Last day of term

[tazmaniandevil]

Why on earth does school have to close at 13:45 on the last day of term? What is the purpose of this? Confused!!!!

I don't recall people trying to claim that everyone else's job is easy.

No one is claiming that teaching is the only stressful job.
However where are the MN threads about other people in stressful jobs bitching about their holidays, conduct etc?

It's not the fact that teaching is stressful that is the problem, it's the fact that so many people seem to have an opinion about it because they have been to school and have children who go to school.

I haven't RTFT, but I reckon we finish early because it is fun. Do you remember being a teenager and the simple joy of half days? It was fun, like bonus time to see friends, go shopping, chill out with a film. And (despite being forced to drill kids in to passing exams) most teachers do actually like children.

As for bitching about holidays and / or workload - all jobs have perks and downsides. Trying to compare different industries is an exercise in pointlessness. I used to work in a different field. It had its upsides - better pay, police immediately called if someone assaulted me, no need to know the latest slang names for drugs or being on the lookout for signs of fgm. However, it didn't have the holidays, working with teenagers, a new experience every single day. Overall, if you think teaching is cushy then go for it - there are frequent drives to get people in to teacher training. If you don't fancy it then why are you whining about the people who are willing to do it?

I'm not trying to compare workloads or industries just the fact that teachers have loads of holidays, deserved or not. The tread was about a half day before having 6 weeks off and I just think 6 weeks off and a half term ever 6ish weeks is plenty of holidays to make up for the stress of looking after 30+ children per day. Not putting teachers down just stop trying to justify it by saying the job is any more stressful than another.

Where's the head>desk emoji when you need it?

As people say different jobs have different pros and cons and teaching is the same as the rest. Finishing early on the last day is good news for lots of children and teenagers can always come home alone. However it is very hard for parents who both work full time and always has been.

@Whoopwhoopwooo you've completely misunderstood the whole concept of school holidays. Schools are run on a termly basis and have been since their concept. The long holidays in the summer were initially, I believe, to do with children being required to help in agriculture or industry in the summer months. The holidays are certainly not a 'reward' for teachers looking after 30 kids. Jeezo.

And no teacher on this thread has said that teaching is more stressful than any other job. Absolutely no-one. In fact, it has been non teachers who have brought up this point or have said that other jobs are more or less stressful. It's not a competition.

If you aren't enjoying your call centre job then it's a free market. Find something else. Or become a teacher and enjoy our fucking brilliant six week summer break. It's fucking ace and I'm now going to have my second cuppa of the morning and relax in my jammies on the couch, watching my dirty little secret, Jeremy Kyle. Fucking fab.

People do seem to be labouring under the misapprehension that teachers get 6 weeks holidays because that's their conditions of work.

Teachers get 6 weeks of holiday because there are no kids in school.

Do you not want your kids to have a summer break? They bloody need one.

noblegiraffe, how true. My GS is with me today, so run down at the end of term and is off sick. He is desperate to get back in for the fun stuff tomorrow and Friday but boy does he need a rest.

I don't understand the angst, I used to love the school holidays, the kids need a break.

I don't know about unique, but certainly prevalent. I've read about other countries where teaching is apparently a respected and sought-after job

I think some of it stems from the strikes in the 1980s. I was not particularly affected by them as most of the teachers in my school were members of no-strike unions. But a lot of people missed days and weeks of school because of the strikes. It's not surprising that they have a less respectful view of teachers as a result.

I have not heard of teachers in other countries where they enjoy high status (eg Finland) going on strike.

And we are less deferential as a whole. We realise that teachers, doctors etc are just normal people and can make mistakes, whereas in the past there was far more respect for those who you considered to be your betters even though they were less than perfect.

Not helped by the mainstream media wanging on about how shit schools are in this country. The Daily Mail is either moaning that kids aren't disiplined properly and get away with anything, or moaning about 'too strict schools' and have sad-face pictures of kids who have been punished for breaking well-publicised school rules.

People need to stop pretending they are whinging about the half day because it's 'an unnecessary extra few hours' holiday when they're about to have 6 weeks off'. They are whinging about it because it is personally inconvenient to them. Basically "I don't care that you have class handovers and classroom reorganisation etc. in the afternoon and have nothing useful to do with the students after the final assemblies etc. Look after my damn kids, show them a video or whatever - I'm at work and I don't want to pay an extra half day's childcare".

