Teacher taking Vacation to Disney during school year?

[MamaJessie]

My youngest DD's teacher HAS done this! They are allowed a certain amount of vacation days, and the teachers in our area are doing mandatory fulough days due to budget cuts. Teachers are human beings, dedicated to something that, the majority of the time, is a largely thankless job. I'm taking my kids out for a week in September-they are entitled to the same.

Seeing as though I have no problem taking my kids out I would actually prefer a teacher who took a week off for Disney. I wouldn't have to explain myself to her/him

I just don't know of any other field that consistantly complains so publicly as much as teachers (though I've never directly heard ours complain.) Do you constantly hear nurses & medical professionals complain so much?

On a different note - yes I have heard a lot of nurses and medical professionals complain. A lot. And not just venting to strangers on line but when I am in the room I've never had a teacher do that.

 

[MamaJessie]

Will you please lock this post. I had a question about how parents felt- I got many various answers. Many which surprised me. Unfortunately this has devolved into a negative argument and I feel that it is time for it to end.Thank you,

I am not overly surprised anymore when I see the posts about kids being taken out of school for vacations. But I was shocked when I realized that teachers were doing it as well.

I am an Education Administrator but I started out as a teacher. It was expected that most "vacations" happen during your school breaks (in Texas we work on average 187 days) which leaves about 73 non weekend days off a year split differntly by each district. Most places will have time off during the winter, spring and summer. Each teacher gets 5 State days for "personal buisness" and most districts kick in a few "sick" days. The assumption I have always worked under or been told is our days were for illness, emergencies, funeral, closing on a house or other financial buisness, an ocassional mental health day but not vacationing.

So would it bother you if your child's teacher took a vacation during the year and left your child the rest of the class with a sub (in our state they can have little or no training in education and often times only a few college hours )?

I personally would be appalled and probably complain to the Supt. about it. (unless it was for a family wedding, which I would forgive since I do not expect everyone to be considerate of the school year and I do not think teachers should have to miss out on major family events).

So my question is for parents: how would you feel if your child's teacher took off 3-5 or more days to go on vacation (doesn't matter if it is Disney) during the school year?

Devil's advocate here.... You make it seem like you were trying to have a light conversation, but threw in how appalling it was from the beginning.

 

[GinnyEmma]

I see absolutely nothing wrong with a teacher taking a vacation during the school year. Everybody deserves to have a vacation. Especially one to Disney!!!

Right now one of my sons teachers is out on maternity leave for the remainder of the year and the kids are left with a long term sub. Should she have had her baby in the summer just to make it more convenient for the kids and parents not to deal with a sub? No.

You take your vacations when you can. Summer rates are higher. Maybe she got a heck of a pin code and could only afford to take her family during that week of the school year.

We need to start seeing things from outside of the box. Think of all the different scenarios before we are so quick to judge.

Deserving has nothing to do with a Disney vacation. And they CAN take their vacations at far more times than many others.

However, if their contract says they can then they can.

Comparing vacation to a medical leave is stupid.

 

[RadioFanatic]

It would bother me. When you take a job, you know when you are able to take off, etc. For example, tax accountants know they can't take off before 4/15. My husband works for a state legislature so we can't take off the first six months of the year bc they are in session. We also have had to change last minute plans that have been in place bc of additional session days. Like last year, we were going away the week of July four and learned on 7/2 we had to reschedule. It was his work, we didn't like it, but we did it. We also have to do this simultaneously with my work schedule where I have to plan far ahead to get my days off, not just bc of my office, but bc of outside sources like court, etc.

Teachers are well aware of their working days and vacation days. And by using subs which cost additional money, by taking off days for vacation when they have vacation days already. IMO, it should not be done.

 

[AZMermaid]

I am not sure I would compare the month before 4/15 to 10 months of the year when school is in session. 6 months to 10 months, okay, a little closer- but still 66% longer. I would agree there are bad times for teachers to vacation- but to black out all 10 months of the school year is long. Like I said before, we can't take more than 3 days in a row in my district anyway, and the only time I took 3 in a row was when I got married- but I don't think it is the public's business to tell me when I can and can't vacation. I have taken 1-2 days each year to add on to a Disneyland weekend.

 

[RadioFanatic]

I am not sure I would compare the month before 4/15 to 10 months of the year when school is in session. 6 months to 10 months, okay, a little closer- but still 66% longer. I would agree there are bad times for teachers to vacation- but to black out all 10 months of the school year is long. Like I said before, we can't take more than 3 days in a row in my district anyway, and the only time I took 3 in a row was when I got married- but I don't think it is the public's business to tell me when I can and can't vacation. I have taken 1-2 days each year to add on to a Disneyland weekend.

