Teacher taking Vacation to Disney during school year?

[stashbin]

I think my attitude must be based on where I live and how things are here.

I lived in houston and teachers started at 42-45K for 187 day contracts. Students attend school 180 days so teachers go back a week early, and work a few extra days throughout the year. Low cost of living nice, houses in the 150,000-200,000 range depending on the neighborhood. Decent housing available for less.

Most teachers were off the entire week of Thanksgiving, 2 weeks at Christmas, 1 week for Spring Break, an additional 5 days of individual holidays. They are off 3 weeks in June, 4-5 July and 2 for August or about a totoal of 9-10 during the summer.

In Texas teachers have to complete 150 hours of staff development every 5 years which is basically 5 (6hour) days a year. In that district we were required to work 1 of those days outside our contract- the rest could be during school days. You could also get credit for college classes, etc.

While the teachers I knew did do some school related work on breaks it was really not more then what I say other professionals do on their time off. (not counting grading during school year)

Where I am at now, cost of living is less and teachers make about 37,000 to start which is low but while some are doing all that extra school stuff with there free time 80% or more are not.

I understand that people are entitled to leave but when you work in an industry that has 13-14 weeks off a year, it seems like the reason we are only give us 5-10 days to use during the year is because we need the time for illness, babies, surgery, sick family member, financial issues, etc. Most people have events that they need that time later in their career. But if they use all the time they are "entitled" to each year (5 for a vacation and 5 sick) then when they do have a baby or get sick and are required to be out an additional 4-6weeks they end up not getting paid for the time. The school district gets to pay a sub for those days as well since their time is gone. We have this happen all the time- and most of our teachers are not even using the time for vacation just a few days here and there.

I know I seem harsh- and I do understand that people have unique situations. But I also believe that with commitment comes sacrifice. Once in a life time opportunites (weddings, family reunions, free trips), family job issues occasionally okay, but when the attitude is simply you have time you should take it as you like, that is where I think the line is.

Obviously, all education is not like Texas- so I am biased to what I have seen. And yes, I would love to move, but not in cards right now.

Teachers sacrifice every day. At one point you did too. Now that you are an administrator, you should be the first person to understand what a teacher goes through. Using their days how they see fit is their business. If you want happy teachers, you must treat them as humans. No teacher wants to work for someone with an iron clad fist. Just because YOU think it's not right doesn't mean that others don't. As an administrator, I think you will have to pick your battles on this. As long as your teachers are teaching and doing their jobs then all is well. If a teacher takes off for 2 weeks because of illness, will you questions their dedication then? Most of the time when things like illnesses occur, the sub they stick in the classroom is just a warm body with a pulse! At least with a teacher planning her absence there is some sort of thought put into it.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I teach 11th and 12th grade AP science classes. I would not take a week off during the year because it would be a detriment to my students. There are very few subs out there that can teach material at this level, so I'd essentially be leaving them with busy work for the week. Besides, we cannot take more than 3 days off in a row without medical authorization to prevent this very thing.

I get 14 weeks off during the year. Yes, it costs more and is more crowded to travel during the school breaks, but I knew that going into the job. Having so much time off balances that negative aspect, IMO.

 

[Minnesota!]

I am all for teachers taking time off for whatever they need to. My son's teacher has taken two 1 week vacations to Florida just this year. No skin off my back. She needs time off/away just as much as we all do.

My BFF is a teacher and I see first hand how much work it is. It isn't 8a - 3p 5 days a week. It's 630a - 10p 7 days a week! Lesson plans, report cards, conferences, etc. etc. WHO wouldn't need a break?

 

[amberdburke]

I am a former Elementary teacher - I taught in FL for 7 years. The most I ever made (after getting my Master's) was $34,500. The cost of living there was threw the roof. I worked my behind off. I worked every evening, every weekend, and all summer. I also tutored after school to make extra money. Not only that, but I spend THOUSANDS of dollars each year on school supplies. So, if I wanted to use my 5 personal days on vacation, and it was approved by my principal, I see no problem with that. I don't see how you could even suggest that means I was not committed to my job. I don't remember ever taking 5 days off (even after my wedding), but I think teacher's should be able to.

I have the same problem now that I run my own daycare. I take ONE one-week vacation a year (usually in October, and I give the parents notice in January), and I have heard people complain about that. Between all the kids I watch, I work at least 12 hours a day, and I never have a day off, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I can't imagine the people making these complaints would be happy if they were told the same thing at their jobs.

 

[azdizzymom]

I sub at the elementary school where my kids attended. I have a 4 year college degree and have subbed for 8 years. I am now to the point where there are specific teachers I work for --they will call me and then fill the office in on their sub.

I can tell you our system doesn't allow teachers to take the day before or after a holiday off. There are exceptions--- one of the teachers I work for messed up on her vacation and had to miss the day before Xmas break --she had looked at last years calendar. I got to go on a field trip to the Titanic exhibit (LOVED IT)!.

