Teachers are giving me a hard time pulling kids out of school

[HelenePA]

I was thinking of pulling my kids out next oct for a week trip. Well my dd who is 7 missed 2 days last week with some type of bug she came home the next day which was a Friday (thankfully!) with over 30 papers to do! I wish it was an exaggeration. I am so lucky we had 3 days to split it up over. I dont know how we'd ever catch up with a week. To top it off she did all the papers.. the teacher then told her she didn't want them back I was beyond livid. I told her to make sure the teacher took those papers or I'd kill her (my dd) which of course she told the teacher.. "my mommy said to make sure you looked at these or shes going to kill me" and yes there were instructions with the papers to make sure she had them done for the next day she was back because the teacher was going to collect and grade them.

ETA my school has a vacation policy that you can miss 5 days (excused) as long as its not the first week of school or last week of school.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I am wondering why some have made this a peeing contest between teachers and others? I would think that people would want their children to have a good educational system, rather than seeing it as "us" against "them" because they want your child to have their best and not just "enough."

 

[Colleen27]

Well said. We have totally taken common sense out the equation.

And I think that is a common thread in educational policy these days. Zero tolerance and black and white rules have replaced good judgment and common sense, so the kindergartener who brings his toy gun to school is suspended, the teenage girl caught taking Midol for cramps is expelled for violating drug policy (both actual cases from my area, though not my district), and the family who wants to take a vacation when work permits is referred to family court over a week's missed school. And we're supposed to believe it is all for the greater good.

 

[HelenePA]

And I think that is a common thread in educational policy these days. Zero tolerance and black and white rules have replaced good judgment and common sense, so the kindergartener who brings his toy gun to school is suspended, the teenage girl caught taking Midol for cramps is expelled for violating drug policy (both actual cases from my area, though not my district), and the family who wants to take a vacation when work permits is referred to family court over a week's missed school. And we're supposed to believe it is all for the greater good.

Dont forget the girl who was stripped searched!

 

[lillygator]

I agree 100% with this. My dad taught for 35 years and my wife is in her 4th year of teaching. It sickens me when people throw the "They only work 9 months" and they have great benefits BS. What they don't know is that teachers only get paid for the time they work. They don't get paid during the summer or during their breaks. They can elect to get their paychecks dispersed through the whole year. Also, my wife's benefits are not great. We pay a lot of money for health insurance and my wife's pension is horrible. My wife leaves the house at 7:30am and is home at 6pm. She eats dinner and then sits on the couch and does planning and grading until 10pm at least 4 nights a week. That's 14 hours a day.

I think the majority of the work force also put in many hours as well, not just teachers...

 

[Boxley]

Honestly, this debate is silly. If you want to take your kid out of school for vacation, go right ahead BUT it is not the teacher's responsibility to make sure your little snowflake got the work done, it is yours and your childs job to ask for the work, and send it in. If the teacher can go email, that is fine but if not, tough. If your kid doesn't understand it, either you spend some time helping him/her or wait until vacation and ask for some help. My mother was a teacher and she worked her butt off even after hours to plan the days work and to schedule and even spent time with kids after schools to help them if needed. She didn't get paid enough to do all that she did. So, complain about attendence, it doesn't matter it is what your kid LEARNS that is important. Also to some of the mothers who are on here and homeschool while complaining about public schools, what are you doing complaining on here? YOU can space out your time a little better on your terms there are parents and teachers who cannot.Oh and for you who are making a big deal about the Standerdized Testing, stop getting your self in a knotch that is where federal funding comes from because so many educational cuts are going on that those tests the students take are the things that help the schools make money. If you don't want teacher to teach "to the test" know that those tests are helping to get the schools funded for your kids.

 

[rgf207]

I think the majority of the work force also put in many hours as well, not just teachers...

but this thread isn't about other professions so and you and I both know that teachers are usually the ones that get the negative remarks.

I also never said Teachers were the only profession that worked extra hours.

 

[lillygator]

I think the majority of the work force also put in many hours as well, not just teachers...

I agree 100% with this. My dad taught for 35 years and my wife is in her 4th year of teaching. It sickens me when people throw the "They only work 9 months" and they have great benefits BS. What they don't know is that teachers only get paid for the time they work. They don't get paid during the summer or during their breaks. They can elect to get their paychecks dispersed through the whole year. Also, my wife's benefits are not great. We pay a lot of money for health insurance and my wife's pension is horrible. My wife leaves the house at 7:30am and is home at 6pm. She eats dinner and then sits on the couch and does planning and grading until 10pm at least 4 nights a week. That's 14 hours a day.

but this thread isn't about other professions so and you and I both know that teachers are usually the ones that get the negative remarks.

I also never said Teachers were the only profession that worked extra hours.

I realize that, but teachers who choose not to work summer school DO in fact only work the school year correct? So while it may sicken you when people say that, it is true for many teachers.

 

[rgf207]

Maybe you didn't read all my posts on the topic. I never said teachers got paid for the summer. I said they make good money for what they do. Do they deserve more, most likely. I was responding to a few who were complaining about long hours etc. My point is a lot of professions have long hours where you don't get compensated for hours worked over 40. I am sorry if I sickened or offended you. It was not my intent.

Sorry. I wasn't talking about your post. I actually didn't read your replies. I was just quoting another poster. I didn't mean to imply that I was responding to your posts.

Except not all schools have draconian attendance policies, and they don't dissolve into chaos. Our district's policy is that any absence a parent calls in to verify is excused, including family vacations, and somehow we still have excellent test scores and a 97% overall attendance rate.

I think it reflects a very dim view of human nature and parental commitment to think that in the absence of harsh attendance policies, parents would simply allow their kids to "come and go as they please", missing so much school that they are impossible to teach. Yes, there are crappy parents out there, but there are other ways to deal with them without imposing rules on the majority who are good, involved parents who care about their kids' education.

