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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed about the end of the scool holidays?

253 replies

maxpower · 02/09/2016 21:03

Only because I'm so sick of listening to and reading fb posts about all the poor teachers who are having to go back to work after 6 weeks off. There are many workers who don't get 6 weeks holiday for a whole a year never mind in one go. I've just read some drivel on fb about how - while I'm 'watching tv' - some self sacrificing teacher is writing a lesson plan to benefit my child. This the post stressed is unpaid. Oh woe is s/he. How about the 5+ unpaid hours I worked this week over and above the full time job I do? Oh and just to clarify, when I got home from work I spent an hour coaching my daughter for school entrance exams, when I discovered that all the amazing teachers she's had have not taught her about calculations involving 'parts' or indeed how to work out the area of a triangle.

So forgive me if I don't lament over how tough it is to have to go back to work (where the rest of us have been all summer long).

OP posts:
Welshrainbow · 03/09/2016 14:09

I'd like to meet a teacher who has had six or seven weeks off! Most like me have had less than five weeks off after training days then spent a few days in school for GCSEs results, Alevel results and clearing. At least two/three weeks of their holiday will then have been spent writing lessons for yet another new set of exam specs. In the five years since I qualified teaching has changed immensely and the pressure and work has increased. It annoys me no end that people seem to think that just because their kids aren't in school that teachers arnt doing any work, it's actually just time from home, like every evening and weekend!

SkafaceClaw · 03/09/2016 14:10

It's a funny one - I can appreciate why some Teachers feel sad about the end of the holidays. Sometimes I feel it's the only time of year I get to be myself, socialise and see other people.

Term time is hard - I regularly work over and above during the week so that I can spend time with DC at the weekend. The only way I can justify seeing him for an hour a day is by reminding myself I'll get time in the holidays - but once the new term starts there is always more to do or catch up on during half terms etc.

Don't get me wrong I love my job but it can be all consuming. The battle is not to let it and try and make time to see other friends and family.

pieceofpurplesky · 03/09/2016 14:16

You went into teaching because of the holidays and then you got shafted and your jobs now suck like the rest of ours.

Really? Do you really actually think this is why teachers go in to teaching? Come and give it a go, talk to actual teachers and you will find your comments are total bullshit

CathFromCooberPedy · 03/09/2016 14:17

Really Goblin you're comparing sitting watching something for 5 hours to parents who have years through the schooling system with multiple dc Hmm

There are some great teachers and some truly appalling ones. Like every other profession. Just because the poor diddums had to work a few days through ridiculously long holidays does not make the shit ones exempt from being called shit.

BoneyBackJefferson · 03/09/2016 14:17

CathFromCooberPedy

I hate it when people post the "I hate this 'teachers have it so tough' crap", when its teachers replying to posters because posters are having a go at them.

Philoslothy · 03/09/2016 14:24

I went into teaching for the holidays and to be able to be at home for just after 4pm when I needed to. I managed that but that doesn't mean that it wasn't a job without tough moments or that I didn't work hard. The holidays are a huge draw and it seems daft to think otherwise

jamdonut · 03/09/2016 15:42

I used to work in the NHS. Very stressful, but at least I could more or less get time off when I wanted/needed it (except the long school holidays).

Then I became a teaching Assistant. Stressful in a different way. And I can I only have holidays when term finishes. I don't get paid for school holidays, although I still get paid monthly.

I can't take a holiday job, because when would I get a holiday?I have to think about when DH can get his holidays (not always in the school holidays). I cant take holidays in term-time...
But I love my job, and I put up with it. I even went in to help the teachers get their classrooms sorted, in the holidays.Voluntarily. Unpaid.
I'd be lying if I said that the school holidays was not a factor when I decided to train to become a TA, as my children were young and it suited me.
And I,ve seen that post you mentioned, and thought to myselfat the time "That will cause some discussion!".

ilovesooty · 03/09/2016 16:10

Presumably Cath you could seek alternative employment if you're being "shafted".

And speak for yourself. Not "all" of us are resentful like you are.

Dahlietta · 03/09/2016 16:22

I'm just saying other people do too but I don't see/hear them making such a song and dance about going back to work.

I'm a teacher. I have a lot of teacher friends.

YABU for claiming that teachers make a song and dance about going back to work just because you saw one Facebook post. I haven't seen it, or any of my teacher friends making any song and dance about, or even mentioning, going back to work.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 03/09/2016 16:27

What about all the posts from parents desperate to get their children back to school- and they don't have 30.

