Don't your school counselors help manage the recommendations? Ours do and set deadlines for the teachers to meet much like they set deadlines for the kids to request transcripts. Since their office is the one sending all the supporting documents it seems to work well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid asked teachers last spring as instructed but one hasn't submitted yet for a Nov 1 deadline. There's no excuse for this.

But it’s not late. Honestly if you have a personal deadline that doesn’t align with the actual deadline i would think that you would negotiate this with the teacher that is doing the recommendation. That way you’d have clear expectations for a letter before the deadline. If you didn’t then you have no reason to complain.

Ok but why wait until literally the last minute. Tomorrow is 10-31 and the deadline is Nov 1.

Because it doesn't matter. Other things take priority.

The issue is we don't know if she will actually get it in.

NP. You may have an issue but it is your own issue. If you get a bill and pay it on the due date, are you in the wrong? Sure the business would prefer you send it in earlier but you really aren’t required to. Your anxiety and lack of ability to trust your kid’s teacher to do what he or she has committed to is a “you” problem.

I don't think I'm being unreasonable to wonder where the letter is when it's the last minute before the deadline. It's not like my kid's future is riding on this or anything.

If you were my mom, I wouldn’t tell you about the status of the teacher recs or flat out lie to you if you asked - that’s would be the only way to deal with your anxiety.

If you were my kid who is stressed that people don’t do what they are asked to do, I would talk to you about how trusting people often leads to better outcomes in interpersonal relationships.

If I were the kid worried that my teacher wouldn’t meet the deadline because I am a stress basket, I would have talked to them ahead of time and asked if they would be willing to get the letter in a week early because I have anxiety. I would explain that I am working on it but wanted to ask for their support in addition to the huge favor they are already doing by writing a rec. And I would never choose a teacher who had a reputation for being late.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DW is a teacher and got 9 done yesterday (took a personal day under the weight of all the 50 she has). Only 4 left and they will indeed get done. BTW, for those kids and parents who were rude right as she was writing the rec letter, guess what the letter is going to say..... As others have said, letters of rec are a gift to your child. They are not a right. They will get done people. I hope all of you pay all bills weeks early and get projects done at work a month ahead of time. Because that is what you are asking the teachers to do.

Many of us do pay bills early and get projects done early to avoid any last minute rush/disaster/surprises. Surely, you understand that?

It’s so easy to judge from the outside, isn’t it?

I’m one of the several teachers posting on this thread. My department is taking turns using personal days so we can stay home and get letters done.

And, to add insult to injury, we have to cover each others’ classes since we have no subs.

So we are taking leave AND losing planning periods in order to write these letters, some of which we were just asked to do this week.

You’re right. I guess we could simply knock them out at home. It’s not like we have our own families or other obligations. And it’s not like we have other work (planning, grading) that we already use our evenings and weekends to do.

So simple to judge. Much harder to live the reality.

I would probably have a lot more sympathy if I met you in real life and you said it. But here you are wasting time on a message board while complaining that you have no time.

My point is that there are people who do things early. Many of the posts from teachers act like everyone works until the last minute.

Well, I’m entitled to my breaks. You may not like that, but I feel like the occasional break from my work actually helps me focus better when I am grading and writing letters. Is that okay with you? That I take occasional breaks when I am at home?

Those of us sitting with stacks of letters, some I was asked for this week, are getting criticized right now because we aren’t doing unpaid, elective work fast enough for you.

While you’re at it, why don’t you head to the thread about teachers not grading fast enough, too? Or the one demanding that teachers take shifts monitoring bathrooms during their “free” period at work? Because how we use our time is definitely your business.

Unpaid elective work? Writing letters of recommendation is literally part of a high school teacher's job. If you don't like that, do something else. If you can't get letters in on time, don't agree to write them.

No, it literally is NOT part of our job. It isn’t in our contracts. We are provided no time and our administrative team supports us when we say no. I have coworkers who refuse to write them.

I still write them and I do a very good job. In 24 years, I’ve never submitted a letter past the deadline. But each year I get closer to refusing, too.

