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

[polkadotminnie]

If you don't feel you're making enough money, look for another job.

You better hope that all the teachers that feel they are not making enough money don't get a better paying job as there would not be many teachers left.

 

[castleview]

Then maybe you should have become a teacher!! And ow do you get 10 days as half a year's work??? Don't people in other jobs have the weekends off too-- you gotta compare apples with apples.

Plus it's more than 180 days - that's the amount the kids have to be there. Teachers have plenty of professional development days.

$333 per day might sound good, but if you live in the Northeast where the cost of living is crazazy - it's not that great.

 

[creativeamanda]

Because I work year-round. If I didn’t use “vacation days”, I would never get a vacation.



If you don't feel you're making enough money, look for another job.

Those 2 statement really chap my hide. I am a teacher who is employed 210 days by my local school district. If you work year round, with no vacation time, you have 260 days. I also give up my Spring Break, 4th of July break, and New Year's week to help other teachers get their paperwork in line unpaid for that matter. Just because a teacher has a 190 day contract does not mean they don't work year-round, either. I rarely see a teacher who works their 190 days and that is it. We don't teach for the money, but for the satisfaction of our job.

Last year, I took my 2 (count them--2) personal days to go on a 4-day vacation at Disney world. I arranged my lessons so that my students were reviewing material at the time that would certainly need to be reviewed, and spent the 2 weeks prior to my vacation writing and modifying Powerpoint presentations that my students would learn from. If a teacher takes a day for whatever reason, I can assure you that they work harder preparing for the substitute than they would if the students were not there.

The National Average teacher salary is around $48,000. That is $252 per day, not 323 per day. I don't know of any teachers who make $60,000/year.

 

[va32h]

My son's teacher (2nd grade) has been absent quite a bit this year. Her daughter got married, she was called for jury duty, sick days, dr. appointments...

I like his teacher just fine and I know these things are out of her control for the most part but from a purely selfish standpoint, I also know that my son struggles with his work and really needs the teacher - HIS teacher who knows him and how to work with him - instead of a substitute.

 

[Teacher03]

I plan on using my three personal days next year to go to Disney World to watch my daughter compete for her first college national competition in cheerleading. I really don't care what any of the parents of my students think about it. I give 150% to my classroom and my students, and although I like to think of myself as an outstanding teacher, it will not affect my class if I am with them only 177 days of the year instead of 180. (And I make no where near $60,000, but I'm not complaining. I love my job.)

 

[allison443]

I don't know of any teachers who make $60,000/year.

Maybe you don't know of them, but they certainly exist In NY and NJ, for example... I understand you may not know them personally.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Yes, because the student is not being paid to be at school. As for my job, yes its ok if that is what I want to use my vacation time for. I was always under the impression that teachers had enough holidays that they didn’t need to take even more during the school year.

I admit I haven’t read some of the longer posts, but I don’t see anyone being “nasty” and “snarky” towards teachers? Is expecting them to be teaching unrealistic?

If you think teaching is so easy and that you get so many more days off, then why don't you go try teaching? I know I can't do it...

Since teachers aren't paid for the time that they aren't working (summer), then they do deserve to take personal days (that they earn) during the school year. It's no different than you taking vacation days...at least not in my eyes.

There have been so very nasty and snarky posts on this thread...telling somebody that they don't deserve to take vacation days that they've earned, is nasty in my book. There is also a post a few pages back calling a teacher a 'swine' because she took some time off of school. Calling anybody a swine is snarky and rude.

It's funny...due to my schedule, my boyfriend's work schedule and my dad's work schedule for this summer, we were able to find a week and a half to go to WDW where we will pay full price for our hotel rooms as well as paying for the DDP. We will battle the crowds and the heat because I have two teachers in my family and that is what happens.

So the next time you get a discount code for a hotel room at WDW or free dining in September, just be glad that you're not a teacher because you wouldn't be able to take advantage of it, just like my family can't.

My dad has sacrificed so much over his career for teaching...missing important events in my life and just missing spending family time together. That is something he won't get back. He deserves after 30+ years of service to take a few days off for himself and his family. He may be a teacher, but he is still my dad.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I plan on using my three personal days next year to go to Disney World to watch my daughter compete for her first college national competition in cheerleading. I really don't care what any of the parents of my students think about it. I give 150% to my classroom and my students, and although I like to think of myself as an outstanding teacher, it will not affect my class if I am with them only 177 days of the year instead of 180. (And I make no where near $60,000, but I'm not complaining. I love my job.)

If the children can't function for 3 days without you, then there's a bigger problem and it has nothing to do with you! Sometimes I think people get so upset about teacher's missing school because they don't want to help their children at home. Just a thought.

 

[allison443]

I have never really had any problem with teachers taking vacation time, so I guess it's not that common here, or maybe my kids' school has a rule against it.
There was a second grade teacher in our school who would be out for three or four consecutive days whenever her daughter was sick. The daughter wasn't seriously ill or anything, just ear infections, flu, etc.-normal kid stuff. I think the teacher missed part of 8 or 10 weeks that winter. I know some parents were upset about it, I'm not sure why the school allowed it. I don't know many jobs (teaching or non-teaching) where that would be allowed.

I would like to point out that if a teacher is sick, they are allowed to take a day off (I hope no one would dispute that!) In that case, an unexpected absence, they might not have sufficient time to prepare a detailed lesson plan for the sub. At least with a planned vacation absence, the teacher can leave detailed instructions for the class to minimize disruption.

