Why can't Teacher training be done in summer holidays

[daffodil10]

Why do summer holidays need to be extended by 3 days to cover inset days when teachers have had 6 weeks off. And before I get shot down I realise they may have been in school over the holidays etc. But what is the point in going back to school on a Thursday

Unpaid overtime is the norm. Our terms and conditions state that we are required to be available to work 1265 hours a year plus any extra hours that are required to fullfill our professional duties . So even our terms and conditions recognise that it can't be done within the core hours we are paid for.

We have our inset as twilight sessions and have an extra week at October half term. We went back Monday.
Parents moan about that too.

Surely if it's that great you can train to become a teacher?

Even if they are paid £19 an hour is that really too much to teach your child ?! And care for them 30 hours+ a week. I couldn't do it ... pay them more - what they're worth!

It's not unpaid overtime. We do a professional, salaried job. Talking of overtime detracts from that, as TBH does the reiteration of 1265 hours as the time "we are paid for".

wannabestressfree I think that sounds good, I think kids are on their knees by Christmas and teachers aren't far behind. An extra week at half term sounds just the job.

I agree with TheFallenMadonna

It's a professional salaried role and detrimental to its public perception to begin discussing it as though it can be paid by the hour.

Being a teacher is great

It is SO MUCH more convenient for parents sorting childcare to add days on to another holiday than have random days off during term.

I agree TheFallenMadonna. We are a professional salaried job.

I think the mentions of 'not being paid for' are to illustrate to people who are quick to judge and throw their 2p in whilst knowing nothing of the realities of the job that we are only contracted to do x hours and y days but we do more (because that's part of it being a professional salaried role not hourly paid).

I think you're right on bringing the discussion down to hourly pay. It only moves people further into thinking we are overqualified babysitters because 'I'd love £19/20/25 an hour'. So then people feel the need to point out that ut's not x per hour at all because of all the other stuff

Bottom line is some people just love to kick at teachers, our amazing pay, easy job, low hours, great holidays etc. so it's sometomes easier just to nod along

Great way to start the new term! Let's have a pop at all the teachers for

• not working harder
• not working longer hours
• not providing wrap around care
• not providing 24/7 care / learning / sleepovers
• not sorting out squabbles between friendship groups
• not getting children to revise
• not getting children to eat properly
• not increasing children self esteem
• not teaching children manners
• not sorting out nit infestations
• not responding to messages within 5 minutes
• not providing a detailed weekly report on child progress
• not sorting out medical concerns at school
• not looking after PE kits
• not looking after phones
• not resolving arguments that children have outside of school
• setting too much homework
• setting too little homework
• not sticking to the rules
• sticking to the rules too rigidly
• for not recognising outstanding talent in child
• not reminding child of doctor / dentist / orthodontist/ optician appointment
• not reminding child of music lesson
• losing musical instrument
• losing school / blazer / skirt / trousers
• organising school trips that cost too much
• not organising enough trips that are varied and include overnight stays
• not knowing name of child

-not monitoring lunch choice and eating habit of child and peer group

• not allowing chocolate / nuts/ beer in lunch box
• not allowing child to express themselves and run around classroom
• allowing other children to run around and have fun in classroom
• not handing out birthday invitations
• not tolerating lateness child because of the morning rush
• not allowing child to go to water fountain as often as they want
• not allowing child to go to toilet during lesson time without medical note
• not allowing term time holidays (after all it is cheaper)
• not allowing parents to wander around the school when they want
• not allowing parents to park where they want on school site
• not choosing Jonny to be star in school choir / drama production
• not choosing Chardonnay for school sports team
• never selecting Felix as star of the week / class monitor
• not understanding that they work for each individual taxpayer and must do as they command
• not ensuring George gets the top grades all year round
• being bloody unreasonable all the time

There you go - most things covered. Please let us get on with our jobs

I had two different parents today ask if their child could hang around school until 5.30 every day as their childcare had fallen through. Neither seemed to appreciate that this wasn't an option! One child was five and the other nearly seven. But apparently both could just keep themselves busy for a couple of hours. When told they could use the local after school club, they said that school was free!

