Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, now, have drawn a line between their interests and teacher interests, and they claim teacher's interests aren't aligned with students' interests and needs.
However, do parents also get this angry at their medical professionals or veterinary professionals, or other concerns that they patronize? Their offices weren't open for quite awhile, well after school opened, and some still aren't. It was, and still is, a global pandemic and quite a bit adaptation is required. Students really don't get to decide when it was appropriate to return to the classroom, and neither do parents. The school return coincided with with vaccine rollout, and not all teachers were able to get a vaccine upon the start of school opening. There were also teachers with comorbidities, pregnant teachers, etc., so it was quite problematic and frightening.

Some of the loudest parents weren't actually expected to be back in a building for their own work, and still aren't expected back, but expected teachers to be. Some of the loudest parents had a running start quite a bit before COVID, with online take downs of schools, teachers, the school board, and Central Office. Redistricting online conversations, and school board election rhetoric were some of the worst examples many had ever seen.

Regarding some errant and tangential comment from one or a few teachers about the union not truly representing them, they are truly definitely in the minority. Teachers were, and are, fighting for a safe working environment.

What is happening is that parents will get their wish, going forward... if keep putting the hammer down, denigrating the system, and the teachers- the only teachers available will be hundreds of first year newbies that will last a couple of years, if that. One wonders if there will ever be a viable bus situation again. . Teachers and staff have had enough. These past years were hard for everyone, very hard. Parents were, of course, stressed beyond belief- they had kids at home, they still had to work, online school wasn't as ideal as F2F. F2F wasn't designed that way before COVID, hard to create a new curriculum on a dime, but most did their best to make it work as much as possible. Teachers, however, aren't front line workers, and they definitely are not
day care. Not all situations were going to be ideal.

Are you a teacher? I hope not.

No, but why do you "hope not?"

Because the "school is not childcare" line is antagonistic and dismissive of the benefits of in-person learning that were lost.

Funny that you hoped that the poster "wasn't a teacher" and assumed teachers would just sacrifice themselves for "the benefits of in-person learning that were lost." Why would you assume teachers would do that? Why?

Very entitled.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, now, have drawn a line between their interests and teacher interests, and they claim teacher's interests aren't aligned with students' interests and needs.
However, do parents also get this angry at their medical professionals or veterinary professionals, or other concerns that they patronize? Their offices weren't open for quite awhile, well after school opened, and some still aren't. It was, and still is, a global pandemic and quite a bit adaptation is required. Students really don't get to decide when it was appropriate to return to the classroom, and neither do parents. The school return coincided with with vaccine rollout, and not all teachers were able to get a vaccine upon the start of school opening. There were also teachers with comorbidities, pregnant teachers, etc., so it was quite problematic and frightening.

Some of the loudest parents weren't actually expected to be back in a building for their own work, and still aren't expected back, but expected teachers to be. Some of the loudest parents had a running start quite a bit before COVID, with online take downs of schools, teachers, the school board, and Central Office. Redistricting online conversations, and school board election rhetoric were some of the worst examples many had ever seen.

Regarding some errant and tangential comment from one or a few teachers about the union not truly representing them, they are truly definitely in the minority. Teachers were, and are, fighting for a safe working environment.

What is happening is that parents will get their wish, going forward... if keep putting the hammer down, denigrating the system, and the teachers- the only teachers available will be hundreds of first year newbies that will last a couple of years, if that. One wonders if there will ever be a viable bus situation again. . Teachers and staff have had enough. These past years were hard for everyone, very hard. Parents were, of course, stressed beyond belief- they had kids at home, they still had to work, online school wasn't as ideal as F2F. F2F wasn't designed that way before COVID, hard to create a new curriculum on a dime, but most did their best to make it work as much as possible. Teachers, however, aren't front line workers, and they definitely are not
day care. Not all situations were going to be ideal.

Are you a teacher? I hope not.

No, but why do you "hope not?"

Because the "school is not childcare" line is antagonistic and dismissive of the benefits of in-person learning that were lost.

Funny that you hoped that the poster "wasn't a teacher" and assumed teachers would just sacrifice themselves for "the benefits of in-person learning that were lost." Why would you assume teachers would do that? Why?

