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

[mickeyboat]

There may be posters who don't think a teacher should have one day off. I am not one of those people. But to answer the OP's question, I don't think teachers should plan vacations during the school year, but I would defer to the administration's policies on what is allowed.

And just so it is clear, I do not take my kids out for vacations during the school year. I don't agree with it because as far as I am concerned, I have plenty of other times when vacations can be taken - even if it means DH not getting paid for a week, because summer is his busy time.

I don't buy the argument about families not being able to vacation together because the spouse's job does not allow vacations when the teachers have vacatation time (summers and breaks). Why is it o.k. for the spouse's employer to set these limitations, but not the teacher's employer to do so? There are very good reasons why accountants cannot take time off during tax season and why attorneys cannot take off during a trial. The same reasoning holds true for teachers during the school year. (My opinion would be different if there were no scheduled breaks for long stretches of time during the school year, because everyone needs a break, but in our district, that is not the case).

I do think long term subsititutions (more than a couple of days) have a detrimental effect on a child's educational experience. My daughters' teachers have had an incredibly positive impact on their learning experience. I think it has everything to do with their personalities and teaching styles being so well-matched to my kids' styles, the strong loving, trusting and supportive relationships they have formed with my girls, and the routine and normalcy that they crave in the classroom. The worksheets and lesson plans are not what make them good teachers.

Denae

 

[jrmasm]

I think someone used the word 'seasonal' earlier in this thread. I think that is worth repeating as there is a seasonal aspect to most teachers' jobs.

This is how I see it, if my pool boy works from Memorial Day to Labor Day then it stands to reason that he will not take a vacation during that time period. He might not be able to show up if he's sick or his mother is in the hospital. I have no issue with that. However, it will frost my pumpkin if he decides to head off to Europe or the mountains or the MOA or Disney World during that time period.

 

[babieemelly]

I think someone used the word 'seasonal' earlier in this thread. I think that is worth repeating as there is a seasonal aspect to most teachers' jobs.

This is how I see it, if my pool boy works from Memorial Day to Labor Day then it stands to reason that he will not take a vacation during that time period. He might not be able to show up if he's sick or his mother is in the hospital. I have no issue with that. However, it will frost my pumpkin if he decides to head off to Europe or the mountains or the MOA or Disney World during that time period.

Teachers jobs ARE NOT seasonal. That's such an insulting term, like all they do is sit around and relax for a couple of months and then run off to party the rest of the year. Teachers don't work for two and a half months... they work HARD for ten months and then a lot of teachers work during the summer, too. What happens if a teacher teaches summer school all summer? Then are they "allowed" to take time off during the year? How would you even know if a teacher has worked over the summer or not? It's not fair for anyone to dictate anyone else's career choices, regardless of their field of work. End of story.

 

[jrmasm]

But teachers don't work for two and a half months... they work for ten months and then a lot of teachers work during the summer, too. And they're doing a lot more work than cleaning pools What happens if a teacher teaches summer school all summer? Then are they "allowed" to take time off during the year? How would you even know if a teacher has worked over the summer or not? It's not fair for anyone to dictate anyone else's career choices, regardless of their field of work. End of story.

I knew this would become about the pool boy. That's not the point and you know it. Many if not most jobs do not give long periods of time off work. Teachers in most cases do have at least one extended period of time off during the year. That is the point. But I'm pretty sure you knew that...

 

[mickeyboat]

Who am I to tell people what to do with their own careers, and who are you to do the same?!

It's not fair for anyone to dictate anyone else's career choices, regardless of their field of work. End of story.

I understand your point, however, having been students themselves, teachers understand the nature of their prospective jobs and their schedules before they go into teaching. No one dictated their career choice. Teachers choose teaching for many reasons, and often times the working schedule is one of those reasons. They take the good with the bad (as do many of the rest of the workforce) so they have the possibility to be with their kids when they are out of school.

 

[jrmasm]

Teachers jobs ARE NOT seasonal. That's such an insulting term, like all they do is sit around and relax for a couple of months and then run off to party the rest of the year. Teachers don't work for two and a half months... they work HARD for ten months and then a lot of teachers work during the summer, too. What happens if a teacher teaches summer school all summer? Then are they "allowed" to take time off during the year? How would you even know if a teacher has worked over the summer or not? It's not fair for anyone to dictate anyone else's career choices, regardless of their field of work. End of story.

Wow, you really are looking to be insulted aren't you? What I said is there is a seasonal aspect to a teaching job. As in they teach from Sept (Aug) to May (June). They have an extended summer break every year.

