Can't go during school year anymore :-(

[lmbcdb]

So, last year we went the last week of October. I'm a teacher, so during the summer, when we finalized our plans, I emailed my principal and asked for the days off. We get 10 days and I used 7 of them for the trip. Approved, no issue.

This year, same thing. I even started telling her back in May that we were going in September. I must have mentioned it 6 or 7 times between May and when I put in the request. (can't put it in until the school year starts)

After two weeks, I email her asking if she had it. She called me in to her office and said she could only approve 3 days, and that the rest would be unexcused and I would be docked for them. "I really need you in the classroom that's the best I can do."

I was floored. Complete and utter shock. We are talking $1300 out of my paycheck, when she has the authority to approve all of them. I reminded her she approved them all last year, and she said, "but that was a last minute thing". Ummm, NOT. Last minute isn't even in my vocabulary. So I looked at her and said, "So my choices are to not go, and lose the $3500 I've already paid for my trip, or go and get $1300 taken out of my paycheck." She said, "You can go on the trip with 3 excused days." I said okay and walked out.

It had nothing to do with my work performance. I got excellent reviews last year, and do many things outside my job. I am the computer teacher, and I also manage the Facebook page, the website, and any technical issues that come up when the technician isn't there. To say I work my booty off is an understatement.

I spent the day feeling like I had been hit by an emotional truck. Almost like I had been cheated on.

At the end of the day, she walked in and asked me if this would be the last time we go during the school year. I said yes and she said all my days this year would be approved and excused.

There's my long story.

Now I have to figure out next year's trip where the crowds aren't 9s and 10s. Looks like mid June is my only option.

I am so going to miss the 2 and 3 crowd levels.

 

[larryz]

Yeah, I guess it's getting tougher to give the good teachers the time off during the school year.

 

[juliebug1997]

I'm in the next county over from OP and we lost seven teachers on our campus, as in people left and they weren't replaced so our classes are much bigger this year. I just can't imagine missing that much time during the school year when I know I'm responsible for what my students are learning. I teach a foreign language and there are lots of new things out there nearly every day at the beginning of the year.

Our first semester this year is two weeks shorter than the second semester so that we can end before the Winter Break--it would be hard if I was going to miss that much school.

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

I am a high school teacher and while we get 12 sick days per year, they can not be used for anything other than illness. We have 3 personal days...that is it for the year. I am taking 2 for a long weekend at WDW in September. I have to say I have never heard of a teacher being able to vacation for a week or more during the school year. That would be amazing. Our DCL cruise on the Fantasy next summer is about $3000.00 more than if we could go during the school year! Hope you enjoy the trip!

 

[ConvenientTruth]

I'm sorry as a teacher....this is irritating...

Those are SICK days, not personal days (which most districts have begun to limit) and are there for emergency not vacation. We already get 9 weeks during the summer, two weeks at Christmas, a week in the fall and a week in spring, not to mention the countless thee day weekends and you are upset the school is not allowing you to take a week during the school year...

 

[BadgerGirl84]

Wow, what a bummer! I am so sorry to hear that.

One thing I learned the hard way myself is to never, EVER, book a trip without getting the time off approved (officially) at work first, unless I am okay with having to cancel or take unpaid time off.

I had booked and planned a girls getaway a few years ago to San Diego.

I'd never had an issue getting off at work, so my friends and I booked the flight. When I went to go request the time, my request was denied due to a convention at my company that I was unaware of. Attendance was mandatory and I was basically told I would be let go unless I was there.

I was fuming angry, but it was ultimately my fault for not clearing it first. My friends went on the trip without me and I was stuck with a plane ticket I couldn't use.

 

[Magpie]

I have a lot of sympathy for teachers, and I completely agree that they work their butts off. And given the precedent set last year, you have every right to feel betrayed.

That said... my children's school runs on a semester system so that courses only last half a year. Between pregnancies, illnesses, and vacations, it seems like we barely see some teachers. Mostly it doesn't matter too much as the kids are good students and independent learners, but it had a big impact on my son's French last year, when I'd try to e-mail for progress updates and the teacher would explain she hadn't been in all week. In the end he got his credit and we're all glad he'll never have to take another French course.

