School as usual. Full classes, full schedule, successful academic day. Irritated that the kids safety doesn't come first, but I dutifully followed my orders from the powers that be (Dr.White) and sacrificed my well being to do my job.
Attendance ran about 20%. I think high school students aren't forced to come like younger students whose parents are looking for free babysitting. Lots of absent teachers without subs. It appears Eugene White had the subline phone disconnected so teachers could not call in sick. A complete wasted day!!
The same people who complain about parents not valuing education are the ones accusing us of "looking for free babysitting" when we instill the importance of going to school even when the lazy are making excuses not to go. Looks like some of the teachers are the ones who don't value education. It's a shame you'd rather drag down your profession and the future of Indy children rather than get out of education and find a job that you value.
Um, I'm not Prudence. I'm an IPS parent who sent my kids to school yesterday to be educated, I mean, babysat. I am not bashing teachers. I'm bashing the people who accept the salary and community trust to teach children, but then refuse to honor their part. Hope that helps :)
When you have 6 students out of 29 show up, it is difficult to accomplish much. Certainly no new material. It is a good time to give extra help for struggling students but most of those who show up are the honor roll students anyway. We didn't waste our time but it was not productive for the 23 who didn't show up but as far as Tony Bennett is concerned, it was a day of school.
I'm the parent above. I'm not complaining if things were slow this week (although my kids said their classrooms were normal in terms of students, teachers, and lessons both Monday and Tuesday.) But your statement that the kids who show up are the honor roll students completely contradicts what the teacher posted above, that only the parents who are looking for free babysitting sent their kids to school. THAT is what I was contesting.
Dear IPS Outsiders, By that I mean those not employeed by the district, I hope that you can see the present level of hostility in the district through the jaded comments on here. So often we as teachers are put in positions where we cannot express to you how wrong and frustrating things are in the current leadership. There IS a sincere feeling of being hunted and not supported on our end. We cannot share our situations with you in a personal meeting because we can get "in trouble" for that too. As a teacher, tax payer and parent in the IPS district we need you to help make things right. We as teachers need a place to vent without reprimand, this blog gives us a place to do that...
Feel free to vent. But if you vent on a public forum, then the public will respond to your vent. And if you bash parents, expect parents to argue with you. You vent about what you feel is wrong with IPS, I'll vent about what I feel is wrong with IPS. Teachers don't have a monopoly on dissatisfation or being treated with hostility in IPS. Plenty of parents and students are pretty disatisfied and treated with hostility too. Is thta not part of the "B.S." that is IPS? If we are only allowed to vent certain viewpoints, perhaps you should have some rules posted somewhere.
Monday, we were at about 50% attendance; yesterday. we were at about 60% and today most of the students came in mad. Why would Dr. White give us a delay for football and not for the weather? Go figure! Every single school district in Marion County had a two-hour delay. Here is a new spin on the cultural imperatives--Children last, to hell with the teachers!
I'm a teacher, and I'd like to say to the parent above, please know that not all teachers see parents as "outsiders." There are certainly teachers who feel that way, but there are many others who don't. So take some of the "vents" here with a grain of salt. This blog is not representative of all, or even most, IPS teachers.
Where are you getting your figures? My school had relatively normal attendance Monday, Tuesday, and today. Maybe a few percentage points lower than normal, but certainly nothing like what you're posting.
Again I think there is a difference in elementary and high school attendance. Usually when an irate parent comes to school, I let them vent. They feel the same frustrations as we do and frequently at the very same things that frustrate us. Let them vent and then start the conversation. Venting is good for the soul and good for our physical health as well. Not all of us can wear ruby red slippers and attend the Super Bowl and go to China on the taxpayers dime. I not only work for IPS, I live in IPS and my children go to IPS so I know IPS from many different viewpoints and currently that is not a very positive viewpoint from any of the three. It will take a new school board to get this system's priorities straightened out.
Normally see 148 kids a day (HS). On Monday there were 34 total and Tuesday 26.
Two lost days of education that will have to made up (the lost lessons). Not sure we should have been in session at all just because of the attendance.
Today was better my regular ed classes were less than 50%. My AP classes (two of them) were about full.
The halls looked over-half empty.
Many teachers arrived late today who normally take I-70 and I-65 in. So, had to cover other classes (was not that big a deal with the low attendance).
Saw many kids standing in the road looking for their bus to arrive because side walks were not shoveled or mounds to get there. No a safe situation at all this morning.
I don't endorse being out but if we can have a two hour delay (or one hour) for the Super Bowl. Then we should have had one today to help get the roads cleared and a little safer for the kids.
I thank God for a wise and wonderful leader, who takes a failing administrator, like Dexter Scuggs and moves him to the Computer Information Department? Such insight and wisedom on the part of Dr. White will allow IPS to keep the fool instead of allowing him to be taken away from IPS by the township schools. Suffer the little children under the leader of the Board and Dr. White.
