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

[Blondy876]

I'm a teacher and I agree with vellamint.

That's interesting because knowing what I do about the school system after being in it for 10 years I would never choose classroom teaching again. That's not to say that I don't like my job and students but I would find another way. I would still choose to work with children in some capacity but I would not choose to be a classroom teacher again.

 

[Blondy876]

My daughters love working in my classroom with me; they've been coming in on weekends since they were infants!!!

Mine too. I just know how much things have changed over the last decade and I can't imagine what it will be like in 15 years when my dd's would be starting out.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

It wouldn't bother me at all if a teacher took a one week vacation during the school year.

 

[declansdad]

I understand this, but just as it is o.k. for the spouse's job to limit when vacation can be taken, why isn't it o.k. for the school to limit when their employees take vacation? I guess it is a choice that you and your DH made as to your professions, not the fault of the school or the parents, that your family has a hard time taking family vacations together.

I am not being hard-nosed - I feel the school district should be able to set whatever policy it wants, but I am of the opinion that students miss out when their regular teacher is not there. I generally do not favor pulling kids out for vacations, either.

Denae

So you and your family should be able to take vacations when it best suits you but your children's teacher should not be able to do the same??


For what it's worth, I don't think teachers or students should take time off during the school year. Heck, I don't even think teachers should retire during te school year. However, I also realize that every situation is different and that has to be taken in to consideration.

 

[famofsix]

it really doesn't bother me if the teacher needs to take a reasonable amount of time off as long as there is a competent sub in place.

 

[ticktock]

I wasn't going to touch this one. Actually turned off the Dis to keep myself from responding, but I was drawn back against my better judgment.

It has been proven again and again that when a teacher is absent from their room, for whatever reason, be it sick leave or one of those stupid useless seminars, that it is academically a wasted day. So if you take a week off to go to Disney at a slow time you are taking a week of learning away from your classroom. I would think that these statistics would make you feel all warm and fuzzy, you're so needed, right?

Anyway, I have seen this on more than one occasion. My DS had one teacher who was gone for about 2/3 of the year off and on. Yes she had a baby. Good for her, but then she took off several weeks to move into a new house? Then she took off a couple weeks to help her parents do something? If she knew she was going to miss all that time(and she had planned it from the begining, she TOLD me) why didn't she stand aside and let another permenant teacher have the place? Because she is a selfish cow that's why. 90% of the students in her class that year came in way under their usually test scores and the next year they were far behind the other students who had a normal teacher.

My DS also had a science teacher for 6th grade that took off huge chunks of time of to be certified as a science teacher (they sent home a letter saying she was doing this, yes she was already teaching a class that she had no training for) apparently it didn't occur to her to do this training over the summer, cause she doesn't get paid then I guess? Oh, she had taught the same class the year before so she kew she would need the training, but hey, why not take it during the school year and steal that time away from the students instead of cluttering up her summer vacation with work. Then she took off even more time to have an elective surgery done on her daughter. This wasn't a health related surgery, the child was born with a minor facial deformity and while I felt for her she didn't need to abandon her students in the last month of school before finals to have this done to a child that wasn't old enough to know she wasn't fine the way she was (and I thought she was fine anyway, but that's just IMHO I don't think everyone should look like a barbie doll). She could have waited another month and a half, it wouldn't have hurt her daughter and she would have actually fufilled her obligations, radical concept huh?

I had several parents who are in the business world mention to me that if they had an employee that was supposed to interact with a client on a personal level (gee like a teacher?) and that employee couldn't perform that duty for WHATEVER reason that duty would be taken away from that employee. Both of the teachers I mentioned would not be able to keep a job in the real world. Only in the ivory towers of academia are your rights considered more important then your responsibilities. That last sentence was said to me by a woman who works in the school system BTW.

 

[declansdad]

Does a teacher have the same rights to a vacation with their family? Simply, no. Teaching is supposed to be a full-time job. They may not get three months off in the summer, but they do get more than most people in addition to another week at Christmas (at least), Spring Break, etc. I have nothing against teachers having breaks, but take your vacations during your breaks (like any other job), not while you’re supposed to be working.

