Teacher taking Vacation to Disney during school year?

[hanutedmansionmomma]

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

Debbie

I'm a teacher - we're going after school gets out. No need to call my superintendent.

 

[karinbelle]

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.

All work done outside the contract days is also NON-PAID. If I attend a conference during the summer, my district may pay for my tuition, but I do not get a daily stipend, and I have to pay a babysitter to care for my own children.

My family actually looses money and I loose time with my own precious children (time I cannot get back) for me to improve my practice during summer "vacation".

OP, please open your eyes to see what is truly in front of you.

 

[ckrum]

All work done outside the contract days is also NON-PAID. If I attend a conference during the summer, my district may pay for my tuition, but I do not get a daily stipend, and I have to pay a babysitter to care for my own children.

My family actually looses money and I loose time with my own precious children (time I cannot get back) for me to improve my practice during summer "vacation".

OP, please open your eyes to see what is truly in front of you.

Thanks for posting this. I forgot to mention the 3 day summer conferences on PLC and RTI that our district 'highly and strongly recommended" we attend. Oh and since our district only reimburses mileage within our state, we had to pay for the mileage once we crossed the state line to attend the conference. So, I payed for the 200+ miles each way and the cost of the hotel & food that was over our allotted stipend. Unless we put 4 to a room (meaning sharing a bed with a co-worker!!) and eat fast food every meal, we pay out of pocket for those costs. Add in child care and the fact that I am giving up days of my unpaid time. I have done this many times in my career.

I know my husband has never been expected to do this in his private sector job.

 

[guarn3md]

I can't believe I am posting to this thread again...but it has really bothered me that the OP would post something like this on a Disney forum. To question when any professional takes vacation is absurd. If my county allows me to use my sick or personal days as I see fit then who are you to question what I do with my earned time. And who are you to question my commitment to my students or my contract! Yes my county has guidelines, as I mentioned in my first post, and as long as I stay within those guidelines I'm fine. All personal days have to be approved 24 hours ahead of time - no questions as to what I am doing; no more than 3 sick days in a row w/o a doctor's note and no personal days approved around holidays/given time off. If the county/district you work for has other rules, then employees should work within those rules. I work 191 days out of the year AND that is what I am paid for. I get paid during the summer because they take money out of my paycheck for my summer reserve pay. I have a contract and I abide by my contract. I would never quit my job in the middle of the school year nor look for another position in the county. I would never take a 2 week vacation to Hawaii during the school year or rent a house in the Outer Banks, that is for the summer. I have three days off at Thanksgiving, 1 week of at Christmas and 1 week off at Easter plus major holidays....if I am planning a short trip somewhere yes - I would take days off. I too need to spend time with my family!
I find it amazing how many people feel the need to judge educators - tell us how we should be paid, how we should do our jobs, etc... Yet there are very few people who would want to do my job!! I am a behavior specialist in a program that serves middle school students with the educational diagnosis of Emotional Disability. This position falls under a "teacher position". Before this job I was a math teacher in the same program. I work with approx. 35 students in grades 6-8...I am cursed at, and threatened on a daily basis. I attend CPI training regularly so that I am able to safely manage disruptive and assultive behaviors. My program is housed within a regular middle school, we are contained to one area and they have little to no interaction with the general population. There have been many times when parents have questioned why my program is housed in THEIR school. I have been questioned why I do what I do...I firmly believe in FAPE - Free Appropriate Pubic Education!! I like my job and I continue in my job because every year there are one or two students who learn to manage their behaviors and are able to go back to their home schools. However, my job is stressful and if the opportunity arises for my to take a few days off and spend quality time with my family - then I will.
OP you mentioned the contract with the county...well my county has broken it's contract with me for the past three years. It has not approved the COL raises that were in our contract; they have instilled five furlough days a year on us; we have not been given our longevity steps - this being the most detrimental as it effects my retirement and pension. For three years I have been stuck at the same experience step and will probably be there again next year. I accept all of this due to the economy of our country - there is nothing I can do to make my county take in more money. I don't attend rallies or protests because I get it.... if there isn't enough money coming in then raises and steps aren't going to happen. I am happy to have a job! But the fact still remains that I am given 11 sick days and 2 personal days a year and I am not breaking my contract by taking a few of them to spend quality time with my family!
Debbie

 

[meredith1]

I'm a little more concerned that you're asking total strangers their advice when you're in an administrative position and should have the proper "training" to figure this out for yourself.