I believe that closing school for a three of inches of snow does not seem logical; however, delaying school for 2 hours does seem both logical and safe for all concerned. No time must be made up; no one's (children or adults) safety is compromised.
If we can delay the start of school for bus drivers and their Super Bowl issues, then surely we can delay the start of school for safety reasons on days when roads are hazardous early in the dark morning hours. Better safe than sorry.
I think the point that many of the posts are trying to make is this: A snow day will be made up with a full day of school at the end of the year. This means that the majority of students will get the benefit of time to "make up" those missed lessons. When we have crap weather and it is life threatening for all of us to get there it translates into high rates of teacher AND student absences. The kids who didn't come in due to weather don't get the benefit of getting to make up the lesson. They get it second hand, not as a focused, engaging classroom experience.
I hope that you can see the present level of hostility in the district through the jaded comments on here. ************* Yes, I am not employed by the district and I can see the hostility of administration people in their nasty posts against teachers.
In fact, throughout this blog the message by administrators so often reflect a "war against IPS teachers" attitude.
Sorry to the parent that was offended. I don't see parents as outsiders to the education process. However I am pretty sure that you weren't in "class." I am also fairly certain this blog isn't intended for children thus students of the district. If you are reading a blog intented for teachers you should expect to see some venting. I am sure you are a wonderful and supportive parent. There are however some parents that are sending their children for a babysitter. Are your emergency contacts up to date? I am going to guess they are... I have students that I can't find a working number for after trying everything that is listed. Those parents would probably be the first ones crying to the news if their child was hurt on a bus that slid into something. I didn't post any complaints about parents, just a simple observation that we all need support here not people being mean and spiteful. Don't forget that many of our children don't have winter gear that is good for this weather and ARE in danger when they are on bus stops before it gets light. We need a more caring and supportive administration. We need vocal parents to attack the powers making the choices, not the people that have to follow them. We wouldn't be teaching in IPS if we were just after money. Their are other positions available. Most of the people I work with make the choice to be in IPS because they care about the kids. Not having a delay was stupid. 50,000 lives were put in danager!
Hey Teachers! It's "who" not "that" as in this student "who has" versus a student "that," a principal "who has" rather than "that," students "who are" etc.
Pathetic, I (we) challenge you to spend the day in an IPS classroom before you began to point fingers. Oh, and not School #2, somewhere that you will get the full experience.
"Hey Teachers! It's "who" not "that" as in this student "who has" versus a student "that," a principal "who has" rather than "that," students "who are" etc."
While you're posting "simple rules of English", you might reread the part about the proper usage of commas, along with capitalization conventions.
I can only speak for myself but...we teachers are here to HELP the children. When I come to work I would like to TEACH and often times I do not get to do that. There is always some type of foolery that I must deal with. I am a passionate teacher, that is why it is hurtful that I can't teach the way I would like to. This blog is a good way to let out frustration. I like to hear from parents too because they need to know where teachers are coming from and vice versa.
I'm a teacher as well, and venting and letting out frustration is well and good, but not all teachers have problems with the same things. What's the difference between teachers venting about administration calling off school unnecessarily and those who are venting about administration not calling off school when they should? What's the difference between teachers venting about the cops who don't help with discipline and teachers who vent because using cops as backup disciplinarians undermines teacher authority and increases the culture of force and hostility in IPS. What's the difference between teachers venting about catching hell for being late to work and teachers venting about being one of the punctual teachers that the tardies rely on to cover class until they can make it! Teacher frustration in IPS is as varied as administrion frustration or parent frustration or student frustration. Everyone has their own perspective. Everyone's allowed to vent. Teachers don't have a monopoly on frustrations with the system. Everyone's frustrated. A little respect goes a long way no matter which direction it's given (to/from administration, to/from teachers, to/from parents, to/from students, to/from taxpayers, to/from police, etc.)
Oh my gosh, that is EXACTLY the way I feel. Everyone wants the same thing -- their share of the credit and no more than their share of the blame. Every group mentioned above (administration, teachers, parents, students, taxpayers, police) all want the same thing, and they all get frustrated when they feel like they're getting too much of the blame for the bad and too little of the credit for the good, and nobody has as much control over things as they'd like.
I was out with a sick child yesterday. I never could get the sub finder telephone to answer. Just got a recording with no way to report an absence.
ReplyDeleteSchool as usual. Full classes, full schedule, successful academic day. Irritated that the kids safety doesn't come first, but I dutifully followed my orders from the powers that be (Dr.White) and sacrificed my well being to do my job.
