How do you answer those who say

[PlaymobilPirate]

'Teachers should try working all year like I do...'

And few sly digs have appeared on Facebook (not aimed at me, I've not mentioned the holidays)

I teach NEET teens, many with very, very challenging behaviour - I'm shattered and definitely feel like we need the break. I know that other people work hard too, I don't think any teacher disputes that... it's hard to describe how mentally tiring it is to try to motivate, manage and challenge teens whose natural reaction to anything they consider difficult is to 'kick off' though.
I'm not planning on biting with regard to the Facebook stuff.. just wondering how others deal with comments.

[OneDayIWillBeOrganised]

In response to that kind of comment I say, 'teachers do get loads of holidays. I don't know why more people don't do it. Why don't you give it a go?'
Usually shuts them up

[MsMermaid]

I generally say "yes, teacher holidays are great, maybe you should retrain as one"

I don't get comments very often, but I do know that justifying the holidays just gets people's backs up. They hear it as whining that teachers work oh so hard, when we all know that there are loads of jobs where you work really hard. So I don't even try to justify the length of the holidays.

[Helbelle75]

I like that oneday I reckon people would last an hour tops into a teaching day before tearing their hair out. Our job take smelting tasking to a completely different level I think.

[PlaymobilPirate]

Bugger - double posted... not sure how to report!

[pointysnip]

I'm a lecturer in HE and occasionally do outreach in schools teaching...i find just a day in statutory education melts my brain and I need a lie down for a few days or so. You need ALL those holiday !