To not want schools to give up summer holidays

[littleblackdress04]

Just read in papers that it’s been proposed that kids go back to school in July/ August

I think this is a rubbish idea - if it’s going to be that long then just let them have a ‘normal’ summer and go back in September.

Kids have been cooped up because of this- I’d want to take mine to the hills, go camping & let them have some freedom. Then start school in September. This isn’t a holiday for them - it’s a horrible stressful period of being cooped up & not being able to live their normal lives.

While school gives a structure and is important, so are proper periods of holiday.

I’m really against the idea but aibu? Be interested to hear other thoughts. I’ve not been particularly worried about the kids education- they will catch up in time and it will be fine

@clavinova

I’ve possibly lost the plot a bit, but what is the motivation for your input?

If you think we do a good job, have no complaints anecdotally, agree we do far more than our directed hours and have no issues with our pay or our 13 weeks holiday, what is your argument?

You’ve done a huge amount of arguing, but now seem to be saying you have no issues with the profession.

I clearly have a vested interest, in a thread discussing the profession I love. Particularly when it’s being attacked.

Other people are clearly parents, annoyed (rightly or wrongly) with their child’s specific, state school education.

Your children are privately educated, by teachers you like, and your husband works for the DfE. I’m genuinely not understanding your motivations.

So this thread has just descended into a 'how teachers are paid' thread. I thought this has been done to death by all the previous teacher pay/holiday threads.

I am not paid holiday. If you want me to teach during the summer holiday that will be overtime. Thank you

[yawn]

We have a holiday booked in Weymouth in July and praying it will go ahead as we’ve been looking forward to it after being cooped up and working full time from home whilst home educating. Don’t get me wrong, being cooped up at home is better than being in a hospital bed or in a morgue so I’m grateful for that and hope we stay safe. It would just be nice to get away when things start to get back to normal. I don’t mind the kids going to school in August though rather than being off for another 6 weeks although I imagine the teachers will be desperate for the break as many are still working through the Easter holidays.

You might have had your leave cancelled for now, but you’ll get it back eventually. Teachers are working and have already lost their Easter holidays, due to being open to look after keyworker children. If the summer holidays are shortened, teachers will lose that too and we won’t get that back, unlike you.

@Amotherof6

Who is claiming we’re currently working 50-60 hour weeks? Why have you posted that!?

My SIL is a very hardworking professional in the private sector , on a very, very high wage. At present she is working from home with under 5s. She’s on full pay, and she is not doing her usual 40 hour week. In fact, she’s doing roughly half time at best.

Her boss is being lovely.

Shall I post her company name, and spend a week berating her? Or write ‘anyone who thinks Beebie’s SIL is currently working 40 hours a week is in dreamland!?’

No, because I’m not upset about someone being employed in a job they’ve chosen to do (and worked incredibly hard for!) that has pretty good working conditions during this unprecedented event. That would be silly.

I think that I have figured out why teachers are drawn to these threads.

Its just like being in a classroom.

Lesson starts
teacher explains
Link activity due to begin
Pupil puts hand up "what are we doing?"
Teacher explains again.
Activity starts
Pupils arrives late to lesson says "what are we doing?"
Teacher explains.
activity continues
3rd Pupil puts hand up "I've forgotten what we are doing"
Teacher explains
pupil that was late to class starts disrupting the lesson.
Teacher explains everything again to everybody.
Rinse and repeat.

@FrippEnos - perfect! You just need to squeeze in the term 'armchair teacher' and your effort would be an easy level 9.

Pollyanna 1962

My son is also Autistic, I think returning to school for him, before the Summer hols and then being off again would be more traumatic than just being off now and staying safe. He has low immunity as well and I'd prefer my children to be at home during this current climate.

As for some of the comments on Twinkle worksheets - we are lucky to have such resources (some of which are free,) at our fingertips.

Someone further up thread gave an example of teachers working 50/60 hours a week for 39 weeks a year wouldn't then want to work through the summer holidays. Well since they currently aren't working 50/60 hours a week then the example is pretty pointless (unless of course they are). Anyone who thinks they are must be in dreamland - simple really - they aren't. Your SIL isn't either - probably most people working from home with children aren't either - ergo teachers aren't any different to the rest of us then.... does that help explain my comment to you?

(There has been a suggestion that schools should remain open to support key-workers children through the summer should the lock-down remain. Others expressed that would be unfair given they work 50/60 hours per week for 39 weeks of the year)

Amotherof6

You are confusing two points.

Beebie2
You’ve done a huge amount of arguing

Nonsense - not on this thread.

Maybe teachers drawn to these threads should realise it is a AIBU with a discussion of all views - we all have differing views. People are not right or wrong 🙄
The teachers don't hold the 'correct' answer 🤣

It is a way to pass some of the isolation time. We all have differing views and experiences - thankfully - it isn't for anyone (teacher or otherwise) to mark our view as correct or otherwise. I speak from my own personal experience with my local 3 schools and the number of children in school and what work has been set for children. Other people in different areas will have a different and equally valid viewpoint.