 

[babieemelly]

I knew this would become about the pool boy. That's not the point and you know it. Many if not most jobs do not give long periods of time off work. Teachers in most cases do have at least one extended period of time off during the year. That is the point. But I'm pretty sure you knew that...

Wow, you really are looking to be insulted aren't you? What I said is there is a seasonal aspect to a teaching job. As in they teach from Sept (Aug) to May (June). They have an extended summer break every year.

I took the pool part out of my post before you replied, I didn't want to make it about the pool boy But teaching isn't seasonal, and there are a lot of teachers who don't have an extended amount of time off during the year. That's just a fact. Two of my dad's cousins are teachers and they both teach summer school to help the kid's who need it. Many teachers tutor in the summer or help in the summer programs for the children of working parents. A friend of mine is also a teacher and she gets a complete second job during the summer. Not all teachers just lie around basking in the sun

And who's to determine how much time off is "too much?" My dad gets a whole lot of vacation time off each year and is able to take off an entire month each summer, a week around the holidays, a week in the spring and many single days throughout the year. Several other people working in the media get the same kind of vacation time. Not many people get that much time off, but no one goes around telling my father and his co-workers that they "can't" take off when they want because it's just too much time off and it's not fair. He has the time so he uses it. Most people in Europe get a whole lot of time off and no one's telling them not to use it because it's just "too much." Yes, a lot of teachers have the summer off but telling them not to use their EARNED days off just makes people sound bitter or even jealous of getting the time off

 

[okeydokey]

I have subbed in SEVERAL different states. In MOST cases, there were some worksheets left and movies to show. No real teaching or learning was required by anybody. Often if my kids have subs, they would have been better off staying home that day. Just my experience.

 

[babieemelly]

I understand your point, however, having been students themselves, teachers understand the nature of their prospective jobs and their schedules before they go into teaching. No one dictated their career choice. Teachers choose teaching for many reasons, and often times the working schedule is one of those reasons. They take the good with the bad (as do many of the rest of the workforce) so they have the possibility to be with their kids when they are out of school.

Teachers know what it's like to be in a classroom but it's completely different being on the other side of the desk. It's a lot more work than students, or anyone else, would think. That being said, that has nothing to do with taking time off. No teachers go around taking week after week of school off and just forgetting about their students. They'd be fired if they did. But if a teacher wants to take a few days off for personal reasons, they can. THAT'S part of the deal when you take the job... around here you earn a day off for every month that you work. By knowing what you're getting into, you know that you'll have these days to use. Other people know what they're getting into when it comes to their jobs, as well. They know what kind of vacation time they'll have and they accept this when they sign on. If they're not happy with it then they shouldn't take the job

 

[mickeyboat]

Teachers know what it's like to be in a classroom but it's completely different being on the other side of the desk. It's a lot more work than students, or anyone else, would think. That being said, that has nothing to do with taking time off. No teachers go around taking week after week of school off and just forgetting about their students. They'd be fired if they did. But if a teacher wants to take a few days off for personal reasons, they can. THAT'S part of the deal when you take the job... around here you earn a day off for every month that you work. By knowing what you're getting into, you know that you'll have these days to use. Other people know what they're getting into when it comes to their jobs, as well. They know what kind of vacation time they'll have and they accept this when they sign on. If they're not happy with it then they shouldn't take the job

Sounds like we are not debating on the same page, then. I was addressing the question in the OP and made the assumption that we were talking about vacations, not a personal day or two here and there.

 

[babieemelly]

Sounds like we are not debating on the same page, then. I was addressing the question in the OP and made the assumption that we were talking about vacations, not a personal day or two here and there.

If you want to use your personal days for a vacation, and you're using your EARNED personal days, then yes, you should be able to use them. It's no one business what I use my EARNED PERSONAL days for but mine

 

[mickeyboat]

If you want to use your personal days for a vacation, and you're using your EARNED personal days, then yes, you should be able to use them. It's no one business what I use my EARNED PERSONAL days for but mine

Fine if your administration allows it. But I can completely understand, and agree with an administration who might not allow it.

 

[babieemelly]

Fine if your administration allows it. But I can completely understand, and agree with an administration who might not allow it.

So can I, absolutely. If it's not allowed, or if you don't get many personal days in certain districts, then that's fine as long as days can be used for medical/family emergencies. However, I'm just arguing the point that if teachers DO earn personal days (and around here they do), then they should be able to use them however they want. Whether they want to travel, stay home with their kids or just lay on the couch and watch movies all day, it's no one's business what these days are being used for

 

[jrmasm]

"I took the pool part out of my post before you replied, I didn't want to make it about the pool boy"


Please leave the pool boy out it. I don't want him to quit

"But teaching isn't seasonal, and there are a lot of teachers who don't have an extended amount of time off during the year. That's just a fact. Two of my dad's cousins are teachers and they both teach summer school to help the kid's who need it. Many teachers tutor in the summer or help in the summer programs for the children of working parents. A friend of mine is also a teacher and she gets a complete second job during the summer. Not all teachers just lie around basking in the sun "


But it is seasonal. Just because some teachers chose to work during their summer vacations does not mean it's not still summer vacation. I could chose to work a 2nd job after my 9-5 and that would be a choice I make. I try really hard not to whine about the choices I make.

