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Maryland Teachers Chatboard

Baltimore City

by JPC

Jul 19, 2008

I'm sorry if this question has been asked umpteen times before, but maybe I'll get another perspective. I'm a 7-12 Social Studies teacher recently laid off by a Christian school in PA for budget reasons. I also taught at BCPS (Woodlawn) for a year before that. Since I feel as though I should not be picky, as teaching full-time in a different environment is better than subbing (especially in this economy), I was thinking of applying to the City. Realistically, what can I expect day to day? Like I said, I taught at Woodlawn, survived, and even flourished in my evaluations. Any advice would help. Thanks so much!

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Scholastica On 7/19/08, JPC wrote: > I'm sorry if this question has been asked umpteen times > before, but maybe I'll get another perspective. I'm a 7-12 > Social Studies teacher recently laid off by a Christian > school in PA for budget reasons. I also taught at BCPS > (Woodlawn) for a year before that. Since I feel as though > I should not ...See More

Jul 20, 2008

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JPC On 7/20/08, Scholastica wrote: > > Why did you quit working for BCPSS the first time?

Why I left BCPS is not the question: I'm seeking other teachers' impressions of Baltimore City public schools.

If you must know, only the strong survive at Woodlawn; but I was not about to make a career out of martyrdom.

Jul 20, 2008

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Anon I don't know anything about Baltimore City, but I do teach in another large, urban district in Maryland. If you couldn't see yourself making a career at Woodlawn, why do you think that Baltimore City is going to be much better? If you can't handle an urban environment (and that's not a bad thing), perhaps you should consider another district or pri...See More

Jul 21, 2008

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lynne I agree with Anon. IF the original poster has already learned that an urban teaching situation can be extremely challenging, why invite disaster by seeking a job in BCPSS? There is plenty of information on the MD teachers chatboard and on the internet about the Baltimore City teaching experience. I personally don't think itwill change a lot without...See More

Jul 22, 2008

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mb On 7/22/08, lynne wrote: > I agree with Anon. IF the original poster has already learned that > an urban teaching situation can be extremely challenging, why invite > disaster by seeking a job in BCPSS? There is plenty of information on > the MD teachers chatboard and on the internet about the Baltimore > City teaching experience. I ...See MoreOn 7/22/08, lynne wrote: > I agree with Anon. IF the original poster has already learned that > an urban teaching situation can be extremely challenging, why invite > disaster by seeking a job in BCPSS? There is plenty of information on > the MD teachers chatboard and on the internet about the Baltimore > City teaching experience. I personally don't think itwill change a > lot without major societal changes and I don't see that happening. I > would not work in an urban environment unless/until I had a lot more > experience and confidence and really felt I was up to it. > > > > > > 7/21/08, Anon wrote: >> I don't know anything about Baltimore City, but I do teach in >> another large, urban district in Maryland. If you couldn't see >> yourself making a career at Woodlawn, why do you think that >> Baltimore City is going to be much better? If you can't handle an >> urban environment (and that's not a bad thing), perhaps you should >> consider another district or private school. It's not fair to >> everyone involved for you to go into this district to collect a >> paycheck. Plus, if your plan is to teach in Baltimore for a year >> and then try for a "better" district, you might want to consider >> the fact that your resume will list three school districts in as >> many years. >> >> >> However, if you're going to go this route, I would at least >> suggest that you work on your response to "Why did you leave >> Woodlawn"? This question is bound to come up in some way, shape, >> or form. >> >> >> >> >> On 7/20/08, JPC wrote: >>> On 7/20/08, Scholastica wrote: >>>> >>>> Why did you quit working for BCPSS the first time? >>> >>> >>> Why I left BCPS is not the question: I'm seeking other >>> teachers' impressions of Baltimore City public schools. >>> >>> >>> >>> If you must know, only the strong survive at Woodlawn; but I >>> was not about to make a career out of martyrdom. >>> Maybe you should think about Carroll County, thoug hit's kind of late. I taught there many years ago, but I have taught in the worst of the City, then went to Woodlawn at BCPS, and am now going back to BCPSS because even though the City is a much rougher scenario, much more dangerous just driving home after dark, The City does break up their schools to be somewhat manageable. Woodlawn was a total mess with restructuring this past year, and 80% of the Staff is gone. I pity the poor kids next week when all their teachers have changed, and that or 0 basing has never proven to be good forkids, and after all they are what's important. I happen to like teaching in Urban areas, and yeah, I got my car stolen, and a phone stolen, but there are really good kids, too, who deserve someone to care for them (especially when they are parents themselves and have way too much and see way too much stuff daily. mb

Aug 16, 2008

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