Can't go during school year anymore :-(

[Swan4Me]

If my kid's teacher took over a week off right at the beginning of school I'd make a BIG stink.

OP your oldest is 9...I used to tack on a couple days to holidays to got to WDW-but once they were in High school_NO WAY would they want to miss school! We were lucky to have a spring break when no one else had and went then.

 

[kandb]

Teachers around here (NJ) work 185 days per year. While I understand they should get a few days off, in reality, they get WAAAAAY more time off then everyone else. Who works only 185 days a year???

To the OP,
How can you feel OK about leaving your class right after school has started? Missing school for 7 days is ridiculous and I don't blame the school district for not giving it to you. I am sure when you left your class last year there were parent's who complained. I know I would have.

PS I take my CHILDREN out for school every year to go to disney, but my children missing school is not going to have any inpact on the students in the class learning, but you missing for 7 days is going to have an impact.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

I am a big believer in know your audience and get out of your own bubble.

My best friend, sister, brother and now my hubby are all teachers. For years, I could pretty much pinpoint when I would hear my BFF each summer say "I can't believe I only have 4 weeks of summer left . Apparently, 4 weeks is her dread mark. Problem is as a nurse and now NP, I work all summer. I also work (or used to work) holidays, nights and weekends. I am not the best person to seek pity from that you only have 4 out of your 9 week vacation left. That would best be gotten from another teacher!

Just as I knew what I was getting into when I signed up for my profession so should everyone else. That didn't mean we didn't commiserate on the night shift on Christmas eve, we did. But we were talking to people who lived what we lived and could easily sympathize. Know your audience. Also, having now taken a close look at a teacher's contract- WOW! The amount of sick/personal time, in addition to scheduled weeks off is, in my opinion, staggering. While I do not begrudge you the time, please be aware most people can not even come close. Get out of your own bubble.

My point- the DIS was probably not the best place to look for sympathy.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[marybaby08]

OP I think is time for a career change, something like a police or fireman.... Whats that ? They have to work all the Holidays including Christmas day ,
and they do it because they know before sign up that contract thats just the way it is. Same as teachers they know before hand that vacation is 2 months in the summer and 2 weeks in Christmas, a week in spring and at least 1 long weekend every month. Life is not fair sometimes.

 

[topolino]

I'm a teacher and I wouldn't dream of taking a week off in September. I have too much respect for my students than to do that.

 

[Pembo]

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, most teachers I know never take days off except for personal illness. My brother is a 28 year veteran of the school system and has accumulated over 300 sick days. My mom worked for the schools for over 25 years and the most time she took off was when I had my ds and needed help and even then she needed a note from my dr to get the days excused.

Yes teachers do have a life outside of school however taking a vacation during the school year seems a bit excessive!!! Even the 12 month administrators take their vacations when school is not in session.

OP - there are ALOT of teachers who would love your job, so keep taking the time off so they can work.

 

[NCRedding]

Taking 7 days off at the beginning of the school year would be more than 1 classroom week affected. You would actually be disrupting 2 weeks in the classroom (maybe even 3 if you are taking a Friday and a Monday). Not only is it a very long time for a teacher to be out of the classroom, but it is very long for your student/child to be absent.

My mom *worked for the school system, and had very few absences except later in life when she was caring for my grandmother. *She was able to use those extra days towards her retirement so that she stopped working in December, but got paid her regular salary until late June because of her accrued personal days and sick days.

My DH used to teach and knew the rules. He missed one of my best friend's weddings because he was required to be in the classroom and at graduation during her wedding time. No excuses and no passes.

We now own our own business which means we can take vacations any time we want, except when the court calendar doesn't let us, or except for the pesky fact that when we are away from the office we make no money, so it is kind of hard to make payroll, pay the business expenses, and have a little left over for our personal bills with no money coming in.

Every job has pluses and minuses. Be grateful that your principal let you take this vacation with pay.

 

[mousefan5]

I think everyone is on the notion that education completely stops when the teacher is not there. When I have an arranged absence, there is time to preselect a substitute that is also trained and qualified to teach. Also realize that it is often easier to teach the class yourself then put in all the time to get lessons and materials for the substitute teacher. It takes an enormous amount of time to prepare for an absence so that the students are learning while the teacher is absent.

 

[juliebug1997]

#1: OP said that she is not allowed to ask for the time off until the new school year begins. That means now.