A little gratitude goes a long way. Kicking the people who are still helping doesn’t seem to be an effective strategy if you’re asking for a favor.

How is this a favor? Who is my kid supposed to ask? My kid asked politely, said thank you and will say thank you again. We gave gifts to the teaches who are providing them. All I ask is for them to follow through and get it in on time; why is that so hard for you to understand?

And they are on time. As I wrote, I’ve never sent one in late and I’ve sent in hundreds. Many in September, but some on 11/1. It happens.

Snapping at teachers because a letter MIGHT be late isn’t helpful. The deadline hasn’t passed. Let a teacher slip up and miss the deadline before you bring out the pitchforks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DW is a teacher and got 9 done yesterday (took a personal day under the weight of all the 50 she has). Only 4 left and they will indeed get done. BTW, for those kids and parents who were rude right as she was writing the rec letter, guess what the letter is going to say..... As others have said, letters of rec are a gift to your child. They are not a right. They will get done people. I hope all of you pay all bills weeks early and get projects done at work a month ahead of time. Because that is what you are asking the teachers to do.

Many of us do pay bills early and get projects done early to avoid any last minute rush/disaster/surprises. Surely, you understand that?

It’s so easy to judge from the outside, isn’t it?

I’m one of the several teachers posting on this thread. My department is taking turns using personal days so we can stay home and get letters done.

And, to add insult to injury, we have to cover each others’ classes since we have no subs.

So we are taking leave AND losing planning periods in order to write these letters, some of which we were just asked to do this week.

You’re right. I guess we could simply knock them out at home. It’s not like we have our own families or other obligations. And it’s not like we have other work (planning, grading) that we already use our evenings and weekends to do.

So simple to judge. Much harder to live the reality.

I would probably have a lot more sympathy if I met you in real life and you said it. But here you are wasting time on a message board while complaining that you have no time.

My point is that there are people who do things early. Many of the posts from teachers act like everyone works until the last minute.

Well, I’m entitled to my breaks. You may not like that, but I feel like the occasional break from my work actually helps me focus better when I am grading and writing letters. Is that okay with you? That I take occasional breaks when I am at home?

Those of us sitting with stacks of letters, some I was asked for this week, are getting criticized right now because we aren’t doing unpaid, elective work fast enough for you.

While you’re at it, why don’t you head to the thread about teachers not grading fast enough, too? Or the one demanding that teachers take shifts monitoring bathrooms during their “free” period at work? Because how we use our time is definitely your business.

Unpaid elective work? Writing letters of recommendation is literally part of a high school teacher's job. If you don't like that, do something else. If you can't get letters in on time, don't agree to write them.

No, it literally is NOT part of our job. It isn’t in our contracts. We are provided no time and our administrative team supports us when we say no. I have coworkers who refuse to write them.

I still write them and I do a very good job. In 24 years, I’ve never submitted a letter past the deadline. But each year I get closer to refusing, too.

A little gratitude goes a long way. Kicking the people who are still helping doesn’t seem to be an effective strategy if you’re asking for a favor.

How is this a favor? Who is my kid supposed to ask? My kid asked politely, said thank you and will say thank you again. We gave gifts to the teaches who are providing them. All I ask is for them to follow through and get it in on time; why is that so hard for you to understand?

No one is disagreeing with this. The problem is the expectation that this happen on YOUR timeline.

The teacher hasn't missed a deadline. There is no issue here.

And yes, the teacher is doing your kid a favor. It's great that your kid is respectful and appreciative.

They are about to miss the deadline - that's the issue. Should I just sit back and wait for it to be actually missed? That's what you suggest?

If you've thanks the teacher recently, serving as a reminder, there's not much else you can do.

You're inventing a problem that doesn't exist yet. This teacher has two days left to submit the rec. She's probably going to complete them on Saturday and submit them then. That doesn't mean they're last minute. That just means she's not going to spend any more time on them.

