Is it horrible for a teacher to pop in a movie???

[lesroi]

From a kid's point of view it isn't horrible, it is excellent!

From a parent's point of view, I'd be a little ticked that I paying good money to have my children watch cartoons and might divide the cost up by hour and ask for that much back.

Really? What if your employer realized how much time you (and I don't mean you personally) spend online and not working? Do you think they should ask for their wages back?

I think a 30 minute movie at school is the equivalent of a few coffee/water cooler breaks at work. Kids need to relax too, and it's nice if the Teacher gets a break.


Tracy

 

[EthansMom]

Since you asked, I wouldn't be too happy if a non-educational movie was shown during class time. There are plenty of programs with educational value that could be kept on hand for occasional use.

When they're watching a movie, kids aren't getting any real value. Personally, if a teacher needed a break, I would prefer that he/she switch things up with a game, mazes, craft project, reading a book to the class, etc... than just popping in a video.

 

[Daisy Chick]

Really? What if your employer realized how much time you (and I don't mean you personally) spend online and not working? Do you think they should ask for their wages back?

I think a 30 minute movie at school is the equivalent of a few coffee/water cooler breaks at work. Kids need to relax too, and it's nice if the Teacher gets a break.


Tracy

What I do when I'm not at work is my own beezwax. I do not go online at work for personal use. Ever. Never ever, ever. And 95% of the time I do not take a lunch break. There are no coffee/water breaks, ever. If I get a few extra minutes, I'll sit with a patient and talk to them or keep them company.

Teachers get planning time and lunch breaks.

Just because you happen to want an extra break doesn't mean you get one. Not for everyone, anyway. Lots of jobs where you can't just decide you need a break and pop in a movie.

However, if you can get away with it, it is fine with me. Like I said, if I could, I would - no doubt. So long as they aren't teaching my kids, I have no problem with it and wish 'em all the best. And like I said, the occasional educational film is fine.

 

[Feralpeg]

What I do when I'm not at work is my own beezwax. I do not go online at work for personal use. Ever. Never ever, ever. And 95% of the time I do not take a lunch break. There are no coffee/water breaks, ever. If I get a few extra minutes, I'll sit with a patient and talk to them or keep them company.

Teachers get planning time and lunch breaks.

Just because you happen to want an extra break doesn't mean you get one. Not for everyone, anyway. Lots of jobs where you can't just decide you need a break and pop in a movie.

However, if you can get away with it, it is fine with me. Like I said, if I could, I would - no doubt. So long as they aren't teaching my kids, I have no problem with it and wish 'em all the best. And like I said, the occasional educational film is fine.

I work in a private school, so things may be different in public school. Many of the teachers in my school do not get a planning period or break other than 20 minutes for lunch. The school is structured so that each teacher takes another class for something like Spanish, Latin (yes, we do teach Latin), art, etc. while kids go to gym. Our school is grades K - 12. The elementary teachers do their own playground activity. The elementary and middle school teachers take turns monitoring the lunch room so that the others can eat lunch. Part of the office staff and volunteer parents monitor the lunch room while the high school teachers eat.

I am the one exception to the rule. I do have two periods without students. During one of those periods, I work in the office so the office staff can monitor lunch. The other period, I monitor high school study hall.

The point being, not all teachers have time to kick back. In fact, finding time to go to the bathroom is tricky. Some days, at the end of the school day, I am so thirsty. It is because I don't have an opportunity to go get anything to drink for a long time. Yes! There are days when a movie is the best bet for all involved!

 

[lesroi]

What I do when I'm not at work is my own beezwax. I do not go online at work for personal use. Ever. Never ever, ever. And 95% of the time I do not take a lunch break. There are no coffee/water breaks, ever. If I get a few extra minutes, I'll sit with a patient and talk to them or keep them company.

Teachers get planning time and lunch breaks.

Just because you happen to want an extra break doesn't mean you get one. Not for everyone, anyway. Lots of jobs where you can't just decide you need a break and pop in a movie.

However, if you can get away with it, it is fine with me. Like I said, if I could, I would - no doubt. So long as they aren't teaching my kids, I have no problem with it and wish 'em all the best. And like I said, the occasional educational film is fine.

Sorry you were offended. My sister is a teacher and I can pretty darn near tell you for certain she doesn't get ANY breaks throughout the day. If she wants to put in a movie, guess what? She is the BOSS of the class. She can. If you want to personally pay the Teacher's salary, I suppose you get to write the lesson plan. She teaches Special school and I guarantee you those kids see the occasional movie of 30 minutes are less. Granted, hers are generally educational. (In fact, the last one she put in, I was in her classroom and I was so fascinated, I stayed and watched the whole thing, ) Nevertheless, an occasional movie, or time to blow off steam is ACTUALLY healthy. Read studies about what happens when kids lose recess in lieu of more "education time." Results are not good.

By the way, I did say the original "you" did not mean YOU personally. It meant all of the people who time-waste at work. (You cannot tell me this does not occur in Hospitals.) If you are the one and only person on the planet who has never wasted time at work, I hereby nominate you for Sainthood. My DH worked ED at a Level I trauma center. I can guarantee you even he and his staff had some goof-off time at one time or another.

