Extended spring break?

[Allegra]

Unfortunately, I think it might be easier to discuss specifics with parents who have kids in the same school and class, since people’s experiences are going to differ significantly. Is there something in particular that you are trying to troubleshoot or are you just looking for inspiration for engaging activities?

 

[DisorientingSneeze]

Probably to just talk out my plan for the week, whenever I get next week’s stuff.

 

[Allegra]

I’ll be happy to talk with you, either on this thread, a new thread, or through PM. That’s always the first thing I do each day, is go through my classes and remind myself what I’m going to do with each one, so I can get the right stuff out and run through my accompaniments.

 

[DisorientingSneeze]

Thank you!

 

[TC3033]

I can’t understand why the media won’t cover this story and expose the frustration of the parents and the unrealistic expectations of the teachers (who are probably trying to justify their high salaries and many perks, and working towards their fabulous retirement pensions–the tax-weary public is not going to be happy to learn that they are still paying for all these things while the teachers sit home and watch Hulu and drink wine all day).

If I were one of these parents, I would have started a public rebellion by now and told the teachers to “learn how real families live”–by working for a living.

Ok…it sounds like you really have a thing against teachers…and the above statement comes off really arrogant…if not uneducated on the situation. Let’s dissect, shall we?

The unrealistic expectations of the teachers

First off, this wasn’t up to the teachers. I won’t say this happened in every district, but my wife works in one district while the kids are in another and they were handled similarly. The teachers were called into meetings where district leadership told teachers the plan, were given 1-2 weeks to do the preparation to execute said plan for at least 4 weeks (but will now probably be about 12.

high salaries and many perks


while teachers sit home and watch Hulu and drink wine all day working for a living

OK…honestly. Teachers are online ALL DAY. I can hear my wife teaching a class via zoom as we speak. She probably put in somewhere in the neighborhood of 50-55 hours this week (about 8 yesterday on Sunday). It’s kinda funny I tripped across this thread, before going to bed last night she said she’s ready to be done with this as it’s so much more work than being able to be in the classroom.

I think the teachers ought to go…chill out.

Talk to their leadership.

And we may as well pay them for this time off,

You have to. They’re under contract.

poorly-thought out by teachers who didn’t realize that “shelter-in-place” mandates did not excuse everyone from their jobs.

Again…it didn’t come from the teachers.

Maybe one parent can clean up the dinner and do other chores like laundry, pet feeding, any necessary shopping, etc. while the other parent does teaching, and then trade off half-way through–maybe dad can take the kids outside for Physical Education–yes, our school district teachers are assigning physical education activities to the kids!–Finish by 10:00 p.m.,

Oh my gosh! They’re assigning PE – the travesty (insert sarcasm). Seriously, why can’t subjects be queued up for at Grandma’s house. Why couldn’t they do PE in the 9 hours they were there or get a few subjects done. We get our “week at a glance” on Sunday evening and pretty much have the week planned Sunday night.

 

[Peeps]

Oh my gosh! They’re assigning PE – the travesty (insert sarcasm). Seriously, why can’t subjects be queued up for at Grandma’s house. Why couldn’t they do PE in the 9 hours they were there or get a few subjects done. We get our “week at a glance” on Sunday evening and pretty much have the week planned Sunday night.

I think I posted this earlier, but maybe not.

It’s over in our district. School is done for the year. No more required assignments. Grades will be based on how the students were doing up until the date of the “Shelter In Place” policy went into effect (around March 15).

Students will not have grades lowered based on what they have done at home since the sequestering, but they can, if they choose, raise their grades, and they CAN, if they choose, continue to work on assignments and submit them and hopefully, raise their grades.

So it’s over.

I’m interested that your wife was online so much. In our district, the teachers had online hours from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.–impossible for parents who were working a first shift during the day.

There were no evening hours when parents and teachers could be online together.

So I suspect, from what I am reading here, that our school district just made a mess out of it, and it is a mercy that they have ended it until next fall.

I am also very curious to know whether my many critics on this thread think that only 15% of students achieving grade level scores on standard achievement tests (nationally-given tests) is acceptable. I don’t think it is, but perhaps I am unrealistic in my expectations of public schooling.