I submitted all mine a few weeks ago, but I definitely had years where I wrote them in the weeks before the deadline and then tweaked until the due date. Everything was always in on time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DW is a teacher and got 9 done yesterday (took a personal day under the weight of all the 50 she has). Only 4 left and they will indeed get done. BTW, for those kids and parents who were rude right as she was writing the rec letter, guess what the letter is going to say..... As others have said, letters of rec are a gift to your child. They are not a right. They will get done people. I hope all of you pay all bills weeks early and get projects done at work a month ahead of time. Because that is what you are asking the teachers to do.

Many of us do pay bills early and get projects done early to avoid any last minute rush/disaster/surprises. Surely, you understand that?

It’s so easy to judge from the outside, isn’t it?

I’m one of the several teachers posting on this thread. My department is taking turns using personal days so we can stay home and get letters done.

And, to add insult to injury, we have to cover each others’ classes since we have no subs.

So we are taking leave AND losing planning periods in order to write these letters, some of which we were just asked to do this week.

You’re right. I guess we could simply knock them out at home. It’s not like we have our own families or other obligations. And it’s not like we have other work (planning, grading) that we already use our evenings and weekends to do.

So simple to judge. Much harder to live the reality.

I would probably have a lot more sympathy if I met you in real life and you said it. But here you are wasting time on a message board while complaining that you have no time.

My point is that there are people who do things early. Many of the posts from teachers act like everyone works until the last minute.

Well, I’m entitled to my breaks. You may not like that, but I feel like the occasional break from my work actually helps me focus better when I am grading and writing letters. Is that okay with you? That I take occasional breaks when I am at home?

Those of us sitting with stacks of letters, some I was asked for this week, are getting criticized right now because we aren’t doing unpaid, elective work fast enough for you.

While you’re at it, why don’t you head to the thread about teachers not grading fast enough, too? Or the one demanding that teachers take shifts monitoring bathrooms during their “free” period at work? Because how we use our time is definitely your business.

Unpaid elective work? Writing letters of recommendation is literally part of a high school teacher's job. If you don't like that, do something else. If you can't get letters in on time, don't agree to write them.

No, it literally is NOT part of our job. It isn’t in our contracts. We are provided no time and our administrative team supports us when we say no. I have coworkers who refuse to write them.

I still write them and I do a very good job. In 24 years, I’ve never submitted a letter past the deadline. But each year I get closer to refusing, too.

A little gratitude goes a long way. Kicking the people who are still helping doesn’t seem to be an effective strategy if you’re asking for a favor.

Then go to your union and ask it to negotiate for time to do this. It has to be a part of a high school teacher's job when every college requires them. Your co workers who refuse really suck, they should not be teachers if they refuse to do this for kids. What would kids do if all teachers said no?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DW is a teacher and got 9 done yesterday (took a personal day under the weight of all the 50 she has). Only 4 left and they will indeed get done. BTW, for those kids and parents who were rude right as she was writing the rec letter, guess what the letter is going to say..... As others have said, letters of rec are a gift to your child. They are not a right. They will get done people. I hope all of you pay all bills weeks early and get projects done at work a month ahead of time. Because that is what you are asking the teachers to do.

Many of us do pay bills early and get projects done early to avoid any last minute rush/disaster/surprises. Surely, you understand that?

It’s so easy to judge from the outside, isn’t it?

I’m one of the several teachers posting on this thread. My department is taking turns using personal days so we can stay home and get letters done.

And, to add insult to injury, we have to cover each others’ classes since we have no subs.

So we are taking leave AND losing planning periods in order to write these letters, some of which we were just asked to do this week.

You’re right. I guess we could simply knock them out at home. It’s not like we have our own families or other obligations. And it’s not like we have other work (planning, grading) that we already use our evenings and weekends to do.

So simple to judge. Much harder to live the reality.

I would probably have a lot more sympathy if I met you in real life and you said it. But here you are wasting time on a message board while complaining that you have no time.

My point is that there are people who do things early. Many of the posts from teachers act like everyone works until the last minute.

