What do you think about the TEACHER taking time off for a vacation?

[Minnie_me]

I sooooooo want to post my "away" lesson plans and schedule so you all can see that some teachers leave detailed instructions for our substitutes. I joke that an 8th grader could prob. come in and sub b/c my plans are so "spelled out" that subbing in my class is a breeze and the kids don't miss a beat. As I said, I have had to attend all-day monthly meetings so I can't afford to have my kids "miss a beat".

I hear you! Even though I teach very young children (Kdg and pre-K), it takes me at least two hours to leave plans for one day out. It's really fun when I'm sick with the stomach flu and have to drag my butt out of bed and drive to school to spend hours on my sub plans. With young kids, we have to change gears every 15-20 minutes -- that's a lot of planning!

 

[basas]

I disagree completely. Should my dad have missed an opportunity to go to Australia to see his daughters perform at the Olympic games? No way. He didn't decide when the 2000 Olympics were going to take place nor did he think that someday his kids would be doing something so once-in-a-lifetime when he started teaching (before we were born). Why would one week away from school change his mind for being a teacher for 30 plus years?

May I ask what kind of 'breaks' you get in your job? For me, my 'breaks' are when I chose to take vacation. We have three holidays during the year, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day and the rest of the year we are open, even Easter Sunday. So I don't know what you mean by 'breaks' because I surely don't get any.

It's funny how fast everyone jumps on a bandwagon saying how horrible it is that teacher's take vacations during the school year (even though they've earned their time off, just like you and me), but have you ever thought that despite your profession, other people/clients/customers suffer if you're not at work? Just thought I'd point that out!

I think there are certainly exceptions, but that goes for most jobs. If my kid had a teacher that had a child participating in the Olympics, I would have no problem with the teacher taking some time off to go and watch. I’m sure there are many other situations where I would have no problem either. In general, though, I don’t think it’s appropriate for a teacher to take time off to go on a vacation to Mexico or Disney World.

BTW- by "breaks" I simply meant whenever you get time off. For teachers it's usually a little more defined (summer break, spring break, Christmas break, etc.)

 

[MrsPete]

IIf it's so important for our kids to not miss a day of school (which I understand, but have been known to give my son a mental health day) then I think the teacher should be there, unless it is an emergency, or he/she needs a mental health day!

This makes no sense.

The students are there for their own benefit -- they are learning something new every day. No one can learn for your son; if he misses a lesson, either the opportunity is gone or he must do it on his own sometime. On the other hand, the teacher is there to provide a service. If the teacher isn't in the classroom, another person can provide that same service.

I'm certainly not saying that teacher should stay out any old time; that would lead to problems with the teacher/student relationship, and the teacher would have a hard time keeping abreast of where the student is academically. However, an occasional day here or there IS NOT the same as a student missing a day.

Just for the record, between sick days, personal days, and annual leave days, I could be out of school 118 days --those days are mine. I built them up over 15 years of service. They are an earned benefit, and I can take them most any time.

 

[MrsPete]

When DS was out a week in October he didn't miss any work. His teacher sent home all of the worksheets that he would be doing in class as well as his homework.

If all we did in school was worksheets and homework, there'd be little reason for any students to attend. We do quite a bit more in my classroom!

 

[basas]

If the teacher isn't in the classroom, another person can provide that same service.

We all know that in practice, this is rarely the case.

 

[MrsPete]

I would MUCH rather have a teacher out for a week of vacation than have a teacher who is out a day or two EVERY week, which is the case with one of DS's teachers! He is in 6th grade. One of his teachers has subs in for her AT LEAST once a week. That is SOOOO disruptive!

You're absolutely right -- it IS disruptive! Unless this teacher is dealing with some type of tragic situation at home of which you're not aware, the administration should do something about this.