#2: Yep, school starts tomorrow and I've been working for two weeks on a new school year and I will not get a paycheck for the new school year until Sept. 27th. We will have worked almost 6 weeks on the new school year but getting paid on the old salary.

 

[JCH]

Add me to the list of teachers who can't believe the OP requested 7 days off in September! My district allows the use of 6 personal days for use during the school year. They must be pre-approved and cannot be used in the days connected to a holiday. These are meant for things you just can't plan to have happen during the summer. More than 2 days is subject to principal approval.

Perhaps the principal approved it one year thinking it would be a one time deal. Missing over a week in a row yearly is another situation.

And of course missing days in a row is different! For one day off, I can easily leave a worksheet assignment, a video, or something else that does not require instruction from the sub. For 7 days, instruction would most definitely be needed!

I do take days off for Disney, mostly because I can't control when the Disney races are, but have never thought of asking for more than 3.

 

[sja03a]

After reading this thread its pretty clear teachers seem to be a snarky bunch. I am hoping its due to the fact that all your patience and compassion is directed towards the children your in charge of teaching, but I am getting the impression that may not be the case.

As with any business or organization, there is a "handbook" that clearly lines out the policies of the institution, but within that same institution there are special considerations being made all the time. This is a simply fact of life, not everyone has to play by the same rules (especially when your talking about different districts/states). The OP is obviously upset about the fact that there was an allowance for this time off last year and this year it was taken away. Not to mention the idea of being out the original money spent on the trip vs. losing a decent sum of money out of her next check. Neither option is very attractive obviously, she seemed to be coming here to vent to people she assumed would understand her disappointment. Had she not been apporved for the same time off the previous year and went ahead and booked the trip anyway then she would not have been so blindsided by the news and likely would not have booked the trip at the time she did.

Be nice guys, no one wants to have a finger waved in their face for trying to enjoy life. Sorry if "your district" would never allow such things or if your department is potentially on the chopping block due to budgetary constraints but the "keep your nose to the grindstone" mentality typically ends with your life blazing past you and your left with no nose.

 

[ConvenientTruth]

Wow, most teachers I know never take days off except for personal illness. My brother is a 28 year veteran of the school system and has accumulated over 300 sick days. My mom worked for the schools for over 25 years and the most time she took off was when I had my ds and needed help and even then she needed a note from my dr to get the days excused.

Yes teachers do have a life outside of school however taking a vacation during the school year seems a bit excessive!!! Even the 12 month administrators take their vacations when school is not in session.

OP - there are ALOT of teachers who would love your job, so keep taking the time off so they can work.

I'm the same way....I'm beginning my 10th year and have (counting the 10 this year)....76 days banked...I hate to miss work and I love my Job....I also run a summer camp during the 9 weeks we are out to help pay for my family's Disney obsession and still manage to have plenty of time to get away...I count myself fortunate to have the job I do and can't stand to be away from work....outside of a few sick days (for myself and my own children) I see no reason to take a day....it rare with the way the schedules for teacher and students work out that I have to work more then 4 weeks before I have a three day weekend....

 

[mking624]

After reading this thread its pretty clear teachers seem to be a snarky bunch. I am hoping its due to the fact that all your patience and compassion is directed towards the children your in charge of teaching, but I am getting the impression that may not be the case.

As with any business or organization, there is a "handbook" that clearly lines out the policies of the institution, but within that same institution there are special considerations being made all the time. This is a simply fact of life, not everyone has to play by the same rules (especially when your talking about different districts/states). The OP is obviously upset about the fact that there was an allowance for this time off last year and this year it was taken away. Not to mention the idea of being out the original money spent on the trip vs. losing a decent sum of money out of her next check. Neither option is very attractive obviously, she seemed to be coming here to vent to people she assumed would understand her disappointment. Had she not been apporved for the same time off the previous year and went ahead and booked the trip anyway then she would not have been so blindsided by the news and likely would not have booked the trip at the time she did.

Be nice guys, no one wants to have a finger waved in their face for trying to enjoy life. Sorry if "your district" would never allow such things or if your department is potentially on the chopping block due to budgetary constraints but the "keep your nose to the grindstone" mentality typically ends with your life blazing past you and your left with no nose.