So we now need to be unpaid babysitters too!

I'm not a teacher, I'm a school counselor but also have to attend the training days. As others have said, they are part of the school holidays. But I would also like to point out, for those who are resentful of school staff having long holidays (that we don't get paid for!), I came into school on several days over the holidays for the following:
To clean my office
To paint my office and put up a shelf (I also bought the paint btw)
To support students on GCSE results day and A level results day
To do a workshop with the new intake of year 7's on their transition day.
I also attended a couple of CP meetings, both of which went on for hours.

I did not get paid or get time off in lieu for any of those days and I'm ok with that because I chose to do them and I really love my job. It just grates on me when people who know nothing about the nature of working in a school get all bitter about the long (unpaid) holidays.
Every single time I went into work the place was full of Teachers, working. There were also several TA's in doing bits and pieces and they get paid an absolute pittance for doing a very challenging role.

So, unless you attend training on your annual leave and also come into work to clean, decorate, do admin and attend meetings on your days off I don't want to hear it.

goeasyonthetonic Great list.
I think you've got almost everything on my mental 'new school year on mumsnet' bingo card.

I would estimate that for every hour I teach, I spend an hour and a half on top of that planning the lesson and marking it afterwards-how does that fit into the hourly rate? Surely that's £19 for 2.5 hours. Less good money...

Fantastic list. So true.

I was just commenting to a colleague who was passing on confidential notes about the children in my new class that we could write a bestseller about some of the classic things parents have said over the years. Most of her notes were really about the parents, not the children at all. Essential information!

I'm not down on parents, mind you. I am one myself. It's a very sobering experience, being on the other side of the classroom wall.

But, myself included, what a bunch of arseholes they can be

I am quite sad to read how teachers think of us parents tbh....

It's really not all parents Irvine. Most are totally normal people - some are even nice

Unfortunately there are always a few nuts when you're working with the public and when it's people's children you deal with it just brings out the preciousness and entitlement in some folk.

Quite. Is there a more emotive subject than children? It's a precarious profession to be in.

Also, the parent-teacher dynamic is very like the things that people say to / about you. Sometimes you forget the 99 positives and obsess over the 1 negative. Also a bit like Trip Advisor, now I think of it.

@irvineoneohone I agree 100% with @Liadain! The overwhelming majority of parents are supportive of their child's education and really appreciate the work that teachers do. A very tiny minority are the exact opposite: create trouble at every turn, put obstacles in the way of their kids attainment and generally make a pain in the arse of themselves. It's a shame that it's the latter group who seem to have the loudest voices. I thank heaven for the sensible ones who are keen to share a few kind words about how positive an experience school is for their kid(s).

Thank you, Liadain and MSLehrerin.

This thread has been awful to read. Such nastiness. I have been on MN for many years but I think it's time to go.

Agree with MS.

Most parents are great. They send their children in prepared, do homework with them (or say it's their job to do it and if they don't and get a detention then tough) and if we call up they are very supportive.

There's a vocal minority who take up a huge amouny of time and energy. These are the ones who let their children wear non uniform and then call up complaining, the ones who tell their child to 'tell miss / sir that you don't have to...', the ones who undermine school, the ones who spend huge amounts of time complaining their child is in set 2 and not 1 (or worse, calling me up to complain about their child's set qhen they aren't actually set!). These are the parents who when you call up they defend the child's poor bejaviour and are rude to staff etc.

Because of the way it goes, we end up having a LOT more contact with thr 2nd group. It's easy to forget that the 98% of the parents trust us to educate their children.

My son's school went back Monday, he has the inset days other days. Not sure if our teachers had training on the Friday as the school gates were open and cars on the playground...

I don't see any nastiness @ittooshallpass. If you feels so strongly, report the nasty posts and move on. No need for dramatic departure announcements, really. 🙄

It's an Internet discussion forum, and the AIBU section has robust answers to questions. If this has you running for the door then you definitely need to be more resilient. Especially as none of your perceived "nastiness" has been directed at you personally.

I teach in the school and I have to restrain myself from being one of 'those parents' particularly over setting and behaviour issues.
Generally our parents are great. You just have the odd one or two.