I taught in Plano for 11 years and have my masters degree as well and there was never, ever an issue about how I spent my days. Yes, I traveled quite a bit with my then, fiance.

I think if they are prepared and responsible enough to get a good substitute (they CAN hand pick substitutes) then, they should be able to take their days as they see fit. I left the district with 60+ days of payed vacation. I only wish that I would have taken advantage of it more.

I was a good teacher, had great students and even better parents. I was very lucky. My administrators were very good as well and they got the best out of me because they were understanding, supporting, and compassionate toward all of their staff.

I thank my lucky stars that I never had an administrator that questioned me like you are your teachers-shame on you!

ETA-We don't have unions in Texas (where the OP is from).

 

[meredith1]

I wouldn't be happy with it. I feel being a teacher is a commitment(not always a rewarded one, but non the less a commitment), and I would seriously question this teachers commitment to their students if they didn't feel the need to actually be there.

Luckily I don't live in an area that would allow this.

God bless your kid's teachers-UGH!

 

[meredith1]

I'm a little more concerned that you're asking total strangers what they would do when you're in an administrative position and should have the proper "training" to figure this out for yourself.

I taught in Plano for 11 years (also a student in the district prior to) and there was never, ever an issue about how I spent my days. Yes, I traveled quite a bit with my then, fiance.

I think if they are prepared and responsible enough to get a good substitute (they CAN hand pick substitutes) then, they should be able to take their days as they see fit. I left the district with 60+ days of payed vacation. I only wish that I would have taken advantage of it more.

I was a good teacher, had great students and even better parents. I was very lucky. My administrators were very good as well and they got the best out of me because they were understanding, supporting, and compassionate toward all of their staff.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

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.

Yes, but salaries are still compared to other professions at an ANNUAL rate which up here is $70-90K for teachers. You would just need to budget differently than someone who gets paid biweekly all year long. Also our teachers are able to have their annual salary spread over 26 biweekly paychecks so they do get paid throughout the summer.

As far as the length of a work day, our elem school is in session from 9-3:30pm with an hour lunch. At the hosp I work, we clock out for lunch so we would only be paid for 5.5 hours for your typical work day which would be considered part-time. Our part-timers are able to purchase health, dental, life ins etc. at the group rate but the hospital doesn't contribute a dime. Due to their PT status, they're not eligible for the disability ins that is offered to FT employees. So to complain that you spend time outside of school hours on paperwork, sorry, I don't feel bad. I get up at 5am and get home at 5:15pm to get paid for an 8 hour day and can only have 1 week off in the summer so that we each get a week. (only 1 can be off at a time.) If we get time off before/after a holiday, we can't get it again the next year so I would never be able to have off every Christmas Eve, Black Friday, etc.

fwiw, I think if teachers are given X # of personal days, they should be allowed to use them however they choose. They shouldn't have to justify how important the reason is for taking time off that is owed to them.

 

[spacemountainmom]

This is a very INTERESTING thread........

I am not a teacher, but do work in a middle school. I cannot believe some of what is posted here. I DO pull my kids out for trips, but do try to work around days off to minimize the disruption. I have absolutely NO problem with a teacher taking some time off during the year as well. Teachers in my building generally are out of the classroom at least one day per month for various "meetings" that they are required to attend and life still manages to go on. I really cannot see accusing a teacher of not being committed to their job because they want to take a vacation during the school year.