"And who's to determine how much time off is "too much?" My dad gets a whole lot of vacation time off each year and is able to take off an entire month each summer, a week around the holidays, a week in the spring and many single days throughout the year. Several other people working in the media get the same kind of vacation time. Not many people get that much time off, but no one goes around telling my father and his co-workers that they "can't" take off when they want because it's just too much time off and it's not fair. He has the time so he uses it. Most people in Europe get a whole lot of time off and no one's telling them not to use it because it's just "too much." Yes, a lot of teachers have the summer off but telling them not to use their EARNED days off just makes people sound bitter or even jealous of getting the time off "

I never said anything about "too much". What I've been trying to saying is that I think its reasonable to expect that someone who has an extended, scheduled period of time off every year would use that time for their travel.

 

[babieemelly]

But it is seasonal. Just because some teachers chose to work during their summer vacations does not mean it's not still summer vacation. I could chose to work a 2nd job after my 9-5 and that would be a choice I make. I try really hard not to whine about the choices I make.

I never said anything about "too much". What I've been trying to saying is that I think its reasonable to expect that someone who has an extended, scheduled period of time off every year would use that time for their travel.

No one's whining When teacher's choose to work during the summer then that's their own choice and I've never heard anyone whine about it. The only one's whining are the ones who don't want teachers to use their earned personal days, because for some reason they think they own the lives of people simply because they're teachers. Makes no sense to me, but anyway... everyone keeps saying that teacher's shouldn't take time off during the year (or that it's "unreasonable" for them to) because of their summer vacation. Not all teacher's have a summer vacation, so do they deserve no time off at all?! No one's forcing them to work during the summer but a lot of people do choose to, and they should be able to get time off when they need it just like every one else does. Again, until it's OK for me to tell you when you're allowed to take time off, don't tell me when I am

 

[jrmasm]

No one's whining

Sorry but

I don't think I should tell you when you can take time off. I think your administration should. And I think your administration should expect you to be reasonable.

I have enough days to take more than a month also but I would never do it. It's just not reasonable.

 

[babieemelly]

Sorry but

I don't think I should tell you when you can take time off. I think your administration should. And I think your administration should expect you to be reasonable.

I have enough days to take more than a month also but I would never do it. It's just not reasonable.

The only one's whining are the people saying that teacher's get too much time off as it is so they shouldn't be allowed to take any more. I can't say it enough... mind your own business. My administration allows me to take days off. If I earn my days off I can use them for whatever I want, regardless of whether or not other people find it "reasonable." Use or don't use your own days off as you wish and don't worry about other people.

 

[mickeyboat]

I can't say it enough... mind your own business. If I earn my days off I can use them for whatever I want, regardless of whether or not other people find it "reasonable." Use or don't use your own days off as you wish and don't worry about other people.

While I agree you should be able to use the days the administration says you can, it is my business when you are my child's teacher. It affects me - just as my pool boy being on vacation affects me, or the doctor being on vacation affects me, or me being on vacation affects the people I work with and our customers.

And jrmasm and I are not making a determination as to what is a reasonable use of your time, we are only saying that if an administration says it is not reasonable to use a certain amount of time for a certain purpose, we can understand why.

 

[paigevz]

I have an idea. Let's all vacation together and discuss this over tropical drinks by the pool.

 

[babieemelly]

While I agree you should be able to use the days the administration says you can, it is my business when you are my child's teacher. It affects me - just as my pool boy being on vacation affects me, or the doctor being on vacation affects me, or me being on vacation affects the people I work with and our customers.

Good teacher's don't just leave. As I've said before, good teacher's don't only leave work for their students when they're gone, but they also prepare their students to be able to function without the teacher being there. There are far bigger problems if a child can't function in school for a few days without their primary teacher being there. And I've also said before that if an administration doesn't allow personal days, then fine. But most do. And when doctor's, pool boys or any other person with a job goes on vacation people don't automatically jump down their throats for it. Teacher's are people with personal lives just like everyone else and sometimes they need to take days off for whatever reason. It's unfair and unreasonable to demand otherwise. That's all I'm saying.