Depends on the position. Paraeducators and 1:1 interventionists are typically better paid than their school employed counterparts. But higher qualified positions like clinicians and licensed mental health counselors certainly make less than they would working privately.

My wife’s employer gave her three paid days of family leave after giving birth. Most employers aren’t much better and most people can’t afford to take extended periods of unpaid leave to raise their child. You are severely out of touch.

Not much state senators can do about people not applying for jobs

For bullying if no progress is being made I’d force an in person meeting and ensure that when the meeting ends specific action will be taken or that my child is separated from the one in question. If it’s bad enough, legal action. Bullying has a very specific legal definition in VT and schools can be held very liable if they’re aware of it and do nothing.

Academically, any areas I had concern on for my child I’d find ways to work on at home or over the summer. I’m privileged enough to have the means that I’d be able to make up the difference in ensuring my child has the academic skills required to be successful moving on, at least within grades K to 6.

Within my school though, and from other teachers I talk to in my district, the kind of stuff worst case scenarios and hellscapes I’m hearing being described aren’t happening. That doesn’t mean they aren’t, but from my own perspective, things are maybe a little rough, but are still perfectly manageable. Learning is happening, fun is happening, social development is happening. Teachers feel supported, behavior response has to be triaged, but is still within the scope of being managed within the classroom and in a way that generally isn’t disruptive.

I’d definitely want my child to go to public school. I live in the district I work, but I’d still want them to have the chance to meet a wider demographic of peers by attending public school.

I'm guessing she will be! We've just been seeing a few kids enter public school who didn't attend daycare or preschool, had no siblings, and never did any kind of playdates or socializing, mostly all due to COVID. Even just 3-4 kids like that in a class of 20 can cause absolute chaos in kindergarten.

I’ve been teaching as an elementary classroom teacher for the last 4 years, but I’ve been working in VT schools for the last 10 as a 1:1 behavioral support interventionist (middle and elementary).

What I’m seeing now is that students are on a whole less socialized as they come into public schools. I attribute it to COVID and more kids who aren’t as socialized as a result of not doing preschool and spending more time at home. The last few years, I’ve seen our school’s kindergarten classrooms struggle with larger numbers of students who have very little sense of behavioral or emotional regulation. They had little to no routine or schedule at home, were often given free reign to do what they wanted, and lacked many of the skills required to follow directions, compromise, share, etc. that kindergarten typically requires to be smooth. (I very much do NOT blame parents; COVID, sickness, quarantining, closed daycares and preschools and financial constraints have made it incredibly difficult to raise a child at home with consistency, understandings of consequences, and certain social skills. When you’re burnt out, it becomes super hard to hold your kids accountable).

As far as how schools manage behaviors, it varies wildly by school and by district. The school I work at has lots of talented behavioral specialists and special educators and are working their butts off to make our current cohort of kindergarteners ready for 1st grade, and things have definitely been getting smoother.

Before I was a teacher I worked for CYFS out the HowardCenter and worked in schools across Chittenden county as a behavioral interventionist. I always saw the manner in which schools address and respond to student behaviors as a pretty wide spectrum.

Some rely heavily on outside organizations like Howard Center to pick up the slack, but some districts like South Burlington employ their own board certified Applied Behavioral Analysts to write behavior plans for students that need it.

Some are incredibly proactive and spend a lot of time making sure staff are using the same short hand language, focusing on the same behavioral/social skills, and following the same expectations school wide. Others just let teachers handle it in their own way as they see fit.

Ultimately, my biggest concern is how parents are able to support their children in the years leading up to public school, especially for oldest or only children. Lack of structure and consistency is causing our kindergarten teachers to have to play catch up in order to have a classroom in which learning can happen safely and calmly. (Definitely not for all families/students, but for more than usual).

Feel free to AMA.

It’s not hypocrisy, turns out a racial minority taking ownership of a racial slur and using it in their own context and intents is a nuanced issue too complex for your tiny racist brain to comprehend.

Of course! Welcome to the area!

I’d be shocked if Burlington or Winooski didn’t have a spot that’s run by or focuses on hair for people of color. Maybe try /r/Burlington? They might have some more info and good suggestions

Awesome, thanks for linking that!

What are some things he’s passed you think make sense/were good bills?