I have taken my kids out of school twice for Disney. I would not be offended at all if a teacher took a week to take their family to Disney or anywhere. If they have the vacation time and the principal or school board approves IT IS NOBODY ELSES CONCERN. It is up the the school to find good quality subs. In our system if the teacher is gone for more than two weeks for any reason a certified teacher must be the sub.

What if the teacher had a death in the family and was gone for a week (which happened to one of the teacher's I work for---she was in town but did the funeral things and didn't go to school). I think if the school does a good job with getting good subs (and there are so many unemployed teachers and newly graduated teachers WITHOUT JOBS) that it shouldn't be an issue.

Most families that go during the school year have at least one parent working .... it isn't anyone's business when a family chooses to take their vacation.

And as PP's have said teachers work more than the 8-3:30 PM school days. They go in early, stay late, work nights, weekends AND SPEND THEIR OWN MONEY ON SUPPLIES AND ITEMS FOR OUR KIDS! I know when I sub for a week for the same person I take papers home and grade them, etc. I have spend many unpaid sub hours doing this. When I sub I don't think the teacher should come back from illness, vacation, death in the family, etc. and have to spend hours playing catch-up while still teaching the current material.

HOPE ALL TEACHERS ENJOY VACATIONS AND KNOW HOW MUCH THEY ARE APPRECIATED!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

My DS's 2nd grade teacher mised 2 or 3 days to visit Disneyland Resort with her family, I had no problems ~ good for her!

 

[lamb616]

I am a teacher and there is no way this would fly where I work. In fact, I am not even allowed to take a personal day next to a holiday or long weekend. (In other words, no such thing as flying home the Monday after vacation to save hundreds of dollars or turning a three day weekend into a four day one.) If I were to take a vacation during the year, I would be fired!

:

so you can't use your days next to a holiday or long weekend, what about after a regular weekend? So you leave for your vacation on Saturday, come home on Weds. (assuming you have 3 personal days). Surely they can't fire you for that. That sounds illegal (telling a person how they can or can't use their personal days??)

DH is a teacher. He will be taking time off for vacations b/c we sure as heck are not ever going to Disney during school vacation. He took a week off this year and uses his 3 personal days and then took the other 2 days unpaid.

 

[lamb616]

I guess I am old school. But I am not old I am only 32.

I just believe that this is a huge sign of what is wrong with my generation. We seem to be so impulsive. In my state teachers are on contracts they sign a commitment to work 187 days (leave time is for illness, emergencies).

There is a huge difference between being sick and a planned vacation.

don't you get "personal" time as well as "sick" time? My DH does. He used his PERSONAL time when we went to WDW, and took the rest unpaid. He didn't try to use his sick time. "personal" to me means -- for whatever reason you want!!!

 

[princess aleya]

I second that.

 

[SmallWorld71]

so you can't use your days next to a holiday or long weekend, what about after a regular weekend? So you leave for your vacation on Saturday, come home on Weds. (assuming you have 3 personal days). Surely they can't fire you for that. That sounds illegal (telling a person how they can or can't use their personal days??)

DH is a teacher. He will be taking time off for vacations b/c we sure as heck are not ever going to Disney during school vacation. He took a week off this year and uses his 3 personal days and then took the other 2 days unpaid.

There is wording in the contract that says that personal days (we do have 3) must be used for things that can not be done at another time and a vacation wouldn't come under that umbrella. While they technically can't ask you what your personal days are for, if they found out that it was for a vacation, there would be problems. A couple years ago, a high school teacher got in trouble for using a personal day and then going to a Red Sox game. (He ran into some people from town. It's a small town and the word spread quickly.) It took fighting on the union's part before the administration finally let it drop. The whole thing is pretty absurd in my opinion. Especially given the fact that the school committee members routinely pull their children from the school for a week at a time for vacations.

So, you basically have two choices. Don't take a vacation during school time or lie and hope you don't get caught. (Which people do sometimes.) I happen to live in the town where I teach (as do many of my colleagues) so the lying thing wouldn't even be plausible for me as I would have to pull my kids from school.

 

[deuceswild10]

Complain to the superintendent?? Oh come on. In just about every district I know of teachers do get Personal Days. It's absolutely none of your business how they use them.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Happens a lot in our schools. We call them "mental health days". Few people truly understand the time a GOOD teacher takes away from her family on nights and week-ends to give to her students. Subs do have to be qualified and most are retired teachers and the teacher leaving the class leaves good lesson plans.I think the break makes them BETTER teachers.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Complain to the superintendent?? Oh come on. In just about every district I know of teachers do get Personal Days. It's absolutely none of your business how they use them.

I completely agree. It's a fight that has been going on for many years and has actually come a long way. When I first started, you were required to say why you were taking a personal day. That issue was finally resolved after much negotiations.

