Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a Tea Party thread (iow, a bunch of whiny haters).

Most of us like teachers. Teachers are great!! Go back to home-schooling if you dislike public education so much!!

This is a dumb post above.

What does public education have to do with having to give gifts?

About 53% of the parents are already paying taxes that go towards the teacher salaries. The other 47% should be the ones bringing gifts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers get paid ok stop the bs

And they get off 3 months for summer.

You obviously didn't learn math from an FCPS teacher. Teacher contracts end in late June and begin in late August. That would be 2 months, which are not only unpaid, but into which many unfunded mandates are included, such as mandatory training. Most teachers spend a good portion of their (unpaid) summer preparing for the next school year.

I agree, the time not under contract is not quite three months. We get paid for 194 days.

I'm the first person to correct misconceptions about our benefits, pay, and job responsibilities, but teachers I work with don't spend most of their summers preparing for the next school year. My wife and I have 27 years with FCPS between us and neither of us have ever had mandatory trainings in the summer. We [i]might[i] spend a few hours on work for school over the summer, but I doubt it.

PP didn't refer to time not under contract. PP claimed we have a three month summer.

Maybe you teach a different grade level, but I spend pretty much every day or winter and spring break grading papers. I have to take classes over the summer for at least 3 of every 5 summers in order to renew my certification. And I spend a LOT of time obmver the summer preparing materials for the next school year. Of you've found a better way to balance work/life, I salute you. Most teachers I work with are in the same boat as me, lugging home work every night, every weekend, and every "vacation".

I understand. What I stated is correct. We are not under contract for just under 3 months in the summer.

I have taught grades 2-4. My DW is also in an elementary school. I have to gain 180 recertification points in 5 years. Two 3 credit courses covers it. I'm not taking one this summer and other than those courses We have NO mandatory training in the summer. If you do, it is because you chose to or couldn't say "no".

My post was specifically about summer. Not days during the school year, or winter and spring breaks. I spend a TON of time during the school year grading and prepping. I just spent two hours prepping poetry. I bring home work every night and weekend, but that's between September and June. What you do in the summer is your choice. We all joke at the end of August how the bag we took home at the end of June was still in the same spot at the end of August.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers get paid ok stop the bs

And they get off 3 months for summer.

You obviously didn't learn math from an FCPS teacher. Teacher contracts end in late June and begin in late August. That would be 2 months, which are not only unpaid, but into which many unfunded mandates are included, such as mandatory training. Most teachers spend a good portion of their (unpaid) summer preparing for the next school year.

I agree, the time not under contract is not quite three months. We get paid for 194 days.

I'm the first person to correct misconceptions about our benefits, pay, and job responsibilities, but teachers I work with don't spend most of their summers preparing for the next school year. My wife and I have 27 years with FCPS between us and neither of us have ever had mandatory trainings in the summer. We [i]might[i] spend a few hours on work for school over the summer, but I doubt it.

PP didn't refer to time not under contract. PP claimed we have a three month summer.

Maybe you teach a different grade level, but I spend pretty much every day or winter and spring break grading papers. I have to take classes over the summer for at least 3 of every 5 summers in order to renew my certification. And I spend a LOT of time obmver the summer preparing materials for the next school year. Of you've found a better way to balance work/life, I salute you. Most teachers I work with are in the same boat as me, lugging home work every night, every weekend, and every "vacation".

one day our kids are supposed to wear the teacher's favorite color and donate a gently used book or game. i think that is sweet and free.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers get paid ok stop the bs

And they get off 3 months for summer.

You obviously didn't learn math from an FCPS teacher. Teacher contracts end in late June and begin in late August. That would be 2 months, which are not only unpaid, but into which many unfunded mandates are included, such as mandatory training. Most teachers spend a good portion of their (unpaid) summer preparing for the next school year.

I agree, the time not under contract is not quite three months. We get paid for 194 days.

I'm the first person to correct misconceptions about our benefits, pay, and job responsibilities, but teachers I work with don't spend most of their summers preparing for the next school year. My wife and I have 27 years with FCPS between us and neither of us have ever had mandatory trainings in the summer. We [i]might[i] spend a few hours on work for school over the summer, but I doubt it.

Instead of complaining about the PTA, join the damn organization and help set these policies.