Well, I’m entitled to my breaks. You may not like that, but I feel like the occasional break from my work actually helps me focus better when I am grading and writing letters. Is that okay with you? That I take occasional breaks when I am at home?

Those of us sitting with stacks of letters, some I was asked for this week, are getting criticized right now because we aren’t doing unpaid, elective work fast enough for you.

While you’re at it, why don’t you head to the thread about teachers not grading fast enough, too? Or the one demanding that teachers take shifts monitoring bathrooms during their “free” period at work? Because how we use our time is definitely your business.

Unpaid elective work? Writing letters of recommendation is literally part of a high school teacher's job. If you don't like that, do something else. If you can't get letters in on time, don't agree to write them.

No, it literally is NOT part of our job. It isn’t in our contracts. We are provided no time and our administrative team supports us when we say no. I have coworkers who refuse to write them.

I still write them and I do a very good job. In 24 years, I’ve never submitted a letter past the deadline. But each year I get closer to refusing, too.

A little gratitude goes a long way. Kicking the people who are still helping doesn’t seem to be an effective strategy if you’re asking for a favor.

How is this a favor? Who is my kid supposed to ask? My kid asked politely, said thank you and will say thank you again. We gave gifts to the teaches who are providing them. All I ask is for them to follow through and get it in on time; why is that so hard for you to understand?

No one is disagreeing with this. The problem is the expectation that this happen on YOUR timeline.

The teacher hasn't missed a deadline. There is no issue here.

And yes, the teacher is doing your kid a favor. It's great that your kid is respectful and appreciative.

They are about to miss the deadline - that's the issue. Should I just sit back and wait for it to be actually missed? That's what you suggest?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid asked teachers last spring as instructed but one hasn't submitted yet for a Nov 1 deadline. There's no excuse for this.

But it’s not late. Honestly if you have a personal deadline that doesn’t align with the actual deadline i would think that you would negotiate this with the teacher that is doing the recommendation. That way you’d have clear expectations for a letter before the deadline. If you didn’t then you have no reason to complain.

Ok but why wait until literally the last minute. Tomorrow is 10-31 and the deadline is Nov 1.

Because it doesn't matter. Other things take priority.

The issue is we don't know if she will actually get it in.

NP. You may have an issue but it is your own issue. If you get a bill and pay it on the due date, are you in the wrong? Sure the business would prefer you send it in earlier but you really aren’t required to. Your anxiety and lack of ability to trust your kid’s teacher to do what he or she has committed to is a “you” problem.

I don't think I'm being unreasonable to wonder where the letter is when it's the last minute before the deadline. It's not like my kid's future is riding on this or anything.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DW is a teacher and got 9 done yesterday (took a personal day under the weight of all the 50 she has). Only 4 left and they will indeed get done. BTW, for those kids and parents who were rude right as she was writing the rec letter, guess what the letter is going to say..... As others have said, letters of rec are a gift to your child. They are not a right. They will get done people. I hope all of you pay all bills weeks early and get projects done at work a month ahead of time. Because that is what you are asking the teachers to do.

Many of us do pay bills early and get projects done early to avoid any last minute rush/disaster/surprises. Surely, you understand that?

It’s so easy to judge from the outside, isn’t it?

I’m one of the several teachers posting on this thread. My department is taking turns using personal days so we can stay home and get letters done.

And, to add insult to injury, we have to cover each others’ classes since we have no subs.

So we are taking leave AND losing planning periods in order to write these letters, some of which we were just asked to do this week.

You’re right. I guess we could simply knock them out at home. It’s not like we have our own families or other obligations. And it’s not like we have other work (planning, grading) that we already use our evenings and weekends to do.

So simple to judge. Much harder to live the reality.

I would probably have a lot more sympathy if I met you in real life and you said it. But here you are wasting time on a message board while complaining that you have no time.

My point is that there are people who do things early. Many of the posts from teachers act like everyone works until the last minute.

Well, I’m entitled to my breaks. You may not like that, but I feel like the occasional break from my work actually helps me focus better when I am grading and writing letters. Is that okay with you? That I take occasional breaks when I am at home?