But you also need to add the fall break, christmas break, winter break, spring break into it as well. and like I said - you go into this knowing that is the deal - there is no surprise factor.

 

[DopeyDame]

I'm not sure why you'd be "amazed" that someone would get 10-12 weeks off for maternity leave when it's the law in their state. When I had my dd (4 years ago,) the law/standard was 12 weeks, and I took all 12. It was also 12 when I had my son 9 years ago, and those were in 2 different states, so I can't imagine it's that uncommon.

ETA: I'm not/was not a teacher when I had my children, but I don't think that it should make a difference as to how much maternity someone takes.

Not only is it a state law, but Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) makes it a FEDERAL law that women are allowed to take off 12 weeks upon the birth or adoption of a child. They don't have to be paid, but their job has to be there waiting for them on their return. So, no need for amazement. As most teachers are women, I suspect maternity leave is something most schools handle pretty efficiently.

 

[lamb616]

Teachers are well aware of their working days and vacation days. And by using subs which cost additional money, by taking off days for vacation when they have vacation days already. IMO, it should not be done.

Yes but they receive 3-5 PERSONAL DAYS -- which is pretty self-explanatory, IMO: You can use it for whatever PERSONAL reasons you want!! I don't understand the confusion here. If teachers weren't meant to take off additional time (other than sick time), then they wouldn't GET personal time.

So then, if a private sector employees gets 3 weeks of vacation time, 10 sick days, and 3 personal days -- should they not be allowed to use those 3 personal days for "vacation"??? Sounds like people think they shouldn't....

 

[meredith1]

It would bother me. When you take a job, you know when you are able to take off, etc. For example, tax accountants know they can't take off before 4/15. My husband works for a state legislature so we can't take off the first six months of the year bc they are in session. We also have had to change last minute plans that have been in place bc of additional session days. Like last year, we were going away the week of July four and learned on 7/2 we had to reschedule. It was his work, we didn't like it, but we did it. We also have to do this simultaneously with my work schedule where I have to plan far ahead to get my days off, not just bc of my office, but bc of outside sources like court, etc.

Teachers are well aware of their working days and vacation days. And by using subs which cost additional money, by taking off days for vacation when they have vacation days already. IMO, it should not be done.

This is a good point. My H also is a goverment servant and as a teacher it is easier for me to take off and leave the kiddos in excellent hands than it is for him to leave (he absolutely can't). I CAN. This is the point.

We also have to factor in when my parents can keep the twins while we go. This requires driving six hours west to take the twins to my parents' house prior to leaving for the trip, getting them upon return and driving another six hours home. There are so many factors that lead up to when a "good" time to go on vacation.

 

[meredith1]

It would bother me. When you take a job, you know when you are able to take off, etc. For example, tax accountants know they can't take off before 4/15. My husband works for a state legislature so we can't take off the first six months of the year bc they are in session. We also have had to change last minute plans that have been in place bc of additional session days. Like last year, we were going away the week of July four and learned on 7/2 we had to reschedule. It was his work, we didn't like it, but we did it. We also have to do this simultaneously with my work schedule where I have to plan far ahead to get my days off, not just bc of my office, but bc of outside sources like court, etc.

Teachers are well aware of their working days and vacation days. And by using subs which cost additional money, by taking off days for vacation when they have vacation days already. IMO, it should not be done.

This is a good point. My H also is a goverment servant and as a teacher it is easier for me to take off and leave the kiddos in excellent hands than it is for him to leave (he absolutely can't). I CAN. This is the point.

 

[princessmom29]

It would bother me. When you take a job, you know when you are able to take off, etc. For example, tax accountants know they can't take off before 4/15. My husband works for a state legislature so we can't take off the first six months of the year bc they are in session. We also have had to change last minute plans that have been in place bc of additional session days. Like last year, we were going away the week of July four and learned on 7/2 we had to reschedule. It was his work, we didn't like it, but we did it. We also have to do this simultaneously with my work schedule where I have to plan far ahead to get my days off, not just bc of my office, but bc of outside sources like court, etc.

Teachers are well aware of their working days and vacation days. And by using subs which cost additional money, by taking off days for vacation when they have vacation days already. IMO, it should not be done.

But subs DON'T cost any additional money. They are piad for in 2 ways.
1. from the teacher's benefit package in the form of personal or isck days alotted to that teacher. The teacher either takes them or gets paid for them when they retire.
2. The teacher takes an unpiad day, in which case it actually costs LESS to pay the sub that it would to pay the teacher for that day.