Losing you for a week is probably rough on any students struggling in your class.

 

[juliebug1997]

I'm sorry as a teacher....this is irritating...

Those are SICK days, not personal days (which most districts have begun to limit) and are there for emergency not vacation. We already get 9 weeks during the summer, two weeks at Christmas, a week in the fall and a week in spring, not to mention the countless thee day weekends and you are upset the school is not allowing you to take a week during the school year...

In TX, actually, five days are personal business from the state and five (sometimes less depending on your district) are for personal illness and those come from your district.

 

[mattsdragon]

I hear ya OP. I was really ticked off when my command wouldn't grant me leave during a deployment to go on vacation either.

I told em the drug runners and lost mariners would still be there when I got back, but no dice.

 

[firecracker725]

Yeah, sorry, not much sympathy here. You're a teacher, and you know that you have to work during those times. My principal might approve it as a one time thing, but she definitely would not let it become a regular deal.

 

[smitch425]

Why would you be out $3500??? It is a bummer that you can't get your time off, but why not go when you are not supposed to be at school? The weather in Sept. is still miserably hot. Why not go in June or August?

 

[lmbcdb]

I have a lot of sympathy for teachers, and I completely agree that they work their butts off. And given the precedent set last year, you have every right to feel betrayed.

That said... my children's school runs on a semester system so that courses only last half a year. Between pregnancies, illnesses, and vacations, it seems like we barely see some teachers. Mostly it doesn't matter too much as the kids are good students and independent learners, but it had a big impact on my son's French last year, when I'd try to e-mail for progress updates and the teacher would explain she hadn't been in all week. In the end he got his credit and we're all glad he'll never have to take another French course.

Losing you for a week is probably rough on any students struggling in your class.

Teachers being out is a fact of life. The teachers with absolutely no absences are few and far between. We have lives and families outside of school. If I weren't going to Disney, I would still take the personal days that the district gives me on things like my son's field trips, my husband's awards ceremony, etc. I choose to use them on Disney because it is MUCH cheaper and not as crowded.

Wow, what a bummer! I am so sorry to hear that.

One thing I learned the hard way myself is to never, EVER, book a trip without getting the time off approved (officially) at work first, unless I am okay with having to cancel or take unpaid time off.

Thanks for your story! You can guarantee I will have the paper in hand before I book anything!

 

[andyman8]

I think teachers work their rear ends off and deserve a fair amount of time off. It sounds like OP works very hard and deserves some time off.

To me, it is not the teacher's fault that my kid is not doing well (her going on a vacation is NOT an excuse), particularly in a class like computer (no offense).

Enjoy your trip but just warning you, there are a lot of defensive parents (and "perfect" teachers) on the DIS who have and will explode when reading this.

 

[Magpie]

1. IN my district, they are NOT sick days. They are mine to use as I want.
2. I am upset because she was not giving me the days I am owed by the district.

Hang on - you're an employee. You get paid to teach. Your principal gets to set the hours, the same as any other boss. And treating the approval process like a rubber stamp is not respectful to your principal.

I can't think of any job in which you can just up and announce that you're taking seven days off whenever you feel like it. That'd be a fast track to firing in most places.

I hear ya OP. I was really ticked off when my command wouldn't grant me leave during a deployment to go on vacation either.

I told em the drug runners and lost mariners would still be there when I got back, but no dice.

 

[juliebug1997]

Teachers being out is a fact of life. The teachers with absolutely no absences are few and far between. We have lives and families outside of school. If I weren't going to Disney, I would still take the personal days that the district gives me on things like my son's field trips, my husband's awards ceremony, etc. I choose to use them on Disney because it is MUCH cheaper and not as crowded.



Thanks for your story! You can guarantee I will have the paper in hand before I book anything!

So, you would rather go to Disney than go with your son to the aquarium or see your husband get an award?

 

[livndisney]

So, last year we went the last week of October. I'm a teacher, so during the summer, when we finalized our plans, I emailed my principal and asked for the days off. We get 10 days and I used 7 of them for the trip. Approved, no issue.