Teachers will always, always be criticised for the holidays, but I've never yet seen any of those critics decide it's the job for them and train to do it. There is a recruitment crisis and teaching is now a short term career, so, if it was such a good option, people would be falling over themselves to do it.

OnlyTheWelshCanCwtch · 03/09/2016 16:31

Teachers continue to work over the holidays anyway from what I've seen?

converseandjeans · 03/09/2016 17:33

I've seen far more posts from people desperate to get their kids back in school!
I''ve not heard any teachers moaning about the end of the hols nor moaning about having to go in and get ready for the start of term. Most just accept they will have to do some prep at some point over the hols - or work like crazy at the start of term.
I don't think people in general go into the job just for the holidays - mainly because it's varied, in most cases secure, reasonably well paid, they enjoy the buzz of working with young people etc...
Despite having the same hols as the kids when they are young, which is of course great - for the other 39 weeks a year it's a juggling act as the school day starts early and so kids need to be dropped off early, need to sort out child care for parents evenings, trying to sort out your own kids doing activities/doing h/w before getting the laptop out to start work again.
Then there's the moaning people do about the cost of holidays in the school holidays - for most people they only need to factor this in for 10 or so years while the kids are school age. It's an ongoing problem for teachers who will always have to have expensive holidays.
Why don't you go back into the profession if it's a doddle?

Munstermonchgirl · 03/09/2016 17:39

Cath - you're being duped! Who started the thread? A teacher moaning about going back after the holiday? Hmm

Er surprise surprise no. It was someone wanting to start a tread moaning about teachers! Have a back track over MN.... Same old same old. People start threads to bait a particular profession and yea, some of those professionals will disagree, in defence of themselves. But that's very different to investing the time to start a thread about it. It's a regular theme on MN, teacher bashing and frankly it's boring.

And OP - if you're really so bothered about what your friends post on FB then have a clear out, come off FB or stop those people appearing on your timeline. Ain't rocket science. You didn't need to start a thread about your irritating friends

Mumble29 · 03/09/2016 17:43

Yabu, I'm a TA. All school staff, especially teachers work fucking hard, so I think we have every right to moan about going back to work, so balls.

Catsize · 03/09/2016 17:45

Perhaps there is an argument to say that teachers get 25 days leave a year like many people. So, let's say that's Christmas and Easter holidays plus a week. The rest of the time, they should be working full-time. If not working, then take it as unpaid leave (am self-employed so slightly envious of any paid leave!). This would make such irritating and condescending Fb posts entirely defunct.
I may not make Education Secretary...

SukeyTakeItOffAgain · 03/09/2016 17:52

Jeez, but there are some unpleasant people around here. Envy, bitterness and bile....horrible.

ilovesooty · 03/09/2016 17:53

Agreed Sukey

SukeyTakeItOffAgain · 03/09/2016 17:56

When I was a teacher, I never did any work in the holidays. Why the fuck should I? I wasn't being paid for it. All this "oh I worked 8 hours a day for 4 weeks of the summer holidays...". STOP IT. No one appreciates it anyway! Particularly not people like the OP.

DeloresJaneUmbridge · 03/09/2016 17:57

Oh just fuck off those of you going on about the perks of being a teacher. Just do one because you clearly have no idea of the reality.
Am not a teacher and idiotic people like you are why I would never consider it.

Iggi999 · 03/09/2016 18:17

Catsize the holidays already are, for the most part, unpaid leave. Teachers are not paid for the amount of time they are off.

Redlocks28 · 03/09/2016 18:21

The rest of the time, they should be working full-time. If not working, then take it as unpaid leave

You clearly don't know much about teacher contracts then. They are unpaid. Our contract states we are paid for 195 days each year.

rollonthesummer · 03/09/2016 18:22

mumsnet link

See-all sorts of people are sad about the end of the summer holidays!!

StopMakingMeLogOn · 03/09/2016 18:34

When I chose teaching I have to admit the holidays were a big incentive.

While teachers are not paid for the holidays, they are paid quite well for the 195 days per year that they do work.

It is hard and stressful but so are lots of jobs. Teachers are not alone in doing unpaid work. I think it is wrong that anybody should be working unpaid but it is not a situation which is exclusive to teaching.

Orda1 · 03/09/2016 18:34

When people say teachers aren't paid for their holidays, can someone explain?

I'm assuming they still get pay checks every month, so are you saying they're only paid pro-data of their salaries?

StopMakingMeLogOn · 03/09/2016 18:36

The wage is for the 195 days that they are in school but it is split into 12 payments for ease and convenience.

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