Very entitled.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, now, have drawn a line between their interests and teacher interests, and they claim teacher's interests aren't aligned with students' interests and needs.
However, do parents also get this angry at their medical professionals or veterinary professionals, or other concerns that they patronize? Their offices weren't open for quite awhile, well after school opened, and some still aren't. It was, and still is, a global pandemic and quite a bit adaptation is required. Students really don't get to decide when it was appropriate to return to the classroom, and neither do parents. The school return coincided with with vaccine rollout, and not all teachers were able to get a vaccine upon the start of school opening. There were also teachers with comorbidities, pregnant teachers, etc., so it was quite problematic and frightening.

Some of the loudest parents weren't actually expected to be back in a building for their own work, and still aren't expected back, but expected teachers to be. Some of the loudest parents had a running start quite a bit before COVID, with online take downs of schools, teachers, the school board, and Central Office. Redistricting online conversations, and school board election rhetoric were some of the worst examples many had ever seen.

Regarding some errant and tangential comment from one or a few teachers about the union not truly representing them, they are truly definitely in the minority. Teachers were, and are, fighting for a safe working environment.

What is happening is that parents will get their wish, going forward... if keep putting the hammer down, denigrating the system, and the teachers- the only teachers available will be hundreds of first year newbies that will last a couple of years, if that. One wonders if there will ever be a viable bus situation again. . Teachers and staff have had enough. These past years were hard for everyone, very hard. Parents were, of course, stressed beyond belief- they had kids at home, they still had to work, online school wasn't as ideal as F2F. F2F wasn't designed that way before COVID, hard to create a new curriculum on a dime, but most did their best to make it work as much as possible. Teachers, however, aren't front line workers, and they definitely are not
day care. Not all situations were going to be ideal.

Are you a teacher? I hope not.

No, but why do you "hope not?"

Because the "school is not childcare" line is antagonistic and dismissive of the benefits of in-person learning that were lost.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, now, have drawn a line between their interests and teacher interests, and they claim teacher's interests aren't aligned with students' interests and needs.
However, do parents also get this angry at their medical professionals or veterinary professionals, or other concerns that they patronize? Their offices weren't open for quite awhile, well after school opened, and some still aren't. It was, and still is, a global pandemic and quite a bit adaptation is required. Students really don't get to decide when it was appropriate to return to the classroom, and neither do parents. The school return coincided with with vaccine rollout, and not all teachers were able to get a vaccine upon the start of school opening. There were also teachers with comorbidities, pregnant teachers, etc., so it was quite problematic and frightening.

Some of the loudest parents weren't actually expected to be back in a building for their own work, and still aren't expected back, but expected teachers to be. Some of the loudest parents had a running start quite a bit before COVID, with online take downs of schools, teachers, the school board, and Central Office. Redistricting online conversations, and school board election rhetoric were some of the worst examples many had ever seen.

Regarding some errant and tangential comment from one or a few teachers about the union not truly representing them, they are truly definitely in the minority. Teachers were, and are, fighting for a safe working environment.

What is happening is that parents will get their wish, going forward... if keep putting the hammer down, denigrating the system, and the teachers- the only teachers available will be hundreds of first year newbies that will last a couple of years, if that. One wonders if there will ever be a viable bus situation again. . Teachers and staff have had enough. These past years were hard for everyone, very hard. Parents were, of course, stressed beyond belief- they had kids at home, they still had to work, online school wasn't as ideal as F2F. F2F wasn't designed that way before COVID, hard to create a new curriculum on a dime, but most did their best to make it work as much as possible. Teachers, however, aren't front line workers, and they definitely are not
day care. Not all situations were going to be ideal.

Are you a teacher? I hope not.

No, but why do you "hope not?"

Because the "school is not childcare" line is antagonistic and dismissive of the benefits of in-person learning that were lost.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, now, have drawn a line between their interests and teacher interests, and they claim teacher's interests aren't aligned with students' interests and needs.
However, do parents also get this angry at their medical professionals or veterinary professionals, or other concerns that they patronize? Their offices weren't open for quite awhile, well after school opened, and some still aren't. It was, and still is, a global pandemic and quite a bit adaptation is required. Students really don't get to decide when it was appropriate to return to the classroom, and neither do parents. The school return coincided with with vaccine rollout, and not all teachers were able to get a vaccine upon the start of school opening. There were also teachers with comorbidities, pregnant teachers, etc., so it was quite problematic and frightening.

