To not go on the residential?

[Youthiswastedontheyoung]

I've just started a new p/t teaching role. Towards the end of the academic year the whole year group go on a residential which is about 3.5 hours away, for a full school week.
I have a just-turned 4 yo and other academic commitments outside of school.
AIBU to say I can't attend the residential?
As an aside, my mum (love her) thought teachers got paid for any additional hours regarding this. She was surprised to learn I'd just be getting my standard pay!

@Youthiswastedontheyoung

I don't think this is the right place to ask as it's obvious that most people think teachers get an easy ride due to the holidays.

YANBU to not want to go but I do think you need to let them know - I can't see that the trip can go ahead if you're not there with your class.

I don't think they are unreasonable to assume you are going as it's pretty standard for primary schools to do a trip.

Could you not go up for our working days?? I do think that there are some trade offs in teaching - everyone knows we have to do parents evenings & trips etc but we do get good holidays in exchange so it's time in lieu. Also what do you plan to do if your class are all away? Maybe you can find another staff member to swap & you teach their lessons in exchange for them taking your class away??

When I first started teaching we used to drink wine on French study trips but most schools are zero alcohol.

Another anti teacher clearly!

Yes, I agree they must be exhausted unless they don't have a young family or other family members to look after and are young enough and fit enough to enjoy working ridiculously long hours.

Imagine a free ski holiday or trip to Italy. Must be horrendous 🙄

And yes ..of course these are "holidays" for the staff. No work or responsibility involved at all .. .nooooo....not a bit! 🤪

Your resentment is palpable! 😂

I know teachers work hard- and know many! All of whom tutor on the side and none of whom are what I would describe as overly stressed.
I also know two who were absolutely delighted to be picked to go on the ski trip!! They certainly weren’t complaining about having to go and from the videos I have seen seemed to be very much enjoying themselves!
I know another who is just back from a trip to the states- also told me how much fun they had!

*Imagine a free ski holiday or trip to Italy. Must be horrendous 🙄
I refuse to believe that anyone is actually this dense - another one on the wind up. Ignore.

Stop moaning! My best friend is a teacher- loves going abroad on trips!! And never refuses to go- if anything would be raging if she didn’t get.

You are just trolling now. Not biting.

Incidentally she js also in a senior position- I imagine the lack of moaning is why this is the case.

I am absolutely not trolling- just telling the truth from my own social circle. May not fit your narrative but doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

I can honestly say that I enjoyed attending residentials too. Some were activity types, some more cultural to France. Would I describe them as a holiday? Absolutely not. They were VERY hard work!

As for every teacher you know managing to tutor on the side and not finding it stressful, I think your experience may be the exception rather than the rule. It does not mean that because a few manage to do it, that all teachers' workloads must therefore be OK. I must admit, I know a lot of teachers (from my many years of working in the profession). Not one of them tutors! I guess we have different experiences!

It’s not ‘my narrative’, it’s actual government policy to tackle it!

Do tell me again about your ‘friends’ though. 🙄🙄🙄

The government respond to the unions. Who tend to also moan a lot.
I am not disputing that workloads can be high. What I am disputing is that teachers should not be expected to take their class on residential trips- if they can get out of it fine but to point blank refuse/ no way!

No, the government responded to the evidence of 3 in 5 teachers leaving within 5 years citing workload. It’s a huge issue. Let the grown ups sort it out, you clearly aren’t equipped.

A classic caring response from a caring professional.

You know what it is- when you deal with people every day who are experience real trauma and have really crappy lives, you lose patience for people who need to get a grip.

And teachers don’t? Are you seriously belittling children’s traumas now?

There is a difference between being aware and dealing with the whole family and being in the family home. It is not the same thing.

Oh, you are! Wow 😮 😮😮😮

YANBU- trips are bloody hard work, no one should be “expected” to go, and certainly that has never been my experience.

I say this as a teacher who absolutely loves trips, I have organised and been on loads, and nothing beats the sense of satisfaction watching a kid try something for the first time, whether that’s abseiling, skiing, first time on a plane, first time away from home. It’s brilliant.

But it also very much a JOB and hard work!! Imagine being responsible for 60 teenagers on a plane, or walking up the Eiffel Tower, or up a mountain, knowing it is your name on the risk assessment if anything goes wrong?! Fielding the calls from parents in the middle of the night, sitting up til 2am in the hotel corridor making sure they are in their own rooms, or the little knock on the door when you’ve finally fallen asleep at 3am to say someone’s been sick, or is crying, or is self harming.

My kids are older now so it’s not such a big issue, but when they were little I would have really struggled to leave them.

How exactly I am belittling childrens traumas?!
My point is that dealing with horrendous things all day at work makes you realise how ridiculous it is for teachers to have to take on a school trip!!

Good grief !@Janedoe82. You think teachers don't work with and support traumatised children and their families?

Not to the same extent for the majority of teacher- and I would bet it isn’t the ones that do who are complaining about having to take said children on a residential trip.

Teachers teach. They aren’t social workers or family support workers- stop saying they do the same job- they don’t.

You have absolutely no clue, do you? 😳

I absolutely do and to say that teachers are doing the same thing is so insulting. Information is shared on a need to know basis and that generally doesn’t include the class teachers.

They are given some information but definitely not all.