School now banning all "out of term" holiday leave

[joolz1910]

I have been a teacher for 17 years...wow, I am old. I am still firmly of the opinion that quality time with your family is essential, and that a carefully considered week or so out of school will not ruin a child's life chances.

 

[luke]

You know what, I haven't even given my opinion yet!
I'm kinda in two minds, thinking that I don't like seeing the little H on the register but even if someone is out for a week, they'll miss a maximum of four of my lessons, not too hard to catch up from!
I guess it's probably more jealousy than anything else, knowing I'm restricted to more expensive peakk times. But then the benefits of the job more than make up for that! If only more places offered 'teacher discount' like places like Swan and Dolphin do

 

[mickeyforpresident]

Of course non of this would be an issue at all, if holiday companies kept prices down in the holidays!!!!

The fine for going on holiday, in my authority, can only be applied for after 12 days of unauthorised holidays. The fine is £100 or £50 if paid within x days. So, on the assumption that this is "law" and not a LEA thing, £50 is nothing on top of the cost of a holiday. Plus, if you just go for 10 school days (2 weeks) then its unlikely that a fine can even be issued.

However, I'm still on the "175 other days in the year!!" argument - however, the PP suggestion of jelousy is an interesting one to consider..... I guess I might be too!

 

[Kath2003]

Of course non of this would be an issue at all, if holiday companies kept prices down in the holidays!!!!

Supply and demand - if the prices were lower, the seats on the flights would be sold out instantly! Besides, it's possible to get good deals if you're willing to compromise (e.g. cut a day off to save £100 on each flight) and shop around, connect on flights etc.

We're restricted to school holiday times but my budget is <£100 pppn all inclusive and so far, all good

 

[kristieuk]

It's not always the cost difference, for us there are other considerations such as the fact that both dh and I work for the same company in the same department, and obviously the school holidays are a popular time for staff leave if only for childcare reasons. He is a partner and doesn't want to be seen to pull rank over less well paid administrative staff, so it is very difficult for us both to get time off together during the school holidays. I am not complaining though as we love our holiday in October when the weather in Florida is usually beautiful, it is quieter, and we are getting away from the turn to winter here. When we get home the run up to Christmas makes those long winter nights more bearable.

DD is in year 5, but has missed a week or so either side of October half term every year. This is fortunately with her school's blessing, and she is very bright, enthusiastic and none the worse for spending valuable time with her family. I can understand that for teachers, having fixed holiday time is quite claustrophobic, but as Luke says, that is a disadvantage of a career that otherwise has many other advantages. It is one of the reasons I decided on a career in law rather than education as daft as that now seems!

The world is made up of many different types of families with very different working lives, and I do think that within reason, there should remain some flexibility to allow a fixed amount of leave where there are good reasons, and that child is otherwise settled and capable.

 

[melly]

Please don't shout me down, but teachers are only - technically - paid for 39 weeks a year which is salaried and spread over 12 months! The rest of the holidays - which many of us work through at least some of those days - are again technically - unpaid.

so then technically your actual hourly wage is nearly 20% higher than your (larger than average) yealy salary appears to be

 

[luke]

Are you a perma-troll or just on this matter?

 

[iluvtot]

so then technically your actual hourly wage is nearly 20% higher than your (larger than average) yealy salary appears to be

MEE-OW!!

Just to add my 2p worth, I work in pre-school; the wages are rubbish, and we don't get paid throughout the hols. But I love it!
However!!! You could not pay me enough to be a teacher these days!! I think that most of them do a stirling job, and deserve medals!
So one huge big 'high-5' to all you teachers out there, and have a peaceful and restful Easter break

Jules x
Oh and one other point I would like to make is that my children are all taking exams this year, and their teachers are actually running revision classes next week for them!!

 

[melly]

Are you a perma-troll or just on this matter?

no, Im not. I am presenting the facts.

Teachers are blating about this yet missing the fact that they get paid a full salary for doing 75% of the time that most people do. If their salary was pro-rata's down (like teaching assistants) then I would accept all this "we are salaried at 39 weeks per year" however if their salary is 30K a year then 30K a year they will get (less tax etc) fo doing 30 odd weeks of the year.

Another observation I have made on this thread is how all the teachers posts have strangely been allowed to stay on and yet anyone questioning them have been silenced. A prime example is when a teacher posted something along the lines of "would you work extra hours / time for no extra pay". This was met by several posts (including some of mine) pointing out that this is what very much happens in the private sector week in week out.

At the end of the day, it is what it is however teachers are very much mistaken if they think they are going to get sympathy for doing "extra hours" while on a jolly holiday when people reading the posts themselves are paid for 37hrs a week but forced to do 50+ hrs (unpaid but get Lieu hours that they are unable to take anyway) just so they meet targets and avoid the sack.

 

[melly]

Just to add my 2p worth, I work in pre-school; the wages are rubbish, and we don't get paid throughout the hols. :

Ah but your not a salaried teacher, are you. My posts were to salaried teachers who do get a good yearly salary and only work 39 weeks of the year. TBH my respect was lost when during a recession there was ballots for a strike because they claimed a 6%+ pay rise was "paltry"....all of a suddent my kids missing a few days of schooling was no longer that important yet the same people will lecture me if I choose to take my kids on a great holiday.