Have a nice weekend.

Tracy

 

[englishteacha]

My kids watched "To Build a Fire" this week because a) we had just read it b)my district was pulling me out of my classroom (again) for a meeting and I had to make sub plans and c)I needed a break from trying to explain Jack London to 8th graders. It was relevant and it's only the 2nd movie we've watched all year (56 minutes). Sometimes we teachers need a little break. I teach English and there are days when my kids have 10 minutes of silent reading just so I can get some grading done! Reading never hurt anyone.

 

[DISUNC]

If you teach, how do you feel about putting in movies?

I'm not talking about educational shows that go along with the curriculum. I'm talking about fluff cartoons or movies.

Today, I was a bad teacher and popped in a movie that had no real educational content. It was only 30 minutes, and I was literally about to blow my top and I needed a BREAK!

I feel bad about it now, but it was Friday afternoon, dang it!

How do you feel about putting in movies occasionally? Do you feel guilty when you do?

Kids rather see a movie then have to watch the teacher MELT DOWN!

 

[poohs_hunny]

What I do when I'm not at work is my own beezwax. I do not go online at work for personal use. Ever. Never ever, ever. And 95% of the time I do not take a lunch break. There are no coffee/water breaks, ever. If I get a few extra minutes, I'll sit with a patient and talk to them or keep them company.

Teachers get planning time and lunch breaks.

Yes, and that planning time and lunch break are just so relaxing when you're pulled out for a meeting, have to return phone calls/e-mails, run to the copy room, etc. I have the utmost respect for those in the medical profession, and I am asking that others show respect for my profession. I don't think that anyone can truly understand what a particular career involves unless they have experienced it themselves. Until then, the grass is always greener...

 

[poohs_hunny]

I have a suspicion that the majority of people that have a problem with popping in an occasional video have never tried to teach a classroom full of students on a Friday afternoon, especially in the middle of winter when the kids have not been able to go out for recess in 2-3 weeks. I very rarely will put in a video, but certainly do not look down upon those that do, as long as it is not done excessively.

 

[Sonya]

I am one teacher who doesn't mind a kid missing a day of school here and there. Family time is important. More memories are made at the beach or at Disney then during one day at school. As long as it's not frequent, it doesn't bother me! In the long run, what's more important?

[waiting for other teachers to come and flame me now...]

No flames here. I actually encourage my seniors to go on senior skip day. I had such fun on my own, and I think it is part of their senior memories. But I always warn them to be careful. I also used to take mental health days. And I know I have kids that do. There is more to life than work and school.

However I know that both are important for life. I hate it when kids skip as much as they can. Teachers too.

I know that kids check out of learning, the teacher gets burned out and need a break. I have many educational videos to show for when I need that break, mostly when I have a cold and just don't feel 100%.

I know a lot of people who work "normal" jobs and have days when they are not working their best, or are thinking of an upcoming vacation. They may mentally check out of their job. Teachers are human too.

 

[firemanslady09]

First let me thank you for doing one of the most important jobs in the world. I value my childs education.

I think that for you to recognize your irritability and not take it out on the children is something that I appreciate. You are human and I totally understand that. I think a video every now and then for a half hour is not something that will make or break their education. If anything it is something that will help them to work harder. Children need down time every once in awhile. Think about it, at work everyone has an afternoon where they dont exactly work as hard as they usually do. An Arthur video is not uneducational. It teaches values, something that all children need to learn.

 

[Daisy Chick]

Yes, and that planning time and lunch break are just so relaxing when you're pulled out for a meeting, have to return phone calls/e-mails, run to the copy room, etc. I have the utmost respect for those in the medical profession, and I am asking that others show respect for my profession. I don't think that anyone can truly understand what a particular career involves unless they have experienced it themselves. Until then, the grass is always greener...

My mom taught. All her friends were teachers. Both my aunts taught. Two of my cousins and one of my friends teach. I've heard it all.

I have a great deal of respect for good teachers and I know they work hard.

But I pay my kids' tuition, and I expect that they will be taught at school...not watching cartoons. I could keep them home and get that for free. I'd complain if I ever heard that was going on...but it hasn't gone on in their schools.

I stick by my statement that there are TONS of jobs where people can't just decide they need a break and pop in a movie instead of doing their job. And many of those people work just as hard as teachers do.

 

[poohs_hunny]

My mom taught. All her friends were teachers. Both my aunts taught. Two of my cousins and one of my friends teach. I've heard it all.

I have a great deal of respect for good teachers and I know they work hard.

But I pay my kids' tuition, and I expect that they will be taught at school...not watching cartoons. I could keep them home and get that for free. I'd complain if I ever heard that was going on...but it hasn't gone on in their schools.

I stick by my statement that there are TONS of jobs where people can't just decide they need a break and pop in a movie instead of doing their job. And many of those people work just as hard as teachers do.

I'm sure you've heard it all, but you haven't experienced any of it. And so I stick by my statement as well. There are days when teachers don't get any breaks, and if they need to put in a video on occasion to keep from losing it in front of the children, then I say go for it.