Amotherof6

No-one has said that you can't have a different opinion, but several of the opinions on here are wrong.

@amotherofsix

I don’t think those comments were made collaboratively.

The posters saying how much we work (me included) were explaining why teachers get holidays in general. In response to people suggesting we shouldn’t have 13 weeks ever.

If we still have lockdown, yes it’s likely key worker children will be in through the summer. Just like lots of us are working Easter now we’ll work then too.

@clavinova

Maybe I’m too just too tired to remember, I distinctly remember you being in conflict with me. Are you a different person with a different opinion on every thread?

Do you think some of these school threads have been made up by MN? A good way of diverting us all from their charging tactics

After all nothing like a bit of conflict to drive-up traffic. One of their 100 staff can then contact advertisers and say look we have loads of hits on this thread.

Still holidays here. Today I’ve worked for about 4 hours thinking through ways to make online teaching work better for my children. I’ve also delivered free school lunches. There have been a huge number of us volunteering to do work in our hub which is open over the holidays for key workers children.
Shielding staff are not working in the hubs but they are still producing work for their classes. When the Easter break is over I will be in the hub working and also expected to keep in touch with my class via our online platform. I also have reports to write as well as trying to work out how on earth I hand over my class next session. I’m also learning how to use a new online platform that was not part of my working life previously.

I have no issue working over some of the summer but not every day as I’m not sure how I’ll make it through to Christmas if I do.
I’m in Scotland so I’m not paid for the whole summer. The school year is made up like this,
195 school days including 5 Inset
40 paid holiday days
104 weekend days
Leaving 26 days when the children are on holiday and we are off as teaching staff but unpaid.

I’m not working 26 days unpaid. This time off cannot be taken at another time as it’s just not practical and, while I’m desperate to help how I can, I also have a family and a child to look after.

Beebie2
Maybe I’m too just too tired to remember, I distinctly remember you being in conflict with me.

I only joined this thread today - you must have been in conflict with someone else.

I wonder if you are a qualified teacher who has stepped down into a teaching assistant/HLTA role - that would explain your contract - quite a few teachers I know have done that for an easier life.

Not really, most parents want to spend quality time with their children. You might b sick of them, bless them, but most parents love spending time with their children.

One last thing about holiday pay..... if I am paid for the holidays (which I am not) then why wasn’t I given a lump sum of holiday pay or accrued annual leave to take when I took 52 weeks maternity leave? Answer...... because I am not paid for the holidays! I don’t know any other regular, salaried job that doesn’t accrue annual leave during maternity leave. Teachers’ pay and conditions are a funny thing. Not accruing annual leave/pay during maternity leave is one of those things. As is not being paid for the holidays. I’m happy to accept that we DO get paid for the holidays if all the teachers who’ve taken maternity leave in say the last 20 years can have their accrued holiday entitlement and pay back now!

And before anyone posts a link saying we do accrue annual leave. We accrue statutory minimum annual leave of 28 days but this is to be taken during normal school closures. No additional leave to take as we desire. No additional pay.

I read most of the posts and have come to various conclusions.
I agree teachers, children and anybody that works in a school deserve their 6 weeks break. I think for children to have a sense of freedom again will do their well being and mental health the world of good and show them that world isn’t such a scary place anymore.
School staff aren’t paid for holidays or any overtime, so if they have been working from home and then told to work a shift through the holidays then they have and probably for free. I don’t want to argue but other key workers will have most likely have been paid for their overtime I know I have on the frontline.
Yes my annual leave has been cancelled but will be rearranged and still paid for. We are debating teachers working through their holidays for ‘free’. Many have them have risked their lives too working with children who may have been exposed to the virus but do so without PPE and probably unable to social distance. Yet they continue and yes teachers have died but is not as widely publicised as other unfortunate deaths. Just like anybody else this virus has taken it’s heartbreaking:
To quote the government ‘we are all in this together’ but I think some on this post seem to imply teachers are excluded from this due to having long holidays.
I am looking forward to spending some time with my children during this period if it’s possible. When I am not on shift then I’m helping my children with schooling or trying to create Positive memories.
What certain posts scream is that they see their children as obstacles that stop them doing their work or doing what they want and cannot wait to pass them back to educational setting under the guise of what is best for their child. Children are dying from this virus and other reasons please be grateful that your child isn’t one of them, enjoy them and treasure them. Yes we all have to work but sacrifices can be made.
This will probably cause controversy but after the past couple of weeks and what I have seen I will ask. For parents that want holidays cancelled and are their kids back in school as soon as possible. Ask yourself a question are you thinking about yourself? or about your child? Are you truly thinking we are all in this together or is it just because I can’t manage having to look after my own children for 24hrs a day?
I really wish I could have this time my children but unfortunately I can’t.
After another very long heart wrenching shift this is only a brief thought on this post: I hope I haven’t offended too many.
A big thank you and shout out to the teachers, support staff, dinner ladies, cleaners and caretakers that have looked after my children whilst I have been at work. I couldn’t have done my job without you.

No we will definitely need a holiday after lockdown.