Teachers given lie-ins and extra days off

[LaughingPig]

The Guardian is reporting today that state schools are offering perks in an attempt to attract and retain teachers. These include lie-ins, whereby teachers will start later one day a week, a day off each fortnight and even the chance to work from home.

Clearly there is an issue with getting enough high-quality teachers into the profession and keeping them there. However, I’m not sure how these initiatives will go down with taxpayers on the back of successive teachers’ strikes, schools closing for months during lockdown and now inflation-busting pay rises.

Would you be happy with your DC’s teacher arriving to school late after a relaxing lie-in or logging on from home?

YABU- teachers deserve lie-ins
YANBU- teachers should be in class teaching DC

Link

How would you know it wasn't the teacher's partner having a lie in? How would you know it wasn't the childrens' bedroom and one of them was having a nap? What a weird thing to think about.

It's not going to be that much of a lie in is it. They usually start crazily early. Having one day where they start at 9 instead of 8 isn't that ridiculous

Your posts seem antagonistic. Primary teachers work on average 60 hours a week and secondary 50 hours a week. They are paid for 32.5 hours a week and the stautory min holidays. They already work for above and beyond how much they are paid.

We have a recuitment and retention crisis in teaching. More teachers in Englang again left teaching than joined (this calculation doesn’t include those who have retired). What is your suggestion to help with this problem OP?

By saying hardworking parents want to see 'teachers working for their wage' implies that they won't be working hard enough to earn what (little) they are paid if they start having the odd lie in. Do you know, OP, how many hours a teacher puts in? Working at home, well after the school day has ended as well as during weekends and 'holidays' is the norm for most in order to get the job done.

Flexible working and home working make a huge different to my mental health, ability to retain and manage a job alongside my family commitments and childcare - so if this is deemed something useful to teachers I’m absolutely ok with that. They are not a different class of people - those things which benefit the rest of the workforce may also benefit them.

However they spend their time - not sure why we assume they’ll spend it in bed. Many might use it productively but I really have no interest in that.

You sound awful.

Also why do you know where the teacher lives and why are you looking at their house to notice the curtains are shut. That's very strange behaviour

@JSMill

It’s not a point I personally care about but I do think taxpayers expect to get value from the services they are funding, including teachers. Particularly after school strikes, lockdown closures and large pay rises.

I can imagine a bit of animosity if, say, a teacher neighbour’s bedroom curtains were to be seen closed late on a weekday morning.

Are they actually having a day off a fortnight or is that thing they proposed recently where they can have a day wfh to do their planning etc?

It's a good thing. They work ridiculous hours for the pay.

Even my ds who's only 20yo pointed out to me the other day if they got paid per kid like a nanny - who doesn't have the same responsibilities - they'd get £300k + a year.

Decent people get that to get a good output you need to provide a good working environment.

Noons suggesting they teach from home. Just that they can work from home to complete planning and marking during schools hours instead of evenings and weekends.

Teachers are technically only paid for teaching hours but they do far more.

If it keeps decent teachers in schools it's can only be a good thing.

I agree. The OP is coming across as truly awful.

I live in a pretty affluent area. The majority of parents who “see” their kids teachers aren’t the “hardworking” tax payers. Most of those are utilising the wrap around care…

1. Stop looking at people's curtains
2. Some people just leave curtains shut some time they may or may not be asleep

Better than no teacher.

Lots of teachers have left recently (me included) because the working conditions are so shit.
Anything they can do to improve them is a plus.

I should hope the concern is aimed at whoever is watching be window and the teachers safety. Because that’s creepy.

It's not about giving teachers lie ins (despite what the media might say). It's about allowing them to work flexibly so they have a bit of capacity in their working week for family life and to look after their own wellbeing. Many teachers will use this time for marking or prep, rather than doing it in their evenings.

I think it you are gazing with animosity into other people’s windows in the morning, you really need to give your head a wobble.

If nobody now wants to be a teacher, who will teach the tax payers’ kids?

I imagine most teachers have their own families to get up for anyway and I suspect we get plenty value for money out of them!

I'll lol if they all start leaving their curtains closed now though for shits and giggles just to rile up the hard working parents

I think the insistence of posters that wfh here and claim they are more productive, and have a better work life balance this should be celebrated on mn.

I'm front line nhs and get a day wfh a week. Why shouldn't teachers? A day to do their admin and get a lie in and no commute.
I'd fully support this for a happier school and staff

Teachers are often also hard-working parents….

I've said since covid that they're going to struggle to train and recruit public-facing roles (teachers, doctors etc) with all the WFH and flexibility available in office jobs. If a teacher's T&Cs state they work shorter hours one day a week why would it be any of your business how they spend their time off?

The thing is, if you felt the need to spy on me (creepy) you would see that some days I am at work from 7.30 until 5, and some days I arrive closer to 8 or leave at 3.30. I would think most people are aware that teachers mark and plan at home quite often. This is no different.