 

[babieemelly]

Because I work year-round. If I didn’t use “vacation days”, I would never get a vacation.

I'm sorry for that, but if teacher's have vacation days they have just as much of a right to use them as you do

It really is sad that some people have so little respect for the men and women who dedicate their lives to helping these same people's children.

 

[creativeamanda]

If you think teaching is so easy and that you get so many more days off, then why don't you go try teaching? I know I can't do it...

Since teachers aren't paid for the time that they aren't working (summer), then they do deserve to take personal days (that they earn) during the school year. It's no different than you taking vacation days...at least not in my eyes.

There have been so very nasty and snarky posts on this thread...telling somebody that they don't deserve to take vacation days that they've earned, is nasty in my book. There is also a post a few pages back calling a teacher a 'swine' because she took some time off of school. Calling anybody a swine is snarky and rude.

It's funny...due to my schedule, my boyfriend's work schedule and my dad's work schedule for this summer, we were able to find a week and a half to go to WDW where we will pay full price for our hotel rooms as well as paying for the DDP. We will battle the crowds and the heat because I have two teachers in my family and that is what happens.

So the next time you get a discount code for a hotel room at WDW or free dining in September, just be glad that you're not a teacher because you wouldn't be able to take advantage of it, just like my family can't.

My dad has sacrificed so much over his career for teaching...missing important events in my life and just missing spending family time together. That is something he won't get back. He deserves after 30+ years of service to take a few days off for himself and his family. He may be a teacher, but he is still my dad.

That was the most impassioned, well-thought, calm, and sophisticated post I have read from a child of a teacher. I hope my children are as intelligent and defensive of my husband and me when they are older.

 

[crazyme5kids]

I have no problem with a teacher taking time off for a vacation with their family, with a friend or by themselves. It's not any of my business.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

That was the most impassioned, well-thought, calm, and sophisticated post I have read from a child of a teacher. I hope my children are as intelligent and defensive of my husband and me when they are older.

Thank you very much...I feel very passionate about the subject, but I do try to remain calm when I'm writing. I'm only speaking the truth and about the life of a teacher's daughter that I have lived up until this point. Sometimes it's great, sometimes it's not...but I do know that my dad has touched many lives over the years and I'm very proud of that fact.

 

[snowy76]

Yes but they’re not being paid to be there.

So that's where that line came from... the parents!

When I hear the kids tell me this, my response is... you ARE getting paid. With a diploma that can help you land a job to feed yourself. Geez. I guess things are only worthwhile if we're getting money for it.

Well great, then. The next time a student emails me or calls me on the weekend with a question... or after 3:15... when I'm not getting paid for it... I'll just tell them I can't help them until Monday.

 

[snowy76]

Maybe you don't know of them, but they certainly exist In NY and NJ, for example... I understand you may not know them personally.

Don't want to answer for Amanda, but... the VAST majority of teachers do not live in the metro NY area and most DISers do not either... so they are speaking from what we can probably consider the majority of communities in this country.

Heck, I live in upstate NYS and make nowhere near what my colleagues in downstate Westchester do. We're talking a difference of about $15K for starting salaries.

 

[Forevryoung]

Don't want to answer for Amanda, but... the VAST majority of teachers do not live in the metro NY area and most DISers do not either... so they are speaking from what we can probably consider the majority of communities in this country.

Heck, I live in upstate NYS and make nowhere near what my colleagues in downstate Westchester do. We're talking a difference of about $15K for starting salaries.

Besides, the COST of LIVING is huge in parts of NY/NJ (I'm on Long Island).

There would be NO teachers if they couldn't house/feed their families on their salaries (as it is they struggle/have 2 income families).

Add to the fact that our property taxes are through the roof and you have your answer to the $60,000 teacher salary (and that's after teaching for awhile!)

 

[Daxx]

That was something you read into it.

You made it sound like you saw NO value in a trip to Africa for the rest of your class so why would I have the impression that you used as a teaching tool.

And, THAT was something that YOU read into as well. Nowhere did I say that the trip was invaluable. If YOU think it sounded that way, then that is YOUR opinion. YOU never asked if I valued her trip ... you ASSUMED.

I just questioned the timing of the trip with the topic of this thread. We're talking about taking time off for vacation ... summer is right around the corner and there would be plenty of time for a 5 week trip. BTW -- if you're going to go on about sick grandparents in Africa, they were here for the month of December and came to the school as a "show and tell".

Any teacher would see the value of using a trip to Africa as a teaching tool. WTH!??!

 

[disneyjunkie]

Here's the salary schedule for NYC teachers

http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres.../25312/SALARYSCHEDULESOCTOBER2007_Teacher.pdf

 

[Daxx]

If you don't feel you're making enough money, look for another job.

You know, when ANYONE else complains about their job on these boards everyone else commisserates. When a teacher complains about their job (whether it be due to a student behavior, difficulties w/admin., difficulties w/parents, etc.) they're told to find a new job. What's up w/that!? Maybe I should just write "Get a new job" every time someone complains about their boss, coworkers, etc. b/c I've seen a lot of those threads on here and not one person says that!!!!!

 

[aprilgail2]

Here's the salary schedule for NYC teachers

http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres.../25312/SALARYSCHEDULESOCTOBER2007_Teacher.pdf

My brother teaches in the city, he is at the bottom of that chart in the high 90,000 range!