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've read the article and have been on the school in question's website.

A teacher from the school tweeted about this at the beginning of the week. The media must have picked up on it and contacted the school because the HT put in the newsletter yesterday that he expected there to be a story about it over the weekend. He said he does give the staff a day off sometime during November/December to prepare for Christmas.

I'm not sure I agree with it tbh.

I'm not sure I agree with it tbh.

Why?

You get 13 weeks holiday a year We are not in school, that doesn't mean we aren't working
The pension is still relatively really good But getting worse all the time!
If you need to you can leave any time after 4 Unless you have a staff meeting, an after school club, a meeting with parents, or any of the other 101 things that need to be done after the end of the school day!
Once you have a few years of experience you should just be able to cruise on through, making a few tweaks in order to keep things fresh except the Government change the curriculum every few years, the targets change, the children change, you teach a different year group/key stage/subject and you start again!
Every day is different and the job is often a lot of fun This week I've been hit, sworn at, spat at, yelled at by parents, had vicious tirades posted on Facebook about something that had nothing to do with me-and that's meant to be fun!

I love teaching and wouldn't want to do anything else but it's hardly a walk in the park!!

Nope, small state village school in Wales.

Purple - question my efficiency as much as you want. I'm very efficient, thanks. As a very small school there are roles that we undertake that staff are paid for in larger schools, so the extra workload is larger. I teach an end of Key Stage class so am involved in the heavy moderation. I'm head of three subjects, which involves constant training, development of resources, delivering staff training, creating feedback to LA and government level and that's just one role. There is ALWAYS something to do, efficiency doesn't come into it.

They should use weekends

On Saturday my child has hobbies that I take him to, working on my laptop in the car while he's there. Saturday evening is the only break I get, as Sunday is usually spent making resources and lesson planning and working on my research as there isn't any time for it in the week.

@spanieleyes I am a teacher who is currently out of the profession, I think you have missed my point somewhat. My post is saying that teaching should be the kind of career that people are beating down the door to get into and then stay in forever. On paper it's great!

Instead there is a huge recruitment and retention crisis and people really need to stop and think why this is.

Haven't read the article or full thread but can confirm that some schools offer days off in lieu to staff for coming in during school holidays for additional training. The school I work with gives each member of staff one flexible day per term.

I bet Amazon love this thread! The number of plugs it has had!

I don't agree with this at all.

I know teachers work hard, and have a lot of shit to deal with, but so do many other professions. Some work as hard, (and even harder,) and have more risk and danger in their job!

I agree with people saying this is a piss take.

They are no more entitled to these 'free days' off than any other profession. As for the 'teachers have to take time off when they are told' argument. Other companies and employers have national shutdowns too, not just schools.

Many people can only go away in their 2-week shutdown in the summer, or the 10 days shutdown over Christmas, or the 9-10 days Easter break, and would LOVE to be able to pick their days off!

This 'teachers deserve a shopping day for free' bollux, is right up there with people thinking waiters and hairdressers should still be 'tipped' even though they are on the same national minimum wage as everyone else (who is on it!) Some of them probably earn more than the people they are expecting the tip from.

What a cheek to fine parents for keeping their kid off for a day, and then chuck in INSET days and shopping days for teachers when it suits. And then they wonder why people get pissed off and give teachers a hard time.

I am not saying teachers deserve a hard time, but it's hardly surprising when stuff like this happens.

I'm not impressed.

They finish work just gone 3!

Haha are you really that stupid... or are you just being goady?

I wish teachers finished at 3. I'm responsible for locking up our school on certain nights. I have to chase staff out of the building at 6pm and last night i very nearly locked a member of staff in, as she was sat marking and her lights had gone out (automatic), her room looked empty!

I don't teach but work in a school. I would ask all you judgy "how hard can it be/they only work till 3 brigade" to volunteer at your local as a classroom aid see what teachers actually do. It may just open your eyes!

Jesus, the world is getting dumber!
It may be called a 'shopping' day and some people will use it for that but it's actually time to do what you want.
You could go home and catch up on marking or just retire to your bed for the whole time.
It's a small break from the slog and is covered internally so no detriment to the pupils or the schiol budget.
Stop hating and be supportive. If you want the same speak to your own bosses about it!