 

[TC3033]

I think I posted this earlier, but maybe not.

It’s over in our district. School is done for the year. No more required assignments. Grades will be based on how the students were doing up until the date of the “Shelter In Place” policy went into effect (around March 15).

Students will not have grades lowered based on what they have done at home since the sequestering, but they can, if they choose, raise their grades, and they CAN, if they choose, continue to work on assignments and submit them and hopefully, raise their grades.

Understood, but that doesn’t/didn’t really change my opinion on it.

I’m interested that your wife was online so much. In our district, the teachers had online hours from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.–impossible for parents who were working a first shift during the day.

She is online teaching classes for about 30ish minutes every hour starting about 8:40 or so and then is available to answer questions on classes the other 30 min.

There were no evening hours when parents and teachers could be online together.

That’s where the parent needs to take a little initiative and ask. Evening/off-hours are available via appointment.

I am also very curious to know whether my many critics on this thread think that only 15% of students achieving grade level scores on standard achievement tests (nationally-given tests) is acceptable. I don’t think it is, but perhaps I am unrealistic in my expectations of public schooling.

No, that’s awful. To be fair, my wife teaches at an ALC…I’d be surprised if 15% of them could score at grade level. That’s one thing you have to remember. (In most places) an ALC is part of the district (public schools in general) and their scores do and will effect the average.

 

[Peeps]

That’s where the parent needs to take a little initiative and ask. Evening/off-hours are available via appointment.

Evening hours were not available. This was one reason so many day-shift working parents were upset.

 

[TC3033]

They were, via appointment…

If they asked the teacher for help in the evening and the teacher said no, then that would be the 1st teacher I’ve met that said no to helping a student.

 

[Peeps]

They were, via appointment…

If they asked the teacher for help in the evening and the teacher said no, then that would be the 1st teacher I’ve met that said no to helping a student.

Our teachers’ union is pretty tough. I haven’t heard of any parents who were able to contact teachers in the evening. The website for our school district say that teachers are available for Online Consultation during their posted online office hours. There are no comments about contacting teachers for appointments outside of office hours.

I know that when my kids were in the public schools here, the teachers wouldn’t meet with us after school or even chat with us in their doorways or in the hallways. When school hours were finished, they were FINISHED.

It was so different from how things were done in Raleigh, where many parents often gathered in the classrooms and had a great time chatting with the teachers, asking questions, receiving suggestions, etc.

 

[TC3033]

Our teachers’ union is pretty tough. I haven’t heard of any parents who were able to contact teachers in the evening. The website for our school district say that teachers are available for Online Consultation during their posted online office hours. There are no comments about contacting teachers for appointments outside of office hours.

Huh, interesting.

I know that when my kids were in the public schools here, the teachers wouldn’t meet with us after school or even chat with us in their doorways or in the hallways. When school hours were finished, they were FINISHED.

Honestly, it sounds like something happened where the teachers either A) aren’t allowed 1v1’s anymore or B ) they only have an allotted amount of time per week they can work.

 

[Allegra]

Those were the conference hours that teachers were required to be available to talk to students and parents directly. If parents weren’t able to contact them during that time, they were asked to email the teacher and ask for another time that worked or them. The rest of day was spent actively teaching the students. How many hours a day outside of their schedule do you think a person should be on call for their employer? Get real.

 

[Gertabelle]

I am blessed to a have a 16-year-old nerd for a son. He gets up in the morning and immediately works on school stuff, gets one or two subjects completed, has something to eat, and then finishes the rest of the day’s work – all before noon. The kid was made for homeschooling.

Unfortunately, his subjects this semester were not made for homeschooling, and the teachers were never trained in how to design and implement half a semester of online instruction. Three of his classes are through a local university so those grades will be on his college transcript.

Every one of his teachers is busting their buns to make this work for kids and families. They are eager to communicate with us parents not only about expectations for students, but also to provide support – everything from Chromebooks to meals.

In his free time, he’s hanging out with his friends online, experimenting with cooking, and working out.

It’s all very, very weird, but he’s adjusted well. And it’s been super simple for me because he is such a nerd.

 

[Gertabelle]

I know that when my kids were in the public schools here, the teachers wouldn’t meet with us after school or even chat with us in their doorways or in the hallways. When school hours were finished, they were FINISHED.