Those of us sitting with stacks of letters, some I was asked for this week, are getting criticized right now because we aren’t doing unpaid, elective work fast enough for you.

While you’re at it, why don’t you head to the thread about teachers not grading fast enough, too? Or the one demanding that teachers take shifts monitoring bathrooms during their “free” period at work? Because how we use our time is definitely your business.

Unpaid elective work? Writing letters of recommendation is literally part of a high school teacher's job. If you don't like that, do something else. If you can't get letters in on time, don't agree to write them.

No, it literally is NOT part of our job. It isn’t in our contracts. We are provided no time and our administrative team supports us when we say no. I have coworkers who refuse to write them.

I still write them and I do a very good job. In 24 years, I’ve never submitted a letter past the deadline. But each year I get closer to refusing, too.

A little gratitude goes a long way. Kicking the people who are still helping doesn’t seem to be an effective strategy if you’re asking for a favor.

How is this a favor? Who is my kid supposed to ask? My kid asked politely, said thank you and will say thank you again. We gave gifts to the teaches who are providing them. All I ask is for them to follow through and get it in on time; why is that so hard for you to understand?

No one is disagreeing with this. The problem is the expectation that this happen on YOUR timeline.

The teacher hasn't missed a deadline. There is no issue here.

And yes, the teacher is doing your kid a favor. It's great that your kid is respectful and appreciative.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DW is a teacher and got 9 done yesterday (took a personal day under the weight of all the 50 she has). Only 4 left and they will indeed get done. BTW, for those kids and parents who were rude right as she was writing the rec letter, guess what the letter is going to say..... As others have said, letters of rec are a gift to your child. They are not a right. They will get done people. I hope all of you pay all bills weeks early and get projects done at work a month ahead of time. Because that is what you are asking the teachers to do.

Many of us do pay bills early and get projects done early to avoid any last minute rush/disaster/surprises. Surely, you understand that?

It’s so easy to judge from the outside, isn’t it?

I’m one of the several teachers posting on this thread. My department is taking turns using personal days so we can stay home and get letters done.

And, to add insult to injury, we have to cover each others’ classes since we have no subs.

So we are taking leave AND losing planning periods in order to write these letters, some of which we were just asked to do this week.

You’re right. I guess we could simply knock them out at home. It’s not like we have our own families or other obligations. And it’s not like we have other work (planning, grading) that we already use our evenings and weekends to do.

So simple to judge. Much harder to live the reality.

I would probably have a lot more sympathy if I met you in real life and you said it. But here you are wasting time on a message board while complaining that you have no time.

My point is that there are people who do things early. Many of the posts from teachers act like everyone works until the last minute.

Well, I’m entitled to my breaks. You may not like that, but I feel like the occasional break from my work actually helps me focus better when I am grading and writing letters. Is that okay with you? That I take occasional breaks when I am at home?

Those of us sitting with stacks of letters, some I was asked for this week, are getting criticized right now because we aren’t doing unpaid, elective work fast enough for you.

While you’re at it, why don’t you head to the thread about teachers not grading fast enough, too? Or the one demanding that teachers take shifts monitoring bathrooms during their “free” period at work? Because how we use our time is definitely your business.

Unpaid elective work? Writing letters of recommendation is literally part of a high school teacher's job. If you don't like that, do something else. If you can't get letters in on time, don't agree to write them.

No, it literally is NOT part of our job. It isn’t in our contracts. We are provided no time and our administrative team supports us when we say no. I have coworkers who refuse to write them.

I still write them and I do a very good job. In 24 years, I’ve never submitted a letter past the deadline. But each year I get closer to refusing, too.

A little gratitude goes a long way. Kicking the people who are still helping doesn’t seem to be an effective strategy if you’re asking for a favor.