What a cheek to fine parents for keeping their kid off for a day, and then chuck in INSET days and shopping days for teachers when it suits

Bingo I won't bother explaining the difference between the catch-up impact of a whole class being off and just one child as you probably won't want to hear it

Let's look on the bright side though ... at least it gives the "why shouldn't I keep my child off?" parents something else for their list of inventions

‘Stop hating and be supportive’

The world is indeed getting dumber if you think that’s a sensible comment. Why on earth should I support something I do not believe is a conducive idea?

INSET day aren't chucked in... they are additional days to the number of days children do.

Every example I have heard of a wellbeing day is one of the INSET days, so published on the calendar well in advance.

Not sure , tbh, why it is anyone's business what happens on a day their DCs aren't in school.

And, as several other PPs ahve said, lots of firms and public sector companies do grant staff a day off for whatever they want to do. My friend's school has this and every member of staff is also entitled to a lieu day of their choosing in the year : again, no parents have ever complained.

I'd love to have a shopping INSET day off : if I did and my DCs had the same, I'd take them to do something lovely : the theatre, Christmas market, lights. At the weekend and holiday time , it is horribly busy, as we all know. And, I am sure that's what many non teacher parents are doing next week when my DCs' school have an INSET day. I won't be able to do that, and that makes me quite sad.

@ProfessorMoody

I’m not questioning your efficiency at all, if you read my post again you will see that I said there is always something extra to do so you can easily fill those hours if you choose to.

For the most part though, I believe teachers who work well into the night and every weekend would prefer not to so, yes, I would question their efficiency or whether or not the school was right for them.

@WinterfellWench why is it a pisstake? Everone saying they’re not impressed and it’s a pisstake, but not explaining why...

I also this teachers who are working until 6pm everynight and then working all weekend have not got a balance. It isnt like this in all schools @ProfessorMoody. When do you get family time with your dc? I heaf of year 11 and head of department. I understand the pressure of teachinh plus responsibility. However, this weekend im off Christmas shopping with my kids. I will do my prep work tomorrow afternoon whilst my kids watch a film. Your working life sounds tough, I couldnt do it. And, it isnt reflective of the profession as a whole. Your head us letting you down to expect you to work that many hours.

I have a lot of respect for teachers and think they do a difficult job, BUT I cant really support the idea of a Christmas shopping day. Yes they do a difficult and busy job but so do lots of other professions, and they do have a generous amount of holiday each year which is well above what most people in other stressful jobs get.

They have plenty of opportunity to shop in the evenings and weekends, and internet shopping is available 24/7.

In my local authority they are really pushing 100% attendance for kids at school too, and have been running a 'no excuses' campaign. I don't think it's fair on, or much of an example to the kids to tell them they have no excuses ever for missing school, but that their teachers are allowed the odd day off work to go Christmas shopping or whatever else they like.

Apologies avegemitesandwitch, I get so used to crap being poured on teaching, I see it even when it's not there!

Sonlypuppyfat
Know many teachers? Not one finishes at 3. The kids may go home around then but the staff do not finish their work for a good while . Then take work home to complete in the evening. Our school doesn't finish lessons til 4.30 then there is dutys clubs and all the paperwork on top. So no..........they do not finish at 3.

No I don't think its right. If a parent took their child out of school to go waltzing around town. They'd be hauled over the coals. Teacher do after all choose this professional. Children have no choice or no say 'They have to go to school' .Whether they're pleased or vexed or what.
I Can't say the do as we say not as we do attitude.

spanieleyes I hear you

My sil is a teacher at an inner city ‘Outstanding’ primary. The teachers who stay in school until 5-6 every evening are the minority and usually those who have just started in the profession (and so don’t have lesson plans they can tweak or reuse) or those who want to ‘progress’ into permanent work or obtain promotions. The vast majority of teachers start at 8:15-8:30 and leave by 3:30 to 4pm. This occurs across that particular city, so is not just limited to a specific school.