Just because she was approved for time off last year doesn't mean she will get it this year. That isn't a teaching thing...that's a job thing. Even if you have earned days off, you don't always get to take them at the exact same time of the year every year. Sometimes someone else may want that time off (and it would only be fair to let them have it this time), sometimes job constraints won't allow it. Teachers do seem to have it hard as many things in education seem to up in the air on a year to year basis...including the prospects of even having a job. So one should never assume that the luxury they enjoyed one year will be the same for the current year. *I* know that and my children are not even old enough to be in school yet...so a teacher should very well know that. And just as an employee standpoint (ANY employee, not just a teacher), you should never book and pay for a vacation when you aren't even approved to take the time off. Because what happens if the request is denied? You can't blame losing out on money on anyone but yourself.

How many times have we seen threads become debate when it comes to pulling children out of school for a relatively lengthy vacation at Disney? I've also seen teachers chime in about how that should never happen. So...we can't allow children to do it, but go ahead and let the teacher? I'm not saying to rip her to shreds, nor is anyone saying that she's not allowed to enjoy life. But vacationing in September, which would be the beginning of the school year, is a very poor decision...and people are calling her out on that. You can't post on the Dis expecting everyone will always be on your side. We are on the side of enjoying Disney...but I, personally, am not on the side of making poor choices just to do so. She has other times she can go. No one is expecting that she works 24/7, 365 days a year. People are pointing out that she does have other times when she's able to go where it won't impact the students as much if at all (such as the summer or during breaks), or maybe I'd suggest going in January if she still wants low crowds, and that way a routine for her students has long been set. But instead of seeing that she has other options, she has chosen to complain....and then ignore the rest of the thread because she doesn't like that people aren't saying what she wants to hear.

I definitely encourage her to vacation at Disney (when appropriate)...but to also be a bit wiser in her decision making.

 

[Tink-aholic]

I am a teacher and I get 15 sick days per year and 3 personal days (which roll over to sick if they aren't used by the end of the year). My pay is a yearly salary, so I do consider myself paid for the summer, and basically do nothing (except go to Disney!) over the summer. We work 183 days per year. I am about to start my 7th year and will be making just under $80K this year (including stipends for advisorships). I feel I am overpaid for what I do, so I stay after every day and go the extra mile so that my school gets their money's worth out of me.

I did not call in sick at all last year and only used my personal days after my students had graduated (so no extra expense of a sub needed). When I retire, my school can "buy back" my sick days from me, but I am banking them to use as a short-term disability solution, should I become really ill or injured.

 

[andyman8]

It seems like every "venting thread" ends up the same way...

 

[kaytieeldr]

The OP is obviously upset about the fact that there was an allowance for this time off last year and this year it was taken away. Not to mention the idea of being out the original money spent on the trip vs. losing a decent sum of money out of her next check. Neither option is very attractive obviously,

The OP assumed something. Past performance isn't a guarantee of future results. But nothing was taken away; not clear where you're getting that idea. One time/year, her manager/principal allowed her to take a vacation when employees/teachers normally can't.

It seems the OP automatically assumed that this permission would be granted annually, and made reservations based on that assumption rather than fact. Had she needed to cancel, she would have been out some money $100 package cancellation from Disney, and depending on the airline and fare, $0 to $150 per passenger. Having her pay docked, if that had been necessary, would have been a more expensive lesson, sure. Stuff happens.

Some people empathize with the OP, some people think she's wrong. When you vent on a public forum, you're going to get a variety of responses - including some reality checks. She wants to (will) use her personal time for this vacation? What happens when she needs individual personal days off - for the field trip, the awards ceremony, because her son is home sick and needs her, for a bad tooth, a friend she hasn't seen for 15 years will be in town for four hours...?

I am a teacher and I get 15 sick days per year and 3 personal days (which roll over to sick if they aren't used by the end of the year). My pay is a yearly salary, so I do consider myself paid for the summer

Thank you. I thought, as a professional field, teachers in general are paid an annual salary (vs an hourly wage). Someone posted above that teachers have the option of getting paid that salary just over the school year, or divided over twelve months? Is that everywhere or does it depend on the contract/location? So a teacher earning (number chosen for simplicity ONLY ) $54,000 could choose to get paid $6,000 per month for nine months (school year) OR $4,500 per month for twelve months?

 

[Danibelle]

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

When I worked for a school district, taking more than a day or two was a big no no!

