Feel really down as DD4 goes to school and Head says no holidays

[queenarmadillo]

I think the real problem here is standardized testing. In primary school, my parents could take me out for a holiday if they wanted (which often they didnt cos I would miss the begining of term so have to get used to a new situation in which everyone else was already settled, or the end of term and miss the fun activities). I might miss out on a fair chunk of education about rainfall or the tudors, but in turn I would learn about spaceship earth and fossil fuels jeopardy style.
Today, due to the increase in standardized sylabuses, knowing about fossil fuels does not replace an ability to label the parts of a flower, or being coached into the precise language with which a SAT question needs to be answered. I certainly dont agree that this is an improvement on the way things were, but as it was an "improvement" implemented by our democratically elected government, then unless we are arguing democracy doesn't work, the majority of the country must have been in favour of it.

On a side not to the teacher bashing: the reason that the government is having to pay people to take teacher training and subsidize their degrees is because it is a job noone wants anymore. Teaching is one of the least respected of the degree professions, and although the long, unpaid holidays play a role in this, it is also one of the lowest paid. Sadly, most of the pupils now lack respect for their teachers aswell, so teachers (particularly in specialist schools) are lucky if they are merely ignored or shouted at rather than physically assaulted.

At least people with kids in school have the option of calling them in sick to get a term time holiday in. As the child of a teacher, there is absolutely no option of a termtime holiday, meaning we always have to pay top prices for our holidays, and I have to compete with all those who have the proper excuse of "kids in school" for the summer vacation dates if we want to go on a family holiday. If your kids had a supply teacher, it was because the teacher was sick enough to get a doctor's note, not cos she thought it would be nice to take advantage of the cheaper off peak vacation rates.

 

[angel659]

Wow what a debate

First, I think this thread has gone off on a tangent from the OP. Who was merely looking for support and this thread has gone from an innocent thread to judging people.

Second, I think everyone needs to take a step back. Everyone has at least one reason why they do not like about their job i.e. pay, hours, colleagues, etc lets not all get on our high horse and start criticizing peoples job.

I do not work within the teaching industry. I work as an Auxiliary Nurse and I work blooming hard. I work horrible hours including Christmas day, Boxing Day, New Years Eve and New Year’s Day. I love nursing, but hate the hours. Yes I knew this when I started, and I do not for one minute think it is unfair and unjust. We all do our own fair share of Christmas. I would certainly would not be nursing for the money or hours. I love it and this is the only reason why I nurse. I do not expect any sympathy from other people. Hospitals, care homes etc run 24-7. I expect that. We get paid time and half for Christmas day and Boxing Day. Time and third for new years day. I again accept this. Oh and we need training every year. I think I have seven training days a year that are compulsory. Believe me we need these updates. I think in the last 3 years I have worked at my trust. CPR has changed twice! Moving and handling has changed each year. Adult protection rules and extra regulations are always being updated.

I admire teachers and what they do. They have a tough enough job meeting the government’s expectations. I cannot imagine how hard it must be faced with discerning parents. I totally can see why teachers are considered the least respected professions. Have you seen today’s youth? I certainly have in my profession. I cannot imagine how hard it must be facing disrespectful teenagers or parents.

I know many nurses who have sisters or family who are teachers. It certainly is not play and games as some have said. They are working all hours god sends when it comes to marking homework. Especially senior school teachers. My dd gets home work every Friday she is in year 2. Apparently, in year 3 she will have homework every night. We must ask ourselves when are these marked. Certainly not in school time? When it comes to holidays, they are preparing the classes and the next terms projects. I take it and I am not preaching I know everything. I think they get guidelines what must be taught, but it is up to that particular teacher to put into practice.

Training days. Well these are good. All teachers need to learn new skills. A few schools in my local area were not up to scratch. With the new system of training days, the schools now are highly competing against the best schools in the area, if not are now better than those are. Regulations change as well. I.e. child protection. These are always needed to be discussed into full depth. It is not a simple case of an hour update. Believe me I have Adult protection courses at work. Its amazing how much has changed within a year. New forms to fill in, etc. Believe me these training days are needed.

We all can throw around statistics as much as we like. We used to work here or help here. Times change drastically. Let us support the teachers and not criticize them. If we cannot respect what they do then how can today’s children respect them.

Oh and I am taking my dd out of school in November for 10 days. This is allowed. I ensured that it was not when dd sats were on. I certainly would not be doing this when she is in year 6 onwards.

I certainly would not pat some ones back, because they work over 37.5 hours a week. Its not a contest. Everyone specializes in different areas. Every ones jobs are different!

 

[mark&sue]

Very good post Michelle

Looking forward to seeing you in August (hopefully not too hot and humid) at Prime time cafe.



Susan

 

[angel659]

Very good post Michelle

Looking forward to seeing you in August (hopefully not too hot and humid) at Prime time cafe.