School staff put up with quite a bit and if they need or want to take a break during the year, it is really no ones business but their own.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I can't believe I am posting to this thread again...but it has really bothered me that the OP would post something like this on a Disney forum. To question when any professional takes vacation is absurd. If my county allows me to use my sick or personal days as I see fit then who are you to question what I do with my earned time. And who are you to question my commitment to my students or my contract! Yes my county has guidelines, as I mentioned in my first post, and as long as I stay within those guidelines I'm fine. All personal days have to be approved 24 hours ahead of time - no questions as to what I am doing; no more than 3 sick days in a row w/o a doctor's note and no personal days approved around holidays/given time off. If the county/district you work for has other rules, then employees should work within those rules. I work 191 days out of the year AND that is what I am paid for. I get paid during the summer because they take money out of my paycheck for my summer reserve pay. I have a masters degree and 15 years of experience and my salary is $63k - that is absurd for my level of education and my years of experience. I accept it, but I also am not an indentured servant. I have a contract and I abide by my contract. I would never quit my job in the middle of the school year nor look for another position in the county. I would never take a 2 week vacation to Hawaii during the school year or rent a house in the Outer Banks, that is for the summer. I have three days off at Thanksgiving, 1 week of at Christmas and 1 week off at Easter plus major holidays....if I am planning a short trip somewhere yes - I would take days off. I too need to spend time with my family!
I find it amazing how many people feel the need to judge educators - tell us how we should be paid, how we should do our jobs, etc... Yet there are very few people who would want to do my job!! I am a behavior specialist in a program that serves middle school students with the educational diagnosis of Emotional Disability. This position falls under a "teacher position". Before this job I was a math teacher in the same program. I work with approx. 35 students in grades 6-8...I am cursed at, and threatened on a daily basis. I attend CPI training regularly so that I am able to safely manage disruptive and assultive behaviors. My program is housed within a regular middle school, we are contained to one area and they have little to no interaction with the general population. There have been many times when parents have questioned why my program is housed in THEIR school. I have been questioned why I do what I do...I firmly believe in FAPE - Free Appropriate Pubic Education!! I like my job and I continue in my job because every year there are one or two students who learn to manage their behaviors and are able to go back to their home schools. However, my job is stressful and if the opportunity arises for my to take a few days off and spend quality time with my family - then I will.
OP you mentioned the contract with the county...well my county has broken it's contract with me for the past three years. It has not approved the COL raises that were in our contract; they have instilled five furlough days a year on us; we have not been given our longevity steps - this being the most detrimental as it effects my retirement and pension. For three years I have been stuck at the same experience step and will probably be there again next year. I accept all of this due to the economy of our country - there is nothing I can do to make my county take in more money. I don't attend rallies or protests because I get it.... if there isn't enough money coming in then raises and steps aren't going to happen. I am happy to have a job! But the fact still remains that I am given 11 sick days and 2 personal days a year and I am not breaking my contract by taking a few of them to spend quality time with my family!
Debbie

Ok so $63K/year working 191 days
= $329/day
= $41.23/hour IF you work an 8 hr day
= $59.82/hour if you are like our teachers working 9-3:30

This is low pay?

Probably on par with what most nurses make with the same education level.

I work in diagnostic mammography. Our patients either have breast cancer or think they do. It's incredibly stressful physically and emotionally. I cry with my patients often. I have also been threatened a cursed at many, many times. To an outsider, my job looks easy.
Still, we get 4 weeks vacation & 6 holidays per year: NY, Mem Day, 7/4, Lab Day, TG, Christmas Day.
Wanna trade?

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate our teachers and think they should be well paid, but all careers have pros & cons.

 

[Keegansmommy]

We can use 4 personal days in a row no questions asked...anything over 5 we must request permission from the school board. There have been many people in our district who have taken a week vacation during the year. We an use them in conjunction with holidays/vacations but only a certain percentage of teachers can be gone on those days.