As for the likes of yourself Im sure you do a great job, despite being paid poorly and yet you dont complain, just get on with your job and love it. I think thats great.

 

[luke]

Thing is tho, no teachers have 'blated on' about anything of the sort? Especially not about pay! Also maybe it wasn't so much what you said but the way that you said it?
May I ask what job it is that you do and what you actually have against teachers?

 

[MrSplashMountain #1!]

Why is this thread even still active!?

Oh well

 

[Pegasus928]

The thread is still active because it is obviously important and of interest to a lot of people on here, which is what is so great about a public forum.
Up to now it has been civilised, open and informative from both sides and I for one would think it a shame if it changed from that.

 

[melly]

Thing is tho, no teachers have 'blated on' about anything of the sort? Especially not about pay! Also maybe it wasn't so much what you said but the way that you said it?
May I ask what job it is that you do and what you actually have against teachers?

Like I said in a post above I have nothing against teachers they do an important job. However, from knowing a number of teachers I have grown tired of the "woe is me" attitude. As a proffesion they are paid an above average salary and do great hours on an anualised basis.

As for me, I am a plant manager in industry. Granted, I am on a very good salary however I have to stay until my stuff is sorted. If things arent working well I can be in work for 18 - 20hrs in a day. I can be called up at 3AM to make a decision if required. I cant just swann off because Ive done my 8 hours because at the end of the day if my targets arent met it is me that gets the heave ho. So forgive me for being intolerent to peole who get 13 weeks holiday in a year plus a great salary.

 

[scojos]

what a shame, this had been such a civil argument, shame some people have decided teachers are "fair game".
id just like to point out most teachers dont earn £30k per year, they have to have additional responsibilities (TLRs) or have gone through threshold (6 years teaching experience minimum) - however - i would courtiously invite anyone who thinks we have an easily life, to join me for a day in my inner birmingham school, to deal with what we deal with on an everyday basis, (11-18 year olds and then tell me we have an easy life.
I repeat, MY REqUEST WAS MADE COURTEOUSLY
happy easter
tracy

 

[FloFlo71]

no, Im not. I am presenting the facts.

Teachers are blating about this yet missing the fact that they get paid a full salary for doing 75% of the time that most people do. If their salary was pro-rata's down (like teaching assistants) then I would accept all this "we are salaried at 39 weeks per year" however if their salary is 30K a year then 30K a year they will get (less tax etc) fo doing 30 odd weeks of the year.

Another observation I have made on this thread is how all the teachers posts have strangely been allowed to stay on and yet anyone questioning them have been silenced. A prime example is when a teacher posted something along the lines of "would you work extra hours / time for no extra pay". This was met by several posts (including some of mine) pointing out that this is what very much happens in the private sector week in week out.

At the end of the day, it is what it is however teachers are very much mistaken if they think they are going to get sympathy for doing "extra hours" while on a jolly holiday when people reading the posts themselves are paid for 37hrs a week but forced to do 50+ hrs (unpaid but get Lieu hours that they are unable to take anyway) just so they meet targets and avoid the sack.

Teachers start on £19000 a year so no way is £30000 the average salary, I wish! But don't let the facts get in the way of your bigoted jealous green eyed views.

 

[melly]

what a shame, this had been such a civil argument, shame some people have decided teachers are "fair game".
id just like to point out most teachers dont earn £30k per year, they have to have additional responsibilities (TLRs) or have gone through threshold (6 years teaching experience minimum)
i dislike the tone to which this argument has lowered and i have therefore reported it to the mods - however - i would courtiously invite anyone who thinks we have an easily life, to join me for a day in my inner birmingham school, to deal with what we deal with on an everyday basis, (11-18 year olds and then tell me we have an easy life.
I repeat, MY REqUEST WAS MADE COURTEOUSLY
happy easter
tracy

Well I dont think teachers are fair game, nor has anything been put that way. There are 2 sides to every debate, why do you feel you can express your opinion yet Im not allowed to express mine? Why is it ok to question parents ability (as this thread has done) yet questions can not be asked about teachers? Nothing I have posed has been of a personal nature.

As for the salary thing, the average teachers salary is something like 33K per year. So if "most teachers" dont earn anything like that then there must be some really high earners in there to drag that average figure up.

 

[melly]

Teachers start on £19000 a year so no way is £30000 the average salary, I wish! But don't let the facts get in the way of your bigoted jealous green eyed views.

I will refer you to the facts

http://www.mysalary.co.uk/average-salary/Teacher_3025

 

[FloFlo71]

I will refer you to the facts

http://www.mysalary.co.uk/average-salary/Teacher_3025

And anyone with half a brain understands that that doesn't mean that every teacher gets paid that amount.

 

[melly]

And anyone with half a brain understands that that doesn't mean that every teacher gets paid that amount.

And anyone with half a brain would realised that noone claimed they did. Furthermore, anyone with half a brain will realise that if the AVERAGE wage for the proffesion is ~30K then a significant number of teachers must be on or approaching that figure. (either that or there is 1 bloke at the top earning 4billion PA)