 

[#1hockeymom]

What I do when I'm not at work is my own beezwax. I do not go online at work for personal use. Ever. Never ever, ever. And 95% of the time I do not take a lunch break. There are no coffee/water breaks, ever. If I get a few extra minutes, I'll sit with a patient and talk to them or keep them company.

Teachers get planning time and lunch breaks.

Just because you happen to want an extra break doesn't mean you get one. Not for everyone, anyway. Lots of jobs where you can't just decide you need a break and pop in a movie.

However, if you can get away with it, it is fine with me. Like I said, if I could, I would - no doubt. So long as they aren't teaching my kids, I have no problem with it and wish 'em all the best. And like I said, the occasional educational film is fine.

I'd love to see where my planning time is. Perhaps it was today when I absolutely HAD to use the bathroom and begged the librarian to watch my class for three minutes. My lunch is 25 minutes, including the time I walk them down to the cafeteria, make sure they're happy, sitting, have their food, and pick them up from the same place. In between I stop in the office for my mail, discuss with the secretary any new kids I may be getting or any problems that have happened in my class over the week, read my mail, and use the bathroom. If I end up with five minutes to myself I consider it a very lucky day. My school email I actually check from home, when I have time to read and answer anything important.

BTW, we watched a movie today. We watched the second half of "March of the Penguins" to end our thematic unit on penguins. I don't feel guilty about it at all. I also don't feel guilty when I realize they and I need a break and I throw in a "Magic Schoolbus" or an "Eyewitness/Science" video to break up their day and get them thinking again.

If you want your money back, be sure to deduct that hour before work starts when I work in my room, the hour after school when I make parent phone calls and write notes, and the hours I work from my home every day.

 

[summerrluvv]

I stick by my statement that there are TONS of jobs where people can't just decide they need a break and pop in a movie instead of doing their job. And many of those people work just as hard as teachers do.

I only wish I could pop in a video at work and take a break!

 

[summerrluvv]

I'd love to see where my planning time is. Perhaps it was today when I absolutely HAD to use the bathroom and got the librarian to watch my class for three minutes. My lunch is 25 minutes, including the time I walk them down to the cafeteria, make sure they're happy, sitting, have their food, and pick them up from the same place. In between I stop in the office for my mail, discuss with the secretary any new kids I may be getting or any problems that have happened in my class over the week, read my mail, and use the bathroom. If I end up with five minutes to myself I consider it a very lucky day. My school email I actually check from home, when I have time to read and answer anything important.

BTW, we watched a movie today. We watched the second half of "March of the Penguins" to end our thematic unit on Penguins. I don't feel guilty about it at all. I also don't feel guilty when I realize they and I need a break and I throw in a "Magic Schoolbus" or an "Eyewitness/Science" video to break up their day.

If you want your money back, be sure to deduct that hour before work starts when I work in my room, the hour after school when I make parent phone calls and write notes, and the hours I work from my home every day.

March of the Penguins is a documentary. The other two are educational videos. As a parent, I wouldn't have a problem with my child's teacher popping in an educational video. If they are watching Disney Films or something else completely uneducational, I would have a problem with that. My child can watch those kinds of movies at home. He doesn't need to watch them at school when he should be learning.

 

[tinkhoney]

I am sorry as a mother of 3 young school aged children i totally disagree .I think it is fine for a teacher to put a video in everyonce in awhile. Not all the time but as a treat to the kids and for the teacher to unwind a few mins if they are felling stressed or frazeled.. I would much rather my kids watch 15 or 30 mins of an appropiate show/cartoon then have a teacher being short or ill mannered with the kids.

And there are alot of shows that are educational that can go with alot of the things being taught that may even help the kids to understand the things being taught better .I know alot of people who can't just learn by reading and writing things they need to see it or have hands on type of things.

So Again lets recap :
As long as it is not all the time and it is appropiate there shouldn't be a problem with it.

 

[Daisy Chick]

I'm sure you've heard it all, but you haven't experienced any of it. And so I stick by my statement as well. There are days when teachers don't get any breaks, and if they need to put in a video on occasion to keep from losing it in front of the children, then I say go for it.

But lots of people have days where they don't get any breaks. And they can't pop in a movie to keep from "losing it." And they can't "lose it," either...they have neither option. They have to do their job and not "lose it."

So, I don't see why teachers should be able to say, "I need a break," pop in a movie and not do their job. And I said before, I'm talking cartoons, not educational films.

If it were my kids' teacher, I'd be calling the school.

Again, I don't have a problem with individuals slacking off here and there - lots of people do! I just wouldn't tolerate it from the ones I'm paying, that's all.

 

[Micca]

I think that's fine. It would be nice if it the kids got to see a terrific movie rather than the same stuff they watch at home.

 

[jillyjoey]

I stick by my statement that there are TONS of jobs where people can't just decide they need a break and pop in a movie instead of doing their job. And many of those people work just as hard as teachers do.

I wish my OB-GYN was one- who went to lunch for 2 1/2 hours while I waited for my 11:00 am appointment until 2:30 pm. (Well-- I guess he didn't pop in a movie)