Like most other jobs I've had, however, school administrators are more likely to deal with this type of thing by making blanket statements and rules for ALL teachers rather than addressing the individuals who are actually doing wrong! You know what I mean: Instead of going to Sally and saying, "Look, Sally, you've missed every Friday this term -- what's going on?", they announce at staff meetings that too many teachers have been out lately, and it's important to be in school -- that leads Jane (who's missed only 2 days all year) to start wondering, "Gee, should I have left my 4th grader at home alone last week when he was sick? Maybe he could've toughed it out." Or, "Maybe I should let my root canal wait until summer."

 

[MrsPete]

We all know that in practice, this is rarely the case.

No, we don't.

Some things are VERY easy for a sub to complete. For example, if I KNOW ahead of time that I'll be out, I'll work my plans so that the students'll spend the day taking a test, then reading a short story . . . or they'll have a day to write an in-class essay . . . or they'll watch a content-related video. As long as I have a couple days to "work up to" an easy day, I can fairly easily leave something that a sub can do well. On the other hand, I'd do my very best NEVER to be out on the day that I introduce research papers and talk about note cards.

 

[basas]

No, we don't.

Some things are VERY easy for a sub to complete. For example, if I KNOW ahead of time that I'll be out, I'll work my plans so that the students'll spend the day taking a test, then reading a short story . . . or they'll have a day to write an in-class essay . . . or they'll watch a content-related video. As long as I have a couple days to "work up to" an easy day, I can fairly easily leave something that a sub can do well. On the other hand, I'd do my very best NEVER to be out on the day that I introduce research papers and talk about note cards.

One day is much different than a week or more. I've seen subs teach entire units and the result was that absolutely nothing was accomplished.

 

[paigevz]

You know what? We don't "GET" summer, Christmas, et al. We are paid for 190 days of service, and those days are not included. Of the days we are paid for, in my district, we get 5 personal and 5 sick. Personal is personal people.

Those other breaks are just unpaid leave..........what you might call "seasonal off" for certain jobs.

 

[paigevz]

This is our schedule also.......so many breaks that I think the kids are just getting back into the swing and then its time for another break.

NO I dont think the teachers should have vacations during the school year....they knew the schedule when they decided to become teachers....(emergencys and special occasions not included)

Yeah! That 20 year old KNEW what they were getting into for the rest of their life! Now just live with it! Sorry, I couldn't resist, I'll go away now.

 

[Blondy876]

You know what? We don't "GET" summer, Christmas, et al. We are paid for 190 days of service, and those days are not included. Of the days we are paid for, in my district, we get 5 personal and 5 sick. Personal is personal people.

Those other breaks are just unpaid leave..........what you might call "seasonal off" for certain jobs.

I agree with you but it's not going to help. Didn't you know that we are indentured servants of the tax payers who must give up all personal life during the school year and dedicate ourselves to our students? To hell with our own families. Just ask the parents I had one year who were furious that I would be going out on maternity leave and informed me that I should have planned better so that the birth of my child wouldn't interfere with their child's education. Once I explained that I had tried to do that but had a miscarriage they shut up but still, to think that my whole world revolves around my job.

I get 5 personal and 10 sick days a year. In order to take more than 3 personal days off consecutively you must get approval from the school board. They do not carry over so if they are not used they are lost. I usually end up using my personal days in dribs and drabs 1 or 2 at a time. However, I have used the full 5 days at once several times over the years. And (oh the horror) I have not felt the least bit guilty about it. I LOVE my job and my students but in the end it is MY family that comes first.

 

[daisyduck123]

I agree with you but it's not going to help. Didn't you know that we are indentured servants of the tax payers who must give up all personal life during the school year and dedicate ourselves to our students? To hell with our own families. Just ask the parents I had one year who were furious that I would be going out on maternity leave and informed me that I should have planned better so that the birth of my child wouldn't interfere with their child's education. Once I explained that I had tried to do that but had a miscarriage they shut up but still, to think that my whole world revolves around my job.