Susan

Look forward to seeing you too. Cant promise I will look my best though LOL. Probably hot, red faced and tired. LOL

See you real soon

 

[Gillsfan]

Well, bully for you!
As someone who is at the office by 05:30 and home around 23:00 I am so very impressed with you being at school an hour earlier than normal.
I am sure you will be able to recover in the six weeks break you are having.
What time will you finish on Friday then? As I am informed my son's school want the children picked up at 14:00 instead of 15:15 as its last day!
Thats really useful to working parents!

OMG that reminds me of a classic Monty Python sketch...

FIRST YORKSHIREMAN:
You were lucky. We lived for three months in a paper bag in a septic tank. We used to have to get up at six in the morning, clean the paper bag, eat a crust of stale bread, go to work down t' mill, fourteen hours a day, week-in week-out, for sixpence a week, and when we got home our Dad would thrash us to sleep wi' his belt.
SECOND YORKSHIREMAN:
Luxury. We used to have to get out of the lake at six o'clock in the morning, clean the lake, eat a handful of 'ot gravel, work twenty hour day at mill for tuppence a month, come home, and Dad would thrash us to sleep with a broken bottle, if we were lucky!
THIRD YORKSHIREMAN:
Well, of course, we had it tough. We used to 'ave to get up out of shoebox at twelve o'clock at night and lick road clean wit' tongue. We had two bits of cold gravel, worked twenty-four hours a day at mill for sixpence every four years, and when we got home our Dad would slice us in two wit' bread knife.
FOURTH YORKSHIREMAN:
Right. I had to get up in the morning at ten o'clock at night half an hour before I went to bed, drink a cup of sulphuric acid, work twenty-nine hours a day down mill, and pay mill owner for permission to come to work, and when we got home, our Dad and our mother would kill us and dance about on our graves singing Hallelujah.
FIRST YORKSHIREMAN:
And you try and tell the young people of today that ..... they won't believe you.
ALL:
They won't!

Just for my 2p's worth, I think teachers generally do a wonderfull job under the circumstances our target driven governments have subscribed to. Just the other day, I went to a school fund raising summer fete to see all the teachers absolutely working their socks off, were they beng paid? I dont think so.

 

[angel659]

OMG that reminds me of a classic Monty Python sketch...

FIRST YORKSHIREMAN:
You were lucky. We lived for three months in a paper bag in a septic tank. We used to have to get up at six in the morning, clean the paper bag, eat a crust of stale bread, go to work down t' mill, fourteen hours a day, week-in week-out, for sixpence a week, and when we got home our Dad would thrash us to sleep wi' his belt.
SECOND YORKSHIREMAN:
Luxury. We used to have to get out of the lake at six o'clock in the morning, clean the lake, eat a handful of 'ot gravel, work twenty hour day at mill for tuppence a month, come home, and Dad would thrash us to sleep with a broken bottle, if we were lucky!
THIRD YORKSHIREMAN:
Well, of course, we had it tough. We used to 'ave to get up out of shoebox at twelve o'clock at night and lick road clean wit' tongue. We had two bits of cold gravel, worked twenty-four hours a day at mill for sixpence every four years, and when we got home our Dad would slice us in two wit' bread knife.
FOURTH YORKSHIREMAN:
Right. I had to get up in the morning at ten o'clock at night half an hour before I went to bed, drink a cup of sulphuric acid, work twenty-nine hours a day down mill, and pay mill owner for permission to come to work, and when we got home, our Dad and our mother would kill us and dance about on our graves singing Hallelujah.
FIRST YORKSHIREMAN:
And you try and tell the young people of today that ..... they won't believe you.
ALL:
They won't!

Just for my 2p's worth, I think teachers generally do a wonderfull job under the circumstances our target driven governments have subscribed to. Just the other day, I went to a school fund raising summer fete to see all the teachers absolutely working their socks off, were they beng paid? I dont think so.

 

[wilma-bride]

Oh I agree completly. I have never understood parents wanting holidays without their child.
I know of one family who go on holiday without their children who are packed off to either Gran and Grandad or are sent to "camp" for the duration of their holiday.

Obi, you really don't give a toss who you offend or upset do you

You know what, I for one am sick to death of the holier than thou attitude some DISers seem to have. What gives anybody the right to criticise anyone else's parenting methods, career choices or lifestyle decisions.

Personally, I have pretty much had my fill of the attitudes here on the DIS lately and am seriously reconsidering whether this is something I want to be a part of.

 

[saratogagirl]

I don't need to worry about school holidays, having no children Ian and I are able to suit ourselves pretty much. I have friends who are teachers and seem to work hard, doing a very worthwhile job. I just wanted to post that I agree with Joh concerning some posts lately, it leaves a sour taste in my mouth, the DIS was always my happy place, where I could get away from the crap of everyday life. I put up with enough sniping and nonsense at work.