How is this a favor? Who is my kid supposed to ask? My kid asked politely, said thank you and will say thank you again. We gave gifts to the teaches who are providing them. All I ask is for them to follow through and get it in on time; why is that so hard for you to understand?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DW is a teacher and got 9 done yesterday (took a personal day under the weight of all the 50 she has). Only 4 left and they will indeed get done. BTW, for those kids and parents who were rude right as she was writing the rec letter, guess what the letter is going to say..... As others have said, letters of rec are a gift to your child. They are not a right. They will get done people. I hope all of you pay all bills weeks early and get projects done at work a month ahead of time. Because that is what you are asking the teachers to do.

Many of us do pay bills early and get projects done early to avoid any last minute rush/disaster/surprises. Surely, you understand that?

It’s so easy to judge from the outside, isn’t it?

I’m one of the several teachers posting on this thread. My department is taking turns using personal days so we can stay home and get letters done.

And, to add insult to injury, we have to cover each others’ classes since we have no subs.

So we are taking leave AND losing planning periods in order to write these letters, some of which we were just asked to do this week.

You’re right. I guess we could simply knock them out at home. It’s not like we have our own families or other obligations. And it’s not like we have other work (planning, grading) that we already use our evenings and weekends to do.

So simple to judge. Much harder to live the reality.

First off thank you for being a teacher- it is critical yet under paid and often under appreciated job. Too late for this year but our school has what I think is a great system for recommendation letters. In the spring of junior year they ask the students to rank list the teachers that they want recommendation letters from. They also ask the teachers to list which juniors they would be happy to write recommendations for. The goal of the exercise is to 1)force the kids to get their requests, 2) balance the workload so no one teacher is overwhelmed and 3) prevent the negative situation where a teacher is writing a recommendation for a student they don't feel they know well or can unreservedly recommend. They also have students and parents write up brag sheets. You might try suggesting to your administration.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid asked teachers last spring as instructed but one hasn't submitted yet for a Nov 1 deadline. There's no excuse for this.

But it’s not late. Honestly if you have a personal deadline that doesn’t align with the actual deadline i would think that you would negotiate this with the teacher that is doing the recommendation. That way you’d have clear expectations for a letter before the deadline. If you didn’t then you have no reason to complain.

Ok but why wait until literally the last minute. Tomorrow is 10-31 and the deadline is Nov 1.

Because it doesn't matter. Other things take priority.

The issue is we don't know if she will actually get it in.

NP. You may have an issue but it is your own issue. If you get a bill and pay it on the due date, are you in the wrong? Sure the business would prefer you send it in earlier but you really aren’t required to. Your anxiety and lack of ability to trust your kid’s teacher to do what he or she has committed to is a “you” problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DW is a teacher and got 9 done yesterday (took a personal day under the weight of all the 50 she has). Only 4 left and they will indeed get done. BTW, for those kids and parents who were rude right as she was writing the rec letter, guess what the letter is going to say..... As others have said, letters of rec are a gift to your child. They are not a right. They will get done people. I hope all of you pay all bills weeks early and get projects done at work a month ahead of time. Because that is what you are asking the teachers to do.

Many of us do pay bills early and get projects done early to avoid any last minute rush/disaster/surprises. Surely, you understand that?

It’s so easy to judge from the outside, isn’t it?

I’m one of the several teachers posting on this thread. My department is taking turns using personal days so we can stay home and get letters done.

And, to add insult to injury, we have to cover each others’ classes since we have no subs.

So we are taking leave AND losing planning periods in order to write these letters, some of which we were just asked to do this week.

You’re right. I guess we could simply knock them out at home. It’s not like we have our own families or other obligations. And it’s not like we have other work (planning, grading) that we already use our evenings and weekends to do.

So simple to judge. Much harder to live the reality.

I would probably have a lot more sympathy if I met you in real life and you said it. But here you are wasting time on a message board while complaining that you have no time.

My point is that there are people who do things early. Many of the posts from teachers act like everyone works until the last minute.

Well, I’m entitled to my breaks. You may not like that, but I feel like the occasional break from my work actually helps me focus better when I am grading and writing letters. Is that okay with you? That I take occasional breaks when I am at home?

Those of us sitting with stacks of letters, some I was asked for this week, are getting criticized right now because we aren’t doing unpaid, elective work fast enough for you.