I get 5 personal and 10 sick days a year. In order to take more than 3 personal days off consecutively you must get approval from the school board. They do not carry over so if they are not used they are lost. I usually end up using my personal days in dribs and drabs 1 or 2 at a time. However, I have used the full 5 days at once several times over the years. And (oh the horror) I have not felt the least bit guilty about it. I LOVE my job and my students but in the end it is MY family that comes first.

Where is that darned "applause" smilie?? We need one!

 

[MM27]

If all we did in school was worksheets and homework, there'd be little reason for any students to attend. We do quite a bit more in my classroom!

Exactly!
There's more to the school day than worksheets. When a student misses class they are missing the teacher instructing, the interaction from the group and many other things that go beyond the worksheet. You won't find many worksheets in my classroom.

 

[vellamint]

I just keep telling my kids that if they dont consider being a teacher here they must be crazy. Heck I must be crazy myself for not going back to school and becoming a teacher.

 

[Blondy876]

I just keep telling my kids that if they dont consider being a teacher here they must be crazy. Heck I must be crazy myself for not going back to school and becoming a teacher.

Huh, that's funny. Since I actually do the job I always tell my kids that they would be crazy to go into teaching. Between all the government/state/district regulations, not to mention the parents and people like you who think its a cake walk I would hate to think my girls would lose sleep over their job like I do. I figure that if you are going to go to grad school and rack up $$$$$$ in student loans then you should at very least have a job where you are respected.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Huh, that's funny. Since I actually do the job I always tell my kids that they would be crazy to go into teaching. Between all the government/state/district regulations, not to mention the parents and people like you who think its a cakewalk I would hate to think my girls would lose sleep over their job like I do. I figure that if you are going to go to grad school and rack up $$$$$$ in student loans then you should at very least have a job where you are respected.

I'm a teacher and I agree with vellamint.

 

[paigevz]

I'm a teacher and I agree with vellamint.

I love my job. But ANYONE going into it for the "time off" is nuts and won't last five years.

 

[dcgrumpy]

I didn't mean they only do worksheets. But yes in 1st grade they do use worksheets.

 

[Minnie_me]

Huh, that's funny. Since I actually do the job I always tell my kids that they would be crazy to go into teaching. Between all the government/state/district regulations, not to mention the parents and people like you who think its a cake walk I would hate to think my girls would lose sleep over their job like I do. I figure that if you are going to go to grad school and rack up $$$$$$ in student loans then you should at very least have a job where you are respected.

My daughters love working in my classroom with me; they've been coming in on weekends since they were infants!!! I used to set up the playpen in the middle of the room and work away. My older daughter comes over after the Middle School dismisses, and she does centers with my kids and helps with dismissal. She's great at it.

But she doesn't want to be a teacher. She says that she knows I love it, but she doesn't like the way some of the parents treat me, and how hard I work and little money I make. (FTR, I don't complain about the money, but with me as a teacher and her dad as a social worker, she knows there's no big bucks coming in)

 

[MM27]

I just keep telling my kids that if they dont consider being a teacher here they must be crazy. Heck I must be crazy myself for not going back to school and becoming a teacher.

spend the week in a classroom with a teacher before you make that decision. We don't just play with kids from 9-3 and then go home. My mother told my sister and I that all through high school and college. Once we both got teaching jobs she commented about how she never realized how much work it was.

I love my job, but there are many things that you don't see if you are not on the inside. I will be spending my weekend grading quarterly math tests for 44 students. They are 25 pages long consisting of both multiple choice and open ended questions that have to be graded with a rubric. Then I have to make and analyze a spreadsheet so that I can present the data to my principal next week. That is for one subject. Oh yeah, and my planbook is due on Friday as well. But at least report cards are done and have been sent out.

If you believe that teaching is a piece of cake, you must have had teachers that were really well planned and well prepared. You're lucky. The teachers that look like it takes no effort at all are the ones that spend hours and hours preparing just right.