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Academic mums - childcare question?

6 replies

phdlife · 30/09/2007 21:13

I'm going back to teaching this semester - just 2 seminars/week, plus 1 student hour.

DH will be taking time off work to watch ds; we don't have anyone else who can do it. His work is, theoretically, big on "family friendly" hours but as he'd be finishing work at 1:30pm on Thursdays he'd have to make up the time elsewhere in the week.

It seems a right faff given that last time I taught in this dept, I saw exactly five students (10mins each) during the entire semester. And that was teaching 2x as many classes! 95% of the time I will be sitting in a room twiddling my thumbs (mumsnetting!) while dh accumulates time owed to his work.

So I'm thinking about asking whether I can have ds (6m) in my office during the student hour. (Or just sneak him in? - though iirc there would be insurance/health & safety issues with this.)

Another option would be to ask whether I can do my student hours via email - I've always preferred this method when working elsewhere, but this dept prefers tutors to do everything face-to-face.

Comments/suggestions, please?

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pigletmaker · 30/09/2007 21:23

I would suggest the email option. If the baby is sleeping everything is fine - but if they suddenly start crying then your student who has the appt is going to be mightily pissed off (possibly) and you may feel distracted / torn about the two things going on in the same room.

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phdlife · 30/09/2007 22:26

hmmm fair point. He's not much of a crier but would no doubt pick the worst possible moment...

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BetsyBoop · 01/10/2007 09:35

most employers say no to kids at work when you are supposed to be working (except in dire emergencies), as it's just that, they are paying you to be working not looking after your child.

That said could you perhaps suggest email support every other week & face to face every other week, that way students who want it have the opportunity of face to face & you DH is only losing time every other week?

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marialuisa · 01/10/2007 10:12

Have to say that our School would definitely not go fo you having the baby in the office every week, or doing office hours by email. We don't have PHD students acting as tutors though, so staff have their kids in childcare anyway IYSWIM.

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marialuisa · 01/10/2007 10:15

Should add that it's partly for insurance reasons...

Could you ask about the email option? If it's academic rather than pastoral tutoring I can't see that many of the students would be bothered. If our lot are anything to go by they just email when they need to anyway.

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phdlife · 01/10/2007 11:07

ooh betsy, alt weeks might work - will e them in and ask.

I know they are paying me to work, marialuisa, but in fact they are actually paying me to sit in a room and wait for some work (ie students) to arrive. I literally don't have anything else to do, as I don't have any other responsibilities.

I'm not a phd student - it's done - I'm an associate tutor - they have just hired me for this little bit of teaching.