 

[sja03a]

I am sure a grown women doesnt need some over zealous forum police to give her a "reality check". Anyone who has stated their personal feelings about their job or speaking about their work ethic are taking cheap shots. She didn't post here asking "what would you do if...?" she just expressed her disappointment in her situation. Stating obvious points about a job not being guaranteed and things like that do not change the facts. She chose to go on a vacation, she had been allowed to do it in the past and her boss did not say she couldn't go, he/she said only part of it would be paid so obviously it wasn't a huge issue from the schools perspective. Some people do not live in constant fear that our jobs are on the line, I for one know that I am doing my job better then pretty much anyone else in my company so I have no issues taking 4-6 weeks of vacation time a year regardless of how much of it is paid. Your situation is not everyones, not everyone lives for their jobs, some people understand a job is just a means to live a comfortable life and not worth placing above all else (PS I happen to like my job very much and am very good at what I do but at the end of the day I work to provide a comfortable life for my family). Piling on to someone on a public forum is lame. Also just an FYI, I took a look at the sigs of a lot of the posters so against her going during the school year and funny enough the majority of them had a trip planned after Sept (thus during the school year)......Interesting.

 

[AndreaA]

Yes, but it's based off of banking income they previously earned, paid out over a longer period of time. It's not additional pay for time earned. It's the difference between winning the lottery and paying it out over a period of time and winning the lottery twice, taking lump sums both times. The person who's taking the payments may still be getting money in payments longer than the lump sum winner, but it's off of an old winning spread out. The two-time winner got new income off the second lottery winning that the spread out payment person didn't earn.

What difference does that make? The annual salary for a teacher is equal to or greater than many, many other jobs out there, whether taken over 9mo or 12mo. 40k is 40k, either way. If someone is making 40k over 9mo and says they need to work the summer, then I assume that if they were making 40k over 12mo, they'd need to get a second job as well. But that isn't usually true - they manage on the 40k. The lucky teachers, on the other hand, get 40k and still have the opportunity to take a temp. job and earn extra money during the summer. That's a perk, not a drawback. So yes, I absolutely do consider that teacher's get the "summer off" as well as numerous weeks throughout the year.

Sorry, no sympathy here. I'd be very peeved if I found out my kids' teacher was planning a vacation right after the start of school. Especially when many teachers say that they will not make allowances for kids being pulled from school for similar vacations.

 

[mking624]

I am sure a grown women doesnt need some over zealous forum police to give her a "reality check". Anyone who has stated their personal feelings about their job or speaking about their work ethic are taking cheap shots. She didn't post here asking "what would you do if...?" she just expressed her disappointment in her situation. Stating obvious points about a job not being guaranteed and things like that do not change the facts. She chose to go on a vacation, she had been allowed to do it in the past and her boss did not say she couldn't go, he/she said only part of it would be paid so obviously it wasn't a huge issue from the schools perspective. Some people do not live in constant fear that our jobs are on the line, I for one know that I am doing my job better then pretty much anyone else in my company so I have no issues taking 4-6 weeks of vacation time a year regardless of how much of it is paid. Your situation is not everyones, not everyone lives for their jobs, some people understand a job is just a means to live a comfortable life and not worth placing above all else (PS I happen to like my job very much and am very good at what I do but at the end of the day I work to provide a comfortable life for my family). Piling on to someone on a public forum is lame. Also just an FYI, I took a look at the sigs of a lot of the posters so against her going during the school year and funny enough the majority of them had a trip planned after Sept (thus during the school year)......Interesting.

A grown woman should also realize that when you post a topic, you're going to get a variety of responses. Posting on the Dis expecting everyone to take your side is unreasonable and illogical. And great for you that your job doesn't care. Apparently you don't teach...so your job does not impact the learning of multiple students during a critical time of the year. For the record, I do vacation more often in September. But I already mentioned that my children are not yet old enough to be in school...nor does my husband taking off time from his job impact the company in September. It would be a different story if we took off during Black Friday (and the entire Thanksgiving weekend), or the week of Christmas, and as a result, we don't do that. And that is the point...don't assume that we're somehow hypocrites because some of us take off in September. There are reasons why people can't vacation during certain times, and so we opt for something that DOES work for us. Many of us also don't book and pay for a vacation that has not yet been approved. Getting mad at us because we're pointing that out is, in your words, lame.