This year, same thing. I even started telling her back in May that we were going in September. I must have mentioned it 6 or 7 times between May and when I put in the request. (can't put it in until the school year starts)

After two weeks, I email her asking if she had it. She called me in to her office and said she could only approve 3 days, and that the rest would be unexcused and I would be docked for them. "I really need you in the classroom that's the best I can do."

I was floored. Complete and utter shock. We are talking $1300 out of my paycheck, when she has the authority to approve all of them. I reminded her she approved them all last year, and she said, "but that was a last minute thing". Ummm, NOT. Last minute isn't even in my vocabulary. So I looked at her and said, "So my choices are to not go, and lose the $3500 I've already paid for my trip, or go and get $1300 taken out of my paycheck." She said, "You can go on the trip with 3 excused days." I said okay and walked out.

It had nothing to do with my work performance. I got excellent reviews last year, and do many things outside my job. I am the computer teacher, and I also manage the Facebook page, the website, and any technical issues that come up when the technician isn't there. To say I work my booty off is an understatement.

I spent the day feeling like I had been hit by an emotional truck. Almost like I had been cheated on.

At the end of the day, she walked in and asked me if this would be the last time we go during the school year. I said yes and she said all my days this year would be approved and excused.

There's my long story.

Now I have to figure out next year's trip where the crowds aren't 9s and 10s. Looks like mid June is my only option.

I am so going to miss the 2 and 3 crowd levels.

Sounds like the students need to come first. Looks like you need to plan for a different time next year.

 

[gwmort]

Same thing happened to my wife who is a teacher this year, we had to switch to Thanksgiving week so she'd only have to miss 3 days, will likely be the most crowded we've ever seen the parks (but we did get a 11/19 BOG reservation).

 

[Magpie]

Teachers being out is a fact of life. The teachers with absolutely no absences are few and far between. We have lives and families outside of school. If I weren't going to Disney, I would still take the personal days that the district gives me on things like my son's field trips, my husband's awards ceremony, etc. I choose to use them on Disney because it is MUCH cheaper and not as crowded.

Having a day off here and there is an entirely different matter from being MIA for a whole week and a half.

I don't begrudge teachers their time off. However, I completely understand your principal's position in not wanting to lose you for seven days all in one big chunk.

She's hired YOU to teach full time. Not the substitute she'll have to put in your place. If she'd wanted the sub, she'd have hired that person and not you.

I doubt your principal is trying to deny you your days, as much as ask you to spread them out a bit more.

 

[GPoppins]

I am a high school teacher and I often add a day of my own to a holiday break to give me more time at WDW. We visit three times a year with only one of those visits falling during the summer break. I get it - I really do. Those days are ours to take. However, my concern would be my reputation. Meaning, if my students can do just fine without me for a week, what is it that I'm really providing when I am there? A day here or there...that's different; but a whole week (even to a Disney traveler like me) seems like a long time out of the classroom. Plus, I can't imagine what my room would look like with a sub there for a week! My family and I get to go to the World following the district's calendar each year...Yes, there are high crowds, but my thinking is that I get off more time than the typical worke,r so we roll with it.

 

[juliebug1997]

I think teachers work their rear ends off and deserve a fair amount of time off. It sounds like OP works very hard and deserves some time off.

To me, it is not the teacher's fault that my kid is not doing well (her going on a vacation is NOT an excuse), particularly in a class like computer (no offense).

Enjoy your trip but just warning you, there are a lot of defensive parents (and "perfect" teachers) on the DIS who have and will explode when reading this.

If you knew me, you would know I never claim to be the perfect teacher, but I'm also a realist. I teach something that is required for graduation but not necessarily needed. They could easily cut my program and let the kids go into Spanish. I want to keep my job. I love my kids. I will not be taking a 10 day vacation at the beginning of the school year when our principals are looking for creative ways to save money. I mean there's a whole book about how the first few weeks of school are some of the most important of the year. Heck, Open House falls within the first three weeks of school. "I'm sorry. Mrs. Juliebug can't be here tonight to talk to you about her classes because she's at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party." I don't think that's going to go over too well. In the end, I will keep my nose to the grindstone and not give my principal a reason to cut my position in the next round here in DFW.