Anonymous wrote:Teachers do complain about one thing or another. One thing they complain about is that their union ignores them when they ask for help. But because union leadership is so closely tied to MCPS leadership, the rank and file teachers are overlooked or dismissed. For example, several teachers complained about Joynes- were ignored.

We're ignored by everyone - from admin to the union. And tbh, if we had more balls as a group, we'd get things done. The union and central are indeed in bed. That happened years ago when we created the PGS system. It's a fantastic protocol, but the lines are now blurred btw "them" and us. Yes, we have great benefits and better salaries than other districts. But sometimes I think we've sold our soul to the devil in return.

This comment makes me want to throw up:

The group’s goal is “to take a holistic view of this and come back with a more built-out and robust program” around the issue of child abuse, said Andrew Zuckerman, the school system's chief of staff who is leading the group.


WTH is a "holistic view" of CHILD ABUSE??? This man is drowning in his own PR, spin and buzz words.

Teachers do complain about one thing or another. One thing they complain about is that their union ignores them when they ask for help. But because union leadership is so closely tied to MCPS leadership, the rank and file teachers are overlooked or dismissed. For example, several teachers complained about Joynes- were ignored.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MoCo might be wealthy but the school system is underfunded and failing - particularly with all the newcomers to our great. country who we are obligated to educate.

Obviously more money is needed.

How would more funding help this issue? I don't see this as a funding issue, but rather a PR issue.

I think if teachers weren't so overworked, they'd have more energy to complain - and they'd be more vigilant. In a system where those on the front lines are beaten down, nothing operates very well.

Anonymous wrote:MoCo might be wealthy but the school system is underfunded and failing - particularly with all the newcomers to our great. country who we are obligated to educate.

Obviously more money is needed.

How would more funding help this issue? I don't see this as a funding issue, but rather a PR issue.

MoCo might be wealthy but the school system is underfunded and failing - particularly with all the newcomers to our great. country who we are obligated to educate.

Obviously more money is needed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should take these incidents very seriously and update their procedures on reporting and on background checks.

People should also take a deep breath and not panic about the school system going to hell when it employs over 22,000 people and has 12 people arrested over the course of 3 years. You'll recall that there are private schools around here with 1/100th of the staff numbers who have had prominent sex abuse scandals in recent years. The world is messy and employers have to do their best.

Oh really? Until it is your child that is assaulted I am guessing....

Agreed.

Sex assaults sadly will happen. Public, private, whatever. Nobody can prevent that 100%. But we assumed, in one of the wealthiest, most educated counties in the nation, that MCPS as an institution, would be as proactive as possible in screening, aggressive as possible in oversight, and UNFAILING in addressing incidents appropriately as they occur.

Anonymous wrote:They should take these incidents very seriously and update their procedures on reporting and on background checks.

People should also take a deep breath and not panic about the school system going to hell when it employs over 22,000 people and has 12 people arrested over the course of 3 years. You'll recall that there are private schools around here with 1/100th of the staff numbers who have had prominent sex abuse scandals in recent years. The world is messy and employers have to do their best.

Oh really? Until it is your child that is assaulted I am guessing....

Anonymous wrote:This isn't the county council's fault but nice try in changing the subject away from MCPS responsibility. The Board of Education needs to fire Starr. Now.

MCPS allows sex offenders to operate unfettered and have enough access to children to molest them in school. Staff hide these issues giving the predators safe haven and access to children. Its wrong and needs to stop.

They better act now. They need to decide in the next few weeks if they are renewing his contract.

This isn't the county council's fault but nice try in changing the subject away from MCPS responsibility. The Board of Education needs to fire Starr. Now.

MCPS allows sex offenders to operate unfettered and have enough access to children to molest them in school. Staff hide these issues giving the predators safe haven and access to children. Its wrong and needs to stop.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didyou know your county council wants to make it illegal to ask about past criminal history on job applications?

You voted for them.....

it soesn't cover school but contractors that are hired to do work in schools are not bound by it.

http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/Apps/Council/PressRelease/PR_detailsnew.asp?PrID=14203

Just in the initial stage. They can still run a background check and deny a job applicant. The idea is to give someone convicted of a minor crime a chance to prove their worth as a potential employee.

Yes. I'm a big fan.

Whoever contracts with the independent contractor can require, as part of the contract, that background checks are run.

An MCPS administrator - Starr, principal, assistant principal or all of those involved need to be prosecuted for failure to report and do jail time. It will not change unless this happens. Starr and MCPS just see this as another PR hiccup to be dealt with as a PR issue. They know they will never be fired. Jail time would end this behavior fast and you would see an immediate increase in school administrators going straight to the police whenever a student came forward reporting hat they had been assaulted by a school staff person.

There is no way that Principal Barclay and her staff would have sent a 12 year back to the class after reporting an assault if she knew she herself would be prosecuted. Her first thought was what do I do to protect the image of the school and keep this quiet. She knows that she will not be fired. MCPS can't solve a problem that it created.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didyou know your county council wants to make it illegal to ask about past criminal history on job applications?

You voted for them.....

it soesn't cover school but contractors that are hired to do work in schools are not bound by it.

http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/Apps/Council/PressRelease/PR_detailsnew.asp?PrID=14203

Just in the initial stage. They can still run a background check and deny a job applicant. The idea is to give someone convicted of a minor crime a chance to prove their worth as a potential employee.

like a subcontrcator who is doing a/c work in a building will follow this? not a chance. There will ben o enforcement like most fo the wacky laws the council dreams up.

Anonymous wrote:Didyou know your county council wants to make it illegal to ask about past criminal history on job applications?

You voted for them.....

it soesn't cover school but contractors that are hired to do work in schools are not bound by it.

http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/Apps/Council/PressRelease/PR_detailsnew.asp?PrID=14203

Just in the initial stage. They can still run a background check and deny a job applicant. The idea is to give someone convicted of a minor crime a chance to prove their worth as a potential employee.

Didyou know your county council wants to make it illegal to ask about past criminal history on job applications?

You voted for them.....

it soesn't cover school but contractors that are hired to do work in schools are not bound by it.

http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/Apps/Council/PressRelease/PR_detailsnew.asp?PrID=14203