I have not heard of teachers in other countries where they enjoy high status (eg Finland) going on strike.

Exactly - chicken and egg. Why would well-paid, well-respected people in good working conditions want to go on strike?

I have not heard of teachers in other countries where they enjoy high status (eg Finland) going on strike

If you can't work out why that is then you're a bit dim.

Our primary finish at normal time. But the secondary finish at midday.

@ MSL- I haven't misunderstood the reason for the holidays or indeed said I don't like having my 7yr old son home. I enjoy the holidays and a more able to take some of my annual leave at the same time. All I said was the we have to get the classroom ready and I have to mark things in the evenings are evened out by the fact teachers have loads of holidays per year. If it was as easy as giving up my job and finding one I liked then the world would be a better place for millions of people. Get a grip of yourself instead of preaching to me about agriculture really???

@Whoopwhoopwooo no preaching from me petal. Was just pointing out the reason behind long school summer holidays as your original post states it is a reward for teachers for dealing with 30 kids?? Ermmmm that's our job, for which we receive a salary thank you very much. No grips of self needing to be got ta muchly for the feedback tho.

😀 enjoy your summer with your boy and I hope your call centre isn't to stressful with those pesky customers 🙄

MSLehrerin- patronising much 🤔.... hope your not a teacher, especially not English as I haven't mensioned once rewarding teachers with anything. So not able to read or understand very well.

I will enjoy my summer though thank you. You too petal.....

Try working in a call centre and getting shouted and sworn at by every customer.

I did work in a call centre-for two years at Seeboard. I still preferred that on the phone than getting shouted and sworn at in my face, by pupils or parents on a regular basis...

@Whoopwhoopwooo, on the subject of teaching English, I wouldn't say too much about that; your grammar and spelling are very poor indeed. I don't think MSLehrerin was being patronising, but you can read it that way if you want to.

No, you didn't use the word reward, but it is a way of interpreting what you said. Would compensation for teaching 30 children be a better way of putting it?

I'm not a teacher, as I said, but my DH's parents were. He says he hardly saw his dad in the term-time, and he used to work down half the holidays too. Apparently he only started to relax when they were finally away for the summer holidays. (He was a physics teacher at secondary school.) So just as well there were six weeks off school in summer!

You do seem to have a chip on your shoulder about teachers, I have to say lol.

@Whoopwhoopwooo

I just think 6 weeks off and a half term ever 6ish weeks is plenty of holidays to make up for the stress of looking after 30+ children per day

Your above quote led me, as a teacher of 20 plus years standing, to believe that you thought teachers' holidays were a reward or merit. Obviously, my perception of this isn't aligned with what you actually meant to say.

Again, your perception that my subsequent comment about the origins of school holidays was patronising, is entirely your right to hold, although, as subsequent posters have said, it hasn't. Ike across that way to them at all.

I love my job as a teacher, there is absolutely no better feeling than see a young person "get" it, maybe after they've been struggling with a concept or topic. It is also such a privilege to be part of a pupil's life fora short while and see them grow and develop into young adults. It's also lovely to be a vital input to families who may be struggling a bit with the behaviour of a kid, and providing a wee bit of help and support.

Yes, it's stressful at times but I've loved virtually every minute of my career to date. Yes, I work over and above my contracted hours, but never grudge a minute of it. Yes, I deserve and love every minute of every holiday I get. Without the holidays, teachers would be unable to provide the high quality education they do, and kids would be completely and utterly knackered. There would be no winners.

I hope this clarifies why I get completely and utterly fucked off with entitled and jealous parents who grudge me and their kids our holidays.

I'm not pretending to be good at grammar I'm not a teacher as already stated. Also calling someone petal and telling them to enjoy their customers with a 🙄 Face is patranising how ever you look at it. I have no chip on my shoulder about teachers or any profession you clearly haven't read the whole thread. I only stated in the original post that teaches get lots of time off, and still whinge about their job. You have just proved my point. Thank you

No i haven't just proved your point @Whoopwhoopwooo

Read my subsequent post. You're obviously well balanced, with a chip on both shoulders.

Petal is a term of endearment. Believe you me, if I was being patronising you'd know all about it. 🙄

Also as there seems to be a cross post. I'm glad you enjoy your job. My children's teachers are amazing. This post is purely about holidays. not knocking teachers or the job they do.