Some of the loudest parents weren't actually expected to be back in a building for their own work, and still aren't expected back, but expected teachers to be. Some of the loudest parents had a running start quite a bit before COVID, with online take downs of schools, teachers, the school board, and Central Office. Redistricting online conversations, and school board election rhetoric were some of the worst examples many had ever seen.

Regarding some errant and tangential comment from one or a few teachers about the union not truly representing them, they are truly definitely in the minority. Teachers were, and are, fighting for a safe working environment.

What is happening is that parents will get their wish, going forward... if keep putting the hammer down, denigrating the system, and the teachers- the only teachers available will be hundreds of first year newbies that will last a couple of years, if that. One wonders if there will ever be a viable bus situation again. . Teachers and staff have had enough. These past years were hard for everyone, very hard. Parents were, of course, stressed beyond belief- they had kids at home, they still had to work, online school wasn't as ideal as F2F. F2F wasn't designed that way before COVID, hard to create a new curriculum on a dime, but most did their best to make it work as much as possible. Teachers, however, aren't front line workers, and they definitely are not
day care. Not all situations were going to be ideal.

Are you a teacher? I hope not.

No, but why do you "hope not?"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, now, have drawn a line between their interests and teacher interests, and they claim teacher's interests aren't aligned with students' interests and needs.
However, do parents also get this angry at their medical professionals or veterinary professionals, or other concerns that they patronize? Their offices weren't open for quite awhile, well after school opened, and some still aren't. It was, and still is, a global pandemic and quite a bit adaptation is required. Students really don't get to decide when it was appropriate to return to the classroom, and neither do parents. The school return coincided with with vaccine rollout, and not all teachers were able to get a vaccine upon the start of school opening. There were also teachers with comorbidities, pregnant teachers, etc., so it was quite problematic and frightening.

Some of the loudest parents weren't actually expected to be back in a building for their own work, and still aren't expected back, but expected teachers to be. Some of the loudest parents had a running start quite a bit before COVID, with online take downs of schools, teachers, the school board, and Central Office. Redistricting online conversations, and school board election rhetoric were some of the worst examples many had ever seen.

Regarding some errant and tangential comment from one or a few teachers about the union not truly representing them, they are truly definitely in the minority. Teachers were, and are, fighting for a safe working environment.

What is happening is that parents will get their wish, going forward... if keep putting the hammer down, denigrating the system, and the teachers- the only teachers available will be hundreds of first year newbies that will last a couple of years, if that. One wonders if there will ever be a viable bus situation again. . Teachers and staff have had enough. These past years were hard for everyone, very hard. Parents were, of course, stressed beyond belief- they had kids at home, they still had to work, online school wasn't as ideal as F2F. F2F wasn't designed that way before COVID, hard to create a new curriculum on a dime, but most did their best to make it work as much as possible. Teachers, however, aren't front line workers, and they definitely are not
day care. Not all situations were going to be ideal.

Are you a teacher? I hope not.

Anonymous wrote:Parents, now, have drawn a line between their interests and teacher interests, and they claim teacher's interests aren't aligned with students' interests and needs.
However, do parents also get this angry at their medical professionals or veterinary professionals, or other concerns that they patronize? Their offices weren't open for quite awhile, well after school opened, and some still aren't. It was, and still is, a global pandemic and quite a bit adaptation is required. Students really don't get to decide when it was appropriate to return to the classroom, and neither do parents. The school return coincided with with vaccine rollout, and not all teachers were able to get a vaccine upon the start of school opening. There were also teachers with comorbidities, pregnant teachers, etc., so it was quite problematic and frightening.

Some of the loudest parents weren't actually expected to be back in a building for their own work, and still aren't expected back, but expected teachers to be. Some of the loudest parents had a running start quite a bit before COVID, with online take downs of schools, teachers, the school board, and Central Office. Redistricting online conversations, and school board election rhetoric were some of the worst examples many had ever seen.

Regarding some errant and tangential comment from one or a few teachers about the union not truly representing them, they are truly definitely in the minority. Teachers were, and are, fighting for a safe working environment.

What is happening is that parents will get their wish, going forward... if keep putting the hammer down, denigrating the system, and the teachers- the only teachers available will be hundreds of first year newbies that will last a couple of years, if that. One wonders if there will ever be a viable bus situation again. . Teachers and staff have had enough. These past years were hard for everyone, very hard. Parents were, of course, stressed beyond belief- they had kids at home, they still had to work, online school wasn't as ideal as F2F. F2F wasn't designed that way before COVID, hard to create a new curriculum on a dime, but most did their best to make it work as much as possible. Teachers, however, aren't front line workers, and they definitely are not
day care. Not all situations were going to be ideal.

