Can't go during school year anymore :-(

[TagsMissy]

OP -- I am sorry but 2 full months off in summer, 2 weeks at Christmas, spring break,... those area all times when teachers should go on vacation. That's a whole lot of time to go on vacation, people in other jobs would be foaming at the mouth to get that much time off. And yes, I am from a family of teachers, I am about the only one who didn't go that route and none of them would dream of taking over a week off for vacation mid teaching year. It's not fair to their students, in their eyes and the made a commitment to be available to teach.

I would never ever pay money into vacation without a signature from my boss on my vacation slip that I had the time off.

 

[sja03a]

Are we at the point now where we are dissecting the women's pay? Losts of that green eyed monster running around here I think. If your not familiar with that saying I am referring to jealousy. I am not directing my comments at those with an opinion, it's directed at those who choose to make nasty comments about someone else's personal decision to vacation. Calling her professionalism and devotion to her students into this was a low blow.

 

[Magpie]

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.

I've seen a lot of substitutes. Some are good, but even the greatest ones can't realistically be expected to do the job of the teacher they're replacing. They don't know the kids and the kids don't know them. Even with a great lesson plan, they're starting from ground zero.

I walked into one class bright and early one morning to hear a substitute bellowing at the kids to "SHUT UP!" Then the sub spent the next 20 minutes telling the kids they were the worst class he'd ever subbed for - and we weren't ten minutes into the school day! I never saw such a sullen, rebellious group of middle schoolers. I don't imagine much learning got done.

And I can't count the number of times the kids have gotten home claiming they've got no homework. Why? Because they had a sub. Well, what did they do all day? Filled out crossword puzzles and watched a movie.

All that said, I deeply respect anyone willing to tackle the job of being a sub. Can you imagine get parachuted into a class full of strangers and being expected to pick up right where the previous teacher left off? To somehow guess which kids are learning disabled, which need more direct supervision, and which have been struggling with the subject? It's incredibly difficult.

This is so true. You could say:
"I love Minnie Mouse"
and someone else might say
"Oh Minnie is SO annoying"
"I hate how she wears pink now and used to wear red... ugh..." lol

I know that's silly, but seriously, opinions are like...... everybody's got one!!!

Personally, I think Minnie's a tramp. She's constantly flirting, and I haven't forgotten the inappropriately sexy way she sang Santa Baby at MVMCP!

 

[sja03a]

But is there not a difference between not empathizing and completely ragging on someone? Sometimes I think people forget that there is someone behind the original post.

Thanks for being one of the only posters in this thread to understand where I am coming from here. I think many of the most outspoken people in this thread are teachers whom are simply mad because their superiors would never allow such a trip to happen, not so much that they are fundamentally opposed to the idea of going at the time she chose to.

 

[juliebug1997]

I thought the same thing, bit didn't want to post it for fear or being called a bully. I'm a fifth year teacher and that's more than two weeks pay for me...even if you factor in taxes, what's taken out for retirement/insurance, and the bit set aside for summer, 4 days is less than half what she says she would be losing in take home pay. An average teacher's salary is bout 40,000 a year, which doesn't equate to anywhere near 325 dollars a day...that's almost 45 dollars an hour...

If she is making that much, it's an anomaly. I hate when those teachers post their salaries as it makes everyone think ALL teachers are overpaid.

That would be half of my monthly take home and I only work a few districts over from where OP might be working. I guess I need to look into getting a job somewhere else next year!

 

[maxiesmom]

Are we at the point now where we are dissecting the women's pay? Losts of that green eyed monster running around here I think. If your not familiar with that saying I am referring to jealousy. I am not directing my comments at those with an opinion, it's directed at those who choose to make nasty comments about someone else's personal decision to vacation. Calling her professionalism and devotion to her students into this was a low blow.

I'm sorry, but if you don't want something discussed, you don't post in on a public message board, which opens it up for discussion. Anything you post will be commented on. The only things that are off limits are the ones you don't post. No one forced the OP to mention how much she makes, she put that out there all on her own.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Are we at the point now where we are dissecting the women's pay? Losts of that green eyed monster running around here I think. If your not familiar with that saying I am referring to jealousy. I am not directing my comments at those with an opinion, it's directed at those who choose to make nasty comments about someone else's personal decision to vacation. Calling her professionalism and devotion to her students into this was a low blow.

