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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Term time holidays/Striking teachers.

193 replies

vexedfoxy · 22/03/2014 20:52

Am I being unreasonable when I become exercised when I hear parents are fined for taking their children out of school in term time for holidays (when perchance they cannot take time off work in school holidays) and then I hear teachers planning to go on strike...how does one beat the square of 'every day at school is vital no matter how young the child is' in to a circle when suddenly a teachers salary and conditions over ride this and parents have to take time off work to arrange child care cover. Discuss.

OP posts:
Boaty · 22/03/2014 21:20

To be fair to OP the schools shutting at a snow flake falling annoyed me..I still had to go to work. When poor weather is forecast we are 'advised' to plan to get to work! even if customers weren't likely to get to the retail park anyway

BIWI · 22/03/2014 21:20

vexedfoxy - what do you do for a living?

Original poster
vexedfoxy · 22/03/2014 21:21

That is interesting because around here h/t blames LEA and vice a versa (I should add I have not taken children out of school despite the fact my two busiest times at work are Easter and summer holiday time. At these times I can never take holiday. )

OP posts:
Original poster
vexedfoxy · 22/03/2014 21:24

I can't quite see what I do for a living has to do with it to be honest? I work in the private sector (and no that does not me I earn a fortune and have expensive holidays and flash cars)

OP posts:
Pipbin · 22/03/2014 21:24

In very very simple terms - the teacher goes on strike and NO CHILD in their class is taught that day. No child has missed a days teaching because there wasn't a days teaching to miss.
A child goes on holiday for a week and EVERY OTHER CHILD in their class is taught for a whole week. The child who has gone on holiday misses a whole week of teaching.

And just to confirm what others have said, teachers are not striking because they want more chocolatey biscuits for the staff room, or even for a massive pay rise. They are striking for YOUR CHILD'S EDUCATION which some people seem to think has the value of a week in the sun.

Hulababy · 22/03/2014 21:25

The Government sets the rule re term time holidays.
The LEA upholds tat rule and is the body which sends out fines.

The teachers have nothing to do with the decision to grant authorised or unauthorised absences. It is not part of their job.

Therefore the discussion you want is irrelevant. The two are not linked.

snowmummy · 22/03/2014 21:25

Ffs its not the teachers who say you can't take term time holidays. The person who made that rule is the same one who's wrecking the education system and that's why teacher's are striking.

FloozeyLoozey · 22/03/2014 21:26

If they're concerned about the quality of children's education, why deny them a day? Strikes just penalise children and parents. Politicians don't give a shit. There are plenty of civil servants who aren't allowed to strike, teachers should be one of them.

Original poster
vexedfoxy · 22/03/2014 21:26

Schools closing for snow is a whole new can of worms which I don't propose to open tonight.

OP posts:
NearTheWindymill · 22/03/2014 21:27

I got slammed on the other thread but I agree with the OP.

BIWI · 22/03/2014 21:27

Of course it's relevant to ask what you do. Because I want to know why you don't believe in striking

HanSolo · 22/03/2014 21:28

How do you think you got holiday pay, sick pay, maternity pay?
Bountiful benefactors that ran factories? Or organised withdrawal of labour?

Hmm
PansBigChainring · 22/03/2014 21:29

Near your ignorance meant you 'slammed' yourself on that other thread.

Original poster
vexedfoxy · 22/03/2014 21:29

Interesting point Pipbin but with that argument if teachers never went to work then not one day would be missed....I assume you were being humorous.

OP posts:
Pipbin · 22/03/2014 21:29

To be fair to OP the schools shutting at a snow flake falling annoyed me..I still had to go to work. When poor weather is forecast we are 'advised' to plan to get to work!*

Firstly, when did that last happen? Did you know that schools now get fined if they close due to snow?
Also, lets imagine that say, 5 teachers in a 12 class school can't get in because unlike the children who actually go to the school they live anything up to about an hour away. That means that there are 150 children with no one to teach them, or supervise them. If someone can't get into an office job because of snow then their work can just wait until the next day. If you are a teacher then it can't wait.
Anyway, last time we had snow, our school stayed open but only half the children turned up.

superlambanana · 22/03/2014 21:29

OP you do know that teachers who strike don't get paid for that day, right? So it's a bit like they're being fined...yes?

Somersaults · 22/03/2014 21:30

Why, exactly, should teachers not be allowed to strike? Am I not allowed to exercise my right to make my opinions on changes to my working conditions known? Conditions which I believe will adversely affect my ability to do my job well. We're talking about the loss of one day, for which I will not get paid, to prevent a negative impact on every day's education in the future.

mercibucket · 22/03/2014 21:30

go research the history of the working classes then come back and explain why you think enlightened employers gave us all our cool workers rights, rather than had to give them due to, among other actions, strikes.

Silkyandmoonface · 22/03/2014 21:30

Teachers are striking to protect the education of children like yours OP.
Apart from all the other appalling changes to education in England, if teachers pay and conditions are completely decimated-who will want to become teachers?
You will not get good graduates going into teaching in the future because they won't be able to afford to. You will be left with the poorly qualified and inexperienced educating in state schools. Wonderful. And (some) PARENTS are complaining about teachers trying to protect education-jeez!
You should be grateful that professionals are willing to strike to protect the future education of your children OP.
Arghhhhhhh

mummymeister · 22/03/2014 21:30

Hulababy "....The teachers have nothing to do with the decision to grant authorised or unauthorised absences. It is not part of their job...." read the legislation. it is very clear. the h/t alone can grant absence as authorised in exceptional circumstances. not the LEA. not the governors. not gove. the h/t. This is from the Dept for Educations website.

"Headteachers have the discretion to grant leave, but they should only do so in exceptional circumstances. If a headteacher grants a leave request, it will be for them to determine the length of time that the child can be away from school. This leave is unlikely, however, to be granted for the purposes of a family holiday.

Parents can be fined for taking their child on holiday during term time without consent from the school."

Couldn't be clearer in my opinion. it is the head teachers decision.

Pipbin · 22/03/2014 21:30

Interesting point Pipbin but with that argument if teachers never went to work then not one day would be missed....I assume you were being humorous.

I assume that you are being deliberately obtuse.

Original poster
vexedfoxy · 22/03/2014 21:30

BIWI...It would matter not what I did for a job I don't agree with strikes full stop. I believe people should talk not walk.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 22/03/2014 21:31

mummymeister

The head teachers are not allowed to grant leave apart from in exceptional circs like a funeral.

That's in my dh's state secondary.

In the private school I work at they do - they can do what they like mostly.

Sirzy · 22/03/2014 21:32

For the record I do not agree with anyone striking whatever industry/private/public sector they are in.

So people should sit back and be treated badly by their employers? Do you think such a decision is taken lightly by people?

Abbierhodes · 22/03/2014 21:32

LOL at getting deleted for calling the OP a numpty! I have another post calling someone a dickhead that has been allowed to stand. This site gets more ridiculous by the day!

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