20 emails is a lot to send in 18 weeks of school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the smug private school parents out there:

I'm a private school teacher. I get why you need to justify your choice to spend 25K+/year on each child's education. I frankly think it's worth it.

But you don't need to justify your choice by putting down MCPS teachers. They are not lazy or unskilled. From what I have seen, they work a lot harder than most of us private school teachers. They have to deal with a lot more bureaucratic crap and often twice as many students.

The private school setting allows me to teach to the best of my ability because for the most part I am able to prioritize classroom instruction, individual attention to student needs, extensive feedback to students and communication with parents/counselors. That's why you spend 25K+ for your child. Not because MCPS teachers are worse than us.

We pulled our child from a private b/c the teachers weren't required to earn certification. A BS in English doesn't equip you with skills to teach.

What other profession would accept such nonsense?

Her "free" education is superior to any instruction she received at her former private. I could kick myself for wasting that money. People pay for the prestige.

Quoted private school teacher here. I've posted about this before on DCUM and people refused to believe this, but over the years as a student and a teacher at private schools I have seen that there's always at least one teacher every year (and often more than 1) hired straight from undergrad, either as a desperate alum looking for a job, or someone with the a HYP undergrad degree or something similar. Some of these teachers end up having a natural knack and passion for teaching and the years of experience and mentoring lead to great teaching. And some leave within the first couple years because they were disastrous teachers or because they realized teaching just wasn't for them. That is a risk that private schools often take. I think it works out well often enough that people accept it.

Anonymous wrote:For the smug private school parents out there:

I'm a private school teacher. I get why you need to justify your choice to spend 25K+/year on each child's education. I frankly think it's worth it.

But you don't need to justify your choice by putting down MCPS teachers. They are not lazy or unskilled. From what I have seen, they work a lot harder than most of us private school teachers. They have to deal with a lot more bureaucratic crap and often twice as many students.

The private school setting allows me to teach to the best of my ability because for the most part I am able to prioritize classroom instruction, individual attention to student needs, extensive feedback to students and communication with parents/counselors. That's why you spend 25K+ for your child. Not because MCPS teachers are worse than us.

Not the private school parent but having one in both, I agree. We love our private, the teachers and love that work is given. The teachers upload virtual classrooms, send you tube videos from home teaching the kids, give and grade assignments, are available anytime via email and my 9th grader has thrived in a great environment. But it is because the ratios are so much lower, their isn't common core curriculum and the teachers have so much autonomy. I could never be a teacher with 30+ kids in a class teaching a cookie cutter curriculum to all of them. I see my youngest struggling enjoy school in public with 26 kids in her 2nd grade class. I have spoken to the teacher twice all year. My daughter in private has 12-16 kids per class. It is so much easier to be a more personal level with your students in private. That all said, there is no reason a MCPS teacher can not email a parent back. The posts by teachers saying they deserve this family time after just being off for 10+ days for a winter break is disheartening. It takes 5-10 minutes to respond to a parent yet you are posting here on DCUM instead - saying you deserve time with family. I think you picked the wrong career and I hope your attitude is the minorit of MCPS teachers.

Anonymous wrote:Do none of you in other professions not think it is a problem that you are expected to check and respond to email during your time off? I admire those who are willing to break with this expectation. Family first.

So you think a teacher should not email a parent that sent an email a week ago because they deserve this break with their family? That isn't how the real world works.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have not sent that many emails over the year (middle school DCs)- maybe 20 in total but everyone has been responded to right away and that exceeded my expectation and is greatly appreciated. Then again, my kids have for the most part had exceptional teachers at MCPS. But the attitude of some of the teachers on this board is annoying. I do not know a single professional in my circle that does not expect to have to respond to emails beyond traditional work hours. Not one. I am not saying you cannot have a day off on Sunday sometimes but in todays world, everyone with a professional job has to respond to emails, not 24/7 but no way can you go 5 days without a pre-coordinated vacation and not respond to emails because you need work life balance. If you think that is a problem, we probably do not want you teaching our kids.

I don't think any of the teachers were saying that (maybe I missed a post). I think more teachers were reacting to the "beck and call" approach some parents on this thread had.

Any teacher with the resources is going to be available via email.

Fair enough. It isn't like anyone should be on call 24/7, but sounds like most do check at least sometimes, which is totally reasonable. And that has been my experience personally too so all on same page. And thanks for what you do.

Anonymous wrote:Do none of you in other professions not think it is a problem that you are expected to check and respond to email during your time off? I admire those who are willing to break with this expectation. Family first.

Having taught so many kids destroyed by dysfunctional parenting, I'll take my time "off" with my kids and run with it. We went sledding. We took walks. We watched movies. We ran errands and went out for breakfast.

Yes, I had my work done, and I also planned WAY ahead. But family comes first!

Anonymous wrote:For the smug private school parents out there:

I'm a private school teacher. I get why you need to justify your choice to spend 25K+/year on each child's education. I frankly think it's worth it.

But you don't need to justify your choice by putting down MCPS teachers. They are not lazy or unskilled. From what I have seen, they work a lot harder than most of us private school teachers. They have to deal with a lot more bureaucratic crap and often twice as many students.