Children have those same vacation times. The rest of the time they are commited to being in class. I guess they shouldn't take time off for trips either.

 

[basas]

Children have those same vacation times. The rest of the time they are commited to being in class. I guess they shouldn't take time off for trips either.

Students aren't employees with full time jobs.

 

[Blondy876]

Because she is a selfish cow that's why.

Gee, I wonder why people leave the profession.

cause she doesn't get paid then I guess?

So you go to work for free?

(and I thought she was fine anyway, but that's just IMHO I don't think everyone should look like a barbie doll).

So the teacher should have put her family last because you deemed her child ok. Perhaps there was more to the story than you REALLY knew. This is her child you are talking about. Any person that would place their job above their own child, their own flesh and blood is not a person I would want in a classroom.

I am terribly sorry that you and your child have had such awful experiences, however I think it is unbelievable that people expect teachers to put their jobs above anything and everything else. I just don't understand it.

 

[Minnie_me]

It has been proven again and again that when a teacher is absent from their room, for whatever reason, be it sick leave or one of those stupid useless seminars, that it is academically a wasted day.

It's been proven? By whom? Do you have a link to the proof? As I've said before in other posts, we are required to leave detailed sub plans (it takes me hours). The subs are required to carry them out and to leave the teacher feedback on how the day went. We are not allowed to fill the day with worksheets and videos and games. Ever.

That said, teachers are people. We need to take days off of work just like you do. We get sick (sicker than most, since parents send their kids to school sick and they infect us), our kids get sick, we have deaths in the family, we have babies, we have personal issues. Just like everybody else.

My DS also had a science teacher for 6th grade that took off huge chunks of time of to be certified as a science teacher (they sent home a letter saying she was doing this, yes she was already teaching a class that she had no training for) apparently it didn't occur to her to do this training over the summer, cause she doesn't get paid then I guess? Oh, she had taught the same class the year before so she kew she would need the training, but hey, why not take it during the school year and steal that time away from the students instead of cluttering up her summer vacation with work. Then she took off even more time to have an elective surgery done on her daughter. This wasn't a health related surgery, the child was born with a minor facial deformity and while I felt for her she didn't need to abandon her students in the last month of school before finals to have this done to a child that wasn't old enough to know she wasn't fine the way she was (and I thought she was fine anyway, but that's just IMHO I don't think everyone should look like a barbie doll). She could have waited another month and a half, it wouldn't have hurt her daughter and she would have actually fufilled her obligations, radical concept huh?

As far as your DS's Science teacher, that was not her fault - - it was clearly the fault of your district for hiring a teacher who wasn't certified! Also, I've never known a surgeon to schedule surgery when the patient wants it done. It's always the decision of the surgeon, on his/her schedule.

I had several parents who are in the business world mention to me that if they had an employee that was supposed to interact with a client on a personal level (gee like a teacher?) and that employee couldn't perform that duty for WHATEVER reason that duty would be taken away from that employee. Both of the teachers I mentioned would not be able to keep a job in the real world. Only in the ivory towers of academia are your rights considered more important then your responsibilities. That last sentence was said to me by a woman who works in the school system BTW.

I'll turn the tables on you here. I had the CEO of a big company spend a day in my classroom a few years ago. She came to my Kindergarten classroom in her Donna Karan suit and 3-inch heels. She whined and complained about not being able to sit down, getting paint on her skirt, needing to go to the bathroom and get some coffee at 10:00 (but, sorry! I can't pee when I want to --- I have to wait until NOON every day! NO MATTER WHAT). She was upset that she couldn't check her email, she wanted to make some phone calls. And on and on and on. She wouldn't survive in the education field, and yet she was hugely successful in the corporate world. Go figure.

 

[declansdad]

Students aren't employees with full time jobs.

No they are not employees but they are required to be in a class of some sort. Breaks are scheduled so that they do have time off, so why not use those?

If a teacher is allowed to take time off and they chose to do so, so be it. It is no different than you scheduling your time off.

