To The Interim Superintendent, Administrators and Members of the Board of Education of the Minneapolis Public Schools

This is not a student, parent or teacher driven initiative. Students already have opportunities to make up credits. More time in class and in school for everyone is a one size fits all response to the graduation problem. More doesn't equal better.

11 years ago Featured

Fantastic, highly trained, optimistic teachers who have dedicated their lives to public education are feeling like a rubber band that has been stretched to the breaking point. Already. Don't make us snap. Respect us. Give us more time to prepare to do what we love; not less.

I consistently come in 1/2 early and stay 1/2 hour late on a daily basis to get the work done I need to be prepared for the school day. If you look in parking lots before and after school you will see teacher working for free already. You are breaking the backs of dedicated, hard working teachers. Every individual needs good working conditions to be effective.

Longer hours doesnt mean better teaching and learning...

With the increasing need to call parents regarding behavior, I have to do more and more lesson preparation during my family time. I already can't get all the phone calls done that are needed for the 5 classes I see a day. Teachers need more time during the work day for administrative type duties.

I could be a much better teacher and be more effective with my students if I had more time to plan.

Got to have more time to prepare, more time with students, and more time to connect with parents.

The actual "instructional" part of teaching is more complex than ever but the professional prep and collaboration time has not grown proportionately with the increasingly personalized needs of our students and the monumental demands of our society.

Longer classes are better!

We need MORE prep time ! We must have more dedicated preparation time to accomplish quality work with our students EVERYDAY. We are working on a 1984 time model that was put in place to make k-12 preparation time equal. 31 years later, our work has vastly changed and the daily schedule has not. Good and effective teaching include use of Modern technologies, teaching to current MN Standards, an array of assessments and differentiated instruction, collaborate with colleagues including support staff, etc. TIME is needed to make this happen....the culture of "just do it" has to stop. Our children deserve BETTER!

I am struggling on a daily basis to have time to prep quality lessons. My prep times have been eliminated by meetings, PDs, planning with co-teachers, and connecting with parents. There is not enough time in our contracted hours to get everything done. And the students are the ones who lose out in this scenario.

enough Focus on the students. Not reformers

We need a 7 period day or an A/B schedule with 8 periods in order to allow students to fit everything in to earn the IB Diploma.

Having the time to adequately prepare for the students means the difference between a so-so lesson and an outstanding lesson.

I love my job and especially the kids, but, some days I feel buried in paper work.

Please show respect and trust in us as professionals.

Limited time to plan means less quality curriculum. It also means less time to plan and collaborate and meet with other staff members.

11 years ago Featured

My time is not being respected and my working conditions have deteriorated completely. How many teachers do you have in MPS with Ivy-League graduate degrees and/or doctorates? Do you value what we do for children or not? Thanks, Anne Marie Plante

Giving teachers enough to feel comfortable with their work is important!

Lets no be like the a**hole next door in Walker!!!