added on days of school. It is the end of the year, kids brains are tired and summer holidays are on their mind. This is not when learning and consolidating learning happens.


That is the dumbest reason ever. Kids brains are tired? Okay helicopter mom. I am shocked how little my child learned this year so far.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2014 10:32     Subject: Anyone know how many days MCPS schools clsoed this year?
I think one of the most distressing aspects of the school closings is there is no indication that MCPS cares at all about the loss of instruction time. Other school districts are working to increase days not at the end of the year, and there is a half day on Friday that could have perhaps been cancelled or the various teacher days that are worked into the schedule to allow time for grading, even though in many schools, grading is all done on line throughout the semester and there is time set aside every day for such things. Maybe just a notice to the Community along the lines of, "We are working on it," might be helpful . . . .
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2014 10:09     Subject: Re:Anyone know how many days MCPS schools clsoed this year?
Anonymous wrote:I just wish they'd cancel the useless MSAs (like they should) and let the kids get classroom instruction instead. The governor won't let them because they'll lose federal funding. Stupid case of the tail wagging the dog.


They'd lose federal funding because the government wants to have standardized tests to make sure everyone is learning, but the MSA doesn't line up with the new curriculum that the federal government shoved into the school system. Makes a lot of sense, huh?
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2014 10:02     Subject: Anyone know how many days MCPS schools clsoed this year?
Honestly, almost no real instruction is going to happen on the last few extra added on days of school. It is the end of the year, kids brains are tired and summer holidays are on their mind. This is not when learning and consolidating learning happens.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2014 09:51     Subject: Anyone know how many days MCPS schools clsoed this year?
They better add them into the year. I feel like half this winter has been a wash with delays and closings. The kid's school day is so much shorter than private school kids already and yet they think is okay to blow off these school days. I actually want my kid in school learning.

And really, enough with summer vacation already. All parents do is sign their kids up for expensive camps. Just send them year round with a 2wk break in fall and spring and 3wks in winter break and 5wks in July/early August. Every school district that does this, loves it. Times are changing and schools need to keep up.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2014 07:55     Subject: Anyone know how many days MCPS schools clsoed this year?
Anonymous wrote:Hope this helps!

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?page=showrelease&id=3485


This just tells us what we already know. What we don't know is whether there will be a waiver.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2014 07:23     Subject: Anyone know how many days MCPS schools clsoed this year?
During the 2009- 2010 school year the snowmageddon resulted in too many snow days, but no additional school days were added on to the end other year.