 

[basas]

No they are not employees but they are required to be in a class of some sort. Breaks are scheduled so that they do have time off, so why not use those?

If a teacher is allowed to take time off and they chose to do so, so be it. It is no different than you scheduling your time off.

An individual student taking time off doesn’t affect anyone but the student. It’s the student (and ultimately the parents) responsibility for their own education. An absent teacher affects the entire class, including students and parents who expect that teacher to be present in the classroom while school is in session (with some exceptions, of course). If a student in one of my kid’s classes went on a vacation, I couldn’t care less. No other student is affected and it’s the parent’s business; if the student can’t catch up when they return, it’s their own fault. I would not be happy though if I found out the teacher scheduled a week long family-trip to Disney World during classes, especially when I am paying for that teacher to be in the classroom and Spring Break is just around the corner. Now the entire class is being affected. To be honest, I don’t think any of the parents I know would find this acceptable.

 

[ticktock]

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."

There are ALOT of people in America who have to make those types of sacrifices. My mother left me home alone sick and she waited on non emergency related medical procedures for slow times at work when she wouldn't be missed.

If your going into the teaching field you should know that your precence is IMPORTANT. You can't be replaced by someone who doesn't understand how you run your class and doesn't know your kids.

A day or two once in a while for emergencies is one thing (and a LUXURY that alot of other working people don't have,so excuse me if I don't weep for teachers) Taking time off for vacations or getting your house in order after moving (what? my mom worked 60 hrs a week and then moved us on the weekend by herself) or because you want to spend HALF the school year with your new baby,that half taken out of the middle, so you're there for the first and last couple of months, with about 10 different subs brought in during the interum because if they hire someone long term you get kicked off the books and gee you're more important then the kids right? That is something else and it does happen.I've seen it and worse.

 

[declansdad]

An individual student taking time off doesn’t affect anyone but the student. It’s the student (and ultimately the parents) responsibility for their own education. An absent teacher affects the entire class, including students and parents who expect that teacher to be present in the classroom while school is in session (with some exceptions, of course). If a student in one of my kid’s classes went on a vacation, I couldn’t care less. No other student is affected and it’s the parent’s business; if the student can’t catch up when they return, it’s their own fault. I would not be happy though if I found out the teacher scheduled a week long family-trip to Disney World during classes, especially when I am paying for that teacher to be in the classroom and Spring Break is just around the corner. Now the entire class is being affected. To be honest, I don’t think any of the parents I know would find this acceptable.

A student that misses classes affects more than himself. The teacher needs to work with that student to get them caught up when they return. If they were part of a group, the absence affects the group. If they were part of a team (academic or athletic), it affect the team as well.

If you are taking a child out of class because that is the only time a family vacation can be scheduled, ok I can see that. If you are taking a child out of class because you want to go when it is cheaper, less crowded, or cooler; save up longer or look for a less expensive vacation. I would apply the same logic to a teacher.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Then she took off even more time to have an elective surgery done on her daughter. This wasn't a health related surgery, the child was born with a minor facial deformity and while I felt for her she didn't need to abandon her students in the last month of school before finals to have this done to a child that wasn't old enough to know she wasn't fine the way she was (and I thought she was fine anyway, but that's just IMHO I don't think everyone should look like a barbie doll). She could have waited another month and a half, it wouldn't have hurt her daughter and she would have actually fufilled her obligations, radical concept huh?

So teaching is her ONLY responibility? I don't think so. Her child comes first, regardless of what you think. You're putting your child first in your eyes, and she is putting her child first in hers. I can't believe that you feel that her daughter isn't her obligation, that your child comes first. That is insane and completely inappropriate. Who are you to say that it wasn't 'medically necessary? While the teacher was out, did you work with your child at home during the evening?

An individual student taking time off doesn’t affect anyone but the student. It’s the student (and ultimately the parents) responsibility for their own education. An absent teacher affects the entire class, including students and parents who expect that teacher to be present in the classroom while school is in session (with some exceptions, of course). If a student in one of my kid’s classes went on a vacation, I couldn’t care less. No other student is affected and it’s the parent’s business; if the student can’t catch up when they return, it’s their own fault. I would not be happy though if I found out the teacher scheduled a week long family-trip to Disney World during classes, especially when I am paying for that teacher to be in the classroom and Spring Break is just around the corner. Now the entire class is being affected. To be honest, I don’t think any of the parents I know would find this acceptable.