Why should teachers be limited to traveling at the busier, more expensive, often less desirable weather times just because that's when they're "off"?

 

[princessmom29]

Yes, but salaries are still compared to other professions at an ANNUAL rate which up here is $70-90K for teachers. You would just need to budget differently than someone who gets paid biweekly all year long. Also our teachers are able to have their annual salary spread over 26 biweekly paychecks so they do get paid throughout the summer.

As far as the length of a work day, our elem school is in session from 9-3:30pm with an hour lunch. At the hosp I work, we clock out for lunch so we would only be paid for 5.5 hours for your typical work day which would be considered part-time. Our part-timers are able to purchase health, dental, life ins etc. at the group rate but the hospital doesn't contribute a dime. Due to their PT status, they're not eligible for the disability ins that is offered to FT employees. So to complain that you spend time outside of school hours on paperwork, sorry, I don't feel bad. I get up at 5am and get home at 5:15pm to get paid for an 8 hour day and can only have 1 week off in the summer so that we each get a week. (only 1 can be off at a time.) If we get time off before/after a holiday, we can't get it again the next year so I would never be able to have off every Christmas Eve, Black Friday, etc.

fwiw, I think if teachers are given X # of personal days, they should be allowed to use them however they choose. They shouldn't have to justify how important the reason is for taking time off that is owed to them.

I don't know how they would get away witrh this. Where are the students when the teachers are taking an hour lunch and who is responsible for them??? How are they meeting the minimum 6.5 hours of instructional time per day with 5.5 hours a day put in by teachers?? Here students are on campus for 7 hours with a 25 min supervised lunch. Elementary and Middle eat in the cafeteria with thier students, and high school rotates lunch duty. Teachers are required to be there at least 15 min before nad 15 min after students, but most put in far more than that. I am putting in about an hour less than you actually at school but I am also taking work home almost every night. My alarm goes off at 4:45. I have to be at school by 6:50. I typically leave about 3:00 to pick up DD and we go back to school for another hour for me to work on things I cannot take home, or I drop her at dance and go back alone. I spend about an hour a night grading after she is in bed. I wish I could get home by 5:15 every night.

I cannot believe there are actually still people out ther that believe teachers only work 5 hours a day 180 days a year.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I don't know how they would get away witrh this. Where are the students when the teachers are taking an hour lunch and who is responsible for them??? How are they meeting the minimum 6.5 hours of instructional time per day with 5.5 hours a day put in by teachers?? Here students are on campus for 7 hours with a 25 min supervised lunch. Elementary and Middle eat in the cafeteria with thier students, and high school rotates lunch duty. Teachers are required to be there at least 15 min before nad 15 min after students, but most put in far more than that. I am putting in about an hour less than you actually at school but I am also taking work home almost every night. My alarm goes off at 4:45. I have to be at school by 6:50. I typically leave about 3:00 to pick up DD and we go back to school for another hour for me to work on things I cannot take home, or I drop her at dance and go back alone. I spend about an hour a night grading after she is in bed. I wish I could get home by 5:15 every night.

I cannot believe there are actually still people out ther that believe teachers only work 5 hours a day 180 days a year.

1. I don't actually believe that teachers only work while school is in session. I realize they put in hours beyond the school day. I just don't like to hear whining & complaining that they have to put in time beyond the school day since our school day is relatively short compared to a typical FT job in other fields. Maybe the min. school day varies from state to state. My kids attend the same school district that I did and the hours haven't changed since way back then.
I'm just saying if teachers want an annual salary of a FT job, then put in the annual hours of a FT job.

2. Over the lunch hour, students are supervised by teacher's aides. While half the students eat lunch for 1/2 hr, the other half go outside for recess (weather permitting) then they switch. Those who ate can go outside while others come in to eat. Teachers eat in the teachers' lounge or go out to lunch. They also get a break away from their students to plan lessons, etc. while the students go to gym, art, music, and Spanish. All once per week except gym is 2x/week.