It was so different from how things were done in Raleigh, where many parents often gathered in the classrooms and had a great time chatting with the teachers, asking questions, receiving suggestions, etc.

We have a saying in my school building – “Always assume positive intent.”

You see uncaring, selfish teachers who won’t talk with you after school. I see a teacher who may, for example, have a different after-school meeting every single day. There was one year I had after-school obligations four days a week. I couldn’t possibly stop and chat with parents, but that certainly didn’t mean I didn’t love my students or their families! I hope my students’ parents gave me the benefit of the doubt, rather than just assuming I was a horrible person!

And one more thought about teachers not stopping to chat after school… Our classes range in size from 20 - 30 depending on the grade level. If a teacher has, say, 24 students in his class, and every parent wants to chat for just ten minutes, one day a week after school, that’s FOUR HOURS of this teacher’s time! When the kids go home, the teacher’s day is not done, I guarantee you.

Speaking as a teacher, I’ve just gotta say that it’s great, when you were in Raleigh, that parents were able to create community with each other. It’s equally wonderful that your child’s teacher gave up her plan time, her grading time, her time to collaborate with other teachers so that you could all meet in her classroom and have a great time during your free time. That was very generous of her, as I am certain this meant she had to stay late and/or take work home after you all had left. I will assume you were extremely appreciative of her generosity and told her so.

Again, assuming positive intent could be a game changer.

 

[Peeps]

None of you live where I live. None of you have raised children or know hundreds of people who have raised children, where I live.

I live in Illinois. Illinois is a state that is in bad, bad trouble financially. For over 30 years, we have been “ruled” by a Chicago lawyer who is the Speaker of the House, and runs it differently than all the other states.

I am not the only one by a long shot who has extremely negative feelings about public education in my city. There have been lawsuits over the decades. And the private and home schools are huge here. Many people move out of my city into the small towns surrounding the city so that they can attend public schools where the teachers are less under the iron thumbs of the teachers’ union.

It’s very bad. You do not live where I live.

I know that there are good public school teachers in the U.S. And I’m sure that there are some good public school teachers in my city. I know people who teach, and they are good people, but they can’t and won’t cross their union.

The highest piece of our property tax “pie” goes to the public schools in our area, and we currently have the 4th highest property taxes in the nation. When I tell people from out of state how much we pay for our little ranch house and inner city neighborhood, they are shocked. Everyone asks, “Why don’t you move?”

Why not indeed? My brother DID move, but he still owns properties in this city and the surrounding area.

We moved back here to be close to family, and at this time, my husband’s elderly parents need us. Last night after we brought supper (homemade) and watched our priest’s mission (streaming) with them, my father-in-law said that if it were not for us, they would go for weeks without any visitors at all.

We can’t leave them. And we shouldn’t have to leave the state we love. Thankfully we have no children of school age. But others do. My friends and co-workers do, and they are not whiners and it’s hard to hear them talk about their experiences in the public schocls. MOST of my friends send their children to the parish school or other priate schools. I personally volunteer at the independent Catholic school, which is quite traditional and is associated (but not in any formal way) with our Latin Mass parish. The amazing teachers there make around $20,000 per year.

Again, none of you live where I live. You are defending my teachers because where you live, the teachers are doing a great job. I do not consider such terrible standardized testing scores, a 50% high school drop-out rate among African American young men, and unemployment that is some of the highest in the nation “a great job,” or even “a non-terrible job” considering the high taxes that we pay. I do realize that the teachers are up against some very bad family situations, but somehow other cities comparable to ours have learned to make things work for their underprivileged kids.

It’s bad here.

 

[TC3033]

None of you live where I live. None of you have raised children or know hundreds of people who have raised children, where I live.

You’re right, we don’t. But I bet we’re not all from the same place either.

can attend public schools where the teachers are less under the iron thumbs of the teachers’ union.

OK…now you’ve changed our narrative a little bit and the goalposts just jumped. You went from absolutely ripping teachers to maybe it has more to do with the union. That is FAR more plausable.

but they can’t

You’re right…they can’t. They vote to unionize or not. Majority rules, if the vote to unionize passes 51-49, that 49% are stuck.