ReplyDeleteAttendance ran about 20%. I think high school students aren't forced to come like younger students whose parents are looking for free babysitting. Lots of absent teachers without subs. It appears Eugene White had the subline phone disconnected so teachers could not call in sick. A complete wasted day!!
ReplyDeleteThe same people who complain about parents not valuing education are the ones accusing us of "looking for free babysitting" when we instill the importance of going to school even when the lazy are making excuses not to go. Looks like some of the teachers are the ones who don't value education. It's a shame you'd rather drag down your profession and the future of Indy children rather than get out of education and find a job that you value.
ReplyDeletePrudence, there you go again. Why don't you spend some more time at Shortridge so you can bash the teachers there.
ReplyDeleteUm, I'm not Prudence. I'm an IPS parent who sent my kids to school yesterday to be educated, I mean, babysat. I am not bashing teachers. I'm bashing the people who accept the salary and community trust to teach children, but then refuse to honor their part. Hope that helps :)
ReplyDeleteWhen you have 6 students out of 29 show up, it is difficult to accomplish much. Certainly no new material. It is a good time to give extra help for struggling students but most of those who show up are the honor roll students anyway. We didn't waste our time but it was not productive for the 23 who didn't show up but as far as Tony Bennett is concerned, it was a day of school.
ReplyDeleteI'm the parent above. I'm not complaining if things were slow this week (although my kids said their classrooms were normal in terms of students, teachers, and lessons both Monday and Tuesday.) But your statement that the kids who show up are the honor roll students completely contradicts what the teacher posted above, that only the parents who are looking for free babysitting sent their kids to school. THAT is what I was contesting.
ReplyDeleteDear IPS Outsiders,
ReplyDeleteBy that I mean those not employeed by the district, I hope that you can see the present level of hostility in the district through the jaded comments on here. So often we as teachers are put in positions where we cannot express to you how wrong and frustrating things are in the current leadership. There IS a sincere feeling of being hunted and not supported on our end. We cannot share our situations with you in a personal meeting because we can get "in trouble" for that too. As a teacher, tax payer and parent in the IPS district we need you to help make things right. We as teachers need a place to vent without reprimand, this blog gives us a place to do that...
Feel free to vent. But if you vent on a public forum, then the public will respond to your vent. And if you bash parents, expect parents to argue with you. You vent about what you feel is wrong with IPS, I'll vent about what I feel is wrong with IPS. Teachers don't have a monopoly on dissatisfation or being treated with hostility in IPS. Plenty of parents and students are pretty disatisfied and treated with hostility too. Is thta not part of the "B.S." that is IPS? If we are only allowed to vent certain viewpoints, perhaps you should have some rules posted somewhere.
ReplyDeleteMonday, we were at about 50% attendance; yesterday. we were at about 60% and today most of the students came in mad. Why would Dr. White give us a delay for football and not for the weather? Go figure! Every single school district in Marion County had a two-hour delay. Here is a new spin on the cultural imperatives--Children last, to hell with the teachers!
ReplyDeleteI'm a teacher, and I'd like to say to the parent above, please know that not all teachers see parents as "outsiders." There are certainly teachers who feel that way, but there are many others who don't. So take some of the "vents" here with a grain of salt. This blog is not representative of all, or even most, IPS teachers.
ReplyDeleteWhere are you getting your figures? My school had relatively normal attendance Monday, Tuesday, and today. Maybe a few percentage points lower than normal, but certainly nothing like what you're posting.
ReplyDeleteAgain I think there is a difference in elementary and high school attendance. Usually when an irate parent comes to school, I let them vent. They feel the same frustrations as we do and frequently at the very same things that frustrate us. Let them vent and then start the conversation. Venting is good for the soul and good for our physical health as well. Not all of us can wear ruby red slippers and attend the Super Bowl and go to China on the taxpayers dime. I not only work for IPS, I live in IPS and my children go to IPS so I know IPS from many different viewpoints and currently that is not a very positive viewpoint from any of the three. It will take a new school board to get this system's priorities straightened out.
ReplyDeleteNormally see 148 kids a day (HS). On Monday there were 34 total and Tuesday 26.
ReplyDeleteTwo lost days of education that will have to made up (the lost lessons). Not sure we should have been in session at all just because of the attendance.
Today was better my regular ed classes were less than 50%. My AP classes (two of them) were about full.
The halls looked over-half empty.
Many teachers arrived late today who normally take I-70 and I-65 in. So, had to cover other classes (was not that big a deal with the low attendance).
Saw many kids standing in the road looking for their bus to arrive because side walks were not shoveled or mounds to get there. No a safe situation at all this morning.
I don't endorse being out but if we can have a two hour delay (or one hour) for the Super Bowl. Then we should have had one today to help get the roads cleared and a little safer for the kids.