The people who complain the most about the PTA are invariably the least educated about what they do. There is no mandate that all PTAs hold over-the-top teacher appreciation weeks--it's all up to the parents who put in the time. (And please, no "But I work all day" comments--our PTA board is almost entirely FT working parents.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers get paid ok stop the bs

And they get off 3 months for summer.

You obviously didn't learn math from an FCPS teacher. Teacher contracts end in late June and begin in late August. That would be 2 months, which are not only unpaid, but into which many unfunded mandates are included, such as mandatory training. Most teachers spend a good portion of their (unpaid) summer preparing for the next school year.

Anonymous wrote:And why do teachers get a week but mothers and fathers only a day?

Would you like me to call you a waaaaahmbulance?

And why do teachers get a week but mothers and fathers only a day?

Anonymous wrote:The "troll" is simply saying that there is no need for a PTA orchestrated teacher appreciation week. The "troll"'s point is that teachers are paid for their work, receive great benefits, 3 months a year off, etc. The troll's point is the contrived program guilts everyone into participating, because no parent wants his child to be labeled as the one who did not bring a gift for the teacher. Now that I think about it, maybe its not a "troll" after all, but a rationally thinking individual who does not receive an appreciation week for doing his job, and questioning the need to do one for others who are simply doing their job. Maybe everyone should just thank the teacher in their own way, in their own time, and without big brother telling you to do so.

I'm guessing it varies from school to school. I never felt "guilted" into participating in Teacher Appreciation Week for my son's teachers. There are designated days, but they're pretty simple really. A PTA luncheon, a day to send in a note or card, one for school supplies, another to send in a used book for the class library and another for a snack. Not a big deal and teachers don't label kids who don't bring in a gift. I'm a teacher and I never hear teachers talking about the students that way.

I will also add that parents do ask me about items I need for the classroom and it's tough to answer. The school provides pretty much everything we need. I've never had to do without something for my classroom. Tissues? Each student brings in a box and that is more than enough to last the school year.

Anonymous wrote:We don't do anything for this week except a nice card. We give a gift during the Holidays and at the end of the year. I have an issue with anyone asking to be appreciated, we do it on our own and make up for it with our end of the year gift as we most certainly do appreciate the teachers.

That being said, I do wonder where all the money goes in FCPS and why PTA does nothing but ask for money ever month...we pay how much per student per year? $17,000 give or take? That's a lot of Kleenex...

In which schools do teachers "ask to be appreciated"?

We don't do anything for this week except a nice card. We give a gift during the Holidays and at the end of the year. I have an issue with anyone asking to be appreciated, we do it on our own and make up for it with our end of the year gift as we most certainly do appreciate the teachers.

That being said, I do wonder where all the money goes in FCPS and why PTA does nothing but ask for money ever month...we pay how much per student per year? $17,000 give or take? That's a lot of Kleenex...

Anonymous wrote:The "troll" is simply saying that there is no need for a PTA orchestrated teacher appreciation week. The "troll"'s point is that teachers are paid for their work, receive great benefits, 3 months a year off, etc. The troll's point is the contrived program guilts everyone into participating, because no parent wants his child to be labeled as the one who did not bring a gift for the teacher. Now that I think about it, maybe its not a "troll" after all, but a rationally thinking individual who does not receive an appreciation week for doing his job, and questioning the need to do one for others who are simply doing their job. Maybe everyone should just thank the teacher in their own way, in their own time, and without big brother telling you to do so.

+100

The "troll" is simply saying that there is no need for a PTA orchestrated teacher appreciation week. The "troll"'s point is that teachers are paid for their work, receive great benefits, 3 months a year off, etc. The troll's point is the contrived program guilts everyone into participating, because no parent wants his child to be labeled as the one who did not bring a gift for the teacher. Now that I think about it, maybe its not a "troll" after all, but a rationally thinking individual who does not receive an appreciation week for doing his job, and questioning the need to do one for others who are simply doing their job. Maybe everyone should just thank the teacher in their own way, in their own time, and without big brother telling you to do so.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers get paid ok stop the bs

And they get off 3 months for summer.

Everyone know this. What does it have to do with Appreciation Week?

Are you really unable to connect the dots here?

Yes, I can.
It's just a troll trying to find something to complain about and we are feeding him.