While you’re at it, why don’t you head to the thread about teachers not grading fast enough, too? Or the one demanding that teachers take shifts monitoring bathrooms during their “free” period at work? Because how we use our time is definitely your business.

Unpaid elective work? Writing letters of recommendation is literally part of a high school teacher's job. If you don't like that, do something else. If you can't get letters in on time, don't agree to write them.

No, it literally is NOT part of our job. It isn’t in our contracts. We are provided no time and our administrative team supports us when we say no. I have coworkers who refuse to write them.

I still write them and I do a very good job. In 24 years, I’ve never submitted a letter past the deadline. But each year I get closer to refusing, too.

A little gratitude goes a long way. Kicking the people who are still helping doesn’t seem to be an effective strategy if you’re asking for a favor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid asked teachers last spring as instructed but one hasn't submitted yet for a Nov 1 deadline. There's no excuse for this.

But it’s not late. Honestly if you have a personal deadline that doesn’t align with the actual deadline i would think that you would negotiate this with the teacher that is doing the recommendation. That way you’d have clear expectations for a letter before the deadline. If you didn’t then you have no reason to complain.

Ok but why wait until literally the last minute. Tomorrow is 10-31 and the deadline is Nov 1.

Because that’s when they have time to get it done. It’s not late

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DW is a teacher and got 9 done yesterday (took a personal day under the weight of all the 50 she has). Only 4 left and they will indeed get done. BTW, for those kids and parents who were rude right as she was writing the rec letter, guess what the letter is going to say..... As others have said, letters of rec are a gift to your child. They are not a right. They will get done people. I hope all of you pay all bills weeks early and get projects done at work a month ahead of time. Because that is what you are asking the teachers to do.

Many of us do pay bills early and get projects done early to avoid any last minute rush/disaster/surprises. Surely, you understand that?

It’s so easy to judge from the outside, isn’t it?

I’m one of the several teachers posting on this thread. My department is taking turns using personal days so we can stay home and get letters done.

And, to add insult to injury, we have to cover each others’ classes since we have no subs.

So we are taking leave AND losing planning periods in order to write these letters, some of which we were just asked to do this week.

You’re right. I guess we could simply knock them out at home. It’s not like we have our own families or other obligations. And it’s not like we have other work (planning, grading) that we already use our evenings and weekends to do.

So simple to judge. Much harder to live the reality.

I would probably have a lot more sympathy if I met you in real life and you said it. But here you are wasting time on a message board while complaining that you have no time.

My point is that there are people who do things early. Many of the posts from teachers act like everyone works until the last minute.

Well, I’m entitled to my breaks. You may not like that, but I feel like the occasional break from my work actually helps me focus better when I am grading and writing letters. Is that okay with you? That I take occasional breaks when I am at home?

Those of us sitting with stacks of letters, some I was asked for this week, are getting criticized right now because we aren’t doing unpaid, elective work fast enough for you.

While you’re at it, why don’t you head to the thread about teachers not grading fast enough, too? Or the one demanding that teachers take shifts monitoring bathrooms during their “free” period at work? Because how we use our time is definitely your business.

Unpaid elective work? Writing letters of recommendation is literally part of a high school teacher's job. If you don't like that, do something else. If you can't get letters in on time, don't agree to write them.

It's really not

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid asked teachers last spring as instructed but one hasn't submitted yet for a Nov 1 deadline. There's no excuse for this.

But it’s not late. Honestly if you have a personal deadline that doesn’t align with the actual deadline i would think that you would negotiate this with the teacher that is doing the recommendation. That way you’d have clear expectations for a letter before the deadline. If you didn’t then you have no reason to complain.

Ok but why wait until literally the last minute. Tomorrow is 10-31 and the deadline is Nov 1.

Because it doesn't matter. Other things take priority.

It matters to my kid and his chance of admission which is nil if she doesn't get it in.

As long as it meets the deadline, it doesn't matter when.

well that's the point, it's not clear she will meet the deadline.

Did your child write a thank you note as a gentle reminder?