I don't want everyone to get the idea that where I work is an awful place. My colleagues are fabulous. The town is a beautiful place and most of the kids and parents are great to work with and I have been very pleased with the education my own children have been getting. The problems lie more in changes in administration who reinterpreted a rather vague contract and weren't nearly as nice as their predecessors. The union has been working hard to clarify/ solidify much of the language and we are getting there. There were many other things that had to take priority though.

I will say, many of my friends who teach in different towns in MA have been facing similar problems and I know we are not unique at all in this area.

 

[brookmey]

I wouldn't have a problem with it and I live in TX, just like OP. I am also a former teacher (12 years hs social studies in MI) and the daughter of teachers. I grew up taking vacations when school wasn't in session, so when I became a teacher, I thought it was irresponsible of teachers to not do the same.

But, when I got my first teaching job, I realized that it's not that simple. I spent my summers taking classes required by the state to maintain my teaching certification. Taking the classes during the school year was impossible because of the demands of my job. I also coached 9th grade girls' basketball and volleyball, so Christmas break was filled with practices. DH was working in the IT dept. in a different ISD, so our spring breaks were different. The only way we could take a vacation was if we took it during the school year and we did once. I used my 2 personal days over a weekend and went to the first round of March Madness in Cleveland. It was great and I went back to school refreshed and ready for anything!

As long as the teacher prepares well and chooses a qualified sub, which is very reasonable when having advance notice of the absence, I have no problem with DD's or DS's teacher vacationing during the school year. And if it's for WDW, I have no shame in asking the teacher to bring me back a Mickey rice krispie treat!

 

[GinnyEmma]

If they can do so within their contract your issue is with those who developed the contract.

 

[AZMermaid]

The district that I worked for wouldn't let you do that. However, since everyone seems to be gung-ho about kids taking a WDW vacation during the school year, I don't see why teachers shouldn't get the same courtesy. If it's really no big deal for your kids to make up a week's worth of work, it really shouldn't effect them if they learn nothing all week and have to make it up when the teacher returns.

I agree with this. We also can't use 5 days in a row except for once every 5 years. But, I probably wouldn't do it anyway. But, if a parent is upset about it, they had better not take their kid out for 5 days! If they fall into the "1-2 days missed for vacation camp" I would say it is fair for them to expect the same- I guess! We also are not allowed to add a vacation day to a break or 3 day holiday. If you use a sick day after or before any break, you are required to submit a Dr's note.

Oh yeah, I am a 5th year teacher and I just signed my contract for next year for $35,600. I always laugh when people say teachers are overpaid. Not in Arizona- that's for sure!

 

[PEANUT1]

I don't have a problem with it.

My friend's kids teacher was out for 4 days for jury duty...is that ok???

 

[ckrum]

Well my kids are only 3 and 1 and I do want to take them to DW in a few years and would love to go in October or November for the low crowds and great weather. And who knows I may take them out for a week if they are doing well in school, if they are struggling I probably won't.

So yes I may be a hypocrite but alot of the reason for my post was because teachers get summer, christmas, easter, mid-winter break and other holidays off the same time as their students. I can't take all this time off, I get around 30 pto days a year which also include my sick time which is great compared to alot of people but is not even close to the amount of time teachers get off. So maybe I am a little jealous.

I haven't read every post yet, so someone else might have already mentioned this. Teachers do not get summers, Christmas, Easter and holidays as vacations. These are non-paid days. We are basically contracted as "seasonal" employees. Except that we are not able to collect unemployment during our "off season" as some other types of workers can. I am contracted for 180 days of work each year. Included in that are 3 personal days, which I can use as needed. I have no problem using these days for a family vacation. Although, in order to be gone for 3 days I will spend at least 4-6 hours writing plans and preparing materials on the weekend or evenings. Just about every evening and weekend I use some of my family time to do work necessary for my classroom. So, to use a few of my personal days doesn't seem like a horrible crime.

Also, as a teacher I miss more of my child's school day functions than any non-teaching parent I know. I can't just run over to my child's school for a 1/2 hour presentation, lunch or classroom party. In order to do that, I would have to use 1 of my personal days. I am very committed to my students and give them every ounce I have during the school year. I have even fed, clothed and cared for them during the summer. So, if I need a few days to be with my family then I will.

 

[guarn3md]

I am a teacher and I have no problem taking off to go to Disney. Under my union rules I can take off from school for three days w/o a doctors note - no questions asked. I believe that no one has a right to question what I do with my personal time. In fact I am leaving in four days to go to Disney. I am off Wed - Fri and I am taking my 4th grade son out of school. Why? Because my husband is attending a conference in Disney and since everything is paid for and we have annual passes we have made the decision to go. My administrator is aware and has no problems with me going.

No one has ever laid on their deathbed and said "I wish I spent more time at work!"

Debbie

 

[tinkerszs]

I think the public needs to realize that teachers are people with families. We are not nuns. We are not saints. We are not gods. Once people realize that then maybe, just maybe, they will allow us the same courtesy they allow other humans.

Oh . . . and my vacation has been planned during the summer. Just in case you wondered.