Anonymous wrote:I think it's better for teachers that parents think of HCEA as a distinct entity from the individual teachers who are doing their best under impossible circumstances. Empathy, understanding, and grace for the challenges facing individual teachers come more easily when feelings about HCEA and its tactics are put aside.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol on the 250 teachers "signing up for a retirement seminar" - I wonder if the union tried to get as many people as possible to sign up for precisely so they could use this as a talking point....The union in HoCo is out of control.

-A normal dem who is sick of all the pressure to reduce student time in school after last year's bungled covid closures

Not likely. Student time in school was impacted by a global pandemic, not a union or school board.

One misperception about teacher unions is that they operate on some separate managerial plane different than teachers. The teacher's union, including this one, is comprised of teachers. The only interests they represent are student and teacher interests. There are no separate agendas, no kick backs, nothing. No one would be asked to come to a seminar. In 2014, there were payouts offered for early retirement, only for a those who met specific criteria, however. The room was standing room only.

Teachers are leaving the profession in droves. This year was difficult, absolutely, but it isn't the only reason. There will be a reckoning with many types of jobs, not just teaching, and the pandemic helped to clarify priorities for many people. This is a very tough profession to be in, and the requirements aren't aligned with salary, so it took a pandemic to illuminate the roles teachers actually play in the community.

There is a huge teacher and
substitute teacher shortage here in Md, and nationwide currently, and the teachers who are there are now spread very thin covering for those who are not there. That is why the retirement meeting exploded.


There also has been a deficit of school bus drivers and paraprofessionals, resulting in daily chaos. That has nothing to do with the union. Today, many drivers called out in protest of pay, duty expectations, and safety.

This pandemic basically put a spotlight on many factors that impede career choice. This is one, the hospitality and service industry is one, veterinary medicine is one, along with many others.

A genuine question:
During the closures, the teachers would post here and say somethign along the lines of "It's TAAC, it's not me. Teachers don't feel that way." The BOE posts in AACounty that there is a distinction between the union negotiations and the local teachers. Don't take it out on your local teacher.

So which is it? Is the teachers' union comprised of your local teacher and representing them or isn't it? Whether or not people sign up for a retirement seminar means nothing. You are saying you intend to attend a seminar, not that you intend on retiring immediately.

Every single industry has a shortage right now of qualified workers. The pandemic has been truly difficult.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol on the 250 teachers "signing up for a retirement seminar" - I wonder if the union tried to get as many people as possible to sign up for precisely so they could use this as a talking point....The union in HoCo is out of control.

-A normal dem who is sick of all the pressure to reduce student time in school after last year's bungled covid closures

Not likely. Student time in school was impacted by a global pandemic, not a union or school board.

One misperception about teacher unions is that they operate on some separate managerial plane different than teachers. The teacher's union, including this one, is comprised of teachers. The only interests they represent are student and teacher interests. There are no separate agendas, no kick backs, nothing. No one would be asked to come to a seminar. In 2014, there were payouts offered for early retirement, only for a those who met specific criteria, however. The room was standing room only.

Teachers are leaving the profession in droves. This year was difficult, absolutely, but it isn't the only reason. There will be a reckoning with many types of jobs, not just teaching, and the pandemic helped to clarify priorities for many people. This is a very tough profession to be in, and the requirements aren't aligned with salary, so it took a pandemic to illuminate the roles teachers actually play in the community.

There is a huge teacher and
substitute teacher shortage here in Md, and nationwide currently, and the teachers who are there are now spread very thin covering for those who are not there. That is why the retirement meeting exploded.


There also has been a deficit of school bus drivers and paraprofessionals, resulting in daily chaos. That has nothing to do with the union. Today, many drivers called out in protest of pay, duty expectations, and safety.

This pandemic basically put a spotlight on many factors that impede career choice. This is one, the hospitality and service industry is one, veterinary medicine is one, along with many others.

Anonymous wrote:Lol on the 250 teachers "signing up for a retirement seminar" - I wonder if the union tried to get as many people as possible to sign up for precisely so they could use this as a talking point....The union in HoCo is out of control.

-A normal dem who is sick of all the pressure to reduce student time in school after last year's bungled covid closures