Teacher/landscaper--our jobs create a dilemma in scheduling a vacation.

[Disneydiversion]

We are thinking about changing our current plans for our Disney vacation. We are now thinking about visiting Disney February 19-26ish 2011. Instead of December 25th-31st 2010. Crowds will be lower and costs will be down. Christmas is the only time we normally can go due to my husband being the owner/operator of a landscaping business and winter from December-March is his down time. The only difficult part about taking off in February is I will need to take off 4 days from school. I have been teaching for 13 years and have never taken more than one day off for a "mental health" break, and never before a holiday. I know plenty of teachers who do this often. We teach 181 days out of the year and I guess I feel our vacation time is the other 184 days out of the year. I just wish our family wasn't so limited due to my husbands seasonal calendar and my teaching calendar.
Would love your thoughts

 

[Muppet_Girl]

My advice is DO IT! I believe you need to grab life by the horns and do things when you can. Life's too short. Take time to do things you love with people you love.

~Kathleen

 

[DisMomme]

If you won't get in trouble, I say do it. Just keep in mind that it may not be less busy. Many schools in the Northeast have a Winter Vacation that week. Presidents Week at WDW is generally very busy.

 

[canfield77]

I think since it sounds like you haven't done this before in all that time at your job, give yourself a break and do it! Don't feel guilty and indulge for yourself once in a while! I agree with the others, life is too short.

 

[Disneydiversion]

I will take my three personal days and one sick day. That should work out. I have such guilt. I need to get over it.

 

[puffkin]

I will be the first to admit that I feel no pity for teachers in terms of when they can take off for vacation, you know that going into the profession. As you said, you only work 1/2 the year AND get all the holidays plus some off. At least around here, teachers get compensated very well for the amount of time they are actually working.

However, being that you have been teaching for 13 years and not missed much work, I as a parent wouldn't have a problem with you taking the February trip in 2011. I say go and have fun and don't feel too guilty about it However, if this were to become a yearly thing where you would be missing more than a day or two, then I would definitely have a problem with it.

 

[mrs.sammich]

My husband and I are self employed landscaper/gardener. I now the 'seasonal' thing all too well. We've gone to WDW in the beginning of December and loved it. Low crowds, decorations are up, and work is starting to 'wrap up' for the season. We had lots to do when we got back from the trip but it's always good to say you have work you need to get to. We'll do it again.
Life is short. Enjoy your trip when you can take it. Don't let the guilt from a few days away from your class get to you. Your students will be fine. It's not like you do this all the time. Have a Good Vacation!

 

[The Hendies]

Ooooo...I sure don't share the opinion that you knew what you were getting into as far as vacation when you went into teaching. I guess I would ask, What would you say to a parent who says they are taking their child out of school for 4 days to spend time with their family, strengthen their bond, and have an adventure together? Our family vacations did all of those things and more. I say THANK YOU for your dedication in teaching our youngsters, and go have a great vacation!

 

[lmbcdb]

I will take my three personal days and one sick day. That should work out. I have such guilt. I need to get over it.

Feeling your pain. I'm in my 10th year of teaching and was the same as you - rarely took days off except for a rare mental health day.

Think of it as a mental health week. I just took 5 days off from school for my first trip and am SO glad I did. The world kept spinning, the students were fine, and life goes on. It is so worth it to go during a slower time. All my "teacher" holidays are super busy times. I was not about to spend all that money to go stand in lines for hours. Just do it.

 

[lmbcdb]

However, if this were to become a yearly thing where you would be missing more than a day or two, then I would definitely have a problem with it.

I don't think a yearly thing should be a problem, personally. I don't know the OP, but most teachers I know also do plenty of work during the summer on non-contract time - getting their room ready, going to professional development classes, writing lesson plans, searching the Internet for new ideas, etc.

I am planning on taking a week every year and returning to Disney. It is cheaper and the crowds are less during non school holidays.

We are given the personal days by the district to use for a reason. What does it matter if we use 5 days all at once or spread throughout the year? If they didn't want us taking days off, they wouldn't give them to us.

 

[KelnRon]

Maybe you will lose the guilt once you get there! Go and have a great family vacation!

Be prepared that Feb. is crazy busy! We went last year and had to leave b/c MGM was packed we could barely move around. That was the week of Feb. 20th. We are going again in Feb. this year. I don't know a time when Disney is not busy! We have gone in Dec, Jan, Feb, April, May & June.