I thank God for a wise and wonderful leader, who takes a failing administrator, like Dexter Scuggs and moves him to the Computer Information Department? Such insight and wisedom on the part of Dr. White will allow IPS to keep the fool instead of allowing him to be taken away from IPS by the township schools. Suffer the little children under the leader of the Board and Dr. White.
ReplyDeleteI believe that closing school for a three of inches of snow does not seem logical; however, delaying school for 2 hours does seem both logical and safe for all concerned. No time must be made up; no one's (children or adults) safety is compromised.
ReplyDeleteIf we can delay the start of school for bus drivers and their Super Bowl issues, then surely we can delay the start of school for safety reasons on days when roads are hazardous early in the dark morning hours. Better safe than sorry.
I think the point that many of the posts are trying to make is this: A snow day will be made up with a full day of school at the end of the year. This means that the majority of students will get the benefit of time to "make up" those missed lessons. When we have crap weather and it is life threatening for all of us to get there it translates into high rates of teacher AND student absences. The kids who didn't come in due to weather don't get the benefit of getting to make up the lesson. They get it second hand, not as a focused, engaging classroom experience.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you can see the present level of hostility in the district through the jaded comments on here.
ReplyDelete*************
Yes, I am not employed by the district and I can see the hostility of administration people in their nasty posts against teachers.
In fact, throughout this blog the message by administrators so often reflect a "war against IPS teachers" attitude.
Pathetic!
Sorry to the parent that was offended. I don't see parents as outsiders to the education process. However I am pretty sure that you weren't in "class." I am also fairly certain this blog isn't intended for children thus students of the district. If you are reading a blog intented for teachers you should expect to see some venting. I am sure you are a wonderful and supportive parent. There are however some parents that are sending their children for a babysitter. Are your emergency contacts up to date? I am going to guess they are... I have students that I can't find a working number for after trying everything that is listed. Those parents would probably be the first ones crying to the news if their child was hurt on a bus that slid into something. I didn't post any complaints about parents, just a simple observation that we all need support here not people being mean and spiteful. Don't forget that many of our children don't have winter gear that is good for this weather and ARE in danger when they are on bus stops before it gets light. We need a more caring and supportive administration. We need vocal parents to attack the powers making the choices, not the people that have to follow them. We wouldn't be teaching in IPS if we were just after money. Their are other positions available. Most of the people I work with make the choice to be in IPS because they care about the kids. Not having a delay was stupid. 50,000 lives were put in danager!
ReplyDeleteHey Teachers! It's "who" not "that" as in this student "who has" versus a student "that," a principal "who has" rather than "that," students "who are" etc.
ReplyDeleteDo I need to post the simple rules of English?
Those passwords to post get more intersting.
ReplyDeletePathetic,
ReplyDeleteI (we) challenge you to spend the day in an IPS classroom before you began to point fingers. Oh, and not School #2, somewhere that you will get the full experience.
"Hey Teachers! It's "who" not "that" as in this student "who has" versus a student "that," a principal "who has" rather than "that," students "who are" etc."
ReplyDeleteWhile you're posting "simple rules of English", you might reread the part about the proper usage of commas, along with capitalization conventions.
You need a life.
I can only speak for myself but...we teachers are here to HELP the children. When I come to work I would like to TEACH and often times I do not get to do that. There is always some type of foolery that I must deal with. I am a passionate teacher, that is why it is hurtful that I can't teach the way I would like to. This blog is a good way to let out frustration. I like to hear from parents too because they need to know where teachers are coming from and vice versa.
ReplyDeleteI'm a teacher as well, and venting and letting out frustration is well and good, but not all teachers have problems with the same things. What's the difference between teachers venting about administration calling off school unnecessarily and those who are venting about administration not calling off school when they should? What's the difference between teachers venting about the cops who don't help with discipline and teachers who vent because using cops as backup disciplinarians undermines teacher authority and increases the culture of force and hostility in IPS. What's the difference between teachers venting about catching hell for being late to work and teachers venting about being one of the punctual teachers that the tardies rely on to cover class until they can make it! Teacher frustration in IPS is as varied as administrion frustration or parent frustration or student frustration. Everyone has their own perspective. Everyone's allowed to vent. Teachers don't have a monopoly on frustrations with the system. Everyone's frustrated. A little respect goes a long way no matter which direction it's given (to/from administration, to/from teachers, to/from parents, to/from students, to/from taxpayers, to/from police, etc.)
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, that is EXACTLY the way I feel. Everyone wants the same thing -- their share of the credit and no more than their share of the blame. Every group mentioned above (administration, teachers, parents, students, taxpayers, police) all want the same thing, and they all get frustrated when they feel like they're getting too much of the blame for the bad and too little of the credit for the good, and nobody has as much control over things as they'd like.
ReplyDelete