This is true but the times have changed. Back in the 50's and 60's there most likely weren't attendance policies. But there also weren't metal detectors in schools becasue we weren't worried about kids bringing guns and going on shooting rampages. When the times change, we have to adapt.

There also weren't as many strict policies to prevent lawsuits but now there are but that's a totally different topic.

 

[rgf207]

I realize that, but teachers who choose not to work summer school DO in fact only work the school year correct? So while it may sicken you when people say that, it is true for many teachers.

because they work much more than that when you count their hours. I'm not saying they deserve to get paid for time they weren't in school but what sickens me is the lack of respect or at least the acknowledgement that maybe their job is not a walk in the park.

 

[lillygator]

because they work much more than that when you count their hours. I'm not saying they deserve to get paid for time they weren't in school but what sickens me is the lack of respect or at least the acknowledgement that maybe their job is not a walk in the park.

so saying they work nine months and have good benefits means people have a lack of respect for teachers?

well, I, for one, know the job is not easy. And yes, I understand they work more hours than people may realize....but my point is...they work more hours for those nine months and then the ones who are off for the summer are just that, off ..when as other professions are still working and also putting in extra hours on the job.

 

[Colleen27]

I think the majority of the work force also put in many hours as well, not just teachers...

but this thread isn't about other professions so and you and I both know that teachers are usually the ones that get the negative remarks.

Bit in a way, this thread is about other professions - all those other professions that get in the way of vacationing on the kids' schedule. The reason teachers get negative remarks is because so many teachers complain about things that are just a given in other professions - long hours, cuts in benefits, difficult working conditions, etc.

It is hard to muster up sympathy for a teacher who has to go to all the terrible trouble of getting a packet together for a vacationing child when you, as the parent of that child, are working the same hours for less pay, trying to figure out how to pay for a 20% increase in insurance premiums, and having to deal with all sorts of hassle from teachers/schools if you dare to take a vacation with your children at the times your employer permits.

 

[Boxley]

so saying they work nine months and have good benefits means people have a lack of respect for teachers?

well, I, for one, know the job is not easy. And yes, I understand they work more hours than people may realize....but my point is...they work more hours for those nine months and then the ones who are off for the summer are just that, off ..when as other professions are still working and also putting in extra hours on the job.

Yeah because those three months teachers take off are a real siesta especially taking into account that for three months they do not get PAID unless they want to take a cut in their nine month pay to even out budgeting. Have you ever tried to make ends meet with three months of pay docked from your wages? Or the fact that some of those beautiful pensions are actually cutting some money from their regular checks.

 

[rgf207]

so saying they work nine months and have good benefits means people have a lack of respect for teachers?

well, I, for one, know the job is not easy. And yes, I understand they work more hours than people may realize....but my point is...they work more hours for those nine months and then the ones who are off for the summer are just that, off ..when as other professions are still working and also putting in extra hours on the job.

I'm not getting into this with you because I can tell you are just trying to start an argument. Please move along

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

So it becomes a peeing contest when teachers defend themselves? Teachers were made to look like the bad guys, they, or others defend them, and everyone else gets upset because they have to work, too?

Nice.

I think that people have issues with the fact that teachers are the second power group in their kid's lives. So, it gets to be a tug of war without people remembering that good teachers that are involved in their teaching and the kid's only benefit the families. If a teacher wanted the easy thing, they'd be pushing the kids out the doors for vacation. Instead, they want kids to have the full benefit of the educational experience.

 

[rgf207]

Bit in a way, this thread is about other professions - all those other professions that get in the way of vacationing on the kids' schedule. The reason teachers get negative remarks is because so many teachers complain about things that are just a given in other professions - long hours, cuts in benefits, difficult working conditions, etc.

It is hard to muster up sympathy for a teacher who has to go to all the terrible trouble of getting a packet together for a vacationing child when you, as the parent of that child, are working the same hours for less pay, trying to figure out how to pay for a 20% increase in insurance premiums, and having to deal with all sorts of hassle from teachers/schools if you dare to take a vacation with your children at the times your employer permits.

see that's where you are wrong and it just proves that you have no idea. It's not just getting a simple packet together and I'm surprised that after 36 pages of discussion you still see it that way. It's like you're stuck in tunnel vision.

 

[lillygator]

I'm not getting into this with you because I can tell you are just trying to start an argument. Please move along

am not trying to start an arguement but its funny how people don't see the other side of the coin...

 

[Colleen27]

well, I, for one, know the job is not easy. And yes, I understand they work more hours than people may realize....but my point is...they work more hours for those nine months and then the ones who are off for the summer are just that, off ..when as other professions are still working and also putting in extra hours on the job.

Exactly. My BIL & SIL are teachers. They'll be the first to tell you it is a great profession, especially for a parent. It isn't easy work, but the rewards are worth the difficulties. Yes, they put in long hours during the school year and the money isn't great, but they have excellent benefits that are almost unheard of in the private sector and they can (and do) spend a month of the summer traveling with their kids. So no, I'm not buying the "poor overworked" teacher routine. In fact, that's one of BIL's pet peeves - he says a lot of teachers seem to think they should be making private sector money with public sector benefits and scheduling, and that those teachers make the whole profession look bad.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Our teachers only have 6 weeks off in the summer. That makes for some nice pool days, but it is pretty difficult to get a 6 week job. For two income families, it is nice, but for single mom's it is much more difficult. Then they still have to get their CEU's in.

LOL, I know other people have to continue their education, too. For the whiners out there! But most of those people have already dealt with the childcare issues involved out of necessity.

 

[rgf207]

am not trying to start an arguement but its funny how people don't see the other side of the coin...

my point exactly. Thank you