 

[angel659]

I agree Joh and Jules. I was rather upset with this post myself. I tried to stay nice when I replied.

 

[saratogagirl]

you were nice Michelle, you are always nice, that what I love about you

 

[angel659]

Oh thanks Jules

 

[natalielongstaff]

You What gives anybody the right to criticise anyone else's parenting methods, career choices or lifestyle decisions.

if i see a post i disagree with then i ignore it !! its unrealistic to expect everyone to agree all the time but please be grown up enough to walk away from a fight i come on here to escape that behaviour as well

 

[alisonbestford]

if i see a post i disagree with then i ignore it !! its unrealistic to expect everyone to agree all the time but please be grown up enough to walk away from a fight i come on here to escape that behaviour as well

I have to agree

 

[scottishsue]

Just out of interest, but something my husband mentioned might be of interest. What would happen if everything shut down like the schools !!

Schools close for 6 weeks in the summer.... 2 at Easter, 2 at Christmas and 2 in October. So should the Armed Forces, Police, Ambulance Services, Pilots, Gas and Oil Industry all shut down at the same time ??

We'd be in a sorry state if they did !!

If teachers worked the same hours as everyone else we would be far better off.

I have friends who like Obi, work long hours, and I admire these people.
They work hard to get where they are.

(BTW no-one is fighting, we are merely having a discussion, even if it is a somewhat heated one).

Grow up !!

 

[wideeyes]

I have friends who like Obi, work long hours, and I admire these people.
They work hard to get where they are.

Are they web designers?

 

[Booknut]

Obi, you really don't give a toss who you offend or upset do you

You know what, I for one am sick to death of the holier than thou attitude some DISers seem to have. What gives anybody the right to criticise anyone else's parenting methods, career choices or lifestyle decisions.

Personally, I have pretty much had my fill of the attitudes here on the DIS lately and am seriously reconsidering whether this is something I want to be a part of.

Joh, don't leave the DISboards!!! Yes, occasionally some people do say insensitive things but please just ignore it! People like that just want to make themselves feel better by making others feel inferior. Or maybe they don't realise they are doing it. Either way, who cares what they think?

We all seem to have different opinions on stuff, as this thread shows, but this has really gotten off topic and very snippy at times...

At the end of the day taking your child out of school for whatever reason is between you and your family and your school. I don't think the OP really wanted to hear everyone's opinions on teachers, council rules, parenting, holidays, wages and whiny 'I work harder than you do' posts!

Hakuna Matata

 

[scottishsue]

Are they web designers?

No actually they are NOT web designers !! One is a Professor at Aberystwyth University !! Another is a Consultant Psychiatrist !!

(Think they work a bit harder than teachers !!)

 

[emily1982]

What a ridicoulous statement Emily.
So, we should all not comment on MP's as we are not MP's or terrorism unless we are terrorists??
Can you not comment on racism unless you are a rascist?
Is this the way you teach debate at school?

Well, I am a parent of a school child cureently and a Council tax payer, plus a high income tax payer, I have been a school govenor. Your actions effect my life, so yes I beleive I have the right to comment.

Yes but Obi you are commenting on peoples jobs, not the decisions those people are making. If a terriost blows something up, that is a right and wrong. But you no jack about the teaching profession which is completley obvious nor have you ever seen my contract for one. So before you starting singing your song about schools holidays learn the facts. Do i go judging postman/fireman when they go on strike...no...because i know nothing about their job!

I do not teach the children to debate i teach them to listen to the facts and know the whole truth before they judge. I agree everyone should have their own opinion, but im explaining that life without school holidays wouldn't work, the children are exhausted at school they need a break!

 

[Claire L]

I am still surprised by some of the comments here. Holidays, expecially abroad are still a luxury, they are not essential, and yes they are very nice. But if you have children you know that sometimes you may have to make sacrifices ie going at busier/more expensive times of the year, but in the majority of cases people choose to have children, they don't just appear! After all it is only for on average about 14 years that most people have to 'alter' their holiday plans around school holidays.

Claire

 

[scottishsue]

Yes but Obi you are commenting on peoples jobs, not the decisions those people are making. If a terriost blows something up, that is a right and wrong. But you no jack about the teaching profession which is completley obvious nor have you ever seen my contract for one. So before you starting singing your song about schools holidays learn the facts. Do i go judging postman/fireman when they go on strike...no...because i know nothing about their job!

This is a very touchy subject for me, because I have HUGE issues with the amount of holidays teachers get, compared to the rest of the UK workforce.
And I have friends who are teachers too, and they actually agree with me.
They get bored with the amount of days off that they get !

We back onto a school where we live - and the first cars do not arrive at the school until 10 minutes before it starts at 9 a.m. and they are gone within 10minutes of the school closing.

Why should the rest of us get 25 days a year, when they get something like 60 ?