3. I would gladly work an extra hour or 2 every night to get 10 weeks off in the summer, a week at Christmas and a week at Easter.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I'm just saying if teachers want an annual salary of a FT job, then put in the annual hours of a FT job.

To clarify this point:
There are 52 weeks per year
Subtract my 4 weeks per year vacation time
=48 weeks per year worked

48 weeks x 40 hours per week (no pay for lunch)= 1920 hours per year = annual FT job
1920 hours divided by 185 days teachers work= 10.38 hours per day
Our school session is 9-3:30 (6.5 hours) minus 1 hr for lunch = 5.5 hrs
Add 1/2 hr for your 15 min early and 15 min late rule = 6 hrs per day
So that still leaves our teachers owing 4.38 hours per day outside of school hours for each of those 185 days worked. Or staying until 8:15pm That's just to = the hours of a FT job.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

I wouldn't care at all. Here in PA subs are all certified teachers anyway. I would be happy for the teacher! Teaching must be a stressful job.

 

[princessmom29]

1. I don't actually believe that teachers only work while school is in session. I realize they put in hours beyond the school day. I just don't like to hear whining & complaining that they have to put in time beyond the school day since our school day is relatively short compared to a typical FT job in other fields. Maybe the min. school day varies from state to state. My kids attend the same school district that I did and the hours haven't changed since way back then.
I'm just saying if teachers want an annual salary of a FT job, then put in the annual hours of a FT job.

2. Over the lunch hour, students are supervised by teacher's aides. While half the students eat lunch for 1/2 hr, the other half go outside for recess (weather permitting) then they switch. Those who ate can go outside while others come in to eat. Teachers eat in the teachers' lounge or go out to lunch. They also get a break away from their students to plan lessons, etc. while the students go to gym, art, music, and Spanish. All once per week except gym is 2x/week.

3. I would gladly work an extra hour or 2 every night to get 10 weeks off in the summer, a week at Christmas and a week at Easter.

1. I work more than "full time" hours if you count all the time spent actually working. I put in more hours per year than someone who works 40 hours a week every week and gets 2 weeks of vacation per year. Most teachers I know do so as well becuase of the amout of time put in ouside of school planning and grading, time spent sponsoring activites for students outside of school (unpaid) and REQUIRED professional development (unpaid).

2. You must be in a wealthy school district. We have one aide per grade level if we are lucky. That is about one aide for every 150 kids, and there is no recess anymore. More than half of the average teacher's "planning" time is spent on some sort of duty arund the school. No actula "plannig" gets done at school.

3. We don't get that kind of time off. The kids are off, but we are working uncompensated for much of that time. I average about 2 weeks of my summer actually off. Most of my christmas and spring break gets spent catching up PD hours. I would LOVE to work in a school system where we actually got that kind of off time, but I don't think it exists. I have yet to talk to a teacher from any state for whom that is acually the case, and I have met hundreds at conferences, ect from all over the country. Most people outside of education BELIEVE that is the case, but it is far from true. Most people outside of education believe a lot of things about teachers that are simply untrue. It is not the sweet gig a lot of people make it out to be.

 

[princessmom29]

To clarify this point:
There are 52 weeks per year
Subtract my 4 weeks per year vacation time
=48 weeks per year worked

48 weeks x 40 hours per week (no pay for lunch)= 1920 hours per year = annual FT job
1920 hours divided by 185 days teachers work= 10.38 hours per day
Our school session is 9-3:30 (6.5 hours) minus 1 hr for lunch = 5.5 hrs
Add 1/2 hr for your 15 min early and 15 min late rule = 6 hrs per day
So that still leaves our teachers owing 4.38 hours per day outside of school hours for each of those 185 days worked. Or staying until 8:15pm That's just to = the hours of a FT job.