 

[meredith1]

Interestingly enough....

Just had our parent conference this morning and wasn't going to send our oldest back to the current school she is enrolled in next year but, changed our mind this morning. I emailed the headmaster about our Disney trip in November and got this reply back from her.

"This is no problem at all Meredith.....we can do a lot of good "preteaching" about things she'll see and do...then we'll do intentional "follow up language" after the trip.....you guys will have a ball doing this with her....wish I could go!
thanks for letting me know and thanks for partnering with us with your time, energy and trust."

This is my last thought on this....It's a partnership between the school and parents that make successful children. I am in such a fortunate position to have the relationship that I do with my daughter's school. They have my absolute and total respect. I would do anything for them.

 

[topsyturvey]

I am not sure that the teacher taking a vacation during the school year would bother me. If they have a family and they want to take advantage of the perfect travel time to WDW why would they not be allowed to. As long as my kids are getting what they need from the teacher and the school then a few days missed by the teacher would not be an issue for me.

 

[crisi]

It would bug me.

I can't book vacation when it works for me without considering my job. My husband can't either. We have to book vacation around business cycles. Sometimes our business cycles conflict. Since projects move around, we are fortunate in that we don't need to be on site - its difficult to plan a year in advance for vacations - so instead we take the laptops with us and work on the beach. Call in to meetings from the hotel room.

 

[okeydokey]

It would bug me.

I can't book vacation when it works for me without considering my job. My husband can't either. We have to book vacation around business cycles. Sometimes our business cycles conflict. Since projects move around, we are fortunate in that we don't need to be on site - its difficult to plan a year in advance for vacations - so instead we take the laptops with us and work on the beach. Call in to meetings from the hotel room.

Just because you can't do it, does it mean that other people can't do it?

I say if their school admin doesn't mind, they should go for it.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

It would bug me.

I can't book vacation when it works for me without considering my job. My husband can't either. We have to book vacation around business cycles. Sometimes our business cycles conflict. Since projects move around, we are fortunate in that we don't need to be on site - its difficult to plan a year in advance for vacations - so instead we take the laptops with us and work on the beach. Call in to meetings from the hotel room.

Teachers cannot book vacation without considering their jobs either. They have to save those personal days to use them. It's not like they can take off week after week all of the time. If I wanted to take a one-week trip to Disney during the school year, I would have to save all of my personal days for three years. What you describe is similar to what teachers must do.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Interestingly enough....

Just had our parent conference this morning and wasn't going to send our oldest back to the current school she is enrolled in next year but, changed our mind this morning. I emailed the headmaster about our Disney trip in November and got this reply back from her.

"This is no problem at all Meredith.....we can do a lot of good "preteaching" about things she'll see and do...then we'll do intentional "follow up language" after the trip.....you guys will have a ball doing this with her....wish I could go!
thanks for letting me know and thanks for partnering with us with your time, energy and trust."

This is my last thought on this....It's a partnership between the school and parents that make successful children. I am in such a fortunate position to have the relationship that I do with my daughter's school. They have my absolute and total respect. I would do anything for them.

Yay! That's wonderful news. It is a partnership. When teachers and parents put their time, energy, and trust together for the benefit of the students, nothing is impossible.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Teachers are well aware of their working days and vacation days. And by using subs which cost additional money, by taking off days for vacation when they have vacation days already. IMO, it should not be done.

Just to be clear, teachers have NO paid vacations days other than the 2-3 personal days each year. (In my school district, it is 2 days per school year.) So when you call scheduled breaks from school "vacation" days, that is not entirely accurate.

 

[AZMermaid]

Just to be clear, teachers have NO paid vacations days other than the 2-3 personal days each year. (In my school district, it is 2 days per school year.) So when you call scheduled breaks from school "vacation" days, that is not entirely accurate.

We get 13 days that we can use for whatever we want (but no more than 3 in a row or before/after breaks- including 3 day weekends, except for once every 5 years). We are STRONGLY encouraged to donate 2 of those to the sick bank, so really we have 11.

 

[ilovefh]

Both of my parents were teachers so I grew up only taking vacations during school breaks. I totally agreed with this and felt very strongly about it...until I got married.

I married a non teacher and I realized others do as well. Currently DH works for WDW so there is NO way we can take vacations during school breaks. That said, since we have lived here we haven't had the time to take a vacation.

If we did want to take a trip we'd have to base it off when DH gets vacation time so ultimately I could end up missing some school.