The amazing teachers there make around $20,000 per year.

That would be a big reason why my wife took the first pubic job that came along. I was a far stronger candidate than my cross-town “equivilant” at the public school but I made about 1/2 of what he did.

Again, none of you live where I live. You are defending my teachers because where you live, the teachers are doing a great job.

And because some (much) of what you typed we’ve never seen, nor heard of before and some of what you typed about teachers, their “stake in the game” when it came to decisions was most indubitably false, and misinformed along with some of the shots you took at teachers for their salary, perks, etc… was just bad form and again sounded uneducated on the subject.

I do not consider such terrible standardized testing scores, a 50% high school drop-out rate among African American young men, and unemployment that is some of the highest in the nation “a great job,” or even “a non-terrible job” considering the high taxes that we pay. I do realize that the teachers are up against some very bad family situations

Again, I would 100% challenge you on this, unless I’m able to look up your local school district. My wife teaches in an ALC, which is part of the public school district. I bet their dropout rate is over 50% and standardized testing is less than 5%. That ALL COUNTS towards the overall district scores.

You can lead a horse to water…

 

[Allegra]

I live five minutes away from Illinois. I’m actually well aware of the situation there. Some of the issues, I agree, are caused by the corruption of the teacher’s union there. MOST of the issues are caused by an incredibly high amount of both local and state corruption. The money the tax payers pay is not going where it’s meant to go and not being spent on what it needs to be spent on. These issues are both conflated and to some extent accepted, because of abysmally high rates of generational poverty and segregation. None of these problems are caused by lazy, overpaid teachers who want to do nothing. THe conditions for teaching in lower performing Illinois school are horrid. The teachers are literally unsafe. The students are unfed, unclothed, not allowed to get proper sleep, not allowed access to medical treatment, extremely transient and are frequently traumatized. The teachers didn’t create that situation. They are trying to deal with it. Anyone trying to suggest that a child coming to school from that sort of environment is going to be just as ready to learn their ABCs as a well-cared for, emotionally safe child is delusional. Believe me, most teachers would much prefer to teach in a state where even half the kids show up ready to learn and possibly receive a lower check (but one that will actually clear the bank at the end of the year.) Your hatred for public school teachers is disgusting. They are the “good guys” here. The politicians Illinois continues to vote in are the problem, and the citizens who refuse to take on their local school board because “it isn’t my kids.”

 

[TC3033]

and the citizens who refuse to take on their local school board because “it isn’t my kids.”

That’s a good point too. We have that same issue here, what really makes it worse here is they actually take the time to get one or two of them onto the school board to really muck it all up. That way the schools get next to nothing that they need, especially in terms of upgrades.

 

[Allegra]

So, the school districts in highly impoverished neighborhoods in our area have a high risk of corruption within the school board. I’m talking about school board members whose kids all attend Catholic schools far away, but are members of the school board so their own (or their spouses) construction company can keep building new stadiums over and over or they can promote dozens of “administrators” who do next to nothing but collect six-figure incomes on the tax-payers dime. In some cases, these “administrators” are their own relatives or business partners. These low income school districts are just seen as money grabs for these people and they justify it with “Those kids and their drugged up parents aren’t going to medical school anyway. All they need is sports to keep them off the street.” They get away with it because the population is too busy working to survive to hold them accountable. If anyone complains, they’ll get just enough to shut them up and then the corruption continues.

 

[TC3033]

Not here. We live in a very rural community where probably less than 1/2 of the work force that lives in town actually works here.

What we run into is, the rural money, can’t go to the school. I remember IDK…20 years ago we tried to build a new high school, these few on the outside (who basically didn’t want a tax increase) fought it and fought it and called teachers over compensated, golden parichute, etc… The high school didn’t go through.

Fast-forward 15 years and the school tried to build a new district building that could be used for profit, well…the same people who fought the new high school got up on their horse and said we should be investing in schools…WE TRIED TO BUT YOU GOT IT SHOT DOWN…the people who take their word as gospel followed them to the poles and the schools go without…again…and one of them ended up on the school board…

I joke with my wife at how when they can finally get the money to upgrade something, it’s already 10 years obsolete and people complain about it (but don’t actually do anything).