What about summer tarining? You are not firuring in the 4 weeks a year the average teacher spends training over the summer and the 50-100 hurs of outside, unpaid PD time most districts require. I don't know a single teacher who actually works only the 185 contract days. Your teachers are in a very unique situation getting an hour for lunch and working such a short day. Most teachers in the rest of the country work at least 7 required hours per day plus time at home and on weekends and holidays.

I also make about $20,000-$40,000 less than someone with my degree could if I worked in the private sector, so I am not getting paid for a "full time" job. I took a HUGE pay cut when I left industry to teach, but I work almost the equlivient of full time hours. I am NOT complaining, I love my job ,and I chose this path. I just hate to see people assume that all trachers work thier 185 days and go home. It is simply NOT the case in most places. Most go far above and beyond that and most in the general public either don't know or refuse to aknowledge that this is the case.

 

[toesmom]

1. I work more than "full time" hours if you count all the time spent actually working. I put in more hours per year than someone who works 40 hours a week every week and gets 2 weeks of vacation per year. Most teachers I know do so as well becuase of the amout of time put in ouside of school planning and grading, time spent sponsoring activites for students outside of school (unpaid) and REQUIRED professional development (unpaid).

2. You must be in a wealthy school district. We have one aide per grade level if we are lucky. That is about one aide for every 150 kids, and there is no recess anymore. More than half of the average teacher's "planning" time is spent on some sort of duty arund the school. No actula "plannig" gets done at school.

3. We don't get that kind of time off. The kids are off, but we are working uncompensated for much of that time. I average about 2 weeks of my summer actually off. Most of my christmas and spring break gets spent catching up PD hours. I would LOVE to work in a school system where we actually got that kind of off time, but I don't think it exists. I have yet to talk to a teacher from any state for whom that is acually the case, and I have met hundreds at conferences, ect from all over the country. Most people outside of education BELIEVE that is the case, but it is far from true. Most people outside of education believe a lot of things about teachers that are simply untrue. It is not the sweet gig a lot of people make it out to be.

This just sounds like a whiny teacher . boo hoo,. get over it. you have the summer off and most people still get up everyday for work in july and august.

I honestly do not want to have another conversation with a group of teachers because all I have ever heard is whining and complaints about how difficult their jobs are, and how they can't wait for summer vacation.

Oh and I forgot how teachers like to go on strike during the school year. That was a good way to get extra pay and extra benefits.

And most jobs don't allow for a person to just take a day off (personal or otherwise) and have someone come and substitute for the day.

I hope it's clear that I think a teacher should be in the classroom because they have sufficient vacation time outside of the designated school year dates.

 

[brockash]

Nope, wouldn't bother me at all. If it's okay with their employer, than it's really not my business. I don't see it any different than anyone else taking time off work. Having said that, my mom and sister are both teachers, and both take a week off when we take our Disney trips every Sept.

 

[brockash]

1. I don't actually believe that teachers only work while school is in session. I realize they put in hours beyond the school day. I just don't like to hear whining & complaining that they have to put in time beyond the school day since our school day is relatively short compared to a typical FT job in other fields. Maybe the min. school day varies from state to state. My kids attend the same school district that I did and the hours haven't changed since way back then.
I'm just saying if teachers want an annual salary of a FT job, then put in the annual hours of a FT job.

2. Over the lunch hour, students are supervised by teacher's aides. While half the students eat lunch for 1/2 hr, the other half go outside for recess (weather permitting) then they switch. Those who ate can go outside while others come in to eat. Teachers eat in the teachers' lounge or go out to lunch. They also get a break away from their students to plan lessons, etc. while the students go to gym, art, music, and Spanish. All once per week except gym is 2x/week.

3. I would gladly work an extra hour or 2 every night to get 10 weeks off in the summer, a week at Christmas and a week at Easter.

Then it sounds like you chose the wrong profession. Honestly, every job has its perks and has its crappy parts...that's just life. If you really think your profession is so much worse than another, than honestly, maybe you should think about switching professions. Quality of life is important, and can certainly make you much better or much worse at your job.