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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to post a friendly reminder about school residential trips?

416 replies

ErmNoNoNo · 27/03/2015 23:09

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)

OP posts:
esiotrot2015 · 27/03/2015 23:30

Oh yes totally agree brownie / scouts / cub leaders
Football coaches
All do it for free
I applaud you all
no idea why you do it unless it's for your CV
Grin

MillionToOneChances · 27/03/2015 23:30

Thank you for this. I knew it but hadn't really registered it. Posh chocs it is...

ListObsessed · 27/03/2015 23:31

Glittertits, there isn't usually much choice in the matter. If the class teacher doesn't go, the the class miss out. I don't think anyone is claiming to 'hate' these trips.

WorraLiberty · 27/03/2015 23:32

Yes they volunteer but it would be disingenuous to pretend it doesn't help their careers, and that it isn't taken into consideration when deciding a teacher should move up a point on the pay scale. Moving up isn't automatic any more and many things are considered before it happens.

Having said that, I always thank teachers just the same way as I would thank anyone who has looked after my child on any kind of trip away from home.

Meow75 · 27/03/2015 23:33

And suffer the guilt trip from the Senior Managers who wouldn't dream of going, a) because they know how tiring they are and b) because they know the potential for legal trouble if something goes wrong as they'd be the most senior member of staff present. Much better to leave it to the class teachers - they are two a penny.

One Deputy HT told me to "think of the children" on one occasion. This was a secondary school, btw. He was a wanker!!!

Brandysnapper · 27/03/2015 23:34

I am amazed that anyone thought overtime was paid. Do you think teachers also get paid for an after school study class, or the hours spent at night planning etc? What does stick in my throat is how to respond to the occasional comment (from students thankfully, not parents) about the unfairness of staff not having to pay for the trip. A week in Paris I could just about understand, but usually it's a wet week in a Scottish youth hostel!

Volvox · 27/03/2015 23:35

We pay just over £250, three or four nights (can't remember). It seems expensive - just wondering why, really, if teachers are not paid extra, and the food and accommodation are very basic.

Original poster
ErmNoNoNo · 27/03/2015 23:36

Haha - I love the mixed response - honestly, that's what I was looking for. I wasn't looking for gushing thanks on here - to be fair, you have no idea if I'm a shit teacher or a great one; I'm more than willing to admit that both (and all in between) exist in our education system.

It was just a friendly public servicer announcement to let parents know that we don't get paid any more for this than we would a normal working week - as each year some parents are genuinely shocked to learn that we don't. (compare working a normal 8am - 6pm week, to being woken at 2:00am with "I feel sick" (well you did spend that whole £10 on sweets today Hmm )

OP posts:
Volvox · 27/03/2015 23:36

And of course I'll say thank you ??

TheFairyCaravan · 27/03/2015 23:37

When my DH or DS1 work Christmas Day or New Years day they don't get paid any extra. They very often work a lot of overtime for no extra money.

DH, also, volunteers as a Community First Responder.

I always thanked teachers when a picked my DC up from school residentials but they aren't the only ones who give extra for nothing.

Volvox · 27/03/2015 23:37

Smile, not ??

StaircaseAtTheUniversity · 27/03/2015 23:38

Just wanted to come on to say that DH is a subject leader in a subject that requires extensive field work. He has to go on trips so the kids can do their exams. He gets paid not one penny more for more than three weeks trips a year (GCSE/AS/Alevel and B Tech). Because of timetable constraints they're all at weekends and in half term holidays. Without exception he hates them all but can't just "not go". The reason he hates them? Because of the months and months of dealing with whinging and ungrateful parents who moan about paying and phone him to say things like "I'm paying all this money so you can get a nice hefty bonus". He is always polite and resists the urge to tell them to fuck right off.

MrSlant · 27/03/2015 23:38

I may not always be complimentary about my ex-H but in one 3 night residential trip he 'slept' the final two nights on the floor in the corridor outside the bedroom of a slightly more nocturnally active than average child's bedroom for his safety and to ensure the sleep of other children on the trip. I suppose the disruptive child could have been sent home but it was thought the outdoors activities and experiences would benefit him in the long run. He got no extra pay or time of in return for his 24/7 working week, just home to a wife who was frazzled with their newborn and even now gets royally fucked off that this sort of commitment to the job isn't recognised.