You know, it's impossible to determine to whom you're referring with each part of this post.

Two posters commented on the OP's salary, and you consider that dissecting it? No, they're just commenting - on information the OP volunteered up front. That's not dissecting. I could calculate her salary if you'd like; not break it down, just determine it using simple math.

No need for condescension, either. Anybody who doesn't know green-eyed monster is a euphemism for jealousy does know how to Google. If you think your audience won't understand a term, you shouldn't be using it. But your entire assertion is wrong. Nobody is jealous, just a couple of people are surprised.

A teacher who takes a personal, pleasure vacation so close to the beginning of the school year because she doesn't want to wait in long attraction lines DOES appear less devoted to her job and students than, well, teachers who don't do that.

Her primary mistake was assuming that because a pleasure vacation was approved one year, it would be approved every year. As for nasty? Blunt, sure. If you want nice, go to you spouse, best friend, mom.... But when you post on a public forum, you get varying opinions and points of view.

 

[Sphinx610]

You know, it's impossible to determine to whom you're referring with each part of this post.

Two posters commented on the OP's salary, and you consider that dissecting it? No, they're just commenting - on information the OP volunteered up front. That's not dissecting. I could calculate her salary if you'd like; not break it down, just determine it using simple math.

No need for condescension, either. Anybody who doesn't know green-eyed monster is a euphemism for jealousy does know how to Google. If you think your audience won't understand a term, you shouldn't be using it. But your entire assertion is wrong. Nobody is jealous, just a couple of people are surprised.

A teacher who takes a personal, pleasure vacation so close to the beginning of the school year because she doesn't want to wait in long attraction lines DOES appear less devoted to her job and students than, well, teachers who don't do that.

Her primary mistake was assuming that because a pleasure vacation was approved one year, it would be approved every year. As for nasty? Blunt, sure. If you want nice, go to you spouse, best friend, mom.... But when you post on a public forum, you get varying opinions and points of view.

Took the words right out of my brain...

 

[disneyxo]

Are we at the point now where we are dissecting the women's pay? Losts of that green eyed monster running around here I think. If your not familiar with that saying I am referring to jealousy. I am not directing my comments at those with an opinion, it's directed at those who choose to make nasty comments about someone else's personal decision to vacation. Calling her professionalism and devotion to her students into this was a low blow.

Very well said, I agree with your other posts too. At least now I know (after reading this thread) never to post on this forum if I am ever disappointed in anything.

 

[scootch]

My husband teaches and they are not even allowed to take personal days around other holiday time off. Example, have days off for say Presidents Day.... they are not allowed to take the day before or after the break off.

 

[mking624]

Very well said, I agree with your other posts too. At least now I know (after reading this thread) never to post on this forum if I am ever disappointed in anything.

No one is saying not to post about something you are disappointed in. We ARE now saying that it is unrealistic to expect that everyone on a public forum will agree with you.

 

[ShhhQ]

Are we at the point now where we are dissecting the women's pay? Losts of that green eyed monster running around here I think. If your not familiar with that saying I am referring to jealousy. .

Honestly that was not my intention.... I was just shocked by the amount ... maybe I shouldn't have said anything, but I have nothing but respect for teachers and yeah I am jealous... wish I made that much! But didn't say she didn't deserve that... and speaking of which... she doesn't deserve all this negative criticism.

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

I thought the same thing, bit didn't want to post it for fear or being called a bully. I'm a fifth year teacher and that's more than two weeks pay for me...even if you factor in taxes, what's taken out for retirement/insurance, and the bit set aside for summer, 4 days is less than half what she says she would be losing in take home pay. An average teacher's salary is bout 40,000 a year, which doesn't equate to anywhere near 325 dollars a day...that's almost 45 dollars an hour...

If she is making that much, it's an anomaly. I hate when those teachers post their salaries as it makes everyone think ALL teachers are overpaid.

