Teacher wellbeing days for shopping

[ForAMinuteThere]

Nope - this isn't a bash. I saw an article in the Fail about it and wanted to add some support for the teachers of this world.

I am a non teacher. It looks hard. One day off for shopping is a nice gesture.

I expect mixed responses but personally, I think teachers staying sane and feeling worthy can only be a good thing.

(This isn't my first post, have NC)

I think there are numerous of extremely hard working people/professions who deserve this. Can’t see it ever happening as standard 👎🏼

I for one would love to see them do this for NHS staff, who more often than not don’t even get their half hour unpaid break on a twelve and a half hour shift 😩

I'm all for teachers getting a shopping day so long as nurses do too.

Not to mention the fact that many of us don’t get to be home for Christmas 👎🏼.....

Those who don’t want teachers to have any perceived perk - boom, your kid is being taught maths by an unqualified teacher and English by a succession of supply teachers who just tell the class to read a book.

Still happy?

Don’t think it’s as simple as saying people don’t want teachers to get any perks.

It’s why it’s being defended that’s confusing to me...’we don’t have time to prepare for christmas’ etc. Not sure why teachers are less organised than the milions of other people who work similar hours and will be working until 6pm on Christmas Eve, unlike teachers.

Those who don’t want teachers to have any perceived perk - boom, your kid is being taught maths by an unqualified teacher and English by a succession of supply teachers who just tell the class to read a book.Still happy?

Exactly! How do people want to solve the bloody mess we’re in?

Mayble088
I think there are numerous of extremely hard working people/professions who deserve this.

No one has said that there isn't

Can’t see it ever happening as standard 👎🏼

It doesn't happen as standard in teaching

I for one would love to see them do this for NHS staff

Yup, but would the management cover for their staff?

who more often than not don’t even get their half hour unpaid break on a twelve and a half hour shift 😩

Not the fault of teachers, talk to your manager

Not to mention the fact that many of us don’t get to be home for Christmas 👎🏼.....

Been there, done that, changed jobs.

You don’t think that a weekday off in term time in the run-up to Christmas would be useful, Dorset?

It’s why it’s being defended that’s confusing to me...’we don’t have time to prepare for christmas’ etc.

It isn't being done because teachers don't have time to get ready for Christmas.

It is a tiny token, a gesture, to thank staff.
My son is a teacher - they can't afford to pay them the pay rise that was awarded in September until next April, that is the reality of the education system now.

One day off is just a drop in the ocean when compared to the hours of unpaid overtime that they do.

I'm quite sure that those of you who work in the private sector get bonuses - Christmas bonuses, shares, even a Christmas party. I work in a piddly job - we still get a Xmas shopping day, vouchers and a Christmas meal. Why would you begrudge these teachers one day?

Teachers are leaving the profession in droves. They get no respect, quite low salary considering how long they have studied for and how hard the job is, face aggression every day from some students and often parents too, they can easily work 60 hours per week. I suspect this shopping day is some sort of desperate sop to keep us happy. Unfortunately I've never been in a school where this happened and don't know any colleagues who have been offered a shopping day either.

There is no way in hell my head my allow days off for shopping she would laugh me out of the office for even asking I do not know a school that would allow this even unpaid! I can just imagine the response from the public they already think we do not do anything as it is lol

Personally, I do not see why we need time off for shopping other people in other professions manage it!

I agree and I am a Teacher!

Don't know what happened did not mean to reply to own post hmmm lol.

I don't see how teachers work any harder than any other profession to be honest

A weekday off during term-time in the run-up to Christmas is a godsend. Everyone should get one. I do!

As a teacher, I've never heard of this in my school or any other. Like pps, if I asked our Head for my shopping day they would be laughing until Easter.

I used to work in an office where we could take half a day off (paid) during December in addition to our holiday allowance.

I’m not saying it wouldn’t be useful, of course it would, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessary. Many other people would love an extra day too but will instead manage to get themselves organised for Christmas by using weekends, late night shopping, online shopping etc. It’s not tricky.

I’m also not saying that’s the driver for schools offering it. I’m simply saying it’s the reason many people on here are using to defend it.

Teachers will also get Christmas Eve off which many people won’t as it’s a Monday so a normal working day for most

I don't think teachers finish at 3 but they do get 13 weeks annual leave every year whereas the rest of us in the public sector get 5 or 6. So it's a piss take for extra xmas shopping days tbh.

I’m not saying it wouldn’t be useful, of course it would, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessary.

Of course it’s not necessary. But something is necessary to turn the tide of teachers leaving and the fact that not enough people want to do the job. This is one school making a small effort to make its teachers feel appreciated and lighten their load a little. Maybe knowing that their SLT are supportive of the work they do will keep them going a bit longer.

Honestly, to any teachers reading this thread please accept that there are many of us that appreciate how hard you work and how important you are for our children.

I can't believe some of the comments that I'm reading.

I love how many people think that teachers finish work at 3pm 😂 I have spent my whole Sunday planning work and marking books...

Have read most of the comments on this thread.
Very sad to see that offering a wellbeing day to try and show a nod towards the work teachers do, in this time of a severe recruitment and retention crisis, is met with such indignation by so many people.
Let’s hope we have enough people to teach our kids in the future eh

Everyone deserves a Christmas bonus. Everyone deserves a flexible annual leave policy. Everyone deserves respect for the job they do. Everyone deserves a decent salary. Everyone deserves adequate breaks etc etc. Why do we begrudge those who get any or all of those things? If it’s not harming you, be happy for other people. Honestly can’t understand the “well x doesn’t get that so you shouldn’t either”.

It is only the 6 weeks that is a ‘real’ holiday - the other ‘breaks’ are spent marking end of term assessments and planning for the following term - 13 weeks off a year ‘doing nothing/enjoying ourselves’ does sound great if that’s what teachers actually got!

Starrynight19 👍🏻