NadiaWadia · 27/03/2015 23:39

You'll usually get someone moaning that it's unfair that the teachers don't have to pay for their 'holiday'. Some holiday!

Permanentlyexhausted · 27/03/2015 23:39

Haha! No, not for my CV!

I do it because, for the vast majority of the time, I love it. I do it because my DD is in my unit. I do it because I was a Brownie and a Guide and gained so much from it.

Generally the girls are fine, apart from the occasional spat. It's (some of) the parents that are hard work.

NobbyNobs · 27/03/2015 23:41

YANBU!

About to pick DS up from 4 days away in London. They took two classes (around 35 kids!!) They left at 6am on Tuesday and are expected back at 12 tonight.

I will be thanking each and everyone, and making sure DS does to no matter how tired.

I'm skint as fuck so can't afford a thank you gift, but DS will be making some cards and writing some thank you notes this weekend.

£250 got him 4 days away, all travel, food, natural history museum, london eye, a night at the theatre, dinner at planet hollywood, harry potter world and a sight seeing bus tour. Plus I had an AMAZING like in with DH. They must have worked hard just to organise all of that and keep it affordable.

Everyone who does these trips, thank you. We can't afford a family holiday and DS was really excited for this.

mindthegap79 · 27/03/2015 23:41

YANBU. I'm a teacher and have taken many residentials over the years. I once was given a bottle of wine, I think, by the head, but no overtime!

I love camp, but it's no holiday. Medication, friendship dramas, homesickness, wet beds. Plus 5 physical activities each day, plus eating breakfast, lunch and dinner with the children whilst trying to make sure they're all having a healthy and balanced meal, drinking enough fluids etc. Doling out pocket money. Keeping a general eye on what they're wearing in case they've forgotten to change their clothes for days on end. Making sure 60 children have remembered water bottles, snacks, coats, etc, etc. Fun, yes. Holiday, no. Grin

WorraLiberty · 27/03/2015 23:43

OP, the thing is (and I admit I might be alone in this) on MN over the years I can only think of 'please appreciate us' threads, from teachers, nurses, midwives and the occasional police officer.

This normally leads to posts like...

Thank you for your service
You are a wonderful person thank you
We appreciate all you do, so thank you
Where would we be without you? Thank you

And that's fair enough but it wears a bit thin when you think about all the other service providers who don't tend to seek praise on MN...yet where would we be without them?

Fire fighters
Refuse collectors
Street cleaners
Public toilet cleaners
Bus/train cleaners
Postmen/postwomen
Supermarket cashiers
Shelf stackers

The list is endless. There are many many people in jobs who we don't envy and we should express our gratitude to, so where does it end?

BackforGood · 27/03/2015 23:44

Yes they volunteer but it would be disingenuous to pretend it doesn't help their careers, and that it isn't taken into consideration when deciding a teacher should move up a point on the pay scale

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

Haven't heard anything so funny in a loooooonnnnnnnnnnggggg time

mindthegap79 · 27/03/2015 23:44

And the knock on the door at 2am by the children concerned that their roommate is climbing the walls after eating a family sized multipack of Haribo which their parents hid in their bag as a fun surprise!!

mindthegap79 · 27/03/2015 23:46

What Back said. Can't. Stop. Laughing.

Original poster
ErmNoNoNo · 27/03/2015 23:47

NobbyNobs - please please please do not think they need a thank you gift - that is in no way why they do it and do not at all expect it. Honestly, just say 'thanks' and that will me more than most. (Yes you lovely, lovely MN lot, I know you do say it because you've heard it on here or you're just generally lovely live that, but honestly the more common greeting is: 'you're back late'

OP posts:
FightingFires · 27/03/2015 23:47

I'll be buying wine & chocolate for all the teachers after DD1's residential. Personally, I can't think of anything worse, they are amazing.

WorraLiberty · 27/03/2015 23:47

You should probably get out more then BackforGood?

serin · 27/03/2015 23:50

...and the suncream, mindthegap!

DH once got a complaint that a 17yr old had not been reminded to apply it and as such had got burned.

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