While I don't think any teacher should be out for that long for a vacation during the school year, I do not recall the OP saying she was poorly paid. Many teachers salaries are higher due to years of service, degrees and location. Not sure why her salary matters. I think the point is that most schools have a clear, written policy for vacation and personal days. We know what is allowed and what is not. Clearly the OP thought this was acceptable. Clearly her district needs to clarify their policy to avoid these problems in the future.

 

[JCH]

While I don't think any teacher should be out for that long for a vacation during the school year, I do not recall the OP saying she was poorly paid. Many teachers salaries are higher due to years of service, degrees and location. Not sure why her salary matters. I think the point is that most schools have a clear, written policy for vacation and personal days. We know what is allowed and what is not. Clearly the OP thought this was acceptable. Clearly her district needs to clarify their policy to avoid these problems in the future.

I was responding to the poster I quoted who was surprised by the salary and explaining that I, as a teacher, was surprised by it, as well, and that not all teachers make that kind of money.

Also, I would be willing to bet that the official policy in her district has a clause that personal days are subject to principal approval. Until she has that approval in writing, there was always a possibility of this happening.

This is an great example of where something like trip insurance would have been beneficial. Had the principal not changed his/her mind, she could have spoken with the principal to figure out what dates/how long would be acceptable and change her plans with minimal financial disruption.

 

[sweetb]

I have been teaching for over ten years and have taught at three different schools and never heard of a teacher getting to take days off for a vacation. We get ten sick days that can only be used for being sick. They don't even want to hear if you take off for your sick kids. And we get three personal days to use as we wish. There was a teacher who decided to use her three personal days and two sick days backed up to a three day weekend for a Disney trip that she planned in advance. Then she found out that back to school night was on one of the days she was taking off. Well she told the principal that she was going to Disney and they told her that if she went, she could be fired. She had to shorten her stay at Disney and fly home while the rest of her family enjoyed the rest of their vacation.

It does stink that teachers can only go on vacation in the summer when it's croweded and hot, but it is what it is. Again, I'm shocked that you were ever allowed to do this. It's unheard of around here.

 

[pigletz]

Not gonna debate about whether or not op should take time off during school year or not... everyone has their own opinions and have seen way too many of that already... BUT there is one thing that just keeps nagging me as I read this entire thread.... Ok if OP was going for 7 days and only 3 would be approved... with the remaining 4 being docked from her paycheck.... That would be a hit of $1300?!?!??? WOW!!! I thought teachers were a poorly paid profession.... Maybe to some people that isn't much... but to me!! I am lucky if I make $1300 in a full months time!

Not ragging on anyone, but that just hit me like a ton of bricks!!!!

I don't know if this is the case in the OP's district, but in mine if you are docked pay they calculate it based on your hourly rate. When we went on strike for two weeks, we didn't just lose the pay for those two weeks. We missed two pay checks and then the third was only $200 or so.

 

[kandb]

This is why they should do away with tenure. I don't know if all teachers get tenure but in our state (NJ) and I believe NY has it, if a teacher has taught for (I believe) five years, they automatically become "permanent" and you can't fire them after that. Who in the world gets this type of job security??? It' ridiculous. We have bad teachers in our school district but can't get rid of them because they have "tenure". What a crock!!!

I wouldn't be surprised if this teacher did not have tenure. I doubt a teacher without tenure would "request" taking 7 days off to go to disney, right after the school year begins. Didn't this teacher just return from a 8 week summer vacation??? The more I think about this thread the more aggrevated I get.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I thought teachers were a poorly paid profession.... Maybe to some people that isn't much... but to me!! I am lucky if I make $1300 in a full months time!

Not ragging on anyone, but that just hit me like a ton of bricks!!!!

Teacher salaries vary widely from state to state and district to district. I graduated college in PA and my first teaching job was in southern VA. If I'd been able to take a job in PA, I would have made double what I made in VA - same job, same experience level - different state, different district.

I guess I'm just trying to point out that, yes, there are places that pay teachers very well but there are also places where the pay is not so hot.

 

[kandb]

Our teachers here in Northern NJ, make very decent money. Many make $70-90K per year. Most of our police officers make over $100K/year. We have small little towns that are very quiet and each town has a police chief. The police chiefs make $160K or more. That's why the taxes are becoming so high, many people have a hard time affording them.