Time off for teachers?

[katybugsmom]

Hello everyone!
I live in a rural school district in SC. Our district has very specific rules for faculty and students where attendance is concerned. Teachers are only allowed to take 3 days max off at a time unless they want to plead their case before the school board or have their payroll deducted for the remaining days they want off. I know this seems cruel, but I don't think so. To me every day is precious and a substitute, no matter how wonderful he/she is just can't take the teacher's place. I teach 4K and have for 20 years. My kids depend on me to be there as much as possible. On the up-side we receive a significant bonus if we have perfect attendance for either one semester or both semesters. Perfect attendance for the year would easily pay for a trip to WDW!!!!
Summer is not my favorite time to take a vacation, but since my husband is in the education field as well, we don't have a choice.
As far as taking children out of school the younger the child is the better you will fare. Once a child reaches middle school or Jr. High you may run into an issue with attendance if your child wants to exempt certain exams. I know if you miss more than 3 days in our district you have to take the exam anyway. Most schools are willing to work with you if you tell the teachers ahead of time so any work missed can be made up ahead of time or scheduled to make up when you return. I would invite parents to ask teachers about exams, units of study or special activities that are planned for the year in advance to help plan a trip to WDW or anywhere else. Our parents know at the beginning of the year when all PTO meetings, picture days, assemblies, etc. are going to be so it makes it easier to plan.
So many of the students I teach lack any type of background knowledge experiences like going to a zoo, or the beach(which is only an hour away for us) or even somewhere like WDW. These type of experiences are essential in a young child's life-not to mention a 43 year old like me!!!! I'd live at WDW if they would let me!!!!
Sorry, didn't mean to get on my soap-box tonight! I hope everyone's plans work out for the best! We are surprising our two children this summer with another trip to WDW! We just went last June, but with the special Disney is offering through June it was to good to pass up. This will be our DD9's 3rd trip to the world and our DD3's 2nd!!! Actually it's our DD's 4th trip! My husband and I took our first big trip together the year before she was born-little did we realize I was pregnant when we went and my DH had me running all over the place!!!!
Hope everyone has a great night and good luck!!!!!!

 

[skuttle]

My DH is a teacher. He teaches music so he can't really miss several days in a row.

In 2005 we were able to go to WDW the week before Christmas and in 2007 we went the week after New Years. It all depends on what day of the week the holiday falls. This year we went during Mardi Gras in February and for Thanksgiving week (we're off of school the entire week). We loved Thanksgiving week! We'll be doing the summer in 2010 though for our cruise. We haven't been to WDW in the summer since 2002 so I'm NOT looking forward to that! We're doing early June so hopefully it won't be too bad yet.

 

[lucigo]

Thanks everyone for the replies!! DH did get the job (yeah!) and he only gets 1 sick day a month, no vacation time other than easter week, thanksgiving week and Christmas break...so we probably won't plan another year of Disney for a while. Will probably do an August cruise this year instead. I hate peak season travel, but at least even in this economy he found a job so no complaining!

 

[DawnM]

I am in total agreement with you in every area.

Love, love, LOVE year round schools too...I wish they were everywhere.

Dawn

I'm a teacher and I'm going to suggest that this is why there is a lack of respect in society. Teachers and students should abide by most the same rules - not sure I understand how age (child vs adult) is equivalent to respect and professionalism? I teach at-risk high school students and have no problems with my students. In fact, my colleagues say I have a magical touch, guess what it is? It's called mutual respect - if they aren't allowed to drink in class, then I don't drink in class. Your example of kids not drinking in hallways, yet you having a cup of coffee on your desk is extremely disrespectful and hypocritical. Your example of administering shots is also ridiculous since that is a safety and legality issue, whereas taking a vacation is not. I am a very good teacher, so I have no problems with being treated as a professional because I always conduct myself as one. Age or amount of university education or professional training does not equal respect.

Perhaps these kinds of responses are why many people don't treat teachers as professionals?

By the way, we are not allowed to take vacations at all, except during school breaks - Christmas/NY, March Break and Summer. We also have several long weekends throughout the year as well for holidays. I take my summer vacations during the summer - July. It's hot, but where we live in Canada, we experience the same weather as in Orlando, so we are used to it. Even with asthma and allergies we are able to work it out as we are DVC members and take it easy.

I don't believe that teachers should vacation during the year. I totally feel for the OP and people in her situation, but school is very important and should function with the least amount of stress as possible. Teachers and students constantly vacationing during the year would make for lots of inconsistencies, chaos, etc. It's a difficult position for many, but as teachers, most of know that this is how vacationing works and we accept that for the love of what we do. This is why year round schooling may be a viable option as the traditional school schedule has become outdated for today's lifestyles, family situations and job requirements.

Good luck to all struggling with the vacation decision, Tiger

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I'm a teacher. I've been a SAHM for several years, but will ge going back to teaching soon, which means no more September WDW trips for me But, in all honesty, when I am teaching I do not like taking off any more days than I have to. Preparing the class for a substituate is a pain in the butt. I teach secondary science and I don't trust the sub to actually teach any new material, so they are really just babysitting for me. If I were gone for a week my classes would get way behind. So, unless your district uses highly qualified subs (here, all you need to be is a HS graduate to sub) then I think it's kind of irresponsible to take time away from the students' education just so you can take a vacation, especially when we get so much vacation as it is. It sucks being stuck traveling in the summer, but, that's part of the job.