The private school setting allows me to teach to the best of my ability because for the most part I am able to prioritize classroom instruction, individual attention to student needs, extensive feedback to students and communication with parents/counselors. That's why you spend 25K+ for your child. Not because MCPS teachers are worse than us.

We pulled our child from a private b/c the teachers weren't required to earn certification. A BS in English doesn't equip you with skills to teach.

What other profession would accept such nonsense?

Her "free" education is superior to any instruction she received at her former private. I could kick myself for wasting that money. People pay for the prestige.

Do none of you in other professions not think it is a problem that you are expected to check and respond to email during your time off? I admire those who are willing to break with this expectation. Family first.

For the smug private school parents out there:

I'm a private school teacher. I get why you need to justify your choice to spend 25K+/year on each child's education. I frankly think it's worth it.

But you don't need to justify your choice by putting down MCPS teachers. They are not lazy or unskilled. From what I have seen, they work a lot harder than most of us private school teachers. They have to deal with a lot more bureaucratic crap and often twice as many students.

The private school setting allows me to teach to the best of my ability because for the most part I am able to prioritize classroom instruction, individual attention to student needs, extensive feedback to students and communication with parents/counselors. That's why you spend 25K+ for your child. Not because MCPS teachers are worse than us.

Anonymous wrote:I have not sent that many emails over the year (middle school DCs)- maybe 20 in total but everyone has been responded to right away and that exceeded my expectation and is greatly appreciated. Then again, my kids have for the most part had exceptional teachers at MCPS. But the attitude of some of the teachers on this board is annoying. I do not know a single professional in my circle that does not expect to have to respond to emails beyond traditional work hours. Not one. I am not saying you cannot have a day off on Sunday sometimes but in todays world, everyone with a professional job has to respond to emails, not 24/7 but no way can you go 5 days without a pre-coordinated vacation and not respond to emails because you need work life balance. If you think that is a problem, we probably do not want you teaching our kids.

I don't think any of the teachers were saying that (maybe I missed a post). I think more teachers were reacting to the "beck and call" approach some parents on this thread had.

Any teacher with the resources is going to be available via email.

I have not sent that many emails over the year (middle school DCs)- maybe 20 in total but everyone has been responded to right away and that exceeded my expectation and is greatly appreciated. Then again, my kids have for the most part had exceptional teachers at MCPS. But the attitude of some of the teachers on this board is annoying. I do not know a single professional in my circle that does not expect to have to respond to emails beyond traditional work hours. Not one. I am not saying you cannot have a day off on Sunday sometimes but in todays world, everyone with a professional job has to respond to emails, not 24/7 but no way can you go 5 days without a pre-coordinated vacation and not respond to emails because you need work life balance. If you think that is a problem, we probably do not want you teaching our kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son's private is continuing to assign homework assignments which are being collected via online submission and graded even during the school closures. Teachers are communicating with students consistently during the school closure. I guess that's what you get when you do private vs. the union driven public schools. So glad we left MCPS for private.

Many MCPS teachers, including myself, are doing the same thing. It isn't a union issue. Stop politicizing my vocation.

My private school son has lots of friends in high school at a W school, and not one has anything to do during the snow closure. They are just sitting around playing on their x-boxes. On the other hand, DS is working on daily assignments, preparing for upcoming tests/quizzes, reading. Teachers are sending daily emails with reminders of assignments and invitations to email them with any questions or concerns. Oh, and, yes, our teachers all have internet access at home.

And your son and his friends are often the cases I deal with on my end - high anxiety, depression, simply not doing "well enough" to face school on a daily basis.

much luck with your child, PP - While you may not see the effects of your controlling parenting now, you will eventually.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My grades are done and I am spending the unexpected time off with my children. I have checked it and responded during breaks in the past, but for me it is a slippery slope. Once I start to go back to bringing work home, it is difficult to maintain the right work/life balance that I need.
I say, go ahead and send the email, but don't be put off if you don't get s response until school resumes.

Your work/life balance? You have been off for a week! I hope my kids never get you for a teacher.

And the teacher is thinking the same thing about you, PP. I love these responses from parents. Do you honestly THINK teachers are upset if they have fewer students in their already overflowing classes?

lol

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are between semesters. Trust me, they have work but since I haven't even met many of my students yet I'm not able to assign them work at the moment. I keep rearranging all of my class plans day by day to fit everything in with regards to school testing days. I'm ready to teach them the moment we get back, and they will still need to learn all the material just in a shorter span of time.

You know you can see your new rosters in MyMCPS and then email them via Google. Or send the entire class AND parents a mass email through Edline.

depends on the school

Not all of our kids have computers. the majority, yes - But for the 10 or so who don't, it's an equity issue.

Anonymous wrote:We are between semesters. Trust me, they have work but since I haven't even met many of my students yet I'm not able to assign them work at the moment. I keep rearranging all of my class plans day by day to fit everything in with regards to school testing days. I'm ready to teach them the moment we get back, and they will still need to learn all the material just in a shorter span of time.

You know you can see your new rosters in MyMCPS and then email them via Google. Or send the entire class AND parents a mass email through Edline.