But it's ok for you to pull your child out (and for you to take time off from your job any time you want) to go to WDW? I don't see the difference. Another teacher comes in and takes her place - however when you pull your child from school, nobody is there to take her place.

There are ALOT of people in America who have to make those types of sacrifices. My mother left me home alone sick and she waited on non emergency related medical procedures for slow times at work when she wouldn't be missed.

A day or two once in a while for emergencies is one thing (and a LUXURY that alot of other working people don't have,so excuse me if I don't weep for teachers)

So, my sister shouldn't schedule her knee surgery because she's going to miss a few days of school and it's not an emergancy? Once again, who are you to say if it's an emergancy or not? So when my dad had his heart attack, he should have waited until the weekend to have his stint put in that saved his life so he wouldn't miss any school time? Funny thing is that it was a set of parents who drove him to have the heart attack in the first place.

Unless you've been a teacher, don't call their job a luxury. Trust me, I could NEVER be a teacher. If you think it's easy, go back to school and get your education degree, then see if their job is so easy.

 

[vellamint]

I work for the school district that my kids go to ..no I am not a teacher.....just a tax payer who's school taxes are choking me (and all my neighbors and the senior citizens but I digress).

I think a good teacher is wonderful....nothing and I mean nothing will get a child to learn better than a teacher who loves their job.

BUT if you are being paid X amount of dollars to be a teacher - the way it is explained to me.....is that .... even though you have the summer off you are getting paid for it. So that is your paid vacation time? This is in addition to your being able to work through the summer in summer school if you choose. This in addition to only being required to teach 5 out of 9 class periods. 40 minute classes x 5 classes a day equals how many hours........I understand the need for prep periods but if you teach the same few classes I would think the lesson plans remain for the most part the same - although I can see the need for time for grading tests.

Oh and my kids guidance counselor - the really great one that they had for 2 years? She left to take a permanent position in another district because she was a "leave" replacement (who even knew). THe woman that went out on maternity leave that she was subbing for.....decided to have another baby before she even came back from maternity leave from the first one........is that fair to my kids? All the other kids have the same guidance counselor throughout ..... I think we should all be teachers in my school district!!!

Like I said - we have some really, really great teachers........but NO teachers should not take vacations during the school year........And no....they are not allowed to in my district......neither am I even though I am not instructional....and I agree with it.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

If the there were ten subs then it's the school's fault not the teachers. They are the one who get the subs not the teacher. And AMEN to the above!!

 

[daisyduck123]

BUT if you are being paid X amount of dollars to be a teacher - the way it is explained to me.....is that .... even though you have the summer off you are getting paid for it.

You are not getting it at all.

As a teacher, I am paid for 194 days....180 days that the kids are in school & 10 days during the school year (conferences/inservices/professional development).

I am not paid any amount for the days I'll be off this summer (about 7 weeks).

 

[aprilgail2]

You are not getting it at all.

As a teacher, I am paid for 194 days....180 days that the kids are in school & 10 days during the school year (conferences/inservices/professional development).

I am not paid any amount for the days I'll be off this summer (about 7 weeks).

Yes but teachers are paid 60,000(at the LOW end of the pay scale for teachers here, most make much more!) + for 180 days of work, thats a darn nice salary for half a years work! 333 a day doesn't sound to bad in my book!

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I work for the school district that my kids go to ..no I am not a teacher.....just a tax payer who's school taxes are choking me (and all my neighbors and the senior citizens but I digress).

I think a good teacher is wonderful....nothing and I mean nothing will get a child to learn better than a teacher who loves their job.

If you work for the school district where your children attend, then your salary is also being paid by your taxes. My parents are in the same situation.

But what if that teacher who is wonderful and loves his/her job has an opportunity to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip during the school year, would that make them any less of a teacher? Personally, I don't think so.