To think that teachers are responsible for the school year

[Babymeanswashing]

Obviously, no other country has long school holidays in the summer. Five and a half weeks is obviously a lot, and given that non teaching spouses and non school age children get to take advantage of nice cheap holidays, I really think teachers need taking to task for this.

OK, there was obviously a heavy dose of sarcasm there in case it goes over anybody’s head, because I’ve been flamed for having the tenacity to teach and am ‘lucky’ because of the holidays.

I’m not fucking ‘lucky’! DP is paid over 80k a year, PLUS a car, PLUS a phone, PLUS gift cards for places like Argos on a regular basis for ‘loyal service.’ And while he has slightly less holiday than I do, he also has a lot more flexibility not only in the year but in his working day.

AIBU to say - go and train as a teacher if you think we are lucky. And I bloody love teaching BTW!

I did a bit of both pre baby tbf

But seriously I’m not saying and I don’t think I could have made it plainer over the page that no one has it ‘worse’ and it’s actually embarrassing the number of people who have decided I am saying that because I’m a teacher. I’m simply pointing out the t and c of the job are nothing to do with me, it isn’t luck, it’s just how the job is. So if they are favourable train as teachers yourselves!

As a teacher you are very lucky to get so many and such a long holiday, your dp is very lucky to get a company car etc. I am very lucky to be able to WFH and with some flexibility of hours when my job allows it.

Most occupations have pros and cons, but some teachers seem to be particularly sensitive about anyone even mentioning their pros.

I regularly get told by friends how lucky I am I can WFH or not take annual leave for an appointment, and I just say yes I am, I wouldn't feel the need to counter it with some of the massive cons of my job.

And you’re so lucky to have access to the internet, right? So it would be fair to bring this up every time you post because even though it’s not relevant, you’re lucky.

@Greenmarmalade

What perks does teaching have beyond longer holidays?

Those I listed in the post you quoted - job security, progression, sick pay, pension, opportunity to progress, paid training etc.

As I say, perhaps it's just moving in different circles, but most of the people I know are self-employed and I don't know many who put in fewer hours than a teacher, regardless of the industry they are in. It's just the nature of working for yourself.

I think GPs and vets probably have it worse. GPs are obviously better paid (than teachers or vets) but vets (especially salaried ones which is most of them nowadays) get the "rolling in money" bad press, plus the "you should do it for free" plus the guilt that attaches to welfare affected by money.

The only rich vets I know have family money or are married to someone with money.

The sector fell over when professional practices no longer had to be owned by members of the profession, same has happened to accountants and solicitors.

Would anybody like to start a thread entitled ‘which profession is the worst’ because I wouldn’t. I have a lovely life. Just not really sure being shamed for that is helpful!

I don't really know what you want - no one to ever mention that there are any perks to teaching? People to just pretend that it isn't quite nice to get 13 weeks off a year? I really think you need to laugh it off, bitch about it to other teachers if necessary, but getting this het up about it is such a waste of your energy.

But seriously I’m not saying and I don’t think I could have made it plainer over the page that no one has it ‘worse’ and it’s actually embarrassing the number of people who have decided I am saying that because I’m a teacher.

I think the problem is that you have posted quite a combative OP without explaining the context of the 'flaming' you received so all posters have to go on is your interpretation of what others are complaining about.

Then you link it to your 'tenacity' as though anyone who doesn't teach simply isn't made of stern enough stuff and mention lots of perks that your husband has. It's a bit of a confusing OP, which is perhaps why people are trying to find meaning and missing your point.

I'm not sure if whoever said these types of things ( "Obviously, no other country has long school holidays in the summer" ) to you @Babymeanswashing are aware but Ireland has longer summer holidays for primary school students (they finish at the end of June) and for secondary school students they generally finish their school year (unless it's a state exam year) either at the end of May or at the very start of June.

OP isn't actually complaining about the job, she was complaining about the shit that teachers get using sarcasm. And ironically everyone piled on teachers. Thus demonstrating OP's point.

hardback I’m not het up. I’m a bit pissed off that I had some horrible comments about my parenting because I work in a profession with slightly longer holidays than most.

I don’t really ‘want’ anything. Does anyone ever from posting on here?

Quick 'bleat' on behalf of school support staff who also have to deal with the lack of flexibility and not being able to afford summer holidays but on even less salary than teachers.

And yes, although it's not on the same level, we do work evenings and during the holidays too in some cases!

Thank you babba

look sorry I was being sarcastic I’m fairly sure the U.K. has the shortest school holidays than any other country in Europe.

Greenmarmalade my DH is a sales manager, ds is an accountant. They both work very long hours and do lots of prep before they can do their 'normal' work.
I used to be a teacher. OP, you are right that the job is the job and the t&c are not determined by the teachers. The decent holidays compensate for less pleasant aspects of the job - there has to be an upside if you want people to enter the profession, who could earn more working in the private sector. My DH and DS do work very hard, but they are also able to earn bonuses, have expensive professional qualifications paid for by the employer, have nice company cars etc. Teachers are buying their own whiteboard pens FFS!

@Babymeanswashing in Ireland (secondary) the holidays are 3 months and primary 8 weeks.

hardback I’m not het up. I’m a bit pissed off that I had some horrible comments about my parenting because I work in a profession with slightly longer holidays than most.

Ok, this is now a separate issue that you hadn't mentioned before - how is your job linked to your parenting?

Just in relation to the "no other country has such long holidays" but maybe that was included in the sarcasm, I'm not sure.

@Babymeanswashing
What kind of job does your husband do? I need to get me a job like that.

I think 5 weeks is totally fair enough, teaching is a tough job, I taught in the UK and it's a lot longer hours, stress and there were/are huge behavioural issues to deal with so teachers really deserve their holidays in the UK.
In Ireland 3 months off is ridiculous in my opinion but on the flip side we like travelling as a family take full advantage, swings in roundabouts!

Tbh when I was a teacher I didn't do much outside school hours: a few hours prep a week, a few meetings.

However I wasn't a very good teacher, I didn't stay long (just till got NQT complete).

The teachers in my children's schools are hard working and committed. And I a very grateful for their work. They deserve their holidays.

For me it was the hardest most stressful job I have ever had and wasn't worth the holidays. Just getting through each day was torture. There was no support and a huge responsibility.

Also I'm getting the impression you have one dc so you haven't hit the trying to entertain multiple older children on holidays stage yet which can be fun and also stressful tbh!

You love your job and you chose your job. So quite moaning.

All the teachers I know have great plans for the 7 weeks off they get in the Scottish summer holidays.

@Babymeanswashing

Thank you babba

look sorry I was being sarcastic I’m fairly sure the U.K. has the shortest school holidays than any other country in Europe.

I got that but I thought it might be useful to have in your back pocket as it were as a retort for some of these clearly unreasonable parents :)

I genuinely think teachers do work hard & in the main do a great job. I do also think they earn a decent wage and have generous annual leave.

I don’t understand the pay structure though and why school support staff are paid pro rata as they’re term time only (often plus a couple of weeks) when teachers are not pro rata’d.

I don’t get the point of this thread. You’re happy with your job, what’s the issue?

However many, many professions regularly work many more than their hours for no extra pay and with 4/5 weeks holiday a year, so please don’t think that long hours are somehow unique to teaching.