to post a friendly reminder about school residential trips?

[ErmNoNoNo]

Seems as good a time as any: lots of school posts (as always in AIBU), the wine is flowing (Friday) and the summer term is coming up (come on weather please)...

It seems every year that there are many parents that are genuinely shocked to find out that teacher and TAs who accompany the class on residential school visits do not get paid a single penny more than their normal wage.

Yes, we volunteer. Yes, we deal with all the tears. Yes, we are on duty 24 hours and sometimes get VERY little sleep. Yes, we deal with the vomit. Yes, we encourage and make sure they get the absolute best out of their time there. Yes, we deal with all medical issues even though, surprisingly we are not qualified. Yes, when its mid-week, we also have to go back into work the next day.

Yes... we would really, really appreciate it if you just say 'thank you', when you pick your child up at he end of it.

(all you REASONABLE parents, I know you do - but honestly, the amount of parents who think we get paid for this would shock you)

This was secondary, as I said before my time. I assume they were perhaps allowing a teacher to go out on a free and then covering their other lesson, either by collapsing two classes into one or giving up their own free.

I have certainly given up a free to cover a colleague going to an event

The only time I ever had a day off for Christmas shopping it was achieved by doing a day's worth of training as twilight sessions and taking the time in lieu. Obviously that didn't affect the pupils so I don't see that it would have been of interest to the parents.

'As us teachers have it so easy with our long holidays and constant stream of flowers and chocolates, I just cannot understand why there is such a shortage and people are not snapping at our heels to do our job? What could possibly be putting them off?'

I've been saying that for years Hermia. Who wouldn't want to play with little children all day and have them breathless with awe at your feet, longing for you to teach them stuff as well?

I still think that the main point is a general one, when people do nice things for someone else, there ought to be a thank you. That's just good manners.

Hag, in secondary we usually have them jumping on the table and shouting "oh captain my captain" at us whenever we leave the room.
the shouting bit is probably true but it's something a bit less complimentary

Of course it's good manners. But you're fighting a losing battle because some parents will always believe that it should be you thanking them for the privilege of looking after their little brats dc.

I hope all the teachers on here have a well earned break. Those of you spending part of your break away from your own families looking after other people's children for no extra remuneration, I hope you are suitably thanked by the parents although I wouldn't be holding my breath

Iggi
Bit like parenting really, the theory and the reality have certain points of divergence.

I always said thank you and made my DDs go and say thank you too.

I do think you're amazing and mad to go on a residential.

But then I'm the sort of parent who also expects their dc to say thank you, for presents, play dates, sleepovers, parties etc etc.

I HATE it when children don't say thank you for things. I don't blame them, but their parents.

Of course I would say thank you, but its not really unique to teaching? Most professions have conferences etc that people have to go to, but don't want to?

Last one we did you were expected to be around from 6.30am till after midnight, admittedly no tears to be dried! But a lot of problem solving, sorting out issues etc, and you don't get paid any extra. I think that's just normal to be honest?

So who did you thank after the conference, Pooties, and who benefited from the time you spent there?

I really don't think general conferences and time away with work is comparable with taking a whole
Load of children away on a residential!

Certainly not from talking to my family and friends who go away for work.

Yes, they both include being away from home and some involve unpaid hours (though most I know get paid some overtime or additional expenses to be away). And yes some involve additional work stresses.

But others don't generally involve dealing with 40 odd teenagers all day and into the night each day!

yes, I know it's whom but it seems poncy to say so on MN.

I went away for a conference once, they had room service, ensuite and a bar!
Perhaps we could upgrade school residentials?

Well no - because I don't work with children! But its doing my job, for a lot more hours than I normally do it, for no extra money.

I'm admin Hag so i'm more the one looking after everyone else - so the 60 or so delegates benefitted from me being there.

I've never worked anywhere with shopping days, never knew they even existed!

However it looks like even where people know of them it is from several years back and not a current thing. And let's face it with the ease of online shopping how many would really need them?

Pootles - really, I don't think it's the same. I really don't. Like I said - I know lots of people who go away for work, some for several days or weeks at a time.
Not one of them would ever compare them to a school residential! It really is very very different.

I've done it once; once was enough!

I know work time away can be stressful and it's hard being away from home and children etc, but really the type of responsibility and stresses are not the same at all ime.

Well, maybe you're right. I appreciate that you haven't got the same level of responsibility. But I have some experience - I've been a helper on cub camp before, which must be a bit similar? Maybe kids are kinder to cub leaders than teachers?!

I@m with hula looking after 60 adults who can (generally) look after themselves, is not the same as looking after 7 year olds :)

I'm hoping you wouldn't have to do the adults shoes up - make sure they're sensibly dressed - checking they've had more than just chocolate to eat - putting them to bed - asking if they've brushed their teeth etc

and you certainly wouldn't have to deal with their parents!

Trust me, they cannot look after themselves. They get drunk and then they get lost, and you have to go and find them. They forget that they might need to book a flight home.

Surely by the time kids are going on school trip they should be capable of putting on their own shoes, getting into bed themselves etc?!

Well many schools have residentials from year 3 onwards so I expect the level of responsibility from 7 years old is pretty darn high.

I did a year 10 one. The lack of my sleep was a killer. The kids were forever trying to et into one another's dorms, they tried to smuggle in alcohol, there was always at least one or two who were late for the buses on the way back, argh - list went on and on. And that was a really good top of the league type school.

Mind you the day trip at a different school was worse. Sixth formers doing research in a city an hour away. Left them to it with check in times - all perfectly acceptable. Less than half an hour later - call from the police. One lad was caught shoplifting music CDs in Our price or somewhere similar. One poor teacher with is ended up spending all day in a police station and even had to miss the coach home waiting for the lads parents to eventually show up and take over the responsibility

Why not put a reminder out to make sure people thank everyone who does them a good turn?

It seems a bit self-congratulatory, as if some teachers see themselves as a special sort of volunteer.

I would always say thank you to teachers having taken my DC away.

However, I am confused as to why some are saying that everyone should know they get no overtime. Why? Do you know if I get overtime, or if my DH does? No of course you don't. I don't know any teachers personally and so how would I know this.

Obviously now I do but it will make no difference to my (very good) manners.

And after reading more of the thread, I agree with Worra that a lot of people do things in their own time for the good of others. And while I agree that teachers/TA's are included in this you aren't the only ones.

I am in our schools PTA and everything we do for the school is in our own time. We don't get thanked, in fact most threads on MN are filled with a dislike of us.

My DH is a manager and is salaried but has to go away for weeks at a time with no extra and often has to entertain rude arrogant people and spend his time in hotel rooms on his own which he doesn't like doing either.

Summeblaze well said. My dh is in the same situation. I'm someone will point out your dh gets a 'high' salary for the privilege. Interestingly the new head at our school has been quite rude and aggressive towards the poor mums who volunteer for the PTA although he's quick to ask them for money to pay for what he thinks matters. I volunteer for things at the school and out of school clubs sometimes and I actually don't like being thanked by the teachers because I'm doing it for my child's benefit not to be thanked.