 

[Camno's Mama]

Have you thought about the beginning of March? We have done that several times in the past, and it's not bad. It's pretty slow...if you go that first week, then you miss most of the Spring Break crowds.

Don't worry about missing a few days. Teachers work much harder than most professionals...especially given what they make. I'm sure you work well into the night most nights when you get home, and spend time in the summer preparing for the next year. The parents who know that will never begrudge you a vacation once in a while, and the parents who don't will just never understand.

Family time is important, and if you are like most of the teachers I know, then you probably miss out on a lot of that during the school year as your schedule is very busy. Go for it, and have a good time!

 

[mater82]

That is so funny we are going to be there those same days but we are leaving on the 27th. We have always gone there the end of feb and loved it. The crowds did not seem bad at all. I mean there are a lot of people but that has never stoped us from going at that time. I think you should go and not feel guilty about it. If my sons teacher went on vacation for a week it would not bother me at all. I think everyone needs to get away and have some fun time.

 

[ttigger81]

I say GO and ENJOY!!! I am also a teacher and I went this past December and missed 5 days (had never missed that many in a row). It was a family reunion and I was not going to miss it Before leaving I felt guilty, but I had spoken with my principal and she was very supportful and I also knew I had a great sub and left plans that would keep my studnets on track. However, once I got there my guilt was gone and I had a fantastic time! Hope you also have a great trip and enjoy

 

[kohlby]

I'm a former teacher and there's no way I'd do it - but that's not due to guilt, it's due to me teaching high school math and subs can't help at all with that. The work load I'd come back to just wouldn't be worth it. (In my state, subs only need a high school diploma!) If you think you can get your class covered, than I'd definately do it. If you can't, then I'd look for a week with a couple student days off, due to a holiday, inservice day, even teacher workdays.

 

[ksumn1]

I say go, have a great time. To ease the guilt, do all you can before you leave to get your ducks in a row, so to speak. make sure you leave a detailed lesson plan for the sub, make sure all your grading is up to date and your kids are all prepared. Then, mentally you can tell yourself that it's OK, everythings taken care of. KWIM??

My DH works extra in the summer, and during hurrican season, tornado season, ice season etc so no time is really a good time to take a trip. I'm a full time college student with 2 kids in school. Our breaks are NOT the same weeks, so either I miss school or they miss school. SO I really feel your pain.

Just go, and have a great time! You deserve it. I hope to graduate with a middle grades education degree in a few years and I'm sure I'll have the same dilemma one day.

 

[Disneydiversion]

Op here,
Thanks for all the support. I teach 8th grade art and I just had a great student teacher who will be in for me during that time unless she gets a teaching job.I think I would feel better if I talked to my principal first and let him know about my vacation plans. If he feels it's not a good idea then I will just plan for December.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I will be the first to admit that I feel no pity for teachers in terms of when they can take off for vacation, you know that going into the profession. As you said, you only work 1/2 the year AND get all the holidays plus some off.....

But you do so much when you're not actually "at work" too - correcting at home, lesson plans over breaks, setting up (and sometimes having to pack up everything and change) classrooms in the summer. Don't feel guilty.

I'm a former teacher and there's no way I'd do it - but that's not due to guilt, it's due to me teaching high school math and subs can't help at all with that....

I wish there was some way teachers could see who is covering for them before they have to turn in their sub plans! I sub, and my college degree is in math, but because everyone assumes what you said (which I'm sure is sooo often true) I get left "busy work" when I cover math, and feel almost silly being paid to do so much less than I could be doing.

Op here,
Thanks for all the support. I teach 8th grade art and I just had a great student teacher who will be in for me during that time unless she gets a teaching job.I think I would feel better if I talked to my principal first and let him know about my vacation plans. If he feels it's not a good idea then I will just plan for December.

Do the kids even have art every day where you are? Here, taking 4 days off would mean you wouldn't even miss the same group twice. Especially because it's not a habit, I bet he'll let you with no problem!

 

[sticker231]

Although I am not a teacher, I understand your frustration with only being able to travel during certain times. I am a manager in retail and have several times throughout the year that I can't take vacations-second half of November, all of December, and most major holidays during the year. Knowing this, I have no problem taking my kids out of school during the year. You gotta do what works for you and makes you happy.

 

[pickleo]

I can totally relate how you are feeling. I am a teacher too and we have planned a trip to the world in Jan. 2011. I have to take my 4 personal days and 1 sick day. This week backs up to our winter vacation, which causes more guilt for me. I say- Go for it! Have a great time. Leave detailed sub plans and your students will be fine.