AIBU to think that a headteacher shouldn't go on holiday during term time

[iwenttohollywoodtoo]

I found out today that the headteacher at DD's school is on holiday abroad and won't be in school until tomorrow.

Technically she has only missed two days so AIBU to think this is out of order, especially given that the school has a policy of not authorising holidays for pupils.

Like many other parents would do, I booked a flight a day earlier when we went away at Xmas (at significant extra £), to make sure DD didn't miss school .

I am to be honest. AIBU?

Of course there are many reasonable reasons why a teacher or head would take some term days off work, I just think that the parents are entitled to be given the reason - no more gossip. No one has anything to hide, to me it is just manners. If a child has to be off school for a legitimate reason, then isn't it just polite to inform the teacher what the reason is?
Many of the comments about teachers rights, and pupils obligations to be in school gave a picture more like a prison. If children can't have a mars bar in school, then the teacher shouldn't eat one in front of them.

I don't have children in school either - this just seems 'common' sense to me.

And seems utterly ridiculous to me.

Ridiculous!
So a teacher has to tell all their pupil parents their personal information? Nonsense. Manners don't come into it at all. They need to tell their employer, no one else. It is no one else's business at all. Lets face it - only reason a parent wants to know is to be nosy nothing more.

Feenie, Hulababy - are you teachers?

Yes. I believe Hulababy is also a teacher-turned -TA.

What's the point in having deputy heads then if not assist and step up when the head isn't there? Everything that needed to be done round have been done either by the head before he/she went or by the staff that had been appointed to fill in. No classes were left in taught and the school didn't fall apart.

Quite frankly the reasons behind the holiday are none of our business.

Un taught

Lisbeth, if the parents want to put an end to the playground gossip, maybe they should stop gossiping in the playground.

Give kids more credit. My class might see a diet coke in my lunch bag, but they're sensible enough not to start wailing how "unfair" it is that I'm "allowed" a fizzy drink.

And if people are like this over two days then what happens when a HT goes on maternity leave? Deputy head could be in charge a whole year then.

Exactly, Suffolk. All that needs to be made public is that you're absent, children will be appropriately covered and they will still be given suitable work.
Another circumstance where I wouldn't want the reason for my absence made public is interviewing for other posts.

When my dd, as a pupil, was off school with a breakdown she didn't have to tell all the other children in the school and their parents, only the people who were in charge of attendance.

A teacher who is off school will also have to give the real reason to the people in charge, not to the entire community.

StuffezLaYoni Lisbeth, if the parents want to put an end to the playground gossip, maybe they should stop gossiping in the playground

this is a very good post.

and this one:

cory A teacher who is off school will also have to give the real reason to the people in charge, not to the entire community.

some of the posters do need to get a grip. and stop gossiping. because that is all it is.

I suspect it is more than a holiday .

I recently had a miscarriage and had the absolute bare minimum time off. During my time off I worked from home every day.

I did however go and stay with a relative for a few days because I have four children at home and I live in the middle of catchment and am well known in my community. I needed space to grieve and recover . Word got out that I had gone away and was on "holiday ".

Not long after I was approached in a pub , where I was having a meal with my family , and was asked by a parent why I felt I had the right to take time off to go on holiday .

I suspect she thought she had the information from a good source.

Shock horror. Sue the school.

I understand that a child's education will not suffer from 2 days absence on the part of a HT, and of course we are entitled to our privacy. I would be happy with an explanation of 'health reasons' - even if I met the same teacher in the gym later that day. There would be many reasons, not my business, why a person could go for a swim but not be able to mange and teach a class of students. If on the other hand I met a teacher, who was off without explanation, in the gym, I would probably certainly gossip speculate with other parents as to what was going on.

My issue is cultures within organisations. Whatever is OK for the HT has to be OK for the other teachers and the students. Michael O Leary is rude, the staff of Ryanair are rude (if the phone in complaints to the radio are to be believed.)

Teachers are paid to provide a service. Imagine if you showed up at your hairdresser for your appointment to be told 'X is not here but I would be happy to do your hair instead'. Wouldn't 'X has had to leave as; she wasn't well/due to a family emergency etc. but I would be happy to do your hair instead' be more conciliatory/polite. By the same token if I wanted to cancel my appointment, I would give some explanation.

I asked DP about this thread as he is a HT. his best guess was:

1. HT take time off for unavoidable personal reasons.
2. someone in the office tells a parent the HT, is on holiday, i.e. not at work. they probably don't even know the details.
3. gossip spreads ...

....and I added the last bit.... between dumb ass parents who don't understand the difference between speculation/gossip and reality.

well I hope the HT earns lots

But reverse it for a second lis

Imagine that you were told you couldn't have a day off despite the fact that there was someone else just as capable and just as good to cover for you. That you jad trained up for exactky that purpose. And that the reason they refused was not because it would have any affect on the how smoothly things would run but because of how it would be perceived by others.

I have the same hairdresser every time I go, he was away last time I went and someone else cut my hair, I coped. It did not occur to me to pry about his absence.

Arisbottle I'm not explaining myself very well.
My children have not started school yet, but when they do, if their teacher was off for 'health' reasons, I would consider it rude on my part to talk about that situation and I would not condone for a moment what happened to you. I would like to know a teacher is absent for x reason (a generic explanation) and what alternative arrangements are being made.

lisbeth "Whatever is OK for the HT has to be OK for the other teachers and the students"
Utter bollocks!
I'm a teacher; I can't tell my head what to do, and the children can't tell me what to do!
The same rules DO NOT apply - this has been gone over several times in the thread. Children are pupils, who are required to stick to rules as set by the government, LA and the school. Teachers and heads are employed by the LA and are ruled by the 'terms and conditions' of their contracts and general employment law.

you cannot reasonably compare 1 haircut (that you personally pay for) with someone's entire career).

its just silly to do so.

All of my classes were told that I was seriously unwell and would be off for at least a week. There was still gossip about me being on holiday because I must have been lying and wanted a jolly.