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)

Kids not allowed leave to attend funerals but teachers can to go shopping. Yeah that makes sense.

I get that ice but it still doesn’t sit comfortably.

If the lessons are covered why does it matter? Surely getting a bit of downtime has to be a good thing. They work bloody hard!

Lots of schools have days in the run up to Xmas that they call 'Christmas shopping days' that are in fact just bog standard 'occasional days'. Schools have to be open to pupilsfor a certain number of days a year and then an extra 5 for staff, it's the law.

A school doing this and covering with unqualified staff (HLTAs or whatever) in order to give staff 'a break' doesn't sound very well run and probably needs to be looking at the bigger picture. A bit like when schools do after school staff yoga for 'wellbeing' but the whole time the teachers are thinking about all the work they could be doing instead of being in downward facing dog!

When I was a teacher we had an extra day added to the Xmas hols for "shopping". The school was closed. However it wasn't just a free day off - we had to make up the time with 3 or 4 twilight INSET session from 3.30-5.30.
I would have much preferred not to have the "shopping" day but that wasn't an option.

If, as you suggest, the lessons are covered for them then at least it's optional. I would rather do my shopping online or on the weekends than have all the faff of planning cover work, marking cover work and picking up the pieces where the cover teacher had not explained things properly.

If children have to strive for 100 % attendance , why should teachers get a break ?

Just in case this is a serious question: enforcing school attendance is related to a child’s right to attend school and thus adults’ responsibility to make sure that they actually do so. It’s not a punishment

Teachers have completed their primary/high school educations and are therefore no longer subject to this rule.

My DC's school gives teachers a day off in December. The school calls it a 'wellbeing or shopping' day. The truth is that in exchange for this day staff attend 5 additional meetings throughout the year, run afternoon and evening clubs and cover each other's classes on a rolling programme (instead of the school buying in supply).
They give up far more of their own time than they get back.
Their measly 'day off' is a bit of an insult to them to be honest.

We do this, it's a raffle and one person wins a day, someone else a half day, someone else gets a reserved parking spot for the term, someone gets time off to watch their own kids in an assembly etc. We usually all get something, even if it's just a fully stocked pencil case.

Our staff wellbeing officer is our hero.

They finish work just gone 3!. No they don’t. They finish routine curriculum pupil contact time at just gone 3.

I get that ice but it still doesn’t sit comfortably.

Can I ask why not? The school is open, lessons are covered, children aren't missing out because of it.

@sonlypuppyfat you goady thing!!
I’m down for it. But I’m also of the opinion teachers should be able to take leave? Most teachers average 10 hour days. In before 8 for briefing and to photocopy and sort, then meeting parents at 8:20 a full day of lessons, break and lunch duties, after school clubs and planning - easily leaving after 6.
10x5 x39 / 52 = 37.5 their annualised hours work out the same as someone who works f/t so they should be entitled to some hols surely.
(Fwiw I also think we shouldn’t fine parents for kids being off school too!)

Sonlypuppyfat has a history of teacher-bashing. If I remember correctly she doesn’t work at all, while commenting on how easy teaching is...

even if it's just a fully stocked pencil case.

Is top prize in the raffle a pack of glue sticks? I would give up a shopping day for that.

If a teacher has coped with the annual 'why is my daughter not Mary? why is my son not Joseph' onslaught, you need a break.
Teachers will no doubt have given up time for the Christmas Fete and extra evening rehearsals for the nativity/play.

Teachers finish at 3pm - Good Grief!

The difference between teaching and other professions is you get no annual leave to use on days that you'd like. Yes, you get the holidays off but I know no teacher that doesn't work in those holidays. But a term time family wedding? No time off. A nativity play? No annual leave. So I think if the school can stay open and facilitate this it would go a long way to help teachers relieve some of the pressure that they're under.

There's always two camps with teacher threads.

1. they get 13 weeks holiday and finish at 3 everyday: what are they moaning about?

1. Teachers work damn hard and non teachers don't understand at all.

I think there's a middle ground where non teachers can and do see the pressure and would like those involved in moulding The minds of our youngsters are valued and not so stressed that they can't function.

Years ago when I worked in a High Street bank we would get a day off for Christmas shopping. We also used to have an afternoon off for Christmas lunch. Mainly because too much alcohol would be drunk and the Managers didn't want pissed up staff coming back to work.

*snlypuppyfat

"A day off for shopping? They are very well rewarded for what they do! They finish work just gone 3!*"

Have you ever met a teacher? If so you know that nobody actually gets to go home at 3. Minimum hours would be 8-5 with the majority doing far more, plus working evenings and weekends.

Also in what way are they "well rewarded"? Relatively low rates of pay? High levels of stress? Increasing levels of responsibility? Budget cuts?

Or are you talking about having long holidays... That old chestnut

I fully accept that no teacher works until 3 and that is it.

However I do not know any teacher who is contracted to stay until 5, 6, unless it’s directed time which won’t be every day of the week.

They are very well rewarded for what they do! They finish work just gone 3!

FFS. Just stop. Anyone with half a brain knows that just isn't true.

@sonlypuppyfat not sure if you bring purposefully ridiculous but pupils leave around 3-4 but that doesn't mean teachers finish work then.

This year would be an especially nice thing to do as round here no one is breaking up until the Friday. A non-panicking weekday Christmas shop would be lovely!

I think it is lovely thing to do for workers who cannot book a day off when needed. Trying to do Xmas shopping was so difficult when I worked in schools that I used to do most of it in August and half term so no real Christmas feeling in it. Nice morale booster and so long as lessons are covered, you can be sure the teachers are still working way over sensible hours anyway.

We used to do this but we had an extra day of work during the holiday to make up the time.

At DD's school there was such a problem recruiting staff that the head decided to close the school at 2pm one day a week to give teachers some extra time off. The parents were not happy but if they want their children taught well what do they suggest is done?

Let's not forget the Fail has hated teachers and the education system for ever....I'm amazed to hear any schools do this because of the cost implications in covering; no way would our stretched budget run to this or even the required number of glue sticks/rubbers....
Btw I get to work 7.45am, leave 5.45pm. Most evenings work for 2 hours whilst trying to talk to my own kids and this weekend have approx 4 hours of work to do. Yesterday I had one wee, a cup of soup standing up, and an apple in the entire day. Love the job, wouldn't do anything else.

I'm not a,trachsrcbutvmy manager gives us all a Christmas shopping day in the run up to Christmas. She knows we all work hard and have families and appreciate a day to catch our breath. It's really appreciated and makes me feel quite valued. Definitely something I'd do as a manager.