 

[DWFan4Life]

For those of you out there who are teachers, when do you vacation? I know that might sound like a dumb question but we are NOT summer vacationers! We usually participate in an autism summer camp and besides its too expensive!

So...we have good news and bad news...DH (who just graduated) got a job teaching! The bad news...its in the county next to ours so he will have different spring breaks than my kids. As a matter of fact, I'll have 2 public school calendars, a jr. college and a university to try to schedule around.

Are we destin to have separate vacations? What do other teachers do?

Well, plan a trip during holidays so that all of you enjoyed your trip.

 

[lucigo]

Well, plan a trip during holidays so that all of you enjoyed your trip.

I will have to, but I'm gonna stomp my feet the whole time! LOL Oh well....

 

[Aliceacc]

I am a teacher.

I'm off from the end of June until the end of August, with an additonal week (at least) at Christmas, one in February, and at least one at Easter.

We take our vacations during any of those breaks. Both my husband and I teach a summer SAT prep course; last year we went to Disney during the one week between the end of SAT and the start of school in the fall.

I was pretty familiar with the academic schedule before deciding to teach.

I don't take other days off unless they're medically necessary.

 

[mkymouse1928]

I myself am not a teacher, but my dad is. We traveled during the summer as that is the only time that all of our different schedules allowed (I'm the oldest of 4). It seems that none of the school schedules ever matched up. My dad also worked a second job in the summers so that meant we only had about four weeks a year to schedule vacations: the last 2 weeks of June and the last 2 weeks of August.

 

[KayW]

I am teacher and so is my DH. Our district does not allow us to take any time off for vacations other than the regularly scheduled school vacations. We went one year the week between Christmas and New Years, it was crowded but magical. We have been once in June. I hated that because it was too darn hot and humid and crowded. We have found President's week to be our favorite time to go. It is crowded but the weather is perfect so it makes dealing with crowds more manageable. We haven't been over spring break yet, but someday we might do that.

THat's us too. We always go during our Feb. break.

 

[daisyduck123]

I am a teacher.

I'm off from the end of June until the end of August, with an additonal week (at least) at Christmas, one in February, and at least one at Easter.

You are very lucky to get those weeks off during the school year.

In my county (public school), teachers only get one "week-long" vacation during the entire school year, & that is at Christmas.

 

[Aliceacc]

Then I'm guessing your summer is probably longer than ours? I would imagine that the further south you travel, the longer the break in the hot weather, and the less need for a Winter break. (Our schools close to save on heating costs during Presidents Week.)

Still, 2 months off over the summer isn't shabby by any standards.

 

[daisyduck123]

Then I'm guessing your summer is probably longer than ours? I would imagine that the further south you travel, the longer the break in the hot weather, and the less need for a Winter break. (Our schools close to save on heating costs during Presidents Week.)

Still, 2 months off over the summer isn't shabby by any standards.

You're right...definitely not shabby.

This year, our last day is June 16th. We go back on Aug. 17th.

 

[lucigo]

You are very lucky to get those weeks off during the school year.

In my county (public school), teachers only get one "week-long" vacation during the entire school year, & that is at Christmas.

Thats awful!

 

[wilderness01]

I'm a teacher and I'm going to suggest that this is why there is a lack of respect in society. Teachers and students should abide by most the same rules - not sure I understand how age (child vs adult) is equivalent to respect and professionalism? I teach at-risk high school students and have no problems with my students. In fact, my colleagues say I have a magical touch, guess what it is? It's called mutual respect - if they aren't allowed to drink in class, then I don't drink in class. Your example of kids not drinking in hallways, yet you having a cup of coffee on your desk is extremely disrespectful and hypocritical. Your example of administering shots is also ridiculous since that is a safety and legality issue, whereas taking a vacation is not. I am a very good teacher, so I have no problems with being treated as a professional because I always conduct myself as one. Age or amount of university education or professional training does not equal respect.

Perhaps these kinds of responses are why many people don't treat teachers as professionals?

By the way, we are not allowed to take vacations at all, except during school breaks - Christmas/NY, March Break and Summer. We also have several long weekends throughout the year as well for holidays. I take my summer vacations during the summer - July. It's hot, but where we live in Canada, we experience the same weather as in Orlando, so we are used to it. Even with asthma and allergies we are able to work it out as we are DVC members and take it easy.

I don't believe that teachers should vacation during the year. I totally feel for the OP and people in her situation, but school is very important and should function with the least amount of stress as possible. Teachers and students constantly vacationing during the year would make for lots of inconsistencies, chaos, etc. It's a difficult position for many, but as teachers, most of know that this is how vacationing works and we accept that for the love of what we do. This is why year round schooling may be a viable option as the traditional school schedule has become outdated for today's lifestyles, family situations and job requirements.

Good luck to all struggling with the vacation decision, Tiger

Nice post.

One year one of our teachers went on and on at the open house about not missing school, the student being penalized if they missed school due to any vacation, etc. etc. That year she took off a week from school and pulled her school aged kids (the one child was in my DD's class) to go to WDW. The parents were furious. They felt it was a lack of respect to the parents that there was one set of rules for her and her family, and another set for everyone else.